The foursome looked at me like the decision I was going to make was going to prevent rapture. Vincent's look seemed to say: just talk yes, na one trouser we go enter while the looks of the remaining three seemed to plead with me.

"Make it fifteen," I demanded. Vincent rubbed his palm on his forehead muttering 'oh my God'.

"Ah ah Nairobi what are you doing with fifteen thousand?" Ms. Daniels mused.

"A lot ma. Five thousand naira is my compensation since you guys forced me to put up with him," I shrugged.

"Naomi you are something else," Mr Palmer chuckled.

"Sir it's Nairobi!" I snapped. The adults seemed surprised. Why wouldn't they be? A student just got angry because of a name. "I'm sorry sir," I apologized immediately. The man left me wondering how he memorised the name Naomi.

"It's alright."

"Fifteen it is. Fifteen thousand every month –-". We're going to be rich, my heart sang. No more pathetic horny drunk men. Vincent's father must be very rich to be willing to give up fifteen thousand to a sixteen year old.

Well that's because he loves his son, my inner mind said.

I heard Vincent mutter under his breathe, 'waste my mother's hard earned money' bitterly.

"-can I have your account number dear?" That was a problem I didn't foresee.

"Uh. . .sir, I don't have one."

"Really? Every child should have an account number," the man said. Well this child didn't.

"You can give him that of your parents. But do tell them to open one for you," Mr. Palmer suggested. I played with my fingers. I didn't have a parent with an account number, obviously and I didn't know if Dinma had any. Even if she did, I'm not mad to let her know about my monthly payment. I'll only end up using five percent of it – if she wants to be merciful.

"I-I don't know their account number," I stuttered. I could ask to be paid in cash but won't that be. . .somehow?

"Okay. You can submit it to your form teacher on Monday, she'd forward it to me," he suggested. I wanted to tell him that I would prefer cash but I decided against it. Richard might be able to help. Mr. Adebayo glanced at his obviously expensive wristwatch before speaking, "I have to go now. I have a board meeting at the office." He stood up and turned to Vincent.

"Ayo, can you escort me to the car?". Vincent looked like he was going to say No because he was frowning like hell but he agreed. He has been like that since his father arrived. I was forced to believe that the two had something going on. The teachers and I bade Mr. Adebayo goodbye.

Ms. Daniels turned to me, "You are a naughty girl Nairobi. I thought you would have said you'd do it for free since he's your classmate.

"Free keh? No way."

Mr Palmer laughed. "Anyways, I'm suggesting you guys start the lessons on Monday. It would be fair, there's no time again. The school is planning on either making the GCE compulsory for your class or taking a mock examination at the end of the session," he informed me.

Vincent walked into the class, his face more relaxed than before – by a fraction. "Are we not done?"

"No sir. Come and sit your butt to this seat now." The boy grumbled something before doing so.

"So we're planning-" correction, they were planning. "-on letting her tutor you after school and on weekends," Ms. Daniels explained.

"Weekends?" I and Vincent chorused. He seemed more panicked than expected. "But that wasn't part of the deal," I lamented.

"You didn't hear all about the deal besides you'll be paid finely for it," Mr Palmer shrugged.

"But it's not fair to me. Weekends are my resting days and after spending weekdays together more than needed, I will need a break from him."

"Nairobi –-" for once the man called my name right. "-–you are overreacting. You're acting like the both of you are sworn enemies. Just to spend some hours at his home to help you guys revise-"

"My home? God I knew it!. Ms. Daniels she can't come to my home," Vincent complained.

"Vincent this is for your own good. What the heck is wrong with you?" Ms. Daniels snapped. "The only person meant to be complaining here is Nairobi for goodness sake!"

"Ms. Daniels you don't understand!"

His raised voice angered the woman that she stood up. This took everyone by surprise, even the few students in the class. I noticed some of them trying to act like they were no interested in what's going on.

