It's Thursday afternoon, and the school day was nearly over. Last period, Michael found himself in study hall. He loved ending his day with a study period, especially when he has a long practice this afternoon for his game tomorrow. It gives him some time to finally relax and just talk to his friends about dumb things boys talk about. Like girls, sports, parties and whatnot.

"I'm too nice." Michael said. "I don't wanna embarrass you."

Ryan chuckled. "Why are you bugging' then?" He asked. "Just drop something"

"Alright," Michael stood up from his chair and pulled his pants off. The boys have been talking about free styling and for some reasons, Ryan had just dared Michael… no, more like challenged him into a free styling battle. Michael didn't just have talents for sports, and he also wasn't just good looking. Michael loves music and he's the type to be able to hear a beat and come up with some slick stuff from the top of his head that will make you say 'OH DAMN' and knowing that about himself made him cocky.

"Drop a beat."

It took Michael a second to come up with something from the top of his head as his boys began to bang their hands on their desk in a rhythmical beat.

"Okay here it goes." He said.

In a foreign accent, he began to speak out whatever came out of his mind on the beat.

'This one goes out to all of my Jamaican brothas…

The next time you are walkin' down the street and you see one gyal that you really like…

You don't tell her you wanna hold her… tell her you wanna marry her…'

He walked across the classroom to some random girl he'd never talked to for almost the entire year and kneeled down in front of her desk. The girl seemed to be having a horrible day and he wanted to change that. He thought he'd freestyle to her and if he could get her to smile then he'd accomplish something good for the day.

'This one goes out to that special baby of mine.

I swear I walk in; and I just had to write this one for her…

Okay, redeem; okay hey let's get it popping' hey,'

Now the free-styling came.

'Girl, you're my only prescription…

Catalyze my mind, you are my addiction…

…

You see those white guys—contradiction.

Buy you a condo—no eviction.

Hm? So you want to eat steak? Something smokin', French fries on the plate…

Shopping spree… on the first date.'

…

'Come to Jamaica, there is nowhere to skate

High class, St Michael beach…

All I do is ride cars, take you on a trip.

No offense but yah can fly on my private jet

I got a spot on every village, I be balling', shit!

I got money; I'm talkin' green real stack money.

Buy you a house, made of blurry windows only…

LA, Vegas, D.C. even Toronto.

Baby, come to my Jamaican jungle.'

…

Chorus

'Gyal I don't want to hold you…

Come baby let me show you

Come to Jamaica with me baby, so you can be my wife (2x)'

…

2nd verse

Whateva…

'Listen, she say she ah want Louis and Prada

Diamond and gold before I can holla…

Five hundred stacks or don't even botha…

You gotta be an actor, a doctor, or a baller…

You drive a Benz, that's the LA type

If you ain't driving a fast car, then you ain't my type!

Whoa (Rejected!)

High class type, she's livin' the life

She bathes in jewelry…

Check out her watch!'

…

"I told you I was too nice." Michael bragged.

The bell had rung before Ryan could get his turn but he gave Michael props. The kid was good at what he did.

At least everyone else listening to him at the time thought that. Even their teacher, Mr. O'Keeffe said he was great.

888

The football game had just ended. It was noisy on the Garden Grove field as the team celebrated their semi-final season win.

"So what'd you think?" Sean asked Alex breathlessly. He was sweating; he was feeling excited and happy all at once.

Alex smiled at him and clapped. "Pretty impressive for a rookie." She teased. "Do I at least get props for convincing you to join the team?"

"Nope." Sean shook his head. "Only if I get a kiss for basically bringing this home for the grovers... For the team." He said.

Alex raised her eyebrows at him amusingly.

"What makes you think you deserve a kiss right now, Mr. Cocky?'

"Because I scored a touchdown and a field goal." Sean replied proudly.

"Oh did you now?" Alex teased further as Sean leaned into her. "I didn't think you were keeping tabs."

"Hm? You thought wrong, Ms. Alexandra."

Alex smiled.

Their lips was about to meet. After weeks of yearning for it; they were ambushed by a huge crowd, picking Sean over their shoulders.

Tonight was officially his welcome to GGH introduction to everyone and it's amazing. He's now known as Mr. 360 all around for his last touchdown. Pretty darn cool.

Just when Sean thought the night couldn't get any crazier, Michael just so happens to be in the mood for a party and so was everyone else.

