Chapter 5
What the fuck is Gem's picture doing in his care. He even had to hide it.
That was very suspicious.
When I saw him coming, I hid the picture where it was kept and tried to keep a straight face.
"Hey," I said immediately after he entered the car.
He arched his eyebrow giving me a confused look.
"Is there a problem?" He asked
I suck at pretending but I had to give it my best shot.
"Yeah sure" I replied
He wore his seatbelt before giving me the phone.
I opened the phone. It was an iPhone, I kept the phone in my purse, as Zach started driving.
"So where are we going?" I asked because I didn't want the ride to be silent.
"Let me take you to Lane's food and snacks. He said with a smile on his face.
His dimples showed faintly.
"Wait, don't tell me that's your parent's restaurant?" I said with a grin
"Well, It is " he laughed after saying this
"You are taking me there because you aren't going to pay for the food," I said and we both started laughing.
The sound of his laughter is musical, I'm sure he would be a good singer.
"The food is going to be free, But that's not why am taking you there," he said
"Then why are you taking me there," I asked, But I didn't expect a reply
"I don't know," he replied. His voice was low as if he was scared that I'm going to get angry.
"Then what I said is true" I mumbled.
He heard me and he chuckled.
For a moment I forgot I saw Gem's picture under the driver's seat.
When I remembered, My mood changed immediately and he noticed.
"You are good, right?" He asked
"Yeah sure," I replied. But the look on my face was not okay.
I'm a bad liar and I cannot pretend also.
"You know you are a bad liar, right?" He said and laughed a little.
I didn't laugh with him, it wasn't funny at that moment.
"Okay, what's the problem? I thought we were cool" he asked
I didn't reply to him though, I was thinking of how I am going to ask him questions without me sounding offensive or nosy.
"Did I say something wrong?" He asked, confused.
"You didn't say something wrong I saw something when you went to get my phone" I finally replied.
"What was that? Where did you see it? Were you searching through my stuff?" He asked.
"Yes I was, That isn't the issue" I replied
"It's not cool to look through my stuff but I'll let it pass. So what's the issue?"
I ignored him.
He drove inside a building, a restaurant precisely, and "Lane's foods and snacks were written boldly at the top of the building.
He parked his car in a space I was sure was reserved for only him.
I removed my seatbelt and tried to step out of the car but he stopped me by holding my hands tightly.
I turned to look at him with questions written all over my face.
" What did you see that's making you upset?" He asked.
"You are the guy that my bestie liked during her vacation, I saw her picture under your seat.
"Your bestie??, who the fuck is your bestie?" He asked
I was surprised he used swear language. Since we started talking, He did not swear.
I thought I made him upset because there was anger in his eyes. It was scary.
"Her name is Gem and her picture is under the driver's seat," I said, a little frightened.
"Gemm?" He asked with a wide smile.
"I met her during my vacation. She likes one of my friends, so I tried to help her do some stuff. Hope you are good now? he asked, still smiling.
" oh, I didn't know. I replied, Removing his hand from me.
"I'm sorry if I looked angry, That's how I get when people are mad at me" he apologized.
"Yeah sure, I meant to apologize for accusing you wrongly," I said
"So we are okay now?" he asked, removing his seat belt.
"We are," I replied.
We got down from the car and started walking towards the restaurant.
We got to the restaurant and Zach opened the door to let me in first.
I smiled at him and entered.
Damn, the restaurant was big and beautifully decorated.
"No wonder he brought me here so he can brag to me that he is a rich dude," I thought almost aloud.
"Were you saying something?" He asked as we walked toward a table that Zach reserved for us I guess.
"No, I wasn't," I said smiling at him.
'Do you like it?' He asked.
"I love it, Your parents did a good job here," I said, still smiling.
I didn't think I'd stop smiling till I got home.
"It's only my mum, My dad is with another woman. He said drawing a chair out for me to sit on.
" Thank you, And I'm sorry about your mum," I said
"Sure," He said and turned around to sit on the chair opposite me.
