Chapter Three
1188 Words
'Coming,' Zoe said placing the book she had been engrossed in all day on the sofa and walking towards the door.
'Oh my gosh,' she screamed. She had completely forgotten that Nathan was coming today.
'Nathan,' Zoe screamed and threw herself at Nathan hugging him tightly.
She released him and yelled out, 'mum Nathan's here.'
She could hear her mother's hurried footsteps down the stairs.
'Nathan, Amanda screamed, oh Nathan, my son, my doctor,' she said hugging her son tightly.
She was grateful her son was back, and not just back but he was back a doctor.
She kissed his temples, 'bless you my son, You've grown so much,' she added touching his chin beard.
'Yes,' Zoe said agreeing with her mother.
Nathan just shrugged and smiled. 'That's life,' he said.
And so handsome Zoe added hugging him again. 'We've missed you so much Nathan', she said.
Nathan pecked her temples and hugged her. 'Where's our playboy?'
Zoe smiled, 'you mean Collins.'
'Who else but Collins,' Nathan answered pulling her hair softly.
'Collins has gone out to keep an appointment with a girl,' Zoe replied smiling. It felt good snitching on Collins.
Nathan just smiled and dad, he asked.
Immediately Zoe heard this her countenance changed, she looked at her mum waiting for her reply.
'Your dad travelled for a meeting, their mum said. He might not return today.'
'Aren't you hungry,' she asked suddenly changing the topic.
'Extremely famished,' Nathan replied.
'Then freshen up so we can all eat.'
'I'll go with you,' Zoe said quickly.
'Zoe your brother needs some privacy, their mother said. You're not a little girl anymore. Help him take his bags upstairs and come down immediately, I need help in the kitchen.'
'I've heard you,' Zoe replied.
'Don't just hear me do as I say.'
Zoe took her brother's bag and led him to the room, she laughed out when he said she was walking him to his room as if he was some stranger in the house.
She dropped the bags and was about to leave, when Nathan stopped her.
'You're not thinking of going to meet mum in the kitchen are you, he said.
'You heard her', Zoe retorted.
'Don't be silly Zoe, haven't you seen a guy undressing or dressing up?'
Zoe just looked at him wide-eyed
'Don't give me that look, Nathan said. You're not a kid, you're 16.'
'15, not yet 16,' Zoe said
'All the same.' Nathan just laughed, their mother had done a good job raising a good girl who was ignorant of what fun was.
'What do you do for fun?' Nathan asked grabbing a towel and undressing.
'Hmm.. read a book, why are you asking.'
Nathan laughed softly, he was expecting that sort of reply from her.
'Reading a book isn't something you do for fun Zoe,' Nathan finally said walking into the bathroom with a towel on his waist.
His shoulders were broader than before and his skin fairer, Zoe noticed.
'How's dad,' Nathan asked from the bathroom.
'He's fine, Zoe answered quietly. What's your phone password'
'Guess,' he answered.
Zoe hated guessing, ' you can just tell me without making me guess.'
'Then you don't want to open my phone,' Nathan answered.
'Fine, your birthday.'
'No,' Nathan replied.
'Your mother's name,' she tried again.
She still got a no from Nathan. What the hell was his password.
'Your girlfriend name,' she said smiling.
'No.' Zoe laughed inwardly, she was just starting. He wanted her to guess, then guess she would.
'Hmm.. lemme think again, Zoe said. Your crush name.'
She still got a big no from Nathan, she held her laughter, she was starting to enjoy the game. He still wasn't tired.
'The love of your life name, she said almost laughing out.'
'Gosh, the way you think baffles me Zoe. Nathan said catching the humor in her voice. She was playing with him. I'm surprised you didn't add my f*****g partner to the list,' he said with the intention of making her uncomfortable.
'Nathan, she screamed.'
'Zoe,' he screamed back laughing.
'Okay just tell me, I've tried enough don't you think'
'Zoey,' he yelled back.
Zoe was getting tired with the games, 'I've guessed enough' she whined.
'I know Zoe, the password is Zoey, Z-O-E-Y,' he spelt out
Zoe burst into laughter.
'What's funny,' Nathan asked coming out of the bathroom.
'Nothing, it's just surprising.'
'What's surprising, that I used your name and not my f*****g partner as my password,' he said laughing
Zoe just frowned and ignored, she had been expecting Nathan to be better than Collins but it turns out that he was no different.
'I knew I was right, Collins said coming in. The scent lingering in the sittingroom isn't mum's or dad's and definitely not Zoe's revolting perfume. Welcome bro, he added hugging Nathan.'
Zoe just looked at him itching to respond to his comment about her perfume. 'like yours better than mine.'
Collins just laughed, it brought him great joy when his word got to his sister. If he was asked what were his best moment, he might find himself saying times like this were his best. Teasing Zoe to the point where she she could stand it no more. ' I'll recommend one for you.'
'Please we don't want you recommending any of your numerous girlfriends perfume,' Nathan said smiling. He had teased Zoe enough, he did not want Nathan to continue from where he had just stopped.
'Hah.. and who told you I have girlfriends, Collins said smiling widely.' He looked at Zoe still smiling, 'seems like someone here has filled you with my life story, he said laughing. Hope she told you about hers also.'
'I don't have anything about myself to spill, she threw back at him.'
'Oh yes you do, did you tell him you have a crush on my buddy, OB.'
'I don't have a crush on any of your friends. All your friends are useless just like you and I don't have time for useless boys.' Zoe knew he wasn't far from the truth, she had always liked Obadiah from a very young age, and she has done everything within her power to always avoid him anytime he was visiting.
They had been friends while growing up and had their own times together, but coming to a certain age and then the feelings backed up by his reputation, Collins and OB were the school playboys. She didn't want to get hurt and the best thing to do was to stay away from him.
'Zoe, Nathan, Collins aren't you guys coming down for dinner,' Mrs. Balogun called.
'We're coming mum,' they replied in unison. Zoe was the first to rush down, giving Collins a warning look before leaving.
If looks could kill, he would have been six ft under the ground already.
He smiled and winked at her, no matter how hard he picked on her, he loved her so much and he was not going to let anything happen between her and OB. He wasn't going to let her get hurt.
'Such a drama queen,' Nathan said laughing.
- Writer
