I published chapter nine yesterday so check if you haven't read that chapter yet and well enloy!

Grace's POV

I wasn't expecting this when I walked into my house with Beauty trailing behind me.
My head was spinning with many questions and my body, it was vibrating with anger.

I was shaking. My nose was twitching as if I had perceived an offensive odour. My eyes kept darting from one place to the other.

What the actual heck happened here!

I couldn't believe my eyes, this was not my house. I mean it was but it didn't look like it was.

It seemed like some kind of renovation had happened while I was away. The arrangement and decoration had changed and if I wasn't so angry, I'll have appreciated the aesthetics.

My eyes scanned the room quickly as a frustrated scream escaped my throat.

"What is this?" I screamed and in a flash I found myself tearing the living room down.

Beginning with those stupid pictures.

"Grace, what is it? What is going on?" She ran in looking alarmed and I turned to her.

"You," I pointed my finger at her glaring. I was second away from attacking her.

"You did this. I know it was you." I turned and brought down the pictures displayed on another side of the room.

"Grace please..." She trailed off as I turned to her again. I could feel her fear.

"How dare you! Who gave you the right to do this?" I motioned to the rest of the room. I was seething and the words barely made it out of my lips.

Every inch of my body felt my hurt and anger. My heart hurt from in my chest pounding as though it was going to jump out of my chest.

My lungs seemed as though I had way too much air or less as I struggled to breathe.

My legs were shaking as though my body was too heavy for it and my head, my head was spinning.

"Just a few days away and you decided to take over abi? You want to take over my house." The words flew out of my mouth unrestricted, pained and high pitched.

"No, I thought...I thought this would be good for you, for us." She stuttered. Her hands wrapped around her body as if she was trying to protect herself.

"Good for me? Us?" I scoffed. I gestured to the pictures that still hung around.

"There is no us and displaying your pictures around would be good for me?" I leveled her a disbelieving glare.

"Getting rid of my mum's pictures will be good for me?" She shook her head briefly, opening her mouth to say something but I raised my hand to silence her.

"How many of my pictures did you even display?" I turned around again and laughed.

"Two? Really?" She froze at my question and glanced around as if she had not realized this.

"You did this for me? Yet there's hardly a picture of me here. There are just tons of pictures of you and my father." She seemed shaken.

"I bet you wish you killed me just like you killed my mum." I stared hard at her, allowing my hatred flow into my glare.

"But you can't, I'm going to make sure I stay here and frustrate all your plans. You won't be happy." Her eyes widened but I had not even finished.

"I'm going to make your life so difficult, you'll wish you never came into our lives." I flinched as I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see Beauty's sullen face. I had forgotten she was even here.

"Get rid of these pictures before I come down or else, all hell will break loose in this house and you may just be forced to crawl back to what ever hell hole you came from." Without sparing her another glance, I picked up my bag which I had flung to the ground in a fit of rage and stalked to my room with Beauty hot on my tail.

I collapsed on my bed once I made it to my room and all the tears I had struggled to hold in came pouring out like a waterfall.

"Hey hey. Its going to be fine, you'll be fine." Beauty's voice was a little above a whisper and I raised my blood shot eyes to hers allowing my pain sip out through them.

"No its not and I won't be. Not until that woman is out of here. Can you believe the nerve of that woman?" I sat up properly on my bed and cleaned my face before turning to her again.

"I will get revenge for what she did to my mum and what she is trying to do now. I promise, on my mums grave. I'll get revenge." Tears trailed down her cheeks before she drew me in for a tight hug.

I won't let her get away with it.

I woke up to a steaming hot plate of spaghetti on my table and Beauty.

"Hi," she greeted as she sat on one side of my bed. I noticed that she had changed out of her uniform into some of my clothes and had taken a shower because she smelled fresh and nice, like my body cream.

"Aunty Ruthie made spag just the way you like it. Try and eat small." She whispered looking at me with something akin to pity. I wasn't sure. But I tried not to think much about it because I'll only end up hating myself for becoming weak and loosing control in front of her.

"Hmm. It does smell nice." I commented as I quickly grabbed my fork and dug in.

