//You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down...// All of me-John Legend.

*Iverson*

"Such a sexy little thing, how can you not love her? Claire is going to flip when she finds out." Biggie says enthusiastically as we both step out of the cars.

"Anything for the birthday girl." I say, stretching out the journey to and fro my father's house Downtown, where we went to retrieve my Land Rover.

With a grin, Biggie crosses over to my side. "Thanks for doing this. Next year hopefully, I'd have saved enough to buy her one. She have more appreciation for sport cars than you my man." He says, caressing the Ferrari's bonnet tenderly.

"I appreciate my space more," I tell him, then point at the Land Rover. "This is more me and it has a special place in my heart. We've been through some thick and thin together."

Many are days I'd had to crash in my car, I would have lost total feeling in my spine if it'd been the cardbox Ferrari.

"Claire can have it for however long she want, I won't miss it much as long as I'm with my Land Rover but I'm still going to sue your ass if she get as much as a coffee stain on it." I deadpan and throw the Ferrari's key at him.

"Got it." he smiles. "So, got a date for the party?"

"I wasn't told It's a plus one event." I say as I get into the Land Rover and check to make sure my guitar is in the back seat.

"It's not," he shrug and seize the door before I can shut it. "I worry about you man, how are you really? Are you okay? Do you eat often, sleep well, get laid?"

I snort with a shake of my head. "I get laid whenever I want thanks for your concern."

"Yeah? You're getting some? From where?"

"Jesus Biggie, is this even something we should be talking about?"

He nod as he brings out a packet of cigarette. "As a matter of fact, yes. I haven't seen you with anyone since Lola's case and Jay's disappearance and naturally as a friend, I get worried for you. Do you still get it to rise aside when you want to pee?"

He opens the packet to me after perching a stick between his lips. "You know Derrick as moved on right? And Jay probably have too, wherever the hell she is."

I shake my head more to what he's saying than the offer. He knows very well that I don't smoke but he still always offer me one. And the matter he's on about isn't something I would normally talk about, he knows this too.

"How's it going with your lady roomie anyway? She's Claire's friends you know that? She's got some fire I like." he says. Not the best change of subject but Blue I can talk about to some extent.

"That woman is a walking infuriation," I state calmly. "I don't see me and her finding a common ground anytime soon."

She has a tendency of making my blood boil with lust and anger at the same frigging time. Aside my sister, I've never really lost my sh?t with anyone and I used to think Ivory was the most annoying person on the planet, hence why I branded her Nivera.

When we were kids, she once had her toe shoved into my nose while I slept.

"It fits." she had beamed as I opened my eyes. Bella can give her a run for her money without shoving anything up my nose. She is simply maddening.

Biggie chuckles. "How Daniel manage having her under his roof and still have eyes for Cynthia I would never know."

It's not the first time I'll think that too, the way they just sort of get along so well is disturbing. Some time they behave like a couple that's been married for 25 years and have grandchildren somewhere.

I've found myself rolling my eyes or sighing in exasperation most times when Dan goes; Don't drink the milk from the gallon, Bella doesn't like it.

Or when it's pizza; Yeah, order that one but without the olives, Bella hates it. I even suspect the reason there's no alcohol in the house is because she doesn't drink.

"If she hates it so much, she can always pick it out." I had snapped once and it had a lot to do with jealously. I like to think I've known her longer than Dan. After all they only met here in college, while she and I go way back.

I'm talking braces in the teeth and monkey doll-way back. She may not even remember this but we've always had friends in common. I'm yet to figure out if that's a blessing or a curse.

Now the few things I know about her that's of any worth is that, growing up she felt left out of other kids because she didn't have a father to brag about. That and the fact that she hates my guts now.

"Cynthia wouldn't have let me anywhere near a girl half as hot as Bella when she and I was going out, it's a surprise she trust Daniel with her that much. It's like she doesn't feel threaten by Bella at all." Biggie says.

Not the first time I'd think about that too. I've been in the house for a little while now and Cynthia hasn't visit once.

"Can we just stop talking about them for a second?" I groan. Like I said, I can only talk about her to some extent.

