•THIRD PERSON POV•

Salome stagger backwards. Her thoughts are jumbled up to the fact that Sean is standing in front of her, her home, staring causally like someone she talks to all the time.

"W-what are y-you doing here?" She stutter, trying to maintain her stance.

Sean, with an unfazed expression on his face, jerks his thumb sideways. "My sister lives next-door."

Her mouth form a big 'o' instantly. How can she forget that he's also Maria's sister. The same Sean that attempted suicide.

"Yeah, she currently isn't around and asked me to stay here till she returns." He completes, his voice neutral and composed.

Salome swallows, slowly pulling the door wider for him to enter. She press her lips, watching the tall guy walk in with a small bag in his hand.

"Thanks." Sean tells her and settle on the couch by the end side. He shuffles through his bag and Salome's body stiffs. What if he brings out something harmful and murder her before her dad gets back?

Her thoughts fade away when he brings out a book and flip through the pages. Sean look up and see that she's still standing.

He tilts his head. "What's wrong?"

Salome blinks fast to push back the absurd thoughts flaming her mind. She shake her head, forcing out a smile.

"Wrong? Nah..."

"Okay... But then why are you staring at me like that?"

Salome turn the bottom door click locked, pretending like she didn't hear him. When she turn around, she see that Sean is still looking at her, expecting an answer.

The scared girl raise her shoulder in a shrug, laughing playfully. "What you do mean? Staring at you?" she puffs out air, shaking her head. "Oh please!"

Sean nods, tearing his eyes back to the book he's looking at. Salome shuffle her feet, not knowing if she should go back to her room or stay with her strange visitor. She is very much aware that her dad would fuss about it when he arrives and see that someone is seated in the sitting room and she's cuddled up in her room.

Again, she glance down at her skimpy outfit and exhale sharply.

"Uh...Sean?" His names feels weird slipping from her lips but the quiet guy look up at her without minding how uncomfortable she is.

"I'll be back... I need to..." She trails her hands down her body, verifying that she needs to change. Sean nod again. She don't need to complete her words before he grab what she's trying to say.

"Great, thanks." Salome turn around and race up the stairs. She miss a step and almost trip in the middle and that didn't miss Sean's sight. His eyes widen and he got up instantly but Salome is already up on her feet again and race faster to her room and shut the door behind. She don't think she'd be able to go down after embarrassing herself like that.

Her body raise and fall in deep breath. Her back is pressed on her door, one hand on her chest to calm her rapid breathing. Apart from the fact that she ran up the stairs like a child, she just had to miss a step and stumble forward. She slap her palms on her face, leaving the door to her already opened wardrobe.

Sean's here and she's not comfortable in her most comfortable outfit for now.

Several shattering of clothes and Salome is dressed in pink joggers and sky blue round neck. She take one last look at herself in the mirror, turn to the side instinctively and a deep frown grease her small face. Her ass is popping out. In joggers. Unconsciously, she drags down her top till it cover her entire rear and look at the mirror again, not fully happy but feeling a tad satisfied.

She doesn't know why she's been conscious of every single thing but then her mind takes it back to her that a guy is in her sitting room. Sean.

Salome grips the door knob to open when her eyes meet the note she was reading, the one that is filled with her teacher's handwriting and making her drool by just scanning his neat writing. She walk back and grab the book before walking out and down the stairs like a normal person.

Her light footsteps erupting from her flip flops alert her presence and Sean raise his head to see her walking towards him. Salome flash a small smile, not wanting to look awkward. She settles on the couch opposite him, tucking her legs beneath.

"So..." She drawl, taking a deep breath. It's awkward enough that Sean is here but would be more weird if they both remain silent.

Sean look up from his book. While she was away, he remained in the same posture, arm perched on the couch's edge and eyes on the book.

Salome bite her lower lips, mentally thinking of what else to say. It's obvious that Sean doesn't want to have a conversation but she isn't just that kind of person.

