Chapter song;
Shameless by Camila Cabello.
••☆••
" Mhmm....." Neacky cleared her throat, deeply exhaling . William had sounded so sincere that she almost took his words serious.
" Now those are punch lines Vanessa needs to hear . " Neacky said.
William chuckled.
" i am being serious, Neacky," William said .
"You're not a person one can figure just by staring at your face or talking to you for an hour or so," William said .
" It's like you have layers. One has to peel as they get to know you," He added.
" an onion," Neacky smiled, reaching for her shoes.
" and just like it , i bring tears with each layer." She widely smiled.
William scoffed with a chuckle.
" No, for real. Why are you here? " Neacky asked.
" Just needed somewhere else to be than class, then i saw you in here," William said .
" What are you doing?" William added.
His eyes glued to the ballet shoes Neacky was bending and hitting hard on the floor .
" they are new , so i am preping them," Neacky said .
William gazed, moved to her one leg stretched out to the side . William gazed at the cones and blusters on her foot .
Neacky raised her,noticing his eyes on her foot.
" Not pleasing right," Neacky said.
" No..it's....."
" Not typical girls' feet . They are rough , with cones , blusters, and sometimes wounds. " Neacky didn't give a chance to say.
" i used to hate them , i hated exposing them to anybody because they were all most people looked at with judging faces," Neacky added.
"So whenever i was out the ballet studio, i always wore socks or boots even when it was summer . " Neacky said.
" There was this guy i fucked , he was disgusted by the feet in the morning and asked me to always keep my socks on "
" What the ...." William angrily reacted.
" and you still went ahead to date him " William asked.
" no , that was the first and last time but his words left scars. I got so insecure about them that i kept my socks with everything guy after him" Neacky sadly chuckled.
"Do you still hate them " William asked.
"I like my feet, they are my strength and on them i feel the most alive and powerful. But i guess i got so used to hiding them that i do it unconsciously sometimes " Neacky smiled.
" i think they are beautiful " William said softly reaching for other shoe.
Neacky laughed .
" you don't have to ." Neacky smiled.
"My dad , Mr Wood , Kalvin and Amir have done a great job appreciating my feet whenever they can. They have healed those words " Neacky smiled .
Neacky deeply exhaled .
" Dad used to prepare a warm bath just for my feet , he used to take care of them every once a week. " Neacky sadly smiled.
" What was he like?" William asked .
" Whoah....." Neacky heavily exhaled.
" It's been a while since i talked about him . I don't know what's with me now, " Neacky sadly said.
" You can talk about him. I would love to hear more about him. " William said.
" it's okay to miss him, Neacky." He added.
" Bend it tightly." Neacky completely changed the topic to her shoes.
William stared at her face quietly. He deeply inhaled , realising she wasn't ready to talk about the late father.
" Like this " William asked bending the shoe.
"Hmm.." Neacky said,
" then you cut gently here and pull out the mental " Neacky added.
" anha " Neacky smiled .
Amidst teaching William how to prep the shoes , the door was opened an a lady stepped inside the ballet practice room.
Her pale blonde hair perfectly held behind , she was so sophisticated from head to toe.
" Are you done with stretching " she asked standing before the mirrors staring at them.
" Yes," Neacky smiled, not raising her eyes staring up at her .
William turned his head, meeting eyes with the lady .
" i am preping the shoes," Neacky added.
"Ah..." Neacky suddenly remembered.
" Will, this is my mentor and ballet instructor, Madam Abigail," Neacky said .
" Madam Abigail...."
" i know him," Madam Abigail cut Neacky off .
William turned, staring at Madam Abigail with a scowl on her face .
" Nice to meet you, Madam Abigail,"William smiled.
" I think you are done here your highness. " Madam Abigail coldly said.
William raised his eyeborrow shocked by Madam Abigail's coldness.
" Don't mind her," Neacky mouthed.
"I would also appreciate it if you kept your distance from Summer " Madam Abigail said as William stood up to take his leave .
William chuckled standing up before Madam Abigail.
"You have an issue with me, Madam Abigail," William asked.
" Madam Abigail," Neacky quickly stood up ,holding William's hand, stopping him .
" He is just a friend. He is part of my friends group . There is no need to go off him like the other boys, " Neacky said.
" Nothing good comes from involving people like him. He will only be trouble for you, " Madam Abigail said .
" People like me," William scoffed with a smirk
"Again, he is just a friend. I am also not planning to play with him, " Neacky said .
