Chapter songs :
First half - Conversations in the dark by John Legend.
Second half - Fri_ends by V of BTS.
••☆••
Neacky squinted her eyes when the car she was passing past flashed lights to her.
William dimmed the lights and opened the car door, getting out .
Neacky turned, looking at William in surprise . She never expected him there , not that night or ever .
"Did you call for a ride ma'am?" William smiled .
" i did and expected a shabby beat-up car." Neacky smiled
"That's an insult to Nathan's car," William said .
Neacky chuckled, coming closer, her eyes filled with admiration towards the shining red Ford Mustang before her.
"It still can't be compared to this convertible," Neacky smiled .
She gently rotated around the car, feeling the smooth steel surface under her palms that she was finely passing on the car surface appreciating and falling in love with it more.
"This car makes makes me what to fuck it " Neacky smiled.
"AH....WHAT...." Neacky shouted when William threw the car keys to her, and she caught them mid-air .
William laughed not getting his eyes off her.
" are you fucking kidding me " Neacky shouted .
"Quick question though , can you drive " William said .
"Will..come on . Its like asking me if i can shit " Neacky said.
William chuckled as Neacky ran over to the drivers side .
She opened the car door, getting in and sinking into the soft chair of the front seat, and so did William in the passengers.
William hurriedly reached for the seat belt and grabbed the arm handle up , looking so scared for his life.
" Are you scared for your life or car?" Neacky asked , sounding so offended.
" My life , i can always buy a new car," William said .
"Then could you have some little faith in me?" Neacky asked , starting the engine.
"Whoah....." William exhaled, holding on tight as Neacky drove out of the parking ground.
Neacky stepped onto the gas pedal, increasing speed . William held himself even tighter .
"I guess i forgot to tell you," Neacky said, turning to William.
" What?" William asked
"I never got my drivers license cause i was too reckless." Neacky smiled
" WHAT...." William shouted nervously , Neacky laughed loudly, speeding even more .
"Neacky..stop," William shouted .
" HAHA....." Neacky burst into laughter, speeding more , his cries only sounded like a go ahead to her .
William watched Neacky, who bore a wide smile. A smile popped on his face, too , not getting her eyes off her.
" Where are you headed?" William asked .
" This road ends up the cliff. " Neacky said .
" Hope you know how to use the break pedal," William said .
"Oh....i also never learnt that far," Neacky smiled .
William smiled , and he relaxed, leaning back .
" Then i will die a happy man," William smiled .
Neacky chuckled, reducing the speed.
"That your addict " William stated.
" Who ,oh..Ian," Neacky said .
" That's his name," William asked
" What about him ." Neacky asked.
"You said he has a nice ride , what kind is it?" William asked .
Neacky smiled with a confused look on her face, staring at William.
"Why do you ask?" Neacky asked.
" Just..." William said.
"Is it better than this one?" William asked .
" Hahaaaaa...." Neacky burst into laughter.
" Are you serious. " Neacky laughed .
" i am just curious..." William defended himself
" No , " Neacky smiled her eyes on the road.
"This is a Ford Mustang . His is nothing compared to this one, " Neacky said .
"Don't think too much of the question i asked . It's just...."
Neacky loudly burst into laughter, cutting him off.
"You were curious, i get it," Neacky smiled.
"Are you still fucking him " William asked.
" Aren't you supposed to be on a date with Vanessa. " Neacky asked not replying his question.
"Couldn't make it " William said .
" why " Neacky asked
"There us somewhere else i had to be " William said.
" and it was more important than being with her. " Neacky asked.
" yes." William smiled.
" i had to impress this girl with my new car " William added.
Neacky's jaw dropped in surprise.
" there is another girl , other than Vanessa " Neacky asked really shocked.
" i thought you liked her a lot "
" i do like Vanessa " William said
"Just found myself wanting to impress this girl. She intrigues me and i enjoy myself with her " William smiled , keeping his eyes on her.
" was she impressed " Neacky smiled
" looks like so " William replied .
Neacky smiled .
" aren't you mad for Vanessa " William asked.
"Should i be . " Neacky asked.
