Reins Off

"OMG!!! This is your room? No way" I exclaimed, almost shrieking.

"Oh god, yes! This is my room. I can't believe you are my room mate. Wait a minute, this is too much if a coincidence. Did you have the Mrs Kimberly pair us up or what?" She asked, both surprised and excited.

"Mrs who?" I asked, puzzled.

"The ady who gave you your room de--" She started but I didn't let her finish.

"Oh, that lady". I chimed in. "Well, I most certainly did not"

"Wow! It's almost like we are destined to be--"

"Great friend?" I interjected, cutting her off.

"Yup, looks very much like it" she said, shutting the door. She walked to a stand and hung her bag.

"I'm so glad that I'm rooming with you though, and not some crazy hat or self centered bitch. Hmmm.... looking at you, I can tell you are normal, tolerable, friendly, some kind of fun but yet reserved thingy going on there but I can totally deal. Don't get me wrong but I'd rather not have to deal with bullshit from someone I have to room with".

"You are majoring in journalism, right? Because you talk quite a lot and you pretty much say whatever that comes to your mind, don't you?" She asked, laughing lightly.

"Yup, that's me. Plain straight forward. Like I said, I hate bullshit and I have no idea what I'm majoring in, yet. Though, to be honest, I expected the person whose room looks like this to be all bitchy. Surprised you're not. Who was it again that called me fancy?" I asked, still amazed that a dorm room could look, like a seven star hotel and more.

"I did, especially with that name of yours. Sounds all princess-y".

"What? Do I bloody look like one?"

She looked at me up and down then shook her head.

"Oh, hell no. Just a saucy brat with that mouth of yours". She said.

After that, I didn't say anything but just stared at her, trying to look not-so-happy about her calling me a saucy brat. Actually, I only wanted to see her reaction and how long she could hold out.

Believe me, she was game because, she held my stare until both our faces broke out into a smile and in no time, we were laughing our asses off. I couldn't have asked for a better room mate.

"I like you" I said, throwing her a bar chocolate which she caught mid air.

"I like you too" She said, unwrapping the chocolate bar and taking a bite.

"We are so gonna rule this school" I said, plumping down on my supposed bed, while she did the same on hers.

"Slow down tigress, you sound like a mean girl right now". She said between munches.

"Ya, I knew their type, they were nothing but bitches"

"Typical mean girl text book. Trust me, you don't wanna be that". She said finishing off the chocolate.

"Have no intention to, don't even have it in me". I said, and we both fell silent.

I couldn't help but think of Cherry and how much I missed her at the moment. This used to be me and her, it was supposed to still be me and her, to the ends of the world and back but life had other plans.

"Earth to Zie" Kendra said, calling back my attention. "Are you okay? Where did you go to just now?"

"I'm okay. It's just us, sitting down and talking like this, made me remember my best friend Cherry. We were supposed to go to the same school. We had it all planned out, down to the last detail. All the fun we would have, boys we would get to meet, etcetera. Unfortunately, things turned out differently" I said, a nostalgic feeling overwhelming me.

"I'm sorry about that. You must really miss her..."

"Very much but at least, I have made a friend here so I won't feel so alone. You'll get to meet her some time. Moving on. Shouldn't you be all prim and proper? I gotta say, you look anything but". I still couldn't believe this was her room, she looked and acted so...ordinary.

"Actually I am not at all any of that. This room belonged to a daddy's girl who didn't feel anything was worth taking, when she graduated. I was paired with her when I came in and she was in her final year. When she left, she left with just her boxes of clothes. I do miss her though and she was not so bitchy. I'm very sure you two would have gotten asking just fine"

"Hahaha, I doubt that". I said, fake laughing.

I jumped down from the bed and grabbed my car keys and my phone. I still had stuff to get from the car...

"My stuff should be here by tomorrow but I could only manage to bring a few things which are still in the car".

