Jamal's POV

My back landed on the bed as Tolani straddled me, then pressed her lips to mine hastily, her hands running into my shirt and her fingers tracing my abs. We were in her room, on her birthday. Her party was downstairs yet she dragged me up here. I wasn't feeling it. I wasn't feeling any of this. My eyes went huge when her hand went to my belt buckle.

"Tolani, we need to stop." I placed my hand on her hips, trying to push her away. She whined and didn't stop. She pressed her lips against mine to silence me.

I have to stop this.

"Tolani!" My voice rose and she stopped and got off me, hissing.

"Why are you like this? It's my party so you shouldn't even be doing this." Tolani snapped at me.

"Exactly, it's your party and you are the host. You should go and meet your guest." I stood up and straightened my already rumpled shirt. She looked at me like I have grown two heads.

"Are you being serious right now? Why am I even bothering sef?" She hissed again, got off the bed and walked out of the room in annoyance. I sighed and went to the bathroom.

I looked at myself in the mirror after splashing my face with cold water and heaved a sigh. The relationship between Tolani and I was a walking time bomb waiting to explode and somehow, I had no control over it. It was like she had a hold over me and no matter how much I tried to pull away, she found a way to pull me back.

I need to end this as fast as I can.

I dabbed my face with the towel and went out of the room. The music was loud and booming but it was also giving me headache, so I resolved to stay at the edge of the stairs to watch. My phone chimed in my pocket and I brought it out. There was a text from Skye.

Twinnie ❤️
The girls and I arrived a while ago. Where are you?

She and the girls? Was Elyon also here?

I went down the stairs to get a drink and found Somadina putting cups on a tray.

"Somadina." I called and he looked at me.

"There you are. You just ghosted us when you got here." He said, filling the cups with different drinks.

"You know it's not my fault..." I started but he scoffed, stopping me.

"Of course it isn't. It's your 'girlfriends' party so..." He air quoted the word girlfriend.

"She's not my girlfriend and you know that, Somadina." I said and he shrugged.

"Coulda fooled me with a the escapades. I mean I kinda caught her giving you head in the lavatory two days ago." He looked at me with a raised eyebrow and I groaned.

"You know it's more complicated than that." I told him and he shrugged again.

"Of course it's complicated but you are still with her even when it's toxic for you." He looked at me. I couldn't talk because he was right. The 'relationship' is toxic for me. His expression switched to concern.

"Jamal, I understand that you feel she's entitled to have this hold over you but she's not. She's draining you. Look, here is the last place to talk about this but I need you to know that you need to stop this situationship before it's too late." Somadina said, picked up his tray and began to walk.

"Soma..." I caller and he turned around with a smirk on his lips.

"She's around, just in case you wanted to ask me. Don't worry, I won't tell her I saw you" He said and I smiled at him before he walked away.

Somadina wasn't my longest friend. Not even close because he joined our group last actually. But he's the only one who gets my hidden messages without me having to speak about it.

...and I appreciated him for that.

I got my drink and went back to my spot on the staircase, thinking about everything Somadina had said, while watching Tolani grind against an unfamiliar person.

Yup, I need to stop this situationship.

****

About half an hour later, I saw someone drag Mateo to the dance floor and I frowned. The girl looked oddly familiar. I walked a bit down the stairs and strained my eyes the more before it widened at the realization of who it was.

Elyon.

She didn't look herself at all. She looked drunk and I would know that because Skye had low alcohol tolerance and I was the one that kept cleaning up after her shit whenever she got drunk.

I watched as she clung to him and began to grind against him and Mateo didn't stop her. In fact he seemed to be enjoying himself. I felt anger course through my veins and I wanted nothing more but to walk right there and push Mateo away from her but I didn't. I wanted to give Mateo the benefit of doubt that he would do the right thing.

But in a matter of minutes, it didn't look like it. He was enjoy the pleasure she was giving him. He didn't stop his. In fact he turned her around and made to kiss her.

Fücking asshole.