I knew Beauty expected me to need more persuasion judging from the confused frown that had perched on her face.

"Oh God. This is delicious," I moaned and turned to her.

"What about you? Have you eaten?" I asked when she just watched me. She nodded.

"Yes. I helped aunty Ruthie prepare the food and ate before bringing yours up."

"Oh. That was nice of you. Assisting her and all." I smiled and continued eating.

I knew what Beauty expected of me now. She expects me to continue moping and be weak on front of her but that won't happen. Not again.

Besides being weak wasn't going to help me get my revenge and I was going to get it.

Feeling her confused eyes on me, I raised a brow.

"What? Haven't you seen me eat before?" She shook her head with a small smile adorning her lips.

"I just wasn't expecting you to eat like this. I thought..." She trailed off, then smiled fully. Her white teeth flashing.

"You are so strong, stronger than I thought and I guess I'm just happy at that fact. Surprised but happy." She laughed.

I looked at her for a bit and wondered if I could really truly trust her. That if it came down to it, she won't be willing to kick me to the curbs and take my place.

I shook my head at the thought but smiled at her as I cleared the remaining spaghetti on my plate.

"Of course I'm strong, you don't even have any idea." I got on my feet and quickly stripped out of my uniform to my underwear.

"I'll grab a shower, I feel eww." I told Beauty who scrunched up her nose mockingly and said.

"I was going to comment on that. My friend, you smell like a dead fish. Please go and shower and save us from suffocating to death." I responded by throwing a pillow at her before running to the shower.

I let the water cascade down my body as I stood still under the shower. My mind travelling miles per seconds. I needed to think fast. I promised to get revenge but how do I do that besides ruining her marriage with my father of course.

When I came out  of the bathroom with my body wrapped in my fluffy towel, I still hadn't come up with anything.

Beauty was laid on my bed listening to kill bill by Sza on the boombox. I knew she liked the song a lot because I have heard her murmuring the lyrics a lot this week and it was probably on repeat right now.

I walked into my closet and went straight to my oversized cardigans and sweatpants section.  After my pretty short skincare routine, I dressed up and returned to my room.

I rolled my eyes as I heard kill bill still playing.

I took my phone and immediately opened Spotify, scrolling to my favourite podcast 'Slice of life with Favour Bernard'. I couldn't tell for what reason I liked it the most.

Was it because I got to listen as she talked about someone who was going through a tough life or situation, or someone who had a tough life and survived to tell the story?

Or was it because listening to her, I realized that I wasn't alone and there were others like me who life had dealt a tough hand?
If they could keep on going then I bet that I can too.

Or was it because I knew that I had the option of telling someone or a group of people my problems without anyone knowing it was me?

I don't know but something about it gave me a kind of comfort which was why I curled myself to a corner of my bed ignoring Beauty except to tell her to reduce the volume of the boom box, and connecting my headset to my phone.

I was halfway into the story as her voice drawled out like therapy to my soul, when my phone rang with an unfamiliar number flashing on the screen.

I stared at it for a few seconds, contemplating if I should pick up or ignore it all together when it stopped.

The moment I pressed play on the podcast the ringing resumed again.

A frustrated sigh escaped me as I picked the call this time. Better to get it over and done with and return to the podcast.

"Hello," I answered and was met by silence before a familiar voice replied.

"Hi Grace."

I stared at the number for a few seconds silent and wondering how he got my number in the first place.

Aaron

I was restless when I got home. The past week it was hard not to speak to Grace and I couldn't even understand why.

I mean, its been barely a month since I met her and yet...

I connected with many of my classmates this week except her, well until a few hours ago.

I know we didn't talk much even then but I was glad. It felt like progress in the right direction. Even though I'm not sure what the direction really is.

Was it friendship or something else. It was obvious I liked her and even with her previous behaviour, I was still willing to be friends.

It wasn't me. I've never been that guy who had to practically beg for friendship, it always came easily. I guess it was just my aura.

But today, she seemed different. I noticed her stealing glances at me in class. I even noticed how annoyed she seemed with me seating so close to Amira. And at the pastry shop...God I don't know if she was just high on chocolate but she was different. Good different and I liked it.

