He handed me something, I looked at his hand holding a familiar plastic bag... I must have left my takeout in his car
I looked at him and collected it, muttering a 'thanks'

I continued eating my food, I noticed the table was silent, then I looked up to see my friends staring at I and Elijah awkwardly. "What!?" I asked

"You guys are at it again, can't you both just get along without having any issues?" Lami said

"Stop Lami it's their business, mind yours" Sarah muttered in a low voice

"Awww, aren't you both cute, it's lover's fight Lami, take a chill pill. But come to think of it, he's right, I've never seen you even smile a little at each other, considering the fact you both used to be friends. Can we just leave the past in the past and start anew" Trish said

"Trish!!" I and Sarah said at the same time..... Oh God she spilled too much already... "Oops! Sorry " she realized what she did and bent her head shyly

Lami just figured out her statement "Dude you knew each other before now? How come I'm just hearing of it?"

"It's not a big deal, so what was the need of you knowing " Elijah shrugged and continued eating his meal.... ouch! That hurt, he really is a jerk

"Well, I just thought we told each other everything and also concerning the fact you like...." Lami said

"Lami, you should eat, your food's getting cold" Elijah cut him short, giving him a glare. Lami smirked and winked at me.. . What was that for? I thought

"Look guys it's not that deep, they live together and they aren't kids, if they have issues, they know how they sort it out. So can we have a peaceful lunch, thank you" Sarah said all at once

I smiled at her and she mouthed 'later' to me, knowing what she meant, I nodded. Jamie and Trish were bickering lowly about something... about what happened earlier I guess

I sighed and turned to face my meal, my eyes met Elijah's staring at me, not even in the least subtle way. I frowned and looked away, suddenly feeling self conscious under his scrutinizing look

After lunch we all went our separate ways. I and Sarah been course mates, we're always together, she asked me what happened between I and Elijah later on

I explained to her, narrating the whole make out session and the fight

"Oh poor baby, but Nina are you confused?" She asked

"What do you mean?" I asked back
"I don't know, I mean you like him, you both like each other, but none of you are willing to accept the fact and be mature about it " she said

"I have tried Sarah, I really have, but anytime I try letting go and getting closer, he pushes me away. I did what I did yesterday so I won't be filled with regrets, I mean you should understand me right?"

"Yeah I do, I really do. Maybe you should stay away if that is what he wants, I know it'll be hard, but try to okay?"

"Yeah sure, that's the plan. He didn't even let me go with him to see his mom, even when she begged him to"

"He's a jerk, he's not worth it " Sarah said

"Yeah, but I can't seem to get over him, I want to help him and understand why he became this way, I want to be there for him. I don't want it to end like it did five years ago. Does that make me insane or cheap?" I asked sadly

"No it doesn't, I get you. But if it doesn't work out, just try to forget him, there are better guys out there okay?"

I nodded and smiled "oh come here" she said and hugged me, I hugged her back, suddenly feeling better

...................

I had a pretty long day, It's 9PM and I just got home from my jobs, I saw his car and I knew he was in. I got in, locked the door and headed to my room

I stopped in my tracks when I saw him studying again in the kitchen with a box of half pizza opened beside him on the counter... why does he read here, is it because it's close to my room or what?

He was about taking a bite from a slice he picked up when he noticed my presence and looked at me. I sighed tiredly, looked away and headed to my room

I was too tired to do anything, I went to my closet, took out an oversized tee with my very short night shorts and changed into them

I was about getting in bed when I heard a knock, I ignored it.... maybe it's not my room. I sat on the bed, ready to sleep when the knock came again

"Who's there?" I asked, getting frantic already..
"It's me Elijah" I heard from the other side of the door

Oh, I sighed in relief then I opened the door a little bit, I looked up at him.. "Yeah, what's the problem?"

"Sorry for the disturbance, do you mind if we talk?" He said while scratching his head shyly

I looked at him for what felt like eternity, thinking if I should hear him out or not, but I was too tired to argue tonight.

He raised one of his eyebrows at me "so can I come in?" That broke me out of my trance

"Uhmm, yeah sure you can" I opened the door a bit wider for him to get in. He turned to look at me, he noticed what I was wearing and raked his eyes over my body

I cleared my throat to get his attention, "Are you talking or you came to stare?"