"Hey everyone," He stood up on the benches as he made his announcement. "Victory party at my house tonight. And guess what? It gets better, because you're all invited!"

"Yeeeees!"

That certainly didn't fail to make the crowd of teenagers excited.

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After the game, Nikita had gone home. She was there for Michael's little announcement and quite frankly she didn't care at the moment but she was happy that the team won.

Her parents weren't home again. Percy was working late and Amanda was in New York for the week. So it was just her and Alex.

Nikita just wanted to stay home tonight. Daniel had invited her over his home for dinner but she kindly let him down only because she didn't feel like it.

…

Nikita had just stepped out of the shower when she found Alex sitting on her bed, typing on her phone.

"What are you doing?" Nikita asked.

"Sitting on your bed." Alex replied distractedly. "What does it look like?" She added sarcastically.

Nikita rolled her eyes as she made her way towards her dresser.

"Who are you texting?" She asked again.

"Seanny." Alex replied.

Nikita chuckled. It's funny how they have nicknames for each other now and it's only been a few weeks since Alex thought she might like Sean.

It's surreal to watch her baby sister all grown up.

"Which reminds me," Alex mumbled. "Are you going to Michael's party? He said anyone was invited."

"I'm not going." Nikita said.

"Why not?" Alex asked crossing her arms over her chest. "Mom and dad aren't even here. Why would you want to stay here?"

"Well, first of all, I don't feel well." Nikita said.

"What's wrong with you?" Alex questioned.

"I have a stomachache. I'm not even joking." Nikita said convincingly. "And second, I don't feel like getting into an awkward situation tonight. So it's just going to be me, popcorn and whatever movie can scare the shit out of me most."

"Hm." Alex hummed. "I think that sounds hell of a lot more fun than going to the party." Alex said.

Nikita shrugged. "I'll be fine by myself." She told Alex. "You don't have to stay because you feel sorry for me."

Alex looked at Nikita with a straight face and pouted. "Do I look like someone who feels sorry for anyone?" She mocked.

"No." Nikita replied. "But I'm just saying. If you want to go, you can go."

"Not anymore, I don't." Alex said. "I'll text Sean and tell him I'm not coming anymore. I wanna spend time with my cuddle bear. Is that wrong?"

"Okay fine." Nikita smiled.

She was secretly hoping Alex would tag along to this fun in-house Friday night.

888

After a half hour of working on getting snacks up to the room for their movie night, the two sisters were now sitting on the floor of Nikita's room, in the dark watching Chernobyl Diary. Nikita is often scared of horror movies but Alex usually is the tough one where as though Nikita's off a little bit on the sensitive side, so when she watches scary movies with Alex, she enjoys just making her jump when something is about to happen. She enjoys making her scream in the middle of an intense, suspenseful scene for no reason. It's just hilarious.

After the movie, the girls took silly pictures together, had a pillow fight and ran around the whole entire house after each other for childish reason. Right at that moment, Nikita wished their mother were here to yell after them. It just would've made the memory more fun. Though, after a few hours of fun, Nikita's stomach begins to really hurt that it started to worry Alex.

"See, Ma's always right." Alex said. "If you don't eat, then how do you expect your stomach to not hurt?"

"But I wasn't hungry." Nikita rolled her eyes.

"Yeah and look what that got you." Alex teased.

"Shut up."

"Here," Alex said handing Nikita a bottle with pink liquid inside.

It said shake well on top of the cap.

Nikita shook it as she looked at the name.

"What is this?" She asked. "Is it some kind of potion that's supposed to make me feel better?"

Alex nodded. "Not exactly a potion. But yes, it's supposed to make you feel better." She replied.

Nikita took a sip of her bottle of water after swallowing her medicine. "Thanks." She said.

Alex climbed in bed next to Nikita and laid her head on the crook of her sister's neck with her arms tightly wrapped around her stomach.

"Are you feeling better yet?" She asked sadly.

Nikita smiled at her little sister and kissed her forehead. "I'll be fine." She said. "I'll be all healed in a few minutes once the Pepto marinades."

Alex nodded. "Promise?"

"Promise." Nikita replied.

It was silence. The only audible sound was their even breathing and the thump of their heart beating together as the clock against the wall ticks.

"What are you thinking about?" Alex asked quietly.

Nikita sighed loudly. "I don't know." She replied. "Just some stuff."

"You sound sad." Alex remarked. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

Nikita shook her head. "No." She said.

