One Last Chance

Two: Getting life back on track

It's so cold at this time of the season. I don't know why I chose to travel at this time, I should have travelled when it was much warmer, but I need to deal with this before I go back home.

My new home to be precise.

It has been my home for the past three years and I know it's nothing like my home country, but it gives me the comfort and peace of mind that I deserve.

My dream country, France.

At first it was a little hard to cope up, because of their national language, but I was familiar with a few French words so, it wasn't that hard.

After I was set free by that amazingly beautiful judge, I served my six months of community service, stayed in the country for another six months, since the court had ordered I would leave the country only after six months of serving my sentence. The moment I was allowed to leave the country, I didn't look back.

I check the clock again. It's a few minutes past five and Joe is not here yet. I told him when my flight was supposed to land, but he just had to disappoint me, well since it's just him and Seline who know I'm back in the country, I don't have a choice but to wait for him.

I keep checking the entrance to see if I can see him but he is no where to be seen. I will skin him alive the moment I set my eyes on him. He can't keep me in this cold for this long.

My luggage is so heavy, I'm giving Joe just five minutes, if he won't be here by the time, I'm just taking a taxi. I'm tired and sleepy and cold. I can't keep waiting for him when he might be asleep.

I pull on my trench coat and beanie. They don't help much but they keep most of the cold out. I'm rubbing my arms to gain some heat when I spot someone walking towards me. They are in a black hoodie so I can't see them clearly.

His physique is almost like Joe's but I know Joe's walking style and that can't be him, so I mind my own business. It's probably a passer by. I turn my attention on the other passersby when I feel a grip on my suitcase.

I turn to look at the person in horror.

"Need help with this ma'am?" His voice is so hoarse, he sounds like one who's coming down with a cold.

I'm holding on to my suitcase firmly as I shake my head.

"No, I'm fine thank you." This guy is scaring the hell out of me.

Like why would he just grab my suitcase out of the blues? I know his type. They pretend to want to help you or pretend to be taxi drivers when all they want is to steal from you.

I know the bag has nothing important, just my clothes, of which I can buy new ones but I'm not going to let him take what he hasn't worked for.

"You've been standing here for a while, I'm sure you need help with these. I have a taxi just over there."

"I said I'm fine!" I raise my voice at him but he doesn't seem to be shaken at all.

He tries to pull the suitcase from my arm but I'm holding it tight. My fingers are aching from the struggle.

This is not a taxi guy, I'm so sure of that. He is some smuggler. Trying to take my things from me.

"If you don't let go off my bag, I'm screaming right now." I mean every word that is coming out of my mouth right now.

"No one will hear you." I hate how he doesn't seem to be shaken.

And the worst thing is that the people around don't seem to notice anything fishy going on here.

I swear this type of people still scare me. After what happened with Chris and the number of times he attempted to kill me in the past, I'm always scared of people showing up in the dark, especially when they are trying to steal from me, like this guy.

"Let go!" I yell at the top of my voice and when everyone turns to look at me, the guy bursts into a long sacarstic laugh. He pulls off the hoodie and I just want to kill someone right now.

"f**k you Joseph."

He played me. Someone remind me why this guy is still my best friend?

It's been three years and he's changed a lot, I must admit he looks more handsome, he has even grown a beard.

"You should have seen your face." He says as he laughs even harder throwing his head back.

"It's not funny Joseph."

"It's Joe." He says and bursts into another laughter.

He's such a jerk.

"You scared me Joseph, don't even laugh." He thinks it's funny, when my heart is still beating from the incident.

"I'm sorry." He tries to hug me but I move away. I'm still mad at him.

I don't know how he managed to pull that off. How he managed to change his voice.

"Come on Mona." He tries to hold me but I move a step back. I'm not letting that go, easily. I could have had a heart attack. He is my best friend, he should know I don't like getting scared after everything that has happened to me in the past.

"Don't touch me, and FYI I dropped that name. It's Pascaline." He knows I no longer use that name. I've told him severally.

That name has a lot of memories that I'm planning to leave behind for good. Hence I had to drop it.

"You really expect I will call you Pascaline?"

"That's what you used to call me before the movie, so, I'm sure you can manage." My voice is cold. Well it's so normal. He's kept me here in the cold for about and hour and then he tries to play a stupid prank on me.

"I'm sorry, okay?' I scoff and look away.

Whatever.

"I'll take the bags now." He says nervously and grabs the bags and starts walking away, I follow suit. He walks to a black range rover sport, the newest model.