Which was probably why I was propped on my bed with my arms behind my head, staring at my room ceiling but seeing her face.

Somebody please tell me I'm not crazy.

"Why would anyone tell you that? You are obviously crazy." I would have flinched if I wasn't so familiar with her sneaking into my room.

I rolled my eyes but didn't move a muscle.

She climbed my bed and made her self comfy before turning to me.

"So why do you think you are crazy. Is it because you are staring at the ceiling so lovingly?" She chuckled.

"If you are thinking about who I think you are, then you should call her instead of what you are doing now." She commented and tried to mimic my position before she gave up with a sigh. I laughed at her failure and she glared at me.

"I would, call her that is. But I don't have her number." I replied her statement to which she rose a brow.

"I have it." She said casually but a small smile played on her lips.

"Can I have it?" I tried my luck hoping that for the first time, Avery wouldn't tease me first.

"But do you even know who I'm referring to? Its that iya that we bought roasted corn from on the way back from school that day o. I know you liked the corn very well." She frowned innocently at me and ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my twin sister Avery. Who doesn't know when not to joke.

I hissed and turned away from her. If that's how she wants to act, I'll just ignore her and imagine Grace laughing at my jokes.

Fat chance of that happening. My mind teased.

"I was just joking na. Take the number." I didn't hesitate to grab the phone out of her hand when she stretched it out and I certainly didn't care that she was laughing at me.

When I retrieved the number, I got on my feet, cleared my phone and tapped call.

The phone rang the first time and I wondered what exactly I was going to say when she picked up. But she didn't.

I glanced at Avery, briefly wondering if she gave me the wrong number, then I dialled again.

And this time she answered.

"Hello," her voice was smooth but I sensed some anger in her tone as though I had just interrupted something. It took me a few seconds to realize that I was just gaping with the phone in my hands.

"Hi Grace," she didn't reply though, so I continued.

"Or should I call you chocolate now that I know of your obsession." I laughed, imagining her peaceful yet frenzied expression when she stared at the parfaits.

"Its not an obsession. Its just a like or love rather. I love it." She said. I was pleased at her admission. Now I knew how to bribe her, it felt like chocolate could be her own love language, the way to her heart and I planned on using it every chance that I get.

"Hmm. So what are you doing now, chocolate?" I asked.

"Don't call me that," she whined. And I was surprised. Was this really Grace acting like a girl?

"And I was busy before you called." She continued.

"I'll think about it but what was so important that you didn't pick up at the first ring?"

"None of you business Mr. Why did you call me again?" She asked. Great, why did I call her?

"Uh. To ask if you'll be free tomorrow?" I asked.

"Why?" She asked simply. I scratched my head as I saw Avery mouthing something. My eyes widened as I read her lips.

"To plan the group outing." I answered. My lips spread wider than they had been before, thankful for the help.

"Idara's gonna be busy and ask someone else to help you plan like Amira. Both of you get on well." I exchanged amused glances with Avery.

"You do asking Amira's help will mean inviting her to the hang out and chocolate, by any chance, are you jealous right now?" Avery burst into laughter at my question and even I struggled to not go over the edge laughing.

"Idiot, I'm not jealous. Stop. Laughing both of you." She choked out and it made us laugh harder.

"Whatever. Both of you are annoying. Enjoy your hangout alone." She hissed into the phone and hung up. But I wasn't bothered. That had gone surprisingly well.

"Nice one brother." She commented while I jumped back to my bed with a dreamy smile.

My phone rang and I wondered if she was the one calling me back. But it was Amira and I remembered I had to apologize for my earlier behaviour. So I answered and lurched into a lighthearted apology with my chocolate on my mind.

Hey hey hey!
If you haven't read chapter nine please go back.

So what do you think?
Vote and comment please.
Gracias.

And yeah, the podcast Grace was referring to is mine. So you can check it on Spotify. Just search 'Slice of Life With Favour Bernard' on Spotify or on Spotify for podcasters. Thanks in advance. BTW the link is in my bio.