William chuckled in disbelief.
" i don't know how deep your relationship with her is. I don't know if you two are serious or not " Neacky defended.
"Also , you didn't say you were in love with that other girl. So i don't consider it two timing " Neacky added.
William laughed .
" by the way , Vanessa is so pure hearted . Just don't play with her " Neacky smiled.
"I am trying ." William said .
" won't you ask who the other girl is " William asked .
" no ." Neacky smiled.
" Are you always this nonchalant about everything?" William asked .
Neacky chuckled not replaying his question.
Neacky finally pulled over at the end of the cliff. William sighed heavily in relief making Neacky chuckle.
William pressed a button opening the top of the car.
Neacky stood up, staring at the shimmering city down the cliff . William smiled, pushing his seat backwards, relaxing .
" Do you normally come here?" William asked .
" No , this is my second time here," Neacky said.
" one of the instructors at the studio i was fucking introduced me to this place " Neacky said.
William chuckled lightly, watching Neacky seat back. She pushed her seat back .
She rested back, raising her feet up in the chair.
William staired at her feet, noticing the socks underneath her all-star sneakers.
"As a ballerina, i am meant to move a lot, but i don't like the idea of being all over different places. " Neacky said .
" i love a constant stable place , where i go and come back after a maximum of two or four weeks " Neacky added.
"Kalvin says its a bad habit to only be and move in places i have been before . " Neacky added.
" i think familiar places give comfort. " William said .
" Right," Neacky smiled .
"Since it's hard for me to do , i choose guys who are customed to taking me places . That way, i get i a little bit of everything, " Neacky added.
William smiled .
" Unlike you , i love unfamiliar places . Where no one knows me or my family , William said .
"There i breathe and feel most comfortable," William said .
"With all privileges you have , i thought you loved it , but now i slowly understand it comes with a price to pay," Neacky said .
"Yeah," William said .
"Is that why Darnel is your only friend?" Neacky asked .
"Yes. The rest are acquaintances or people i hang out with because of certain situations " William said .
" but that has changed. Its nice being a part of a group of good friends " William said .
"Then you , one i can feel so comfortable with. I thought i had that with only Darnel " William smiled.
" wait ..are you saying i am slowly becoming your best friend " Neacky giggled with a little bit of boosting.
William laughed together with Neacky.
"Can i ask a personal question " Neacky asked.
" shoot " William replied.
" i have seen the family dynamic of Darnel, how is yours like " Neacky asked.
"My father , the king is the current head of the circle so he gets really consumed in running royal affairs together with circle affairs " William said .
"So all the family affairs are handled by my mother and then my big brother Gilbert " William said .
"Gilbert and i had two different mothers in one " William said .
Neacky turned facing William listening.
"She was so strict and controlling with Gilbert . I guess because he is the heir and the first born " William said .
" then came me . Mom is not as strict as she was with Gilbert or as lady Scarlet. Father and Gilbert believe she spoilt me " William smiled .
"So you do have a good relationship with her " Neacky asked.
" its fine and not perfect. " William smiled
" having a big brother who is considered perfect in every way possible is quite challenging cause i have to walk in the prints that he left behind " William said .
" does your mother ever compare you to him " Neacky asked .
" everyone does ," William said
" sometimes i wonder if mom regrets how she raised me and that's why she lets Gilbert parent me " William said .
" is Gilbert so strict on you " Neacky asked.
" he is my lady Scarlet " William said , both chuckling a little.
" i am sure it's hard , not having your own identity but living in your brother's," Neacky softly said .
"My brother's image, being a prince and having a father who heads the circle. All those are very demanding and draining, " William sadly said .
" How do you cope . " Neacky asked.
" i stopped fighting. Actually, i never fought . It was a battle i was always going to lose, " William said.
" i embodied everything and do what i supposed to do. If it wasn't for rebellious Darnel, then i think i would've been dead by now, " William said .
" Darnel," Neacky asked.
" Yes ,he gave me the courage to create holes in my little bubble so i could breathe. " William said .
" Little by little , i tore the walls , now i have a whole window open. I guess that's what Gilbert hates. " William said .
