Chapter 3 - 3

Texas

The week passed by in a blur, before we knew it it was Sunday night and we were at the airport seeing Mum off. The week went by with me hanging out with Kris all the days. I told you she was a dancer yeah? She dragged me all over Manchester, places we've been before and the ones we've never been chanced to visit.

On Wednesday, Kris decided we visit the art museum. She barged into my room that morning, "Get up, get dressed. We are going to the Art Museum". She spread her arms like it was the best thing to do.

"Why the fuck are we going to an Art Museum today? Why not the mall? Why not the arcade? Why not the Donut Palace? Why not go out and insult people then run when they get mad? Why not the....", I rambled until she shut me up.

"Shuusshhhh. Okay, I understand that you think the Art Museum is a boring way to spend our last days together. I mean, it's Arttt. You love Art, you have to be the only artist I know who's not interested or even remotely joyous to visit an Art Museum", she deadpanned.

"That's because I don't see a point in seeing other artists' works and then trying to give a meaning to it which sometimes is the wrong meaning because nobody knows how an artist exactly feels when drawing their piece. We know part of it but not all, excuse me if I'm not interested."

She sighed, "Jesus Christ, Texas. You can be such a buzz kill. Here I was thinking visiting a place where your kindred souls are hanging around could help you get your mojo back."

"No I'm not interested", I dropped my face into my pillow.

She tried another approach that always got me, no matter what. "I just wanted to hang out with my best friend, few days to her leaving me high and dry. Here she is, leaving me high and dry without even leaving yet", she said in a small voice followed by a sniffle. I looked up to see her doing a live stream on her Instagram, "She's an asshole, right?", she continued. Then she brought her phone right in my face, "Yeah that's the bitch right here."

I slapped the phone out of her hand, "Of course, the manipulation approach. I'll go dress up". She shouted in glee while clapping her hands together like a child. I got dressed in a bodysuit, a boyfriend jean and a pair of Nikes.

We went out and surprisingly I enjoyed the museum. We took pictures and videos but the visit didn't exactly bring back my lost painting prowess. I tried the same night of the visit and it was still a bummer.

The remaining days passed by with Kris and I visiting nice spots for her dance videos because the video credit always goes to me. This time I was featured, I'm not as good as Kris but I'm a decent dancer. On Friday, we both went to the club. Sean wanted to come with but she said it was a girls' night, in other words she didn't ask him about the message yet. We drank and danced, basically just set the dance floor on fire with our moves then left just after midnight. Saturday, Mum, Eiffel and I went on a family picnic.

Now here we are, hugging our Mum. Her flight was departing to Mexico 10pm, ours would be leaving 8am the next day, we were already packed so it won't be a hassle. Dad already got me an apartment close to the Uni but we'll be staying with him before I resume at the Uni.

"Girls, I'm going to miss you so much. Take care of yourselves and don't stress Daddy especially you Eiffel", she gave Eiffel a pointed look at which she just blushed at. "And you my big baby, when you touchdown, I need you to do this New York thing with an open mind. Do new things, meet new people, push your bounds and call me regularly, I don't wanna feel left out. I know you are not all that close with Cassie and Courtney but try and bond. We've talked about this yeah?", I nodded. "Cool then. Okay bring it in", she spread her arms and we hugged her tight. "Okay bye my loves", she gave us a kiss on our foreheads and left with her suitcases.

Eiffel and I stood and watched her leave, as she was about to board the plane, she looked and made a "call me" motion with her hand. We threw her a wave, then she disappeared.

I heard a sniffle and I looked down only to see Eiffel in tears. "Are you really crying right now? Aww come on baby, I know you are going to miss her but you know what's even better?", she shook her head. "We got Dad, Nana, Aunt Cassie and Courtney, it's got to be buzzin', no?". She cracked a smile and wrapped her arms around my neck, "There you go, champ. Let's go."

