Toxic relationship

Chapter 8- Reality

I meet Lan near the gas station. He asks me whom my favourite artist is and I tell him it's NF and I tell him he's hosting his show tonight and how I wish I could attend it.

He offers a ticket and upon seeing it I freak out coz it says VIP. I can't say no coz NF's the reason I'm still alive today.

We get into Lan's jeep and drive to the concert centre.

I check my time and it says past 6pm, the concert starts at 7, so we hurry and push through to the front.

"You always this alone?" Lan asks me.

I think of it for a second.

"I mean ya, but it doesn't bother me, coz I can speak to whoever I want whenever I want." I say brushing it all off.

"Why ask?"

Lan just shake his head.

NF comes to the stage and starts by performing 'when I grow up'. I enjoy the song and sing along until he starts singing 'Why would you leave us"

I can't hold myself now, so I begin to shed tears.

"Hey, hey, hey." Lan says as he caresses me at the back.

"You ok?" He asks looking into my eyes.

"Yes" I node.

"Just that it reminds me so much of my mom. I miss her you know."

"It's ok, I got you"

He says giving me a hand.

The song ends and he sings another'Time.'

I get rid of the tears and sing along. Lan looks at me with a confused look.

"What, I like that song:

' I'll be here waiting

I promise I'm changing..."

I continue to sing along. Then my attention shifts to Lan again.

"You were saying..."

"You're nuts." Lan says.

"I know right, I mean, there's time for everything and besides, I can't let sorrow take control over me. I'm only in sorrow when I'm supposed to be."

"Y'all enjoying this as I am?"

NF asks and there's a lot of noise coming from the audience in agreement I also shout.

"So I need someone to sing with me my song 'Remember this '

Alot of people raise their hands in the air including me.

"NF please pick me!" I say jumping up and down.

"Real, you sure about this?" Lan asks me.

"Well, that's easy pissy." My focus switches to NF again.

"Real, millions of people will be watching you."

"Let them, why d'ya even care Lan."

"You're right " Lan says.

I continue raising my hand and screaming up until I see NF's attention shift to me. He then points at me and I get really excited and he beckons me, I look at Lan filled with excitement. "He's chosen me!" I say in excitement. I take my phone and hand it to Lan.

"Here,get everything on camera."

And without wasting time I rush to the stage and a certain lady searches me first and then off I go. NF hands me a mic.

"You ready?" He asks.

I look at him and take a deep breathe.

"Never been readier." I say in between laughs.

"Cool, can we have the beat?!" NF says to the DJ. As soon as the beat drops I start to sing, giving the best of my life.

'They say when you grow up'

' you'll understand when you're older '

'guess I'm still a kid I don't know yet '

'if I'll ever let go of this '

The people start cheering and I swear I sounded better than NF.

NF fans sorry, no offense.

After this song NF gives me his autograph and I tell Lan to take a pic of us then I go offstage. An hour later the concert was over and I was still over the moon. I and Lan got on our way out.

"You still didn't tell, how was I ?"

"Well... not so bad."

I frown by that comment, you know you can be more sencere .

"You were great, didn't know you could sing too."

"Well then.... SURPRISE!" I say.

"It's so chilly out here." I say tryna cover my arms.

Lan takes off his basketball jacket.

"Here, this will keep you warm." He says putting the jacket around me.

"Wanna grab a drink, it's Friday." Lan says.

"Sure." I say.

"You 18 yet?" He asks.

Wait, Lan's tryna act like a dad now, I mean who cares whether I'm 18 yet or not, it doesn't matter, so I make up my mind.

"Most definitely." I lie.

"Come on"

We enter the bar and order some shots. Lan just has one.

" More"I say.

"You sure you've done this before?" Lan says on my third drink.

"You mean this?"I say chuckling. I think I'm already drunk.

"One more please." I say to the bar tender.

"Real, you're already drunk." Lan says.

"Lan, you need to trust me, ok babe?" I say smiling and touching his cheek.

