? The Deal ?
Written by Idara Kingsley
? Chapter 16 ?
? Charlotte ?
MacDonald’s with a can of coke was the best for brunch. I ate like I haven’t had anything to eat in years. Alcohol definitely wasn’t for me. I could finish a whole lot of food after having a lot of alcohol. They made me crave food so badly, like I was some pregnant lady.
Brian only watched with interest. I didn’t miss the smile on his face.
“What?” I asked mouthful.
He shook his head and looked away. “Nothing, just that you look pretty while eating.”
I rolled her eyes and picked up my can of coke. I ignored the bu-tterfly in my stomach. “Are you tryna mock me?” I knew he wasn’t mocking me but I enjoyed keeping him uncomfortable for a while. It keeps me smiling all day long to watch Brian stutter to prove a point.
“Nope. It’s a compliment.”
“Okay.”
As I ate, I remember Zoey, she might be going throu-gha lot at home. Her mother’s call did not actually sit well with me. I wished I could go over to her house. I so much wanted to know if she was okay.
Everyday, I feared for my bestfriend. She was going throu-ghdepression, but smiles like she was okay. Everyone thought she was okay, but I knew she was tryna cover up.
I thought of texting her. I did.
CHARLOTTE: Hey girl, you good?
I waited for her text to come in. It did, after few minutes.
ZOEY: hey Charlotte, this is Jack. Zoey, is asleep and is unable to reply your text. I’d love if you come over soon. I think she needs you right now.”
I blinked. Was she okay? Nah, she wasn’t. She was supposed to be at her house, but she’s at Jack’s place. Something was definitely wrong. I always knew her mum was gonna do something bad to her. The hatred her mum had for her was just so… Uncalled for. Zoey had been the best daughter she could ever be. One thing was, her dad still stood with her. That alone, was okay not to make her loose her mind entirely.
My instinct was right after all.
“I have to leave.” I said, picking up my purse from the table.
His eyebrow raised up a bit, giving me a questioning look. “What’s wrong?”
I sigh and sat back on my chair. “Zoey, fiance just texted. She’s not okay.”
“We could go see her together.” He stood up, and reached for my bag. He helped me stand up and pulled me closer to him by my wa-ist. I was sure by now, people were staring or taking pictures.
“Thank you.” I whispered to him as we got into the car.
Throu-ghout the ride to Jack’s house, I kept thinking of Zoey’s wellbeing. Was she okay? Did her mum hurt her? Did her bodyguard try anything silly again?
My mind was clouded with a lot of disturbing rhetorical questions. I wished I could take away all her pains. I really wished. She was a sweet soul, and never deserved to be treated wrongly.
Zoey, was the jovial type. If you didn’t know her too well like I did, you’d probably think she was living her best life. She wasn’t. She was a shadow of herself. She had lost her self esteem. She lost her happy self. She was hurting on the inside. She faked a smile in gatherings, and cry out her eyes in the dark.
You would probably think a man was her problem, but no, her own mother who was supposed to be caring for her, was the cause of her problem. It hurt me everyday.
The car came to an abrupt stop. I came out of my trance immediately, becoming conscious of my surrounding.
I came out of the car, with Brian by my side. It was my first time at Jack’s neighborhood. He had sent his address to me when I was in the car.
Jack, was outside, staring at Brian’s fleets of cars.
I walked quickly to his side. “Where’s she?”
“Calm down. If you go in looking like this, you’d scare her.” He placed a hand on my shoulder to calm me down.
I took in a de-ep breath to calm my nerves down. I exhaled de-eply. I was still nervous but not as before. I still needed to know how my bestfriend was doing. I wanted to hug her and whisper that everything would be alright.
“I’m calm now, please can I go in?” I was almost at the verge of crying. He nodded and led me inside.
Zoey was sprawled on the couch, stuffing popcorn into her mouth. She glanced at the door immediately I entered.
“Zoey.” I called and rushed to her. Her arms were wide open. I pulled her into a tight hug.
She began whimpering.
“Shh… You don’t have to cry, I’m here for you.” I rubbed her back continuously.
“I’m not crying, I need to breath.”
I released her immediately. She caught her breath and began laughing so ha-rd that tears was coming out of her eyes. I joined in.
It was a moment of relaxation for us. It kept the pains away for a while. At that moment, all I wanted to do was laugh till I forgot all my sorrows.
The guys were at a corner, watching is intensely. I knew they might be thinking we had probably gone mad.
“I love you so much Char.” Zoey said, with smiles on her face.
My smile de-epened. “This b.itch loves you more.” I leaned in and gave her a quick forehead ki-ss.
One thing I’ve learnt about Zoey was that she never wanted to talk about her problems immediately. I found a way to allow her laugh out the stress, hurt, nervousness.
Laughing was and is still a therapy to us.
We laugh out our pain together.
We dance out our pains together.
We sing out our pains together.
We eat out our pains together.
We drink out our pains together.
I never wanted to imagine how life would be without my bestfriend by my side. She was all I needed to be okay. I was all she needed to be okay.