" You can go , Will." Neacky turned to William.
William widely smiled, amused by Madam Abigail's comments.
" See you later, Neacky," William said , his eyes on Madam Abigail. He then turned and majestically walked out of the ballet room.
" that was uncalled for " Neacky said to Madam Abigail.
"He is not good for you. He will only bring you and the career your trying to build trouble " Madam Abigail said , sticking to her words.
" i am more worried about me and my career, please relax " Neacky said , sitting down again putting on her ballet shoes.
Madam Abigail deeply exhaled .
" Let's start," Madam Abigail said.
Madam Abigail changed music. Neacky stood to get started with the dance.
After an hour or so , the school siren went interrupting Madam Abigail class with Neacky.
" Let's resume in the evening," Madam Abigail said .
" Alright," Neacky said, heavily breathing with her hands around her waist .
Shortly after taking a breather , Neacky resumed from the top of what she had been learning .
" Can I interrupt you a little?" Babi opened the ballet room door loudly asking .
Neacky heavily breathed, turning at the door . Neacky marched to the front turning off the music .
" I am so sorry," Babi softly said walking closer.
" What are you apologising for?" Neacky asked .
" For worrying today...actually always worrying you," Babi said .
"I am glad you know, and you're not forgiven," Neacky said.
" I promise to be more open to you," Babi softly said.
Neacky scoffed in disbelief.
" Stop fluttering me," Neacky said. She walked over her bag and was sitting down next to it, untying her ballet shoes.
Babi breathed out heavily , and she walked over close to Neacky, sitting down next to her.
" i am serious, i am nolonger going to hide anything from you . I am cleaning to you " Babi softly said .
" Why did you go at Wood's?" Neacky asked .
" Did you miss dad that much?" Neacky added.
Babi leaned against the wall deeply inhaling .
" I do, I miss him so much ,almost every day," Babi said softly.
" I miss him so much too," Neacky admitted sadly .
" Every night i come out of the ballet studio, i still see him where he stood waiting for me to come out. And i wish he would actually be there" Neacky added tears in her eyes.
" I wish he were around too ,cause there is so much I want to tell him," Babi sadly said.
Their father's passing left a huge and deep wound in their hearts, one that has failed to heal despite the time that has passed.
Their father was a father , a mother, and a best friend to Babi and Neacky. He gave them the world with lots of love no one has filled yet.
"Forgive me," Babi said underneath her breath.
Neacky turned, staring at Babi .
" For forgetting that when he left , you never left .You're my twin, I shouldn't lock you out or get angry at you for trying to live," Babi softly sadly.
" Why are you saying all this now ? Are you leaving me soon?" Neacky asked, sounding so petrified.
"HAHA..." Babi chuckled.
" i am not going anywhere," Babi added.
" then why the fuck are you being unlike you . " Neacky asked
" i have just said i am going to be open to you " Babi smiled.
" actually Amir is angry with me and has made me realise i am making the same mistake with you " Babi said .
" so had Amir not been mad at you , you wouldn't have opened up " Neacky asked with a frown on her face.
"I had been thinking about telling for days now. So my argument with him showed me i shouldn't postpone it any longer, " Babi said .
Neacky sighed , packing her ballet shoes in the bag.
" I started talking to J again. He was the one i was with last night, not at Wood's,"Babi said.
" Huh!!!!!" Neacky shouted in amusement and shock .
" So you weren't lying the other morning when you said you were talking to him," Neacky said in disbelief.
" No ... wait....you are even meeting him. " Neacky added. Her brain was processing that with lots of questions.
" Yes," Babi giggled .
" BABI!!!!!!," Neacky shouted in excitement.
They laughed about it. Neacky was still dumbstruck by this .
" Holy shit ....the rest are going to flip," Neacky laughed.
"I don't intend on them finding out yet," Babi hesitantly said.
" Oh..." Neacky exhaled, realising it was still a secret, not from her but to the rest.
" Why were you fighting before?" Neacky asked .
" My mood swings , my attitude. It was definitely me throwing fists at him," Babi said, feeling so embarrassed.
Neacky laughed hard .
" it's the reason for this change in attitude and happiness." Neacky laughed in joy.
" I guess so." Babi said, both bursting into laughter . Babi covered her face, feeling even more embarrassed, which made Neacky laugh harder.
" why are not asking who he is " Babi asked.
" Will you tell me if i ask?" Neacky also asked.
"As much as you are being transparent about it , i know you ain't gonna be completely transparent. " Neacky said.
