“Why would he stay the night when he has a home?”
Joan stared at the floor.“You have not given me a tangible reason, Joan. He cannot just stay the night whenever he wishes. He has parents, he has a home. He needs to be more responsible. So, NO King cannot stay the night. If you don’t have anything else important to say, you can leave my room. I am angry with you enough.”Her mother turned the other way on her bed, concentrating on whatever it was she was doing on her phone. She sighed, shuffling her feet. She wanted to tell her mother the truth, everything about King but there was something holding her back, something she couldn’t quite figure out.“Mum, please. I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t necessary, he'd leave very early tomorrow morning, I promise.”Her mother didn’t reply. She moved the distance and stood in front of her.“Its late. You can’t expect him to go out by this time.”“I’m pretty sure the streets are still overflowing with people. He better leave now.” her mother answered, not looking up at her.“Please…” she pleaded. Her mother sighed, now looking up at her.“Give me a good reason.” she said.“He's my best friend.” she offered, pouting ; trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.“You already spend a lot of time with him if that is what you’re after. You can see him tomorrow. I have no major objections.” her mother stared impatiently.“Its not that…”“Then what!?” her mother flared up, sitting up on the bed, “ You think I am in support of your relationship with him! I only allow it to respect you, your privacy! That boy is a rascal! Coming here with injuries after injuries, keeping late nights and behaving all sorts of odd. If you want my opinion, you better stay away from him!”“You say that because you don’t know!” She cried, “You don’t understand!”Her mother closed her eyes then opened them after some seconds.“Then make me understand, Joan. Make me understand why you of all people will be friends with such a person. Make me understand what secret the both of you are guarding so closely.”“He saved my life” she whispered, her voice breaking, “Mama, he saved my life.”“And you have thanked him.” her mother spoke, pulling her down to the bed, “You have thanked him, I have thanked him. You have stuck with him through these years, you don’t owe him anything anymore. Don’t you see you just feel indebted to him? You don’t actually care for him. Baby, it’s time to let him go.”She shook her head, “ It’s more than that, mum. Very much more than that.” she insisted, thinking back to that day.*12 year old Joan ran around, playing by herself since the other kids refused to play with her. It was the birthday party of one of her mother’s friend's daughter and they had been invited. It was held at the celebrant’s house, at the pool though it wasn’t a pool party. They all had on party wears and she wasn’t excluded. Her pink gown got her a lot of attention and it made her shy.“Hey, watch it, Pink girl!” a boy her age shouted after bumping into her on purpose.“You bumped into me!” she shouted back, incredulous. One thing she had been when she was younger was pompous. Nobody dared push her down.“Liar! You bumped into me!” the boy shouted, increasing his tone deliberately.“Apologize.” an adult who had come up to them ordered her.“No way!” she stomped her boot clad foot on the ground.“He…” she said, poking the boy in the forehead, “bumped into me so he is the one to apologize.”“You’re the inferior one here, young pink miss. Respect your superiors.” a teenage girl said. The birthday crowd had gathered around them.She sneered, “ He is my agemate and if there should be an older one, it would definitely not be him.” she said, defiantly.“Sissy” the boy poked her head, laughing hard, “ That’s not what we meant.”“Don’t touch me.” she snapped at him.“What we meant dear” an elderly woman spoke kindly, “ Is that you’re the odd one out here, the only black person.”Her face scrunched up in confusion, “ What does that have to do with anything? It’s just colour.”“Well everything.” the boy smirked.Her nose flared in anger. She realized she was outnumbered and she would never win so she stomped off, pushing through the circle roughly to look for the next odd person. Her mother. She wasn’t the only black after all; her mother was half Nigerian, half Asian.“Hey you!” the boy shouted hurrying after her. He had pushed her just as she made to climb into the corridor where chairs were arranged. It wasn’t his push that made her fall, in fact, she had regained her balance immediately. It was something else, something that she hadn't seen, something sharp and painful that had hit her on her forehead, like a stone, right after she regained her balance. She had tripped on her dress and stumbled backwards into the pool.She had screamed and shouted; she didn’t know how to swim; but no one came to her aid. She swallowed water, lots of it and the water pushed her down and down…. Then she had faintly heard a splash and suddenly she was being lifted out of the water. Before she lost consciousness, King’s face had already been etched in her memory.*Joan walked wearily down the stairs. He mother still didn’t allow King to spend the night. He would have to go back home. She appreciated him coming over almost everyday but she didn’t like that he was spending a lot of money on it. He didn’t have much yet he spent a good amount each day, going back and forth. No matter how many times she pleaded, he wouldn’t let he visit him, she didn’t even know his address.Plus…“King?” she called when she stepped into the sitting room and didn’t find him there.She checked the kitchen and her room and the guest room but there was no sign of him.King was gone.He didn’t have much yet he spent a good amount each day, going back and forth. No matter how many times she pleaded, he wouldn’t let he visit him, she didn’t even know his address.Plus… “King?” she called when she stepped into the sitting room and didn’t find him there. She checked the kitchen and her room and the guest room but there was no sign of him.King was gone.*“You could have told me you were leaving. I was very worried… Just get out of my phone.”Joan cut the call, entering into Sisi’s car where Sisi was already waiting.“Who was that?” Sisi asked curiously. “Someone.” She replied curtly. Sisi didn’t know of their relationship, didn’t know that King was her best friend neither did any of her other friends. Sisi had seen King a few times but she hadn’t suspected anything. She didn’t feel the need to inform them, she wanted her relationship with King private.No toast?” Sisi asked, seeing she wasn’t in a good mood.She face palmed, realizing she had forgotten