“We’ll get out of it soon.” She whispered to me.
I nodded in agreement.
Soon, all our pains would be in the past. We would look at all the times we cried, laughed, fought, partied, cursed, pranked, drank and laughed over it.
“She wants me to go out with Jonah Castle.”
Jonah Castle, I could remember him as the overly weird boy, who hardly talks. His social media account had only two pictures. He hardly talks to strangers. People said he has pride and see others as mere people he could step on without having to say an apology.
I saw the boy as someone who prefers his privacy. Someone who didn’t want to be in people’s black book. Someone who was controlled by his parents. Or perhaps, an introvert. I couldn’t place him on one of them, but he was definitely one of them.
He scared me, still. His bored look, and intense gaze would make you think otherwise. You’d never find him in a gathering except he was with his overly controlling and bastard rich parents.
“That’s horrible.” I spat out. I can never imagine Zoey, and Jonah Castle. That boy was of no good for my girl. He wasn’t the type to care about someone’s feelings. Where’s the perfect date, sweet shower s£x, breakfast in bed, bouquet of flowers at work, the fun, the play? He couldn’t just be with Zoey. Zoey was the romantic type that needed a romantic, playful partner. Jack was one.
“I thought your mum knew of Jack?
Zoey scoffed. “She doesn’t like him.”
I looked over to Jack. He was just staring at us, with no expression on his face. Just a plain, normal face. Brian was on his phone, I bet he was paying attention to us.
“But my dad does anyways.” She completed, after looking at Jack. She was trying her best not to make him feel bad.
“Your mum opinion doesn’t count. Also, she can’t tell you what to do with your life. You’re the one getting married to Jack, not her. She should take a chill pill, enough of her trying to be a wicked mother.” I was boiling in anger now. I was so upset. She was the least person I expected to treat Zoey badly.
“I wish you cos say it right in her face. Boy, I need your confidence.”
I smiled at her. “I can do it if you let me.” I said, looking down at my nails.
She chuckled and punched my arm. “She’s still my mum. She still deserve my respect.”
Zoey was so ha-rd to convince each time it came to her mother’s issue. She always believed her mum would change to the woman she used to know.
“Zoey— ” I called but got interrupted.
“It’s okay, I can always handle it. I’m a strong girl, she got nothing on me.”
“Nonsense. She keeps hurting you and you keep in letting it slide? Keep respect aside and talk to her. The her you deserve more than all these. You’re joking with your mental health.”
She sighed and rubbed her fingers together. “I know, but she’s still my mum.”
“Your mum? Cool. Then watch her lead you to your death because of your ignorance. I’m done here.”
I stood up and began walking out of the door.
I can’t watch her die slowly in pain, while she’s being ignorant. My father who left, would never treat me so bad like her mum was treating her. My father was ready to have Noah arrested, and beat up a boy who trolled me online. Even after he left, his attitude changed, not the love he had for me.
“Charlotte, wait.” I saw Zoey running towards me. I stopped and turned to her.
“What?”
She stopped to catch her breath. When her breathing became steady, she began talking.
“I know you’re real upset at me, but please, if my parents or anyone ask of my location, please do not tell them.”
Agreeing to her request was like putting myself into trouble. I still had to do it for my bestfriend. I agreed and got into the car, just as Brian started the engine.
I picked up my phone and dialled my dad’s number. He picked up after three rings.
“Charlotte honey, you called me.” I could hear the excitement in his voice. All my anger melted down immediately. I missed him just as he missed me too. We haven’t had a good conversation with each other ever since he left. Truly, I preferred him to my mum. Not because he was rich, but the love I had growing up with him.
“Dad.” I smiled from ear to ear.
“I missed you baby. I missed you so much. I’m such a terrible dad, I couldn’t check up on my baby ever since everything. I’m terrible.”
I sighed. He was indeed terrible. I was waiting for his call for such a long time. I thought he would call to check up on me. I felt he never cared for me anymore. He might have a new family anyways, so the love was sli-pping away slowly.
“You’re terrible.” I laughed. He joined in.
No matter how tough I tried to make myself look, I still have a soft sp-ot for my loved ones. I hardly cried, but if I did, that means that person or thing really means a lot to me.
“I’m sorry for not being the best dad.”
“It’s fine dad, I forgive you.” I lic-ked my li-ps, tasting the li-pgloss I applied on it few hours ago. “Can I see you soon? I’ve got something important to discuss with you.”
“Sure. Fix a date, time and place, I’ll meet you whenever.”
“Okay. I’d love tomorrow. 1pm at our favorite place.” I grinned. I glanced at Brian, to see him stealing glances at me.
“Okay. I’ll be there.”
“Okay. Bye dad.”
“Bye baby, I love you.”
My li-ps quivered. I haven’t heard those words in ages. Hearing them again melted my half melted heart. I swallowed ha-rd to stop myself from bursting into tears. My emotions was really getting the best of me.
“I love you too, dad.”