Us And Them...

Chapter One

Knock, knock, knock...
Ding, ding, ding...

Lola woke up with a start due to the urgency of the rapping on her door and the constant dings of the doorbell.

Who on earth has the audacity to wake me up at such time of the day?! It's 6am on a Saturday morning!!!

She exclaimed in her thoughts, jolting out of the bed when the incessant knocks and rings continued. Muttering under her breath about how she was going to murder the person who was behind that door if whoever did not disturb her for a tangible reason, she trudged into the bathroom to quickly wash her face.

"Who is it?!!" She screeched, dragging her feet on the tiles in the hallway leading to her living room.

"Babe it's me, open up..."

She halted abruptly when she heard that ever so familiar baritone that tingled her ears so well. Quickly, she took a glance in the mirror to ensure that she looked presentable before swaying towards the door majestically.

She pulled the door open and their eyes met immediately. They stayed locked in each other's gaze. They would usually do this, communicating without words being said, it was their thing. But today his eyes said nothing to her, they just looked blank but at the same time screamed exhaustion.

"Hey." He hoarsely said, but, she was in a daze.

God, I missed him!

Yes, she missed everything about him, not speaking to him for days left her all uneasy and cranky but he did not have to know that. She cleared her throat awkwardly remembering she had to put up an attitude.

Lola, stick to the plan!

"What are you doing here?" She said, giving him a straight face.

He stepped into the house, ignoring her question.

"I didn't ask you to come in." She stated, still trying to keep up with her drama.

David simply stood in the middle of the room, turned swiftly and sealed her lips with his for a few seconds.

"I missed you too." He smirked fully aware of how much he affected her. Her initial reaction at the doorstep gave her away.

He chuckled at her startled state wondering if she would ever get used to his kisses. She was too cute.

"Eww, I haven't even brushed my teeth." Lola sneered, making him chuckle again.

"I don't mind. Now, why have you been ignoring me?"

"Straight to the point as always..." She muttered under her breath.

"Yes ma'am." He replied smugly.

"Have a seat, I'll whip up something for breakfast." She ignored his arms trying to reach out to her as she made her way into the kitchen.

"Babe..." He called out, taking a seat on the kitchen counter, watching her like a hawk as she got started on making what he believed would be a sumptuous breakfast.

"Hmmm?" She responded half-heartedly as she chopped the sausages.

"What's wrong?" He pouted.

Dear Lord, he's too cute!

Lola sighed, she looked up at him, wondering how she would put this in mild terms that would not irk him. God knows how much she missed him and in a bid to not stir up an argument, she treaded carefully with her words or so she thought.

"You've been... distant..." She reluctantly admitted.

"But I'm here, aren't I?" He questioned, his tone, indecipherable.

"Let's face it, you only came because I've been ignoring your calls and messages." She deadpanned with a straight face earning a scowl from him.

Oh snap! Wrong move, Lola, wrong move!

"What's that supposed to mean?!" He got off the counter and marched towards her.

"I said what I said." She shrugged nonchalantly as she stir fried the sausages in the pan.

Too late now...

"It's always work, work, work with you these days..."

"This is my problem with you. You keep acting like everything has to be about you. Titilola, I have to work!!! If I don't, all these luxuries you enjoy wouldn't even exist, they would only be a dream. Why can't you understand that?!" He lost his cool, still towering over her, his breaths ragged. He was exhausted, but she was making it even more difficult for him.

David hated the hurt expression evident on her features but this woman he had grown to love so much did not seem to understand how he felt. He sighed, running his fingers through his scalp, trying to get a grip on his anger to avoid further outbursts.

"Wow." She said. She kissed her teeth, nodding repeatedly.

"Just wow, David." She gave a sarcastic chuckle that did nothing to help reduce his guilt.

"Babe..." He called out, the guilt evident in his tone as he tried to pacify her.

She held up her palm apparently telling him to hold his peace and exit her apartment.

"Lola, you can't kick me out." He said, shocking her.

She scoffed.

"Why? Because you paid the rent?"

"No, stop misquoting... You know what? It's fine, I'll leave." He said softly and with one last look in her direction, he walked out dropping what would have been his peace offering if things had gone the way he planned.

Lola stood still with her back turned until she heard the door close. She released a breath she did not realise she was holding just as she let the tears flow.

This was the biggest fight they had ever had, he had never yelled at her.

Her ever wandering mind couldn't help but ask the evident question.

Was this the beginning of the end?