"Is this a date?" I asked hoping I didn't look desperate.
"Not really, a friendship meal I guess" he replied with a smile.
I felt a little bit bad and stupid but I shoved the feelings off.
"I bought you a new sim card, It's stressful to try and retrieve your old one," he said
"Thank you, I wanted to change my sim card before the phone fell" I smiled back
We were given the menu, And I didn't want to eat anything except chocolate.
He bought a lot of chocolate, which made my stomach arch.
He ate a Cobb salad, Making me think he was a vegetarian.
After eating, He offered to take me home and I agreed without thinking it through.
We had a lot of fun together, I wished that day never ended.
We entered his car, so he could take me home.
We talked and laughed till we arrived at my house.
He stopped his car and turned to me.
"I guess this is where we will say goodbye," he said with a weak smile.
"Yeah, good night, I enjoyed today," I said, removing my seatbelt.
"I had a great day too, Good nite Racie," he said.
I smiled childishly when he called me Racie. I got out of the car and waved him goodbye as he drove away.
I was almost at my door when My phone beeped.
I checked and it was a text.
It made me a little shocked Because I haven't given anyone my number, not even my bestie.
"Maybe it's Zach," I thought
The thought of Zach made me smile, But the smile was wiped off by the text.
It read:
I'm watching you, Gracie.
Chapter 6 It's read I'm watching you, Gracie. Who the fuck is this? I didn't care though. I opened the door and my mum looked at me shocked, It looked like she had been peeping at me through the window. "Hey, Mum," I said. "Hey baby, got a new catch right?" She asked, smirking at me. "Mum, Have u been watching me?" I asked with a smile. "No baby, I noticed you came late and your new catch might have been the reason for your lateness," she said scratching the corner of her hair. I knew she was lying without asking questions. She's a bad liar and she cannot pretend just like me. "Hmmm" I sighed and folded my hand "Okay you got me, I was peeping," she said and I just gave her a plain stare. " You can't blame me, I was curious," she explained further while sitting on a sofa. When she sat on the sofa, she used her hand to give me sign language that meant I should sit beside her. My mum and I learned sign language together when I was younger. "Mum, I'm stick
Chapter 7 "Mummmm" I yelled amused. She ran towards the sitting room and I ran after her. It didn't take long for me to catch her. When I caught her, We jumped on the sofa panting heavily. "Mum, give me back my phone," I said, struggling to take my phone from her. "Are you going to tell me all about it or are you going to keep smiling to yourself?" She asked when she had climbed the sofa. She raised my phone very high So I could not reach it even after climbing the sofa. My mum is taller than me, I'm sure my father would be a short man. " I'm going to tell you, I promise," I said after trying to get my phone to no avail. She looked at me for a few seconds before handing the phone to me. She was trying to see if my promise was sincere. "I'm not telling you" I screamed and ran to my room. She did not run after me. She knew I was surely going to tell her, If I didn't tell her today I will tell her tomorrow. Besides, it was already late and I needed r
Chapter 8 Gracie's pov. I sluggishly picked up the phone, to read the text and the text was from Zach. I was feeling sleepy but I had to check it. I'll pick you up by 9:00 Am if you can wait. I covered my mouth so I won't scream out of excitement. I didn't reply to his message though. My phone was beside me when I slept off. ZACH'S POV I hope I didn't make the wrong decision of taking her to school tomorrow. That was the thought running through my head. I don't want to lead her on but she seemed desperate. The only wish I had was to see Gem once again. We met on my previous vacation and she was having a family problem which she didn't tell me about. I had my issues too that I didn't tell her. We had been so close then before she left. She didn't tell me where she lived, she only gave me her number before leaving. I missed the times we spent and I just want to see her again. No strings attached though, We h
