CHAPTER EIGHT

Bianca’s POV

I have no idea why I hugged him, but I needed someone at that time, my life sucked at that moment and I know my aunt, she does whatever she says, she won't open the door and Chioma's parent won't take me in either, they would rather come back and beg for me which is a bad idea.

He pulled me away, and we walked towards his car. We got there, and I entered as if the car were mine.

"Stop crying. You can sleep in my house if you don't mind," he said, and I gave him a scorned look.

"I'll go to David's if you don't want me near you, as long as you are safe, and from the way I see things you don't have anywhere to go, don't worry, you are safe with me, I'll drop you in my house and go to David's" he assured me

"You don't have to leave your house for me, I'll just sleep on the couch in the living room or continue working on our project till dawn" I replied without looking at him and he didn't press the issue any further which I so much appreciate.

In just a blink of an eye, the door suddenly opened, I looked around and we were at his apartment already, I'd been lost in thought since we left my neighborhood, I didn't even know when he got down to open the door for me.

"Thanks" I muttered and we walked toward the building, we entered the elevator and came out in front of his apartment, he entered his PIN code and we entered.

"Please sit, let me get you water," he said and hurried into the kitchen, I sat and looked around again, it's a very beautiful place in all white, the only color there is my red top and my blue shorts which is what I'm wearing, I guess he likes neutral color.

He got back with a glass of water and sat beside me, after drinking it I sighed, everything will be okay by tomorrow.

"I sincerely want to apologize for what happened there" he pointed to where I sat when he kissed me. "You kissed me first but I'm sorry if that will make you hate me or stay away from me the more and I'm sincerely sorry for making you go home late, you were so peaceful while sleeping and I thought it would be so bad of me to wake you up, I was contemplating if I should wake you up when you... Never mind" he said in a low baritone voice

"I'm sorry for yelling at you and for calling you a dog," I said with my head bowed

"Is there anything you want before I leave for David's?" he asked as he stood up and my emotions heightened again, I knew if he left, I'd cry myself to sleep all alone and I didn't want to cry, I don't want to cry.

"Just stay with me, I don't want to be alone," I said.

"Okay, I'm not going anywhere" he sat beside me.

There was an awkward silence for a while before he broke the silence.

"Is Layla related to you? "

"Yes, she's my aunt's daughter, my cousin" I answered

"What about your parent? Wait, I know your dad's late but what about your mom?"

"I never knew her, I don't know anything about her, she's dead to me" I replied

"Oh! So, your aunt maltreats you? "

"No! She's just a little mad at me today, we'll sort it out tomorrow " he gave me a weird look as if he could sense I just lied but I stood my ground.

"Okay then! Let me get you a duvet, it's always cold here" he left and later came back with a duvet.

"He's so caring and gentle," I thought.

I watched him as he tried to make the couch and the pillow more comfortable, he's the most handsome man I've ever seen, his hair was messy but he still looks good with it, the black shirt he wore hugged his upper arm and his broad chest. He looked up suddenly and our eyes met, I was trapped, I couldn't look away anymore, and his green eyes pierced mine, I didn't break the look, it's what I'm good at, he later looked away, seems he doesn't have the strength for that.

"I don't know why you are staring at me but how can you stare at someone without blinking? It was so creepy and uncomfortable " he muttered and I chuckled.

"Now I know your weak point," I said, chuckling.

"Are you gonna use it against me miss? "he teased

"Maybe! Maybe not" I said and he smiled

"you looked upset when Miss Kendrick paired us up, you hate me that much?" He asked

"No, I don't!"

"So you like me?"

"I don't!"

"You do!"

"I don't !"

"You do !"

"I don't!"

"You do!"

"Okay! Okay! That's childish, do we always have to do this? This is the second time it's happening!"

"You have a nice name anyway but I'm used to calling you Patty, do you mind if I call you Patty? "

"If I tell you I do mind, will you stop?" I asked sarcastically

"No, I won't!" he said with a triumphant smile

"Whatever! " I rolled my eyes

"So, do you mind telling me more about yourself? "

"There's no more, you already know all, maybe you should tell me about yourself, I only know your name "

"Errm.. rmmm, ask me what you want to know," he said and I took my chance

"You are obviously a foreigner, I mean your looks and accent explain it but what are you doing in Nigeria with no parent or family? "

"Well, I just want to try and adapt in another part of the world, I've lived in America all my life"

"And your parent allowed that? "

"Yeah, I'm eighteen, I'm old enough to make my own decisions"

'I'm eighteen, I'm old enough to make my own decisions" I mimicked and he burst into laughter

"How old are you? You look sixteen"

"That's what everyone says, I'm seventeen but I'll be eighteen in three weeks" I replied

"So any plans for your birthday "

"Errr... Nope, I don't like celebrating birthdays, I find it childish " I lied

"Are you lying to me, Patty? "

"You have a nice house anyway" I changed the topic

He sighed "Thanks, maybe you'll get to live with me one day " he teased.

