Tiana's POV

School had vacated for the term and it was Christmas break. Tyler invited me to join them on their group hangout. I protested but he wouldn't have it. I was very nervous because Zaria would be there. For some reasons, she was beginning to intimidate me. She looked at me like she could see right through me.

Naturally or better still, before I wouldn't care because I don't live to impress people. I do my own thing. But since Tyler and I became really close and my unexplainable feelings for him, I really wanted to impress him. The last the thing I wanted was for the first person that saw the good in me to hate me.

Which was exactly the reason why I haven't told him about my past or what I was battling with. My addictions.

Though, he managed to get my mind off me playing with myself for some time, addictions don't just stop like that. I indulged myself few times, after which I would burst into tears and cry myself to sleep.

I hated the way I was feeling. I wanted to stop. I wanted to tell him so bad what I was going through. But will he ever look at me the same way after that? That was the exact question that stopped me from telling him.

I was getting ready for the hang out. Tyler would pick me up and we would join them at shoprite. I was going through my wardrobe for what to wear. I later settled on a black tank top, camo pants and army green kicks. My hair was short but full so I combed it into a mini afro. I was making up my face when Ciara walked in. I rolled my eyes

"You know there is something called knocking right." I glared at her through the mirror as I applied lip gloss. She totally ignored my remark and entered my room.

"Where are you going?" She asked sternly.

"Out." I stood up from the stool and went to my wardrobe to pick up my thick hoodie. The harmattan was kicking in big and the last thing I wanted to to catch a cold and end up with the flu.

"Out to where?" She demanded.

"Since when did you care where I was going. Last I remembered, you didn't expect me asking for permission before I go out. You wanted me to go have fun." I told her. She stood up and walked up to me, her hand folded across her chest.

"Well, that was before I realized you have gone soft and I am pretty sure you are going out with that Tayo dude." Ciara snapped.

"We are going out with a group of friends, Ciara and his name is Tyler, not Tayo, Tyron, Tycoon, Cyrus or whatever name you have been calling him this past few days." I snapped back.

"You are beginning to grow a soft spot for him, aren't you? You are falling for him. Tell me I am are wrong." She glared and me. I hesitated.

"I'm not having feelings for him." I said, lying through my teeth. Ciara would never know. I was a good liar. At least I have been lying all my life that I am okay, when I'm not.

"Good. I hope you know what you are doing. You know the plan. Keep it that way. You understand?" She looked at me intently and I nodded. Immediately, I heard the door bell.

"I have to go." I took my purse and my phone and walked out, she following me behind. I opened the front door and opened it. Tyler grinned at me. I smiled back, kinda feeling uneasy that Ciara was glaring holes at my back.

"Hey." He said, his eyes giving a pleasant one over, his teeth biting the side of his lower lips. A gesture that made me tingle all over.

"Hey." I smiled shyly.

"You look amazing." He looked at me again and I swear I was blushing.

"Thank you. You look really good looking yourself." I looked at him. He was in a black tee and gray joggers with black vans, his hoodie in his hand. His hair was curly and bushy, cut in fade. I badly wanted to run my finger through it.

"You guys should just make out and get the compliments over with. It's melting my skin." Ciara's annoying voice called behind and I rolled my eyes. Tyler looked over my shoulder at her with a strained smile playing on his lips.

"Hi Ciara." He said good naturedly.

"Hi, Timber. Have fun." She walked away gingerly.

"It's Tyler." He called after her. I sighed.

"I'm so sorry." I closed the door and we started walking towards the car.

"I have the simplest feeling that your sister doesn't like me." He had a smirk on is lips.

"I thought we already established that fact." I pointed to the door and we laughed. We got to the car and entered. He didn't start the car immediately. He looked at me.

"Why do you think she doesn't like me?" He asked and I sighed again.

"I don't know." I lied. I actually did know. "Just forget about her. She's got issues." I told him.

"That... I can agree to. Come on let's go. The others would be wandering what's keeping us." He smirked and I smiled at him. He started the car and off we went...well with me taking a few selfies and snap cut videos of us. He would take his eyes off the road for a short while to take a picture with me. It wasn't all risky since the road wasn't so busy, thankfully.

****

We got to shop rite and saw the others waiting for us outside. Everyone was dressed casually but also in a very beautiful I actually felt I was under dressed. Tyler must have sensed my hesitation because he squeezed my hand and whispered to me.