Chapter 9 ZACH'S POV "Where's Zach?" a familiar male voice spoke. I didn't bother putting on clothes. I simply tied a towel around my waist and started walking toward the living room. When I got there, I saw my dad tightly gripping my mother's hand next to the living room door, and she was wriggling in pain, trying to get his hand off her. He was whispering words in her ear that I couldn't hear, but I knew they were unpleasant. Tears welled up in my mum's eyes. I immediately became furious and ran to punch my dad in the nose. When he saw me running towards him, he immediately let go of my mum and positioned himself to avoid my punch, but it was too late. I punched him right in the nose, and he rested his back against the wall, nursing his broken nose and looking at me in shock and anger. He tried his best not to fight back. My dad had been a loving husband until I turned 10. He started bringing women into the house, and I guess that more tha
Chapter 10 I screamed. "Hey, Racie!" I heard my name from the back of the car before I could process what had just happened. The voice sounded very familiar, so I turned back to see who it was. "Shit," I swore under my breath. It was Anelle, and the person I thought was Zach was actually Bas. "What are you guys doing here, and how do you know where I live?" I asked with authority in my voice. "Calm down, girl. Zach said he wasn't going to pick you up anymore, and I offered to help. It took me some time to convince Bas to help you," she said and rolled her eyes because of my ungratefulness. I didn't feel any remorse. The only thing coursing through my veins was anger. I wasn't angry with Bas or Anelle, and I knew I couldn't be angry with Zach. So I realized that I was just feeling upset for no good reason. This morning, I woke up at 4:00 am to wish Zach a good morning and to prepare for school, or rather to see him. I chose a light blue body-hugging dress that accen
Chapter 11 "Gem??" I exclaimed in surprise. ZACH'S POV After dressing, I left the house without telling my mum goodbye. I got to my car and got in. After sitting in the driver's seat, I took out my phone from the back pocket of my black pants so I could call Gem and let her know I was already on my way. "Shit," I swore out loud. I had missed Gracie's calls, and I was sure she would be waiting for me. "I'm just a jerk," I said to myself, hitting my forehead with my palm. I quickly texted Anelle. Hey, I won't be able to pick up Gracie. Please let her know thank you. I didn't text Gracie because I knew she would be very disappointed. I'm sure she had been waiting for a long time because her first call was around 7:30 AM, and it was already 9:30 AM. When I was about to call Gem, Anelle's text popped up at the top screen of my phone, and it read: "Sure, Bas and I will pick her up since you have chosen to be a disappointment" I smiled unconsciously after readin
Chapter 12 "Are you into Gracie?" she asked. I almost choked at her question. "Nahhhh, we just met and I helped her based on a lucky guess that she is your bestie," I said. Soon we arrived at school after much talking and catching up during the drive to school. I parked in a space beside a white Camry car and I came down so I could quickly open the door for Gem so she could climb down. When I opened the door, I gave her my left hand so she placed her hand on mine unconsciously and came out. When she noticed that her hands were on mine, she dragged her hands away immediately and walked past me. I smiled; she said she doesn't like clingy people and she classifies hand-holding as a clingy manner. I remembered I asked her about her boyfriend, and she said she had never held him and doesn't like PDA (Public Display of Affection). "Gem," someone screamed from beside us. It sounded like Gracie. We turned in the opposite direction simultaneously to see who
Chapter 13 GRACIE'S POV "What the fuck was that all about?" The unknown number belonged to Gem. I had not saved Gem's number yet, but I knew it by heart. I didn't reply to her because I was still angry about the fact that she didn't call me when she was leaving for school. I picked up my bag to get some snacks to munch on when Zach's message came in. It was the address of the restaurant. I predicted that we were going to his mum's restaurant to eat, and his text showed that I wasn't wrong. He was such a predictable person. I wondered how many girls he had used his mum's restaurant to brag to, and I chuckled at that thought. "I want to get some snacks. Do you want to come with me so you can get some for yourself?" I asked Bas. "No, thank you," he said with his head buried inside his book. "I wonder what you are reading in there," I mumbled and hoped he didn't hear me. I hate walking alone; it makes me feel lonely. But Bas didn't want to come with