"It's surprising though," She starts, playing with her fingers to distract her eyes from his. Since he still didn't say a word, she continues, "That you are siblings. I mean, with Maria. My dad's... Fiancée."

Sean's nods, looking at her.

"It's weird right?" Salome chuckles, the thought of how she dislike Maria, loves Mildred, and finds Sean creepy.

"What's weird?" He asks, eyes still on the book.

She open her mouth to talk and close it back. She really can't blab about the hateful things she had said about his sister. Instead, she fans him off.

"Nevermind..." She adjust in her position, glance at the big TV screen that's displaying her favorite cartoon, Sponge Bob, a small smile escapes her lips before facing him. "I just can't believe we're about to be family. I mean, it's like puff! Just like that. The same guy that attempted to commit suicide, is about to be family with me."

Sean is forced to keep the book aside, his brows furrowing. "Why do you keep thinking that?"

She raise a brow. "That you tried taking your life? I'm just saying exactly what I saw."

Sean sighs, shaking his head. "Don't go around saying what you do not know, Sal..." He trails, forgetting her name.

"Salome."

"Yeah, Salome. Don't go around saying what you don't know, it's no good for you." He warns, eyes peering into hers with all seriousness.

Her forehead squeeze in a frown. Why is this dude been like this?

"Well," She shrugs. "Prove me wrong. That you weren't about to take your life back then and yeah! That you saved me from been punished too, you're just so weird I must say."

Sean is been quiet this time, listening to her pour out her mind while maintaining his cold look. She should be lucky that he's even listening to her.

"It's nothing special." Sean tells her, attempting to pick up his book. Salome bite the inside of her mouth in disgust, staring at him and wondering how someone could be so cold, so stoic, so... Mr. Alex.

Her eyes lit up as she look at the book then to the guy in front of her. He's the same person who is free to walk and talk with her teacher like they are family, or... Friends?

"Sean." Salome calls again, bobbing her head from where she's seated to see his face. He hums in response, not looking up. She bite her lips, wondering if asking about their teacher would seem appropriate and if he would even reply her.

Sean snaps his head up when she's not talking.

"Is Mr. Alex part of your family? Like... Stepbrother or..." She trails off when he let out a light chuckle.

Salome's eyes widens. "Did you just laugh? Wow, never even seen you smile before."

Sean scratch his perfectly craved eyebrows, trying to stop himself from giggling but his quivering shoulders is exposing him. Salome just had to ask him something like that, something casual enough to let him smile.

The atmosphere is slightly lighten and she feels the need to pressure him to say all he knows and his closeness with the most cold teacher in school.

She raise a brow. "Or... Are you two attracted to eachoth-"

"NO!" Sean yells and it's her turn to laugh out loud. If she continues like this, she's bound to squeeze him to say something.

"Okay, so if you guys aren't what I think, then..." She shrugs, perching her elbow on the couch arm.

Sean sighs heavily, "Look Salome, I don't know why you're so interested in my life but it's none of your business, okay? And I'm not... Gay." His voice is an octave lower as he voice out his last word and Salome press her lips to hide a snicker. It's cute seeing Sean act this way. Cutely annoyed yet trying to be calm.

Salome twist her mouth upwards, positioning herself to the animated cartoon displaying on the TV screen. From the corner of her eyes, she can see Sean staring at her but it's a process, he'll say something in approximately five seconds.

One...

Two...

Three...

Four...

Five-

"Stay away from him."

Salome turn her head so fast at the words he just uttered. Not for the exact seconds she counted in her head but the sentence he made. When she look at him, his eyes is on the huge television like he's interested in what is been displayed.

"Stay away from who?" Her voice is low and filled with curiosity. She knows who he's talking about but he can't just say just that and end it there. "Sean?"

"Don't think too much on that," He picks up the book and flip through again. "Midterm tests are coming up."

Test? She knows about that.

