Never Let Go - Page 5

I giggled and shook my head before leaning over and draping my free arm over Naoki’s shoulder. “Yes but you’re my best, best, best friend!”

She playfully pouted. “In the whole wide world?”

Laughing, I leaned my head against hers. “In the entire galaxy, you big baby.”

“Whew!” She exaggerated before we shared a laugh. “I thought I was going to have to beat both of y’all up. Now why do you think she’s a lesbian?”

On the short distance back over to where everyone else was, I told her about Farrah and the kiss. We were leaning up against Naoki’s car when, Mahogany walked over.

“You good, SiSi?” Mahogany asked with furrowed brows, concerned about me.

I nodded with a faint smile. “Yes, Mo, I’m good.”

Her eyebrows dipped a little. Nodding towards the cup, she said, “Have another sip.”

I looked down into the pink drink and put the cup back to my lips. Seconds later, Duke wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up off her feet pulling her away, sending her into a fit of giggles.

Naoki took the cup from my hand and took a hefty drink from it. “Can you believe she said that to me? I’m good with boys. Why would she say that to me?”

She handed me the cup back and I took another drink. From the corner of my eye, I noticed her watching Mahogany, with a frown and tears in her eyes. If Mahogany knew, she wouldn’t have said that. She didn’t know, just like Naoki didn’t know why I didn’t want to go up that hill with her. We all had something we kept from each other.

“She don’t know, Nay,” I whispered. “If she knew?—”

“I know,” She whispered back.

Naoki had friends. A lot of them. She was the social butterfly. Very likeable, loud, and funny. But she wasn’t good with boys. Boys tried to get with her. All of the time. There were rumors spread about her, and because she was popular and constantly seen at all of the parties, people thought they were true.

At first, Naoki would defend herself and got into a lot of fights about it. But after a while, she stopped. She just let people think what they wanted to think. Naoki had been considered the boy crazy girl since we were thirteen but what people didn’t know was that Naoki was very afraid of men. Her Uncle Anton was to thank for that… But… we didn’t talk about Uncle Ant. Ever. But then there was this boy she started to like and well… she figured she’d take a chance on him.

I tossed my head back with a sigh, closed my eyes and pushed up off the car.

Facing her, I smiled. “Come on. Let’s go up that hill!”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“What?” I mocked. “You heard me. Don’t tell me you’re scared. I thought I was the scary one. Today we bloom. Together.”

She shook her head. “Yeah I know but you really don’t want to. We do not have to?—”

“You better come on before I change my mind, girl,” I warned.

“Okay, okay,” She rushed, with a big bright smile, the tears in her eyes long gone. She grabbed my freehand and pulled me away from the car.

My heart raced as we headed in a direction I was already being pulled in. I shifted my brown eyes to the green, prickly grass to avoid eyes that I knew were on me. The closer we got to the crowd, the harder it was for me to avoid.As soon as I lifted my eyes, they met his.

He was coolly leaned up against his car, cup in hand, surrounded by people who engaged with him while he silently engaged with me. While we silently engage with each other. In the weirdest of ways. Ways I was sure neither of us could quite understand. Seconds ago, Naoki’s voice was loud in my ear but the closer we got, the higher we trekked up that steep hill, the quieter her voice became. This time, I didn’t get stuck. Wasn’t allowed to. Someone stepped in front of him. Blocked my view and I was thankful for it.

I swallowed and put that cup to my lips again. This time, taking a heftier gulp than before. Swallowed it down completely. I needed it. Because we’d made it up the hill. We were so close. I’d never been so close to him before. It was so much. Almost too much. How close we were almost sent me crashing against his chest. I would have if it wasn’t for her… She was in the way. But then she wasn’t. And to stop myself, I latched onto Naoki. Grabbed her arm with so much force that she was startled. Looked down at me with furrowed brows and concern etched on her beautiful face.

“It’s okay,” Naoki reassured me with a whisper. “You look good. It’s your bloomday. Tonight is going to be a great night. I’m so proud of you, sis. You should be proud of yourself too.”

Should I be? Did I have anything to be proud of? Maybe. I had conquered a fear. Jahad was about three feet away from me. But I wanted to be closer. I wanted to touch him. I wanted to feel him. I wanted to be inside of him. How? Why? I didn’t know. The closer I got, the closer I wanted to be. I didn’t want to run. He didn’t feel as scary. He felt good.

“Thank you,” I said with a light smile. “You should be proud too.”

“What do I say?” She whispered.

“I don’t know, Nay,” I whispered back, as we slowed our stride. “Just tell him you weren’t feeling good when he asked you out the other day.”