Chapter song:
Someone to you by Matt Hassan.
••☆••
"Where did Babi and Darnel disappear to?" Kim asked.
"They are there coming," Neacky said .
They all turned staring at them , Darnel closely following Babi from behind.
"What took you so long?" Marieh asked as Babi sat next to Nathan.
"She had some long business to handle in the toilet, and I had to become a girl toilet buddy to wait for her," Darnel said, sitting next to William.
Nathan was angrily quiet , wandering about a lot and closely observing them.
"What game have you been playing?" Babi asked.
"Truth or dare," Nathan said immediately.
All smiled with excitement .
"We play as we drink," Kalvin said, then stood up, passing them beer bottles.
"Ah, Matt and Marieh shouldn't drink, who will drive us back," Kim said.
"We are just getting started, and you're thinking of going back," Amir said.
" Safety," Kim emphasised.
"Nathan, you suggested the game, you start," William said.
"Babi, truth or dare?" Nathan began.
"Truth." Babi smiled at him.
"Who was your first kiss, and love?" Nathan asked.
"Aw...., starting off strong. " they all laughed .
"And the story behind it," Kim added
Babi first grabbed the bottle, sipping some. She moved her eyes to Darnel as she thought then slowly moving her gaze from him.
"Uh..., first kiss, i was six by then," Babi said.
" And..." Matt asked.
" That's all." Babi smiled.
"Come on," They shouted in frustration.
" always so brief, we need details," Marieh shouted.
" Well, cause i haven't had a first love yet," Babi said , her eyes meeting those of Darnel's, who bore a smirk on his face.
"Give us the name of the guy , your first kiss?" William encouraged.
"I don't remember his name, don't even remember him telling me his name," Babi replied.
" Boring .." they all shouted. Babi laughing.
"My turn." Babi said.
"Go ahead," Neacky said with a smile on.
"Amir, I dare you to kiss anyone of your choice," Babi said with a smile.
" What happened to i choosing between truth or dare?" Amir shouted, confused.
" The rules have changed, she choose truth you automatically go with dare," Kalvin laughed , all agreeing.
"Go ahead, Amir , kiss someone " Marieh smiled.
Amir quietly smiled, looking at all of them.
"Including the boys?" Amir asked. All bursting into laughter.
"The floor is yours. It's your choice that we shall go with," they laughed.
Amir looked at Marieh. Gently, he turned her head towards him, and with no hesitation, he moved in close gently, covering her lower lip with his lips.
Marie tightened the grip on her dress, and she closed her eyes, feeling his lips. Everyone became quiet, with satisfactory smiles on their faces. Their kiss was short but passionate.
"Does it satisfy all of you?" Amir asked, leaning back , Marieh looked down shily as others finally burst into laughter.
"Yes," Matt said, smiling hard.
"My turn," Amir smiled.
"Marie, what is it that you have between you and Darnel or William?" he added.
The smile on Marieh's face vanished. They were all shocked by his question.
Babi looked at Darnel, not extremely happy about Amir's question. Darnel swallowed hard, staring down .
"There is a pact between my family and the Grayson family that was long made before we were even born ," Marieh said, trying so hard to bring it out as good as she could.
" What pact?" Amir asked.
All maintaining silence, very curious as well .
Marieh swallowed hard ,nervous about replying to Amir's question.
" Our families are supposed to intermarry , like some sort of partnership." Marieh replied.
William , Darnel, and Babi stare at her in amusement. She sugarcoated it all . That's half the truth.
" In simple words, you're supposed to marry into Darnel's family," Amir asked, disappointment in his voice.
" something like that." Marieh hid the whole truth.
She was already engaged to Darnel.
William and Darnel looked at each other every surprised. Then back to Marieh.
Marieh deeply inhaled, staring at Babi , who wasn't happy about Marieh hiding the truth.
"Your turn?" Amir said to Marieh , with a slight smile, trying to be okay with what he had just learnt.
She held her drink up, sipping.
"Darnel," Marieh called .
Darnel smirked, staring at Marieh.
" I dare you to give a lap dance to any of the girls ," Marie smiled.
" Ah..." Darnel deeply exhaled.
" Well , my girl is off limits," Matt protectively said , the rest chuckling.