"Don't change the topic Sean, are you talking about Mr. Alex?"

He slides his dull eyes up to her curious ones, keeping his gazes steady without blinking. Salome takes that as an answer and gulp inaudibly. Why would he say something like that? Why is the once lively atmosphere suddenly thick and dark?

Mr. Alex is not the type to tamper with, she knows that but for someone to blankly tell her to stay away from him is hitting her more than she ever thought it would.

She lets out a humorless laugh, fanning him dismissively. "Did I say I want to be with him? What are you even saying?"

Silence.

He didn't respond, just keeps flipping through the ever interesting book in his hand. Salome dies down her laugh and the sitting room is once again, as quiet as a graveyard.

Salome slowly take the book filled with her teacher's writing, her head twirling back to how vibrant he was, how handsome he looked with that simple smile on his face, how her heart stopped when she saw his honey brown eyes appeared a brighter shade with the question she asked.

The way he looked at her...

The doorbell rings through the thick wall, snapping their eyes to the entrance. Salome glance at Sean before getting up to check who's at the door. She peep through the see through hole, turning the keys to open the door at the same time.

"Dad..." She mutters as she draw the door open. Her Dad and a lady she knows as Maria walks in, flashing her a smile. Salome gives a thin lip smile, closing the door after them and spin around.

"Good evening Dad," She turn to Maria who's exchanging peasantries with her weird brother. "Good evening Maria."

Maria look up to Salome, flashing another toothy smile as she walk over to where she's standing and pull her in a hug.

"Good evening baby girl, how are you?" She glance at Sean who's exchanging handshakes with Mr. Alan. "Hope Sean kept you company."

Salome raise a brow, look over her shoulders to see Sean already staring at her.

She nods, beaming. "Yes he did, even though he acts all cold in school, he was the total opposite with me." She's not looking at him as she says this but Sean's glare doesn't go unnoticed.

"Awww, that's nice." Maria says, pulling her for another hug. Salome tries to feel comfortable in her embrace, thinking if she should wrap her arms around her back or just leave it by her side. She raise her hand to tap her back but Maria is already letting go, smiling gracefully. "I'm so happy Salome, I'm glad you two are getting along just fine."

"Yeah..." She rubs her hand over the other, averting her gaze from her dad to Maria. She's glistening in black suit trousers that's displaying her wide curves and a nude button down armless top.

"God...I'm so tired," Mr. Alan yawns, taking off his wine suit jacket. Maria is quick to collect it and fold it into two.

"I'll keep it upstairs." She says, walking away. Mr. Alan watch her head up till she disappears into his room then turn to his daughter. He walks over to where she's standing behind the couch.

"Are you okay?" He asks, eyes filled with concern and worry.

Salome hums, turning him around to go and pushing him towards the stairs to go and meet his fiancée. "I'm okay dad, you can go... I'm fine."

Chuckling, the middle aged man use his manly strength to let go off his daughter's grip, face her and place a small kiss on the top of her head.

"I love you baby." He whispers, heaving a deep breath afterwards. Salome chuckles softly, a shaky breath emitting at the sudden intimacy. She withdraw herself from him and look over her shoulders. Sean's still there, still staring right at her, this time, with what looks like worry in his eyes.

Salome face her dad. "I love you too dad. Now, go meet your lady and stop worrying about me." She turns him around again but he doesn't botch as he race up the stairs, smiling.

"See you later." Sean's almost deep voice drag Salome from looking at her dads retreating figure. He's on his feet, walking towards the door.

"Leaving already?" She looks a tad disappointed but comes out neutral.

Sean nods, grab the door knob and look over his shoulders to see Salome. He tilts his head. "What? You don't want me to leave?"

"Yes!" Her reply is instantaneous. "No! I mean, no, you can leave. If you want you then you should."

"Right, I will." He turns the knob open, sighing and turn to look at her again. "I mean it though, stay away from him."

Why does he keep saying that?

