He'd almost laughed when she declared that she loathed the picture. If you knew what you were looking for, Haley's expressions were very vivid and clear on their own meaning. Cain wouldn't have that inside knowledge, because his instincts were good on anything but her. She was his weakness. And Haley's was her modesty, right now. At least it bought Keida more time with her. She'd been too reluctant, and even though he imagined he could ease her into it, a direct approach like this was better. In a way she should blame herself. That kind of reasoning would be lost on her.<br/><br/>Cain continued his campaign on getting her away from this house and it's native, but Keida wasn't worried anymore. Haley was leashed to him for at least today. He ate his ramen and flipped the meat onto his tongue while the two did their little tragic lover's dance. Whenever he wanted to sweeten his experience of the meal, he'd look at Haley, stewing, or at Cain, who was deflated by her willingness to stay. It really was the best lunch Keida had in a while.<br/><br/>Perhaps he should have intervened. Haley promised her time away to Cain before she could stop herself, and so soon. She'd always been a diligent student, but making up something like this on the fly would be hard for anyone. Keida didn't expect it to get in the way of his own plans, though, and was already thinking of ways to help her with that. Studying wasn't really his thing, but he excelled in cheating. The way Haley was cooking in all this, he figured he could give her a few pointers.<br/><br/>"Bye, C! Don't be a stranger now. We can eat together anytime. But call first. Me and Haley are kinda tight lately." he said with an innocent, broad smile as he waved. Cain had dark eyes then, but still needed to leave.<br/><br/>"Well, that was nice, wasn't it?" Keida asked as he started picking stuff off the table. He wasn't really an orderly person, but it'd grate Haley to see him working on something as though what was now strung up between them wasn't a big deal at all. "I think he's gonna turn out right, that Cain." he added as he started for the kitchen with the garbage in the bag the pizza had come in. He looked at her fleetingly as he moved the trash, like they were just hanging out, and that he hadn't just deliberately taken a compromising picture of her, and then threatened to show them to her heart friend.<br/><br/>Keida had seen the discomfort in Cain to leave Haley alone here, and it inspired him to do exactly the things Cain feared. Before, when he'd taken her under the guise of teaching, she'd been so sweet. it had felt like he was truly stealing her from the brilliant boy. Now Keida wanted something else. He was going to pry her heart out through her more sordid nature. She'd helped him enough by lying there on the couch. He was excited to see what other games she'd let him play.<br/><br/>"Did you have a good meal, Haley?"