Just as I was about to descend the stairs further, I saw Elyon cover her mouth and dash away from Mateo and to my direction. She didn't even see me when she passed me. She saw the guest toilet nearby and rushed in and in a second I started hearing hurling sounds. She was throwing up.

She's going to have a serious hang over by the morning.

I heard Mateo calling her name, coming towards me and I quickly rushed to the toilet and closed the door. Standing in front of it. In no time, Mateo was in front of me.

"Jamal, move over. Elyon is in there." He tried to push past me but I didn't let him. I was inches taller than him and more built than he was.

"I noticed, which is why I closed the door. What did you do?" I was trying to keep my cool.

"What do you mean by what did I do? She was probably had too much to drink." Mateo snapped, a frown creasing his forehead.

"And whose fault was that?! You were supposed to be looking after her. She has never been to a party, obviously and she drank alcohol, under your watch?!" I snapped back and he let out a scoff.

"Was I supposed to stop her? Unlike you, I'm not up tight. She wanted to have fun, I let her have fun..." Mateo said gruffly.

"And you took her to the dance floor and started groping her!" I yelled.

"She fucking came unto me!" He yelled back.

"She was drunk, Mateo. Drunk! She had no fücking idea what she was doing and you took advantage of that! Some friend you are." I muttered the last part and Mateo said nothing. Not because he was remorse but because he was pissed. He knew what I said was right, but knowing Mateo, he will never admit it.

I opened the door to the toilet and saw Elyon still spurred over the closet, hurling her guts out, her hair had loosened from her bun and had fallen over her face. I bent down beside her and held her hair up, rubbing her back.

"It's okay." I cooed. I turned over to look at Mateo who was still standing right there. "Why are you still standing there, go get a bottle of water." I told him and he walked away. I sighed and returned to rubbing Elyon's back.

"I'm never drinking again." I heard her mumble and I couldn't help but chuckle. She leaned away from the closet and sat on the floor. Her hair fell over on her face, giving off a quiescent look. I had a very great urge to run my hand through it but I restrained myself.

Baby steps.

She looked at me through her hazy eyes.

"Jamal..." She called and I smiled.

"Yeah, it's me." I replied and surprisingly she laughed, throwing herself into my arms, making my eyes went huge.

"I missed you so much. I hate it when you ignore me." She mumbled against my chest.

Yup, the alcohol is still very effective.

I couldn't help but wrap my hands around her and pull her closer to me. I felt peace, immediately and as much as it felt serene, it scared me shits. Now I realized what Skye was saying on the first day of resumption was quite right. I was getting attached, pretty fast but I wasn't sure it was going to last.

Especially when she finds out about my PTSD.

"Jamal. Oh my God, is she okay." I heard Skye's voice as she came to into the toilet. I looked at Elyon and saw that she had fallen asleep with her head resting on her shoulder.

"She's fine. I just need to get her home." I said.

"What's going on here?" I heard another familiar voice and looked up. Tolani was standing right there, frowning and beside her was a smirking Mateo. I gritted my teeth.

The hell is his problem?!

I ignored her question and proceeded to lift Elyon in a bridal style then I passed beside her wordlessly.

"Jamal! I asked you a question!" She snapped.

"Can you keep your voice down. Someone is sleeping." Skye chided. I rolled my eyes and looked at Tolani over my shoulder.

"My friend needs my help and I'm going to help her." I said.

"I'm going to take her home..." Mateo started.

"I think you have done enough, Mateo." I said through gritted teeth and walked away, Skye following behind. Somadina met us on the way.

"Is she alright?" He asked, looking at me.

"Too much alcohol but She'll be fine. I'll take her home. I need a break myself." I said and he nodded. Skye already had Elyon's stuff I'm her hands and followed me to where I packed the car. I dropped Elyon at the back seat and closed the door. Skye handed me her stuffs.

"Thanks. Go back in and have fun. But not too much fun." I smirked and she shoved me playfully.

"Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" She asked me.

"I guess I can manage. She'll be okay. I'll make sure of that." I replied.