"But that's the crucial part of it," Babi said, sounding so sceptical.
" what do you mean " Neacky asked.
Babi deeply inhaled, she was anxious about how to say what she wanted.
" You will never forgive me if i don't come clean today," Babi worriedly said, nibbling her lower lip.
" What .." Neacky exhaled very confused.
" Josiah," Babi nervously said.
Neacky looked at Babi even more confused.
" Josiah," Neacky repeated .
"J, the name is fully Josiah," Babi said , definitely giving the name as an innuendo of who J.
"You make it sound like i know who the person is," Neacky said , still not clicking .
"You do," Babi exhaled.
Neacky frowned, clenching her face in thought of who Josiah was.
" HOLY SHIT...WHAT....." Neacky shouted in shock on finally getting it.
Neacky's eyes popped her jaw hitting the floor, extremely shocked .
" You're kidding ..." Neacky unbelievably said.
" i kid you not " Babi anxiously said.
" Fuck what...out of all people , he had to be mom's other son " Neacky said , very in disbelief.
" You don't have to put it like that " Babi said .
Neacky quickly turned staring at Babi .
" B, he is like a son to mom. Your best friend Marieh is apparently engaged to him, and his motherfuckin mom is scary as shit " Neacky anxiously emphasised.
" So, no. It only gets worse. " Neacky exhaled worriedly.
" i know " Babi exhaled .
" i don't want to imagine what will happen if the rest find out. Especially that crazy woman . She will skin you alive " Neacky said.
" i hear you " Babi sighed helplessly.
" i thought hard about this. I had sleepless nights thinking about it. So i cut him off. " Babi said.
" Yet here we are, and i feel like i can survive cutting him out of my life again . I have known him for more than a decade. " Babi sadly added.
"So you gonna continue dating him?" Neacky asked
" Oh...hold up," Babi immediately stopped Neacky.
" we ain't dating. He is my best friend, " Babi said .
" Um.... bitch " Neacky laughed .
" are you trying to convince me or yourself that you literally don't like him a little more than being best friends " Neacky said.
Babi laughing heavily.
"i swear, it's not like that," Babi smiled.
" hm.." Neacky smiled.
" i am too scared of where to go from here that I don't know what to do," Babi exhaled.
Neacky sighed.
"Thank you, for telling me and not leaving me in the dark," Neacky softly smiled.
" Aren't you mad ? It has taken me this long," Babi asked.
" Had i found out later on after more has escalated, i would've been so mad," Neacky smiled.
" Thank you." Babi smiled
" But at least nag and blame me for being so reckless. For being so close to Marieh's man, and having no guts to tell her, " Babi said.
" Is that the guilt speaking?" Neacky asked.
Babi stared at Neacky, accepting .
" Don't be," Neacky smiled.
" You have known Josiah long before you were friends with Marieh. " Neacky said.
" he was yours before Marieh's," Neacky smiled.
Babi giggled lightly.
" So you're telling me to be unapologetic about it?" Babi asked
" Yes. " Neacky smiled.
" Had i been in your shoes , i would do exactly the same, " Neacky smiled.
" Besides, it's clear she has something brewing with Amir," Neacky added.
" i am going to do that." Babi widely smiled.
Babi deeply exhaled in relief , she had finally told the sister the truth .
" You have my full support and while at it. Before extra careful, " Neacky smiled.
Babi smiled . It was lovely having a female to talk to and not just anyone but her sister.
Neacky's mind had something else running in her head and was bothering her .
She heavily sighed, staring at the floor, contemplating saying it.
Her mind ran back to the night at the club.
Nathan and her got extremely cosy and intimate while on the dance floor that night .
" Nathan and i kissed." Neacky finally said it .
Babi turned, looking at Neacky .
" i know , " Babi exhaled softly.
" What..." Neacky quickly turned to Babi extremely shocked and in disbelief.
"I saw the two of you kiss on the dance floor," Babi said .
Neacky scoffed in disbelief.
"You know how hard that was killing this whole time worried about how you will react," Neacky said .
"Why were you worried about my reaction. Why does that even matter? " Babi asked .
" Nathan likes you, Babi. " Neacky exhaled.
" i don't know if you don't know or choose to be oblivious to the fact," Neacky added.
" i know. " Babi replied , sounding very unphaesd.
" but i also know. You like him, Neacky . In fact, the only guy i have seen you actually like, " Babi said, staring into her eyes.
Neacky gulped ,pulling her eyes from Babi, looking down.