Chapter 2
Class was so boring today. Immediately I heard the bells for school over, I had a sudden rush of energy that my head hurt. I grabbed my math homework from my bag and kept it in my locker.
So much work yesterday and Miss Morris decided not to come today of all days. I leaned on my locker waiting for Lena to meet me.
“Carter Williams, report to the principal's office now.”
The announcement echoed through the hallway, making me pause. I could swear I’d heard that name before. A headache bloomed behind my eyes as I tried to place it.
“Nell, is everything okay? You seem a little off.”
“Remind me of a Carter we know,” I said, still trying to think.
“I don't think I've heard of any other Carter except the one in Chem class,” Lena said while looking at me with a curious expression on her face.
“It's just weird, I can swear I know a person named Carter.”
“Nell, I think you're just hungry or need your coffee. We barely had time to get one this morning.”
I nodded as she dragged me through the crowd, still trying to process what just happened.
We stopped by our favourite coffee shop before going home.
-----
“Hey mom”.
Mom trudged towards me, placing a kiss on my head.
“How was school baby?”
“Normal, I guess.”
She gave me a smile before putting my lunch.
“Honey, food is ready”. She said while I walked up the stairs.
“Okay mum, Let me shower”.
I had brown stew chicken and rice for lunch.
Gosh, I love when mom cooks.
I collapsed on the bed after the heavy meal.
I had a fight with Alex that day. We hadn't spoken to each other all day. He didn't even give me a kiss before going off to work.
Earlier on, Alex had overheard me on a call with my friend. A boy. He had been so insecure that immediately I ended the call, he started questioning who I was on a call with.
Since then, we haven't spoken a word to each other.
Not until he came back.
I had made sure I got his dinner ready, had my bath and in bed by the time he came back.
I heard the door open and knew he came to check up on me.
His soft breath fanned my neck and his scent graced my smell.
“Babe, I'm really sorry for what happened yesterday. I was being so insecure and immature. Yes, I acted like a child. But my possessiveness is a way of showing my love to you. I don't want to share you with anyone else. Not any boy. Not a random boy.
I had a really bad day at work today and I could tell it was because of our fight. I'm sorry babe, I promise to work on myself for you okay?”
He ended his short speech with a kiss on my cheek.
I couldn't resist pulling him in for one more.
The smile I gave him showed he was forgiven and he pulled me in for another passionate kiss.
“Babe you need to shower and eat. You haven't eaten all day.” I said in-between the kiss.
“You know I could have you for breakfast lunch and dinner?” He said, a smirk playing on his face.
“No babe, I made something special for you. You have to eat.” I said breaking the kiss.
His whines and growls didn't go unnoticed by me and I chuckled at how cute he was.
He gave me one last kiss on the cheek before tucking me in again for bed.
I woke up to my mom's gentle tugging.
“Baby, I'm already off to work. I'm on night duty okay?”
“Mhm.”
“Dinner is in the fridge. If you need anything, you call me. Take care of Chris okay?”
“Mhm. Bye mom.” I said still processing my thoughts.
‘Man, that was a long dream,’ I muttered, my thoughts still tangled.
Alex’s voice still rang in my head, warm and familiar—too familiar for someone who didn’t exist.
‘Who’s Alex?’
The question struck me like a whisper from another life.
I grabbed my phone to call Lena.
She was on another call.
I put my shoes on and grabbed my coat to take a stroll outside.
“Where you going?”
“Not your business Chris.”
I gave him a scowl before locking the door behind me.
-----
The air was moist and serene. It had just finished drizzling so everywhere was wet.
I decided to take a stroll towards the ice cream store. ‘It's been long I had icecream’ I thought to myself.
NONA'S ICE CREAM.
Their glistening signboard was seen from a mile away. I decided to hasten up so I'll get home on time to make dinner before dad returns.
I checked the time.
6:36pm.
Dad gets home by 8.
I reduced my speed, realizing I had more than enough time to get back home.
Just on the short turn to enter the street where the ice cream store is, I realised they were closed. Talk about disappointment.
My legs pulled me closer and closer to the store as I tried to erase any negative feeling from my mind.
CLOSED
The sign wrote.
I glanced at the time again.
7:14pm
I shivered as I thought of the distance I'd trek just to get back home.
“You need help?”. A voice distracted my thoughts.
I turned to see a man wearing shorts and flip-flops.
His blonde hair almost covered one of his eyes.
He fake coughed which brought me back to reality.
“Uh, no, not really. I came for ice cream but it seems they had other plans.” I replied feeling embarrassed.
“Oh, me too. I'm Richard. You can call me Rick”.
I smiled at him as he extended his hand for a shake.
“You are?”
“Oh...” I disciplined myself again for the second mistake I've made since our conversation.
“I'm Eleanor but you can call me Nell”
“Nice name Nell. So uh, where you headed to?”
“Home.”
“Where do you live?”
“Uh, Stranger Danger?” I said sarcastically.
He smiled with his whole teeth.
“Okay, can I get your number tho? I'd like to know you better if that's okay with you.”
I hesitated before collecting the phone he reached out to give me.
“Thanks Nell. So talk to you later?”
“Yeah” I said with a smile still plastered on my face.
He walked away typing something on his phone.
I got a text almost immediately from Lena.
“Where are you? I'm in your room.”
I glanced at the time again.
7:30pm
Shit.