Chapter song:
Residuals by Chris Brown.
••☆••
At AM'S Diner
Nathan like the rest of the waiters, was dressed in a pink shirt with black pants and an apron tied around the waist, all up and down at different tables.
Mr Wood, the manager of the dinner, had gotten to work too, helping with waiting tables as well having that the diner was loaded.
Babi, like the rest of the waitresses, was dressed in a baby pink dress with a white collar and belt and pink hat on the head.
Babi worked behind the counters at the coffee, frozen yoghurt, and ice cream machines.
"B," the gentleman reached the counter calling.
He had been in line letting everyone pass him till he was the last.
"My gentleman," Babi said with a smile.
" You know how it is," he said with a smile and so proud of himself.
"The usual?" she asked.
"Yes," he agreed with a smile , pulling out his credit card.
"Kalvin," Nathan called, approaching him.
"Yo man," Kalvin happily called going in for their "bro" side hug.
"I am really happy to see you," Nathan said.
"Is that another way to say you missed me?" Kalvin asked, to which Nathan laughed hard.
" I missed you too," Kalvin added.
Kalvin was one handsome young man, of averageheight.
He was small in size, definitely not a gym guy, his eyes are brown, and chocolate skin beautifully printed with white vitiligo patches.
His handsomeness and uniqueness were so alluring .
"Very true, I missed you," Nathan admitted.
"B is not that happy to see me, though," Kalvin said.
"We have been video calling almost every day, Kalvin," Babi said, defending herself.
"It's not news. She can never admit how she truly feels," Nathan said.
"I missed you, Kalvin," she said, rolling her eyes. Making both Nathan and Kalvin laugh hard.
"How was Boston?" Nathan asked.
"Great, but not as nice as it is here." He said.
Babi smiled as she worked on his order at the yoghurt machine.
"This is home, and besides, we are here," Babi smiled.
"True, this is home," Kalvin said, his tone came off sad.
"And your mother?" Babi asked, placing the glass of yoghurt in front of him.
"Let's leave that for another time. Shall we?" he said uncomfortably.
Nathan and Babi looked at each other, noticing the weird vibe from him.
"True, for now, let's focus on welcoming you home," Nathan said, gently tapping his shoulder.
"Welcome back home Kal , it was so empty without you," Babi said with a smile.
Kalvin widely smiled at both of them. He and Nathan walked to the extreme corner of the diner at the table that had a reserved tablet on it, which Nathan removed and put in his apron pocket
"These selfish bustards, you reserve a table just so no one can sit on it," Kalvin said, taking his seat.
"It's our table, our spot," Nathan said. Kalvin giggled.
"And these selfish bustards know that you love them for being bustards." He added, Kalvin laughed, agreeing to his statement.
"I am glad you're back, bro," Nathan said with a smile.
" i glad to be home as well," Kalvin smiled.
Nathan smiled returning to his work, leaving Kalvin sipping his drink and busy on the phone.
Hardly had Kalvin warmed his seat when the diner's door was opened, and Amir came through the door with his eyes fixed on Babi with a smile and then to Kalvin in the corner.
"Bro," Amir happily rushed to Kalvin.
Babi's eyes were still at the door waiting for Marieh to come in as expected.
Marieh opened the door, entering their eyes on each other with smiles.
"KALVIN!!!!!!" Marieh shouted on noticing him.
She attracted everyone's attention, and they looked at them, which Babi giggled to a bit.
Although she had not given it much attention, she finally noticed the two guys following Marieh , entering the dinner .
William was not new to her eyes. I mean he was the famous Prince William.
He was tall, his body well built especially since he is a notional swimmer, his hair black, he has a long face, well-defined jaw and Hazel eyes and commas on his cheeks each time he smiles, he dressed very casually in all black that was fastidiously picked .
Babi hurriedly took cover under the counter as soon as the one following William from behind turned looking over at her.
Babi sat down on the floor, very breathless and genuinely scared.
Her hand placed on her left breast, feeling her pounding heart.
"Why are you hiding down there?" Mr Wood asked on approaching the counter.
"I am not hiding. The floor is so comfy," she said, giving him a plastic smile.
"Okay," Mr Wood said, his tone so clearly indicating that he didn't buy it.
"Ice cream, please." a customer said to Mr Wood on reaching the counter.
"High time you stopped being comfortable, get off your ass and work." Mr Wood said to Babi.
"A little help?" Babi said with a sweet smile.
"Why are you hiding?" He asked, reaching for the ice cream corn to do whatever was necessary to serve the customer.
"Well, there is someone I am not ready to face, I didn't ever imagine seeing him here." She said, sounding really disturbed.
" What is he doing here , and why today of all days?" She asked Wood, sounding very troubled.
