° it's love, caring for another more than yourself. °

Chapter 2

(Six years later — nine months after Sky)

"And remember, no speeding of any kind at all," Mum stresses, the keys dangling on her finger as she spoke. "If you get pulled up, stop immediately without any fuss and hands-"

"Hands on the dashboard, don't speak until you're spoken to and try to be as calm as possible." I cut her off and recited smiling just as Dad laughs.

"See, Liz, there's nothing to be afraid of," Dad says sitting down on the arm chair with a sigh. "Stop trying to scare him."

Mum glares, "really Dave?" Then she sighs and drops her head on her palms. "I hate this car."

"I love it," I chip in, going in to grab the keys from her but she ducks her hand before I can.

"Impatience is what's going to get you killed boy!"

I hold in my groan, "I am going to be fine Mum, I test drove all break. It's fine."

"Fine," she hands me the keys with a frown. "Anything that happens to you, it's all on your father."

"Why me?" Dad speaks up, raising his palms up.

"Because you bought him the stupid car."

"We bought the car for him."

"Ha, you're on your own Dave. Something happens, I'll kill you."

Dad eyes snap to me just as I'm picking up my school. "Sure you don't want me to drive you?"

"Yes," I smile, completely amused and start running out before mum gets something to stay that'll keep me trapped at home. "Bye, see y'all later."

"Israel, be careful it ain't no toy!" My mum screams out again and I don't bother answering this time, running into my car and driving off immediately.

As I drive, I catch my reflection on the rear view mirror and I can't help grinning at myself. I've never been one to be obsessed or crazy about cars but I am completely crazy about the one I'm currently in and it just happens to be my car.

The change came with Nessa going to University— yes, she finally left and is approaching her second year as at right now. Months after she left, she started complaining about transportation and her car because she lived off campus and it was quite far from her lecture halls. Dad had no choice but to fix up her car— which at the moment was my car— and send over to her, thereby leaving my without a vehicle.

I had to struggle with bus transportation and bicycle for the remaining terms of Year 12, it was really a struggle. Sometimes I even took the train but I don't ever tell my mum that and on the days when Lou was free, he gave me a ride home. My parents finally heard my cries and for my seventeenth birthday, I was surprised with a brand new car. At least that's what I'd like to believe. It was Dad's old Uni car but he had some parts remodeled and got it painted and shiny for me.

It's the best present I've received in all my life. Everything works, including the air conditioner.

"Issy my man!" I hear Jamal shout just as I get out the car and I startle a bit seeing him. The shock only last two seconds because in the next second, he's wrapped around me giving me a tight hug.

I laugh and hug him back, "what are you doing here?"

"Dude, it's school."

I roll my eyes, "I know that but it's unlike you to see you around on the first week did your mum finally chase you out her house?"

"Man, I almost died there." He groans, holding his head with his hands. "I've never been so keen to leave. Now I finally know where babies are from, hell."

I burst out laughing, bending over for effect. Mal was so excited after he heard his mum had given birth again and he was literally running over to her place for the break, in a rush to see his new brother. "You baby brother is from hell?"

"Yeah, he must be. What other creature cries all day consistently without pause. The only time he's not crying is when he has a nipple in his mouth. Fucker's going to grow up to be a boobs man womanizer, I'm calling it."

"Jesus, Jamal!" I scold, smacking him with one hand and covering my mouth with my other hand. "That's so wrong to say."

"O wrong ni," he says and I'm guessing it's in the Yoruba language that he's been learning with his aunt. "Wanna bet on it."

"How many times would I tell you," I start and a voice behind us continues, completely it for me.

"Only a foolish person would give in to one of Jamal Cole's bet," Darcy completes, walking up to us with a smile and her hands crossed in front of her. "Good morning, losers."

"Baby!" Jamal yells again and throws himself over Darcy in what I know is a tight hug.

"Jamal!" Darcy scolds but her smile is face splitting as she hugs him back. "I didn't think I'd see you until lunch break."

"You knew he was back?" I ask and she nods.

"She knows everything," Mal says, looking at her now and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I've missed you so much, Magdalene."

"Me too," she lowly replies, blushing as red as a fire hydrant. "Now get off me."

"No fucking way," he says, keeping one hand still around her.

I groan, "I knew I'd hate you both dating. The lovey dovey is killing me like slow poison. I don't miss school because of you two."

"Shut up man, who even misses school? You're just jealous."

"Yes, I am." I completely admit and before Mal can say something else, Darcy grabs his attention with a pat on his cheek.

"Mal, have you seen Issy's car?" She points with a pout. "Don't tell me I've missed your gushing."

Mal gasps, "I've not gushed." He finally leaves her just to walk around me. "Oh my gosh, Isreal." He touches and hisses. "Oh my God, Issy!"

I laugh, "I've showed you a pictures."

"Yes but damn man, a Porsche?"

I clear my throat, "a 718 Boxster Porsche."

"The prince charming himself!" Jamal starts praising and Darcy and I burst out laughing. "This car is sick bro, you're going to be reeling all the boys in!"

I want to keep quiet at that but I don't want them to start worrying about my mood so I force a smile. "All the boys? It's literally just two seats."

"Enough for anything you set your mind to do, catch my drift?"

I face palm, "Shut up Mal."

"I don't understand," Darcy says and I avoid looking at her.

"Baby, have you riden on this?" Jamal asks and I'm guessing it's too distract her from asking unwanted questions.

"Yes," Darcy jumps. "It's sick I tell you."

"Issy-" Jamal starts with a pout and puppy eyes and I immediately start walking.

"No no," I shake my head. "Not happening."

"Come on man, just once." Jamal pleads as he and Darcy follow behind me.

