Young hearts

"You went to a party?! That late?!" My aunt asked once we walked into our house. Uche's dad had mentioned how the cops had been to Kim's party and how he thought Uche would be there at the party after not being in his room but some girl mentioned that she had seen me leave with Uche.

I could swear on every dollar I had in my pocket right now that it was April. My aunt had laughed it over at the car but I knew I was in trouble.

"I didn't go alone," I argued and noticed how Nick froze on his way down the stairs. He gave me a 'don't you dare' look. I rolled my eyes.

"Right, you went with Uche." My aunt folded her arms.

"Well, yeah. But not just with him..." I stopped and looked in Nick's direction. His eyes were warning me not to mention his name and I couldn't even comprehend how his mum didn't know he was at the party too, if she knew I was there.

"What?" My aunt asked after I stopped halfway through my last sentence.

'Don't' Nick spoke quietly. I read his lips and almost laughed.'I'll owe you a favour.' He whispered lastly to me before his mum turned in his direction after I looked his way for too long.

"Nick, were you aware of this 'party'? Because I'm really surprised you were not there." His mum turned to him and left me for a while.

"What party?" Nick asked like he had no idea.

"Well, at one of your friends' house. Julie, what's his name again?" She turned back to me.

"Kim." I was happy to help out.

"Yes, Kim."

"Really?" Nick asked with a 'surprised' act."Kim threw a party and didn't even invite me? That..."

"Where you having issues with him like you're with Uche? Maybe that's why he didn't invite you." I decided to help him out, showing him that I was taking his offer.

"Yeah, I haven't been talking to him." Nick caught my lie and went with it, but then, he decided to be Nick and fuck me up with his mum."I can't believe you went to a party without inviting me, Julie."

I raised my middle finger at him quickly before my aunt turned back to me."That's not even the point. The point here is that you, Julie , went out of this house, that late without my knowledge. What if something had happened to you?" 

"I'm right here and fine, aren't I?" I defended and she stood, hands akimbo.

"Now, I know where your headache came from. You drank at that party last night, didn't you?"

"It was a party, of course I drank," I got annoyed by her questions.

"..." She became speechless and licked her lips, then she looked away like she was about to say something unforgivable."That's it, you're grounded."

I scoffed,"I'm grounded? Really?" I couldn't believe her.

"Well, good for me. At least, I get to spend my Sunday sleeping and relaxing." I shrugged at her and pushed Nick aside to continue my way up the stairs.

"Ohhhh no, your punishment isn't for a day only. You're grounded for the whole of next week. You're not allowed to leave this house once you get back from school." She let me know before I went into my room and shut my door loudly so she knew I was mad.

Angry, I walked to and fro in the space in my room. I couldn't get myself to calm down so I screamed and kicked my bedstand, but I only ended up hurting my leg.

"Stupid bed!" I limped in pain and sat on my reading chair, then I pulled my leg up to my chin to look at my my throbbing toe. It was my big toe, and it was all red now. I would show my aunt so she could helpbbutji was mad at her. And I don't even want to pet Uche know because then he'll find out I was punished after I told him I was fine in his father's car on our way home from the station.

I wonder what he's doing. I decided to call him. He didn't pick on first ring, so I called again, impatient to hear his voice.

"Babe?" I heard him finally call from the other side of the phone. His sounded sleepy. I could tell from how deep and hoarse his voice was.

"Are you sleeping?" I asked.

"Yeah. I didn't get to sleep this morning after I left you." He explained."Why did you call? Anything happen?"

"Nah. I just felt bored and wanted to hear your voice," I bit my lips."But I guess I'm disturbing your sleep so I better leave you to it."

"Or you come over and we could cuddle up under my blanket and..." He paused when he heard me laugh.

I was laughing at the fact that he had no idea I was grounded, and his dad was around. No way on earth I was willing to share a bed with him with his father there.

"What?" He asked.

"Your dad's home, Uche." I reminded him and heard him groan, still sleepily.

"So? Doesn't mean my girlfriend can't come over." He said and it went silent between us for a second till he spoke again."Or do I come over to your place. Is your aunt going to mind me going up to your room?"

"Just get some sleep. We'll do that another time," I answered instead of being honest with a 'yes', because I knew damn well my aunt wouldn't allow it, not while I was grounded.

***

Sunday afternoon.

[Come downstairs, I'm at your place] 

I looked at my phone and saw Uche's message. I immediately opened my room door and went to the top of the stairs. He was really there.

He smiled at me and I returned a fake smile because I didn't know if to be happy or not that he was here.

"Why didn't let me know you were coming here?" I joined him downstairs.

"I did."

"Yeah, just now." 

"I missed having you around." He said in defense.

"Who let you in, my aunt?" 

"No. I came in myself. Knocked and no one answered so I sent you the text and came in. I don't think the others are around."

"They are," I was sure. I went back upstairs and knocked on Nick's door. No response came. He would usually say "leave me the fuck alone, Julie", but he didn't so I opened his door and peeped in. Nick wasn't there.

I made to turn around and go back to Uche but met him face first behind me. He had joined me upstairs."Is he there?" He asked.

"I don't know, he's not on his bed." I shrugged as I whispered."Maybe in the bathroom?" 

"I'll check." He said and walked past me, about to go into the room but I held him back.

"He's still mad at you." I told him but he just scoffed and went to the bathroom. After some seconds he came back."He's not here," he announced."Probably out with the other guys."

"Did the others stop talking to you too because of Nick?" I asked when he closed the door to Nick's room.

He didn't answer immediately. He actually avoided the question."Let's take a walk. Maybe get ice cream together?" He asked and shoved his hands in the pockets of his baggy jeans.

I sighed. I couldn't go with him, and I didn't want to tell him I was grounded either so I just stood there and looked at his face; looked into his eyes. He didn't blink for a while, he just laughed and looked away.

"Answer my question," I took a step closer to him and looked up again so I could still look him in the eyes. Maybe if I brought attention to his ignoring my question, I could avoid telling him I was grounded for a week.

"What question?" He didn't look away this time.

"Did your other friends stop hanging out with you because of Nick?" 

"No." He answered and ran his fingers through his curly hair, messing it a little bit. He was lying. I could tell, something in me just told me he was.

"Are you lying?" I asked knowing it would be hard for him to lie twice now.

"Julie..." He called and halted to take in a breath."Can you just get a jacket so we can go? We can go anywhere you want."

"I don't feel like going anywhere," I said immediately him and heard him sigh.

"It's not because of Nick," He left me standing where I was and went and sat mid stairs on our steps."I broke the bro code. I'm dating you so..." He trailed and it was just his loud breathing for some seconds before he continued."...and you know what? I really don't give a fuck. I just wanna be happy with you." He turned his neck to me.

I looked at the floor to avoid looking at him. I felt horrible. I shouldn't have asked him to keep our relationship secret all this time. I shouldn't have. And now, I can't even go out with him for a walk.

"I'm sorry," I muttered with tears welling up in my eyes. I sniffed and went to join him in the stairs, then I wrapped my arms around him. He returned it, warming me up and bringing me closer.

We stayed like that for a while till my hormones started to build up. I sat up and shoved his hair away from his face, then I kissed him. Slowly, I sucked on his lower lips, wanting more after every time my lips left his.

I leaned in again, going for his upper lips and he took control without warning, claiming my lower lip and sucking the breath out of me. I tugged at his jacket, wanting more than I could say.

"Couch?" He asked me after my lips left his and I nodded.