Chapter 26: Chapter 26

I'm perched on the window in my room, lost in a daze.

‘What was I thinking? What have I done?’

For the past two days, I've hated myself for being so stupid. For letting the tiniest of challenges lead me to make terrible decisions.

No one has noticed my change of attitude since the day I came back from my so called 'sleepover' at Mel's house because I've tried to keep it hidden.

~My eyes opened slowly, settling on a pink side table which was definitely not mine. The scent in the room was so familiar yet I couldn't place it. I rolled to face up, wincing when I felt pangs in my head.

I could hear the door opening and closing but I was too fixated to look.

"Bee?" My head moved to look at the owner of the voice.

Melody walked over to the bed with a tray in hand.

"How are you?"

I lifted myself to a sitting position and leaned against the headboard.

"What am I doing here?" I asked, ignoring her concerned question.

She sighed. "I brought you here last night. You were knocked out cold."

I frowned at her, urging her to explain more.

"You don't remember? The party? Jasper?" Then it hit me.

Something happened the previous night.

"Yeah. I―i was at a party with..." I looked up at her. She arched a questioning brow.

"With who? Jasper? Cause he called me to come pick you up and you were unconscious. What's been going on, Bee?" The concern was evident in her voice as she spoke.

I gulped, unable to recollect what happened at the party.

"Your drink was spiked, Bee. You took a drug last night. The doctor said the name but I can't remember." Melody's voice brought me back to reality. Her words left my mouth hanging open.

‘She's kidding right?’

"You're joking," I breathed but the look on her face told me otherwise.

I felt the panic begin to rise within me, causing me to take quick short breaths.

"You need to calm down and talk to me, Bee. Panicking now won't take back the fact that it happened," she said calmly.

"I...I would never take drugs. Never!" I exclaimed with big eyes.

"I know, I know. But you need to tell me what happened. Who gave you a drink? Was it Jasper?" I could see the scepticism in her eyes when she mentioned Jasper.

I shook my head in repudiation, afraid of saying the truth; afraid of admitting how stupid I had been.

‘How could I let myself get fooled?’

"By who?" Melody asked, pulling my attention. I bit my lower lip, realising my autopilot mouth had ratted me out.

"By who?" she pushed.

"Kunle."

Her brows knitted in confusion. "Who's that?"

"Someone I met at the club the first time I went," I replied.

"So you've been clubbing." It was a statement.

"Look, I'm sorry I―"

"Go on." The edge in her voice told me everything. She was upset.

"Um..." I cleared my throat. "We went out, he invited me to the party." I frowned suddenly.

"He's been trying to get me to drink but I wouldn't, so he spiked the drink... Oh my God, what happened?!" I looked at Melody with fear filled eyes.

"I―i don't know. I've been trying to call Jasper but he's not taking his calls. I don't what's going on, Bee but it's not good," she said.

"Wait, Jasper called you. He was with me." I frowned, racking my brain for memories of what happened. They only came in blurs but I could pick out some parts. Melody looked at me with great interest.

I blinked. "I danced. Jasper, Jasper was there. He was saying something about..." I trailed off, unable to remember what Jasper was telling me.

"Think Bee, you can do this," Melody urged.

"I think he was talking about me going home. But then, I think we..." My eyes went large and they snapped up.

"What?!" Melody asked in alarm. I started to shuffle back as though I could enter into the headboard.

"Bee, what?" Melody asked again but I couldn't possibly answer. I wasn't sure, myself, if I was having the right memories.

I shook my head. "I think that stuff messed up my brain. I'm not thinking straight," I said slowly. She blinked in confusion.

"Did you remember something?"

"No, I'm just imagining things. That couldn't have possibly happened. No." Melody adjusted on her position as she squinted at me.

"Tell me, Bee."

"No, I said it's not―"

"Stop it, Isabella!" she snapped, making me jump a little. "You got yourself into this," she scoffed. "Heck, I thought we were friends? Not just friends; close friends. Yet, you couldn't trust me enough to tell me any of this. And now that it has come to this, you still don't trust me." Her countenance changed to one of surrender.

"I cozied up to you, Bee. I began to even think we could be best friends cause even though I have spent a lifetime with Alice and Lima, you came and stole a special spot in my life. But obviously―"

I stopped her, unable to bear the guilt. "I trust you, Mel. I guess only did that because I didn't want to feel stupid."

