*NOT EDITED*

Dedicated to TomiGrace_xx 💞💞💞

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He snickered, looked at me with a sly smirk. Those flames that scared me burned in his eyes, "You don't know half the things I can do."

❦︎

~[JASON]~

Everyone was struggling to hold in their laughter as we stared at one another there in Chris's room. But it was only a matter of time before we all burst out laughing. To say we looked ridiculous would be a nice way to put it; We looked borderline crazy, like deranged kids. Almost as naughty as the waiters from Susan's Spot.

Charles was already rolling on the floor, the way the tail of his tiger onesie wagged made him look even more hilarious.

Meanwhile, Chris was in that of a Panda. My guy was hitting his thighs as he laughed like he had completely gone bonkers.

And then Victoria had decided to show up in a gorilla onesie, a freaking gorilla. Who does that!? The girl reminded me of King Kong throwing a tantrum as she guffawed next to Chris.

Then my eyes flickered to the left, toward Tracy and Charles.

They laughed alright. But at the same time, they were quite tense, they didn't laugh too much. In fact, they gathered themselves rather quickly... right after they unknowingly touched hands.

I sat there, in my polar bear onesie, observing both my friends as they awkwardly tried not to look at each other.

And I just had to ask myself, what's going on?

Chris and Victoria, they couldn't see it. Those ones were still too lost in their fit of laughter to notice the tension between Tracy and Charles.

And come to think of it, I had called her yesterday—Tracy, I mean— to ask her how informing the boys of the sleepover went. I had prepared to welcome her chirpy voice, being excited of how they had agreed.

But all I got was a, "They said yes."

Any other human being would say that. Just not Tracy. But I had forfeited that thought, concluding that I would be making a case out of nothing.

But now, observing both of them, I deduced that something must have happened. I felt the need to ask, but I didn't. What right did I even have? I didn't even share my dilemma with them either.

"What is wrong with you this time, my guy?"

I didn't need to turn to know it was Chris. And honestly, I did not want to meet his eyes, out of fear that he'd read me to filth. I kid you not, that guy could see a man's soul.

"Don't pretend like you can't hear me." I heard him tell me.

"What do you want?" I asked him dryly.

"Go with me to the kitchen." He said to me. "I made some pastries, I need help getting them up here."

In as much as I absolutely adored whatever came out of Chris's culinary skills, I knew better than to follow him to that kitchen. It was only a front to get me alone and interrogate me. I was not about to give him that chance.

So, I simply replied with a, "No."

From my periphery, I saw him watch me in silence. That boy was busy observing every tiny feature on my face; Perhaps, to see if I would falter.

I didn't. At least, I hoped so.

Then he shrugged and rasped, "Whatever. I'll just ask Tori instead."

Come back, my heart called out to him. His words felt like a blow in my gut, like my intestines were being twisted.

I'll just ask Tori instead...

And my heart  wept even more as I watched them both walk out of Chris's room together.

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~[VICTORIA]~

The kitchen of the Ayuba residence was quite spacious. I took in the contemporarily decorated space in admiration. With a simple chandelier and matching, beige floors and counters, anyone would feel at peace. The wine cabinets were great contrasts to the nude colour scheme.

While Chris was organizing the pastries he had made in a tray, I busied myself with stealing doughnuts. You can't blame me, they were covered in chocolate.

Not liking the silence, I chose to speak.

"I didn't know you had skill in the kitchen." I told him as I took another delightful bite of the chocolate covered doughnut I had swiped.

He snickered, looked at me with a sly smirk. Those flames that scared me burned in his eyes, "You don't know half the things I can do."

And I looked at this boy, actively trying not to scream and pull at my hair.

What even is this boy?

"Help me carry what's left of those doughnuts." He gestured to the tray before me, "Since you've almost eaten half of it."

"Stop exaggerating." I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks heated in embarrassment.

As I walked up the stairs behind him, I couldn't help but giggle at the fluffy tail of his panda onesie.

He paused, glanced at me over his shoulder, "What's funny, Tori?"

"Nothing." I croaked, slamming my palm over my lips to block my laughter.

"Obviously, something is cracking you up." He turned fully, smiled softly at me. "Share the joke, Tori."

"Your onesie, it's funny." I told him and then let myself giggle.

"It's beautiful."

"Huh?" I raised a brow at his random statement.

"Your smile, it's beautiful." He said to me, his soft smile still present. "Your genuine smile is beautiful, Tori."

I didn't understand why he enunciated the word 'genuine' so much, but I did not have the mental strength to decipher it at that moment.

So, I settled for a simple, "Thank you."

"You should do it more." He went on, speaking with a gentle tone. "Smiling genuinely, that is."

Chris was smiling down at me like a father would his daughter, and I stared back in lack of words to speak. That boy just spoke like he could see my mind clearly, like words written out on a piece of paper for him.

"I've told you before, I noticed how empty your smiles are." He reminded me, chuckled to himself. And then, in a hundred percent confidence, he told me, "To me, you're an open book."

"Uh—"

"You don't have to say anything." He didn't give me the chance to stutter nonsense. "Let's go, these things will get cold."

In silence, we continued on our path back to his room. But on my mind was a lot of things.

How could someone see beyond my surface so easily? Asides horrifying me, the ease at which he pointed out my pretense aroused my need to know what more he had noticed. Because that boy talked with so much certainty, like he had seen my worst nightmares in my eyes.

