Check out the "Trailer" I made for this book 👆🏾👆🏾. Tell me what you think. It's just for a minute and a few seconds.

Elyon's POV

I stood at the door, quietly watching as Vanessa spoke in hushed tones with Skye who just kept head down as her shoulders shook in sobs. I had a pretty good idea what Vanessa was tell Skye but I was too upset to even interfere. No, upset is an understatement.

I was pissed.

We've been in this empty class room for the past fifteen minutes and Skye has been crying her eyes out, muttering repeatedly to no one in particular that she didn't mean it and that she's sorry. I rolled my eyes continuously, I feared the will fall out. I was furious.

No, not because she called me out in front of everyone, I can manage that but she actually told Jamal she hated him, in front of three quarter of the senior school!

Her own brother...

Her twin!

I understand that she must have been in a pretty bad place at that time but that gave her no right. Everything seemed jumbled up, everyone was misunderstanding everything and it has really taken a toll on everyone, especially Jamal. Now, Mateo had gone hay wall.

"Senior Elyon, I didn't find him. I've looked everywhere." The JSS3 student I had sent to look for him minutes ago told me.

"Did you check the music room?" I asked him and he nodded.

"That was the first place I checked." He said confidently and I sighed, rubbing my face. I looked at the junior awaiting my next instructions.

"Thank you. You can go now." I dismissed him and he scurried away. Immediately the Junior left, Skye spoke up.

"Please don't call Mateo here. I can't face him." She lamented and I almost scoffed but I tried not to let my anger blind judgement.

"I wasn't calling him for you. I'm calling him to speak to him. Don't worry, I'm not going to steal him away." I said the last part with sarcasm laces in my voice, trying to hit her deep on purpose. She heaved heavily as fresh tears clouded her green Iris.

"Elyon I didn't mean any of what I said, I swear..." She started but I cut her off, anger filling my veins in full force.

"Then you shouldn't have said it in front of almost half of the senior school population." I retorted with a sneer and she gasped out in frustration. Vanessa just sat there, not wanting to interject.

"I was angry!" She defended.

"You were angry with Mateo, fine but he wasn't there to take your backlash and you transferred your aggression on us!" I snapped back.

"I didn't choose to transfer my aggression on you! You were beside him, you heard when he said he doesn't actually want me and Mateo together!" She yelled and I growled out in frustration.

"It was a fücking misunderstanding, Skye! Can you just shut up and listen?!" I shouted and the room became quiet. Skye's tear stained face was awestruck. Vanessa's eyes kept darting between both of us like would throw punches any time soon. I took a calming breath and began to speak again.

"Your brother said what he said, fine but it wasn't in the context Mateo thought it was. He misunderstood Jamal causing everything to blow up to this moment." I told her and she looked on, sniffing repeatedly. I continued.

"Even if the statement he made was in a different context, so what?! He is your brother! He has every right to protect you from hurt. Probably he is wrong about Mateo hurting you, it is your duty to make him see reasons, not accuse him in front of other people." I swung my hand to the side for emphasis.

"I didn't mean to do that!" She defended again and I rolled my eyes.

"But you already did and somewhere within the walls of this school, Jamal is hyperventilating and reliving that moment you made him go through. A worse moment than what he went through in February. Something you even had to beat up Tolani for. Yet, you just did the exact same thing." I pointed to her and her hand instinctively went to her chest.

"I didn't mock his disorder, I'd never do that..." She whispered and I snorted out a humourless laugh.

"You didn't have to. You already implied enough and the worst part is that this one will leave a scar because it came from you, his sister. Not just any sister. His Twin." I told her and she chocked out a sob, covering her mouth. I sighed, pressing a finger to my temple as I felt an headache.

"I need to go find Jamal." I muttered, turning around.

"El..." Skye called me and I looked at her.

"Please don't... Just don't talk to me." I told her and walked out, hearing her crumble into a mass of tears and Vanessa whispering comforting words to her. I felt a little bit of guilt in my heart but decided to pay no mind to it.

I just needed to find Jamal.

And I knew exactly where he was.

*****

I entered the visual art studio and closed the door. He was there alright, with Somadina bent in front of him, speaking to him but he just stared ahead. I felt goosebumps all over, not the good kind. The kind that came when you are scared, when you are terrified.

His eyes were lifeless, they didn't hold the usual vibrancy that they always carried, the beautiful glint they always had that I had gotten accustomed to. It terrified me. Skye's words were like arrows, going straight for his heart. Now he seemed dead.

I just hope I'm not too late to try and bring him back. I prayed in my heart as I walked closer to where the were. Somadina sighted me and stood up, an exhausted sigh escaping his lips.

"I've tried everything I could. He's not even speaking to me, just keeps staring straight ahead. Maybe you can reach out to him." Soma said, stepping aside. I smiled in appreciation as I moved closer to Jamal.

