LAST DAYS

It was the last day of the examinations. The examinations went well so far and I was grateful for that. Most of my classmates broke their pens and cheered like they had just concluded their final exams.

I went over to my locker to retrieve the books and brochures I had to return to the library. I decided to take some textbooks home and study during the holidays.

Stepping into the library, I saw Chijioke talking with a random girl while arranging some books on the shelves. I was tempted to turn back. I didn't talk to any of them again–I didn't talk to the boys neither did I talk to the girls. The meant to be reconciliations and reunions didn't go well so I just gave up on the friendship. I had nothing to lose.

Right?

I took my first step backwards then my second before Chijioke's eyes met mine. He offered me a small wave. I didn't return it before rushing out of the library. I could always return the items next semester.

Since there was nothing to do until we were allowed to leave school premises, I decided to go to the field, just sit on the bleachers and let the breeze caress me. On my way towards the exit of the school's building, I saw Jessica coming out of the cafeteria with a medium juice pack and a chocolate coated donut. I missed her getting me lunch from the cafeteria.

"Naya."

I ignored her and walked past her. Ever since I learnt the reason behind her coldness, I didn't dodge her again. I ignored her with everything in me. I also withdrew myself from Amanda and Aliyah. We just exchanged greetings once in a while.

"Nairobi please just wait!"

"What?" I asked. I made sure my irritation was evident in my voice. I still couldn't understand why she would start a beef with me because of. . .Stephen. I never told her I felt a thing for him or he was interested in me so why?

"I'm so sorry Nairobi." It wasn't the first time she was apologising. Not the second nor third.

"I said I've heard you."

"I know you have. I just want us to go back to being friends at least? You keep ignoring me and it's bruising my. . .digni-ego." She was following behind me.

I turned to face her. "No. We cannot be friends again."

"Come on. I've apologized a bazillion times! Just let this thing slide."

"Your business."

"I know I shouldn't have picked a fight with you over Stephen when you had no idea I still had something for him and you two had nothing going on. And I'm truly sorry."

I really wanted to forgive her and let everything slide and hear her tell how much she had missed me and tell me so many gists, both those I was willing to hear and those I was not but I couldn't. I wouldn't be happy if she did what she did again. And it was bound to repeat again, surely.

"I agree that I am wrong and you still wouldn't spare me a glance? You should be happy that I'm doing this. It's something you don't know how to do Nairobi!" Jessica huffed in defeat. I didn't hear her voice again and when I turned she was no longer behind me. I released a sad sigh. I shouldn't have pushed on that day. I should have just accepted the apology and continued living. Knowing the reason for the malice was making reconciling harder. Why did my creator have to infuse so much stubbornness in my person?

You're just being insecure and pathetic Nairobi, my subconscious blabbed. Insecure about what exactly?!

All student report to the school auditorium for a brief meeting.

All student report to the school auditorium for a brief meeting.

I groaned inwardly and turned my steps in the direction of the auditorium. I saw Peter few feet ahead of me and felt an unexplained desire to say hi.

"Peter!"

His head snapped in my direction and he offered a small smile. The lad was really good looking I had to admit. Fair skin, bright pink lips, lean and tall frame and the best of all dimpled cheeks. I was shamelessly jealous. I quickened my steps to catch up with him.

"To what do I owe this honour?"

I chuckled and released the straps of my school bag which I had been gripping since my discussion with Jessica. "Just felt like saying hi."

"How have you been?"

I shrugged. "I don't even know."

Peter gave me a look. "I don't see you with your friends anymore." I don't know why but there was a reaction within me. I felt something I never thought I would feel if asked about the welfare of my crumbled friendship.

Melancholy. Guilt. Loneliness. Nostalgia.

I sighed.

"Just taking a break. A really loonnng one." I smiled up at him. He didn't say anything. I was sure he didn't say anything because he wasn't certain of what to say.

I succumbed to the sadistic urge within me to ask about Olamide. I knew for sure that they weren't working so I asked just to get back at him for asking about my broken friendship.

I was sadistic much.

"How is Olater?" Peter raised a confused brow. "Petemide," I tried again.

"Who are they?"

"I mean Petella." The same clueless stare. "Joter, Jope. . .ugh! I'm trying to make a ship name na. How do they do that thing sef?"

Peter's lips tilted at the corners and he chuckled deeply. That's not what I wanted, he wasn't supposed to laugh. "Who are you shipping though?"

"You and Olamide."

Peter's smile vanished in a nanosecond. "Don't. Just come off it."

That's more like it!

"Why?" I asked unable to hold back my wicked smirk.

"Olamide is a terrible person."

I paused my movement making Peter pause too. Then I laughed. I clutched my knees forgetting my earlier sadness and laughed till my lungs started begging for air. "You're. . . just. . . realising that. . .now?" I wheezed uncontrollably. Peter frowned and I couldn't help but cackle like my village witches.

"What's funny?" Ah! He looked so ridiculously funny to me at the moment.

"I'm glad that your eyes have been finally opened," I said getting over my laughing fits.

He hissed and walked ahead of me.

"Wait jor." I walked faster to catch up with him. I wanted to laugh again but I respected myself and swallowed it down to my stomach. "So what did she do?"

"Don't tell anyone." The seriousness in his voice baffled me and at the same time heightened my curiosity.

"I don't have anyone to tell." Purest truth.

