If you've been reading The Things We Do by Donaldprince raise your handssss and drop your theories!!!!!!!!!!!

If you aren't; 😑

Make sure you do, sha. Donald is a superb writer!🔥

And for all those asking, no, Casper will not have a book of his own, and that is because you are going to learn all there is to learn about him in this very book, guys, so trust the process. And as for the whole 'IGBO SISTER 3' wahala from 'The Things We Do', I think this is where I'll come in and tell you to calm down sha😂♥️ It's a whole ass twisted tale you won't see coming, so relax, and don't let your assumptions over cloud you too much, only for you to realise you were attacking an innocent person all along. That's all I'll say sha.

And sorry, but the Crossover with 'The Things We Do' by Donaldprince. is going to be in the second book of TMBT and not this one, so we will see what is really going on, until that time. But I'm sure that Donald will do a good job at giving you enough info for now sha.

Go ahead to the chapter, guy!😌✨

~DABI~

The harsh, powerful sound of thunder slammed the zinc roof above me, and the stunning, unfriendly, sharp light from the zapping of lightening scared and scarred me, as I whimpered, squealed, and screamed, trembled in fear and shivered in cold, under the lonely, empty hut that I had chosen to secure myself in this angry thunderstorm.

I had been here for over five hours.

Hiding from the angry night and the terrible lashing out of mother nature against me, the furious, unforgiving lashing out that was supposed to be 'rain'.

And as the harsh rainfall spattered against the fancy hut top above me, making the angriest noises and screaming at me for what I had done, as the intense cold and furious breeze whooshed through me and attacked me, along with every other fibre of my being, as the night grew colder and darker, and meaner, I couldn't stop crying, and shivering, and crying, and crying, and crying, and crying, thinking all the while about what I had done and it's consequences, in the very midst of this heavy rainfall.

I burnt Delilah's face with iron.

And I left my Mum at home to face the consequences of my actions.

I've killed her.

I killed her.

I killed her.

I killed her.

You killed her.

"STOP!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, at no one in particular, as I pressed my hands against my ears, trying to muffle all the sniggering and taunting and back lashing that was going on in my head, but to no avail.

I should have left this place the first time I had the chance. I thought this place would be the best place to run to because it was the only place I knew on my own, but I didn't sit to think about what to do in the long run. And so many people had walked by me and seen me here and asked if there was a problem, and I said no to all, and I didn't need a saint to tell me that they were unconvinced, considering I was crying in a hut by a closed down eatery, shivering, all alone and scared, while in the midst of a horrid thunderstorm.

It was the last person that asked that I decided to act. I had no idea what to do, but I had only one person in mind, and their number was the only number, asides my Mums', that I had stored in my memory.

Unfortunately and painfully, Marcus Acha didn't pick up the 7 times I had called him.

I had no idea why I was even calling him for help, because I honestly didn't know what he could do to help, but Lord knows, I needed 'help'. And considering he refused to pick up, I guessed it was either he was fast asleep, considering I was calling him past 2am in the morning, or he just did not like to pick up calls from strangers.

So, I left him a dozen messages, and hoped for the best.

It seemed like it was an hour past since I had done that and I was certain by now that Marcus Acha did not care about me and I was going to end up a homeless, roadside vagabond who ate grass and drank urine for a living.

I am so doomed.

I am so doomed.

I am so doomed.

I am so doomed.

I am so doom-

Holy crap!

I jumped to my feet, startled with fear, and adrenaline fueling me with such a surge of energy that caused all the cold in my body to disappear, just as I saw a strange large Jeep attempting to pull over by the hut.

Fear gripped me as I imagined the worst that could happen right now, as every turn, every adjustment, every reverse move by that jeep, in it's attempt to park right there, close to the hut, demoralized me mentally.

They are going to kidnap me!

And send me far away where no one will ever find me!

Or ask for a ransom that my father would most definitely not pay!

Then, they'll kill me, take out all my organs and sell it to the black market!

The engine stopped as the Jeep parked and I nearly had a heart attack, pressed myself deeper into the corners of the hut, and thought if a way to run past and around it, before the people in there launched out to grab me and throw me into the trunk of the car.

He stepped out first.

He stepped out only.

And when I saw the frame of his back, those broad shoulders, full, full hair, and a dark hoodie that I recognized, I instantly knew who it was, and my body stopped functioning for a moment.

I wanted him here, but I didn't want him here.

I wanted his help, but I didn't want to see him. I didn't want him to see me.

