Temah Amoah's POV

"Temah!" I hear someone yell.

Bryce?!

I look up to see a very excited Bryce running up to us, Amina in full tow.

When he approaches, he pulls me into a massive hug, picking me off of the ground.

"Bryce!" I squeal, just as excitedly.

He puts me down and kisses my forehead.

"You cut your hair!" He marvels and I nod with a big grin, his hands moving to my head.

"It looks really good" he tells me.

"Thank you Bry" I respond and he smiles.

"How's my future sister in law?!" Bryce asks, with a teasing sparkle in his eyes.

"Bryce, leave her be!" Amina chastised, patting his arms out the way, so that she can hug me also.

She hugs me less tightly, than Bryce, but it's still effective.

"You missed my 16th Birthday!" She pouts.

I grin at her softly and pull a box out of my pocket.

She grins widely.

"I knew it! I done wrote it in your calendar!" She cackles.

She takes the box and opens it, marvelling at the new watch I've bought her.

It's a rose-gold one with a glass heart in the middle.

Douglas thought we should get something together, but I saved up for this.

I wanted it to be personal.

With a 'thank you', she lets go of me.

"You're finally here!" She says to Douglas, hugging him.

"This lovey dovey idiot and his girlfriend haven't been apart for longer than a minute!" She complained.

My neck snaps to Bryce.

"Girlfriend?!" I ask, hopefully, praying that Amina isn't playing games.

Bryce flushes red, confirming my suspicions.

I squeal with glee, causing onlookers to give me dirty looks!

"Bryce, when did this happen?! When we're you gonna tell me?! I mean... I'm so happy for you!" I tell him honestly.

He grins.

"I took her to dinner after my work got put on the front page and I just asked her! I was so nervous!" He says, eyes shining with enthusiasm at the topic.

"And how'd she respond?" I ask.

"She told me it was about fuckin' time I asked her properly!" Bryce responds, shyly scratching the back of his neck.

"Awww, Bryyyy" I mock swoon, holding my chest and placing the back of my hand on my forehead.

Just as I do this, Douglas comes into view, holding some of our bags.

I try to take one off of him, but he yanks it away from me.

"Don't worry about it. I'm more used to the long flights, so leave it to me" he tells me and I nod.

He greets his siblings, hugging them both and then leads us outside of the airport.

I shiver at the cold breeze, and take in the sight around me.

The place is decorated all over with Christmas decorations!

From streamers and banners to posters.

I look up at Douglas to see him more relaxed than I've ever seen him.

He takes my hand in his free hand and looks down at me.

"You must be starving. Fancy a quick bite?" He asks.

I nod enthusiastically.

I slept for majority of the plane ride, so I didn't really eat much.

Bryce bounces up and down.

"Ouu, Douglas! Can we take her to the chip shop, from back in the day? Dylan will be happy to see her!" Bryce suggests and Douglas' face splits into a huge grin.

"Singh's Chippy is still open?!" Douglas asks, excitedly.

Bryce nods.

"And so is the 'Piccadilly kebab' and 'Benny's" Bryce continues, all of these places going completely over my head.

Douglas chuckles and shakes his head.

"Everything is practically the same!" He exclaims.

Bryce nods with a big grin.

"Is Kori still picking us up?" Douglas asks.

Bryce nods and just as he does, a shiny black 'Bentley' car rolls up to the curb and a man, most likely Kori, steps out.

^^Kori Gaymes

He's a young man with a small grin.

In fact. He looks young enough to be the same age as Terrance or even younger.

I look at Douglas, who grins back at Kori.

"It's been a while, 'Glas. How are you breddah" Kori asks.

He has a thick British- Caribbean accent and he is quite a handsome boy.

Thick black curls atop his head have been braided into cornrows and a small bun behind his head.

Both ears have been studded with diamonds and his brown eyes are jovial, but hold responsibility.

He has a crooked smile, that girls his age must me going crazy over.

Speaking of girls his age...

My eyes flicker to Amina, who avoids all eyes contact with him.

I look at him and he gives her a slow, shameless once over.

Oop?!

Douglas's voice cuts through.

"Baby. This is Kori Gaymes. Just turned 18 and he's one of the family friends." Douglas says wrapping an arm around my waist.

Kori takes my hand and kisses the back of it, before grinning widely.

Gaymes... that last name sounds hella familiar!

Then it clicks.

Is he related to Katherine?

"A pleasure to meet the girl that's got Doug so whipped!" Kori laughs loudly.

I smile back as Douglas shrugs.

"You're not even gonna deny it?" Kori asks, touching fists with Douglas, hugging him and then doing the same to Bryce.

"Nope" Douglas responds, moving towards the car.

I hold back a little, to see Kori approaching Amina.

"Good to see you Minnie. You look good and I've missed you" Kori tells her, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

She blocks his kiss with her hands, pushing his face a safe distance away.

"Firstly, I know I look good, that's what puberty does, so thanks for the reminder. It's Amina now and I want you to keep the same energy from when I left" she says bluntly.

My jaw goes slack.

I knew she was cold, but...

This is extreme!