" that you started creating your own identity," Neacky asked.
" Hmm. " William smiled.
"What is the real William like?" Neacky asked .
" i love being in water , so i joined the swimming team and compete internationally. Something they hated and all went against, but i resisted, and Darnel supported by joining the swimming team too. " William smiled.
Neacky smiled.
" i love cars and i do street racing." William smiled .
" Shut up . Your kidding, " Neacky shouted in excitement.
" i do, my car once over turned where i narrally survived, and that's how my family found out . " William said.
" do you still do it " Neacky asked with a wide smile .
" i paused a bit. It was either i stopped or it gets completely banned . I couldn't do that to the rest of the racers here in Zephyr " William smiled.
" so noble of you " Neacky smiled.
" what else " Neacky asked
" ah , i am secretly learning art in modelling and wood curving . Then mechanics and recently, i joined the academy " William smiled .
" wow....i am impressed " Neacky smiled
" enough about me . " William smiled.
" what about you " William asked
" what about me " Neacky smiled.
" your goals , your family dynamic and all that " William said .
" mine is not some great story like yours sounds " Neacky smiled .
" Can i " William asked reaching for her feet .
" what for " Neacky asked .
"You will see " William smiled , stretching her feet to him.
Neacky turned leaning on car door watching William take off her sneakers and socks .
" you said your feet are your foundation. After being on toes all day i just suppose you deserve a massage " William said .
Neacky smiled widely staring at him in disbelief.
"Isn't Vanessa a very lucky girl " Neacky widely smiled .
" does that make you the luckiest. " William smiled , gently massaging her toes and careful with the parts she had plastered.
" cause you are first and only girl i have ever done this for " William added.
Neacky chuckled still in disbelief.
" answer my question now " William softly asked .
Neacky rolled her eyes with a giggle.
" i am just an average girl Will. " Neacky said .
"I live with my aunt , uncle , twin sister and younger brother. Amir recently moved out to his late mother's apartment and mom is usually at the tower " Neacky said.
" i am not so smart or multi talented. All i know and can do well is ballet " Neacky said .
" is that why you do your best at it and practice each chance you get " William asked.
" yes ," Neacky smiled.
" i don't know what would be without it. Its really all i have " Neacky added.
"I want to make it professionally, be a professional trainer and maybe start a studio where people can come learn or practice from " Neacky added.
"Is being a great ballet your only dream " William asked.
" hmm. " Neacky replied.
"How about starting your family or something of that sort " William asked .
" with all the money , fame and power from ballet. I will have my mother retire and Babi wouldn't have to work at the tower too " Neacky said
" and i love it here in Zephyr, so i will be settling here still. I might move around but i will be coming back home . " Neacky smiled.
" will you , your husband and kids be staying at your current home " William asked.
" if you haven't noticed i am not exactly a wife material. " Neacky said making William laugh.
" i get bored of men quickly, i have never settled with one and don't exactly believe in love " Neacky said.
" that happily ever after is bullshit " Neacky added.
"You deserve to be loved and be in love " William said.
" do you believe in love Will " Neacky asked.
" i think it exists. Not for me though " William said.
"Deep down i know you know its all bullshit " Neacky laughed.
" then what exactly do you feel for Nathan. You don't believe in love, he is not your type , so what " William asked.
Neacky laughed .
" i enjoy him " Neacky smiled.
"Will you explore it more " William asked.
"No , for the first time . I want to just it flow . " Neacky said.
" you know the love that finds you and don't have to chase , that's what i want to experience and see happening to me " Neacky said .
" then trust me on this " William said.
" deep down , you want to be unconditionally loved even when you say you don't believe in love and happily ever after " William said .
" do you " Neacky asked her eyes meeting those of William.
"I have never fallen for anyone so i don't know if i am capable of it " William said .
" does the idea of falling in love , marrying her and settling down sound okay with you " Neacky asked.
" expect that can't happen for me. I may marry and settle without being in love with her " William said .
" is your wife decided by your family " Neacky asked.
William smiled bending his head back to massaging her feet . Neacky looked at William with pity and sympathy.