" Your options being limited," Kalvin said.
" Marieh is just done , it will only be fair if you choose between the twins." William smiled .
" Yes..." Amir agreed the rest going along .
" Who will it be . Neacky or Babi, " Matt smiled.
Darnel raised his eyes, staring at Babi , as though he was implying to choose Babi .
Neacky laughed, already telling who his choice was.
"Are you choosing B?" Nathan asked immediately. All teling from the direction of his eyes.
"I would," Darnel smiled.
" But they are like my sisters. We share a mom. it's not sitting well with me." Darnel smiled , politely declining.
Babi exhaled, a little relieved by that . She was so tensed, and Darnel could tell.
"But William can do it for me," Darnel added.
"What!!!!!" William was extremely shocked.
They all died of laughter.
" Are you asking me to lap dance ..."
" One of the twins." Darnel cut William off immediately.
William exhaled, staring at Babi, then Neacky.
"I am no good dancer, but my lips can do," he said, standing up.
Everyone's face was covered in smiles , curious of whom he was to kiss of the two .
"Ohh..." Neacky gasped as William squatted right close before her .
" May i?" William softly asked.
The rest shutting their mouths not to ruin this moment, and closely watching like it was serie.
Neacky responded by gently extending closer, faintly placing her lips, meeting his, giving him a faint lick on his lower lip .
William firmly placed his hand around her neck as she gently moved back. He pulled her in, taking the lead on the kiss.
William extended further in , definitely getting consumed in the kiss . What was a soft kiss turned into a passionate heated kiss .
Everyone's jaw dropped , all gazing at each other as their eyes popped out
These two really understood the assignment.
" Give them a room already," Kim shouted , the rest cheering and clapping on the two pulling back from the kiss .
Neacky widely smiled, bitting her lower staring into his eyes .
William's commas got deep as his lips curved in a smile. Then, she looked down on her lips .
" WHOAH...." Everyone shouted on William, placing a soft peack on Neacky's lips as he stood up .
Neacky burst into laughter , the last got her by surprise.
"Prince William, we can give you another around with her," Kalvin said , all bursting into more laughter .
" Neacky , how are you feeling?" Amir asked.
" You know i love me a good kiss," Neacky said, and they cracked into more laughter.
"And she is indeed you type," Darnel smiled, staring at William.
"Hmm..." William smiled , checking out Neacky again, the rest dying of more laughter .
" Tsk...Enough . Next, " Neacky smiled.
" William did Darnel's dare , so someone should question him," Matt smiled.
" Darnel, do you and Babi have some sort of beef?" Amir quickly asked .
"The two of you kinda got into it while we came ," Marieh added.
"We need to be filled in on the gaps," Amir insisted.
Darnel and Babi looked at each other , Nathan observing their body language even more closely.
Darnel sipped his drink , thinking hard of what to answer to that.
"I was angry and jealous," Babi said bluntly.
She got them by surprise, even before Darnel would find what to say.
"Of what?" Neacky asked.
"Mom," Babi exhaled.
" While we spend ages without her , Darnel gets to have her as his mom on a daily . " Babi added.
" Morgan would love to have mom around , but here we are mothering him because mom is too busy raising Darnel," Babi added . She sounded really angry.
" i am sorry," Darnel genuinely said .
"We shall be fine , " Babi sighed .
They could all feel her point in that and sympathising with her.
" So do you anyone in the tower that goes by J," Neacky quickly asked .
"Ahem...." Darnel coughed, he had almost chocked on his drink on hearing Neacky's question.
Wiliam bent his head down , hiding his smile .
" Neacky, what that fuck " Babi angrily said.
" What , high time we knew the nigga " Neacky said
" i agree and Darnel could help " Marieh added.
William tightly held on the bottle in his hands fidgeting with the laughter dying to escape.
"Who?" Darnel asked, so ravingly .
"Just Simply J, like you hear it " Nathan said .
" do you perhaps know him " Nathan added.
" Do i know him " Darnel wondered , staring at Babi whose face was warning him to keep his mouth shut.
" What's up with this J guy ..why are you looking for him " William smiled.
" we are convinced he is Babi's mysterious first lover " Kalvin replied.