Salome's brows crunch in total confusion. "W-why?" She doesn't know if she's the one that asked him why she should stay away from Mr. Alex but her mouth had already voiced out before she could stop herself. "Why does it sound more like a threat?" She's staring at him, his eyes, as if it can tell her his reasons for saying something raw and out of the blue.

Sean finally drag the door open, walking out as he utters his last words. "It's not a threat."

Baffled. Confused. Uncertain.

Salome can't pick the exact one that's draining her. After locking the door, she walks back to where she was seated and take the note, flip through the passages and trying to read. But then she's stuck, reading one word over and over again like it's the word in the whole note.

When she notice that she can't read anymore, she stare at the perfect handwriting, trying to cloud what Sean said. He probably just said that because he is aware of the amount of girls that would kill themselves because of her teacher, or the ones that are flooding his DM daily. But Salome? A normal high schooler who knows nothing about been with a grown man?

She should stay away. And it's not a threat, it's the truth.

Salome clasp the book on her face, groaning tiredly. She inhale deeply and the familiar scent flood her nostrils. She quickly take it off her face, wondering how Mr. Alex's hypnotizing scent is evident on a notebook. His notebook.

Is she thinking too far or she's just picking his scent from a book.

***

There's still more to cover up, but Salome's throat is dry and her nerves is crimped. She had been in the same position, indulged in reading for hours now. She rubs her eyes, place the book aside as she lazily get on her feet. No matter how distracted she was with the little words Sean had said, she tried to concentrate in the hardest way she thought of.

Straight to the refrigerator, she pulls the door open and grab a bottled water and drain down half of it, heaving a deep breath and drop the bottle on the counter.

"I should eat something." Salome mutter as she drum her fingers on the tiled counter. Since aunt Jenny isn't home, she is the one in charge of her stomach for now.

While scanning through the available foodstuffs, the soft laughter of her dad and Maria files through as they walk down the stairs, talking about business.

"Oh, hey sweetie, have you gotten something to eat?" Her dad poke his head in the kitchen to see daughter fumbling in the storeroom. Maria comes in view, looking between Salome and her dad.

The teenage girl shake her head, smiling. "No dad, I was reading." She pulls out a stack of flour, groaning at the weight of it. She lands it on the counter and dust her hands.

"Be careful." Her dad steps forward to help her.

Salome chuckles, fanning him off with her flour-filled hands. "It's okay, I got it. Mid term test is coming up so I spent more time reading." She untie the sack, grab a clean measuring bowl an dig it in.

"Making cupcakes?" Maria sneaks in, watching Salome pour the amount of flour she needs and tie the sack back.

"Yes, want some?" She asks, opening the first cupboard and gently bring down a crate of eggs. This is what her dad's want. From her peripheral view, she can see him smiling and it makes her heart swell. She pause and look at them. "Or... Are you two going out again?"

They both exchange glances and her dad nods.

"Yes baby, but we won't take long. I promise. Something urgent came up that's why, I intended to spend more time with you." He says in the most calm and dad like voice.

"Oh..." Salome returns to taking out the eggs to another bowl. "It's okay, I'll make extra and keep it till you get back."

He stretch forward and peck her forehead again. "That's my baby."

Maria sighs, her smile widening as she take in the father and daughter moment. Her man comes back to stand beside her and she gives him gentle squeeze on his forearm, appreciating how much he shows his love for his daughter.

"Salome." Maria jam her hands together excitingly. "I forgot to tell you, I heard about your school camp out and paid all the expenses you'll need."

Salome's mouth form an 'o' instantly. She turn to her dad who gives a reassuring smile and a small nod. Her flour covered palms cover her mouth to close them from been like saucers as she slowly walk to hug Maria who willingly hold her against her chest.

"Thank you so much, I wasn't... Expecting." Her voice is muffled in her chest. She said she would go to camp, but then with Maria been eager to draw her close by clearing up to three hundred thousand naira for someone who has been nothing but rude to her shows she has a kind heart.

