Chapter 5 Unexpected Meeting

I woke up feeling tried and sick. I was feeling pains all over. Mental and physical pains. I must've fallen or something.

"Are you okay" Nina put her hand on my head to feel my temperature "Jeez, your temperature is very high". She put a wet towel on my forehead.

"stop it Nina, I have to do some research, please bring me my phone" I removed the towel and sat upright.

"Why are you so hard to deal with now, what happened to you?" Nina said trying to push me back down on the bed

"My past is back Nina, my past is back" I said and she looked at me with questionable eyes

" I don't know how but James is here"

"What, seriously?" she asked in shock.

"Yes it's true, I met him outside the hall today".

"Did you try explaining anything to him? What did he say?"

"That's it I couldn't do it. I want to prove my innocence but I'm just tried now. My tear bag is full but I just can't pour it out. I'm so tried Nina, I'm really tried". I said.

After all these years what exactly could i say that'll make things different. I've spent so many nights crying myself to sleep and begging for a chance to explain myself and now that I have the chance, I don't know what to do with it.

"Shhh, things will be okay" she hugged me.

" I should be crying" I said breaking out of the hug.

"If you want to, just cry it out" A tall fair beautiful woman said, she looked a lot like Nina.

Round green eyes, red straight long hair, I see Nina got her looks from

"But I just can't, I've tried so hard but I can't" I said and bent my head in disappointment.

"Come, drink this tea" Mrs. Joy handed a cup of bitter smelly medicine "It will help calm your mind" she said cupping my cheek

"it's bitter" I frowned with my tongue out after drinking it.

"it'll help a lot darling" Mrs. Joy placed her hand on my forehead, checked my eyes and mouth" in no time you will get better" she said patting my head. That touch, it felt so motherly and I started feeling home sick. I missed my mummy

"I'm so sorry for eveavesdropping on your conversation Duxie but let me tell you a real fact. Don't forget the past because you have to, do it because you deserve a happy future" she smiled at me

"I'll wait for you in the car" Gerald peaked in from the living room

"Bye dad" Nina smiled at him before he left.

"Take care darling, don't forget, cry if it is necessary, boil mad if necessary, but be happy because you deserve it and much more" Mrs. Joy hugged me and I hugged her back.

This was like a mother and daughter re-union, but she still had to leave anyway.

"your parents are so nice" I said after Mrs. Joy left. "Yeah, I'll say they're the best, I love them so much" she said with pride.

I felt so sad and jealous "I'm hungry Nina" I smiled she smiled too "Okay I'll go make you portage, okay?

"Okay". I nodded and she left. I was deep in thought for a while but distracted by a knock on the door.

"I'll get it" I ran to the door and opened it. It was Mark, he had a bunch of sun flowers in his hands and a box of chocolate.

"Come on in" I gave him space to pass. with those sun flowers I just knew it was not a visit for me cause I was allergic, but they were Nina's favourite.

"What are you doing here it's almost 09:00" I said with a smile.

"I'm here to see Nina" he was really nervous, sweating so much in the cold.

"Who is it?" Nina came out of the kitchen

"Can we talk? "Mark said, Nina just looked away with her arms crossed over her chest

I could smell a love story brewing here

I giggled "I'll go to bed guys" I ran to the bedroom.

It was 10:00pm I sat on the bed as Nina walked in. "Where is mark?"

She sighed "He's left". She sat on her bed then smiled to herself. It seemed like she was out of this world. Her hand pulled the hair band off her messy bun before her eyes finally fell on the box.

"What's is it?" I asked with so much curiosity. "Let's find out" She tore the gift wrap mercilessly as she opened the box, there was a white long gown. Tears built up in my eyes. Mark got her a dress for the upcoming dance.

"It's so beautiful", I said flashing back to the gift James gave me.

I ran to the wardrobe and pulled out a box beneath it. I tried the red gown on but it was still oversize I removed the gown and laid on my bed, "but you said it would fit, and I'm already eighteen" I sobbed.

"Duxie, are you okay?" I felt Nina's hand on my back.

I put myself together "we'll go to the mall tomorrow"

"okay" Nina said.

At the mall there were just too many expensive dresses. I picked out a white sleeveless dress, we were heading to the fitting room when we bumped into Nora Smith.

"Hey there" she said in a creepy voice.

"Are you ready for tomorrow Nina asked excited. "Sure, be expectant" she smiled then walked away.

"hey" Nina's eyes fell on a red rosy gown. "this will look good on you".

Nina paid the bills for me as we walked towards the exit, Nina tapped me "is that James" she pointed at the corner, James was with a girl I suspect to be Angel. they seemed so happy, laughing about something. James helped arrange her hair mid convo and it pained me to the core.

"Let's go Nina" I dragged Nina as we walked toward the door.

"they look really cute, I must confess"

"Duxie"I guess he has noticed my presence.

"Wait Duxie, he is calling you" Nina dragged my orange sweater.

"Don't be ridiculous Nina, I don't want to talk to him" I dragged Nina and ran out the door.

"Wait Duxie" I could hear his voice behind us I guess he was chasing us I ran as fast as my legs could carry and dragged Nina along as far as she was in my grip.

"we've lost him Duxie, stop" Nina said breathing so hard.

"you're right" I looked around I gave a sigh of relief "we're not far from the school again" I said.

"Yeah, you ran like flash today, Bravo" Nina said. "Why are you hiding from him?" Nina asked as we walked into the school compound.

"I'm not ready Nina" I said.

"Why? but you have always wanted to see him" "You won't understand Nina. it's so complicated" I said "you don't know why he was telling you to wait, he might have forgiven you for his mother's death".

"He does not need to forgive me, because i'm innocent" I walked away.

"Please don't get angry, I was just advising you as a friend" she said as we entered our room .

"I know but please let's not talk about the past again".

"okay" she hugged me, "you're eyes are still so swollen Duxie" she said breaking the bond.

"Yeah I know" I said.

"What are we gonna do about it?" she asked concerned.

"I don't know" I sat on the couch.

"try this, sleep as much as you before 08:00pm maybe it will work" she suggested.

"I'll try it. later we'll watch some make up tutorials" I said there was a knock on the door.

"Okay" she said going towards the door, she opened the door "welcome Ciara who is this?" she said,

I walked to the door "what's up" I asked Nina she looked angry.

"babe, seriously? you're gonna keep me out here?" the guy said in a harsh tone.

"sorry boys are not allowed in this hostel, it's girls hostel" I said "you're not welcome".

"what? how dare you talk to my man in that manner Duxie. You let Mark in here whenever" Ciara yelled

"Mark never spends the night here Ciara"

"Are you getting inside or you're gonna sleep out tonight" Nina hissed

"so you brought me here to be humiliated by your little friends, yeah?" He huffed

"I'm sorry babe" she gave him a peck on the lips.

"Please let's just go somewhere else" she said after an eye contact. After a minute of deadly stares they left.

"Pest" Nina closed the door and turned "where were we?

"I don't know" I walked into the bedroom.