" y'all are exaggerating this " Babi argued.
" have you seen how your face lights up when he used to call , or text you. Then he sends her books and she gets consumed in reading just those books" Neacky argued.
" your clearly in love with this guy " Marieh added.
Darnel widely smiled , raising his eyes looking at Babi . She rolled her eyes avoiding her eyes.
"They might have gotten issues this past year , but we still need to know him " Amir said .
" J ..." William sighed tapping Darnel's shoulder and resting his arm on Darnel.
Darnel turned glaring at William
" Hm...J.." William smiled staring in Darnel's face .
"Well, there are very many people at the tower but am going to investigate who J is, so we can all stop being curious 'cause am being curious myself about who our lovely Babi is in love with," Darnel said then winked at her.
"Please do, I will also help look for him," William smiled his eyes meeting those of Babi .
Babi sighed picking his bottle drinking up .
Kalvin stood up , facing the sea.
" WHOAH...." He loudly screamed .
All chuckling.
" i really missed y'all " Kalvin smiled , shouting it on top of his voice.
" i suppose things didn't go well with his mom " Neacky quietly said , looking at Kalvin.
" its all over his face " Amir quietly replied to Neacky.
Matt spread the blanket, wrapping himself and Kim who was in resting his chest .
Kim smiled getting even more comfortable.
Nathan the blanket giving Babi to cover herself as well .
Kalvin returned sitting next to Neacky , she leaned onto him . Kalvin sat upright letting her get comfortable.
"How many kids do you think Kim and Matt are to have " Babi asked
Matt and Kim chuckled
" quite sure you two would be the first to birth kids in the group " Marieh added , leaning her head on Amir's shoulder .
" Facts " the rest agreed .
" like five " Neacky softly said .
The chit chat continued as they laughed about this and that . All comfortable enjoying the sea over the brimming fire .
" UH....FUCKK.." Amir loudly said .
"Let's go," Mart shouted, alerting them on hearing police sirens approaching the beach.
Everyone sprung up laughing as they collected their items all rushing into the cars to run before the police arrived.
"We must part ways," Amir rushingly said .
Nathan, William, Darnel, and Marie rode in Marie's car since they came from upstate Zephyr towns.
Babi , Neacky, Mart, Kim, Kalvin, and Amir came from Valley Town, so they rode with Matt.
The two cars caught different directions escaping before they were raided.
" Thanks.., goodnight " Nathan smiled at Marieh on drpping him off first.
" Good night " Marieh smiles.
Darnel inquisitively observed Nathan's home then staring back at Nathan.
Nathan sighs , then turns slowly walking up his home as Marieh started the car driving off .
"Drop off yourself as well," Darnel said.
"Sorry?" she calmly asked.
"Drive to your home. You can't drive to the tower, then go back alone," Darnel said.
"True," William said.
"Will you guys get home safe?" she asked.
"We all can crush at the tower," Marie suggested.
"No, 'cause Will and i are going clubbing," Darnel said.
William confusedly furrowed his eyes burrows, he looked at Darnel completely unaware of the plans.
" are you sure , " Marieh asked surprised.
" we have to put this heated adrenaline to use," Darnel added .
"Yes." William smiled ,finally understanding the innuendo look on Darnel's face.
"Okay," Marieh exhaled.
" Why didn't you tell Amir that we are engaged?" Darnel asked.
Marieh deeply exhaled.
" did you want me to expose it to them " Marieh asked .
" i thought you hated this more than i did " Marieh added.
" i am asking to be careful next time i probably hang with him. Is it something you don't wish him to know " Darnel asked .
" not yet " Marieh replied.
" alright " Darnel exhaled .
" i have to ask too " Marieh said .
" mhm." Darnel replied.
" do you and Babi really have no bad blood between you two . I know she tried to clarify earlier but i want to be sure its nothing more than you two are saying " Marieh said.
" Why " Darnel asked. William exhaled ,staring at his best friend.
" she is my best friend, actually she is like a sister to me. So i don't want the person i really treasure and the guy i am engaged too having rangles " Marieh said .
" i don't want to have to choose " Marieh said.
" well its not like you have a choice with me " Darnel exhaled.
" exactly, so i don't want to lose her " Marieh said.