"Oh...uh...uh.. yeah, I wanted to apologise for this morning, I shouldn't have spoken to you that way, I was just angry at that moment, so that was the only way I could express myself " he said, scratching his head once again

Hmm, looks like mr hard guy with the high and strong walls of Jericho is shy... I was shocked cause I wasn't expecting an apology

This surely made me feel better, I smiled at him and nodded which he reciprocated

"I guess I owe you one too, look about last night, I...I..uhmm... well you would have figured I still like you, look I don't know what happened before you moved here or what was happening in your life back then. I just want to say I'm sorry if I hurt you in anyway before"

I don't know what happened that made you this way, but Elijah I... you know what forget it, let's just go to bed. Thanks for the apology, it meant a lot"

He sighed and came forward, I took a step back out of reflex " You're doing it again" he said

I was confused "uh.. doing what?"
"Holding back" he replied

"I'm not holding back, in fact if anyone is holding back, it's you. I just don't want to interfere in your life since you don't want that" I said

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually want you to interfere, ever since you got here, I couldn't help but want you back again " he replied

I was taken aback "uh...uh..uhmm...I just...I don't understand, you told me to stay away that day, you even ditched me and didn't let me come with you to see your mom" I said

He pinched his nose and sighed "Look I know what I said, I did that so you could hate me, Nina I have a lot going on in my life right now, I have a messed up life and I didn't want to drag you in it, even back then"

"Why didn't you tell me? We were close and you never for once spoke to me about it" I replied feeling my heart break for the vulnerable boy in front of me

"Well that's why I'm telling you now, I'm not good at expressing myself Nina, but I want us to work. I'm not promising you a perfect relationship, I'll mess up, I know I will. Please just bear with me and teach me"

I didn't know the tears were already falling, I can't believe Elijah wants me in " Yeah we'll go through all these together as far you don't push me away"

He came closer to me, I didn't step back this time. He held my hands, looking at them and muttered "As I said before, I'll fuck up, but I want to change for you and I'll never push you away. I'm scared you will"

I chuckled "No I won't, I'll stick around okay, just tone down your psycho attitude okay?"

He laughed, bringing his forehead to touch mine, he cleaned my tears "I will, anything for you " then he pecked my forehead and hugged me

We stayed like that for what felt like forever. "So are you my girlfriend now?"

The question caught me off guard "uhmm..uh, see I..I... let's take it slow okay? The whole thing is still new to me"

He chuckled "I understand, how about we go out tomorrow?" He asked

Holy shit!! He's asking me out on a date.. I looked up at him "Are you asking me on a date Elijah Johnson?" I smirked

He rolled his eyes and smiled "Sure, whatever you call it" ..... "Yeah I'll love to go out with you " I beamed

"That's great" he said huskily before capturing my lips in a searing kiss

He started to pull away "I should get back to my room"

I felt sad all of a sudden "uhmm... okay, goodnight "
"Hey are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" He asked looking worried

I didn't know how to tell him to sleep with me... "uh.. no, I'm good, I just thought maybe you could uhmm.. uh never mind"

I started to walk towards my bed when he held my hand, stopping me from moving further... "Do you want me to stay?"

I lowered my head shyly and nodded....
He chuckled "you could just have mentioned that" he removed his shirt, leaving him in only his PJ pants

I gulped and asked "what are you doing?".... "I thought you wanted me to stay, aren't you sleeping?" He asked looking confused

Oh God, give me strength... "No I meant why're you shirtless?"

He got on the bed, he smirked mischievously, "come here" he dragged me towards him, I squealed and looked at him, he was staring at me intensely before he kissed me again

It started getting deeper, he was going down to my neck, sucking and biting there, he moved to my ears and did the same thing. His hands moved to my boobs, he was caressing and playing with my nipples while busy with my neck, I was breathing heavily... never knew it felt this good

He kissed his way down to my breast, he was about raising my top when I stopped him, he raised his head to look at me

"What's wrong?" He asked... "Nothing, just let's take it slow okay? We should get some sleep" I pecked his lips

He sighed and buried his head in my neck, he looked at me and nodded, drawing me closer to him... "I'm sorry, I just can't seem to control myself around you "

I chuckled and we called it a night with a happy smile on my face.... never thought cuddling felt this nice

......................

Awwww🥺😭😭 they finally made up, this chapter felt surreal for me and it's the longest chapter so far (2000 words on the dot) 😆🤪

Alright pls keep voting and sending in your comments, don't stop supporting your baby girl 🙏❤❤