I missed him, but I wanted to be far away from him. Not just because of what happened with Kelechi, but because the last thing I wanted was for him to take a good look at me, and wonder what he saw, or what he was seeing in the first place.

I was still angry about Kelechi, but at the same time, I didn't want to lose him too. Especially not to her.

I was so conflicted.

So, I just stood there and watched him.

And when Marcus Acha turned around to view the hut, my messed up, confused mind took a mental toll on me, my heart was beating so fast that it could have been dangerous to my health, and my body rose up in temperature, and I didn't understand how even in this heavy downpour of rain, I was so cold, yet so hot. It didn't make sense to me.

He was holding an umbrella, and he made two steps towards the hut, and considering how he looked around the place and through me in the hut, I figured he wasn't seeing me.

Hopefully.

Hopefully, he wasn't seeing me, and not looking at me like he didn't know me.

He stepped into the hut and I ran to a corner to hide myself.

To hide my face.

To hide my body.

To hide my misery.

To hide my entire pathetic self away from this boy.

And as I stayed in that foetal position, sitting on the wet ground, whilst hugging my own body, pressing my knees to my chest, and trembling in my own arms, and panting in anxiety, my only companion being the cold, hard wall I was facing, I fought back tears that were threatening to come.

Why did I even call him here?

I shouldn't have called him.

"Aurora?"

His voice was as sweet as velvet to my ears as he called my name.

Although it was hard to resist the temptation of answering his call, I kept my mouth shut, and faced the wall even more, hid my whole entire frame from Marcus Acha and said absolutely nothing.

"Aurora."

He called again, sweetly, patiently, tenderly, and yet, I refused to answer. Made sure that I wouldn't turn to him. Made sure to keep hiding myself from being in full view to him. For some reason, I was so ashamed of myself, too ashamed of what I looked like, to the point that I didn't even want to punish Marcus with the horror of having to look at me.

Light flashed my direction, and I figured he flashed a touch light on me to give me a spotlight that I didn't ask for, and I whimpered at the sharp stinging light that automatically brightened the whole hut that was formally very dark, and wailed softly, shielding my face with my hands, and trying my hardest to squeeze into the wall, with the hopes that if I squeezed harder, I may just disappear into it.

"Aurora, what are you doing on the floor?" Marcus asked me.

"Go away," I wanted to say, but I didn't really want that.

All that left my mouth was a pathetic whimper, followed by my desperate urge to hide and hide and hide my whole body and frame from him.

All to no avail, having his torch was directly on me, not even giving me any breathing space.

I started crying.

But, softly.

I was whimpering into my other arm as silently as I could, while the other shielded my face from his view.

"Stop that, please," Marcus said to me, his voice so tender that it almost hypnotized me into having it his way.

Almost.

"Don't hide from me, Aurora," He said again, softly, made just one step towards me, and I could feel the sincere plea in his voice. "Please."

I think that was it for me.

Unable to withhold myself any longer, I burst into tears, jumped up to my feet, and threw myself like a cannon into Marcus' waiting arms, squeezing the fabric as I poured out all my frustration, fear, anxiety, and uncertainty all on him, bawling and crying my eyes out, practically staining his hoodie with my uncontrollable, pathetic tears.

He held me back, embraced me onto him in the warmest, most calming hug I had ever had, as he let me cry a river on him. I couldn't fathom how he could be all muscles and still give such a tender, loving hug.

"It's okay," He kept whispering over and over, he didn't even know why my problem was, but he sounded so assuring that it would be fine. His jaw was pressed softly at the top of my head as he waited patiently, by past 2 in the morning, for me to empty my ocean of tears on him, kissing my head softly, and whispering things that assured me that everything would be fine.

And I cried and cried and cried for such a long time that I had lost count of how long I must have been crying. Right in the middle of a thunderstorm, Marcus Acha stood there with me inside a hut, and let me cry in him, non-stop.

He didn't even act like I was being a burden to him. He waited for me. He really waited and waited until I was the one, who said, "Let's leave this place."

Taking my hand softly, and shielding us, mostly me, with his umbrella, he led me into the Jeep from earlier that scared the life out of me. All the way, I couldn't say I was completely at ease, but to an extent, I guessed I could understand that Marcus cared about me unconditionally.

Hopefully.

"Will you tell me what happened?" Marcus asked me softly, as soon as he opened the door for me to get into the car and sit on the high mounted, cushioned of the passengers seat, helping me get into the car, before him.

It felt different in here.

But, good different.

