Chapter 30 Alone Together. #2
Below us, Jabari is being swarmed by teammates and cameras. Up here, my best friend is standing next to me after weeks of silence.
I don’t know which moment is bigger.
This time, when Jabari looks up—
He sees both of us. Confusion washes his face and I let him know it’s fine with a simple smile. Which he just responds to with a hand over his heart.
Za glances back at the pitch one last time then back at me.
“You look good together,” she admits quietly. “I hope it works out for you.”
It feels so final.
“I missed you,” I say before I can stop myself.
Her jaw tightens. “I know.”
And that’s it.
After that, as the players lap the pitch, a kid no older than twelve hesitates in front of us, clutching a programme.
He looks at Za first.
“Excuse me,” he says shyly. “Are you Chinasaokwu?”
Za blinks, I could see her brace with her rehearsed lines of letting Jabari’s fans know she can’t arrange a meet and greet. “Um. Yes?”
“You’re going to be in Six, right?”
Her entire face changes.
“Yes,” she says, a little stunned. “Yeah, that’s me.”
The kid beams. “That’s so cool! My sister loves it. I’m so excited to see it with her..”
He runs off before security can shoo him away and Za turns to me slowly.
“Someone recognised me,” she says, voice small and amazed at the same time. “Someone recognised me for me!”
I grin before I can stop myself. “Of course they did. You’re a star, you know.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling now. Really smiling.
Down on the pitch, Jabari looks up at us again.
This time, when he sees us standing side by side—he exhales.
And for the first time since all of this began, it doesn’t feel like someone has to lose for someone else to win.
The tunnel doors open and the players start filtering out toward the family section.
The noise is still loud, but it’s changed now. Less tension and more celebration.
Phones out.
Kids leaning over barriers.
Aunties shouting blessings into the air.
Jabari spots us immediately.
He slows as he approaches, eyes flicking between me and Za like he’s checking for signs of a fresh scrap.
When he reaches us, he doesn’t touch either of us at first.
“You good?” he asks Za carefully.
She nods once. “Congrats.”
He studies her for half a second longer than necessary, then exhales. “Thanks.”
There’s a moment he breathes before Sol and Amin jog up behind him, both still buzzing.
“Oi!” Sol says, breathless. “That was mad.”
“You were greedy at the end,” Amin adds.
“Was not,” Jabari replies automatically.
Sol’s eyes land on Za.
“And who is this, then?” he asks, grin already forming.
Jabari rolls his eyes. “My sister.”
Sol’s grin doesn’t falter. “Right. The famous one.”
Za tilts her head. “Famous?”
Amin steps in smoothly. “We’ve heard all about you. Theatre gyal.”
Za’s brows lift at Jabari. “Oh, have you?”
“I can’t brag on my sister now?”
Za shakes her head, playfully.
“And brag he did,” Sol clarifies. “Apparently you’re about to go on tour and abandon London.”
She laughs lightly. “That’s one way to put it.”
Amin folds his arms. “Six months, yeah? That’s serious.”
Za shrugs, but there’s pride in it. “Serious enough.”
Sol looks at Jabari. “You didn’t tell us she was leng.”
Jabari gives him a flat look. “Relax.”
“It’s alright,” Za smirks. “I can handle myself.”
“Oh, I can tell,” Amin says smoothly.
Sol leans in conspiratorially. “You got a number?”
“Solace,” Jabari warns.
“What?” Sol shrugs. “I’m networking.”
Za laughs properly this time, and the sound is easy. Finally, I breathe.
“Everybody!” Mrs. McKingsley announces from behind us. “We are going back to the house. Food is ready. Come, come.”
Jabari sighs under his breath.
Za’s mum nods approvingly. “Yes. We celebrate properly.”
Sol perks up. “Free food?”
Amin elbows him. “You have no shame.”
My mum steps forward, placing a gentle hand on Mrs. McKingsley’s arm.
“Come now, Taniza,” she says warmly. “Let the young people have their fun. They don’t want hang ‘round us old folks.”
“But what about—”
“Christ woman,” Za’s dad drags. “Let the kids alone and let them be. They got their own lives to live.”
Oh?
I lean into Za, “Did your dad actually speak up?”
Her eyes widened. “I… I’m shocked myself.”
“Hmph!” Mrs. Kingsley huffs. “Don’t call the Her eyes land on her daughter and there is tension beneath the surface.
“Chinaza.”
Za nods in acknowledgment. “Mother.”
Mrs. McKingsley squints at Jabari like she knows exactly what that “fun” might entail.
“You behave,” she says pointedly.
“I always do,” he replies.
I laugh because that’s a lie.
My mum pulls me into a hug before she departs.
