It was past nine when Aliyah came to Jessica's place and boy, was I glad. After a very silent dinner with Jessica's family, except her mother, Jessica went straight to her room. I didn't bother following her. I just sat with Kristabel and in the sitting room watching TV.

"Jessica is not talking to me again," I told Aliyah as we climbed up the spiral stairs. We had left a dosing Kristabel in the sitting room.

"What did you do?" Aliyah asked. By this time we were already on the hallway leading to Jessica's room. I stared at Aliyah with a frown. Why did everyone always assume I did something?

"I didn't do anything. You were the one who was following behind her. You should know something."

"I just saw her storming off," she told me with defensive shrug. "Do you think it has something to do with Stephen perhaps?"

Against my will, I nodded. She had asked me all those unnecessary questions during the drive. Her attitude was bound to be because of Stephen.

We were already at the door to Jessica's room. Aliyah twisted the handle and pushed the door open slowly for reasons best known to her.

"Jessie," she called peeking her head into the room. She pushed the door more and stepped into the room. I followed her carefully.

"Aliyah, when did you come?" Jessica asked looking in our direction. She was sitting in front of her laptop. She did not frown or give an exaggerated sweet smile like I had expected. She just gazed at Aliyah with sleep ladden eyes.

"Not so long ago," Aliyah replied walking to Jessica's part of the room. I still stood at the door unsure of what to do. As far as I knew, Jessica and I were not on good terms.

Jessica clicked her keyboard briefly and closed her laptop. A loud yawn followed. "You and Nairobi can share my bed. I'll stay in the guest room opposite." At least she didn't make me sleep on the floor.

Aliyah threw a quick glance my way. "Are we not going to you know 'gist'?" She asked Jessica.

Jessica stood up and stretched. "I'm feeling sleepy already, I'm sorry. We can talk tomorrow." She sounded like she meant it. Jessica was not even giving off any negative vibe. It was like our argument never happened. Maybe it was because she hadn't seen me, I concluded.

"Oh." Aliyah looked at me again then back to Jessica. I wondered if she was scared of talking to Jessica. "Okay."

I shut my eyes, disappointed. When I opened them again, Jessica was walking towards me. I stepped out of her way so that she could go out. My eyes followed her till she walked out of the door. The girl acted like I was invisible. I wondered if this was what I was going to be doing with Jessica. Fighting because of Stephen. It wasn't even sounding right in my ear at all.

"Goodnight Liya. Goodnight Naya," Jessica's voice pierced my thought. I actually thought I heard wrong until I looked at the girl and she passed me a small seemingly apologetic smile before walking away.

I looked at Aliyah for some kind of explanation. She stared right back and it seemed like she shared my surprise. "I swear this girl has been acting like I am invisible since we arrived here."

Aliyah shrugged and plonked down on Jessica's bed. "I guess you guys are good now."

"Jessica matter dey give person headache I swear," I said rubbing my forehead as I went to join Aliyah on the bed. I sat at the edge while she laid down.

"I thought you were going to ask her what her problem was," I told Aliyah looking pointedly at her.

"You heard her. We're going to talk tomorrow."

I looked away from Aliyah's lying form. "You were scared of talking, weren't you?"

Aliyah was silent. I had to look at her to know if she had suddenly dozed off . Her eyes were closed and she was smiling like crazy. The action caused her deep dimples to pop.

I slapped her thigh lightly and her eyes shot open. "I was talking to you. What is even making you smile?"

Aliyah bit her bottom lip. "Nothing."

What ever was making her smile was definitely from the love fest and she didn't spend the night with us. She spent it with Hakeem so it was undoubtedly Hakeem that was making her smile.

"You know, I didn't notice you and Hakeem last term. How did you two get close? You guys even got nominated for the best couples competition."

A smile started spreading on her lips but Aliyah caught herself before she became a blushing mess. "His family and mine are friends. Honestly, we didn't talk much before until new year day. His family had visited mine and I don't know why but he made a move to talk to me and here we are."

"New year? New year is just. . ." I did a little mental calculation. "A month and two weeks ago. So in a month you guys have become a thing?" I asked shocked. Hakeem was undoubtedly a fine guy and he was also nice and had charms but. . . well only hoped her reason was not because of pressure or that she was trying to prove some point. This term, I had realized that people didn't comment on her weight any more.

Aliyah shot up from her sleeping position. "No! We're not a couple."

I gave her a confused look. I was totally blank. "Why did you guys compete then?"

