UNMASKING THE DANCER

36. Reunion.

     Diane's pov

      I watched anxiously as Ryan turned to where my mom stood  before facing i and Jade again,
   "That's Aunt Trina?"

    "Yup" Jade replied,

   I couldn't really blame him for his surprise cause my mum looked quite different. Gone was the brown long wavy hair they knew and in it's place was a short dark hair reaching to her shoulders. She was also leaner than before because of all the emotional stress and extra work she did in Greenville.

    "Wow.....but what are you doing here?, Do you know her before?" Ryan asked facing me and I panicked,

    "I...."

    "Ryan, we need to go now" Mr Jon said interrupting my stammer as he appeared beside us,

    "Yeah sure but I....." He turned to look at my mom again and I saw Mr Jon nod,

    "You can go, I'll drop Kamilah off at her hotel"

    "Thanks"

   He hurried off towards my mum and pulled her into a tight hug which she reciprocated. She glanced up to look at me while hugging him and I smiled before walking away with Mr Jon to the black van.

    The other band members entered after us and they showed their concern, "are you okay?" Jason asked and I nodded,

    "Thank you guys for coming to get me" I said and they nodded too with smiles on their face.

    The driver started up the car and drove out of the airport with me looking back one more time but I couldn't see my mum or Catlyn or Jade through the back glass.

    I settled in my seat through out the ride and kept myself worried until the van stopped in front of the studio. We all came down and after saying our goodbyes, the members drive off in their own cars then I faced Mr Jon.

    "Let's go" he said and directed me to his car. He started the car after we got in and we were soon on the road heading to my apartment,

    "Why didn't you tell me that your mum was coming?" He suddenly asked breaking the silence and I sighed,

    "I wanted to be sure of the day she was coming before informing you but unfortunately she didn't tell me"

    "It's okay I guess, I don't think the other members noticed anything strange"

    "Ryan would surely suspect something. I mean we were childhood friends and he knows my mom so well..."

    "You both were childhood friends?",

    Right, he doesn't know that yet,

    "Yes, including Jade too and they know that I'm their childhood friend but Ryan doesn't know I'm Kamilah"

    "So Jade knows?"

    "Yeah"

    "Then why haven't you told him?"

    "I.....I...."

    "You like him, right?"

    "Worse......I think I'm in love with him"

    "That's serious, when did this happen"

    "I don't even know but I do love him and that's just crazy, right?",

    "Love itself is crazy so don't give yourself a headache over it". We both chuckled and fell silent for a while.

    He was the one who broke the silence again, "I wouldn't ask your reason for not telling him cause I know it would be complicated but if you really love him, you'll trust his judgement on the matter",

    "I guess you're right"

    "Just think about it and make your decision"

    "Thanks"

     He smiled and parked in front of my apartment building, "here we are, should I wait or would you be fine on your own "

    "I'll be fine, I'll just take a cab"

    "Okay, take care of yourself and make a wise decision"

    "Yeah"

   I came down, waved at Mr Jon before walking into the lobby of the building. The elevator transported me to my floor and on getting there, I entered my apartment and quickly went about changing to Diane.

    I removed my makeup and wig, searched through my closet for clothes and came up with a simple attire of black flayard skirt with white wooly top and white pumps. I pulled my hair into a ponytail, changed my bag into a black strap bag before going out of my apartment again.

    I was already in a cab when my phone rang, "where are you?" Jade asked immediately I picked up,

   "I'm already in a cab"

   "Well, we're headed to my family house, get here soon cause Ryan is killing aunt Trina with questions"

   "I'll meet you guys there"

    The line cut and I tapped my foot against the car's floor until the driver pulled in front of Jade's family house. I paid the fare and hurried inside to see Jade's car parking in front of the house, meaning they just got there.

    I reached the car just as they came out from the car and I hurried to give my mum another hug for a show in front of Ryan. After all, he doesn't know I gave my mum a hug already.

    Thankfully, my mum played along and returned the hug while muttering endearments, then we pulled away from the hug. I took notice that Catlyn wasn't with them and wondered where she was but I shifted it to the back of my mind for now.
  
   I moved to Ryan to give him a hug too and muttered a 'hey' which he returned. After breaking apart from the hug, he put on a serious face,

   "Why didn't you tell me that Aunt Trina was coming to New York? " He asked,

  "I didn't know she was coming today"

    "But....."

    "Guys, let's go in" Jade interrupted and Ryan stopped his interrogation,

   "Okay".

   We carried my mum's luggage which was just one into the house and surprisingly met Aunt Melanie waiting. She rushed to hug my mom and they stayed in that position for a long time while we watched.

   They soon broke apart though and we sat in the sitting room, "I can't believe you're finally here" Aunt Melanie said to my mum and I started having some suspicions. Did she already know my mom was coming today?,

    "I can't believe it too. I wasn't even sure I would go through with it when I told you two days ago" my mum replied confirming my suspicions and Ryan sat up straighter,

    "Mum, don't tell me you knew about this"

    ".......I thought you already knew"

    "What!, I can't believe I was the only one who didn't know about Aunt Melanie's arrival"

   "Hey, I didn't know until today too" Jade intercepted and I sighed,

    "Guys I'm sorry for not telling you about mum's arrival. I justI wanted to be sure"

    "It's okay, we understand" Ryan said and i smiled,

    "Anyways as I was saying....." Aunt Trina continued and I, Jade and Ryan shared a look.

    Here we go!.

   We stood up to go to Ryan's room in the house where we watched films on Netflix and spent time together as best friends.
  
                           ****

        I hope you enjoyed this chapter?