148

AALIYAH.

I stand up from the bed, both riled up and pissed. Why the fuck is she acting like my papa or a shrink? What's with all this mind-reading and acting smarter? I get that she's smart, scratch that, the smarter one amongst all three of us, I was the wildest, and Linda, most cunning.

But right now, it would actually do us both a favour is she sits this one out.

I don't respond. Rather, I remain mute, and trembling from anger, not because I’m scared of her fuss, but instead, because I let out so much that I can afford, and slowly, I can see the smoke of my plans setting ablaze and smell it like a sacred incense.

Still agitated, I sigh.

"Aaliyah, what does she want?" Her voice is low but firm and I can feel her eyes lurking around my fidgeting frame.

And it only means one thing, maybe two. First, she knows that I’m lying to her goddamn face, and second, I’m lying again even though she's yet to have facts.

“Nikki, I don't know what you're expecting from me.”

"The truth!