I've been trying my best to ignore her unwelcome and intruding residence in my subconsciousness these past few days, but shaking off the image of her, standing in that bathroom so...naked, is just impossible.

I remember everything with an alarming clarity, it's there, vividly behind my eyelids every single time I close my eyes.

The small sexy curve of her waist, the firmness and fullness of the breasts she tried so desperately to cover with an arm, while the other flew to protect tressure-ville between her legs.
Her warm and soft looking skin, how she seemed to have an halo around her. My fingers itch to know the feeling of being buried in that morning hair of hers that could have passed for sex hair and my tongue would so love to have a taste her.

Damn I want that woman so bad it hurt where it matters, yet there is that picture of Daniel, making my thoughts feel so wrong.

"Oh, I know that look, you've been fantasising about her haven't you?"

"What? No!" I instantly deny but the bastard grin knowingly, blowing a puff of smoke in my face.

"Really? You've never jerked off to the thought of her?"

"Damn it Biggie, what is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Just making sure, cause I plan on introducing her to Derrick at the party." he says smugly. "I've begged Claire to but she refused. Here's my chance."

"Oh no, no not Derrick please." I literally plead. Derrick and Bella together will be catastrophe for me.

"Why not? they are both single." Biggie argues.

"Isn't that the point? Derrick doesn't date, he plays! You know this more than anyone, he is your twin for fuck sake."

"He'll change. You'll see, he just need to fall in love with someone that's got fire in them and I think Bella is the one."

"You know what, I don't give a rat ass." I say through clench teeth and shove him away from my door. "Do whatever makes you feel like a douche."

"Am I hitting a nerve here?" he ask with a smug grin.

"Go screw yourself." I tell him and turn the key in the ignition.

"Why will I do that when I have Claire? You on the othe..." flipping him off, I step on the gas and reverse away from him before he could finish.

I can already picture them together, laughing and getting cozy. Derrick hates me for a justifiable reason, he was my best friend and I betrayed him. Blue hates me for some reason I don't quite understand, if those two become a couple, I might as well decide if I want to be buried or incinerated.

Derrick and Blue! Fuck.

Daniel and Blue! Double, triple fuck.

None of those images sit well with me at all. Damn Biggie, he has a way of messing with one's mind. Remind me to whack him on that bald head of his the next time I see him.

Daniel and Blue together actually leaves a bitter taste at the back of my throat than she with Derrick.

I've seen her with Daniel. Those two share a strong bond. A connection I don't see between Daniel and his girlfriend.

It's almost naturedly to feel like a third wheel between Blue and Daniel, well she often make me feel that way. Dan always find a way of bringing me into their conversations and she always find a way of brushing me out.

She hates and she was the one who messed up. If anything, I should be the one hating her guts, but try as I may, I can't even bring myself to not like her. I drive straight to her, suddenly needing to find that common ground if one exist.

On entering the living room, I spot the vacuum cleaner, a wet hand towel and the mopping bucket. In the kitchen, a half eaten sandwich and an empty glass of juice was on the counter but no sign of her.

The corridor to her room smell of lemon scented Pine sol, the floor tiles glistering and still a little slippery. An evidence she's been busy. Hopefully, she isn't already pissed off.

Her door opens just as I'm about to knock and she steps out, eyes snapping up from the phone in her hands when she notices me. She instantly narrowed her eyes and her nose flares.

"I come in peace." I say before she opens that big mouth of hers. I haven't seen her in three days since our rather unfriendly encounter and evidently she's still pretty upset. "Do you have a minute?" I ask. She goes back to typing rapidly on her phone without a word. "Is that a yes?"

Instead of a verbal reply she turn the screen of the phone to me and I lean down a little to read the text on it. 'What do you want?' She had typed out.

"Seriously?" I ask with a crook brow. "You will rather type that on your phone?" she ignores me again as she typed away on her phone. I lean on the wall across from her and tap my foot on the floor impatiently.

When she was done, she faced the screen to me again. 'I'm not talking to you until you've apologise for calling me a shrewd'

I shake my head with a chuckle. "What are you, 12?"

