Loveless♣

Chapter 28

The moment the ice cubes hit her nose the third time,Nina knew she'd had enough.
She put down the empty glass and watched the ice cubes slide against each other.
That had been her third drink.
Three glasses of Smirnoff and she still couldn't get Emiko off her mind.
She'd decided against the icecream.Why indulge in what would only make you sadder afterwards? So,she'd gone home and gotten the bottle of Smirnoff from the shelf.Getting drunk seemed like a good idea at the time,now after three drinks she'd decided it wasn't the answer either.
Why did people take alcohol anyways?Why drown your sorrows with some colored burning drink?
Ugh.
She rested her head on the arm of the couch.She felt downcast and vulnerable.
Where was Bella?
She'd been calling her all day,but Bella hadn't picked up.
A girl needed her best friend whenever her heart was broken.For the first time in a long time,Bella wasn't there for her.
Her phone buzzed.She looked at the screen and watched as a message popped up in the notification bar.
It was Emiko.
She closed her eyes and shook her head.
It was his fourteenth message.
Why were some people so clueless? If she hadn't answered his past thirteen messages,what made him think she'd answer his fourteenth.
The phone buzzed again.
Make that fifteenth.
Seriously?
He really should stop persisting because she would never-
The doorbell rang.
Nina sat up and frowned.
Her phone buzzed again and again.The doorbell rang twice.
She narrowed her eyes to slits.
"Very funny,Emiko," she said,standing up.She adjusted her tank top and strode towards the door."If you think that I'm gonna listen to you just cos you-"
She froze when she opened the door.All her anger melted away and was effectively replaced with shock.
"Peyton?"
"Hi,Nini."
Wearing a deep pink blazer,black pants and a necklace made of white gold,Peyton Jackson stood on her sister's porch.
She looked as beautiful and as guilty as possible.
Nina blinked twice.
It must be the Smirnoff, she thought.How wonderful.I take only three glasses of alcohol and I begin hallucinating.Just great,Nina.
"Can I come in?"Peyton asked.
"Uhh...Um..sure,come in."
She moved backwards to make room for her sister to pass.The difference between them was startling. There was no resemblance whatsoever.
While Peyton looked like the real product of a mixture between African and Caucasian genes,Nina looked every inch like an African.
They stood staring at each other.
Then Peyton moved closer and wrapped her arms around Nina.
"I'm sorry,Nini.I'm so sorry.I really am."
Nina was stiff.
Uhh.Okay.Not hallucinating.
"Um..Peyton.What are you sorry about?"
Peyton released her,and assessed her face.
"Have you been drinking, Nini?" she asked,frowning.
Nina shook her head quickly.Then glanced guiltily at the empty glass sitting on the centre table.
Her gaze shifted back to Peyton who had an amused expression on her face.
"Oh,Nini." She laughed."I've missed you and your ever so innocent shenanigans."
Nina pursed her lips."Um,forgive me for being rude,Pey,but why are you here?I mean,you've never come to see me before."
"I know,I know,and for that I'm so sorry.I heard what happened.Are you okay?" she asked with a concerned look on her face.
Nina frowned."I'm fine,why?What happened? "
"Well,your French friend-"
"Isabella," Nina said,interrupting her."She has a name,Peyton.And she's actually part French,part Spanish."
Peyton paused,then cleared her throat."Right. Sorry.Isabella.Um,she came over a few weeks ago..and told us,not so subtly,that we were the cause of your attempted suicide."
Nina widened her eyes in shock."Oh my God.She what?"
Peyton looked confused."You didn't know?"
"Know what?I was unconscious for nearly two days,I didn't know she went to see y'all," Nina said incredulously.She placed a palm to her temple and closed her eyes."Oh my God,what'd she do?"
Peyton paled."I'd rather not say,Nina.It was..."She shivered a little bit. "Anyway,what she did doesn't matter.It only showed how much she loves you.She really does.So do I,Nini."
Nina remained silent.
"I know I haven't really proved it.I mean,I should've spoken up for you with Mother and Grandmother Margaret bullied you.It was absurd, really.They had no cause to do that,but they did.I saw you suffer growing up and I didn't say anything.I'm sorry,Nini, I-"Her eyes began to water."Can you ever forgive me?"
Nina remained silent.
"Please, sister,"Peyton said,the tears running down her face.
Nina looked at her for a while,then said,"When I was eight,Grandmother Margaret had a special cane for me.She wrapped it with a duct tape and used it to hit me whenever I was a minute late from school,or got less than an A,or if she caught me playing with the white kids in the neighborhood.The beatings were unnecessary, but nobody said anything. It made me feel unloved.Unworthy.Loveless.Do you know how hard it is for an eight year old to cope with being fat,being black and being bullied both at school and at home?I had to try extra extra hard to be accepted, Peyton. Alone.It was hard as hell.You never said anything. "
Peyton was crying hard now,she put a hand over her mouth as the sobs rocked through her.