I am going to give him my car to ride around town, I just want him to believe I wouldn't and beg for it. Ha. "Let's go inside before the bell, I bet Nile's waiting for us at a locker."

"That's my dream car."

"Why?" Darcy asks. "It's cool but it's kinda a waste of material don't you think? What's the use to a convertible when if it's not raining over here, it's super cold?"

"I heard that." I say, turning to fix Darcy a look.

"Baby, the roof isn't the point." Jamal tries to educate.

"Then what is?"

"Oh sweat pie," he kisses her palm. "I'd tell you later."

Just as I guessed Nile is waiting for us by her locker. Her permed dyed golden hair is falling around her face, stopping right near her shoulder. She has make up on, though it has to be one of the lightest makeup I've seen on her in a while, with her lips painted a light pink. She has a brown coat jacket on over her uniform and as usual, whereas girls had on plaid grey blue skirts, she had plaid grey blue baggy shorts. And instead of the plain flats on her feet, she had on black ankle boots. I love the way she dresses, she and Lou had more than swag in common.

"Boo," I lean closer to her and say when she doesn't register our presence, lots in the world that's her thoughts.

She startles with a jump and we burst out laughing. "Oh fuck you Taylor and company."

"What were you busy thinking about, granny?" I say admist my laughter.

"About how I am going to murder you by cutting you piece by piece, making sure I slowly gorge your eyes out and shoving them up your ass, then gutting you apart so I'd sell your organs at the black market." She answers, detailed with a creepy smile.

My laughter disappears and I swallow, "Nile, we talked about this, you can't say things like that and smile like that."

"Like what?" She smiles creepy some more and I hold in my shudder.

"Like you're undertaker's lost daughter." Jamal answers, grabbing her face and pulling on her cheeks to make the smile disappear.

Nile burst out laughing, "Undertaker? You honour me."

"Cut it out," I grab her, pulling her to my body in a hug. "I'm sorry for keeping you."

"Now you're talking," she hugs me back. "I've missed you lot so bad, I thought the holiday would never end."

"Not as much as me," Jamal pipes in and Darcy and I laugh.

"Oh Lord, what happened to you?"

Jamal dramatically touches his chest. "It's a sordid tale."

Darcy and I roll our eyes and Darcy grabs Nile. "I'll tell you everything."

"What about Lou?" I ask, my eyes moving over to his locker and seeing no one there.

"Their Lucifer of a coach, asked for a swim practice this morning. Like he doesn't acknowledge the whether at all." Nile answers just as the bell rings.

"If he does, they never swim Nile." Darcy says just as I'm complaining in my head that I didn't get to reduce my books into my locker and now I have to go for class.

"What did the whether do to you today, Darce?" I ask, Jamal and I following behind her and Nile.

"Wrong question Israel," Darce says. "The question should be-"

"What has the whether not done to us?" Nile completes and her and Darce high five.

I think about it, exchanging a look with Jamal. "Good question."

Just as we're about to enter our class, a guy in a teal sweater walks by and my heart jumps as I turn around to follow him with my eyes. But he turns out blond and the opposite of everything my heart guessed.

"Come on, the best seats are going!" Jamal drags me into the class and I follow him, pushing every feeling away from me.

It's not him. It's never him.

*

"Who gives assignments on the first day of school?" I ask, groaning as I read over the paper on my hand.

"A witch is who, can you imagine the impudence?" Jamal shoves the paper into his bag. "I've always hated English, that woman isn't going to help at all."

"I love English but this is going too far," I sighed. "What author would you focus on?"

Jamal arms flail up like he wants to cry. "How would I know? I don't like any."

I, however, am already thinking of which. The assignment is to pick any of author, read a book of theirs and pick out ten lesson he or she was trying to pass. It was due in two weeks and she said if we must work in groups it shouldn't be more than four people and we were free to come up with more than ten lesson. "Shakespeare and JK Rowlings are definitely going to be widely used."

"Just behead me already," Mal relaxs on my car. "This wasn't what I sighed up for for senior year. It's supposed to be a fun last year."

I smile, opening up the car. "Well, this is in order then," I faced him and wiggled my fingers at his face. "Surprise Surprise!"

"Fuck you Issy."

I laugh, entering into the car as he entered the right. "Wait, want to drive?"

Jamal grins, "you'd let me?"

"Just this once," I throw him the key and we switch places.

Jamal squeals, "I'm totally lowering the roof. It has been my dream from watching so many movies."

"What has?" I buckle my seat belt and he starts the car.

"Driving a convertible with the roof down and letting my hair fly with the wind."

I look at him puzzled, "but you don't have hair that can fly in the wind."

"Nigga, I don't need you to remind me that."

I raise my hand up in surrender, "okay."

"Let's hit the road!" Jamal says driving off so fast, I start warning him just we hit something.

The car stops and we both stay frozen in our seats. Slowly we both turn to each other eye wide. Jamal raises both hands up. "I did not mean to."

"Jamal!" I yell, looking behind us but seeing nothing. All we heard was a small thud. "What did you hit?"

"I don't know, it was mistake!"

"Oh my days!" I unbuckle the seatbelt making to leave the car before Jamal stop me with a hand over mine.

"Issy, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize yet, stupid." I get out the car and cautiously walk to the back of the car with my heart in my throat. Not another car accident please...

It turns out to be another car accident just not with another car this time but with a person. My eyes widen when I see him on the floor, the small sun that managed to come out today shining his glowing rays on him. Making him look majestic even when lying on the floor.

"For fucks sake, who wants to kill me now?" He groans, sitting up in what looks like pain. He squints at me through the sunlight rays, putting a hand over his eyes before he can actually see me. Once again, like deja Vu, I'm faced with that half shocked, half amused expression. "Israel?"

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