Behind the Veil

Sal was released days later and he stayed at Lola’s apartment while she worked long days. In order to avoid being left with her thoughts Lola worked constantly. The weeks passed rather slowly and in support of her good friend Torie she had to get dressed up to go to a charity benefit at the museum. Upon arriving Lola greeted Torie who seemed awkward in her surroundings.

“So happy you’re here,” Torie admits upon seeing her friend.

“What are friends for?” she smiles as she grabbed a glass of champagne from a waiter passing by.

“Where‘d you get a dress on such short notice?”

“Stole it from a homeless man. I heard vintage was in.”

“You‘re awful,” Torie laughs. Torie locked eyes with one of the workers and then gave Lola an apologetic smile. “Speaking of awful I have to help sell some of this stuff. Feel free to walk around I‘ll find you somehow.”

“Have fun,” Lola says raising her glass slightly before turning to begin her rounds. She spent less than a minute on each piece of work eventually settling on one painting so that she could stand long enough to drink her champagne. While standing there she cradled the glass in her hand and just stared at the painting.

“Lovely work of art, full of anguish and chaos.”

“Anguish doesn‘t necessarily mean chaos, its very restrained,” she spoke turning to the posh voice only to find herself looking down at an older man in a wheelchair.

“Professor Charles Xavier,” the man smiles holding out his hand. She shook his hand and smiled back.

“Lola Novak.”

“Pleased to meet you Miss Lola Novak but I must admit I knew your name beforehand.”

“Is that so?” Lola counters taking a sip of her drink.

“You heard my escort and I speaking before I came over didn‘t you?”

“How could I hear you when there is so much going on around here?”

“You don‘t have to worry Miss Novak, I am no threat to you. Years ago I approached your parents to allow you to attend my institute, very lovely and understanding parents, most do not have that kind of support,” Professor Xavier says causing Lola to turn her attention back to the painting.

“A little too late to get me to attend your school Professor,” she states.

“I‘m aware of that Miss Novak, but time does not diminish the gifts you were born with,” he states looking up at her. “What if I say you can help others like you, children that feel confused, scared and alone with their powers?”

“Find someone else.”

Lola walked away from him and headed out of the building, suddenly feeling like she was suffocating in the crowd. Crossing the street Lola headed into the deserted park. She sat down on the metal bench and let out an exhale. The bench was cold and sent shivers up her spine. Sitting there in the darkness she let out a sigh causing the plants to move slightly in response. As she rested her hand on the armrest, the vines of a nearby plant crept up and rested on her hand. A single tear slipped from her left eye and slid down her cheek. Somehow she felt like she had when she was a child, she would interact with everyone, but at the end of the day she was alone. Most of the time she felt disconnected with those around her because she was different; most of the time she was right to close herself off. It was just another reminder that having a stable and normal life was always out of her reach.

“Lola?”

Tony had arrived late to the event only to see the familiar figure across the street. She didn’t respond to his call and merely stared off thinking over things as the plants seemed to enclose around the area. Walking towards her Tony noticed the plants that seemed to be growing out of control. Lola suddenly caught the familiar scent of Tony, the mix of metal, cologne and a tinge of coconut. She snapped out of it and looked up just as he was walking towards her. Rather quickly the plants seemed to retreat back to their places and Lola hoped it was not noticed by Tony. However the look on his face said otherwise. Tony was stuck between shock and intrigue. He didn’t immediately think that Lola had made the things move and he looked at her as if to question whether she saw what had just occurred. Lola stood up and acted as though nothing had happened. Tony took notice of the dim lights illuminating her slightly, making him forget momentarily what he had seen.

“Wouldn‘t take you for someone that actually attends this sort of thing,” Lola finally spoke giving him a teasing smile.

“Likewise.”

“I should head inside, maybe you should too.”

She walked ahead of him and left him to follow behind. Tony caught up with Lola and entered the building with her. In the light he could see the dress was a hot rod red, with hints of plum purple in the cinched waist. He couldn’t help but stare as she walked, she looked like a bombshell pin up. Lola turned to give Tony a sideways glance.

“You look great,” Tony states not taking his eyes off of her.

“Thanks,” she replies keeping her eyes peeled for Professor Xavier and his escort.

“Looking for someone?”

“More like avoiding.”

“Lola, hey I thought you left, you kind of looked irritated when walked out,” Torie says appearing at Lola’s side.

“Just needed to get some air,” Lola responds simply. “How are things going?”