" there is nothing going on " Darnel said.
" it didn't seem that way in the car , it was quite intense. " Marieh said
" you even declined the dare earlier, are you not fond of her " Marieh asked.
Darnel scoffed with a smirk.
" would it be okay for your fiancée to snog or lap dance your best friend. Are you okay with it " Darnel asked .
" you and i aren't close like that. I know it's not about me , that's not why you declined the dare, " Marieh said .
"Obviously, you two snogging is way more wrong, but fighting each other isn't better either," Marieh said .
" It's not like that," Darnel said .
William raised his one burrow with a smirk .
" For whatever is happening, please try to fix it with her. I would appreciate it if you were cool with her, " Marieh said .
The whole journey to her home was quiet. She pulled over infront of her house .
" Take my car," she said softly as William and Darnel got off .
" Thank you, " Darnel and William said switching from the backseats to front .
"Good night," Marieh said , Darnel getting into the drivers seat.
"Thanks for the day," William said.
Marieh softly smiled. Darnel immediately drove off soon as Marieh entered inside her house.
"To where are you going?" William immediately asked.
"I need to clear the air," Darnel said.
" With Sky " William asked .
" yes " Darnel said.
" am i the only one seeing how messy this is " William asked .
Darnel totally ignored William concern, He turned off his phone, handing it to William.
William scoffed pocketing Darnel's phone .
"Make sure you're at the suite by 12," William said.
"Thanks , bro." Darnel smiled .
"Be careful," William concernedly said , Darnel smiled, stepping on it , increasing speed .
*
Matt's car parked in front of the old desgin house with a huge compound . The home is on such a vast space of land.
Babi opened the car door getting out ,Neacky, Amir, and Kalvin followed suit .
"You're all crushing here?" Kim asked.
"We are home," Kalvin smiled.
"Good night," Neacky smiled .
" Good night " Kim smiled .
"We love you," Matt shouted at them.
They all turned smiling and chuckling.
" he is tipsy." Amir laughed , watching Matt drive off .
Neacky swang the door open, entering inside the house and the rest quietly following suit . Every cautious not to make their presence known.
Neacky and Babi got their shoes off , quietly rushing upstairs.
Amir and Kalvin took the hallway on the first floor .
'she is like a sister to me.' Darnel's words still roamed in Babi's head .
She fell flat on the bed , disturbed by specifically those words.
' so hypothetically, if Darnel and Marieh were to get married, would Babi hae to be their head maiden just like Miss Nancy is to Darnel's parents ' Kalvin had asked that question as they rode back home.
' doesn't have to necessarily be Marieh and Darnel. Babi is supposed to fill Aunty Nancy's shoes. That is to serve the hier of the Grayson family . Could be Darnel's big brother,' Amir had continued to say .
' Right , but hypothetically if that turns out to be Darnel and his future wife . That's wild,' Kalvin had added.
Babi deeply sighed wearily. She rolled over to her back, staring at the ceiling.
With the crazy thoughts in her head , she didn't bother turning on the lights or getting changed or washing up . She laid there in darkness.
The phone in her back jean pocket vibrants. Babi pulled it out, looking at the screen. Nathan, it read.
She deeply inhaled, silencing the phone and throwing it aside .
"Urgh," she groaned in frustration, the phone vibranting again.
Babi reached for it , some unknown number calling .
"It's Babi." She answered wearily.
"I know." the deep voice on the other side said.
Babi sprung up, sitting straight on the bed on hearing the voice , so extremely dumbstruck.
" did I do wrong getting your new number?" he asked calmly.
"No, no, you didn't," she replied softly with a smile curving on her face .
There was a small noise on her window. Babi turned, looking at the window, and it sounded again.
She stood up, walked to it, and drew the curtain open She was startled by a small stone hitting the window.
Babi extended closer, staring down . Her lips curved into a bigger smile, eyes on him below .
He softly smiled, waving at her.
"What are you doing here, J?" she smiled.
"I came to see you. Why else would I be here, Sky?" Darnel softly smiled.
Looking at him down there kind of brought more sadness to her, her eyes flooded with tears.
Babi gasped. She fidgeted to get it together. She deeply inhaled, fighting the urge to cry.