One Hundred And Six

"So?" I shrugged out a question, trying to act like I didn't care about what Nick just said because I knew he intended to annoy me.

I looked up and saw the surprise on Uche's face."Come on, let's read." I went and picked out a book from my bag. Neither of them were moving from where they stood so I turned to Nick."Isn't that what you're here for? To read with us?"

I knew he obviously didn't come for that, but saying otherwise could lead to him leaving as he came and having me be alone with Uche, which I knew he didn't want.

"Yeah, let's read." He walked past Uche and came and sat next to me, grabbed my book and started to read a random page.

Uche inhaled a bit loudly, loud enough for me to hear from where I sat, and then he proceeded to join us.

We read till my aunt returned. She seemed to have forgotten her house key at her office because she came over to Uche's and rang the bell.

"Nick, come help me with dinner." My aunt requested when she took the keys from Nick.

"Why me? Julie knows how to help too." Nick grumbled and my aunt sighed.

"She's with her..." My aunt paused and sighed."Julie, do you wanna help out with dinner?"

"I don't mind," I got up and went to where she stood at the door."Nick and I and help you together." I said finally and waved to Uche before going out.

***

Next day.

We had just gotten back from school. Uche and I stood on his porch talking while Nick went on to open the doors.

"Before I forget," I opened my bag and got out his shirt from yesterday."Here."

He hesitated in receiving the shirt."Are you mad about what Nick said yesterday? About April?"

"No." I lied."But did she really gift it to you?"

"Yeah, she did." He didn't lie. He never lied about things like this.

"And you have it." I pointed out vaguely.

"I still have all the gifts I received from everyone last year, not just hers." He scratched his head as he spoke, sensing that I had lied about not being angry.

"Would be funny if it was your favourite shirt," I laughed to hide my feelings.

"It's not." He confirmed.

"Okay." I just sighed."I should go." I shrugged and wanted to leave but he drew me back by my right arm.

"Should I throw it out? The shirt..."

"No. Come on, it was a gift..." I bit my lips and blinked at him."And it looks good on you..."

"You've never even seen me wear it." He cut me short.

"I just know it's..." I trailed at the realization that I'd been caught. My thoughts immediately went to the many pencil drawings of me in the papers in his cabinets yesterday. This boy liked me too much to cheat; why was I even mad at him?

He took the shirt from me and tossed it in the front bin there for me to see."It's gone. Now can you smile at me? You've been ignoring me all day."

"Me? No, I..."

"Julie, I know when you're mad at me." He cut me short, not giving me a chance to lie about avoiding him all day.

"What other things has she given you? Do you have more shirts from her?"

"We didn't really become close till like two years ago so, it's just being the shirt and one head warmer I really liked them, but Nick has it now." 

"Oh." I bit my lips."I didn't really want you to throw your shirt out, it's just the way Nick brought it up out of nowhere yesterday...it made me overthink it."

"Yeah, now you owe me a new shirt," He pinched my nose as he joked.

"Stop it, no I don't." I playfully pushed his hands off and stood on my toes."Alright, gimme a kiss."

"No, you do it. You're the one who ignored me all day when you could have easily told me you were mad."

"Uche..." I feigned anger by pouting but he didn't buy it. He just imitated the face 8 was making and laughed after.

I hissed, kissed him on the cheeks and wanted to storm out but he brought me back and kissed me on the lips, deeply, a little rough with it as he brought me closer to him.

My eyes were closed through it all till he hit my lower lip tenderly, ridging his teeth through till they left my lip. I opened my eyes just in time to see his throat ball go up and down as he swallowed.

"Will you do that to me again?" His voice brought me out of my daze so I shook my head slowly like a zombie in love. At that moment, I knew my face would be pink already; I could feel my cheeks heating up.

"Bye." I suddenly rushed out of his porch. I knew he was my boyfriend now but I still felt a bit embarrassed when he did things that made my guts flutter and my face red.

"Julie," he called and made me pause at the exit of his yard."Be online tonight, so you can see those past questions."

I nodded again and saw him smile.

***

In my bedroom at night. I stared at the past questions trying to get my mind off Uche's kiss earlier, but I couldn't. The more I heard his deep voice explaining shit about the past questions over the phone, the more I craved his kiss.

"So you get it now, right?" I heard him say in the end.

"Huh?" I sat up.

"You sleepy?" His time changed to concern."I'll just go through it again for you tomorrow at school, remind me."

"Okay."

"Don't sleep on your phone. Get some sleep, okay? Good night." I heard him again.

"Goodnight," I barely whispered before ending the voice call. 

After that, I ran my fingers through my hair and thought of how fucked I was. Why was I still thinking about his kiss this late at night?

"Urrgh!" I groaned and tossed my blanket over my head, embracing the darkness.

***

D-DAY.

It was the day of the competition. Uche's dad had decided to drive him to the competition himself. Uche had called me to tell me that morning how his dad randomly came home that morning and asked him to get in the car.

He had asked if I could get ready so I could go with him but it was too early for me so I declined.

Arriving at the arena now with other team members, I couldn't even find him. Our teacher and principal walked up to me and the team when she saw us walk in and the first thing she(our principal ) noticed was Uche's absence.

" Where's he?" She seemed to be panicked to see us without him."Where's Uche?"

"I don't know."

"He didn't come with us and he isn't picking up his calls."

"Isn't he here?" I asked amidst others reply and it caught the teacher's attention.

"Did he tell you he was coming alone?" She turned to me and I nodded.

"Oh," she heaved a sigh of relief but you could still see the worry on her face that he might not show up. I guess he was really important to our team.

"All teams please move to the stage and stay behind your assigned podium." The speaker above is announced and my principal ran her fingers through her hair.

"One of you, call him, quick."