Mr Wood stared at Babi , with no answers to her questions. He raised his eyes to the table in the corner where Kalvin and the rest were.
"I don't know you as someone who hides, this is so not you, and besides, for how long are you going to hide?" he asked.
She breathed out, leaning behind on the counter with her head thinking hard , with a helpless sad face .
"B," a voice she knows so well called with excitement.
"Good evening, Mr Wood," Marieh said to him.
"A good one to you, Marieh," he replied softly.
"B ? " she called again. Mr Wood immediately pointed down at where she was.
"Why are you hiding down there?" she asked in confusion.
Gently, Babi stood up, giving Mr Wood a death stare.
"You're welcome," Mr Wood said with a lovely smile.
As he left, his attention was again taken by William and Darnel at the table in the corner, very taken up in a conversation with Amir and Kalvin.
Darnel looked up, gazing at Mr. Wood as well.
"I wasn't hiding," she smiled at Marieh.
Babi could not help but look past Marieh to the corner.
Her eyes met with those of Darnel.
Her heart froze together with her world staring into blue eyes with a stoic facial expression.
"Then what were you doing?" Marieh asked, pulling back Babi's attention and gaze to her.
"You came in with new company." Babi changed the topic.
"Yes," she said hesitantly.
Babi turned, looking back at their table. Her eyes landed on Darnel and William, who were looking at them too.
Quickly returning the gaze back on Marieh, their eyes met .
"One of them is Prince William. i'm sure you know him so well," Marieh said.
"Next to him is Darnel Grayson, the Grayson son your mother has raised," Marieh said.
Babi swallowed hard, keeping her eyes on Marieh, and very uncomfortable by the eyes she felt on herself from the table in the corner.
"I see," Babi said, unsettledly.
"He is also that guy I told you about, whom I got engaged to," she added.
Babi didn't even flinch or act surprised. This was not news nor anything to excite her . She maintained her stoic expression.
Marieh watched her friend as Babi watched her as well. The silence was filled with awkwardness.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what to say or how to react." Babi finally said with a small giggle.
"I know, it's so uncomfortable," Marieh said, laughing it off.
"Remind me again. Why have you come with them?" Babi asked.
Marieh giggled loudly. She could feel the unpleasantness of having them here from Babi.
" Amir wasn't so happy about it, too. Kalvin has openly welcomed them, though. " Marieh smiles.
Babi continues staring at Marieh, who doesn't answer her question.
"We're supposed to go on a date, but blahhh blahhh, long story short, we are here, and please, please be nice," Marie pleaded with a smile.
"No promises." Babi smiled.
Her eyes still lingered back to their table, watching Darnel, who was in a conversation with William.
She heavily inhaled and then looked back to Marieh smiling.
"Are you ordering anything?" Babi asked.
"Not yet," Marieh smiled, then walked back, joining others at the table.
Babi put her eyes down, not really certain how to handle all this .
"He has grown so much," she mumbled to herself.
"Darnel Grayson," Mr Wood appeared saying.
"Um.." Babi was startled. She quickly turned to him.
"Yes?" she breathed out.
"It's the same boy your mother raised." Mr Wood added.
"Yes," Babi said.
"Are you okay?" Mr Wood asked.
She looked at him blankly, just wondering why he was asking such a question.
She nervously began gently tapping the counter with her fingertips, all she wanted was to escape.
"I don't know what to feel," she admitted after a long time of thought.
"Do you want us to go out and talk?" he asked.
"I'm good, thank you." she smiled plainly.
Mr Wood gently tapped her on the shoulder, trying to comfort her.
"I would like to order." a soft, deep voice said from behind.
Babi turned, and she was dumbstruck, swallowing and grabbing on the counter tightly.
He must have super powers of making her whole world freeze, she stood still and weakly before him unable to control her body , mind and heart.
"Um.." Babi's world unfroze with her heart pounding against the chest. Lightly trembling and blood rushing to the brain.
From far away, he didn't look that tall, but he was, his shoulders wide and body broad, a few of his abs you could see through his v-neck shirt rightly fitting his body.
His hair was long in a quiff yet confusingly light hazel and dirty blonde, his blue eyes just as bright as the ocean, the facial features well defined, with deadly jaws.
He is a firm, handsome gentleman. Walking sexy greek god one can say.
She observed him for a minute , carefully and closely taking him in.
She gasped, drowning straight into his eyes and struggling to play it cool.
"Mm.." Babi cleared her throat
"Mhm.. What would you like?" she finally asked uncertainly. Like her wit had disappeared.
"Good evening, sir," Darnel said to Mr Wood, who was watching him.
"Good evening, young man," he said happily with a smile.
"What would you like?" she asked again, making Mr. Wood smiled hard.
"Give me your best," he said, moving a bit closer to the counter.