"No." I answered quietly.

I didn't hear him speak, but I saw him move round the car with the umbrella, to get to the driver's seat and open it and get.

"No?" He gently shut the door by him and raised a brow at me, indicating for me that he actually heard me, and one look at his eyes, I could tell....

He was tired.

He was very tired.

He was probably just waking up from sleep, and that fact was clear. His brown beautiful eyes were still beautiful, but a bit lazier, and low-key drowsy. Surprisingly, they were exceptionally hot, I couldn't help, but take note of how incredibly charming looked, even when getting up from bed, unprepared. I was most certain that this guy was most definitely a mini-god.

"Later." I changed my words.

He got into the car, closed the doors shut, and sighed softly.

"Okay." He said.

It was either he was being a gentleman and choosing not to push me into doing or saying anything I wasn't ready to - just as he always did- or...

He just didn't have my time.

Was he tired of me already?

Like he heard my thoughts, he turned to me and held my had gently and placed a soft kiss on my forehead that moved through my body like electricity.

"Talk to me whenever you are ready, okay?" He said to me.

I nodded. His eyes were filled with genuineness, and mine, with gratefulness.

"I just want you to be okay," He said to me, a warm, sweet smile tugged at the base of his lips, and tired eyes that were filled with love, admiration, and sincerity, locked mine in a soft gaze, "Believe me when I say, I'd do anything for that to happen, Aurora."

I was convinced.

He already proved it head on. His phone timer read 2:45am, and for someone to leave their house by that time, just to drive a distance and get you, because you were down and needed help, then, they were definitely a keeper.

"Thank you." Was all I could say and mean it.

He quipped me a smile of welcome.

"So, I'm taking you back home, right? What's your address?" He started the car engine and I nearly had a heart attack.

"NO!" I screamed, and he stopped immediately, startled, looked at me with wary, and confusion.

"Everything okay?" He asked to be sure.

"I don't want to go home." I told him.

"Why?" He asked.

I swallowed. Answered. "I ran away."

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion at me, and I looked away from him, unable to look at him while he stared at me like I was crazy.

"I ran away from home." I repeated.

There was silence.

Silence.

And more silence.

"Will you tell me why?" Marcus broke it.

I sighed, considered that.

"Later," I promised, "I'll tell you everything later."

"Okay," he said softly.

Yeah...

"So, then, can I take you to my home?"

I gulped at what he said, and I wasn't sure why.

"I mean, that's the only thing I can do for you, since you ran away from home and you clearly don't have any where else to stay..." He explained himself.

"Or, I could you to your friend's place if you know their addresses. Maybe Chika's place. Or Soma. Or the Twins. Any one of them if you're not comfortable," He put out other options for me.

I didn't know how to feel about staying in Marcus' place.

And I didn't even have any of the Sister's specific addresses in my head, neither could I trace down their houses from this side of the road.

In fact, the only reason I knew my way here was because of that Wonder Coast day. This was the place I had met with Marcus Acha, and that Heaven place was close to it. It was kind of hard to forget this side of the road.

"Let's go to your place." I dared to ask Marcus Acha, not even thinking too deeply about the consequences of what that might mean.

Marcus also seemed to be more into making sure I had shelter that thinking rationally as well, because all he said was, "Sure."

And he was driving afterwards.

******

I stayed in the car, wrapped comfortably all around in the spare hoodie that Marcus had gotten for me - as though he knew I was cold - and all the way that we were on the silent, lonely road, a lot was going on through my mind, ranging from how my Mum was doing right now, what the hell was going on at home at the very moment, and how on earth I was totally fine with the idea of sleeping over, and probably living forever in Marcus Acha's house, from now on.

Lord Have Mercy.

"We're here," I believe I heard Marcus say as soon as we started to drive into the Large gates of a mansion that someone whom I couldn't see had opened regally for the car to drive in, and my senses picked up in all alarm, as I came to the understanding that we were in Marcus Acha's house.

"My Mum's going to kill me," I heard him mutter to himself, and I guessed he didn't intend for me to hear, because I instantly got very worried.

"Why?" I couldn't help, but ask, pulling away attention from the gates we were driving through, the environment all around us as well, as I whipped my head in alarm towards him.

"Is it because you're bringing me here?" I asked again, the panic setting in, and causing my voice to sound just as horrified by the possibilities I suddenly was.

"No, no, no," Marcus shook his head, hand on his steering as he reversed in the compound, "I mean, she isn't a very heavy sleeper, and somehow, she always knows when I'm not at home....." He cleared his throat and added, "Especially when I don't tell her I'm leaving."