"I'm sorry,Nini,I really-"
"Let me finish,Peyton, please," Nina interrupted. "One day,there was a fight at school.I hadn't gotten involved in it,but because I was nearby,I was blamed.The school called Grandmother Margaret to pick me up.That day,I knew I was going to get a really good beating.She didn't even bother to hear my side of the story.We got home,and she asked me to take off my clothes.As I did so,crying,she went to the cupboard next to the kitchen to get the cane.It wasn't there anymore.She looked everywhere for it,but couldn't find it.She glared at me,and tried to blame me.Deep down,though,she knew I didn't take it because I wasn't tall enough to reach it." Nina looked at Peyton."But you were.I saw you hiding in the hallway,watching us.Did you hide the cane,Peyton?"
Peyton nodded,still sniffling."I knew I couldn't stand up to our grandmother,but I had to do something.I couldn't let her hurt you ag-"
Her words were cut short as Nina drew her into a bear hug.Peyton was startled for a second,then she resumed crying again and muttering apologies.
"It's okay,it's okay," Nina said softly,patting her back and blinking back her own tears."Because of that little thing you did for me years ago,Pey,I forgive you.That small brave act saved my life..for a while.Stop crying,would you please?I love you."
"I love you,too,Nina.So much,I swear."
Nina released her."I know.I'm sorry for the way I acted the last time.I was rude and-"
"You had every right to be," Peyton replied,wiping her face with the sleeve of her blazers.Then she smiled."I just hope you didn't mean what you said about not attending my wedding."She fished into her bag and brought out a cream coloured card,tied with a pink striped ribbon.
Nina gasped as she took it.
"The invitation cards are ready already?"
Peyton beamed."Yes.Open it."
Nina untied the bow and read the car.She let out an excited squeal.
"You're getting married in Nigeria?!!" she screamed.
Peyton laughed."Yes,I am."
Nina grabbed her and drew her into another hug.
"Oh my God,I'm so happy for you!"
"Thank you,Nini!"
"Whose idea was it?"Nina asked,leading her sister to a sofa.
"Brandon's," Peyton replied, removing her blazers and draping it across the chair."He wants to know my roots,my culture..all of it."
"Aww," Nina cooed,placing a hand on her chest."That's so sweet."
"Yeah,I can't believe how lucky I am.He wants us to have a traditional wedding,too."
Nina's lips formed a round o."No,"she said in shock."He wants to wear an agbada?"
"Yes,"Peyton giggled.
"Eeeeeee,that's so awesome!Grandmother Margaret must be thrilled!"
"Oh,she is," Peyton affirmed."You know,she was mightily pissed when she discovered I was dating Brandon.She detested him on sight."
Nina shook her head and laughed."Why am I not surprised? She did the same to dad."
"Yeah,but now that she's heard of his plans,she calls him omo mi."
"That is sooo like her!Haha.So,you're going to wear an aso ebi?"
"Yeah,yeah.I've been following Nigerian wedding trends on Instagram. It's not as bad as I thought."
"I know,right?I dunno why Mom was so repulsed with Nigeria.She never wanted us to go there.Said there was no electricity,and the country was in a constant never changing state of recession.She made it look so bad."
"Yeah,but I think Nigeria is beautiful.Her imperfections make her more alluring.I want to hold the wedding in Lagos.I've been seeing bellanaijaweddings posts on Instagram. I contacted a friend of mine over there and they said they were gonna fix up a venue and get a popular professional wedding planner."
"Wow.Sounds good.I saw this movie,The Wedding Party.The whole setting was wonderful.Come to think of it,you could have a beach wedding!"
Peyton's face lit up."Oh my gosh,yes!I heard there are a lot of beautiful beaches in Lagos.We could have a bonfire,and fireworks and all of that!It could even be on a boat!I'm thinking in Lekki or something, I-"
"Eeeeee!I can't believe you're getting married in Nigeria!Wait,Pey,are you gonna live there afterwards?"Nina asked at once,gasping.
Peyton frowned." We've thought about that.I dunno,Nini.I mean,I've lived here my whole life,how will I adjust?"
Nina smiled."Don't worry,you will.Hey,why don't we call Wale and Tima?We can ask them a few things about adjusting in Nigeria."
Peyton giggled."Our crazy cousins?Well,alright.Get ready tho,you're in for a lot of questions."