"Thanks Somadina." I told him and he nodded.

"I'll wait outside." He said, walking out of the studio and closing the door behind him. I looked at Jamal but he just kept staring ahead. I dragged a seat closer to him and sat down, carefully resting my hand on his thigh. That did the trick, because his eyes slowly found mine.

"Jamal..." I called softly and he responded with a chuckle, a low, emotionless chuckle.

"You know..." His voice was gruff and thick and he didn't bother to clear it. "I feared this day would come." He looked at me, a ghost of a smile on his lips even though there was absolutely nothing funny about the entire situation.

I couldn't speak. I didn't have anything to say so I just resulted in caressing his thigh slowly.

"From the day I woke up on the hospital bed, bandaged everywhere watching Skye cry by my side, to the day I diagnosed of PTSD, I feared that this day would come." His voice began to come out all clogged and I intensified my soothing touch. He sniffed, tears welling up in his eyes.

"The day my family would get tired of me, starting from my sister." He sobbed and I sighed, moving closer to him.

"No, don't talk like that Jamal. Please don't talk like that. Your family will never reject you." I told him, trying to help him think positively but deep down, I knew everything was far from being positive.

"But Skye already did!" He lamented and I felt tears fill my eyes as the intense pain and hurt hit me so deep. "You were there, Elyon! You heard what she said." He chocked out, tears cascading from his eyes like a torrent. I couldn't even stop mine from falling anymore.

"Jamal, please..." I began but my voice trailed off, not knowing what else to say. He let out another emotionless laugh, tears still flowing from his eyes.

"And to think that I preferred to keep things from her. I had my reasons when I was doing that. I was trying to prevent this from happening." He sniffed again.

"She kept telling me to speak to her, to open up to her whenever I have panic attacks or anxiety attacks or nightmares. Look where that got me! My own twin said she hates me, Elyon." He cried out in pain, trying to get up but I was quick to pull him back, pulling both of us to the floor and pulling him to myself. He slumped against me in exhaustion and bursted into tears.

I sighed in exhaustion and frustration, tears falling from my face as well. I pulled him closer to myself and made him rest his head on my laps. I placed my hand on his back and caressed them soothingly, trying to calm him down.

"It's going to be okay..." I whispered, trying to convince him and trying to convince myself as well.

"I'm a bundle of misfortune." He murmured against my skin.

"No! Don't say that about yourself! You are not a bundle of misfortune. You are Jamal Inioluwa Bamidele and you are a blessing. Do you hear me?! You are a blessing." I repeated emphatically wanting nothing more than to get rid of all the bad thoughts he was having. Though it wasn't in my power but I was willing to try.

"Why then do I feel like a curse? Why did Skye say she hates me?" He asked again and I sighed, not knowing how to answer his question.

"She didn't mean to. She regrets it and she is sorry for everything she said. You don't know how sorry she is. She is so ashamed of herself, she can't even face you." I told him.

"This changes a lot of things. This changes everything." He muttered and I couldn't say anything, because he was right.

We stayed that way for a while not saying anything. Both of us were on the cold tiled floor of the Visual art studio with my back leaning against the wall and him lying on the floor, his head on my laps. I ran my hand across his back soothingly, feeling his soft breathing tickle my skin. I tried to think of the possible outcome of this problem. How different everything would be.

"Do you hate me?" I was brought out of my reverie with that question. I looked at him and saw that his eyes were fluttering slowly, meaning he was dozing off.

"What?" I asked, my voice coming out in a whisper.

"Do you hate me?" He asked again.

"Of course not. I feel the exact opposite." I told him softly, my fingers running through his buzz cut. He hummed and snuggled closer to me.

"You love me..." He wasn't asking, he was stating and I didn't reply. I had no idea how to. I just kept running my hand through his buzz cut as my mind drifted off.

...I feel the exact opposite...

Have we gotten there yet?

Do I love him...

*****

Jamal's POV

It was almost closing hour when Elyon and I finally left the visual art studio. Thankfully no body gave me weird looks. It was like nothing happened and I was grateful. I felt Elyon give my hand a gentle squeeze and I looked at her. She flashed me a reassuring smile and I smiled back.

"Oh, isn't it the problem child and his little girlfriend." Tolani's annoying voice pierced the air and I groaned, rolling my eyes.

Spoke too soon.

"Ignore her." Elyon whispered to me and I sighed, trying to keep my emotions in check. I turned around to face Tolani with a bored expression on my face. Students had stopped walking to watch and those inside the class were looking through the window.  I rolled my eyes again.

Can't y'all just go along and mind your business?

