Naya and Vince

56

It was past nine when Aliyah came to Jessica's place and boy, was I glad. After a very silent dinner with Jessica's family, except her mother, Jessica went straight to her room. I didn't bother following her. I just sat with Kristabel and in the sitting room watching TV.

"Jessica is not talking to me again," I told Aliyah as we climbed up the spiral stairs. We had left a dosing Kristabel in the sitting room.

"What did you do?" Aliyah asked. By this time we were already on the hallway leading to Jessica's room. I stared at Aliyah with a frown. Why did everyone always assume I did something?

"I didn't do anything. You were the one who was following behind her. You should know something."

"I just saw her storming off," she told me with defensive shrug. "Do you think it has something to do with Stephen perhaps?"

Against my will, I nodded. She had asked me all those unnecessary questions during the drive. Her attitude was bound to be because of Stephen.

We were already at the door to Jessica's room. Aliyah twisted the handle and pushed the door open slowly for reasons best known to her.

"Jessie," she called peeking her head into the room. She pushed the door more and stepped into the room. I followed her carefully.

"Aliyah, when did you come?" Jessica asked looking in our direction. She was sitting in front of her laptop. She did not frown or give an exaggerated sweet smile like I had expected. She just gazed at Aliyah with sleep ladden eyes.

"Not so long ago," Aliyah replied walking to Jessica's part of the room. I still stood at the door unsure of what to do. As far as I knew, Jessica and I were not on good terms.

Jessica clicked her keyboard briefly and closed her laptop. A loud yawn followed. "You and Nairobi can share my bed. I'll stay in the guest room opposite." At least she didn't make me sleep on the floor.

Aliyah threw a quick glance my way. "Are we not going to you know 'gist'?" She asked Jessica.

Jessica stood up and stretched. "I'm feeling sleepy already, I'm sorry. We can talk tomorrow." She sounded like she meant it. Jessica was not even giving off any negative vibe. It was like our argument never happened. Maybe it was because she hadn't seen me, I concluded.

"Oh." Aliyah looked at me again then back to Jessica. I wondered if she was scared of talking to Jessica. "Okay."

I shut my eyes, disappointed. When I opened them again, Jessica was walking towards me. I stepped out of her way so that she could go out. My eyes followed her till she walked out of the door. The girl acted like I was invisible. I wondered if this was what I was going to be doing with Jessica. Fighting because of Stephen. It wasn't even sounding right in my ear at all.

"Goodnight Liya. Goodnight Naya," Jessica's voice pierced my thought. I actually thought I heard wrong until I looked at the girl and she passed me a small seemingly apologetic smile before walking away.

I looked at Aliyah for some kind of explanation. She stared right back and it seemed like she shared my surprise. "I swear this girl has been acting like I am invisible since we arrived here."

Aliyah shrugged and plonked down on Jessica's bed. "I guess you guys are good now."

"Jessica matter dey give person headache I swear," I said rubbing my forehead as I went to join Aliyah on the bed. I sat at the edge while she laid down.

"I thought you were going to ask her what her problem was," I told Aliyah looking pointedly at her.

"You heard her. We're going to talk tomorrow."