"Sure?"

"Yeah." Nikita replied.

"Is it Michael?" Alex asked again.

"Why are you so persistent?" Nikita asked. "Goddamn."

Alex chuckled to herself. "So it's Michael?" She guessed.

"Not entirely." Nikita replied.

…

Silence.

…

"I really just miss him, you know?" Nikita's voice came softly after a few minutes. "It's like thing are moving so quick. I just didn't imagine my senior year to be so crazy."

"Why are you and Michael so stubborn though?" She asked. "I don't understand why you guys love each other but can't be together."

Nikita shrugged again. "Hm. I don't know either." She said. "But whatever you do in life, just don't ever fall in love."

"Yay sis." Alex rolled her eyes sarcastically.

…

Slowly but surely, they both had ended up falling asleep hugging each other very tightly. It's one of those times where both of them are happy to have each other, because the bond that they have is truly unbreakable and irreplaceable.

88

She heard a knock on her bedroom door. Sitting straight up on the bed, Nikita wondered who it could be. As far as she knows, it was just her and Alex here tonight.

"It's open?" She replied dubiously.

The door opened and her heart jumped in her chest. It was Michael.

He poked his head in and with a smile, he politely asked. "Can I come in?"

"Um—Yeah. Yeah. Come in." She stammered.

Michael walked in the room. He looked buzzed stumbling across the room next to her. Perhaps it's due to his partying too hard tonight.

He took a seat at the edge of Nikita's bed as his eyes wondered around the room. Still same old Nikita. Everything from the curtains to the sheets of her bed was neat, clean and simple.

"What are you doing here?" Nikita asked speechlessly as she tried to avoid Michael's contagious stare.

He chuckled lightly at her. It's been a while since he's been around her. After their last blow up, he sort of forgot how to be around her and that's very sad.

"I'm not the devil, Nikita. You can look at me." He tried to soothe her. "Alex said you weren't feeling well and my boy Sean was coming over to see Alex and I figured I'd wish you well." He explained. "Don't get defensive or awkward."

"Well I'm fine." Nikita lied. The look of pain could clearly be seen across her face. Or perhaps she's forgotten that Michael could still read her emotions even when she hides them with a smile to confuse a person who doesn't know better. "I don't know why Alex would tell you that I wasn't feeling well."

"You're a horrible liar." Michael commented.

Nikita raised her eyebrows at him irritatingly. "Excuse you?"

Michael smirked as he ran his fingers through his hair. He knows she heard him. Loud and clear.

"And very irritable too." He added. "I almost forgot."

"You know what? If you're just gonna offend me, I suggest you just go." Nikita said.

Michael nodded. "Right." He ignored her sarcastically. "Did you take some medicine?" He asked.

He was truly concerned and even though it was awkward sitting on her bed and be this close to her after what had happened between them last time they talked, he wanted her to feel better. He wanted to help her feel better.

"Alex gave me some Pepto-Bismol. It helped a little." Nikita replied.

"Did you eat something during the day at all?" Michael asked.

He knows Nikita has a habit of spending the whole day without food, simply because her stomach didn't grumble.

"I wasn't feeling hungry." Nikita said.

And she wonders why she was feeling a pinching sensation in her stomach for the past six hours?

Michael rolled his eyes at her. "Stay here." He commanded her. "I'll be back."

But before Nikita could further question him about where he was going and what he was going to do, he left the room after hanging his jacket on her desk chair.

…

Michael went downstairs to cook some noodle soup for Nikita and to get her some ginger ale only to interrupt a make out session that was going on in living room, on the couch.

He wanted to ask Alex if there were any soup left, but he figured Sean wouldn't be happy if he interrupted this moment for him now that he knows that he's had something for Alex ever since she's been helping him with his drug issues.

Smiling to himself, Michael tip toed to the kitchen and quietly moved around until he succeeded to make two amazing cup of noodle soup. He brought them up, carrying a tray in hands to Nikita's room along with a can of ginger ale.

He kicked the door open with his foot only to find her lying on the bed with a pillow clutched to her chest and her legs pulled towards her stomach.

"What's that?" Nikita asked.

"Noodle soup." Michael replied.

Nikita looked at him unbelievably. "It's one o'clock in the morning. I don't wanna eat anything right now to get fat."

"I don't care if you gain a million pounds," Michael said. "Get up. You're eating this and you're gonna love it and it'll make you feel a lot better."