"Tolani, this...whatever it is you are doing is getting old. Get over it and walk away like a normal person. It seems like Skye's last beating hasn't done a complete job of resetting your brain." I replied her and saw the pained expression on her face before it was whipped of in a second, replaced by a smirk.

"Skye? As in you twin sister? The same person that said she hated you few hours ago? That same Skye or there is another Skye I don't know about?" She asked, sarcasm laced in my voice and I froze, the  memory of what went down earlier today still evergreen in my mind. I saw Tolani smirk in satisfaction that her words have affected me.

Again...

"Let's leave this place, please." Elyon clasped her hand around mine and made to drag me away.

"It's so obvious that everything I said that day was so true." Tolani's voice stopped me again and I stopped short. "Your entire family is a screw up and it has just been confirmed that your sister is a psychopath. Just like you." She laid out her words emphatically, and they hit me like daggers to the heart. I removed my hand from Elyon and walked closer to Tolani who stood her ground, hands akimbo.

"I'm going to warn you one last time, Tolani. Don't you ever talk shit about my family!" I growled out, jabbing my index at her. From my peripheral vision, I saw Skye and Vanessa by the door of their class.

"Or else what?! You can't beat me, Jamal and your Skye is too guilty to move from her spot where she's shaking like a cold cat." She pointed to where Skye was standing. I felt my breathing spike up and my heart rate going faster as my blood boiled in anger.

She was right. I couldn't beat her. I don't beat ladies. Even the bitchiest of them all.

"They can't beat you. But I can." Elyon's voice came behind me very fast, I almost couldn't hear it.

What followed her statement was the loud sound of a deafening slap and eardrum piercing shriek. The next moment, Tolani was on the floor holding to her swollen cheek and Elyon was hovering her with a deadly glare on her face. My eyes widened in awe and gasps came out of the mouth of on looking students

Holy Shit!

Elyon just slapped Tolani.

"You fücking slapped me!" Tolani screamed out.

"You still get mouth dey yan, ehn? I go show you today! " Elyon said in pidgin and my mouth almost dropped to the floor. She removed her blazer and threw it at me. I caught it without blinking and immediately a fight broke out.

Elyon was on top of Tolani in a nano second, punching slapping and scratching. Tolani also tried to fight back but the effect of her own punches was nothing compared to the ones Elyon was giving her. Students were hailing from all corners and some were even taking videos. I just stood there, clutching Elyon's blazer and stared in shock, a small smile spreading across my face in pride.

That's my girl!

Shurr! Instead of you to stop the fight. You are there claiming babe. Weldon sir. My subconscious knocked some sense in me and I quickly ran over to them.

"It's okay, Elyon!" I called for her to stop but she didn't even listen as she kept using her shoes to hit Tolani repeatedly. At that rate, Elyon might kill her.

Oh please! Let Elyon kill her. The absence of Tolani from this planet will do the world a lot of good. The narcissistic part of me said.

Yah mad! Better stop fight or someone will get arrested and it's not going to be me. The sensible part of me chided.

I quickly wrapped my hands around Elyon's  waist and lifted her off a battered Tolani but not without struggle. She kept kicking and witting, screaming for me to put her down.

"What is going on here!" The booming voice of vice principal Makinde shot through the air and everyone began to scurry to their classes except Elyon, Tolani and I. Tolani stood up, wincing and cleaning the blood from the cut on her head. Mr Makinde gasped when he saw how Tolani looked like.

"What happened here! Who did this?!" He snapped and we couldn't say anything. The sight explained itself already. Makinde growled in anger. "The three of you, to my office, Now!" He bellowed.

We are in deep shit!

*****

"I am so disappointed in you!" Dad bellowed and I flinched at the intensity of his voice.

Vice principal Makinde had called our parents to school after he ordered us to his office. Tolani's parents were furious to say the least. They were mad in rage and they threatened to sue. After tons of apologies from my parents and Elyon's parents, they finally agreed to drop the case. Aunt Lyla offered to pay for any hospital charges for Tolani.

Now I was back home with my parents and they were not dropping the issue.  They were angry. This was second time the school would be calling them in a term for both kids and it didn't speak well at all. I was standing in front of my parents as they snapped at me. Skye was there, fidgeting in her seat.

"What has come over you, Jamal?!" Mum snapped at me.

"I didn't do anything wrong mum." I replied as calmly as possible.

"Ti mo ba gba e leti! You didn't do anything wrong, so why did your vice principal call us, ehn? Da mi loun!" She snarled in anger and I didn't reply. Daddy kept tapping his foot  noisily on the floor.

"Of course, he won't talk! I don't know what else to do with you again. It's just a week to your exams and you are getting into fights! You even dragged Elyon in as well! What is wrong with you!" Dad growled and I shot my head up.

