Chapter song:
Better by Khalid
••☆••
Babi and London sat on the benches looking over the football pitch.
" Better," London asked .
" Indeed," Babi slightly smiled, deeply inhaling feeling way freshed, sitting out in the open with sunlight hitting her skin.
" Why didn't you tell me where coming back?" Babi asked
" So you could put on your okay facade and flash me with your bright fake smile," London asked .
Babi smiled quietly, leaning back .
"At least i would've welcomed you properly,"Babi said .
" i like it this way , the real raw emotions," London said, leaning back too.
"We can shout it can make you feel better," London said .
" Will it?" Babi wondered.
She sighed, tilting her head backwards on feeling tears flooding in her eyes.
"Who is he?" London asked .
" Who?" Babi asked , maintaining the same position.
" Darnel Grayson," London said .
" You were staring at him earlier," London added.
"You just mentioned his name . He is indeed Darnel Grayson. " Babi sighed .
"I meant , who is he to you?" London asked .
Babi shut her eyes, thinking hard on that question.
"How do you know him?" She asked, too .
"Who doesn't know him or his family?" London asked .
"Right," Babi exhaled.
" The way you were looking at him . The pain , longing, and sadness in your eyes. He means something to you, " London said.
Babi deeply inhaled sadness, resurfacing all over her face .
"How was it, liking me for over two years now." Babi softly asked .
"I wasn't easy, was it?" Babi sadly said .
London exhaled , he turned facing her with all his body .
"Liking someone is so hard . " Babi said, her voice sounding cracked.
" Skylar..." London called softly.
Babi sat up facing him, too . She battered her eyes, holding in her tears
" i am sorry , i didn't make it any easier for you," Babi softly said .
"It's not easy, but i didn't mind . I loved and still love every single minute of it, " London said .
" Does it get easier?" Babi asked, tears in her eyes.
"If you admit it. " London said .
"I am quite sure you haven't accepted it yourself that you like him. " London softly added.
"Embrace it and then say it to him. Then it starts to get easier, " London added.
Babi swallowed hard , she knew from the depth of her heart and being .
That was the most terrifying thing for her to do .
Both their attention was taken by Babi's ringing phone .
Babi pulled it out of her coat pocket, looking at the screen. Pain filled her face, looking at the unsaved number on the screen.
"Is that him?" London asked .
"Hm.." Babi replied .
Babi pressed the side button and turned off the phone completely, and placed it back in her coat.
" Skylar " London called .
" it aches when you call me by my middle name," Babi said deeply, inhaling and composing herself again.
" he calls me that . " Babi added.
London scoffed painfully.
"I did first , so i get it, keep it," London said .
" No," Babi smiled .
" he did first," Babi added.
" i have known him the longest," Babi added.
" Argh....Fuck it," London whined.
" he has known you the longest and gets to have a place in your heart," London said.
Babi chuckled.
" You do too," Babi smiled .
" What?" London was shocked.
" i had promised myself to give you a chance once you're back. " Babi honestly said .
" What...." London shouted in surprise, both laughing.
" That makes me want to stay," London said .
" Are you leaving again?" Babi wondered with a frown.
" i had come to say my farewell. I have been given a chance to play, and i am on rehabilitation in Europe. " London said .
" Aww...." Babi sadly said .
"Ask me to stay, and i will," London said .
Babi widely smiled, staring in his stern eyes.
"Hope you still save me a seat after making it big," Babi sadly smiled.
Babi knew and felt London's sincerity in asking to be held onto to stay. Yet she still issued him a goodbye.
"Your heart is somewhere else, i get it," London sadly smiled.
"I am not going to be selfish with you . " Babi said .
" i really meant it when i said i would give you a chance your back . But our timings are still off, " Babi added.
" You're going, and i am looking elsewhere,"Babi added.
" i will save you a seat as i will forever have you in my heart," London said.
"Thank you for loving me, London. Thank you for making me feel so special. " Babi smiled.
" Will you tell him how you feel?" London asked .
Babi laughed together with London.
"I will handle myself and my heart , worryless . Focus on healing and making it big. " Babi smiled.
"Alright," London chuckled.
"Make sure you send me the first book you will publish." London said .
Babi smiled, spreading her hands wide to him.
London extended closer, going in her the embrace.
"Goodbye London," Babi softly said.
" See you later, Skylar." London smiled, extending backwards a bit.
With the little distance between them, London stared down at her lips and then up at her eyes.
As he retracted , Babi extended closer, placing a soft kiss on London's lips .
London leaned in more , he placed his hand around her neck, sliding to the back of her head in her braids .
"UH....WHOAH....." Both Babi and London jumped startled and splitting from the snog by the loud bang after something hit behind the bench they were on.
They both looked down behind the bench, their eyes on a broken phone .
In sync raising their eyes to where the phone fell from .
" ops ...it fell out of my hands," Darnel said, walking closer to them.
London licked both his lips, standing up, levelling with Darnel .
" it fell out of your hands?," London asked, with a frown on his face
" Hmmm...." Darnel said, bending to pick his broken phone, then standing straight, meeting eyes with London.
" Haha....." London chuckled.
"At a distance you were at ," London chuckled in disbelief.
Babi sighed, staring at Darnel's scowl face . Darnel's hands in his pockets gazed at London like he had an issue with him.
" Why are you here, Darnel?" Babi asked standing .
" Why am i interrupting?" Darnel angrily asked .
" Yes," London immediately replied.
Darnel furrowed his eyebrows, bitting his jaws furiously.