"You're always welcome Salome."

She leaves her embrace, smiling nonstop even after they walk out and drove off. Salome rest her hands on either side of the counter, pressing her lips and trying to stop her mouth from stretching and stretching. She had place the dough in the oven and is waiting for it to heat up.

Camp.

Her heart begin to pick up from thinking of the possible things that are yet to happen. The bonfire thing, the arranging of tents, and the whole creepy things that comes with it. Well, there would be that scary but then, blame the kind of movies she seat to watch.

The alerting sound of the oven make her snap her head back to check how baked the cupcakes are. She had been in her head, trying to fix everything based on what she has been hearing from Zara, and her classmates.

"Nice..." Salome chuckles at her success, staring the perfectly made baked cupcake she just brought out.

A quick small design didn't add to her hunger as she created small honeybees on either side of the already rolled up icy cream. She step back to view her admire her creativity, a wide grin spreading through her and making her giggle childishly. It's too cute to eat.

(Salome's creative cupcake😂)

Her stomach make a crumbling sound, ignoring her absurd thought of a food been too cute to eat. Salome gently arrange the cupcakes on a flat plate and add a chilled fruit juice to the tasting looking small cakes.

"Yes! What else so I need?" She questions herself, pacing around the kitchen. As promised, she reserved for her dad and Maria. "Book! Yes, book. I need. To. Read." She fasten her steps to the sitting room, pick up the note she was once reading, add to her already arranged meal before walking up the stairs in very slow strides. The note and a glass of juice in one hand and a plate of cupcakes in the other.

Netflix and chill.

Or rather, cupcakes and books.

***

"And..." Salome flips the note to the very beginning, scanning all what she had read for the last time. She clap the book close. "Done! Finally..."

She heaves a deep breath, put the notebook aside and stretch her hand to pick another cupcake. She tap the four cornered white plate, her face contouring in a small frown as she forcefully drag her eyes to see why her hand isn't picking any.

"Oh..." She withdraw her hand. "It's finished. So heartbreaking." She whispers, taking out her phone from her blazer jacket.

Midterms are coming up but doesn't mean she can't play with her phone right?

With one swift change of her data, notifications from almost all apps blur her screen while she wait for them to load completely.

Or not so.

Something caught her eyes. A notification from Instagram. Lately, she has been paying more attention to the newly opened page she created for her role model, Latifah, than her personal page. Apart from the new followers and comments like she is the main Latifah, she just got a follow from Latifah herself. The main Latifah. The only celebrity she adores and look up to.

Salome freeze at the moment, her eyes wide as her palms grip her phone tighter like it would fall off a skyscraper if she fidget. With that, the message ding doesn't stop dropping, vibrating nonstop in her hand while she try to grasp what just hit her.

Latifah followed her back.

Not only that, she liked her own pictures on the page, fully accepting her fan page.

Salome slowly tap on the one notification that had her mouth agape. And it's true. The message is laying there with pride, filled with Latifah's real profile picture. She glance at the amount of followers and her jaw drop open again.

22k followers?

In less than two weeks.

Wow.

Even with that, new people keep following and following. Salome press her phone against her chest, she can't process the happiness she's feeling right now. Her heart is prodding hard, her chest raising and falling that it almost feels like she's dreaming. She shut her eyes, smiling at the beautiful small sounds her phone makes as new dings arise.

If this is a dream, she doesn't want to get up.

The moment is what matters the most. But for her, it's a dream come true.

Well, at least one of her dreams...

My heart beats for Salome😩💓
She truly deserves a little attention from her role model.

Sorry for the late update, I lost my dog and it's really heartbreaking. I know she's just 'a dog' but she meant so much💔

Please vote and comment, it encourages me to write more😭💘 and know that my work is loved.
Thanksss💎

So guyssss, see you in the next chap!