"Any allergies or dislikes?" she asked, quickly rushing away from the counter grabbing one of the big glasses.
"No," he said, scrutinising everything she did
"Can I ask you something?" he said.
"Go ahead." she freely said , finding her steady.
"Is it Babi or Neacky?" Darnel humbly asked.
Babi paused from pouring the milk into the glass, looking at him.
"I'm sure we know each other. You're one of Miss Nancy's twins, I don't want to confuse you," Darnel said, trying to justify why he was asking.
Babi smirked and continued to pour the milk in as it reached halfway through the glass.
"True, but that doesn't mean we have to be friendly with each other," she said , sounding so politely cold.
"Got it." he smiled slightly.
"It's Neacky, just so you don't confuse us," she said, then started adding a couple of things to the milk.
"Neacky," he smirked with a scoff , biting his jaws angrily.
She placed the glass on the tray, putting it in front of him.
He looked at his drink quietly, clenching his fists even more angry.
"You didn't put sugar in this," he sadly said, raising his eyes to her.
"But you don't...." she bit her tongue stopping.
"I will put sugar in it," she added and gently pulled the tray to herself, carrying off the glass.
"All this for what, Sky?" he asked very calmly and quietly in raw hurting voice.
Babi paused ,tightening her grip on the glass.
"I'm sorry I got so used to calling you Sky, Babi," he added.
She at loss for words. She was not the only one who recognized him right away.
The door was swung open, and the one who looked exactly like Babi walked in, with a very beautiful baige skined girl and a tall white gentleman.
"KALVIN!!!!" Neacky shouted, grabbing everyone's attention.
"NEACKY SUMMER," Kalvin shouted, standing up with hands open.
She ran into his arms happily. Kalvin carried her up .
That was more confirmation that Babi had lied to Darnel.
"I will take my drink with no sugar in." Darnel turned back to her saying.
Babi deeply inhaled.
"I...." she had nothing to say.
"Give me another glass with sugar in it," Darnel softly said. The pain in his voice was quite noticeable .
Babi gently put the glass back on the tray, making his other serving quietly.
"Babi," Neacky called, joining Darnel at the counter.
"Yes," she replied, with a smile masking her pain.
Neacky's eyes landed on Darnel.
"Darnel," Neacky said with a smile to him.
"Hey," she added.
"Hello, Neacky," Darnel said with a smile.
"Is it like a day off at your tower? Mom is home. You're also here," Neacky said.
"Trying to make adjustments,"Darnel said.
"You chose the right day and the right place," Neacky smiled.
"The pleasure is mine." Darnel smiled.
Neacky turned to Babi with a smile.
"Girl, we are starving, the same usual for the three of us, and yes, one more for Marieh as well," Neacky said.
"Get your ass behind here and do what you have to do," Babi said.
"Ummmm," Neacky reacted, clenching her face.
" Come on," Neacky pleaded as Darnel handed in his card to Babi.
"Thank you," Babi said, returning his card after payment
Darnel carried his tray, walking away back to the table in the corner.
As much as Neacky tried looking cute for Babi, she was not willing to compromise.
" Uh.." Neacky sadly sighed, getting behind the counter to work on herself.
"You don't have to hate the Graysons." Neacky quietly said.
"It is then that it will be easy on you," she added.
"I'm sorry, I am not so good at pretending," Babi said. Neacky breathed out heavily.
"Can we stop this petty fighting?" Neacky asked.
"Then stop bringing up crap in our conversations 'cause you know I ain't having it," Babi said so calmly.
"Do you realize you're not the only one who lost Dad?" Neacky said, leaving everything and then turning to Babi.
"Ummmm, I am glad you know that, I was getting tired of constantly reminding you ," Babi said.
"Babirye," Neacky called both, trying to stay as quiet as possible.
"My shift is done, and I am so done of having these fights with you," Babi said, pulling off her apron angrily .
With that heading out to the back room.
"Babi .." Nathan called as she entered inside the changing room.
"My shift is done, and I ain't doing any extra hours." she loudly said without looking back at him, and she entered inside the changing room.
Nathan walked to the counter, finding Neacky at the counter and making her drinks.
"Is Babi okay?" Nathan asked.
"Is she dropping dead?" Neacky asked unconcernedly.
"No, but ...." Nathan tried to say.
"Then help me carry these to our table." Neacky continued.
"And the two guys at our table?" Nathan asked.
" William and Darnel, those two are Marieh's company," Neacky said.
A young lady already dressed in the diners unform arrived at the counter to start her shift.
Nathan carried the tray of four glasses of frozen yoghurt walking towards their table and Neacky followed suit.
Laughter had filled the whole table, and they had bonded quickly, William and Darnel blending in so well like all always known each other.
Above all, they were celebrating their friend's return, Neacky's best friend Kalvin.