We got into my car and drove home. Aunt Lilo couldn't make it because of a work thing, Kris couldn't too because she had a family dinner. They both visited our house to say their byes before we came to the airport but they'd be coming with Eiffel and I to the airport. On the way home, we took a detour to grab two boxes of pizza. We met Kris back home because she said she was going to sleep over and we are not going to spend our last day apart.

We picked a movie, and ate in silence until my phone buzzed. It was a message from Courtney.

Court: When am I picking you up tomorrow?

Texas: My flight is for 8am. The flight is around 8hrs 30 minutes long.

Court: Meaning you should get here, afternoon-ish.

Texas: Yeahhh.

Court: Gosh I can't wait to see you again it's been so long.

Texas: Same here🥰🥰

Courtney and I didn't exactly stay together for long, we only saw each other whenever her Mum comes visiting or we go visit and that has happened like twice. We don't really know each other that well but moving to NYC is an avenue to know more about ourselves. She has a brother Eiffel's age so that part is covered.

"When are you going to talk to Sean?", I asked Kris without taking my eyes off the TV.

"When you leave", she replied sullenly. "So what's the plan for tomorrow?", she swiftly changed the topic.

"Nice topic change but what other plan than to board a plane, Court picks me up, drives us over to Dad's. I'd stay with him until all my transfer and schedule are ready, I'll move into the apartment he got me and school begins."

"Fuck", she said and ran her hand through her hair.

"What?"

"It suddenly sounded and felt real that you are leaving and it feels kinda weird that we won't be doing the new school year together"

"I promise, I'll keep in touch" I bopped her nose.

"Oh you better do or I'll haunt your sleep. And in the meantime, don't get yourself a new best friend and forget all about me" she joked but I knew that was her fear.

"Finding another best friend sounds and feels like a hassle, I'm not about to try", I reasoned.

"You don't need to try, he or she will find you. You are that lovable"

"Awwwww, I'm lovable?", I gushed.

"Oh shut up."

Eiffel was already asleep on the couch opposite to ours. It was late so we decided to call it a night, since we were catching an early flight. It was rush hour in the morning, Aunt Lilo came in too early and when I mean too early, I was talking 5am. Who wakes that early for an 8am flight? I'm not a morning person if you dunno by now.

Before 7am, we were all dressed and fed. I was wearing an high waist jean with a shirt that I knotted at the back because I heard or read New York was hot at the moment. I wanted to be comfortable on the 8-hour flight, so don't blame me when I slid my feet into my Nike slides. Eiffel was in a leggings and oversized shirt, copying me she was in slides too. By 7:30am we were at the airport, which leaves me baffled at why we left that early. Aunt Lilo is a time conscious person but me I couldn't care less. Between chit-chats and things we should do and not do when at New York City, we waited for our flight announcement.

Aunt Lilo said "You both better call me everyday. When you get a boyfriend Texxie, I better be the first to know"

Then our flight was announced, then the waterworks began. Eiffel clung to Aunt Lilo like a monkey, she was wailing really hard. Kris hid her face in the crook of my neck but I could feel her tears soaking through my shirt. "Hey Hey. We talked about this, no tears. I'm not dying."

She chuckled, "You better not forget me"

"I remember you'd haunt me if I do. Okay no tears", I said and she wiped her tears.

I hugged Aunt Lilo, "I'm gonna miss you so much", I whispered in her ear.

"You too pumpkin. Better keep in touch"

"I will", I pecked her cheek. I grabbed Eiffel and pulled her to my side.  She hid her face in my jean, "Okay this is it. Catch you both on the flip side." They wiggled their fingers and I could have sworn I saw Aunt Lilo wipe a tear. We turned to board our plane, "Babe do you want the window seat?"

"Yeah", she looked at me with a toothy grin.

We were seated, the instructions were read as I got comfortable for takeoff. The screens above us was displaying a movie of some sort but I wasn't interested so I plugged in my earphones and reclined in my seat. I texted Mum and Courtney that I was on board.

Long flight, new destination. Why do I feel like New York would be life-changing? Positive or negative? I didn't know.