"I know she will be. I wasn't asking about her, I was asking about you. You can't sleep." She folded her hand across her chest and I sighed.

"Well, the insomnia is coming in handy now. I will be able to watch her. So, I guess I'll be fine. Don't worry about me." I smiled at my sister. She sighed and drew me in for a hug. I chuckled and hugged her back.

"Call me if you need anything." She told me and I nodded before entering the car, kicking off the engine and driving out of the packing lot.

Repeatedly, I looked at the rear view mirror, checking Elyon. Not wanting to wake her up.

May God not let you have accident. My subconscious mocked me.

****

Elyon's POV

I starred and woke up, the ray of sun light from the window almost blinding. Immediately, a sharp pain went through my head and I groaned in pain, pressing my finger to the side head.

Fuck! Is this what an hangover feels like?

I could barely remember anything from last night after I drank the fifth cup. I'm never drinking again. I suddenly became aware of my surrounding. This wasn't my room. This room had a male aura around it. I looked at myself and saw I was wearing an oversized multicoloured sweat shirt and the spandex in had on yesterday. I began to think the worst.

Oh my God. Did I loose my virginity yesterday!! Jesus! My mum will kill me!

I stood up from the bed and rushed out of the room. As I began to rush down the stairs, the house gradually became familiar to me.

Am I hallucinating?

I heard movements coming from the kitchen and walked towards the place. As I came closer, the view of someone came to my vision. I inwardly gulped when I saw who it was.

Jamal!

He was backing me and he was shirtless...very very shirtless. Like completely, utterly shirtless. With only a sagged jeans pants on. He had not noticed my presence yet so I stood there and watched him.

He was chopping red bell peppers. I looked around the spacious kitchen and saw a pot on the hot plate, steam coming out of it. I looked at him again. His back muscles were flexing as he continued to chop the ingredients.

Damn!

He turned around and looked at me and my eyes widened.

Did I say that out loud? Did he hear me? I think he heard me.

"Hi." I found myself saying and I almost face palmed.

Hi? Are you serious?

"You are awake. I didn't think you'd wake up this early?" He simply said, turning back to continue his chore. I looked at the clock and saw that it was just after seven in the morning.

What then was he doing up this early? I asked myself as I walked further into the kitchen.

"What are you also doing up early?" I asked and he stopped what he was doing for a moment before turning around to look at me.

"I couldn't sleep." He replied and it was then I noticed the dark circles around his eyes and the eye bags.

"Why?" I was very curious. I leaned against the counter.

"I just couldn't sleep." He said with a slightly harsh tone and I flinched. He noticed this and sighed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. Just don't push it." He some what pleaded and I nodded.

"I understand. I'm sorry if it seemed like I was prying." I said, a small smile playing on my lips. He shrugged and went back to cutting the ingredients before placing them in the pot on the hot plate and I watched him. His attitude was so confusing sometimes. One minute he is being really sweet, the other minute, he was nonchalant.

What's his deal?

Suddenly, my felt a sharp pang in my head and I felt the headache return. I winced and Jamal quickly turned around before rushing to me.

"Are you okay?" His hand went to my face, looking at me with so much concern. I groaned.

"Hangovers are the worse." I mumbled and he chuckled. "It's not funny, Jamal. My brain is splitting." I snapped then regretted that move when another wave of headache hit me.

"Next time, you won't drink so much. Come on, you need to rest." He took my hand and made to lead me out of the kitchen but I stopped him.

"You are cooking something." I told him. He looked back at the pot. He walked over and put the timer off before coming back to me.

"It can wait. Your health is more important. Come on." He took my hand again and led me out of the kitchen.

This time I let him.

A/N

I've had this chapter in my draft since and honestly, I couldn't wait till Friday to update and y'all can't as well.

So here is a double update!!! I know, I know. I'm the best.

Quick question, what is Mateo's deal?

Don't forget to drop your comments and vote and share. I've decided to shuffle the updates on a week. It will be twice still but it won't necessarily be Friday and Sunday.