"Is B having a bad day today?" Amir asked as soon as Neacky and Nathan reached the table.
"I asked the same thing," the young lady with weavy coffee hair that came in with Neacky said. A fellow ballerina like Neacky all cut her name kimberley to Kim.
They all turned looking at Nathan , like he had the answers.
"Don't look at me, I am as well wondering as you all are," Nathan said.
Darnel's reaction towards Nathan changed, his eye burrows furrowed.
They all then turned, looking at Marieh, expecting answres.
"Blank," Marieh said.
They then turned to Neacky.
"The both of you seemed to have those quiet disagreements just minutes ago," Kim said.
"It's been like that since morning, we are having these small fights, but I don't get why she is so angry," Neacky said.
"Is it J?" Kalvin asked.
William hurriedly looked at Darnel very astonished. Darnel was so shocked that he almost got chocked om his drink but brushed it off, trying to show his disinterest and ignorance in all this .
Nathan himself seemed so uncomfortable about the conversation.
Neacky looked at Darnel so curiously her eyes fixated on him.
"Why are you looking at him like that?" Marieh asked.
"'cause it all begins from your tower," Neacky said.
"I'm sorry, what?" Darnel asked calmly.
"Well, that guy J. He sends books to Babi through.....".
"Ahem," Amir loudly cleared his throat, interrupting Neacky from saying more as soon as he noticed Babi, who was heading towards the table.
Babi's eyes scanned their guilty faces that tried to pretend to have been having a different conversation.
"Were you talking about me?" Babi asked.
They all abruptly laughed nervously.
"Isn't your shift done yet?" she turned, asking Nathan.
"It is, lemme get changed," Nathan said awkwardly, rushing away.
Babi turned, looking at them with a smile. At all costs, making sure she did not make eye contact with Darnel.
"It's gonna be a crazy night to remember. " Matt Kim's boyfriend said, kissing Kim on the cheek.
They all smiled, agreeing to that.
"Is it like a friends' group with you guys dating yourselves?" William asked.
"No, they are the only couple in the group," Marieh said.
"Others are failed relationships, failed before even started," Kalvin added.
William giggled.
Darnel, on the other hand , was finding it hard to keep his eyes off Babi and to hide the tension between them something she was effortlessly doing.
" With the popularity you two possess, how many girls throw themselves to you in a night?" Amir asked.
" Oh, I am curious too . You must it easy," Matt added.
" Oh, they do , " William smiled
" and when they do , we munch." Darnel smiled. All the boys burst into laughter.
The girls rolled their eyes. All quite uncomfortable by what seemed like jokes.
As soon as Nathan came back , the girls were the first to stamd up heaing out the diner. The guys stood up following suit.
Darnel and William, following from behind, still trying to analyze the dynamic and context of that group of friends.
Mr Wood widely smiled, watching them head out. It's a group of kids he knew so well and was fond of.
" Where are we headed?" Darnel asked.
" It's a surprise." Marieh widely smiled.
Matt walked to his minivan, widely opening the door for them to enter.
Kim widely smiled . She walked to the minivan opening the front door , sliding into the passenger seat.
Neacky and Kalvin happily and excitedly entered into Matt's minivan.
" Aren't you coming B" Nathan asked, getting into the minivan as well .
" No , she is with me." Marieh smiled, opening the door to the passenger seat , for Babi to sit.
Babi sighed , uncomfortable with William and Darnel, who were getting into the backseats of Marie's car.
Amir, too, got into the backseat of Marieh's car. Amir and Darnel are on the sides while William in between them .
"Girl , let's go." Marieh smiled.
Babi deeply inhaled, having no choice but to get into the passenger seat.
" Let's see who gets there fast." Matt smiled to Marieh.
" Bring it on," Marieh laughed.
Both Matt and Marieh got into the drivers seat of their respective cars.
Marieh immediately started the car racing out of the diner's parking, first, Matt driving up closely to her as she chuckled .
" Are you normally quiet, Darnel? You never seemed like the quiet type on Tv, " Amir asked .
" i also noticed your awfully off and quiet today is something bothering you," Marieh asked
William folded his lips , hiding his urge to laugh .
"I am good," Darnel replied.
His mouth could lie all it wanted , but his emotions portrayed themselves in that unlike manner.
"Is Babi always that quiet?" William asked , fidgeting to hide his smile .
Darnel turned, glaring at William.
" Talk about it . She is a lot quiet today, " Marieh said.
" Are you okay B " Amir asked .
" i am," Babi replied.
" Well, you two must be having a lot. You're going through alot today," William said , his little mischievous smirk displaying .
Darnel and Babi turned staring at William in sync.
William widely smiled , not being able to hide it.
Babi raised her eyes, meeting those of Darnel.