Diako PV
I close my sketchbook and place it on the little chestnut desk next to my window. I pick Lulu from my feet and gently press her to my chest. I subconsciously stroke her back as I sit down on my bed.
It's been two weeks since Logan and I were assigned to work together on our math project. After that I started progressing in math. I even got a B+ in math for the first time because of him. We get along fine so we've been hanging out even after we submitted the project.
Now that we've spent time together for over a week, we're kinda friends. He may goof around most of time but he is very serious about his academics. He helped and explained problems I had difficulty in solving on my own.
He captured me with his zany humor. He doesn't make me feel insecure, I sometimes wish I had his carefree attitude. He's like a brother I never had, so easy going. Funny too.
Conway still hasn't confronted me yet. He either ignores me if we cross paths or avoids being in the same space as me. And now I'm afraid of returning his hoodie back to him. He's keeping me in suspense.
A knock on my bedroom door pulls me out of my trance. I heave a long sigh as I run my fingers through Lulu's white soft fur.
"Come in!" I say and put Lulu down on my bed as I look expectedly at the door.
The door opens revealing aunt Boity's petite frame. A pink dress clings tightly to hourglass figure.
Wow, what's the occasion?
"Hey, I need you to get dressed. We're going over to my friend's house for supper." She says fixing her blouse.
"Please don't make me go", I say burying my face in my hands.
"Not a fat chance. Be ready in five, okay?", she walks out before I can say anything.
Honestly, I'm glad she has another friend other than me already. She's new in this town so I must say, I'm proud of her. She's like my older sister and she's always been the mature one compared to my mom.
I have lived here my whole life yet I go away for a few years and now I lost whatever friends I had. I walk into the living room and see her grab her purse.
She hands me a foil wrapped plate as she puts on her black four inch heels. I peek inside of the plate and see a homemade Swirled raisin loaf. It smells divine.
She grabs the plate out of my hand and looks at me.
"I met her a few weeks ago and when we ran into each other again in town today, she invited us."
"Okay, I will come with you but I'm not changing.", I look down at my yellow Crepe Scuba pleated skirt that reaches right above my knees.
I have a black cotton tank top tucked in the skirt, paired with black flat pumps. My tapered curls cropped on top of my head with a few strands falling to the sides of my face.
I feel comfortable like this and I'm not going to change. She eyes my outfit and nods her head bobbing her dreadlocks in the process.
"You won't believe that she lives a few blocks from here.", she squeals and walks out of the house with me following closely behind her.
We walk down two houses from mine and cross the street. We arrive at a big double floor house . It is elegant, with a double garage and a granite paved driveway.
I admire the hanging baskets by the porch as aunt Boity rings the bell. I freeze when I see who answers the door.
Oh god this is gonna be awkward.
Mrs McPherson? Yep you guessed right, she's Conway's mother. She was my fourth grade teacher. Thank goodness she's nothing like her son. She was one of my favorite teachers.
"Boity!", she squeals my aunt's name.
"Jules!", aunt Boity squeals back and they hug each other while giggling like teenagers.
I see Mrs McPherson's eyes sparkle when they land on me. Suddenly I'm engulfed in a bone crushing hug.
"Good Lord, Diako, what a pleasant surprise! You've grown into such a beautiful young lady. ", she exclaims as she pulls away and gives me a once over.
She invites us inside as she briefs aunt Boity on how we know each other.
"It's such a small world hey? Who would have thought that my favorite student is kin to my new friend. Oh my goodness Boity you brought Didi right to my doorstep. Is it still okay if I call you that?", I nod forcing a smile.
I feel bad for not reaching out to her earlier when I got back. I could have, at least tried looking for her at work.
Her house is warm and welcoming. It's nice and clean, the marble floor is sparkly you can practically see your reflection. The large fluffy white rug in the living room gives it a homey feel. I sit down on the black leather couch and watch some wildlife channel.
"Um...Mrs McPherson?" I interrupt their conversation as they set the table. They both look up.
"May I please use the bathroom?"
"Of course, sweetie. Go up the stairs and down the corridor, it's the second door to your left. And oh it's Mrs Pienaar now, please just call me Jules"
I use the bathroom and wash my hands after, while staring at the murderer staring back at me through the mirror. I exit the room and walk back to the living room.
There are framed achievement certificates hanging on the wall. Wow so many awards and certificates? They can't belong to that jerk, he's as stupid as they come.
He used to make me do his homework for him and that idiot friend of his. Alroy Pienaar? Who's that? Best swimmer certificate awarded to Conway McPherson?
So many achievement certificates awarded to the jerk? But he's dumb, did they forge these? He must have cheated in his tests. Because the Conway I know couldn't do a thing by himself.
Otherwise they wouldn't have made me do their homework for them. At least I had the privilege of smacking him once.
That was what made them bully you moron.
I know, but at least he knows I can give a smoking slap.
Pah! Yeah right
Shut up!
I'm too caught up in the exchange going on inside me that I trip over something, losing my balance. I squeeze my eyes shut waiting for my body to hit the ground.
My body never hits the floor as a pair of hands wrap around my waist, stabilizing me. My eyes remain closed as a strong masculine scent of cinnamon and warm musk infused with woody notes of mint invades my nostrils.
"Careful.", a husky voice says too close to my ear. I don't have to turn around to know who it belongs to. His warm breath fans my nape sending a chill down my spine.
"Are you okay?", his grip tightens around my waist, pressing me against his front.
Where did he come from?
"Y-yes...I am fine.",I tell him and hiccup when I feel something poke my lower back.
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