Unexpected

• Chapter Sixty-Four •

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." ~Oscar Wilde

                             • • •

"Knock knock!" Rolo says as he walks in half an hour later.

"You realise there's no point in saying that when you walk right in." I hear Evelyn respond.

"You're entrance is so important Evelyn. When will you understand that?"

All three of them finally come into view as Evelyn and Rolo bicker.

"The Calvary has arrived!" Rolo yells.

"Is that Rolo?" I hear my dad ask from the kitchen. "Why's that boy always making so much damn noise." He grumbles.

"Hello to you too Mr Callayo!" He Shouts back.

"Get out of my house!" My dad responds.

We all burst into fits of laughter at this since we know my dad doesn't mean that. Rolo is like a son to him and is just treating him as such.

"Jokes aside, I called you over here for a reason. Rani showed up at my house a few hours ago with her face soaked in tears. I have no idea what's wrong with her so I thought it would be best if all of us were here for her." I say.

"Has she told you what's wrong?" Evelyn Asks.

I give her a blank look, "I literally just said I don't know what's wrong with her."

Evelyn clicks her fingers, "Oh yeah!"

I shake my head and roll my eyes at her but don't reply.

Instead I walk up the stairs knowing that they'll all follow and lead them to my room where Rani is surprisingly still asleep.

"How long has she been sleeping for?" Ana whispers.

"Almost four hours." I reply back just as quietly.

"Wow." Evelyn Says.

Rolo walks up my bed and leans down so that his face is directly above Ranis. Before any of us can stop him, he shouts in her face.

"WAKE UP!" He yells.

Rani jolts up in shock and bangs her head against Rolos hard.

"Ow!" They both shout.

"Why's your head so hard?" Rolo asks.

"Why were you so close to me?!" Rani fires back.

Rolo wisely keeps quiet.

I pull him back and away from Rani which allows her to notice everyone else.

"Why are you all here?" She wonders.

"Keziah told us you were upset." Ana Says.

Rani flings herself backwards on my bed and covers her face with her hands.

Knowing she's about to speak, we all take a seat around my room on my desk, chair and bed.

"My parents found my box of half empty condoms." She blurts out.

"Uh oh." Ana stupidly says.

"How did they find them?" Evelyn asks.

"My mum decided to clean my room for me. She somehow managed to find this even though it was on the top shelf in my wardrobe in a box which was in another box."

"That's probably why she found it you idiot." Rolo starts. "It obviously looked suspicious."

Rani purses her lips in thought before sighing.

"How much trouble are you in?" I ask tentatively.

"They practically kicked me out of the house." She responds with a sob.

Ana moves closer to Rani and wraps her arm around her shoulders for comfort.

"What? They wouldn't do that." Evelyn adds incredulously.

"You don't know my parents Ev. They said, 'don't come back until you're no longer this whore.' They said I'm a disgrace to the family and a disgrace to the culture. So I packed my bag and left."

By this point, more tears are soaking Ranis face and dropping onto my bed.

All of us smother her into a tight hug while she lets it all out.

"Don't worry Rani, you can stay here." I say while rubbing her back. "My parents won't mind."

"T-thank you." She forces out.

We all keep comforting her for a while longer when my phone starts ringing. I detach myself from the group and pick up my phone which somehow managed to end up on the floor. I press answer and listen as Abel's voice floods through.

"Hey Keziah." He says deeply.

My eyebrows scrunch in confusion immediately at his use of my name rather than the term of endearment or nickname I'm so used to.

"Hey Abel."

"I was hoping we could go out later? I need to talk to you." Abel's voice sounds strained and thick, almost as if he's about to cry.

"Is everything okay?" I question worriedly.

Abel swallows through the phone, "Yeah it's fine i just want to see you."

"I'd love to but something's happened with Rani and I can't leave her right now. Maybe another day?"

This time, when Abel speaks, he sounds distraught, "Yeah, maybe. I'll see you soon and know that I love you so much." He whispers before hanging up.

I stare in confusion and concern at my phone. There's this nagging feeling inside of me that feels like something wrong. That almost sounded like a goodbye.

"Who was that?" Rolo Asks.

"It was Abel, he was asking to meet me. He sounded... different. I don't know how to explain it." I naw on my bottom lip and scrunch my brows in thought.

"If you're worried about him then go and see him. I'll be fine." Rani says.

I immediately disregard the idea, "No way Ran, I'm not leaving you. I'll see him another day."

She throws me a grateful smile that I return yet I still can't shake off this bad feeling that I have.

Abel has been acting strange over the last few weeks and now this? It can't be a coincidence right? But surely he would have told me if something was wrong. I have no idea what to think and even though I do want to go over to his house and question him till he spills everything that I know he's hiding from me, I can't leave Rani like this. What kind of friend would I be?

It'll just have to wait. It's not like he's going anywhere.

                              • • •
A/N:
Things are getting a little bit strange around here...
Was Keziah right to stay with Rani? Or should she have met up with Abel to check on him?

Please like and comment!