Chapter 25: Chapter 25

I get home tired, a bit lifted, but broken. My room and restroom are my thinking room and sad place, but today, I feel different.

You know that point in your life where you know you've got nothing figured out, your poor little heart is broken, you feel you're just not made to love or you're not pretty enough? Well, that's how I feel and even worse. My life seems like a mess.

I ask permission from my mother to take a walk and she only agrees if her little newscaster, Bummi, comes along. She knows I won't dare do anything stupid with that mobile CTV camera stuck with me. Bummi is nosy, but I love her. Cause she still knows when to keep shut but unfortunately spills more than needed at times.

After spending about an hour washing and combing out the gel in my hair, I finally come downstairs wearing sweatpants and a tank top. Bummi on the other hand has a cute dress and a huge smile on it. She never wants to miss an opportunity to leave the house. She is ready to stroll the streets with me. My mom checks if I'm with my inhaler and once sure, she lets me move.

I take a stroll down our thankfully quiet, painfully boring, and Commendably neat street. Kicking the stones in my path with my canvas as I listen to I like you so much, you'll know its cover by Ysabelle Cuevas

The song somehow seems right for me right now. I try to take Nathan off my mind but I just can't. Bummi's little hand in mine swinging as we walk.

I subconsciously begin to give little hops and wiggles to the bubbly tune of the song and Bummi just laughs at me. Revealing her cute little smile. I'm glad I have her. Although the whole world may leave me. My little bundle of trouble is here to stay.

After about thirty minutes of strolling about and listening to Bummis unending bickering about her 'school problems' and taking small stops to buy her some snacks, we head home.

I take a long, warm shower and then take a longer nap. I wake up at about 7:30 pm. I quickly rush to my bag and drag out my Biology text and notebook. Hurriedly scribbling down my undone assignment. After drawing this complex diagram of a skeleton, I have to move to my English essay.

Just when I am done with my diagram, my phone buzzes on the bed. I head to it. I look at my screen and find about ten messages.

One from Edna explaining her absence from school. She said her father had to take her to the new SHA in town to get some paperwork done.

The other messages are from irrelevant strangers who just message girls they pick interest in online. Not that I'm rude or anti-social. Okay maybe I am a bit antisocial, but I block unknown boys as soon as they send me an annoying "Hey babe."

I keep blocking till I come across a message hidden amongst the others in my dm. A message from Nathaniel.

This message forces me to go online.

I see he is active hence read his message but do not reply.

*Hey* He sends. He sees I have read his message but refuses to reply. So he soon starts typing.

*You hate me now, don't you?* He sends again. I feel tears build in my eyes. I read but do not reply.

*Jade I never meant to hurt you. Please reply to me* He begs.

*Well you did hurt me!* I reply as my tears finally find their way down my cheeks.

*Please try to understand I didn't mean to* He sends.

I read it and refuse to reply as I just let my tears pour.

*Please come outside* He sends.

Wait. What? Outside?

*What do you mean outside?* I send in pure confusion.

*I'm starring at a window but I don't know if it's yours* He replies.

No way! It can't be. That's not possible! Sh*ts like this only happen in romance novels or movies. Not in real life!

I hurriedly exit my room and I hear my sister and family downstairs watching TV. I run to the balcony, open the door quietly and step out. I look down and lo and behold, there stands Nathaniel Briggs. His hands stuffed in his pockets, staring at my parent's room window!!

This can't be happening! What is he doing here? It's 8:15 pm for pits sakes!

He looks up and finds me starring at him. He reveals one of those heart-stopping smiles. A smile so strong I almost feel my legs fail.

I give him a look and he avoids it, rubbing his hand against the back of his head.

I rush back inside, carefully walking down the stairs. I finally make it to the kitchen. After moving quietly around my own home like a trained ninja, I finally make it to the backyard door through my kitchen. I walk outside my house and find Nathaniel where I last saw him.

"What are you doing here!? " I snap.

"I needed to see you" He replies moving close to me.

"Well, now you have seen me. Goodbye! " I reply as I turn to walk away.

"Wait! " he calls out as he holds of my arm.

"Don't treat me this way." He begs. The helplessness in his voice melts my heart.

I then face him.