"You look perfect." He smiled at me and I smiled right back. We got to them.

"Nawa for you o. You like taking time." Kelvin smirked. Tyler made to talk but I beat him to it.

"It was fault. I delayed him." I smiled and Kelvin who genuinely smiled back.

"Well if it's a girl, I think it's understandable." Ada came closer to hug me and I hugged her back gladly.

"My boy is already a boss." Charles ruffled Tyler's hair.

"Boss where? Abeg free me." Tyler smirked and I laughed.

"Oya are we going to stand outside or we are going to go in and have a good time." Zaria grinned, clasping her hands together.

"Hell yeah!" Lyla threw her hands up and we went in. The coolness of the environment hit me and I put on my jacket.

"You cold?" Tyler asked. I smirked at him with a raised eyebrow. He was stating obvious.

"Stating the obvious are we? Okay then. You really look good looking in that bushy haircut." I smiled and he widened his eyes.

"I felt you would think it's too bushy." He ran his fingers through it and I silently wished it was my finger in that position.

"I actually love it." I sincerely told him.

"I'm never cutting my hair again." He said I laughed. Joel called Tyler and he loved away. I was on my phone.

"This is a huge sense of deja vu." I heard someone say and I looked up to see Zaria walking beside me. I suddenly felt nervous.

"Sorry?" I stuttered and she chuckled.

"You and Tyler." She clarified. "At about this same time last year I walked in here with Joel and the same thing is happening with you and Tyler." She added.

"Ohhh." I didn't know what else to say. "Is that a bad thing?" I asked her.

"No. It's actually a good thing. No matter how much I try to deny it, I can feel the chemistry between you guys. You really do like him, don't you?" She asked me and I raised my eyebrows. I actually really like Tyler but the last person I was going to admit that to was Zaria. She probably wants to use it against me or something.

"What if I do? What if I don't? The last person I'm going to admit my feelings to is you Zaria. You probably want to use it against me in one way or another. Stop acting like you can stand me because you have made it so clear that you can't." I replied and she nodded, a smile playing on her lips.

"I know I've not been nice to you and all but we both know why. You didn't give me any other choice. You don't have to admit it to me tho, at least you have admitted it to someone right?" She looked at Ada and back at me. I knew the meaning of that.

"I have actually never seen Tyler look at any girl the way he looks at you and Joel testified that you have never looked at any guy the way you always look at Tyler. I mean I watched you during the cultural night and I could tell from then that you are sincere." She told me and I could see from her expression that she was being genuine.

"I'm sorry for giving you an hard time tho. I told Tyler severally that you were bad news but he stood up for you and he wouldn't have anyone insult you. He cares so much about you and he obviously has feelings for you." She said and I blushed.

"Because you are being nice to me doesn't mean we are both cool and all. You did call me a shameless bitch." I smirked and she laughed.

"Yeah. My bad. Sorry. We can start somewhere tho. We don't have to be so close and tight. I just want this stupid competition stuff to end." She said like she was exhausted. Actually trying to compete with Zaria has been exhausting.

"I know right! It's really stressful." I said and she laughed again.

"So...not enemies?" She asked.

"Not enemies." I nodded and she smiled.

"Finally! They are done!!" Joel let out an exasperated sigh. Zaria and I looked and saw that everyone had waited to watch us.

"We didn't ask you people to wait na." Zaria said as we walked up to them.

"Then you would have missed your way." Tyler said and came to my side. "Is everything okay now?" He whispered. I nodded. We all went to Cold stone and ordered our various ice cream. We were seated around the round table talking about several things. I felt really comfortable talking to them and for once I felt I had friends.

"I can't believe my eyes. My oh my. Tiana Dakoba is Lagos. Who would have thought." I turned at the voice and so did everyone. Immediately my eyes met his, my breath caught in my throat and I swear I couldn't breath.

"King?" I whispered.

"King?!" Joel snapped but in a low tone, his smile turning into a frown. King's lips curved in a sinister smile and I felt my stomach churn.

Oh Hell No!

A/N

Another update guys. Another Character as appeared. Who do you think about that? Who do you think King is.

Guys I still need feed back on the new title suggestion. No one as even said anything about it. I need immediate feedback.

Hope you liked this chapter tho. What do you think about Zaria's move of apology. She's back to her right mind isn't she?

Don't forget to vote, comment and share.

Kisses from Temilade 😘