“You look lighter,” she murmurs in my ear.
“I feel… better,” I admit.
She squeezes me tighter. “Call me later.”
“I will.”
She pulls back, eyes searching my face. “You sure?”
“Yes.”
She nods once and that’s enough.
The parents disperse slowly, still discussing cooking plans. It leaves the five of us standing awkwardly near the car park.
“So,” Sol says. “Where we going?”
Za looks at all of us, chin lifting slightly. “I’m choosing.”
“Great,” Amin beams.
“Benny’s?” she suggests with a straight face.
Jabari and I both freeze.
Za laughs wickedly at our expression. “Relax. I’m joking.”
Jabari leans close to my ear. “She’s evil.”
“I know,” I whisper back.
She scans the group, tapping her finger on her bottom lip. “Wetherspoons?”
Sol gasps dramatically. “Elite choice.”
Amin nods. “Affordable. Accessible. Alcoholic.”
“Alcohol is haram, fam.” Jabari states putting his hand in mine.
“I mean,” Amin shrugs. “I don’t have to drink it.”
“Then it’s decided,” Za says.
Wetherspoons is loud.
Sticky tables. Neon lights. Groups shouting over each other. The smell of chips and beer soaked into the walls.
It feels like something we would’ve done months ago. When things were different. But this new vibe wasn’t bad either.
We grab a big table near the back.
Sol and Amin immediately start arguing about who’s paying for the first round with Sol making it very clear that he will not allow Amin to disregard his religion for the sake of politeness.
Za stands to order and both of them follow her like loyal puppies.
Jabari watches, unimpressed.
“They’re embarrassing,” he mutters.
I sip my drink. “Your friends?”
“Our friends,” he corrects automatically.
I glance at him. “Oh, we’re sharing custody now?”
He bumps my knee under the table. “Yeah. You’re stuck with them unfortunately.”
“Lucky me.”
At the bar, Sol leans in too close while Amin tries to casually flex his forearms like that’s subtle. Za laughs at something one of them says and tosses her head back, the sound carrying across the room.
Sol and Amin start mock fighting over who gets to stand closest to her.
“Back up,” Sol says. “She clocked me first.”
“Relax,” Amin retorts. “She made eye contact with me.”
“You’re delusional.”
They shove each other lightly, laughing.
But Za already left them both. She takes off for the D.J. booth and a few moments later, the music shifts suddenly and The Winner Takes It All blasts through the speakers.
She climbs onto the small platform near the jukebox like she’s done before and grabs a mic and belts the first line with full theatre projection.
Half the pub cheers. The other half films.
Jabari leans back in his chair, watching the chaos.
“Good or bad?” he asks.
I shrug and use my hands to gesture me weighing the decision. “Fifty, fifty. It’s a sad song but she likes practising her belts.”
“She’s going to tour and terrorise the entire country,” he says.
“As she should,” I reply.
Za hits the chorus, dramatic hand to chest, eyes closed like she’s at the West End.
The pub sings along badly.
Sol tries to harmonise and fails while Amin starts waving a napkin like a lighter.
I lean toward Jabari.
“Za has the opportunity to do the funniest thing in the world with your mates, by the way.”
He raises a brow. “Which is?”
I laugh. “I’ll let you figure it out big man.”
On stage, Za finishes the song with a theatrical spin.
The pub applauds because they’re drunk out of their minds and Za’s probably the best thing they’ve seen all day. She bows dramatically. Then she looks directly at me and winks.
I grin without thinking.
She hops down, Sol and Amin immediately flanking her again like she was a midfielder on the opposite team.
She throws her head back laughing at something Sol says, and for a second I don’t see the girl who begged me to choose. I don’t see the sister I almost lost. I see the theatre kid who used to practice monologues in our bedroom mirror and force me to be her unwilling scene partner.
Yet at the same time, I see a future musical star.
Amin pretends to whisper something scandalous in her ear and she swats him away while Sol clutches his chest dramatically.
This is an interesting sight.
Jabari slips his hand into mine under the table and I relax. It’s subtle. His thumb brushing over my knuckles.
I squeeze Jabari’s hand once.
He looks at me. “What?”
“Nothing.”
He narrows his eyes like he knows I’m having a moment.
“Are you crying?” he asks quietly.
“Shut up, Jabari.”
“Aw,” he coos. “Big baby, you want me to kiss away the pain?”
I scoff. Then climb into his lap.
“The big comment is sooo unnecessary.”
That makes him throw his head back and laugh like Za. “I love you so much, Jelly.”
“Yeah?” I lean in closer for a kiss.
“You love me too.” His breath brushes against my lips. “Say it.”
“Don’t get cocky.”