Delores Caron (2)

Leo couldn't be so sure. She had refused to talk to everyone else. Why would she talk to him? 

"Why don't you just try?" Mrs. Bai urged when she saw the hesitation all over Leo's eyes. 

The boy was yet to respond when the door was pushed open. They turned at the same time and saw the expressionless Lola standing at the doorway. As though a switch had been pushed on them, they stopped talking and were so silent that they could almost hear their own heartbeats. 

Lola scanned Mrs. Bai with her lifeless eyes before her gaze settled on the boy beside Mrs. Bai. 

Leo was inexplicably nervous under her gaze and tried to strike up a conversation. "Lola? I was worried about you so…" he paused when she glared at him. Jeez… how could a child's glare be so scary? 

He was still wondering what to do when she ran over to his side and before he could process it, she hugged him. 

Leo's eyes bulged out. She actually hugged him!