Chapter 24

Mary sighed in relieve as she took off her black ankle heels. She dropped it by her bedside and started massaging her aching feet.

She took off her gown and threw it on the bed lying down beside it, in only shorts and bra.

She closed her eyes to fully relax only to doze off minutes later.

The doorbell rang and Bukky was in the kitchen busy chopping carrots, the bell rang again accompanied with a knock. She stopped what she was doing. "Mary! Mary!" She yelled

She waited for some time and when she received no response hissed as she quickly washed her hands and rushed to the door.

She opened the doorand came face to face with stella.

"You came!" Bukky said surprise evident in her voice as she hugged stella.

"Before nko. Happy sunday" Stella greeted with a smile.

"Good afternoon ma" Dean greeted with a small smile that was evidently fake.

He was displeased with the fact that he had to come along with his mom again. In fact he was pissed but hide his emotions knowing fully well what the consequences would be if he showed his displeasure.

As he watched his mom and Bukky hug her internally groaned and rolled his eyes at their display of affection.

"Please come in" Bukkys voice interrupted his thoughts. He smiled at her and followed behind.

He closed the door when they were all in and removed his shoes. Neatly placing them beside the door.

"Please take a seat." Bukky said as she brought them to the sitting room.

Stella and Dean sat on the black leather couch while Bukky stood by the side.

"What can I get you?" Bukky asked.

"Just water would be fine bukky, I'm so thirsty!" Stella exclaimed as she leaned back on the seat.

"The sun is shinning without mercy today" she added

"And you my dear?" Bully asked Dean

"I don't need anything for now ma. Thank you" she smiled and headed to the kitchen. She came back with a bottle of water and a glass cup on a plate. She placed it on the center table that was right by the couch and poured it for Stella.

Stella immediately took the water and emptied the whole glass at once.

"Now I feel alive" she heaved a sigh

"Where you doing something before we came in? And where's Mary?" Stella asked.

"Yes I was cooking, and your precious Mary is in her room" Bukky replied

"And you are here? Let's go to the kitchen lemme help you out with somethings" Stella said as she stood up

"Ah ah, no you are my guest so you can't help me. And who will keep Dean company?" Bukky asked

"He can go meet Mary if he doesn't want to be alone" Stella suggested.

"True. And I heard her complaining about a biology assignment last night...you are a science student right?" Bukky directed at Dean.

"Yes ma" He replied

"That's good. You can help her with itand then you guys can catch up while we finish up in the kitchen. Her room is upstairs by the right. You can't miss it" Bukky said in one breath as Dean listened with fake interest.

He was smiling outside but deep down he was frowning and screaming at his mom for dragging him to Mary's house and suggesting he hangs out with her. And Bukky for accepting it.

He was even more annoyed at the assignment part. How could he help girl he wanted to teach a lesson for ratti g him out. He wanted to annoy and ruin her not helping her.

"Okay ma" he simply replied

He watched as his mom and Bukky walked to the kitchen exchanging words and laughing at what the other said. That was friendship and he hated it.

This whole childhood friendship wouldn't have rekindled and dragged me closer to Mary's annoying self if she hadn't stopped me that day! He thought as he headed up the stairs. Running his hands on the smooth iron banister as he made his way up.

Two minutes later and he's standing by a door brown wooden door with leaves carved on the door. A purple and white board with hearts and balloon designs with Mary written boldly in black was glued to the door.

He stood by the door contemplating on weather to knock and get in or to just go back downstairs and spare himself the drama.

He could just walk in and help or just walk inand ignore her entire existence.

That could work!. He smiled at the thought as he knocked on the door. He received no answer and knocked again.

He knocked the door for the third time and when he received no answer he groaned in irritation and angrily turned the door knob.

The door opened and he creazed his eyebrows. Why is her door open?

I thought girls like privacy?

He shrugged his shoulders as he walked into the room and gently closed the door behind him.

He raised his bowed head and nearly fell straight on his face with his eyes and mouth wide open as he stared at Mary's sleeping form sprawled out on the bed.

He felt a lump forming in his throat as he stared at her from head to toe. He felt immobile. It was like he couldn't get his eyes off her or move from the spot he was standing.

He studied her face as she slept, he had never seen her looking so peaceful and relaxed and he thought it situated her. He looked down to her chest and watched as her chest rise and fell with each breathe she took in. He looked at her moderate stomach that was not overly flat or chubby. He looked down to her slim waist, down to her slim legs. At that moment he felt drawn to her and before he knew it he was sitting on the bed beside her with his hands hovering over her cheeks.

He slowly leaned his hand forward and touched her cheek which was not so surprisingliy soft. He ran his thumb across her cheeks and touched her lips.

Like a play had been hit on a record player he remembered the day he kissed her. He remembered the electrifying feeling that traveled throughout his body when their lips connected. He remembered how lost he got in the kiss and the warmnest of her sweet cavern.

He ran his thumb over her lips as his eyes locked on them. He slowly leaned down and just when their lips were about to connect Mary opened her eyes.