"And if I don't?" Nikita asked curiously.

"There's no if you don't. You will." Michael answered.

"You're a jerk."

"Thank you."

Michael sat back down on the bed and Nikita sat up too. He passed her a set of chopsticks and a hot bowl of soup before digging into his.

"You're sure it's fine that you're here?" Nikita asked.

Michael looked up at her confusingly. "What do you mean?" He replied.

Nikita shrugged. "I don't know." She said. "I don't wanna cause trouble. I guess I'm saying if Cassandra knows you're here?"

Michael laughed humorously. "Cassandra's not my mother, Nikita." He said. "I'm eighteen years old; I'm an adult. I can be wherever I want."

Hmm, adult hunh?

"Of course." Nikita nodded.

"How are you and your lover boy doing?" He then asked.

Nikita glanced at him from the corner of her eyes with a mouthful. Lover boy? She didn't know she had one.

"Who?" She asked.

"Your lover boy." Michael repeated. "You know, tall, blond, British guy." He described. "The one you were making out with in a car one time."

Nice description. Really. Very nice.

"His name is Daniel." Nikita told him. "And he and I aren't a thing." She clarified. "Never were."

"If you say so." Michael smiled.

…

They had finished eating and Michael took their plate down in the kitchen while Nikita was brushing her teeth upstairs. She wasn't sure whether Michael would stay for much longer, but she was hoping he would.

She misses him. Regardless of what their friendship have come to. He'll always be someone she carries forever in her heart.

After a few minutes, Michael did come back. Nikita walked out of the bathroom to find him occupying half the space of her bed.

"Get your hairbrush." He said.

Nikita didn't even bother asking him why because she knew he would turn the simple question into a whole conversation, so instead, he took the brush and climbed in bed next to him.

She pulled the other half of the blanket over her feet then looked at him.

"Come here." Michael said as he took the brush from her.

He pulled her between his laps and begin to brush her long, red hair until they were soft and neat.

Though he's not exactly the best hair stylist, he did manage to put Nikita's hair into a braid before he settled next to him, in his arms; against his chest.

It was silent. Too silent. One of them so desperately wanted the other to say something just so it wouldn't be so silent any longer.

"I—it means a lot to me," Nikita cleared her throat finally breaking the silence. "It means a lot to me that you're here." She said.

"Yeah." Michael nodded.

He knew.

"I know a lot has changed between us this year but-"

Michael had tilted her chin up to look her in the eyes which startled Nikita. He wanted her to know what happened in the pass needed to stay in the pass and that they just had to enjoy right now.

"But nothing." He said. "Let's just be right now."

Nikita nodded in agreement. "Yeah." She smiled lightly. "Let's just."

She was about to lay back against his chest, but then Michael did something she wasn't expecting but had been wishing for, for a while. He dropped his lips against hers and for five seconds, everything was fine when their lips locked together in a tender, delicate, and innocent kiss.

They didn't bother pulling away to look at each other. Michael just hugged Nikita, afraid to ruin the moment. He hugged her, buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathed into her hair, into her neck, enjoyed the sense of warmth he felt and ran his hands up and down her spine.

"I've missed you too."

888

"Hey!" Nikita was being shaken awake. "Dude, hey. Nikita!"

It was Alex's voice and she sounds annoyed. "Nikita, goddamn it, you're suffocating me."

Nikita opened her eyes, only to find Alex trying to get off her tight grip and wiping her cheek.

"And why is your saliva all over my face?"

It took Nikita a few second to realize it was just a dream. A dream she so wishes was real because it was the most perfect world she's been in, in a while.

She touched her lips and realized that, that soft texture she was feeling was Alex's cheek and not Michael's lips. She realizes those arms being wrapped around her weren't his. They were Alex's trying not to be choked to death.

"I—I thought-"

Tears sprung in her eyes and she just broke down, screaming and sobbing into her pillow. And poor Alex was just laying there next to her sister with a dumb, confusing, horrified look on her face at her sister's outburst.

"It was just a dream."

Suddenly, Alex's face changed from confusing to completely sad as she came to the conclusion of what just happened to her sister.

"I'm so sorry."

888

Well this is it. I hope you guys enjoyed that. Next chapter shouldn't take very long to update so I'm also hoping that's exciting news. Reviews are always appreciated so please let me know what you guys thought of the chapter. Until next time, xoxo.