Dallas

I felt fingers on my face and I could also feel someone watching me, I cracked an eye open and of course, my own personal creep was creeping over me. "Can you stop staring at me while I sleep?"

"Hmm", she pulled a thinking face. "How about No?", she stuck her tongue out at me, "It's not my fault that you are hot". She licked my outer earlobe and hell if that didn't turn me on.

She always knew what to do to turn my brain into a mush. I pulled her under me and she squealed, I shut her up with a hard kiss and she responded immediately. I bit her bottom lip, she gasped as always. I invaded her mouth with my tongue, swirling it around in her mouth. As I was getting ready to palm her small and round tits, she pulled back. "What?", I grumbled and made a move to kiss her again. She turned her head and grabbed her phone from my nightstand, I mentally rolled my eyes and physically rolled away from her.

"Oh shit", she muttered but I heard.

"What is it?"

"My cousin just boarded her plane. I need to go home to tell Mom."

"Your cousin?", I furrowed my brows.

"Yeah the one I told you about". When she noticed my screwed up face, "The one I said was coming from Manchester?"

Then my eyes widened like a light bulb went off in my head, "Oh oh, I remember. She's on her plane?"

"Yes, she'd be here in approximately 8 hours and some, I have things to get done before I go pick her up"

I wrapped my arms around her waist and said as I bit her ear, "Am I part of the things you are getting done?"

She giggled, "Stop babe, you play too much". She stood up and walked to the bathroom, seconds later I heard the shower running.

Courtney and I, yeah that's the name of 3 years old girlfriend. My friends call her my wife because they feel 3 years is too long a time to be dating one person. We started dating in our senior year in high school and we both just concluded our sophomore year at NYU. I love my girl, I fucking do but there are some things I'd want her to change but I know it's in her already and that's the endgame. One is her seriousness. Courtney doesn't exactly know how to be spontaneous, spontaneity can be dangerous sometimes but in some cases, it's everything. Like right now, she's giving me blue balls because she has things to do. Throughout the vacation, she has either been attending this camp or the other. Now that she's back, she's running off to probably do some dance duties. Yeah, she's a dancer, ballerina to be precise. Very good ballerina at that.

My arm was placed over my face when she walked back into the room, to my surprise already dressed. "Damn, why you so in a hurry?"

"I told you, I have to go home first and I have practice till noon", all these she said while throwing her brown hair in a bun and throwing her stuff in her bag.

"School's not even back yet, why so many rehearsals?"

"We have a recital, first week we get back in. I'm working hard to be a prima, maybe all the rehearsals will pay off". She walked over to my side and kissed me, "I'll see you later tonight babe. I think my Mom will be throwing a party for my cuz, y'all should be there"

"When is it?"

"Dunno yet, all depends on Mama Costa", she blew me a kiss and ran out of my room.

I sighed and just reclined back on my bed. I heard my phone go off, it was my best friend Rune. "Yo man"

"Yo. Finna come through and shoot some hoops with 'em boys?"

"Just what I need. Time?"

"1000 hours, The Court" and then hung up.

"Rude motherfucker", I chuckled. I checked my watch, it was just 8:45am so I decided to rest my eyes a little before heading to the court. As soon as my head hit the pillow I was knocked out, because the next thing I heard was my phone going off. I tapped it and answered the call groggily, " 'Lo?"

"Where the fuck is your ass?"

Immediately, sleep left me. "Shit, what time is it?"

"10:25, get yo ass here" and for the second time, the asshole hung up on me.

I got up, put on a basketball short and a hoodie coupled with my Nike high tops. I grabbed my phone, wallet and keys and walked out of my room. I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and left my apartment, I own an apartment courtesy of the parents. I got into my Chevy Camaro and drove off, courtesy of the parents too.

The Court has been our hangout spot from years on end. We go out there on the basketball court, even though we don't play basketball. We just gather round, play the ball for a while, get a smoothie, drive over to my apartment, play video games, choke on pizza, then they all pass the night. Just like that, it's another person's apartment the next week. I pulled up behind Rune's car and walked up to them, "I'm sorry guys, I just closed my eyes for a while before I knew it, your call came through", I looked at Rune.