I swallowed a rock.

So, he didn't tell his Mum he was leaving?

"She won't be too mad, don't worry," He assured me.

Well, until she realizes he is bringing a stranger into the house....?

The car stopped moving as the engine turned off and Marcus unlocked the doors and stepped out of the car, while I stayed in, looked around the compound through the window, and felt chills at the new environment I was in. I couldn't get a clear view of it, considering that the windows were getting stained with the messy rain that battered on it.

Still, I could tell that it felt different here. In a way I couldn't elaborate in clear, crystal words.

I was slightly startled when the door by my side buckled as it opened and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it was just Marcus extending a hand to me, and holding an umbrella in the other, urging me calmly to step down with his aid.

"Thanks." I muttered, took his hands and he helped me get down from the car, as I stepped fully into the warmly atmosphere around me that was just his house compound.

Marcus smiled warmly at me, a soft smile that took a large portion of my anxiety and fears away from me, and I couldn't help, but smile back as the tinted gold lighting of this place gave his dark skin a more bronze, smoother glow that complimented that lovely smile of his.

"Take this," He stepped into the rain as he handed me the umbrella, and I stood there, confused as he just stood there, letting the rain batter him, and wincing slightly in the discomfort of his situation, he added in a hurry, "Just walk behind me; I'll lead you through the main door."

Just like that, he covered his head with his hoodie and started to walk ahead of me with semi-fast paced steps he knew I could catch on to, getting wetter and wetter by each batter of rain and stepping into puddles and puddles of water, out rightly getting himself messy for no absolute reason.

I just stood there and stared behind at the boy.

He seemed to quickly realise that he wasn't hearing any foot steps behind him.

So, he stopped walking and turned around.

"Why aren't you walking behind me?" Marcus shouted from his distance to be loud above the heavy rainfall.

"Why do you want to walk in the rain?" I shouted back.

I saw his shoulders drop and I knew he did a big, dramatic sigh, and in fast paced walking steps, he started to move towards me again.

"The umbrella is pointless to use," He reached me to explain, "It doesn't contain the both of us, and you still end up getting wet, so its better if one of us just uses it all to themselves, so it can properly shield, you grab?"

"But, you were getting wet too," I reminded him, "We both can just get wet, instead of one of us, having to entirely walk in the rain."

And he was still standing in the rain.

"But if we do it that way, you'd be getting hit by rain and you could fall sick," He argued still.

"And you won't get sick? What are you? Batman?" I fired back.

Marcus laughed. He actually laughed. I didn't.

"This is ridiculous," I said, "You're worried I will get sick if we share an umbrella together because the rain will still beat just a quarter of my skin, but you're diving full on into the rain and you're not thinking of the consequences for yourself?"

It doesn't make sense.

"I'm sorry," He laughed and apologized, "I just really don't like the concept of getting sick, and you can't get sick, I can't allow it." And he stepped back into the rain and took off in steps.

I couldn't believe it.

He doesn't like the concept of falling sick, so he won't let me all sick....

But, he would let himself fall sick instead...

Okay nu na.

I walked behind him with the umbrella.

Maybe he knew how to handle himself while sick, but hell no, I couldn't do that. And with everything I already have on my plate, I cannot fall sick. I just can't afford to, in all sincerity.

I walked behind Marcus, carefully following his every step in this place that I wasn't familiar with, and hoping that things didn't go roughly for either of us. So far so good, I didn't hate this place. If anything, it seemed warm. Different. The Mansion itself was great and large, having floors stacked upon each other and I couldn't exactly decipher how many of them were there, but I could take a specific note of one side of the building that had a glass wall, instead of the usual brick the house seemed to be made up of, shielding that part of the house, and barricading it with pillars. I particularly liked it because it simply stood out for me.

I couldn't make out the exact colour of the building, but I would have loved to believe it may have been white in colour, considering how the pretty lights of the atmosphere perfectly reflected on it and gave a golden tint that was practically the same aesthetic colour vibe that it gave the entire atmosphere. The entire Mansion was gorgeous, however, nothing particularly too stunning compared to what I knew my Dad owned, but it was impressive enough. Clearly, anyone would be able to tell that the family who had the house were very well to do and comfortable in finance. Maybe even too comfortable?

All I knew was that I liked it here already.

"Just drop your shoes outside," Marcus informed me as soon as we got to the large, fancy barricaded walled front porch of the building, "My mum really doesn't like dirt inside the house."