She pointed at him as she spoke, "Vincent don't you ever raise your voice at me. What don't I- Sir, please let me be," she said to Mr Palmer. I just watched on with interest. The man continued calming her but she didn't deter. "Vincent what don't I understand? You're taking everything everyone has tried to do for you for granted - me, your mates, your teachers and EVEN YOUR FATHER. It's getting on my nerves."

"My father? Fuck this shit I'm out of here," he cursed standing up from the seat he occupied.

"Vincent!" Mr. Palmer scolded. The boy didn't say anything but left the class. The few of my mates there watched him as he left. I had the feeling I'd make new friends today.

Ms. Daniels however sat down and held her head like she had a headache. Well, she did mutter something about the boy giving her migraines.

"So. . ." I trailed off. Should I apologize to Ms. Daniels? No way. It was Vincent's mess and I was not cleaning it. "So um I'm going to the library. I need to return a textbook." Mr. Palmer nodded for me to go on and I left immediately.

I met the girls coming to class when I left the library. By girls, I meant Jessica, Amanda, Aliyah and two other girls, Chioma and Lydia from the commercial and art classes respectively.

"Madam you just ditched us," Jessica said handing over a wrapped sandwich to me. It was like a routine for her. She was always giving me snacks when I can't make it to the cafeteria – which was like almost all the time. Yeah, we were already that close though sometimes she still frustrates me. Almost the same for Amanda and well Aliyah, not that close. I think she was afraid of me. The other two girls were just hi and hello friends. Nothing more.

Taking the goody from her, I replied, "Thank you. I didn't ditch you guys. The meeting just took longer than expected."

"So what was it about?" Amanda asked.

"Amebos." I chuckled. "Well they wanted me to tutor Vincent - of all people."

"Really?" The girls squealed except Amanda.

"No fakely."

"But why you?" Amanda asked. "I-I mean you're new."

"I asked the same question. Vincent too. He said there was CJ but they claimed they would get distracted. Okay Jessica, they said she was scared of him- oh and if I may ask why?"

"The guy hit her one day because she was poke-nosing," Lydia laughed.

"It was last year. You should have seen her crying when she went to report like a baby," Chioma laughed also.

"I wasn't poke-nosing and It's not funny. That hit was brutal. Can't you guys remember that my face even got swollen."

"It was collateral damage," Aliyah added touching Jessica's face and laughing a bit.

"Aliyah you are evil," Jessica whined. I just had to laugh with them. Amanda however didn't laugh but folded her hands across her chest.

"I guess Amanda doesn't find it funny", I teased trying to tickle her. She did break a bit. "Ehen if I may ask again, Amanda do you have a crush on Vincent?" I asked as we entered the class. Lydia and Chioma joined us.

"N-No."

"Yes," the rest of the girls chorused making the few people in class turn to us. It was then I even noticed Ms Daniels and Mr Palmer were no longer in class.

"That was the reason behind the hitting of Jessica ni. Mandy sent. . .mmhm. . .mmh. . ." Amanda used her palm to close Lydia's mouth.

"You talk too much!"

Lydia removed the girl's hand from her mouth, "I'm an aspiring CNN newscaster. So as I was saying...mmhm..." Amanda did it again.

"Mandy sent a letter to Vincent who got angry and-"

"No!" Amanda shouted.

"Mandy, they've started the story already just let them finish it," Jessica laughed.

"God, I hate you guys," she huffed.

" Come on, continue with the story," I demanded.

"He embarrassed me. Then Jessie tried to stand up for me and things got destroyed in seconds," Amanda completed.

I laughed, "Aliyah said collateral damage, you say it was destroyed in seconds. Was the face that bad?"

"Imagine someone using a bag of hardened cement to slap a fair girl," Aliyah told me.

I had to laugh hard. "o boy. E be things o" I said in pidgin.

Just then a boy, I've never talked to in my life just pulled up a chair and sat with us.

E be things.

✧෴✧

E be things. What do you guys think about Vincent?. Why do you think he doesn't want Nairobi to come to his home?

Don't forget to vote, comment and share.

Merci,

Ann♪