"And why on earth will I make that kind of ridiculous decision? "

"You seriously like me, don't you? " he teased and he furrowed his brows giving me a mischievous look

"If I'm to like a guy, why will it be you? " I answered with a disgusted look

"You are unbelievable! "

"Thanks for the compliment, Mr believable"

We talked, joked, and watched movies before I finally slept, the aroma of coffee woke me up the next day, and I checked the time, it was 5am. I looked around for Ethan and I guessed he was in the kitchen, I walked slowly to the kitchen, and as I got near I heard his voice, he was humming a song. I peeped into the kitchen and I saw in sitting on the cabinet drinking his coffee, he was shirtless, I stared at his body, his skin was smooth and fresh, with a lot of muscle in his arm, I was still looking until he suddenly cleared his throat. That's it, he caught me checking him Out.

"When you are done stripping me with your eyes, you can come to drink your coffee"

"Ermm, actually I want to tell you, I have to be on my way, it's 5 already"

"Alright, I will take you home" he walked past me into a room I assume to be his bedroom and used the opportunity to drink my coffee, it's macchiato, I have no idea when I'll get to drink a coffee again. He later came out wearing a hoodie, I finished my coffee and we left the house together.

When we got to my neighborhood, my heart started beating fast, I was so scared, Ethan noticed how nervous I was and said

"Everything is going to be fine, or is there any way I can help? "

"No" he got to the place where I always tell him to park and he parked, I got out of the car and he called me back.

"Patty, you forgot your phone " he gave it to me, I totally forgot I had a phone since anyone hardly calls me, only Chioma does.

"Thanks" I muttered and bade him goodbye, I expected him to leave immediately but he didn't, I kept glancing at the back and our eyes always met and when I did that, he had a worried look on his face. When I got to the place I knew he wouldn't see me anymore, I looked back again and he nodded, encouraging me to go, I waved at him and left. I walked toward my house and climbed the three stairs, I thought of knocking but I didn't, I placed my door on the door knob and I was surprised it opened, I entered and I saw my aunt standing with her hand akimbo, I thought she was going to ask me where I slept but I was shocked. When she asked

"Won't you do the house chores and prepare breakfast that you are just coming by this time? Now, go and start working" I looked at her and sluggishly walked to the kitchen, I'd never met a heartless person like this before in my entire life, she didn't even care about where I slept or show any remorse.

I walked to the kitchen and started cleaning the dishes when I heard Layla's voice.

"Where did you spend the night?"

Layla's POV

I never liked the fact that Ethan was paired with Bianca, since we had sex, he has gone ahead in sleeping with many other girls in school, even my rivals, when I confronted him he said I should stop acting like a jealous girlfriend. Now, Henry is dating another girl and Ethan isn't showing any interest in me since our last night together but I'm not giving up. When he got paired with Henry, I was frustrated, while doing our project he went ahead to invite his new girlfriend and they were acting lovey-dovey in front of me, I know he did that to make me jealous.

Bianca told us he was going to Ethan's house for the project, I objected and asked if Ethan couldn't come, and she told us that Ethan threatened her that if she didn't come, he wouldn't mind if they both failed and from seeing them argue earlier in school, I know Ethan doesn't like her and he's trying to tolerate her. I convinced my mom to let her go which was the worst mistake of my life, Bianca came late and I assumed it was because of traffic or maybe because she trekked, but my mom didn't let her in, she went outside to warn her to stop knocking and came back inside, I was about to go and beg my mom on her behalf when something caught my eyes, I saw Ethan hiding behind the shrub, I moved closer to the window and I saw Ethan walking towards Bianca where she sat on the floor, crying, he touched her on her shoulder and when Bianca saw him, she hugged him tight, a pang of jealously hit me.

"Is there something between them?" I wondered.

Before I could do anything, Ethan took her away. I couldn't sleep throughout the night.

"what are they doing?" I wondered, a lot of thoughts ran through my mind, maybe they are having sex? Or maybe she's giving him a head! No! I screamed.

"Bianca can't do that, I doubt if she knows what giving head means," I thought.

I couldn't sleep throughout the night, when it was 5:20am, I heard the door open, I got out of my room and saw her going to the kitchen, I followed her and asked

"Where did you spend the night? "

"I got locked out last night so I slept at Ethan's "

"Of all places, do you have to sleep there, why can't you go to Chioma's place? Isn't she your friend? " I asked raising my voice

"Chi's mom won't let me sleep at her house, your mom already warned her not to interfere in anything that has to do with this family and why are you yelling at me? Your mom locked me out remember? And do you expect me to sleep on the street when I have a choice? " she replied in rage, I guess she is pissed and I scoffed

"Did you sleep with him? " I asked in a low tone.

"Excuse me? "

"Did you sleep with him? You motherfucking bitch!" I yelled

"Why are you asking me that? And why are you calling me a bitch?"

"You whore! After all I've done for you! I clothed you, gave you money, fed you in school sometimes, and treated you like a family and this is how you'll repay me? Bianca? By stealing my man? " I asked in a low tone

"Look Layla, Ethan is just my partner and he only helped me last night since I had nowhere to sleep, I even slept in the living room, nothing is between us, I swear Layla, trust me!... I know you clothe me, give me money, and treat me like a family, I basically have nothing I can call my own but I still have my self-respect, you are just two months older than I am, and I can't let you talk to me anyhow as if I'm your little sister, I appreciate everything you've done for me, thanks a lot but don't accuse me of something I didn't do!" she said has tears fall down her cheeks but I didn't care.

"Don't you dare have an eye on Ethan, he's mine! " I warned and she nodded.