"Okay, I'll give you a hand" She came down from her bed, grabbed her phone and we headed out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tired from the day's hassle, I lay down to sleep when it occurred to me that I hadn't yet informed them like I promised, that I arrived safely.

"Shit" I swore and went in search of my phone which was still in the back pocket of the jeans I wore today, dumped in a heap with the rest of the clothing I had worn.

"What's up?" Kendra asked, coming out of the bathroom.

"I forgot to tell my parents I got here safe, they would be so worried. Oops...."

"Battery's dead?" she asked.

"Yup, so dead. Just like I would have been too if I wasn't miles away".

I found my charger, plugged my phone in then turned it on. The moment it came on, my phone started beeping as one message after another, kept coming in.

"Okay, here goes". I said, picking up my phone.

"So, got messages from...Cherry, Mom, Dad, Cherry, Cherry again, Amy, Josh, hmm...Damien? And Mom".

"...and, I missed mom's calls twelve times, dad's seven, Cherry's twice and....why the hell did Damien call me five times? Five freaking times!"

"This 'Damien', I'm guessing a past boyfriend?" Kendra asked. She was sitting at the exquisite vanity table with her back to me, brushing her hair. So, she couldn't see my face twist in disgust at the thought of me and Damien, together.

"Eww, he wishes" I replied, dialing my mom's number. I waited, listening to the ringer go on and on and just when I thought she wouldn't pick, she picked.

"ZIELA PHOEBE BENSON!" Mom said the moment she picked up. She only used all my names when she was really mad at me, like really really mad.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED YOU HAVE MADE YOUR FATHER AND I? YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO LET US KNOW WHEN YOU ARRIVED. YOU DIDN'T CALL--"

"Mom I'm so sorry, it wasn't--"

"YOUNG LADY, LET ME FINISH! YOU DIDN'T CALL OR PICK, OR REPLY YOUR MESSAGES. WE THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO YOU"

I moved the phone a little away from my ear, not wanting to go deaf from my mom's loud voice.

I looked at Kendra which was a grave mistake. She was making silly faces that made me start laughing, hard. I had to muffle the sound with my pillow or I would certainly have become a dead girl.

"Okay, that's enough dear" I heard dad's voice over the phone but a little far away and knew the shouting was over. Thank God.

"Hey baby" He said, much closer this time.

"Hey dad, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I forgot to inform you guys, I was just so overwhelmed after I got here. First I got lost like a million times, then I ran into a rude girl, who just frustrated me further. Thank God I met Kendra who helped me out. Then the truck arrived early, thought it would be tomorrow but it came today so I spent the rest of the day, unpacking and settling in. Again, Kendra, who ended up being my room mate, was a huge help. I didn't even notice when my battery died, I was so caught up to remember I was supposed to call".

"It's okay sweetie but next time, remember to do the needful, whatever that might be. You had us on our toes over here."

"I'm so sorry dad" I could hear the worry in his voice and it made me feel really bad. I had gotten so caught up in settling in that I hadn't really thought of anything else.

"Kendra, is your room mate?"

"Yes dad. She is super nice and already helped out a lot today".

"That's great to hear. We are happy you have made a friend already, can we speak to her? At least to thank her."

"Uhhh... is that really necessary?" I signaled to kendra, then mouthed the words, They want to speak to you.

Why? She mouthed back.

"Yes it is. She's been good to my daughter and so I would like to speak with her, get acquainted and thank her also".

To thank you... I mouthed again.

Sure, why not. Kendra mouthed back, excitedly, like she was about to 'meet the parents'.

"Okay dad but can I speak to mom first?"

"Sure sweety, she can hear you already. It on speaker"

"Oh, okay. Mom? I'm so sorry. I got carried away--"

"I heard all you said Zie, please don't be so careless next time and I'm sorry I raised my voce at you. I was just so worried, worried something might have happened to you. I'm glad you are okay and safe".

"I am mom". I say, gently.

"So, made a friend already, have you? Told you you would make tons of friends" I could hear the smile in her voice.