"Nothing is wrong with me, Dad!" I snapped back. Costly mistake. Mum swung her hand and her palm met my face in a very deadly slap. My face jerked to the side and began to sting. I didn't take my hand to the spot because I knew it would warrant another slap. I felt tears sting my eyes but I blinked them away.

"Mummy!" Skye stood up.

"Will you shut up and sit down!" Mum snapped at Skye and she sat down immediately. "Both of you are too spoilt. Ejo mi ni, mo ti ba yi'n je ju. That's why you can think of beating someone in school with the hopes of getting away with it." Mum hissed.

"She insulted you, Mummy!" I yelled. "She insulted this family! I couldn't just seat back and do nothing!" I retorted.

"Yes, you could have! I have always taught you to be mindful of your reaction to things. I thought you better than this, Jamal. You could have just walked away, Maybe Elyon wouldn't have been forced to fight for you. You dragged her into the mess you created yourself. We warned you against Tolani, didn't we? I am so disappointed." Dad said, his voice coming out awfully calm.

"It was my fault." Skye said and I was forced to roll my eyes.

So now, she defends me.

"I don't care whose fault it is!" Mum screamed. "Jamal, you are grounded till your exams are over." She deadpan and I groaned.

"Mummy!" I exclaimed but the glare she shot me made me shut up.

"And no phones or any of your devices for you till then. Give me your phone. Skye, go get me his laptop and tablet." She ordered. I sighed in frustration as I handed my phone over to her.

"Mummy, I'm sorry." I pleaded but she ignored me. Skye came back down and gave her everything.

"Now apologize to your father." She ordered. I sighed and prostrated.

"I'm sorry, sir." I said and he only dismissed me with a wave of hand. I turned around and began to walk to my room. I was angry, frustrated and sad all at once.

How could a day have just turned sour like this?!

"Jamal." Skye called behind me but I ignored her, ascending the stairs. "Jamal please wait." She called louder and I turned to look at her, stopping her in her tracks.

"What do you want, Skye?! As you can see, now isn't really a good time and you are the last person I want to see." I told her point blank and began my journey again.

"Jamal, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of what I said. I don't hate you." She lamented and I scoffed, stopping in my tracks again.

"Yet, it was so easy for you to blurt it out in front of everyone." I retorted and she sighed, throwing up her hand in frustration.

"I was angy!" She defended and that got me more annoyed.

"That's no fücking excuse, Skye!" I snapped. "There are so many times I've gotten angry with you, countless times! But I've never blurted out demeaning words to your face, not to talk of in front of other people." I told her she began to sob. I exhaled.

"I love you so much, Skye but what you did today changes everything." I concluded, turned around and entered my room, slamming the door behind me and leaning against it. I dragged myself down and sat on the floor, burying my face in my hands.

Suddenly, this house was too suffocating for me.

*****

Elyon's POV

It was just quarter past twelve in the midnight and I was still awake, sitting on the chair and leaning my elbow against the table. I couldn't sleep, not after the events of the previous day.

My parents were angry with me. They were pleased that I stood up for what was right but they were equally angry that I and almost killed somebody. I didn't even know how I did it. I was too pissed to reason and I just took action. Hopefully, that will keep Tolani away from us for a while.

I keep wondering how Jamal was doing. I had messaged him but he wasn't online. Tried calling him but his number was switched off. I concluded that he must have gotten into a truck load of deep shit with his parents.

Not knowing what else to do, I decided to revise everything, I've been reading and giving that it was already I weekend I didn't have to worry about school. I was just opening my books when a soft knock came from my window.

What?!!

Terrified, I picked up my heels because of their pointy edges and quickly tiptoed to the window. My blinds were down so I couldn't see who was there. Carefully lifting up the blinds, I immediately aimed my heels to hit whoever was intruding but stopped shot when I saw who was hanging on the side rails of my window.

"Jamal!" I whisper-yelled

A/N

Chineke! cleans sweat from forehead

Mehn, things dey happen.

So, things didn't exactly get better this chapter, probably became even worse. Jamal and Skye's relationship has been rived and I honestly don't know what is going to get them back to being the twin goals. It was a pretty delicate situation.

Elyon finally had her shot at beating Queen bitch Tolani. I wish she killed her sha. The world can do without Tolani abeg. 🤧🤧🤧

If you have not checked out the Trailer up in the media, you really should. I need honest comments on it. The song I used is the Alan Walker song "Unity" Elyon sang in the studio, I think in chapter 6, If you can remember.

Don't forget to comment, vote and share. I won't be updating till July. It's not that far, it's in five days 🌚🌚🌚.

I love y'all. See yah.

Glossary

Ti mo ba gba e leti- if I slap you.

Da mi loun- Answer me!

Ejo mi ni, mo ti ba yi'n je ju- It's my fault, I've pampered you too much.