ONE

The time was 9:00am on Saturday. 

Dave Walters had been in bed all night, wide awake with hurtful emotions as he tried to navigate his mind around his crush and bestie, Julie, who he summoned the courage to ask out the previous night. 

The tall lean twenty-year-old dude had put on Eminem’s and Lil Wayne’s track, “No love” on repeat throughout the night. 

The music blared out through the mp3 player which filled the whole neighbourhood, making his neighbours on the same floor of the three storey building to knock on his door in annoyance. 

“Hey, what the hell is wrong with you? This isn’t your papa’s house, tone down the volume of your audio player, or I break down your door.” 

They said in succession.

The heartbroken dude wasn’t deterred by their disturbances as he sang in rhythm to the song, ignoring every knock that came on the door made of hard ply wood. 

The noise produced by their fists were similar to sounds made by a talking drum, yet he didn’t relent as he sang the more…making sure he wasn’t distracted…he just wanted to feel better…as he was going nuts and felt like a loser…

The last of the five door beatings came from Lindsey Philips. 

“Please Dave open the door. Whatever it is that’s wrong with you, you know you can always confide in me.” She said in a compassionate tone.

Lindsey was the first friend he had made aside Julie after he gained admission into Lex University to study Foreign Languages. This was his second year, yet no one was as friendly to him in the building as Lindsey was. 

 “Dave, I know you’re in there. Please don’t do something stupid, open the door let’s talk.” Lindsey pleaded once more. 

Dave felt cold to his bones.

He didn’t want to disappoint Lindsey who was so soft and always provided a solution to everyone in distress; she was like an angel, the one whose words gave comfort and warmth to the soul. 

Her magic on him didn’t work this time, as he screamed the more, singing out the words contained in the chorus.

 “You gave me nothing but hate, you ran me into the ground, what comes around goes around. F*ck what you say, just don’t hurt me.”  

Dave couldn’t get over the previous night. He had drowned himself in alcohol, yet insomnia denied him a peaceful rest. 

He was sad that the ‘green light’ Julie had shown him in the last two years they had known was not enough to guarantee him a spot in her life. 

He felt his phlegmatic attributes had cost him the most important person in his life, as he was too slow to open up his feelings to her, when the time was best. 

The words Julie had said to him the previous night re-echoed in his ears, as he lay on his bed. “I’m sorry. I prefer us to remain friends.”

“Remain friends?” 

But he did loved her and this did not go down with him because he had nursed this feeling for too long and when he had finally summoned the courage, he got his ass thrown in the friend-zone.

As he lay on his bed digesting the effect of the words he had heard the previous night, a knock came on the door again. It was Lindsey.

“I know you are in there. Please open the door. I care about you.” She screamed and banged the door simultaneously.

This time, Dave had already put off the radio set with his eyes still fixed to the ceiling, and there was no pretending he didn’t hear her. 

After the constant pleadings from his short friend with a ponytail hair which was always dyed in purple colour, he jumped out of his duvet and made for the door.

“Can I come in?” 

She said at once, avoiding pleasantries. She was just hell-bent of knowing what was wrong.

“Sure you can?” 

Dave motioned with his head for her to come in.

Going in, she saw a bottle of gin half drunk, with the cloth he had worn the previous night lying on the floor.

“Why is your room so untidy? And you stink as though you work in some brewing company.” 

Dave only browed.

“Can you please say something?” 

They both sat close on the mattress as she looked at him intently.

Facing sideways with his eyes getting teary, he finally spoke out…though inaudibly.

“Julie said no. She said she prefers we better remain as friends.”

“Oh gosh! I thought as much. I know you must be feeling very bad about it, but that is not the end of the world. There are so many girls out there who see you as a spec. You’re a great guy and you will eventually find someone who loves you irrespective of your flaws.”

Lindsey wasn’t surprised about it, as she had always persuaded him to be a ‘man’ on several occasions he had shared the feelings with her.

 

She was however surprised he finally did so without notifying her about it.

“But would I ever find someone better? Julie has everything I want in a woman. She is beautiful, determined, bold and I feel very happy whenever we are together.”

Dave spoke this time with his face clasped in his hands.

Julie seemed to have all the qualities he craved so he thought. She had a tall height with a beautiful face free of any skin acnes. She also smelt nice and whenever she spoke…her white teeth glistened like the ones he usually saw in a toothpaste advert. 

Her stature was perfect; like a mannequin, she had well-shaped curves with no visible physical flaws. It was as though God was intentional about creating her.

 “Of course you would. What you have in your head is just a mirage. Just give it time, I promise you, you will heal.”

Lindsey tried to boost his courage.

Dave was beginning to feel better, as she stretched further to keep him in a warm hug. 

Lindsey always had a way of making him feel okay. 

She was a final year student of Psychology in Selemon University, which was located on Lane 12 Street, a few strides from where Dave schooled. 

The short beautiful girl was very friendly to everyone in the neighbourhood, and so it was difficult for anyone to have a problem that she didn’t get to know; unless the persons affected refused to give her audience.

 

Nevertheless, she was so good at reading people’s gestures. Sometimes she felt others could do same to her. Read her emotions and provide a solution and not conclude that she was strong enough.

                   

***

Julie had come home with a face that predicted that all was not well. 

“Hi mum.” 

Julie greeted coldly and was heading to the room without giving her mum the usual goodnight hug.

Her mum, Lucy, who had hardly seen her in such a depressed state, was drawn with concern. 

 “Hey baby. Are you sure there isn’t something you would want to share with me?” 

Lucy’s eyes were keen on her daughter to prevent her from giving an excuse. Julie was totally bought as she joined her mum in the cushion with her back resting on her mum’s lap.

“Talk to me my Angel, what’s wrong with you?”

“Dave says he wants us to date. That he had had his eyes on me for too long and cannot help it any longer.” 

She sighed heavily and then continued.

“I thought it was our usual friendly outing when he asked for a dinner date. But when he oozed out those words, I told him, I prefer us to remain as friends and nothing more.”

She spoke with a sad face.

Julie and Dave very close; so close that they were quick to predict the other’s next line of action and even complete each other’s sentences whenever they had a discussion. 

They were gossip mates and hardly kept a secret from each other. 

The mum was very much aware of their close friendship, and so she became very concerned.

“How did he react to it?” She asked as she caressed Julie’s curly hair.

“Mum, he was very angry. I have never seen him like that before. He raged and even stormed out of the canteen where we were having lunch.” 

Fear could be seen in her eyes as she spoke.

“I imagine how bad he must have felt. Don’t worry too much. Just give it time. I’m sure he will get over it soon.” 

Her mum reassured.

“But mum, what if he does something bad to himself? I know I turned him on at some points. But I wasn’t expecting him to nurture such feelings in his mind” 

Julie said as she began to see reason why Dave had fallen for her.

She remembered how she had often aroused his feelings by the way she playfully kissed him on the cheek and sat on his laps with her hands wrapped around his neck. 

Whenever she visited, she always ensured close body contact with their eyes locked during conversations as though they were involved in an intimate relationship. 

And whenever she was hurt, she would cry on his chest as a means to receive some form of security and assurance from him. She wondered how she would fare in the coming days as the rejection she offered him was going to have a negative effect on her.

Julie became mute and her eyes were becoming wet. The mum then raised her and cleaved to her in a hug. She then whispered in her ears.

“Give it time. The both of you will get over it soon.”

“I hope so. Love you mum.” 

Julie let tears stream down her eyes as she sobbed softly.

“I love you too my angel.” 

Lucy kissed her child’s forehead and held onto her tightly.

Julie then got down her mum’s lap and headed to her room as she bid her mum goodnight.