Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Narcia woke up with a start. She was sweating profusely. She had spent the night at Reign's house. He had asked her to help him take care of Kayla. Nora had to travel and take a break. She had a nightmare. Another nightmare, It was about Mason's death. Today marked 2 years since his death. Ever since he died, she had been having nightmares about his death on his anniversary.

"You okay?" Reign asked beside her. She was having a panic attack as she pointed to her bag. "What is it?" He asked worriedly. "M-My pills are in the m-m-my bag." She said as he rushed to get the pills and a glass of water. After she took the pills she felt better. "Are you okay now?" He asked turning on the lights.

"You might be wondering what that was." She said after a few minutes of silence.

"Yeah." He added.

"Well, I always get nightmares on the death anniversary of my best friend, Mason Collarad." She added.

Reign remembered Mason, he always used to be around Narcia and her friends. But in middle school, they heard he had died. They weren't told of what had killed him. They only told them he had died.

"A teenager drunk driver killed him when we were returning from a party. He tried to save me and got hit in the process. He died in a hospital. I didn't get to see him before he left or hear what he had to tell me. She didn't care that she'd killed an innocent soul. Her parents bribed the judge and the case was thrown out of court. She walks as a free person whilst my best friend is 6ft underground." She added clenching her fists as tears streamed down her face.

" You have to let go, you're hurting so bad." He started hugging her. She nodded as she wiped her tears. "Thank you." She said.

"I guess no school?" He inquired. "Yeah, I gotta go to his grave and I don't want to see the bitch who killed him today." She said walking to the bathroom to freshen up.

Did she attend our school? And who could that be? He wondered.

Narcia helped dress Kayla for school. Reign was already done and waiting for them. She packed lunch for Kayla as she carried her to the car where Reign was waiting.

"Bye Nar... I'd miss you." She said as Reign helped her in the car. "I'd see you after school sweet cheeks and take care." He added as he drove off. Narcia walked home since his house wasn't far from hers. "Hey, Zara." She greeted as she entered. "Hey, baby." She hugged her. She knew she needed that hug.

"I got flowers for you." She stated. "Thanks, Zara...i'm off to see Mason." She said picking up her keys. She drove to the cemetery reminding of the fun times they had together wiped off a stray tear as she parked her car. She entered the cemetery walking to his grave as she spotted a figure in front of his grave. She could tell who that was. It was his murderer.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She spat angrily. "Narcia calm down I just came to see him it's been a while I did," Brittana added looking down. "I don't give a flying fuck about that. It's your fault he is in this grave. Your fault he died young. Your fault no one knows where his family is. It's because of you Brittana, you!" She finished panting hard.

"But I loved him!" She defended herself. "You stand there and talk about love? You left him to die when you hit him. I begged you to help us but you refused and drove off. You stand there and preach about love? She questioned with tears flowing down her face.

"Mase, it's been two years yet I still miss you. I'd come and see you later because if I spend a here, I'd kill someone." She said placing the flower on his grave and walking out. She sat in her car breathing heavily.

Did she know what it meant to love? Did she know what it even was? She never attended his funeral or his first death anniversary and she's here claiming to love him. She thought to herself as she drove off. She parked the car in front of her house. Her friends had closed from school.

"Hey, you guys are back quite early." She added. " Naaah, we closed the normal school time," Zaid answered. The guys hung around for sometime before leaving. "I'd call you when I get home," Reign told Narcia.

"Alright, tell Kayla I said hi." She added as she drove off. She knew her friends were eager to. know what happened.

"She was there, the fucking bitch was at his grave preaching love to me." She finally let it out. "That explains why she wasn't in school today." Myra expressed.

"I don't get it, what did she want there? To raise him from the dead or what?" Anya asked angrily.

" I don't know Anya," Narcia added lying on her bed. "Take heart and you gotta try and move on. He'd be glad you did. Try and find some closure." Myra expressed.

"Reign said the same to me this dawn...He said I should try and move on. Maybe you guys are right". Narcia said. " How I wish his family were still here, it would have been much easier." She stated closing her eyes for a few minutes and then opening them.

“Girl, where have you been?” Mel asked her friend and roommate.

“I went out with Horris on a date, I thought I told you, so what’s the matter?” She asked dropping her bag on the couch.

“I know you did, but what happened to your phone?” Mel asked again.

“Funny story, my phone battery died.” She lied buying her lips.

“Yeah, right and my grandma is a nun.” Mel rolled her eyeballs at her.

“Why, what’s up?” Courtney asked.

“What’s up is that Jayden was here today and waited for you all day, he’s been calling but you decided to turn off your phone and hang out with Horris.” She air quoted.

“Shit, is he gone?” She asked Mel.

“Of course he is, he’s long gone,” Mel added.

“The guy loves you, Courtney, he’s finally realised he was in love with you all these years. It’s going to be a pity if you lose him.” Mel scolded.

“Mel, enough of the pro talks and help me find him.” She said as they run out of the apartment.

He had given her the address to his apartment some weeks back. They stopped a cab and then gave the driver the address.

Jay walked at the park with his hands in the pocket of his coat.

Was their friendship going to continue or that was the end of it since she had found another man?

Is this how she felt what he went out with different women?

Courtney knocked on the door after ringing the doorbell in countless times with no answer. She gave up and sat on the staircase with her head in her hands.

She had yearned for this for year’s and now that it was here, she had ruined it.

“Excuse me?” A young boy said.

“Hi,” Mel answered.

“Are you looking for the handsome young man that stays here?” He asked.

“Yes!” Courtney exclaimed.

“I saw him headed to the park.” The young boy said as they hurried there.

Jay sat on the bench feeding the pigeons. He wasn’t going to lose his friendship with Courtney even if he went out with another man. Their friendship couldn’t end that way.

“Slow down Courtney,” Mel said stopping to catch her breathe as Courtney continued running.

“Is that Courtney?” Jay asked spotting her running in his direction. He sat amused looking at her and waiting for her to reach where he was. She sat down beside him to catch her breath.

“My, my don’t you look stunning.” Jay teased her dishevelled hair. She didn’t say anything but instead kissed him hard catching him by surprise.

“I thought you were dating someone else.” He aid after the kiss.

“No, it’s you, Jayden Daniels, I want.” She said.

“I thought I had lost you to him, I might have been an ass all these years, but I love you, Courtney, be my girl.” He said.

“I’d love that.” She said as Mel blew wolf whistles behind them.

“Hey, next time don’t go crazy and run off like that. You owe me a massage.” Mel whined as they walked back.

“Fine, when we get home I would vice you a massage. Now quit whinnying.” She said as they burst into laughter.

After dinner, Jay skyped them to tell them about their real whining status. The girls were so happy for them. Narcia was glad her brother was able to realize his feelings before it was too late before he lost a wonderful soul to another man. They talked for a while. and then hung up with the excuse that they had some work to do.

"Is Chloe asleep?" Myra asked Zara. "Yeah, she was too tired when she returned from school that she went straight to bed." She added smiling.

"Poor child," Narcia said as they laughed, climbing up to their room.

Narcia Hey, you guys heard from Reign yet?

Zaid: Nah, I’ve been trying his phone it’s not going through.

Narcia: Have you checked his house?

Zaid texted panicking, TG Kayla is asleep.

Narcia: Let’s try to get some sleep, maybe he’s safe and we'd see him tomorrow.

Zaid: I hope so, goodnight Nar, thanks for texting. I feel much better now.

Narcia: You welcome sweetheart.

Reign McClurkin, wherever you are, be safe. Narcia thought to herself as she fell asleep.