Travis flipped the ball to me and I caught it, "Color me surprised. I take it the wife slept over no?", he said teasingly.

"Nigga worked himself out all night", Chris said as they all burst in  laughter.

I bounced the ball and threw it towards Chris' head but the sleek bastard caught it, "That's my girlfriend y'all are talking about. Respect please". I think they saw the hint of smile on my face and they doubled up in laughter all over again. "Are we doing this or not?" Just like that, the game started. Rune and I were always a team, we paired up and we started.

Christian Shaw, my bisexual friend. He doesn't know if he likes girls or boys, he just knows he's attracted to both gender. He's a basketball player, the only one that fucks with basketball in our group. With his dimpled flirty grins and smiles, tattoos, green eyes, black hair, he is often mistaken as a playboy but what people don't understand is, Chris is an hopeless romantic. I'm not saying he has not had his fair share of flings, but when he decides to be faithful, he's fucking whipped, I've seen it happen. He's a Sports Medicine major and we are both in the same year.

Travis Dex. You know how in a group of friends, there's the unserious one? That's Travis right there. He can never be caught serious and he's a player extraordinaire, it's ridiculous. We are both on the soccer team and Travis has slept with half of the cheerleading team and he has no plans to settle yet. I dunno what gets him the girls, his blue eyes, his almost white hair, his Irish olive skin or just the fact that he's on the soccer team. He's a Business major, his family is loaded and they hope he takes over the family businesses.

Rune Salvador, weird last name for a Black guy. He's not entirely Black though, he has a tinge of  Arab hence, the reason for his somewhat tannish brown skin, bluish grey eyes, straight nose that other guys get jealous of, even me. We've been friends since high school and we've been tight as gloves since then. He also does not do girlfriends but he has a steady friend with benefits that I'm sure is falling for him but he has decided to be blind to her feelings. He's a Psychology major and also on the soccer team.

After playing for hours, we decided on getting smoothies at our regular spot. "What's up with the sour face?", Rune asked me while the others were walking in front of us.

"It's Courtney", I clicked my tongue. "She's been stressing herself out on this prima ballerina thing. She's been going on camps, I mean she just got back from one last night. This morning, before I even had the time to hog her a little to myself, she got a text from God knows who but I know one said her cousin was on her plane already. The other was probably a dance thing because she ran out like her ass was on fire", I rambled.

"Damn you sound like a needy child.", Rune laughed.

"No that's so not it. I just feel like she's good at what she does, why does she have to go all out because of a position. Everything works out at the end, yunno??"

"I understand your point of view perfectly. Your responsibility is to support her in whatever decision she's making"

"My responsibility is also to tell her to chill out sometimes, things have a way of working out".

We entered the smoothie joint when Rune told the others to get our order while we sat at our usual table. "Have you ever thought about the responsibilities that falls on her as your girlfriend?"

I shook my head, "Fine I know it's hard to be dating a star player on a soccer team but she's in a relationship with me not other people and not once have I told her to go out of her way just to please these clout chasing motherfuckers. She's perfect just the way she is and I tell her and show her all the damn time"

"Look man, that's just women for you. They try so hard to be what they are not just for the masses, it's crazy. I dunno maybe talk to her about it?"

"Trust me I've said enough and that has given me the unsupportive boyfriend tag, I've learnt to nurse my wounds in silence". Rune is not the only person I can confide in, it's just there are levels to the conversations I can have with Travis and Chris, especially Travis, he's never serious for shit.

"What's this I hear about a cousin coming to town?", Chris said after dropping our smoothies.

I sipped my smoothie before replying, "Yeah, Courtney's cousin is transferring school and moving too"

"It's nice to have a new face around here, what's his name?", Chris asked genuinely interested.

"It's a girl bro. Chill out", I laughed.