Peter took a deep breath increasing my curiosity the more. "I saw her kissing Nmesoma's boyfriend, Israel, in the auditorium last week. It wasn't just a small partially innocent kiss Nairobi, it was a full fledged kissing session with the groping and sucking and moaning and-"

"Ew. Enough with the description. So what's your deal? Were you two dating?"

Peter shot me a flummoxed and flabbergasted look. "Don't you get it? She's the other woman in Nmesoma and Israel's relationship. To worsen matter, Olamide is supposedly Nmesoma's friend. It's just appalling abeg."

"Yeah. She's horrendous."

We marched into the auditorium was filled with the bustle of students. The noise annoyed me. I should have been on the bleachers watching some students practice for the upcoming interschool basketball competition.

"See where our mates are sitting," Peter said pointing a thumb where most if our mates were seated.

"Join them. I'm not going there." I looked for an empty seat at sat without even waiting for Peter's reply.

I sighted some empty seats by a boy and I decided to go there. I left a seat gap between me and the boy when I sat sown. The boy didn't acknowledge me. He just kept bobbing his head and I had to look in his direction.

Alec.

He had his inPods on which made me shake my head. Brotherly got liver!

"Hello Nairobi," he greeted me taking me by surprise.

"Hi."

He turned to finally face me. Alec was good looking though in my opinion his lips were too big but Lydia thought it was perfectly kissable.

"Been so long we mixed."

"Hm."

"Okay seriously. I don't even know what to say to you," Alec said with a chuckle.

"Aren't you like supposed to hate me?"

He seemed taken aback by my question and a confused frown pinched his face. "Why?"

"You know the whole birthday stuff-"

"Xander!" Peter came from nowhere and slapped hands with Alec. He sat on the opposite side of Alec, without the seat gap.

"You talk to Nairobi? Shocker."

I looked him up and down. "What do you mean?"

Peter threw his hands up in surrender, an amused expression on his face. "Nothing o!"

Alec laughed at that.

"Xander!" A tall dark girl from nowhere screeched. She must have been 5'6. She came and just sat on the empty seat in between me and Alec. Chioma, Lydia's friend, followed behind her shaking her head. The tall screeching girl was being too obvious and it irked me slightly. Chioma mouthed 'hi' with a smile before moving to sit beside Peter. I didn't talk to the girl but I tried to give a smile.

"Hi!" The tall girl finally acknowledged me. She didn't even wait for a response before turning back to Alec.

As the announcement went on, the screeching girl, Alec, Chioma and Peter kept making little noises and occasional giggles that distracted me. It got to a time that I even totally stopped listening to whatever announcement brought us to the auditorium and just watched the screeching girl in pure annoyance. I don't think anyone had ever repulsed me so easily and honestly I couldn't even pinpoint the reason for the repulsion.

The students started applauding and even though I didn't have the slightest idea on why they were clapping, I followed without thinking twice. So also my seat mates.

I heard a moan and I looked towards Alec and co. Chioma was holding her head and her face expressed pure pain.

"My head. My head," she cried repeatedly. Screeching girl was quick to jump to in front of her.

"Let me escort you to the sick bay." The girl looked so genuinely concerned and I scolded myself for hating her for no just reason at all.

"Her headaches are becoming concerning," Peter said when the girls left. Alec, whom he was speaking to, was looking ahead as if lost in thoughts. He muttered fuck  under his breath and I wondered if it had anything to do with Chioma's health.

When we were dismissed, students started rushing out of the auditorium so I just had to sit back and wait for a while before going out.

"We should go to the football field." It was Peter that suggested this. He and Alec were still sitting with me. I thought he was talking to Alec alone. "Nairobi?"

"Sounds great." Just great. I didn't plan to hang out with anyone at the bleachers, now I had to put up with two boys I normally don't talk to. I know I started the convo with Peter but that was then. I didn't want to hang out with him now.

"Let's go and watch the basketball team practice instead," Alec added.

No way. Then I would see Stephen Olarewaju. And there was Olamide. After that day in the toilet, I've done everything in my power to avoid the witch and luckily, it seemed like she had forgotten about my existence. I just wanted it to remain like that. I couldn't go to the court. I might even feel bad watching Amanda play because I have been avoiding and snubbing the hell out of her and Aliyah.

"Wo I'm not following you guys o."

"Football pitch it is."

We stood up in unison and headed out of the hall. I walked in between the two boys and we talked about absolutely nothing. Well that was until Alec decided to choose a wrong topic for discussion.

"How far you and my guys?"

"Don't ask me. Ask them."

"CJ is holding nothing against you. Just thought you should know."

I didn't respond to that.

The rest of the walk to the field was every definition of awkward I tell you. We sat side by side on the bleachers when we got to the field. An unofficial match was just starting and we had no other choice but to watch.

"See CJ o," Peter commented when the players entered the field.

"Be like say na coach organize the match," Alec said. "I'll be right back!"

That's how Alec disappeared. I didn't see him again till second term. Sitting with Peter wasn't awkward though. The guy was a vibe. He made me enjoy the football game by making funny comments at everything. Chijioke played like his life depended on the game. Chijioke's seriousness on the pitch was baffling.

I didn't end first term well with my friends. Things may never be well between us again. Only time will tell but at least I didn't spend the last hours in school as a lonely angel.

Peter did me good.