"Is it so hard for you to have a civil conversation without making me feel little?" She finally snap.

"I'm sorry, have you met you?" I ask. "It's impossible to have a civil conversation with you. What do you think I'm doing here if it's not to apologise, you have to go acting like...." the words trail off as I realise I won't be getting anywhere with her this way.

"Look I'm sorry okay? I can't explain how you rub off on me, I'm usually very cool I swear."

"You don't have to talk to me, I personally enjoy it when we ignore each other."she states grimly.

"I don't." I tell her sincerely. "Listen Blue, forget the idiot you knew four years ago and give this kid a chance? Here's a truce, have lunch with me. If after then you still want us to keep ignoring each other, you win."

*Bella*

"Where is your car?" I ask Iverson when he clicked open a Land Rover. I have no idea why or how he manage to rope me into this truce-lunch but here I am giving him a chance and hoping to whatever deity that I don't regret it.

"With a friend." He says and open the passenger's door for me. I slide inside, trying so much to avoid any contact with him.

"Why?" I ask when he sit and start the car. I need to keep the small conversation going to avoid over thinking what I'm doing and freaking out.

"He's gonna use it for a bit. This isn't exactly a Camry but I figured it'd help me blend and not get judge by the type of car I drive as if that defines my bank account."

I don't have a reply to that. I rearrange myself in the seat, my hands neatly folded on my laps and stare straight ahead. This is going to be an interesting day, not.

With buildings and cars blurring by, the tension in car also mounts. At first I say nothing and he hums, repeatedly tapping an index finger against the steering wheel.

Finally, I say. "Play some songs?"

"And risk upsetting you?" He reply immediately. "No thanks, I plan on staying on your good side today."

"May I then?" I ask, picking up his iPod. I scroll through his playlist, surprise at the different genres. "This is the weirdest compilation of music I've ever seen." I tell him and settle for a Jamaican's song.

He looks at me with interest as the song begin to play, a secret smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"What?" I ask.

"Of all the songs you could play?"

"You can't judge me, I found it in your playlist and I think I like it." I retort.

"Of course you do." he smile and park the car in front of a supermarket. "Sorry, I need to quickly grab some stuffs" He says removing his seatbelt.

"I can come with.."

"No, it's okay, I will be just a minute. You stay here and enjoy your song." the mischievous smirk was back on his face as he say the last part and dash out of the car.
He soon return and drop some paper bags in the back seat.

"Hey what is the song about?" I ask suspiciously even though I've replayed the song but I can't seem to pick on the words.

"Are you sure you wanna know?" he chuckles.

I narrow my eyes, getting even more suspicious. "Start talking."

"The guy's name is Gyptian, the title of the song is 'Hold yuh'."

"And?" I probe. He laughs and restarted the song again, lowering the volume to minimum.

"Try to catch the words." he says and begin to sing along. I listen attentively to his voice but barely understand anything he says. He notice this and decide to spell it out instead.
"The first line is like... 'Girl I just wanna hold yuh, put my arms tight around you, cause you give me the tightest hold I've ever seen in my life." he explains.

"Is that such a bad thing?" I ask.

"It gets better," he winks and my stomach dips at the gesture.

"If it's dry me no care, I'll take it anytime and anywhere and I'll make you feel it. 'Me want a girl that can whine upon me, wild it good and make me feel it...."

"Okay stop." I say sharply. My face heating over as I finally understand what he's saying.

"Show me that could girl.." he continue sing-spelling and laughing at my embarrassment. "You can jump on me and go boom, boom, boom."

"Oh god." I choke on a laugh and cover my red face. "Iverson please stop."

"She de outta control and more fire she want in her soul"

"Stop!" I scream into my hands but he only sing louder.

"She said more by more man as she groans and still me multiply more."

I cover my ears instead and begin to sing gibberish at the top of my lungs to cover his voice. His laughter fills the car and he reach across to pry my hand away from my ear as he sings on.

"Lalalalalala. I can't hear you....lalalalala." I sing louder but still feel the tingling travelling up my hand from where his thumb absentmindedly rubs on my knuckle.