"It was Hakeem's idea. He was the one who nominated us. And since he's in SS3 and literally everyone loves him, nobody disagreed with the nomination."

"Why did he do it?"

"Something about putting myself out there."

My mouth formed an 'O' but I couldn't make a sound because Aliyah spoke immediately.

"So Vincent was your val." She had a dimpled smile on her face. She resumed her lying position but kept staring at me.

"So?"

"You know I predicted it, some time last year."

"It's not what you think Sailor. I'm pretty sure it's some funny plan between Vincent and Stephen probably to help our relationship and other yada yada."

"My ship is sailing," Aliyah sang totally ignoring my theory. "You two looked super cute together."

"When did you even see us together? You were busy doing couple goals with Hakeem."

"On CJ's status." Aliyah sat up and pulled out her phone from her purse then lay back down. After thumbing away for some seconds, she patted the space beside her. "Come."

I had half the mind to refuse but I agreed anyways. I was curious. When I laid down beside her she handed me her phone. "See."

My eyes widened unconsciously when I looked at the screen. CJ was written on the top left corner of the phone and below it was a picture that I never knew Vincent and I took. I realised it must have been the picture CJ captured when Vincent and I went to see him. Vincent had a smile on his face and I looked confused or taken off guard rather. The smile which wasn't forced lighted Vincent's facial features and he looked so different in a good way. Someone had to tell Vincent to smile often. Under the picture was written: These two I stan with a white heart.

Aliyah tapped the screen and another picture slid in. It was our group photo. The caption under it was: I missed with a weeping emoji. I ignored every other person and concentrated on myself. I kept looking at myself in the photo, smiling at how good I looked.

My hair in perfect coils, sequins gown gleaming and a false smile in place, I fitted in so well with these rich kids. It made me feel a strange sick satisfaction. Any outsider who looked at that picture would think we were a group of celebrity friends at a big event. I wished I had an android phone so that I could send the picture to Richard. He would be super proud of me.

Another photo slid in on its own and it was Jessica. She was looking away from the camera so I guessed he took it unawares. Jessica's fair skin was a huge contrast to the dark background and she looked like a supermodel in her outfit. The girl was hot and I felt slightly bad for CJ. The caption was just a red heart. Then after it was a picture of him with Stephen and Vincent. Then the next picture included Alec.

The next slide had Keem on top. The first few pictures were of a smiling Aliyah. The girl just blushing beside me. Then pictures of the two together followed then a short video of Aliyah walking in slowmo.

The next slide which had Stephen Ola at the top made me pause and furrow my brows in confusion. It was a picture of me. It was one of the single pictures I had taken. Stephen had posted my picture and under it was a sweating emoji.

How did he even get it?

The next was a short video of me trying to strike a pose for a single picture. Under it was the fire emoji. After that was a video of me and Vincent struggling to decide a pose for the camera. Under it was a laughing emoji then after that pictures of him, Vincent, CJ and Alec followed. He even posted a picture of him with Dabira and one with Amanda. But none with Jessica. Shit. I was convinced that this was the reason Jessica was giving me an attitude earlier.

"I don't understand you and Stephen's chemistry," Aliyah spoke up when another slide came in.

"There's no chemistry." I handed her the phone and sat up. I was now aware of Jessica's necklace swaying under my nightwear. I had forgotten about it.

Aliyah took the phone and kept it under a pillow. "He didn't post a single picture of Jessie."

"It's not my fault. If that's the reason she's angry at me, Vincent was there. Alec too even Dabira. Why didn't she get angry at them?" I asked but I knew the reason so damn well. I unclipped the jewelry on my neck and stood up from the bed.

"Is that even supposed to be a question?" Aliyah asked incredulously. "There are two videos and a picture of you on his status."

I placed the necklace gently in the jewelry box sitting at a corner of her desk. With a sigh, I said. "Drama, especially the boy one, is the last thing I need in my life right now I swear." I had other more important things to do with my life than hold grudges with friend because of a boy.

I turned swiftly to Aliyah. "But I need to ask you something and I need you to be brutally honest."

"What?" Aliyah asked propping her head on her palm.

"Does Stephen like me?"

Aliyah gave me a funny look, one that I expected.

"Stop looking at me like that," I told her looking away.

"How am I supposed to know that? Wait, hold up, don't tell me you like him."