"You mentioned everyone other than your father " William quietly said .
Neacky deeply inhaled , a frown appearing on her face .
"11th July 2010, four years ago. " Neacky quietly said .
"He left , but never came back " she sadly added.
" that day was quite like any other day with the same routine. Except he disappeared from our eyes forever. " Neacky said.
" i waited for him outside the studio that night , i called him twice but answer. " Neacky sadly added.
Neacky scoffed with tears in her eyes.
" he managed to push Morgan out of the car and failed to get out. The car exploded with him " Neacky painfully said .
"I am so sorry " William sadly said .
"He loved to see me dance, so i continue to do it for him, i know he still watches me dance. " Neacky sadly smiled with tears in her eyes.
" i am sorry Neacky .." William said .
"He must be really proud of you " William added.
"I miss him ..i miss my dad so much , every single day that passes " Neacky said , her mouth cracked as tears ran down her cheeks.
William gently soothed Neacky on her legs comforting her.
*
In the truck in the jackyard , Babi and Darnel sat in the bean bags next to each other eyes on the screen with a film rolling .
Each with popcorn in hand, drinks down on the floor and matching night wear , the same as those they were when Darnel slept over at her place.
Darnel turned staring at Babi in thoughts. He looked bothered and yarning to say something.
"Is it him " Darnel finally asked .
Babi reached for the remote pausing the movie .
" What " She turned looking at him and asking .
"Is it him . London " Darnel asked again.
Babi sighed wearily.
"When you said you were sick of this earlier in the gym. Did you mean me being persistent about the guy " Darnel asked.
" No " Babi replied .
" No to what. The first question or the latter " Darnel asked.
" to both " Babi replied.
" but you kissed him , why did you kiss him then " Darnel asked .
" it was just a goodbye kiss " Babi said
" Tsk...." Darnel scoffed with an angry laugh.
" since when do you kiss people goodbye. " Darnel angrily said.
" cause i don't, "Darnel added.
"Or your kisses are cheap and for everyone " Darnel angrily added.
" Darnel " Babi called.
" no seriously Sky . You have kissed me twice now , then London, who else now ?... Nathan?. " Darnel asked, his tone increasing volume.
" Does it mean nothing to you?" Darnel asked .
" i wanted to kiss him. " Babi loudly asserted .
"I wanted to feel wanted , not the teases i have been getting with you lately. I wanted a deep kiss." Babi bluntly said.
" That's why i kissed him," Babi added.
" When i kissed you , you pulled away ..."
" That was you." Babi immediately cut him off immediately.
"During the drinking game , you initiated , put me in the mood . When i reciprocated it , you brushed me off," Babi angrily said .
" it's stupid, but i yarned for one , so i got it . " Babi deeply exhaled.
Darnel swiftly leaned in towards her, joining his lips on hers .
Babi's eyes popped out very dumbstruck by Darnel.
Darnel raised his hand, placing it behind her neck. Babi slightly leaned backwards, still taken aback.
Darnel extended towards her , licking her lower lip, asking for permission.
It's then that Babi realised how committed and serious he was , she relaxed, shutting her eyes and parting her lips .
Darnel went in for her lower lip, having a good taste of it , then to her upper lip .
Babi raised her hands mid way confused on what to do , hold him, or push him back.
Her heart racing crazily , the taste of his lips again made her weak as her body reacted to it all surrending to him.
Darnel extended even closer , his head moved up in her braids , the kiss getting more passionate.
Out of breath , still in disbelief, Babi gasped yarning more of the kiss as Darnel gently retracted backwards.
Darnel raised his gaze from her lips to her eyes.
" When you crave and yarn to kiss, do it with me, " Darnel said , his voice deep .
" Don't go kissing someone else," Darnel added .
Babi only leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on his lips .
" There , good start," Darnel smiled as Babi leaned back.
Darnel placed his hand around her waist, pulling Babi closer and going in for another snog.
Babi curved in , holding Darnel by the shirt, pulling him closer to her as she leaned back on the wall.
Babi groaned with his tongue playing tricks in her mouth , both got conmsumed in the kiss as it got deeper.