My parents got home around some minutes after 7pm. I walked down the staircase in ash joggers and a small top.

"John!" My mom called out.

"Yes sweetie" my dad hollered back.

"Is spaghetti okay for you?" My mom asked.

"Yes but put a lot of pepper" my dad replied as I chuckled and sat down on the counter in the kitchen.

"How was school today?" My mom asked.

"Boring and normal" I replied.

"Everyday is boring to you" My mom said laughing and I watched her move around the kitchen.

"How's the hospital doing?" I asked.

"Fine. We have a cancer patient due for operation in a few days" myom replied as I nodded.

I wanted to be like my mom, I wanted to be a surgeon but I wasn't good at science subjects. The spag cooked quite quickly and we all sat down at the dining table to eat.

We were all used to my dad's love for pepper and we had adjusted and also come to love it. There was no jug of water near us as we ate the extremely pepperish food.

"I got zero in Maths test" I said.

"Zero?" My mom asked as I nodded.

My dad raised his head from his spag and glared at me.

"You'll have to start taking extra classes" my dad said as I pouted.

"They didn't help the last time, did they?" I asked as I stood up and walked to the water dispenser.

"You are going to repeat if you continue like this" my dad replied.

"I got promoted to SSS2, I'll get promoted again" I said as I gulped down a cup of water.

"What if you really repeat?" My dad asked as I shrugged.

"We'll change her school then" my mom said with a yawn.

"There are lots of schools here " my mom added wiping her mouth.

"You don't even care about your daughter" my dad bellowed and I cracked into laughter.

"My birthday is next month" I said happily.

I was really anxious to celebrate my birthday. Maybe after I clocked sixteen, the girls were finally going to accept me. I smiled at the thought. Gani would no longer use her sarcastic comments on me, Josie wouldn't insult me for no reason, Kunmi wouldn't always snap at me and what's more Temi would treat me like I didn't exist.

"Yes o, my beautiful daughter is going to be sixteen" my dad cooed as I smiled.

"We will be celebrating it right?" My dad asked as I nodded.

"Sure" I replied with a huge grin.

"Who are you going to bring by the way? You don't have friends" my mom said laughing as I glared at her.

"Who told you? My friends are really popular. I just have to use their connections and our compound will be swelling with teenagers" I boasted.

My mom widened her eyes in mock horror "Is that true? Whoa! My daughter has started to build her connections" my mom said as we all burst into laughter.

I laughed at my statement internally. Gani would refuse to help me and still heap all kinds of comments on me, Josie wouldnr probably spare me either. I doubted if Temi would even glance at me if I said it, well Kunmi; she'll probably go with the flow.

For the first time since I was excited to celebrate my birthday; I was startled. If I had no friends to come and celebrate with me; how would it look like? Gani would mock me to the heavens. Even if I decided to celebrate, most of the teenagers would be my mom's friends children who I didn't know or never spoke to.

The place would be swarming with a lot of elder people. The girls wouldn't spare me. Remembering how elaborate Gani, Josie and Temi's birthday parties were, I didn't want a party swelling with elder people.

I packed the plates and walked to the kitchen. I quickly washed the plates and rushed to my room. I opened I and the girls group chat and found them already chatting.

Kunmi
Where's that girl sef?
8:29pm

Josie
Who knows?
8:29pm

Gani
She's probably watching her stupid cartoons.
8:30pm

Me
Hello
8:34pm

Temi
Donald said he likes you
8:35pm

Me
Who's Donald?
8:35pm

Gani
Didn't you hear when the guys introduced themselves?
I thought you had ears?
8:37pm

Me
Sorry, my mind wasn't there.
Do you have a picture?
8:37pm.

Temi
No need, just come with us to Dallas tomorrow, you'll see him.
8:38pm.

Me
Dallas?
8:38pm

Temi
Stop asking me stupid questions.
Guys, dm.
8:40pm.

I knew better than to send any message after that. I knew they had another group that I wasn't in. I had confronted Josie when I found out and she told me I wasn't legible to be there. Until I was sixteen.

I laid on my bed as I tried to remember who Donald was. I tried to remember the boys that had come with Dare but I couldn't come up with something. I smiled slightly at the thought.

Someone liked me.

Even if I didn't know who the person was or anything; it felt nice that someone liked me. I giggled internally as I dragged myself to my reading table. I flipped my Physics textbook open as I tried to do some calculations under motion.

I didn't get any question right, not even one. The formulars were all wrong and I slammed it shut before powering on my PC and picking my air pods from my drawer.

I clicked on Doctor Stone and sat down excitedly to finish watching it.

I scowled at the driver who was late again. Although Josie didn't give any time yesterday, I knew I was going to miss that day's morning gist. I ran out of the car as soon as the car stopped inside the school.

As I expected, I had missed more than half of what they were saying and couldn't even catch on. They laughed among themselves and I forced out a laughter along although I had no idea about what they were saying.

"Why is this laughing?" Gani asked.

"You always come late" Josie said with a frown.

"There was traffic" I replied.

"Girl, you lie too much. Today it is traffic, tomorrow you woke up late and repeat. Don't you have any lie to tell again?" Kunmi asked as I swallowed my saliva.

"We are going to Dallas during break" Temi said

"Break?" I asked.

"Didn't you hear me? Don't you have ears?" Temi retorted and I managed a smile. I had to leave them and go to my seat when the bell for first period was rang.

It didn't take long for break time to come. I adjusted my skirt and my hair as we walked out of the school gate. I slipped my pass into my pocket and noticed that my chips was still there.

I wanted to laugh but I didn't. I became increasing anxious as we walked into Dallas. I found a rather handsome boy seating down and waiting. He stood up when he saw and gave me a brief smile.

"Hello Rachel, I'm Donald" He said stretching his hand for an handshake.

"Nice to meet you" I said slowly.

"We'll leave you two alone" Temi said as she and the rest walked out leaving I and Donald alone.

I turned to Donald wiping my sweaty hand. I gave him a small smile as he motioned for me to seat down.