Forever Never

Chapter One | Blind Reassurance

Leroy

When I followed my dreams and opened up my own shop, I knew the risks. Yet I did it anyway because I had complete and utter belief in myself even though not many others did. Especially not my folks.

Half a year later I found myself on my ass, my bookstore in ashes and having to start from scratch. It wasn't burned down or anything. It just never took off and it was safe to say that was a big fat fail.

Now I had no other choice but to crash with my somehow thriving little sister until I could get back on my feet again. Going back home was simply not an option.

I took the last box of my stuff from my car and climbed up the stairs to the penthouse and placed it in my current room. "I don't know why you still carry around these." Axelle said slightly amused as she picked up one of the comics in my box. "You know you're not 13 anymore right?"

"Funny." I took back my comic and started unpacking my stuff.

Both Axe and I banked on high risk dreams. Only difference is she made the leap. When our folks envisioned what their kids would be doing when they grew up, one being a dropout and instead finding success doing content online and the other being a failure in debt definitely wasn't on their mind. At least I got my degree but our parents weren't the kind you easily pleased. At some point that lack of support starts to sting. But on the other hand they had a point.

"Oh and you're welcome to join my lil party later," she said as she walked out of the room.

I fell back onto the bed and felt the fatigue wash over me. My eyelids felt heavy and I closed them. Next time I opened them it was five hours later and music was pounding through the walls. Axe's neighbours must hate her.

There were a few missed calls from my mom and I didn't call back as I made my way out of my room. The music came from the living room and people stood in the hallway drinking and mingling. I was in this party for five seconds and I was already tired as hell. I've always hated loud music. Not music, just the loudness.

The kitchen seemed a lot more peaceful. Only one person was in here. I grabbed a soda from the fridge. "Hey you seen Axe anywhere?" I asked her and she looked up from typing on her phone.

"Axe?" She said in confusion as her eyebrows met. I clarified and she seemed a bit amused. "You call your sister axe?"

I shrugged. "I guess."

"Why tho? There are better nicknames."

"Just always called her that."

"She's somewhere. Probably the bathroom or something." Her eyes seemed to be studying me, sizing me up almost. "So you're Leroy? Elle mentioned something about her brother moving in."

"Temporarily." I added. "What's the special occasion worth throwing a party over anyway?"

It wasn't her birthday yet. The girl laughed slightly. "I don't think you know your own sister if you're asking if she needs a reason to party," she says glancing back down at her phone.

Her smile was replaced instantly with a tired and annoyed expression. "Guess you're right." I took a few sips.

Although I wasn't very intune with Axe's life I knew I'd seen this girl in her pictures a lot. I wondered why she was in here and not in the midst of the fun.

"So why you in here instead of out there having a blast?" I asked. She didn't look up from her phone.

"It's calmer in here. I like calm." She replied and I raised my bottle.

"Amen to that."

There was no counting how many times I felt corny as hell on a daily basis. I lowered my bottle and received a call on my phone. It was my mother again and I just watched it ring. I was in no mood to talk to her or my pops. You could only find so much to say to someone who had nothing but shade to throw your way. Or find countless ways to say I told you so without saying it.

A moment later she's trying to call me again and I watched it ring, just for it to return a third time. At this point the girl looked up from her phone, curious about mine. "You're not gonna answer?"

"Nah," I replied.

"Who keeps calling you?"

I tilted my head in amusement. "Is that your business?" I joked and she glanced down.

"Fair," she replied with a faint smile. She too dodged a couple of incoming calls and now I was curious. I went over and sat down at the table, opposite her.

"Alright I'll tell you if you tell me who's also blowing up your phone." her eyes glanced up again and she agreed to the deal with a nod.

"But I asked you first so," she pointed out.

"It's my mama. Don't feel like talking to her tho." I told her. Wasn't interested in saying more than that right now. Thankfully she understood. "Your turn."

"My ex. He just won't stop contacting me."

"So block him. Remove his number," I adviced.

She shook her head, like it was hopeless. "All he does is find new ways to contact me."

"Well then sounds like you need a restraining order."

"He's not that level of bad. Just annoying as hell. In some ways I understand him because we did end on such nasty terms," she was fiddling around with a locket around her neck and seemed lost in thought.

I raised my soda to my mouth. "Just one more reason I don't do relationships."

"Urgh, amen. Not even joking when I say I'm done. I need like at least a five year long break." she puffed and I brought my bottle closer to hers.

"Cheers to that then."

She clinked her drink with mine. "Cheers." she smiled before emptying it. I suddenly realised I didn't know her name even and finally asked her. "Tyana. But I'm mostly just Ty to everyone."

"For what it's worth seems like ole boy fumbled a bad one by messing up whatever he had with you." I said and couldn't help but immediately feel the embarrassment from my corniness.

At least she smiled. Probably a pity smile. Like the one you gave to someone in an attempt to quickly end an uncomfortable or awkward conversation. Regardless if it was forced or not she for sure had a nice smile. Had a set of healthy nice straight white teeth that looked brighter than my future at this point.

"Appreciate the blind reassurance," she placed a thankful hand to her chest before getting up. "Suddenly feeling the urge to dance. Wanna join me?"

I shrugged, having nothing else to do, and followed her to the dance floor in the living room. The music took my mind off all my problems for a while and I genuinely had a blast, something I ain't done in a long time. Nothing but stress in my life lately so letting go for once felt nice before I inevitably had to go back to it in the morning.