"It's just one friend mom, just a one".

"Well, I say you are off to a great start. Can we speak to this friend of yours now?"

"Okay, just a second". I called Kendra over then switched the call to speaker.

"Okay mom, dad, you are on speaker".

"Hello Kendra", mom greeted but only silence followed. When no reply came, I looked at Kendra and saw she had on a blank look. Like she was there but not there.

"Hellooo... Hello Kendra". This time, it was dad who spoke. I watched as her eyes widened, then her phone dropped from her hand, giving off a thump sound which would have sounded very differently if the floor wasn't rugged.

All of a suddenly, she started holding her chest like she couldn't breath properly. I rushed to her but before I could get to her, she fell to the ground, looking lifeless.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SOMEWHERE OUT THERE

"Hello Father" I greeted as I entered the dining room. Father looked up from his meal and his face spread out into a wide grin, at the sight of me.

"Son!!! There you are, come join me. Let's eat together" He gestured to the seat next to him on the right, which was where I always sat. He signalled to the servants to serve me some food, after which they were ordered to leave.

"My son, I have missed you these past few days, I am overjoyed to have you sit here with me like this. What have you been up to?"

"I'm afraid I have been up to no good Father" I replied, shoving a chunk of meat into my mouth.

"I heard. Drinking, clubbing and I'm sure I counted up to eight girls, or were they more?" He asked, amusedly.

"Technically seven. The last girl was so drunk, she threw up everywhere then passed out all night so she cannot be counted" I laughed at the memory thought at the time, I was utterly disgusted.

"Well Son, you are a man and once in a while, men need to cool off. I do it myself..."

"Ya, you're not exactly 'quiet' about it" I said and he chuckled.

"Yes, my point is, it is okay. In fact, it is necessary for a man to have these phases but there after, a man must focus on what he must do". He said, his face becoming serious. He dropped his fork then leaned into me...

"Son, I hope you have had your fill because now, it's time to get back to work. You know your sister cannot be left alone for too long, I do not trust her to not...fuck things up. So, you are going to go back and keep an eye on her, make sure everything is going according to plan and you my son, better keep your head in the game. I let you have all your fun but now, that's over. Understood?"

"Yes Father" I replied, feeling a flutter of excitement in my chest. I had no problem whatsoever with his request, in fact, that and more I would gladly do. The thrill of it all was like a drug to me, feeding me. I would give anything up for that thrill, anytime, any day and he knew it.

He looked at me carefully, studying my face. I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me exactly what he saw. He smiled then relaxed back in his chair...

"You know what, have the week. Instead of tomorrow, you leave next week. Here..." He handed me a black card, which was a step up from the usual. "There is more money in there than you can ever spend. Buy anything except a house or an apartment, I need you close to her your sister at all time. You must look after her".

"I understand Father" I said, keeping my excitement at bay.

He dropped a set of keys which led to the special underground garage. "Take whatever car you want. In fact, take two or more. You know cars, they can be so unreliable when you need them. Don't disappoint me son"

"I never have and I never will". I said, standing up. "May I be excused? I need to go get ready".

"Of course son, you can go and remember, have fun" He said and against my wish, I found myself smiling from ear to ear. I left the dining room and took two steps at a time, up to the suite I and the boys stayed in.

"Guess what!!!" I shouted, overjoyed. They looked at me blankly for a while and then slowly, Alex smiled. He was the smartest of us, always first to catch up on things. Maybe it was his observation game which was on another level.

"We are on?" He asked and I nodded. Getting a yelp from Henry.

"We leave in a week but that's not even the good part" I said and they looked at me expectantly. I brought out the black card and the keys and their eyes widened. This was definitely a step up. "All reins off guys, we are all in!"

"Niceee..."

"Sweet..."

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Author :)

Hello fam, hope you are enjoying this book. Let me know what you think, please leave comments and don't forget to vote. Thank you ✌