Howl like a kicked Hyena

Leandre was slightly taken aback seeing Pineapple here, wondering if he had managed to pop up here, trailing him like a shadow from the academy. Meanwhile, Clary seizing the chance snatched her mobile from Leandre's grip.

She felt a twitch of annoyance seeing Tropical fruit here. She was sure that he would now stir up trouble like a tornado in a trailer park. She had asked for a knight in shining armour for escape, not a double dose of trouble. Clary felt like her entire day was spent wrangling a certain wild stallion like a rodeo cowboy and taming a certain monkey like a ringmaster holding a whip in her hands.

Pineapple glared at Clary, puffing smoke out of his nostrils like a dragon firing up the grill for a Barbecue. When Knox informed him that the wig robber was roaming outside the cafe, Pineapple scoured the area with the fervour of a detective, hot on a manhunt, only to be let down.

Meanwhile, he caught sight of Leandre flirting with a woman with melons as large as sweater muffins before making his way to the restroom. Pineapple juggled to her and gave her a stern warning not to follow Leandre. He then charged into the bathroom to teach him a lesson. Voila! He couldn't believe he had caught the thief here. Pineapple was elated, feeling like a kid who just got his favourite present on Christmas morning.

Pineapple searched for his spaced gear and spotted them in Leandre's hands. "You hooligan! They are my cosmic goggles!" Pineapple snatched the goggles from Leandre's grasp and then turned to Clary. His stomach churned like a tornado in a ketchup factory seeing his beloved wig perched atop her head like a bird of paradise. "Give back my wig, you impudent thief," Pineapple snatched the wig from Clary's head, causing her locks to flow down.

"Stupid fellow," Clary muttered under her breath, smoothening down her hair with the tip of her fingers. If not she was dealing with this towering figure, she would have taught this tropical fruit another lesson for messing with her. And why does he address everyone as a hooligan? Clary wondered.

Much to Clary's thoughts, Leandre's gaze was captivated by the sight of her hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall of silken tresses. Her locks simmered under the light, capturing his attention like a moth of flame. He had initially taken her appearance to be a little girl in the morning dress that she wore, jeans or something whatever it was, but now he had to eat his words. She looks breathtakingly beautiful.

As Clary brushed her hair, she suddenly froze, catching him staring at her. Caught off guard Leandre immediately withdrew his gaze. Clary touched her head, shuddering in fear, thinking if he was still on the plan to shave her head.

Leandre brushed off her image from his thoughts and turned to Pineapple. "You got your possessions, right? Now get out of this place." His voice was stern.

"Out of this place? I won't budge until I get my justice!" Pineapple roared and pointed his finger at Leandre like a bazooka. "How dare you hire this bandit and let her steal my hairpiece and space gear and pour water on my pants."

Clary giggled to herself. Did tropical fruit seriously think she was hired to abduct those circus trinkets? His imagination is wilder than a jungle full of monkeys.

Leandre swivelled his gaze to Clary, shrugging off Pineapple's rants like a pesky fly which he always does. Otherwise, it's hard to keep a sane mind dealing with him. "You really poured water on him and took his wig?" Leandre questioned, to which Clary shyly nodded, her sheepish grin like a cat that got ice cream. "His alien goggles also." Since he already knows the truth, why not tell him the spaced gear she stole from tropical fruit?

He let out a chuckle. "You're not only a criminal but a sneaky thief too?" He wondered how she would handle Pineapple now. He is as tenacious as chewing gum on the bottom of a shoe. Everyone who knows Pineapple will have definitely experienced him. He is a terror giving headaches. Getting rid of him is like trying to peel off a too-ripe banana from your hands.

"He deserves the treatment," Clary whispered in a hushed tone. She wondered if tropical fruit and the little Giraffe already knew each other.

Pineapple suspiciously gazed from mouth to mouth at Leandre and Clary. "What are you both talking about, you scallywags!"

"Talking about the location of the orphanage you came from so that we can send you back," Clary said nonchalantly while Leandre admired her quirkiness.

"What did you say!"

Leandre said. "Get out of this room before I forcefully throw you out!" He had been fretting with anger ever since this little girl mocked him by giving a name and brushing her middle finger in a mocking gesture. Just as he got the chance to exact his revenge, this fruity pervert plopped out of nowhere.

Pineapple stood his ground, still as a mouse pretending to be a statue

Leandre's voice was stern as he spoke, "I will not repeat myself. Don't let me repeat the morning_"

The door was pushed open again, causing Clary and Pineapple to snap, wondering who it could be this time. "Hey, Pineapple." Came a shouting voice. "You need to come out and see this..Lean_"

Knox's thoughts momentarily screeched to a halt as he looked at the girl standing beside Leandre. Is this her real face? Now that he is seeing her without that funky wig and goggles, Knox finally got to see the diva. "My goodness!" Her beauty was nothing short of breathtaking, like a radiant gem shining in the sun. She radiated an aura like a luxurious holiday in a far-off, exotic land.