He helped me with the Umbrella, took it from me and dropped it on the porch, spreading it out to dry as I took off my muddy slippers and thought about what he just said.

His Mum does not like dirt in the house...

And I knew it in me that I was one to litter.

Something in me started to get worried that the woman may not be very fund of me, and my anxiety started to peak.

"There's another pair of Slippers inside, and it's one of my Mum's, so you can have that one, okay?" Marcus whispered to me as we got closer to the front door, and like we were on a secret mission to stay unheard and unnoticed, I quietly nodded.

Good Lord.

Now, not only am I going to annoy his Mum by accidentally littering something, I'll now be wearing her slippers while doing it...

Lord, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

I followed behind Marcus as he walked into the darkness that was the house.

"Everywhere seems quiet, so Mum may not have noticed my absence yet, I hope..."

Marc turned on the Lights and my breath hitched in my throat as I soaked in this place.

It was the Living Room. I mean, it looked the closest like a Living Room, so I believe it may have been one. Only that this place was just so glorious, like whoever crafted it out and created it, took their time to make sure that their living room looked like a Palace.

I felt unworthy to be standing here right now.

Just like outside, there was that gold lighting all around the place that created this exotic looking, exquisite and immensely tasteful and surreal glow all around the place, and I was quick to figure out that there were candle lamps placed at various corners of the Living Room, right on the fancy looking side stools by fancy couches that were either brown or white and gold.

I'd give it to them, the Living Room at home wasn't as large, and not even the closest bit as pretty as this one. Branded with white and gold walls, multiple candlelight and fancy beaded chandeliers that were decorated all around the ceilings, contributing to an almost dim, yet warm and serene, golden hue all around the place, and those decorations upon decorations of flowers and ornaments on the glass centre table and by the white and gold couches.

This is the most visual representation of the Living Room I could find, so yeah, imagine something like this, but of course, at night time!

So, imagine at night, it has this kind of this feel and look, you grab?

"I hope you don't expect me to start asking exactly where have you been, Marcus Bruno Acha.-"

I snapped out of my reverie, legit froze at the new voice.

"-So, this is the part where you start explaining yourself, so do not waste my bloody time and get on to it and now."

Something about the firmness and tightness of the mature voice set me on the edge, and I instantly snapped my head towards a lady on a pink robe who sat there on the largest Sofa, crossing her legs like a diva sophisticatedly, and staring straight at us, Marcus specifically, with the most intimidatingly inquisitive, arched brow I had ever seen, the most sass rolling off her tone and no-nonsense posture, and the most choking aura literally oozing off her and surrounding one hell of a presence she fronted.

And goodness, she was gorgeous.

I mean, she wasn't the most beautiful person I had seen, but I could definitely say that I had never particularly seen any one, before now, who was beautiful the way she made herself beautiful. She was so soothing to look at, posing a natural and effortless beauty - bronze coloured skin that shone under the gold lighting of the room, full lips just like Marcs', and soft, kind almond shaped eyes that were smaller than his'.

Yet, in another contradicting line, she was also striking and somewhat hypnotizing. She looked mature, but yet so tenderly beautiful, contrastingly soft, but then, with such adornments like that stud ring on the left side of her jaw, she managed to already pull of a badass look.

Her beauty was so many things in one. I hadn't seen anyone that managed to pull it all off at the same time.

But she wasn't very happy.

"I am waiting to hear you speak." She spoke, a dismissive, yet ordering tone in her firm, strong voice, and I had no idea how old she was, but I was certain that she sounded a lot older than she looked.

She had Marcus' features and judging from her looks and demeanour, I ascertained her to probably be his older sister.

"Mum, I-"

I tried hard to not stumble at the revelation.

Mum..?

This Lady was Marcus Acha's mother?

"Do you even know how worried I was?" She scolded him, looked sternly at him, "How can you just leave me alone in this house without any form of heads up?! How can you just decide to leave at your own will by 2am!"

Marcus looked remorseful, looked between me and his Mum and looked like he was thinking of ways to handle this situation, and I was just shocked as to why she had not yet noticed my presence yet in the heat of everything. She was probably too angry to have my presence properly registered yet, and that bothered me a lot more than it should have.

I was afraid of Marcus Acha's Mum.