He grinned, "Now I'm more interested, what's her name?"

That's when I realized that I didn't even know, "Shit I don't even know".

"So how the fuck do we stalk her before she gets here?", Rune groaned.

"Creepy ass stalker. I think Court commented on one of her pictures or even posted one. A minute, lemme check", I took my phone from the table and opened Court's IG page. The last picture she posted was the silhouette of a girl, it was her profile that was facing the camera. She was standing sideways in front of an alley, she stood like a model with her hands in her hair, her face couldn't be seen so no stalking for Rune. "Uhmmm guys", I turned my screen over to them, "Looks like no stalking for y'all"

"Ahhh shit", Rune said.

" 'I know you are very private, that's why I'm dropping this picture even when I have better ones of you. Can't wait to see you cuz'. Wow so our newcomer is private", Travis said after reading out the caption.

"No luck to you guys, you'll see her when you see her".

"What are we doing today? The usual?", Rune asked.

"Yes definitely. Why don't we all go shower and meet back at Dallas'?" Chris asked.

"Cool. I don't have groceries so I'mma hop right on that. See y'all later", I said just as we all stood to leave. I got into my car, Rune got into his, Travis and Chris got into Chris' car because they live in the same apartment. I pulled off with a honk to them and went to the grocery store just down my apartment complex. My phone buzzed in my pocket, it was a text from Rune.

Rune: Get me Pringles too.

No please whatsoever, just a command. Rude. I picked all the necessary cravings of the guys and proceeded to pay. Immediately after I got home, I stacked the groceries in the right places and went to my room for a shower. I got out off my clothes and put them in the hamper, I went ahead to brush my teeth. So I think it's intro time.

I'm Dallas Navarro. Yep I'm Spanish. Curly brown hair, mismatched eyes, hmmm yeah I have heterochromia, one eyes is grey and the other is blue. I battled with bullying in high school because of that shit, I was labelled a freak. Then I got contacts, which my mum didn't support but she knew it was what I needed at the time. I'm 21, 6"2 quite tall. I'm an Architecture major, I have plans to take over my family's building company. I'm the captain of the soccer team in NYU, I've been playing soccer since high school. I don't see myself getting a career in soccer but I just love it and Big Guy blessed me with them skills. I've got freckles dusting my nose and cheekbones, they are not very noticeable until you move closer. I have a tattoo just under my rib, my name on my knuckles and another one on my bicep. I have a tongue piercing that I rarely use, a nipple piercing and a dangly cross earring in my earlobe. Stupid shit comes with being the star player, like girls throwing themselves at me. I've relished in that star player glory before I started dating Courtney.

She's always been in my high school but I only noticed her when I caught her in the school's dance studio, I was entranced by her moves. From there a date, two dates, three dates and I decided to take it on another level. We started dating, we were the "it" couple of the high school. We rocked the "Dancer & Soccer player" narrative and even won the Prom King and Queen. I'm a pretty private person but I've learnt to deal with the spotlight that comes with being on the team. Well, that's enough for now.

I dressed up in a cargo pants joggers and a white shirt. I don't wash my hair all the time because curly hair is fucking hard to maintain, wash too much it gets frizzy, wash less it gets greasy but I love my hair. I slid my socked feet into my slides and decided to set up the game console. Just as I was done, the guys trudged in, no surprise there Rune has my passcode.

"Yoo what's hatnin'? Whose ass am I whooping?", Rune asked with a cocky grin.

"Sit your ass down and let's school you", Chris replied.

Like that, we started another typical summer day with a racing game. After lots of tournaments which I beat all of their asses in, we decided to watch a movie and pig out on snacks. I brought my phone out to see what time it was just to see a message from Courtney, that was sent 5 minutes earlier.

Babe❤️💕: Babe I'm so sorry to crash in on your guy time but my cousin is gonna land anytime from now and I can't seem to get out of rehearsal. Can you please please pick her up for me?

Dallas: Sorry babe. I'll do that now but how do I know her?

