I'm up too early even before the alarm goes off partly because I couldn't sleep and the only time I manage to close my eyes, I ended up crying and having perturbing nightmares.

I'm still stunned by the fact that Manuel called me yesterday, numerous of questions flood my brain, which still remains unanswered, how he got my number and why the hell was he moaning, the good thing is that I already blocked his number and I'm planning on changing my sim soon.

Fully dressed I sneak out of home going into Mrs Sarah's house, the moment I reach her door I search for the keys underneath her mat but it wasn't there, I result in pulling the doors open but it was shut.

Sighing I walk into her kitchen window, pushing it till it was fully open, I climb on a rock and hoist my self up into her kitchen, falling to the ground with a thud sound.

Moaning in pain i get up from her kitchen floor staring at her fairly dark kitchen, with just little light illuminating from the sky , immediately a dark figure comes in view, a tall.....manly.... dark figure.

"Who the hell are—" I'm instantly pushed against Mrs Sarah's refrigerator and a hand clamps over my mouth.

"I should be asking you the same thing........... Milkshake." The voice comes out rough but at the same time smooth.

I finally gather enough strength to push him away and when I do, I quickly grab a fry pan sitting on the countertop aiming it at his face.

"Stay back or I'll hurt you tall stuff." I yell, hoping I sound intimidating enough to scare him away but it doesn't.

"I'm not scared of you milkshake."

I furrow my brows looking at the milkshake drawn on my shirt then back to his face "My name is not milkshake!"

He relaxes moving away from me to sit on the counter, "Then what is it?"

He quickly grabs an apple from a bowl taking small bites and chewing carefully, a thief starting a conversation, what is this world turning into, I answer nonetheless, "my name is Maria Shakespeare and I live next door, now who the hell are you!?"

"Maria Shakespeare," he calls slowly, "If you take the "M" from Maria and add "ILK" you'll get milk and if you remove the speare from Shakespeare, you'll get shake, sum it up and it gives you milkshake." He concludes smiling in satisfaction.

I gape at him, "Where is Mrs Sarah?" What has he done to that poor elderly woman, "You know I can get you arrested!"

He shocks me with a laugh, throwing the half eaten apple on his hand into the trash bin, "you came into someone's house through the window and you want to get ME arrested milkshake?"

"Stop calling me milkshake!"

"And if I don't." He jumps off from the counter taking alarming steps closer to me.

"Don't come close, or I swear I will hit you." I dangle the fry pan in front of him and he shakes his head, amused.

"Like I said before I'm not scared of—"

The light is immediately switch on and we both avert our gaze to look at Mrs Sarah.

"Maria? Is that you." She says quietly, squinting her eyes to see me.

Quickly I run closer to her, panicking like a fish out of water, "you have a stranger in your house, he ate your apple—"

She arch an eyebrow, "Josh? Josh isn't a stranger Maria, I forgot to tell you my grandson was coming over."

Josh.... Josh..... The last time she told me about Josh, I'm pretty sure she called him a kid, a young guy in his early twenties is standing before me.

"Oh." Is all I could let out.

Pouting Josh walks closer to Mrs Sarah resting his head on her shoulder with his eyes glistening at me, "she tried to kill me Grammy, and and even when I tried explaining to her she still wanted to hit me."

He was acting like a child pinning the whole thing on me.

His features comes in view and I'm awestruck, he has the brightest brown eyes ever and the sharpest jaw, right now he looked so beautiful, even a new born baby would be intimidated.

I shake my head on realization of my situation. "What? No, I was only worried that's all, I thought he was a thief or something even worst, if I had known that he was your grandson I wouldn't have resulted in grabbing a fry pan."

Mrs Sarah let out a sigh, "It's alright, since you guys have met it's no big deal, I've told you about Maria a few times Josh, my sweet neighbour that keeps me company, you should have recognised her by the description I gave you."

Josh smiles still staring at me, self consciously I face elsewhere, "you only said she's beautiful and she has a very long curly hair that flows like the ocean and lest I forget you said she had big brown eyes that captures the eyes of many."

I laugh nervously, "I'm not all that."

"Yes you are." Mrs Sarah insist walking back to the stairs.

"I'm glad that you're aware of that fact!" Josh smiles getting on my nerves even more, "I've seen way curly hairs and way brown bigger eyes, don't let grandma deceive you."

Biting my lower lip I ignore him going to her cabinet to grab the cats food, tall stuff follows behind me.

I don't bother to stretch my hands because I know how tall I am, I search for a stool to climb on, laughing lowly Josh walks straight to the cabinet and brings the food out.

"Here dwarf."