"I'm sorry," Was all he could say, "I really don't have an excuse, and I know I should let you know before I left the house, Mum, I-"

"And maybe you should have left with your phone too, perhaps?!" She snapped, stood up instantly in fury and flashed him his phone, "At least to spare me a good measure from the panic and anxiety attack I almost had in this house!" She angrily threw his phone to Marcus and he quickly effortlessly caught it, muttered an apology in more remorse, and looked like he was thinking of what to say to salvage the situation.

The tension in the air was so hot...

And she hadn't even noticed me yet.

"Don't be doing that!" She scolded Marcus, "You know I don't like it when I'm alone in this house, neither do I like to be worried about your whereabouts and-"

She stopped.

The woman literally just stopped moving, accusing fingers still pointed angrily at her son as she froze in midsentence.

"Oh," Her shoulders seemed to drop ever so slightly as well as her tone on the realization of something, and her eyes focused on Marcus and only him, a brow raised accordingly at him, "Really."

Like something snapped in her, she whipped her head my direction and her eyes zeroes in on me, and it felt like someone had poured acid all over me.

The atmosphere seemed to drop in temperature, and rise up at the same time.

She just kept staring at me and I swallowed, stepped back under her quiet, calm gaze.

"Hello." I could barely make a sound to her.

She said nothing back to me, and her gaze was so calm, yet so intimidating and uncomfortable, but for the slightest second, I thought I saw something akin to softness flash in her eyes, but they generally stayed impassive on me.

She stared at me for so, so long.

And I was literally shaking, breathing fire under her gaze.

"Mum, you're making her uncomfortable." Marcus had the audacity to even say.

His mother was barely fazed.

"Mum." He cleared his throat, and she barely reacted much as she calmly turned to him, a vaguely annoyed look on her face as she asked him;

"What is she doing here?"

My heart dropped at the undisguised disgust in her tone.

I gulped several times.

Marcus seemed to not have heard her correctly because he raised an unbelievable brow and asked his Mum, "Excuse me?"

"Why did you bring that into this house?" She repeated, looked away from me like the sight of me was too irritating for her to behold a second time.

I instantly had a migraine.

My heart was a drum.

My hands were a a pool of water.

My head was in a state of heavy turbulence.

"I..." I don't know what even probed me t speak up, but I nearly bit y tongue in fear, "I'm sorry for coming uninvited, my name is Dabelu-"

"I don't care," She shut me up calmly with a painfully simple smile on her face even though she said something so mean, blinking her eyes at me like Ariana Grande, "And if you don't mind, I was asking my son." She looked back to Marcus demanding an answer from him.

"Mum, why are you acting this way?" He asked her softly, seemingly sounding genuinely confused, and all I wanted to do was disappear, "You're really making her comfortable."

"Well, she is under my roof, so I can make her feel any type of way I want, baby," She blessed her son with that evil smile, "And you had the guts to keep me up all night because of her, so give me one good reason why I should give a damn about how she is supposed to feel?"

Marcus looked like he was looking at a ghost and not his mother, Like he couldn't believe what was happening, a sheer look of hopeless confusion and helplessness on his face.

"Mum.." His voice almost broke in all his frustration at the situation.

The woman broke down in laughter in front of the both of us.

I mean, she just lost all her seriousness and was holding onto her ribs, laughing her damn ass off.

Marcus and I weren't laughing. We were confused and horrified as hell.

"I'm just playing with you kids, abeg. See the looks on your faces, I'm dying!" This woman was legit having the time of her life, laughing at me and Marcus' dumbfounded state.

Ehh?

"You know?" She started flaunting acrylic blue nails that I hadn't noticed before, I always told you I was more than just an unbelievably gorgeous face, I'm also an astonishing actress in the making, right baby?"

I am so lost.

"And you," She looked to me and I gasped in alertness, "Rate my 'Mean Girl' acting from the scale of one to ten, I'm waiting!" She blew imaginary dust of her nails.

I stared at her, out rightly confused and dumbfounded.

"If you don't rate me, I will rate myself oo! Ask my son, I am a perfect ten at everything, all round. You get the gist, naw? Doing that just reminded me of my old days back at CH, and how I used to give them epic bad b vibes back then? Don't even get me started on that gist sha."

She also went to Castron High?

What the Hell is going on?

"Wait..." Marcus mediated the situation, "So, you're not mad at me?"

"Well, I do feel it is a bit too late to be bringing a girl over, but no, I was more than worried about you than mad. Until I saw your phone, and read the texts that Dabi sent you, I nearly had a panic attack-"

Jesus Christ. She knows my name.