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

With a heavy sigh, I explained, "if I had told you about it, you would have kicked against it and think my reason was stupid. Look, Mel, you are my best friend. I know we still need time to get closer but I feel it too―what you feel."

"What was the reason?"

I gulped. "Jasper kind of challenged me, calling me a baby and saying that I can't do daring stuff, so..." I trail off, letting her process the rest herself.

"Oh my gosh, Bee. Is that the reason why you did all that? And wait, was it because Lima challenged you that you said yes to Ousman?"

I sent her a surprised and flushed look. "H―how did you connect the dots so quickly?"

"Bee, why would you let those words lead you into this?" I pursed my lips in shame and she sighed, shaking her head.

"You want to know the stupid memory that came to my head?" I asked, diverting.

She only nodded.

"I..." I hesitated. "I really think it's just my messed up mind that's―" I stopped myself before releasing a sigh. "I thought we kissed," I dropped the bombshell.

Melody looked like she just discovered that planet of the apes was real.

"See? It's not possible. I can't remember anything else."~

It wasn't my imagination. It happened. Jasper and I kissed that night. I remember, clearly how it happened now. I had my first kiss when I was high. What more can life throw at a person?

I remember slapping him too. I don’t know why I did it but I don’t regret it one bit. Jasper always had it coming. I also recall the fight that broke out between him and Kunle. I think I passed out after that because my brain is blank on that part.

Melody and I told my family that I was at her house for a last minute sleepover. Mum wasn't happy that I didn't call anyone early but somehow, everyone bought the idea. Or so I think. Jason has been watching me closely ever since and I know he's catching on to my weird attitude. Nes has not really noticed because she tends to be too busy with her books now.

I unlock my phone and click on the first name on my call log; the person I've tried to call five times today but have been unable to reach.

Jasper's number has been switched off for two whole days now. I haven't seen him around the house and neither did he show up in school today. Kevin was absent too.

I have been having this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that all is not right with him but I haven't even seen Mary to ask. I wouldn't want to ask his mum or his scary dad or even Luke because I don't want to bother him.

But I'm worried. Melody strictly told me to meet him and thank him for his help and though my pride was about to get the best of me again, I agreed.

I sigh and drop the phone when I get the same result. Switched off.

I put on my furry slippers and move towards my door. Two days is enough to keep this locked in. I can't take it anymore.

I knock softly on the boys' door; now only Jason's. There’s no response. I try again and this time, I hear him shuffling inside.

The door opens to reveal him in a pair of cargo shorts and a blue shirt.

"Can I come in?" I ask. He scoffs, moving away from the door.

"When did you ever need permission to enter?"

I trail behind him, looking around as if this is the first time I'm entering the room.

I plop down on the his bed, releasing a sigh. He takes a seat on his study chair and swivels on it to face me and I espy a chat page with someone named Alicia on his screen. I squint to get a better look at the display picture.

I've seen that face on his phone before.

"Who's Alicia?" The question slips out before I know it.

His expression falters a little but he masks it up quickly.

"No one. My friend," he says, making me arch a brow.

"How come she's no one, yet your friend?" I ask, shaking my head.

He’s clearly feeling uneasy. He doesn't want to talk about it but I will fish it out of him.

"She's my friend, that's all."

"Come on, Jason. You and Alex are never close friends with girls. You're obviously close to this one." As crazy as it may sound, my brothers don't have female friends and that is why I was able to detect Alex's likeness for Melody and now, Jason and Alicia.

"Please Bella, there's nothing more to say."

I clench my jaw, annoyance and worry mixing up. He's becoming too reclusive and I won't let that happen.

"I really hate what you're doing, Jason. It's not fair. Not to yourself, not to anyone. Being this secretive is not normal."

He looks up at me. "Well, is anyone normal in this family?" He asks firmly.

My eyes widen in mild surprise and his expression slackens.

"No, I didn't mean it that way. I was kidding," he clarifies and I nod.

"Actually, you're right. We all have our abnormalities. I'm just worried," I say.

He laughs. "That's expected. When you and mum are worried, you bug people. When Nes is worried, she goes crazy. Alex, heck I've never seen that guy worried. Even when his headaches got serious, he never panicked. And dad..."