She's gonna spill that tea as soon as we're settled!

I look at Douglas and Bryce, who have similar 'it's none of my business' looks on their faces and I sit with them as well as Amina in the car.

Bryce sits in the front while Douglas, Amina and I sit in the back.

I see Kori sigh and mutter something to himself as he loads the last of our bags into the car.

He then sits in the driver's seat and starts up the car.

"Where to first?" He asks Douglas.

"Singh's chippy, please" Douglas requests.

Kori nods and moves onto the road.

But something is wrong...

Why is this boy driving on the wrong side of the road?!

I look at Douglas panicked and he frowns, concerned.

"Is there a good reason why he's on the other side of the road?" I ask.

Douglas laughs aloud.

"The left side? This is the side we drive on in England. The Americans use the right." He explained, and I let myself as I look around and everyone else is doing the same.

"What are you wearing to the event tomorrow?" Amina asks me.

"What event?" Douglas asks.

Bryce face palms.

"The Christmas dinner, you dickhead!" Bryce exclaims.

"You know... the one we go to EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR!" He reminds Douglas.

"Do I have to?" Douglas whines and Kori chuckles.

Amina glares at her older brother.

"Yes. Douglas. You have to show up. Matter of fact you should bring Temah with you!" She suggests.

I turn to Douglas.

"What exactly is it?" I ask rather sheepishly.

"My family has a charity Christmas event just before Christmas every year and it's kind of a big thing" he tells me.

I nod.

"I didn't really bring any 'grand event' clothes" I tell him honestly.

He takes my hand, rubbing light circles on my inner palm and wrist with his thumb.

"Don't worry about that. All you need to worry about is making sure you get a lot of rest tonight. The parties do tend to be quite energetic" he grins, a little reminiscent sparkle in his eyes.

He lean over and give him a small kiss.

"It means a lot to you so I'll do my best" I tell him.

He smiles at me.

"Thank you baby" he tells me.

"Alright, we're here!" Kori announces from the front.

Douglas immediately snaps his neck to look out of the window.

We all step out of the car and he grabs my hand like an impatient kid, pulling me in the direction of the chip shop.

It's small, but a lot cleaner than I would expect.

A handsome young man stands at the counter, smiling brightly at the customer in front of him.

^^ Dylan Singh.

The man has dark brown eyes and sand-brown skin, with thick black hair and a close-shaved beard.

He wears a faded apron, that says 'Singh's Chippy' on the front, in blue and white writing, the sleeves on his white shirt rolled up.

Even from here, I can see that he has a very sturdy, build, toned, from working out.

His eyes immediately move in our direction and when he catches sight of both Douglas and Bryce, his face splits into a huge grin.

"DC! King!" He exclaims.

He has a heavy British accent, with a Indian undertone that if you weren't listening hard enough to, you would never catch.

He moves out from behind the counter and speed walks to meet us in the front.

He grabs both Douglas and Bryce into a huge hug, which they return with just as much vigor, yelling and smacking each other's backs, laughing at each other.

Dylan pulls away from them, eyes shining brightly.

"DC, is that you?!" He asks, with a huge grin.

"Yeahh! You already know what it is!" Douglas chuckles, loudly.

I have never seen him like this.

So care free and energetic.

Dylan's eyes move behind them to Amina.

He smiles warmly and holds his arms out.

She walks into them, giving him a big hug.

He bends slightly to match her height.

"Happy belated birthday, princess" he says to her gently.

He pulls a box out of his pocket and hands it to her.

"Thank you Dyl" she responds, taking it and he tugs lightly on one of her dreads."

"Don't worry bout that. You're like a little sister to me. I'm supposed to spoil you" he shrugs.

Amina grins up at him.

"Nisha said you and her are going on holiday soon he says.

She nods.

"Yes and don't worry. I'll take care of your wife well" she says.

"What is it?" She asks excitedly, holding up the box.

He shrugs.

"Don't open it until you touch yard" he tells her and she pouts.

He chuckles and then his eyes snap to me.

My stomach drops.

I was so busy soaking up the little 'family' moment, that I even forgot that I was here.

Douglas stands next to me.

"Dyl. This is my girlfriend. Temah Amoah. Temah. This is Dylan Singh. He was me and Bryce's best mate as children and he's also my business partner. His dad owns the shop" Douglas explains.

I stick my hand out, ready to shake his hand.

"We don't do that here" Dylan chuckles, grabbing my hand and pulling into a huge hug.

"Douglas has never introduced me to a girlfriend before" Dylan informs me.

My heart pounds in my chest.

Never?

I hug him back, gently and after a bit, he lets go of me, turning back to the boys.

He hooks an arm round either of them.

"What can I get you lads?" He asks them.

"The usual" Douglas and Bryce both say in unison, both laughing at the coincidence.

I chuckle and Dylan takes us to a laugh family sized booth, letting us all sit down.

"It's on the house as usual boys" Dylan says and he smiles warmly at me, which I return.

I think this trip just might be completely worth it.

————————————————
Hey all!

Sorry I haven't been posting much, school is kicking my ass.

I will try to do it more often.