She replied almost immediately,

Babe❤️💕:  Lol.....you'd know when you see her. She's different, you'd know by just looking at her from afar and she's with a young girl. Her sister.

Dallas: Let's hope that works.

Babe❤️💕: Trust me, it will.

"Uhmmm guys, Courtney's cousin is gonna drop anytime soon. Court is held up so I'mma pick her up".

"Shawty is gonna be here. Damn", Chris whistled.

"I can't believe you get to see her before the rest of us", Rune frowned and Travis just laughed.

"Sorry brothers. You'll be meeting her whenever. I'd not like to keep her waiting", I grabbed my keys and left. I got to the airport around 4:25pm, let's hope they are not here yet. I stayed at the arrival hall, I removed my sunglasses just so I could see whoever this cousin was. I had no picture, no name, no means of identification whatsoever, all I had was gut feeling. I sat on one of the hall chairs, tapping away on my phone and looking up here and there. I suddenly remembered that Courtney tagged her in the picture, so I checked again, her handle was @justyourrandomgirl. Geezz, even her handle was not helping.

I looked up just in time to see a young girl that could not be more than 10 years old or thereabout looking up and talking to someone but I couldn't see that someone. Her hair was in a bun, the few tendrils that escaped the bun moved here and there as she skipped forward and grabbed a small bag.

It almost felt like a slow motion as I saw a slide come into view, followed by a black jean covered legs and trust me those legs went on for ages. My eyes trailed up from her legs to the hips encased in those jeans, up to the belly button piercing dangling down the band of the jean. I followed that up to a white shirt holding full breasts in it's prison, her shirt was knotted in the back. She bent over to get her suitcases and I caught a tattoo on her waist. Sunglasses was covering her eyes, she turned back up and picked up her phone from her back pocket. She motioned to the little girl to sit on her suitcase, tapping away on her phone, she placed it on her ear, she was making a call. She talked for a while then she nodded and hung up. She grabbed her suitcases and beckoned on the little girl, they were both moving towards me. I should stand and maybe ask if they were Courtney's cousins but I was stunned because she removed her sunglasses. Fuckkk, she's fucking beautiful. She and her sister were few feets aways from me now, she looked around the hall while her sister played with her sunglasses.

Something told me this was who I was looking for. I don't know how, I just knew.

I shook myself from my stupor and walked towards them. I tapped her on the shoulder and she turned quickly, it's a miracle she didn't get a whiplash. Fuck those eyes, they were hazel but had a little swirl of gold in them making them stand out and they were big. She scrunched her nose up at me and I found it cute but I quickly got out of my trance, "Sorry to scare you, I just wanted to ask y'all, Are you Courtney's cousin?"

Her face relaxed, that's when I saw the freckles, "Depends on who's asking. Are you Dallas?", she raised a brow.

Even that was attractive but she has a more attractive accent, "Yeah I'm Dallas. I asked Courtney to tell me a name or gimme a picture but she didn't. I'm sorry if I kept you both waiting"

She laughed, "Courtney is stupid and No. You didn't keep us waiting, we just got out few minutes ago. I'm Texas and that one there", she pointed at her sister, "is Eiffel".

I was amused at the fact that her name was Texas, and I'm Dallas. Fuck. "Nice names, welcome to New York Eiffel".

The girl looked up from her sister's sunglasses she was fiddling with and gave me a toothy grin, "Thank you and nice to meet you Dallas".

I laughed at her cuteness, "Okay so you've got an address of where you are going?"

Texas nodded, "Yeah sure I do". She handed me a paper.

It was the address of a house on the upstate of Manhattan, rich houses and all. I grabbed two of their suitcases, "Come on then, let's go"

"Thank you", she smiled. We left the airport and got to where I was parked. "Damn this Camaro is dead lit", she wolf whistled.

I like a girl that knows her cars, "Good eyes", I winked at her and she smiled. I opened the door for both her and Eiffel, she whispered her Thanks in that accent I'm slowly developing a likeness for.