" Don't worry , we are just leaving," Darnel said .
" Let's go, Sky," Darnel ordered.
Babi deeply exhaled in confusion of Darnel's reaction.
" i am going to stay," Babi said .
Darnel turned, glaring at Babi, fuming in extreme anger .
Darnel matched closer, grabbing Babi's hand .
" Darnel." Babi called loudly, struggling to be let go of as Darnel dragged her way from London, heading back inside the academy building.
" London," Babi called, watching him stay in on position, watching her being dragged on.
London sadly smiled, waving at Babi .
" It's not one-sided," London painfully swallowed.
" At least one of us winning.. best of luck, Skylar," London quietly said, watching her being taken.
*
" What the fuck " Babi angrily yelled Darnel letting her hand go on reaching inside the gym .
The gym had no other students in , only the both of them .
Darnel angrily glared at Babi . He deeply exhaled pushing his hair backwards struggling to keep calm.
" What's wrong with you " Babi asked gently holding ther wrist that Darnel had been tightly gripping.
" tsk..." Darnel chuckled
" me . Not you " Darnel furiously said.
" Nathan and now that creep . Fuck....kissing him ....." Darnel yelled .
" is he the one you are in love with " Darnel yelled .
"Am sick of this " Babi painfully exhaled in exhaustion.
"What..." Darnel frowned.
" i loothe you acting like this even more " Babi said , so wearily.
Babi didn't say more but matched past him , leaving Darnel standing there confused and fuming .
" Fuck..." Darnel shouted in frustration.
He deeply inhaled turning looking at the door she had just past through .
" her eyes " Darnel sighed quietly in wonder.
" they are swollen and her face is puffy. Was she crying " Darnel worriedly asked.
Babi opened her locker in the hallway . She removed the papers gotten from Wilfred, with her pencil as well .
Babi closed the locker and headed to the library. She walked up to the second floor where it was more quiet and totally empty.
Babi got a seat at the table in the back , she turned on her phone , plugged the earphones in the phone .
Placed each ear piece in her ears playing sad slow music and making herself busy with the handful of papers before her.
Hardly had Babi read a whole paragraph, when the chair besides her was pulled back and Darnel sitting next to her.
Babi sighed wearily, totally ignoring Darnel. Babi continued with what she was doing .
Darnel opened his book reading not disturbing her with what she was doing .
For about 20 minutes , they both sat there each busy with what they were doing .
Babi sighed pulling out one earpiece looking at him
" What " Babi asked .
She was obviously distracted and disturbed by his presence that she couldn't focus on her work .
" when did you cry " Darnel asked softly looking at her face .
" What " Babi asked
" you eyes are swollen, your face is puffy and you don't seem vibrant " Darnel mentioned.
" what's wrong " Darnel worriedly asked.
Babi inhaled looking forward in her papers.
" nothing " Babi said .
"You can't keep on doing this . Hiding things from me. " Darnel said more like a plea.
" talk to me " Darnel worriedly pleaded.
Babi turned , feeling the worry and concern from him .
She scanned his face , her heart had increased its beating pace , her whole body filled with warmth and the excitement of him being close to her and all the urges she got the moment he got close.
"When and how did things change " Babi thought out loud.
" what " Darnel asked .
" aren't you angry at me " Babi asked.
" i am " Darnel didn't lie .
" but i am more worried about you " He added.
Babi swallowed hard , her whole body warming and calming to his statements .
"My mood is just low , that's it " Babi lied.
"Then use me to recharge " Darnel said .
Babi slightly smiled , she carried a bunch of papers placing them before him.
Darnel smiled , getting comfortable and reaching for hanging earpiece putting it in his ear listening on her music.
"Should i learn how to play football " Darnel suddenly asked .
Babi folded her lips hiding her urge to laugh, she looked down to his feet .
"Are you already judging my two left feet " Darnel asked , Babi burst into laughter both laughing .
" i am serious " Darnel chuckled, Babi laughed again.
"Father was really good at it , i can...."
" Nahh....,those genes skipped you " Babi chuckled.
"Then should i go into salsa dancing " Darnel asked .
Babi laughed as she slapped Darnel's hand,both laughing.
" Oh , i get it. Your now thinking of Desmond videos i sent while he was learning salsa " Darnel argued while chuckling.
" Haha...."
Darnel hurriedly covered Babi's mouth on laughing loudly.
Darnel laughed wrapping his other hand around her shoulder as Babi collapsed on him laughing continously.
Babi raised her head staring at Darnel with tears in her eyes.
"You don't have to judge just yet , i have been learning " Darnel said, he sprang up standing in mid space .
Babi covered her mouth fidgeting not to laugh shaking her head stopping him from the attempt.
"We are brothers but different " Darnel sternly said and moving his hips .
Babi laughed even harder , Darnel had two left feet indeed.
Darnel laughed , he danced as he enjoyed the endless laughter from Babi .
Babi snorted which made Darnel laugh even harder. Babi stretched holding Darnel's hand and pulled him back in his seat as they laughed .
Among the first shelves of second floor was Nathan who watching Babi and Darnel laugh .
Nathan had been worried and restless about where Babi was, he also knew where exactly to find her only to find her with Darnel excluded again.
Nathan clenched his fist in agitation, his blood was boiling yet heart broken at the same time .
That made the second time he witnessed these Darnel Babi moments which gave him a lot to think about .
Yet again, Nathan only turned going back leaving them be just like the first time he witnessed them.