"Sooooo," She drawled playfully, "I decided to get you back for scaring me like that, and I am so happy it worked. Don't mess with Mama Acha, baby, she always wins, period."

My God.

"But, on a serious note, I swear to God, the next time you leave the house without telling me, I'll smack you silly. Yeah, you heard me, I'll slap that nonsense 'big boy' attitude out of you. Don't think I can't slap you because you're growing big like your father; You don't intimidate me oo. You and your father, both of you don't fear me. I've made that fact clear enough! Mama Acha can take y'all down, want to bet?"

Marcus laughed.

I was still adjusting to all these.

What is this woman?

"And you..." She moved her gaze to me and it softened ten times more and a sweet, genuine smile came onto her pretty face.

She had Marcus's smile. It was so beautiful.

For the first time since I got here, I felt familiar with her, and I couldn't help but smile at her.

"I've heard a lot about you," She said to me.

Woah... Really?

"And my goodness, you are by far prettier in person," She smiled, a genuinely impressed smile on her lips, "Congratulations. You are one of the few people in my life that have made me jealous."

I laughed. I actually laughed.

And honestly, I couldn't tell if she meant that, but it made me warm up to her in some way. I made me feel so... Accepted.

"Well, you two should do and come inside the house sha, it's past three in the morning, and hell, I want to go back to Bed," She laughed softly as she waved us both off behind her and strolled so freely and casually up the stairs and into the house.

"What about Dad?" I heard Marcus hesitantly call behind his mother.

"He's on a business trip?" She answered in a way that sounded like she was stating an obvious fact the both should have known.

"No, no, I mean, he doesn't have to know, right?" He shouted again, and by the time, she had already disappeared and all I could hear was her voice from upstairs, screaming back, "Oh, hell no. Not even in his next life!"

I laughed and so did Marcus.

"Your Mum..." I had to comment, searched my head for the best ways to describe her in a single word, "She's very..."

"Extra," He completed for me with a nod.

"In a nutshell," I laughed in agreement.

"Well, that is Mama Acha for you," Marcus simply told me and from there, we were heading inside the main house as well.

********

Marcus led me to a room upstairs, and even if the narrow space on the stairs caused me to walk behind him, he made sure to hold my hand behind him as though there was a possibility that I would slip out and disappear if he didn't do that.

"What's the time?" I asked softly behind him.

He promptly answered me, "It's 3:45am, Aurora."

I swallowed.

3:45 am, and how were things at home right now? Just how bad are things? Was I trending all over the news? Was my Mum even alive? What about Delilah? Are the police in search of me right now? Was I endangering Marcus and his mother? God.

"Are you okay?" He seemed to pick up on my silence quickly soon, and he turned his head, over his shoulder to look at me, momentarily stopped walking for a second.

"No." Was all I said.

"You know you can talk to me about anything though?" He said to me, he sounded sincere.

I had half a mind to cry out everything to him, and I mean, everything.

But no....

He had done enough already for me.

Marcus drove in the rain past midnight to get me because I texted him a simple 'I need help, please come get me'. He walked under the rain just so I couldn't fall sick. And now, he was risking keeping me at his house, willing to let me stay in his house, without even being careful or rational enough to get concrete details as to why I ran away from Home.

He was doing things my way. Just so I could be happy. Even if it was to his own expense.

He had done enough for me. Too Much. I wouldn't bother him with more of my problems.

And as I walked with him, his hand in mine the way that I had always admired as 'Art', I thanked the Heavens that I had found him. I thanked God that I had let this boy called Marcus Acha into my life.

"Here we are, Aurora," He welcomed me into a warm, cozy room that I knew first hand couldn't be his'.

I mean, I hadn't seen his room, but this room had a feminine elegant glow to it and the same candle lamps from the living room were decorated all around the floor here, illuminating the room with that same golden colour that seemed to be the theme of this entire house, and causing the room to have this effortless regal and exotic feel.

Here's the room, guys!!

"This used to be my Sister's room," Marcus told me.

Used to..?

"Where is she?" I dared to ask.

"Canada," Marcus quipped easily, picked up the slippers that I had already thrown at different corners of the room and carefully arranged them at the door neatly, "With her husband and two kids."

I couldn't help but notice how neat the room was too.

I always knew Marcus was especially clean and one look around his home made me instantly understand why, I prayed to God to give me the discipline to leave this room as neat as I met it.

Marcus led me to the bed and helped me sit, like I didn't know how to do it myself.

"Such a night..." I commented as Marcus was still busy moving around, seeming to be checking of everything about the room was intact for me.