"Fine, this will be the last one." He says. His attention then shifts to the bartender.

"Give her one more, I'll handle her."

Just like that I get one more.

"So Lan.. you don't really know me right, you just know I'm Real, you don't know even know where I'm from."

"Umm.. ya" Lan says tryna figure out what I'm talking about.

"So... I'm from Atlanta and we're alot of kids at home"

"Like how many?"

"Let's see...Tace, Stormie, True..." I say holding out my fingers to calculate.

"Those names?"

"Yeah, family's quite crazy right?"

"Crazy, it's cool."

I continue explaining to him alot of things like we're four girls at home, that's me(Real), True, Erica and Stormie and two boys Tace and Taylor. And that Tace is a bondex name of my mom (Tanya) and dad's (Jace) names. And that Erica has a different dad from all of us and that Taylor's mom (Jessica) is not also our mom.

I also tell him that the reason I'm there is coz I wanna find my sister Erica Banks who's a basketballer and at the NBA. Mom always called her Heaven. I also tell him to help me find her.

"Here that song Lan, that's my favourite!" I say excitedly.

"Wanna dance?"

"Umm.." before he could complete his answer I pull him to the dance floor and he puts his hand on my waist and he puts the other on my shoulder. I also take my position and we start dancing, it is now that I realise how drunk I am. I then realise my lips and Lan's have met. It is a deep but gentle kiss. The kiss ends and I decide to spill the beans.

"Listen.."I whisper in Lan's ear.

"I lied, I'm a minor" I say and he looks at me wide eyed.

"What?! Come on we need to get you out of here!" He says.

"Don't worry Lan, It's ok."

"It's ok... imagine if the cops find that out. Come on."

Lan holds me by the waist and I hold his shoulder and he helps me walk to his car. I ask him the time and he says it's 1am. I tell him to stop the car some metres away from my place.

"I'll manage from here." I tell him as he helps to walk to my place.

"You sure?" He asks and I say yes, then he lets me go.

As I try to walk I trip.

"Come on I'll help you." He says holding my waist.

"D'ya think I'm talkative?" I ask.

"Dunno, never had time to analyse.

"Ohk... Lemme tell you what I think of myself, I feel like I'm sugar, which easily dissolves and sweetens everything. Should I describe you?"

"Sure "

I sigh .

"Fine.. Lan is like vinegar, sorta sweet and sour at the same time, coz you don't smile even when you do something good." I say laughing.

Lan does react, he just sighs.

"We're here " he says.

"If you need someone to trust and freely talk to,then I'll always be there."

"Don't make promises you can't keep." He says as he's about to leave.

"I know nothing about your moods, but one thing's for sure, they've taken control over you. Anyways I meant what I said. I'll be available to talk to. Good night." I say and then get into my U-Haul house.

*********

I wake up with a headache. I check the time and it says two in the afternoon. Last night I got really drunk I don't remember what I said or did. But I remember Lan was sobber, he might remember everything. A chill of coldness runs through my spine as I wonder how much trash I must've said or done last night. I remember the last time I got drunk I revealed quite a lot of secrets. I just hope I didn't do the same last night. I check my phone and find four messages and a dozen missed calls from Lan. I open my Inbox.

Text 1

It's Milan, just wanna check up on you.

"Jesus freaking Christ, it's Lan!"

I decide to go to the next text.

Text 2

I hope you're ok and please do text back to show that you're ok.

Text 3

If you're mad about last night then don't take it seriously. That kiss meant nothing.

A chill of coldness runs through my spine, kiss, what kiss? This means I and Lan kissed last night. Oh God, I don't know how I'm gonna face him now. What will he think of me. Fine that's in the past. I assure myself and take a deep breathe. Cool... What a perfect way to destroy our friendship. I then go to the next text which is also the last.

Milan

Listen Real, if you're ok just hit the damn keyboard and tell me you're ok coz it's freaking me out now =⁠_⁠=

I sigh.

"Too much for a f****d up girl like me. The thing is I don't got courage right now, anyways, can't run from the truth."