"No I don't," I was quick to defend myself. I didn't want Aliyah getting ideas. "I just. . .do you think he likes me? Chijioke said he does, Vincent said the same and Stephen affirmed it today-"

"What?!" Aliyah shot up from the bed and in less than a second she was in my face with eyes wide as saucers.

"But he says it's not in that way," I clarified stepping back from Aliyah. I tried to decide whether to tell her about the truth or dare almost kiss. Up till this moment, I still could not believe that almost happened. Stephen was just too bold and totally different from the Stephen I have heard about from the girls. The geeky kid with braces popular for only his impeccable basketball skills even with an apparent bad eyesight. Now he was popular for both his basketball skills and good look since he had gotten rid of his braces and no longer used glasses but contacts.

"Oh puhlis, he has two videos and a picture of you on his status." Aliyah rolled her eyes. "That has to be a sign."

"A sign that what?"

"That Stephen like likes you," Aliyah cooed cupping my cheeks. It was the fact that she didn't even know about the truth or dare episode and she was already bringing up that theory.

"I don't want him to, abeg. He has to like Jessica. I can't keep up fighting every time with Jessica because of Stephen. I don't need this drama at all."

Aliyah laughed making me raise a brow in confusion. Didn't she understand what this could mean for our friendship? "Naya, if drama was human, it would be you. This is just a little boy drama. It's not even worthy to be called a boy drama but I know you can deal with it."

No I can't.

She went back to the bed and took her earlier position. "Imma just watch you guys from the sidelines sipping champagne ever so slowly."

Against my will, I chuckled at that. This was my first time being alone with Aliyah and actually talking to her in person. I never knew I could bond with a person over boy talks. Conversation about boys was the last thing I expected to have with any one especially one from Regal high. It was obvious that things had changed. I kinda liked the change.

"But are you not worried about Jessica?" I asked her sitting on Jessica's swivelling chair.

"I am but the heart wants what the heart wants. She rejected CJ so she shouldn't be mad if Stephen does the same." I remembered that Chijioke had said the same thing on our outing and I had to groan. I did not want to get tangled in their web of misplaced feelings.

"I want to see you say that to her face though," I said smirking at Aliyah. I knew she couldn't. I had noticed that Aliyah tried not to offend Jessica and to me it looked like she feared her.

"I doubt Stephen likes me though," I said again. It was just not possible. If he did, he wouldn't have acted as terrible as he did after that birthday fiasco. I mentally slapped myself for even thinking of the possibility of Stephen having some sort of feelings for me. Stephen was similar to Chijioke. The two were brethren in giving off confusing signals.

"To be honest, I suspected Stephen liked you last term but then I think you guys had a big fight because you stopped talking to everyone and the suspicion died."

If he did have feelings for me, he wouldn't have stopped talking to me. Stephen would have been angry but not to the point of ignoring my existence. I was beginning to feel stupid for even bothering to assume the unthinkable.

"You know what, I am certain he doesn't. Stephen is a bold guy. He would have told me directly instead of saying 'not in that way'. He probably posted those things because we have reconciled." Did we even reconcile? I had no memory of us reconciling. It was just Stephen being himself before Vincent interrupted.

"So there was a big fight?"

"Yeah."

"About?"

Someone walked into the room. We both watched Kristabel walk to her bed and fell flat on it without acknowledging us. Seconds later, she was snoring.

Aliyah and I giggled.

"Well, it's high time I took my bath," Aliyah told me. "It's already past bedtime and we have school tomorrow."

"I'll go in after you," I told her swivelling on the chair.

"You didn't shower since you came back? Ah, I was wondering what was stinking since," Aliyah teased as she entered the bathroom.

"You're not okay," I told her after a short laugh.

Sitting at Jessica's chair with the sound of the running water and Kristabel's snore as my company, I began to wonder about Dinma. I wondered what she was doing. It was certainly not looking for me. I didn't tell her about the sleep over because I was quite sure she didn't give a damn about my whereabouts. For all I knew, I was a burden she couldn't wait to get rid off.

But I had the gut feeling that I was in big trouble. It was no news that Dinma didn't care about me but also, it was no news that she enjoyed punishing me at any given opportunity and this was one of those opportunity.

Somewhere deep in my guts, I knew that Dinma was going to have my head tomorrow.

Omooooo. . .

It's been two whole months 😬
I don't even have an excuse honestly. I am sorry and I promise not to stay off so long again.

How was this chapter tho?
Share your thoughts. If you notice any plot holes please call my attention.

Adios!