And the bed is so soft...

"Tell me about it," He responded, listening to me even while being busy.

I watched him after he peaked into the bathroom, and shut the door gently.

"And your Dad.." I brought it up, recalling his conversation with his Mum, "What shouldn't he know?"

"Uhh.." Marcus started, rubbed the back of his neck for a while, "He doesn't really like having people stay in the house. He, umm, hates it actually...."

I gulped. He noticed.

"But, look, it's nothing to worry about; He won't be here until a whole week or even two, so there's nothing to fear," He assured me.

"You could get in a lot of trouble if he finds out," I said.

"Oh, you have no idea," Marc agreed with a nod.

"So..." I frowned, "Why did you risk that?"

Why was he going through so many risks just for me?

"My prime concern right now is for you to be fine and be with Shelter. My mum understands that, and I think I'll deal with my Dad when the time comes, okay?" He said.

He wasn't being rational. He was being too concerned with making me comfortable to be rational about all the decisions he had been making since 1am today.

But, I had no where else to stay...

So, I didn't argue with him.

"The water's running in the bathroom, so you can go in and have your bath if you want," He said to me, "I'll get you new night wears, since your clothes are wet. You must be cold..."

"I just want to go to Bed," I told him, "I'll bath later in the morning."

Marcus easily had it my way.

"Okay, if you insist, I'll just get some clothes for you to sleep with...." He insisted, "Give me a minute."

I nodded, and he set out of the room and was back as soon as he left, holding some nighties in his hands and I didn't ask whose they were, since they clearly belonged to a girl, I just took them and said thank you.

"You're cold," He noticed for the umpteenth time tonight.

"I guess so.." I noticed the goosebumps on my skin.

"Another minute," He left the room again.

How he was so concerned...

This time, he was back when I had put on one of the nighties - a white, long sleeping gown.

"Okay, so I got you two hoodies - a sweater one, and a jacket," He said as he gently gave them to me, "It's so you don't feel cold anymore; Also feel free to keep the other night wears with you for as long as you'll be here, okay?"

For as long as I'll be here... Wow.

I chose the jacket hoodie and when I had trouble zipping it up, Marcus helped me with the zipper, gently zipped it up to the top, and made sure to ensure it wasn't choking me in any way, and all the way, there was a warming feeling in my heart as my heart kept melting and melting over and over at such simple, but touching gestures.

After he was done, he just stood there...

Looked at me and around the room to search for the next way to help me.

"Do I turn off the air conditioner since it's cold? And what about the lights? Do you want them on or off?" He asked and I gave my answers. The AC went off, but the Lights stayed on.

Marcus still wasn't ready to go.

"I don't know if there's anything else I can do for you..." He said.

That sentence had a way of melting me to pieces, and I wondered to myself, "Hasn't he done enough already?" Seriously? Hadn't he?

How someone was willing to go out of their way to make sure I was okay...

This was too much for me.

Why me?

Why was he so nice to me?

I looked around this room, this perfectly arranged and tidy, beautiful room he had specifically chosen for me. The way he had put out everything in him to ensure my well being tonight. It was almost 4am and he still wanted to do more...

Why me?

"I'm fine," I promised him.

He smiled at me, a smile that warmed my entire spirit.

I laid on the bed and Marc helped me tuck myself in properly, and covered me up with the duvet, made sure that every part of me was covered well enough, and as he made these conscious efforts to ensure that I would be fine, it felt so heart warming.

And when he was done, he blessed me with a kiss on my forehead.

"Good night, Aurora," He said to me.

"Thank you.." My voice broke more than I intended it to as I said my honest appreciations to this boy, "Thank you so much, Marc."

I didn't even understand why tears were brimming at the corners of my eyes.

Marcus was making his way to leave and I asked him, "Will you stay?"

He had proved to me that he was decent enough to not want to share the same room with me, but I didn't want to be alone.

"Sure, if that's what you want," Marcus smiled at me.

He didn't share the bed with me, but set a bed for himself on the floor with some extra duvets and blankets, and I couldn't help but recall something.

This reminded me of the first night we properly met.

"Good Night, Aurora," Marcus said to me as he made himself comfortable on the floor.

I sighed... Exhausted from the night and overwhelmed by everything.

"Good night, Clyde." I responded. Closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

See you guys whenever!

I'm tired and I need to go to Bed, I had a few announcements to make, but I'll do all that on my next update! So, byeeeee, and good night!!!!❤️❤️