"What are you doing here?" Leandre questioned Knox.

"I_I just wanted to talk with Pineapple," Knox said and looked at Clary. Seeing that it was the guy who spilt pink juice on her dress, Clary's eyes lit up like a beacon of hope. He seems to be a nice dude. She gave him a pleading look, pleading with him to whisk her away from this sticky situation. Knox feeling like a big man in the school gave her a nod. Don't worry, girl! I will handle this.

"Uh? What do you want to talk about?" Pineapple asked, stroking his green leafy hair in confusion as he looked at Knox. "Anyway, thanks for the hookup, rascal." He lazily said, putting his wig on top of his head. "I caught this sticky-fingered criminal with her hands in the cookie jar. In this case, the bathroom." Pineapple giggled and looked at Clary, relishing the thief's fiery gaze. "How was my plan?"

"As valuable as your wig," Clary said in a sarcastic tone which Pineapple took positively.

Pineapple raised his hands, ready to pinch the thief's cheeks like a mischievous child. But before he could lay a finger on her, a voice of authority thundered in his ear. "Don't you dare touch her! One move toward her, and your hands will be detached from your arms in an instant."

Pineapple's hands recoiled in terror as Leandre's ominous warning echoed in his ears. A shiver ran down his spine. As much as Pineapple irritates his enemy, he would piss off his pants if Leandre raised his voice just a little. Clary gazed at Leandre's hostile gaze, taken aback by his unwavering bravery and protectiveness.

Leandre swung his attention to Knox, who was clearly caught off guard by his fierce defence for this girl. He couldn't help but wonder why he was suddenly feeling so protective of someone who had given him nothing but sass and attitude. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Leandre asked. "Are you familiar with her?" Leandre asked, recalling Pineapple thanking Knox for hookup to find her.

Although Knox decided to sit out the hide-and-seek game happening between Pineapple and the girl, he didnot want the girl to fall prey to Pineapple's sadistic tendencies. When he saw him slinging into the bathroom, Knox decided he would help the girl to escape. What surprised him was Leandre in the bathroom instead of waiting for him in the car. Is he here to take revenge on the girl? Regardless of Leandre's motives, Knox decided to put him to good use and utilize his presence for the girl's escape.

"What are you talking about?" Knox chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he looked at Leandre. "You know her, don't you? You hired the girl to seize Pineapple's wig and goggles." With a subtle nod in the girl's direction, Knox conveyed his intention and silently urged her to be prepared for action.

Clary nodded.

"What?" Leandre questioned, confused.

Upon hearing Knox's words, Pineapple's anger boiled over like a teapot on full blast. He knew it all along. Leandre is no good. He strode forward and confronted Leandre, his nostrils flaring with fury. "How much money did you fork over to her? Have you been tailing me from the academy, you hooligan?" Pineapple raged, flapping his arms like a frenzied rooster whose feathers had been ruffled.

"You heard it here first, you cheeky Pineapple," Knox added fuel to the fire. Knowing that Pineapple will be triggered, only he can buy a moment of respite by holding Leandre at bay. "We all four friends have been shadowing you since the old school days, you cunning fruit."

"What games are you playing!" Leandre demanded Knox, his voice low and threatening as he began to grasp Knox's scheme. He looked at the little girl who was moving away from him, and before he caught her hand, Pineapple shooed the girl away. He grilled Leandre's head, demanding an explanation. "Tell me, you hooligan! Why have you been tailing me since school!"

Clary thanked Pineapple and moved ahead.

"Don't you dare step out! I will find you."

"Only if they both allow you." Clary grinned.

Leandre just has taken a step, Knox interposed himself, effectively barring Leandre's advance.

"Move already when I am being nice."

"No." Knox swallowed hard at Leandre's threat. but he stood his ground. The consequences for betraying their friendship might be as bitter as eating a whole lemon, but he just couldn't resist the girl's cuteness. She is as cute as a fresh slice of watermelon. He will just beg Leandre to forgive him later.

"Pineapple." Leandre called him. "Stop her. I will tell you why I followed you."

"No!" Knox shouted.

"Is it?" Pineapple's peepers glimmered at Leandre's words, but before he could grab hold of Clary, she gave him a swift punt right on his piggies causing Pineapple to howl like a kicked hyena. "Take that!"

Clary held the bathroom door and cast a triumphant grin as she looked at Leandre and mouthed a thank you to Knox.

"Bye!" Clary winked at Leandre, and stepped out.

She opened the door again and said. "Bye..bye."

And Leandre watched her slip out of his hands. He waited for the door to open for the third time hoping to see her green eyes another time, but it remained shut.