Absentmindedly, I walked through the already opened door; But I felt the tension immediately my feet were in. So carefully, my eyes raked the entire room.

While Charles and Tracy were quietly seated side-by-side, Jason who was directly opposite them was watching them, scrutinizing them like he could see what nobody else was seeing.

But then, there was nothing there to have generated that tension I was feeling. Perhaps, it was just a reflection of my spiralling mind, playing games with me again.

"The hell is happening here?" Chris asked his friends, a slight frown making it's appearance on his face.

"Nothing... It's just— nothing. Everything is fine, Chris." Tracy made a flimsy attempt at assuring Chris.

They were lucky. Chris actually didn't push it. Because after his little dramatic pause, all he let out was a, "Hmm."

And me? I simply did not have the energy. So, I resumed my initial position on the floor after Chris had received the doughnuts from my hands.

But that feeling was still there, the atmosphere was tense. And we were weirdly quiet; We all just sat there, breathing.

"Okay!" Tracy literally leaped from the floor, her mood had suddenly brightened. And honestly, I could not even be shocked anymore. I just watched her as she informed us that, "It's time for our first activity."

Her eyes were roaming our faces expectantly, and she did not drop her wide grin as she did.

"Won't you guys ask me what it is?"

We all knew the night would not go any further if we did not ask that question. So, we all forced out our, "What?"

"Karaoke!" She announced with a shriek, scanning our faces to see if we shared in her excitement.

We did not.

I mean, Jason did not look the least bit interested in whatever was going on; If anything, he seemed to be bent on boring holes in Charles's forehead with his eyes. No, he wasn't glaring. He was watching his friend, like a lion observing a zebra right before attack. This boy watched every slight move Charles made.

Just like you're watching his right now, a voice in my head mocked me.

I frowned, looked away immediately. My eyes fell on Chris who was suspiciously eyeing Tracy, and momentarily, his eyes would flicker to Charles too.

What are they looking at?

My head was beginning to ache from the confusion. Plus, the silence in that room was deafening at that moment, awkward too.

I was sure it was a bid to calm the arising weirdness when Tracy said, "We'll group ourselves in twos. Jason would be our audience since he has a terrible voice."

She finally earned the boy's attention at the mention of his name. But that inquisitive look did not disappear from his face.

"Let's start." She clapped in what I saw as forced excitement.

"I'll pair with you." Charles was quick to offer, sitting upright so fast I thought his spine must have cracked. He must have noticed how we were warily gazing at him when he added, "If you want to, Tee."

"Um... no." Tracy shook her head, Charles's face dropped. "I want to partner with Ria!"

Oh no...

"Chris, pair with your brother." She told the twin beside me.

As Chris grudgingly walked to meet his brother, Tracy busied herself with setting up the stereo.

"So, the celebrants go first." She skipped from the stereo set to sit beside me; the girl was still the only one in a cheery mood.

"Chris, Charles, get in the midd—"

"Can we not do this?" Chris intercepted her speech, his tone firm and sharp.

"You don't like karaoke? We can skip to the next ac—"

"Can we not pretend like this is not just weird?" Chris cut her short once again. And like his usual straightforward self, he fired, "What's this tension between you and Charles, Tee?"

"Huh?"

"You both are acting weird is what I mean." He wasted no time to clarify. "What is happening?"

"It's nothing." Tracy's reply was barely audible as she dropped her gaze to the floor.

"Bullcrap!" Chris spat, got up from his seated posited. His brother followed suit. "You're avoiding contact with him and he's desperately trying to get it. What. Is. Happening?"

"Stop it, please." That was Charles this time, a frustrated growl followed that one word.

"No." Chris stubbornly refused. "Something is wrong between you two and you both will sort it out now."

"Whatever's wrong, we can sort it out on our own." Charles stood his ground, faced his brother.

"And we all just have to put up with this awkwardness?" Chris raised a brow at his brother.

"Chris..." Charles was obviously struggling to keep his cool, there was a warning tone underneath his voice.

Chris stared at his twin, those flames were back in his eyes again; Involuntarily, I scooted farther away from them.

"Just stay out of—"

"I'm getting out of here, abeg." Chris waved off his brother, spun around and made his way out of the room with long, furious steps.

Charles stood on the same spot, all evidence of anger had cleared from his face. Now, he looked dazed as he stared at the door his brother had just walked through, wide-eyed and with gaped lips.

"He was right." Jason spoke for the first time since I arrived. "Wrong approach, but he was right. You both need to sort out whatever this is."

Then his grey eyes zeroed on me, empty like every other time.

I swallowed hard.

And then my breath seized when I heard him say to me, "Come with me."

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A/N

Wahala for me, you and these kids. 🙂

The chapter is divided into two sha, you'll see the next part next week, iyeh?😗

So... thoughts?

What happened between Tracy and Charles? Your theories, spill them!!!

Don't we all just love the way Chris loves aggressively? He's an amebo but he's still my baby😌💕

Jason has asked Victoria to come with him ooo. How come??? Not me pretending like I don't know what's happening lol.

And before I forget, I cannot keep up with my initial plan of updating twice a week. So for now, it'll be one update per week, okay?😗

Thanks for understanding.

So, see you next week, baby😌💕
Love ya!