I snort. "Don't even go there." We both laugh.

"And you?" I ask. He is silent for a few seconds as a hesitant look plays on his face. Finally, he shrugs.

"I guess I just keep it to myself."

I find myself pitying him. Keeping hurtful things bottled up is way harder than talking about them.

"But that's why you have a family."

"What if I didn't?" he asks immediately.

Realisation dawns on me suddenly. He scoffs, probably realising he just busted himself. "So that's what you're worried about." It's a statement. "What if you didn't have a family. So now you're training yourself to bottle things up when we're not around."

He looks exasperated that I'm pressing further. "Look, I'm insecure okay? If that's what you want to hear. I've always been." He scoffs. "I have tried so many times to be like Alex and Nes, with hardly any cares in the world but I can't change myself, Bella. I find myself always focusing on the dangers; always bracing myself for everything and anything." He stares at me for a bit.

"Are you crying?"

I touch my face. Tears.

‘I'm crying? Why? I'll never understand these tear glands on mine.’

Looking at each other for about five seconds, we burst into laughter.

"So, what brings you?" he finally asks. I sigh as I feel my mood turning dour again.

"Bella what's wrong?"

"I've been a really stupid person these past few weeks."

His brows knit together and I continue.

"I'll just give you a summary. Jasper challenges me, I go clubbing, I meet Kunle, we go out, he invites me to a party three nights ago, spikes my drink, same Jasper gets me out, calls Melody to come take me to her house, Jasper is no where to be found, I've been lying to you guys." I end my ranting and look at a confused Jason. I know he got every single detail of what I said; he's smart that way.

"And..." I raise my hand to show there's more. "Lima challenges me, I date Ousman, I feel guilty, I go to make things right but same Lima has already told him the truth, he gets mad at me, I admit the truth, we break up, I flare up at Lima, we go to her house, she's pregnant." Jason's jaw drops.

"She's what?" I simply nod. He looks away for a bit before looking squarely at me.

"So, you feel bad for letting yourself get misled."

I nod, biting the inside of my cheek.

"I want to kill that Kunle guy for doing that to you. Yes, you messed up but he has no right to do such a thing."

"I'd really love to watch him get beaten up, I must say," I say and we both crack up. I heave a relieved sigh, feeling a heavy weight lift off my shoulder.

"Thanks," I state.

"For what?"

"For giving me a listening ear." He smiles and I follow suit. I give him a look.

"What?" He frowns a little. I slowly spread my arms, putting on my best puppy dog eyes. He rolls his eyes but stands up anyway. I immediately rush to him and hug him tightly. I can sense the shock he's feeling right now and to be honest, I'm shocked myself. I mean, who knew a hug could mean this much that one should yearn for it?

He slowly brings his arms around me and hugs me back. Even though I'm still worried sick about Jasper, I feel a lot safer and better being in the arms of someone who'll never leave me.

"Gosh, you're so big now," I mumble into his shirt and he laughs, making me feel warmer.

‘Okay, why am I being so mushy right now? Ugh...’

I finally let go and smile up at him.

"Have you asked about Jasper? You said he's missing." I shake my head in response. He bites his lip in thought before speaking.

"Don't worry, it's Jasper. He'll survive," he assures and I laugh lightly.

I decide to go and get myself a bottle of water from downstairs and leave him to enjoy his privacy, making a mental note to bug him about Alicia some other time.

"My goodness Eda, what are you talking about?" I overhear mum talking to Jasper's mum. Mum has suddenly started to come home on time after the short period of strange absence. Nobody knows what happened and we haven't asked because we want to take things carefully with her. I tiptoe to my parents' bedroom door to hear better.

Jasper's mum is not responding properly, she seems to be...sobbing. My eyes widen.

‘What's wrong?’

I inch closer, careful not to make a sound.

"Eda calm down and talk to me. What happened to him?" mum asks.

‘Happened to him? Oh my gosh.’

Now, I wish I could just run in and make her talk because I will definitely die of a heart attack if she doesn't spill right now.

"He's been in the hospital for the past two days. He overdosed on cocaine. Jasper's been taking drugs. My son was this close to death," she bursts into sobs.

Everything freezes.