It's new I can tell from it's number plate. He told me he was planning to buy a new car so this must be it. It's cute. I won't tell him that because I'm still mad at him.

He puts my bags in the trunk of the car just when someone gets out of the car. The person who gets out is definitely someone I didn't expect to be with Joe at this time of dawn.

"Hello Tyson."

"Hello Miss Stephens."

The seriousness in the voice.

"You can just call me Pascale." He lets out a sigh breath and turns to look at me with a smile.

"Thank God, I was worried of always addressing you with your sur name, it's not that easy." I laugh slightly and shake his hand when he offers it for a handshake.

"How was your flight?"

"Tiring but okay, I guess."

I'm still trying to figure out what he is doing with Joe, I didn't expect they will get this close.

"So, how did he manage to drag you to the airport at this time?" I ask the question that has been lingering in my mind.

"I didn't drag him, he came willingly." Joe says giving Tyson a warning look which makes me suspect if he came willingly.

So, here's the story, Tyson sort of saved Joe, when he was told to clear the mess, he found out that Joe was still breathing, he did all he could to save his life, and he knew if Trevor knew Joe was still alive then he would have him murdered. He never wanted me to find out the truth. Tyson's words though. They never gave me the whole story because I was going through a complicated period in my life. All I know is that, Tyson and Joe have been friends ever since.

"Honestly I wanted to see you, it's been three long years." Tyson says and he surprisingly pulls me into a hug.

I take a moment before I hug him back.

Forgive me but this guy always scared me from the first day I saw him with Trevor so, it's not going to be easy getting along with him.

He is a bouncer, his body alone is enough to scare me.

"That's enough Ty."

Ty?

Okay.

"You still mad at me Mona?"

"Pascale." I quickly correct him.

"Sorry."

"And yes I'm still mad at you."

I know I can't be mad at him for long, but I can pretend to be. Besides I'm a good actress, I can pull it off.

"But you have an amazing car."

"See, I knew you'd love it." He says with a grin.

I'm happy that my friend is getting his life on track. He graduated, about a month after he came walking in to the courtroom alive and kicking. He's now one of the biggest producers in the country, and he works for Local Television Network. Yea, the same one that I cracked my knuckles open in the washroom four years ago.

He is living big, and I'm so proud of him.

He is the hands behind the new movie that we are planning to release soon. Exactly what brought me back in the country. To launch it. He did most of the work while I was away. And let me just say, he is good at what he does. He is a thousand times better than Todd.

I don't talk to Todd much but Beatrice, we talk once in a while.

My biological mother?

Well, she was in shock that I was involved in her daughter's death, let's just say I cut ties with her. I don't know where she is and I don't care. If she was my mom she would have been there for me like Beatrice was. Especially during the court hearings.

"Can I hug you now?" Joe asks snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Of course." He pulls me into a hug and maybe it's been long since we hugged but dude has grown, I can even feel his abs.

"You work out?" I ask as I pull out of the hug.

"Of course."

"Courtesy of me." Tyson says and Joe smacks him on the shoulder.

"Come on man, you know you would be having a belly if not for me." I can't help but chuckle.

Tyson is more fun than I thought. Case closed.

"We should get you home."

"Yea." He unlocks the door for me to get in as Tyson unlocks the driver's side.

"Ms Stephens?" Someone calls my name from behind and when I turn, the cameras start flashing.

Damn the paparazzi.

How did they even know it was me?

"She can't answer your questions now, get lost!" Joe orders them but they keep coming at us. More of them are joining them.

I thought I would get into the country without them noticing me, but this people tend to always know everything.

"Just a few questions." A lady in a pink sweater speaks.

"Not now."

Tyson gets out of the car and they both shield me with Joe.

"It's okay guys, a few questions won't cause harm." This people live on getting information from people like us so I better help someone put food on their table.

"Are you sure?" Joe asks and I nod.

"You have three questions, make it quick." Joe tells them as he moves away from me.

"Ms Stephens, are you back in the country because of the new movie? and if you can tell us more about it." The same lady asks.

"Yes, it's about the new movie, but I will communicate more once I'm settled in, next."

"Are you back in the country for good, or you're just visiting." Another journalist asks.

"I'm only visiting, once I'm done with the movie I will go back home." It's home for me Joe gives me a surprised look but I ignore him.

"Next."

"What's your comment on the marriage between your ex boyfriend, Mr Mulwa and your former PR officer Charlotte?"

My eyes shoot wide open and everything around me stops moving.

He's married?

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