Breathing out stressed hair through my nose, I grab the pack from him heading towards the cat dish on the floor, I filled the dishes and watch as the cats run to eat their breakfast.

"Thank you." Josh whispers grabbing Keke from the floor and gently he rubs her white fur, "thank you for helping my grandma all this while."

I smile genuinely, "It's absolutely nothing, she has helped me more times." Glancing at the time I sigh, "I have to go to school."

"You're still in highschool right? Last year."

I nod, "and you're in?"

"College, third year." He informs dropping Keke on the floor and hurriedly she rushes to her food. "I'll drop you off at school."

"What?"

"What are you scared of me milkshake?" He smiles cunningly narrowing his eyes at me.

"Hell no!" I quickly force out, feigning strength.

"Then scurry off and go get your school bag and your feeding bottle."

I frown, "I'm not a kid! I don't use feeding bottle!"

He smiles, "Looks like you do." Taking in needed breaths I ignore him again walking home.

I push open the door to see Mom already dressed for work and dad sitting on the chair with a newspaper glued on his hand.

"Good morning Mom, dad." They both turn to smile at me.

"Hey kiddo."

"Morning hunnie, so How's Mrs Sarah, I heard her grandson came back last night." Mom questions twisting her long silky hair into a bun.

"She's fine and yes he did, he asked to drop me at school, if that's okay with you."

"Of course." Mom says instantly and we both turn to face dad, who is staring at me with a rock hard face.

"Sure as long as IT'S school!"

I quickly run into my room and grabbed my school bag coming back, I see my breakfast already wrapped, I quickly picked it shoving it inside my bag.

"See you later."

"Try not to get into detention."

"Yes dad!"

I step out and immediately I look at Mrs Sarah's house, disgusted, I scowl at Josh who is already seated comfortably on a dark Motorbike.

"You have to be kidding me, you drive a bike?" I seethe. What's it with boys and bike these days.

He licks his bottom lip smiling at me, "What? don't tell me you're scared? After all the courage you just gave off, you're scared of entering into a bike?"

"I'm not scared." I answer boldly, I'm afraid!

"Good!. here put this on," I grab the helmet from him strapping it on before entering into the bike behind him. "Hold on to me milkshake, my ass won't bite."

I hold onto his shoulders and he sighs starting the engines, the moment he drives off, I'm forced to grab onto his waist, some how the way he drives makes me remember Xander but to Josh extolment, Xander drives more like a maniac.

After directing him we finally get to my school and he stops, staggering I step out of the bike, pulling the helmet and handing it to him. "Do people always stare like this in your school?"

I look around to see different eyes peeping, what could I say, that you're one fine wine Josh.

"People in my school like bikes, it's not everyday they see student driven to school in a Motorbike." I do what I do best... Lie.

He stares at me then looks elsewhere, "But that boy over there has a bike." Straightaway I turn to look beside us only to see Xander.

The moment he stares at us he narrows his eyes and I couldn't help but see the way he clenched his jaw when he looks at josh.

Without giving me a glance, he walks straight into the school.

"New student!" I lie again removing my eyes from his retreating form to nod at josh.

"Yeah, so should I pick you up today since I don't have anything important doing?"

"No thanks, I'll take the bus."

"Okay it's settled then, I'll pick you up."

"I said no!"

He smiles and starts his engines and I distance myself away from him. "See you later milkshake." He winks at me before driving off.

"Why can't people just listen to me for once!" Sighing I Roll my eyes making my way into the school, avoiding any clash with Kisha or even Manuel.

I step into the hallway making my way to my locker, on getting there I hear a name from the distance and I instantly feel sick.

"Jerk face!"

Groaning in frustration, I turn to face Kisha, sometimes its as if she patiently waits for me to get to school, "what?"

"Come with me!"

Before I can refuse she pulls me with her dragging me outside the school, "where are we going."

"Here!" We are outside the school, and I yank my hand away from her to stare at her in anger.

"What's the meaning of this."

"Last time you didn't receive your purnishment because Xander came in from no where to save your butt but today he won't be here jerk face, because he'll be in class."

"What do you mean." The bell rings from inside the hall and I could already hear student running into class.

"It's time to teach you a proper lesson!"

I'm about to run when someone grabs my hair and easily flings me to the floor.

I'm breathing heavily through my nose and my head is reeling in pain, I lift my eyes to see Liam, Kisha's ex, with bruises still designed around his face.

"Time to get my own revenge on you bitch."

• • •

Tomorrow!!! 🤞🏽

Hey ❤️ tell me what you think about this chapter, ion know but I don't like it that much 😪🤒....

Comment your thoughts and I'll consider rewriting it again if you don't like it 🤞🏽

Thank you for reading 🖤