“Whatever it is you have to say, say it and stop beating round the bush.”“Or I may lose interest.” She added, smirking.He laughed nervously, and ran a hand across his face then he stopped, his smile dropping.“Okay. Joan Michaels” he started, looking her directly in the eye, “Would you like to go on a date with me this week?”*Flashback…“Joan Michaels, would you like to go on a date with me this week?”She pretended to think about the question, her lips forming into a pout and her brows, furrowing.“I don’t know, King Johannson. What does this date have to offer?” she questioned after a long moment of silence.15 year old King blinked innocently, looking up at her.“A lot, Joan Michaels.” He said, “A princess crown, the best dress ever made in this universe, specially prepared food and my heart on a platter of gold.”She twirled her hair around her fingers, her left hand on her in a pose as she stared down at him, knelt down on one knee, a single rose held up in his two
“Avoid him from now on.” Beck warned, as all three of them shot her accusing looks. She glanced at Koty who couldn’t even keep his eyes open.“I’m sorry… I …” she stuttered in confusion.“Just do what I said.” Beck repeated harshly then they walked away. Beck and Francis supporting Koty on either sides. It was then she noticed they had a small audience gathered around, her friends included.She watched helplessly as they moved farther and farther away from her.*She wasn’t allowed into the clinic where Koty rested; Francis, Beck and Jude made sure of that. She couldn’t concentrate on her books, she avoided her friends perpetual questions and then hurried home immediately the bell rang. Koty was the only thing on her mind, she felt guilty but then she consoled herself with the fact that she had not done anything wrong. She had not known Koty was asthmatic and even if she knew, was she supposed to have accepted his proposal out of pity? Koty didn’t deserve that, he deserved someone
“There’s Koty.” He pointed out.“That’s different. I only felt like giving in out of pity.”“Glad you've figured that out.”“And besides he’s just one guy.”He nodded.“We'll just get married to each other.” He said after a while.She chuckled, “That sounds nice. Our kids will have your eyes.”“I’m joking.”“I’m not.”“I’m not.”They burst out laughing.*King looked back as the train began moving. He watched as she became smaller and smaller until he could see her no more then he turned around and looked ahead. He adjusted his bag to his other shoulder when he noticed it was inconveniencing the old woman sitted next to him and then he leaned back into his seat and immersed himself in thoughts of her; his best friend, Joan Michaels. She was always on his mind. He had teased her about thinking of him always but he was also guilty of that. She was not exactly the first thing he thought of when he woke and the last thing he thought before he slept but she was constantly on h
She would pet him and clean his wounds and then send him back with a kiss; so that every time, no matter the injuries he sustained on his body, his soul wasn’t broken. He still felt happy, like a normal eighteen year old adult living a normal life with the best friend he loved.*Joan stood in front of the school's clinic door, glaring at it. Koty was in there and also his latest bodyguards; Francis, Beck and Jude. Koty was fine, he had come to the clinic for something and she found out and followed him. She had to speak to him whether his friends wanted her to or not; they weren’t his parents.The door opened and Beck stepped out first. His calm look changed to an accusing one when his eyes met hers and he glared daggers at her, stopping his movement.“I have to speak to him.” She spoke regardless, arms folded. It seemed like Koty was directly behind him because he turned back and said,“Colton, no. You’re not speaking to this girl.”“This girl has a name.” she interrupted rudely
She wanted to enjoy a father's love too like Sisi.She wanted to have grand parents and grand relatives, uncle’s and aunts and nieces and nephews that came over for Christmas and thanksgiving like Selena. If possible, she wanted to have little siblings too like Keisha.She would ask her mother when she returned. She would find out why they always lived alone and what secrets her mother guarded so carefully and then she would unravel them ,one after the other.She would find her family.*Her mother stared at her in shock. Her mouth hung open, her bag that she had wanted to place on the kitchen counter hung in mid air and her lashes batted repeatedly over her eyes that seemed like it would pop out any moment.Emotions flitted quickly across her mother’s eyes. There was worry, pain, regret and another emotion that got Joan curious, fear. Why would her mother be afraid?“Mum?” she called and Mrs. Michaels snapped back to reality, her expression becoming masked. She shut her mouth
“I am sorry.” He said finally, letting out a long sigh, “I just… don’t worry so much about me. I can take care of myself.”“I know, you are a big boy. It’s because I care about you that I worry about you.”“I care about you too, you know.”“I know.”A pause.“I'll see you later.” He said and the call ended.She lay back on the bed and shut her eyes.*King stared at the phone in his hands. He wished he could see her.“Hey, you want one?”He looked up to see Jack standing a few feet away from him, smoking a cigarette.Jack was an acquaintance from school. He had invited him to hang out with him and his friends and he had agreed, to avoid going home.He was now in one of their houses, in the living room but he had left to go outside when Joan called. Thankfully, she didn’t hear the music.“No, thank you.” He smiled, leaning off the wall, going back to the house.“Who were you talking to? Some whore?” He glanced back to see Jack following after him.“You can hook me up.”
“King?” she whispered, turning around and there he was in all his glory.She cried out as a heavy load lifted off her chest and she didn’t hesitate to run into his open arms.“You scared me, King! Stop doing that!” she exclaimed, hitting his back.He hissed in pain and she quickly let him go, examining his features.“Did he hit you?” she asked though she already knew the answer. There were no new bruises on his face, just the old ones that were almost done healing but the scars… she would have to get something for that.“Yeah” he muttered, “And then someone else.”*He woke up to see himself tied up, his hands and feet. He pulled against the ropes, they were too tight. He looked around the brightly lit room. It was someone’s bedroom, a male and recently used noticeable by the unmade bed and the clothes strewn around. He sighed, laying his head back on the floor.He should never have agreed to hang out with Jack. He had agreed mainly because he didn’t want to be tempted to go ov