“They are well, looks like I‘m going to be keeping busy tonight. Unfortunately I won‘t be able to attend that Godard film with you.”

“That is unfortunate, perhaps another time,” she shrugs.

“I must be off to chat with some people, don‘t feel obligated to stay too long.”

“Have a good night.”

Lola watched as Torie rushed off to another direction and Tony looked around the room rather bored with the setting. He made a mental note to just send a check to the charity later on without having to go through the process of actually buying something. Tony turned to Lola who seemed just as finished with the place and gave her a nudge.

“Want to get out of here?” Tony asks.

“Very much so.”

“Come on,” he says grabbing her hand to lead her out of the building. There were a few photographers waiting outside that snapped several photos of the pair as they left. Tony quickly opened his car door for Lola and she entered the expensive car. Suddenly once in the car she realized she didn’t know what they were going to do. He got in the car and began driving. “Well I know I was bored with the place but who were you avoiding?”

“Someone who offered me a job and they seemed to be the type to dig into my head.”

“Interesting choice of words. Hey, I wanted to ask you if you noticed anything strange in the park.”

“Strange as in how?” Lola counters casually.

“I don‘t know there was some movement, you know what probably just seeing things,” he mutters. Lola let out a sigh suddenly feeling bad about his dismissing the subject.

“Don‘t dwell on it, you weren‘t seeing things.”

“Am I missing something?”

“I just don‘t want you to think you‘re losing your head,” she answers.

“So you‘re patronizing me,” Tony drawls.

“Trust me when I say that I am not patronizing you Tony.”

“How can I trust someone that seduced me then stole my car?”

“How can someone be so insufferable?” Lola asks out loud as she threw her hands up.

“If I am insufferable then why are you here with me?”

“I‘m a masochist obviously. Pull over I‘m getting out.”

“I am not pulling over,” he retorts.

“I can get out right now and survive, but I‘d ruin a perfectly good dress,” she argues. Tony stopped in front of his penthouse building and gave her an irritated look before turning off the car.

“Oh you are good at deflecting questions. Must work with your web of lies,” Tony states as he got out of his car and headed into the building. Lola stepped out of the car and followed after him rather angrily. She pushed him into the elevator and pressed the button to close the doors. Standing with her hands on her hips she waited for the elevator to start going to the right level. “So what‘s happening here?”

“I‘m not sleeping with you, I am coming up here with you to prove you wrong and make you realize how big of an asshole you are being.”

“How exactly are you going to do that?”

“I assume you have at least one plant in your entire penthouse, I’m guessing orchid by that tiny particle of pollen on your coat. ”

“Lucky guess,” he responds as the doors opened to reveal his penthouse. There were a few plants in the house all of which withered and died once Lola entered the room. Then they sprung back to life, and grew larger. Tony looked at Lola who moved straight to the bar.

“I have a genetic mutation, Tony,” Lola says as she poured some whiskey into a glass.

“You‘ve always had this?”

“Since I was about five or six years old.”

“Huh.”

“Still think I was patronizing you?”

“You‘ve just made it pretty clear you weren‘t.”

“Good, but keep this to yourself,” Lola says as she drank the whiskey and began to move back towards the exit. Tony quickly tugged her back around by her wrist and looked down at her. “We both know this is a terrible mix.”

“Yeah, I‘m all technology you‘re all plants and nature.”

“I take issue with being with someone that actually knows things about me,” she mutters.

“Likewise,” Tony states inching closer to her. He took his chances and kissed her without anymore hesitation. Lola gave in and pulled him closer to her body as she kissed him back. Tony pressed her against the wall as her grip on his collar tugged him against her. Her teeth scrapped lightly on his bottom lip as his hands roamed up and down the curves of her body. Things got heated quickly but before it could go any further Happy came into the place. Lola pulled away from Tony rather quickly and readjusted her dress.

“Sorry Boss, I didn‘t know you had company,” Happy states awkwardly.

“That‘s alright I‘m leaving.”

“You‘re leaving?” Tony responds.

“For the best, I’m sure I have to be doing something more productive right now,” Lola replies as she moved towards the exit.

“You‘re kidding me right?”

She didn’t answer him and simply got into the elevator. Happy stood awkwardly as Tony gawked at Lola’s behavior. The elevator doors closed and Tony turned his attention to Happy, giving his friend a fierce glare. He put his hand up and gestured to the elevator then scoffed.

“Really Hogan? Did you have to show up now of all times?” he says.

“I didn‘t know, I thought you were out,” Happy counters giving Tony a look.

“Too late now.”