Zayne
We arrive at the club around ten pm. The vibe is lit, the DJ is spinning well, and I find myself nodding along to the music as we make our way to our usual VIP. We call the waitress over and order a round of shots to start the night off right.
“Yo, this is life,” Quentin shouts as we clink our shot glasses together and do another round.
“The crowd is decent tonight,” Jade shouts. I nod while nursing my drink and scanning the crowd.
“So, are we going to invite women over or what? I love you, Mofos, but I need some pussy tonight.” Quentin declares.
“Didn’t you get laid last night?” Jade asks.
“So?” We all start laughing. He seriously acts like he will die if he doesn’t have sex every night. Much to our annoyance, because the walls aren’t soundproof, we can hear almost everything he is doing in that room. I sigh.
“You can invite your women, but please ensure none of them bother me,” I say as I signal the waitress
Maija Four Hours Earlier I’m sitting in my apartment with my three roommates playing strip poker. Mom found this apartment near campus with three other freshmen. Kenya, an African American beauty, Santana, a spicy Latina, and Samantha, a cute brunette. After the first week, we all became fast friends. We're sitting at the dining table surrounded by food, liquor, and pieces of clothing from our past games. “How did I get roped into playing strip poker again?” Kenya asks as we look at our hands. She is sitting in her underwear with no bra; she is terrible at this game. On the other hand, I
MaijaI’m lying in bed with my head on Danuel’s chest. He has been visiting more frequently since our trip to Princeton. His presence is a nice distraction from Zayne and my broken heart, so I'm happy whenever he is here. I still haven’t told anyone about seeing Zayne kissing that girl that night. I know they would all want to talk about it, and I really do not want to relive the memory of that kiss with my friends while my heart breaks again. Still, Zayne seems happy, and that is all I hope for the person I love, for him to be happy with whoever he is with, even if it is not me. I bite my lip as the pain slowly washes over me.“Babe, why are you always in your head?” Danuel’s voice pulls me from my thoughts and thoughts.“Huh?” I glance at him. He frowns, and I can see that he is worried about me while I'm here thinking about someone who isn’t thinking a
Zayne“Squad one, cover me; I’m going in,” I shout into my headset as I press my controller. I am in my room playing video games, which has become my new obsession. “Someone’s shooting me. Dylan covers me.” My door flies open. I furrow my brows as Jade marches in. “Dude, what?” He storms past me and unplugs the T.V “What the fuck, Jade?” “You haven’t showered in three days.” “That doesn’t give you the right to come in here and unplug my shit. Like what the hell, man?” “It does when the smell is seeping into the hallways. Go take a shower!” he yells. “No, get out!” I yell back at him and lie in my bed, closing my eyes. “Smelling like ass won’t make Maija call you.” My eyes shoot open. How dare he mention her to me. I jump up from the bed and glared at him. “Don’t mention her fucking name to me.” “So, she came and didn’t tell you, it’s not the end of the world, Z.” “Shut up!
Maija I’m standing in the bathroom with my friends after they dragged me in here because we all saw Zayne making out with that girl. I sigh as I prepare for the interrogation that is about to happen. “Is that the Sienna bitch?” Santana asks. I shake my head. “Then who is that bitch,” she says again. “I don’t know,” I mumble weakly as I try to hold back the tears. “We should beat him up,” Kenya says, which makes me smile for the first time since seeing them together. “He can date who he wants since I’m with Danuel. So it’s hardly fair for me to expect him to stay single.” “He could have at least taken a breather between bitches. As soon as he dumps one, he gets another,” Santana mumbles, which makes me laugh. They are ridiculous, but I know it is because they love me. “He is a man. That is what men do. They move on.” I want to end this conversation so we can get back to pa
Maija It’s the night before our trip to Japan. I am super excited to be visiting the birthplace of anime, but I’m a bit nervous since Zayne agreed to go on the trip. I never believed he would agree, but I am happy he did. I really hope we can move on and be a normal family because mom and dad really missed him. My iPad rings, and I grab it. It’s all my friends on Facetime. “Hey, girlies,” I answer, grinning. They don’t even say hi before Santana blurts out what they’re all dying to know. “Have you seen Zayne yet?” “No, he’s coming tomorrow.” “Aren’t you guys leaving tomorrow?” Kenya asks. “Yes, we are, but I guess he wants to stay away from me for as long as possible.” “Babe, it’s not you,” Samantha tries to assure me, but my parents visited him, so I know it is me. “Still, I can’t believe he hasn’t been home in two years,” she continues. I purse my lips and nod. “Are you sure you’re going to be ok?” I pa
Zayne I roll over in bed and groan, stirred from sleep by my cellphone ringing. I force my eyes open as a sharp pain shoots through my head; shit, I had way too much to drink last night. I lift my head and squint as the sunlight hits my eyes before glancing around the room at my surroundings, which did not feel unfamiliar. Where am I? A groan comes from the pile of sheets beside me as my phone starts to ring again. I glance at the black hair spilling from under the sheet; oh right, Sienna. I met her at the bar, and she took me back to her place. I smile as the night of passion comes back to me. The phone suddenly stops ringing but starts again immediately. Who is calling me so early? I wonder as I scramble across the room to grab it from the pile of clothes on the floor. I grab the phone and answer it immediately, seeing mom’s name flash across the screen. “Zayne?” She says, th
Chapter 27 We arrive in Tokyo at five a.m. on dad’s private jet. After landing, it takes an hour to get to the house. Maija, Mom, and dad crash, probably tired from the long flight, but I can’t sleep. All I can think about is still being in love with the girl who broke my heart. All that time I spent burying my feelings between the thighs of strange women meant nothing. It’s as if time stopped for me, and I just walked out of that treehouse that morning with my heart crushed. But while time stopped for me, these two years have passed for her. Her sexual attraction to me is probably gone by now, and she must be in love with Danuel. I mean, why else would he still be around after two years. When she told him she loved him earlier, it felt like she stuck a knife in my heart and twisted it. I wanted to ask her then why she couldn’t love me. Regardless of our parent’s relationship, why couldn’t she love me? But I have to be more mature about it because just like Sienna could not
MaijaI rustle in bed, slowly opening my eyes as the sunlight streams into the room. When did I fall asleep last night? Zayne and I spent all day and night catching up on the last two years. I was a little apprehensive about talking to him since he was such an asshole earlier, but I'm glad we finally cleared the air between us. Being near him without having the right to touch him is difficult, especially when he is nice. My face flushes with heat as I remember staring at his last night for most of his conversations. I wonder what he would have done if I had leaned in and kissed him? I groan, closing my eyes—I need to get over this. I have a great boyfriend who loves me, so what if Zayne has my heart. He’s my stepbrother who does not like me.“What are you thinking so deeply about?” My eyes shoot open at the sound of his