"What do you want? " I question, trying to be firm.

"I want you to hear me out." He replies. Taking hold of both my shoulders.

"Okay, I'm listening," I reply pushing him away gently. I don't know why I am so mad at him. Of course, I do, I don't want him to leave.

"What are you doing here by this time? Don't you know roaming around by this time is dangerous? And how did you even get my address?  " I throw most of the questions in my mind at him.

"Firstly, my driver brought me. Secondly, I can take any risk for you, and lastly, Edna and Faith know just about enough about you Jade," he replies smirking.

To say the least I am flattered by his words. I feel butterflies flutter about in my tummy.

"Jade, I'd never want to leave you, but I have no choice. My father wants us back home. He says it would aid my music and modeling career. " he replies starring at the ground.

My ears tingle at the last part. Modeling and music!?

"Modeling? " I quiz.

"Yes, I'm still in the learning phase though. " He replies unsure of himself.

"Hm. Why am I not surprised?" I scoff and I see a smirk crawl up his face.

"Why do you have to go Nathan? " I ask finally giving in to my inner sadness.

"Jade, Nigeria is slowing me down. I'm meant to be in my twelfth grade or college. Not in Senior school One for heaven sakes!

I'm seventeen for crying out loud! " he finally blurts demonstrating with his hands. I get his point, but I still don't want him to leave.

"Jade you need to understand that leaving you would hurt me a lot more than you would ever know." He says taking hold of both my shoulders and looking into my eyes.

Being this close to him, his delicious cologne in my nostrils, the very little gap between us, and my gaze lost in his beautiful deep brown eyes, I can't find my words.

"Jade, you mean much more to me than a friend. " He says in a low tone.

My legs turn to jelly. Staring at a perfect human. The night breeze in his face, his perfect pink lips bringing perfection to every word he utters, his eyes robbing me of my sanity.

"I. I do want you to go. " I finally blurt as I wrap my arms tightly around him. My tears begin to pour as I absorb the heavenly feel of this beauty between my arms.

"Please don't leave," I beg. I can't lose him. Not now, not ever!. Nathan, please tell me this is a joke.

"I have to Jade. " He says as he pulls me away gently. Trying to make our eyes meet.

"Why don't you want me to go, Jade? I am just a friend aren't I?" He questions looking straight into my face.

"I.. I. " I begin to stutter as I look away. He uses his fingers to turn my face to him. Locking his smoldering gaze with my timid one.

"Look at me, Jade. Why can't I go? Are we not just friends? I am just Like the other boys am I not? I'm nothing special to you, right? I mean nothing to you, right? " He begins to question looking into my eyes. My brain and heart begin to race as I know all he is saying is false.

"You're more than a friend! " I scream pushing him away. I am not thinking straight and he isn't giving me any chance to.

"Then what am I to you? A classmate? A partner? Just a waste of space? A... " he begins.

"You're not all that Nathan! Just don't leave!" I scream frantically. I am saying things I mean but do not mean to say.

"Why Jade? Why can't I go? I mean I'm just a... "

"You can't leave cause I have feelings for you!" I scream without thinking. My eyes widen and I draw my hands over my mouth in disbelief. I just admitted to Nathan before admitting to myself that I have feelings for him.

I begin to step away slowly. Tears forming in my eyes. I see a huge smile get plasters on his face. I suddenly recall what Victor did to me and for fear of further embarrassment, I make to leave.

I feel his grip on my arm.

"That's all I have been waiting to hear you say. " He says making me face him. I look away. Ashamed is an understatement of what I am now. I begin to gulp hard as I try to avert my gaze from his.

"Thank you." He says pulling me into a hug. I am confused.

He pulls away and stares at me for a few seconds. He then begins to move close to me slowly. My heart starts beating in my mouth.

My legs begin to tremble, my gaze lost in his, how on earth would any normal girl not fall for this being of perfection?

He minimizes the gap between us, puts his arms around my waist, looks into my eyes, and places his lips on mine.

I place my hands on his chest as I willingly accept his kiss.

Here I am, kissing a boy who is two years older than me, at about 8:30 pm in the night, and that too so close to my home.

That's a crazy risk, but for the first time in my life, I feel nothing but this current moment matters.