Letters To Shay||✓

bonus chapter.

Duke asks Keyonna to be his girlfriend.

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This isn't originally part of the book but I saw it in my head and it was just too cute not to write. Anyway I'll be switching between Duke and Keyonna's POV in this chapter. For Duke, I'll use «Duke« and for Keyonna »Keyonna». Okay. Over to this.
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»Keyonna»

Ten days to Christmas. I did have plans, but to my horror the snow fell like crazy in just three days and we were snowed in. So much for a beautiful Christmas.

So I am stuck in the house with nothing to do, and a cold. My dad and Kiara take turns giving me soup. I still find it awkward talking to my dad but I'm sure we'll figure something out. While I am sleeping, eating and lazing around during the day, I speak with Duke at night. If someone had told me that I'd end up with feelings for Duke, I'd call them stupid. But there I was, laughing at corny jokes and how ugly we think our teachers are.

Keith still doesn't approve but I don't care.

There's a part of me that wants him to ask me to be his girlfriend. But he hasn't asked yet. What's keeping him so long? Is he second guessing? Maybe it's because I act so nervous around him... It better be soon, or I'll lose it.

Nah, just kidding.

Duke makes me feel good about myself. He makes me feel wanted, better, secure and safe. He tells the funniest jokes and says the sweetest things. He tries in his own way to make me happy, including sending a box of minty chocolate when I told him I'd caught a cold.

I wonder if he'll change if he knew my story.

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«Duke«

Keyonna Brighton.

Keyonna Oyindamola Anastasia Brighton.

The most beautiful black girl I ever saw.

Damn.

Call me stupid but I think I love her.

Keyonna doesn't know it yet, but she's the best thing that's ever happened to me.

And that's why I'm going to ask her to be my girlfriend before Christmas.

Also because I want to know what her lips taste like when I 'accidentally' kiss her under mistletoe.

Her brother would probably beat me up for it but it'd be so worth it.

Not that we were religious in my family, but we believed in prayer, and in God. I wanted more than anything to see my mother again. But my father said her condition hadn't improved, and the tears in his eyes as he told me convinced me that he was telling the truth. I got on my knees that night and prayed to God to let me see her, just for Christmas.

He gave me my Christmas wish.

I walk into the living room and see my parents cuddling on the floor in front of the TV, my mother's head on my father's shoulder and a wide smile on both of their lips. The movie they are watching is one of their favourites, and I know better than to interrupt them.

I quietly sit on the couch and watch them, thinking of Keyonna. I see my brother walk in in the corner of my eye and he sits beside me. We acknowledge each other with a nod, and watch the movie along with them.

When my mother came home two nights ago I almost screamed in excitement. But screaming could do more harm than good, because of her condition. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me and hugged her, sobbing on her shoulder. She whispered happy thoughts in my ear and I withdrew, taking in her appearance. She looked like she had aged ten years in three, but she was okay, and that was good enough for me. We looked so much alike; well, so did Apollo but I was her favorite so whatever.