Before I knew it, the next Wednesday arrived and every one anxiously waited for those who would be assigned music roles.

"...and for the duet, we have Dami and Luke. A round of applause for them." Stacey announced, and my shoulders sagged in disappointment. Neither Isaac nor I had even gotten a role.

Everyone clapped, eager for the solo to be announced, and I found my heartbeat quickening. I'd surely be disappointed if I didn't get it. I really wanted that role.

"For the solo, give it up for Mavis!" She announced, and everyone clapped loudly, hoots of approval bouncing left and right, and I was pleasantly surprised.

"Mavis come forward and receive the music sheets for your performance." She said.

Nervously I stood up, straightened my skirt and walked over, thanking her. Briefly, my eyes passed over the song title and I smiled.

There was no time to dwell on it however as those for the dance were once more ushered to the hall to practise till school closed. I watched, amazed as Stacey and a junior student first danced to the song, and others around me mirrored their steps. I hadn't seen anything like it before.

"Need help?" Isaac asked, smiling at me.

"Uh, yeah. I think I might be able to do it if you teach me." I responded.

He stood beside me, showing me the steps slowly while I tried to follow. After a while I got the hang of it.

After a while I was able to dance along to the song, and I grinned widely.

"This is mad fun." I said, exhaling in short breaths from the exertion, and he replied me with a smile. I didn't notice when everyone stopped dancing, instead they brought out their phones and were taking videos of me while I danced.

As soon as I noticed, I stopped. Dami looked livid, and everyone was cheering and hyping me up. "Guys what's wrong? Did I mess up the steps?" I asked in concern.

"Omo! See oyinbo dey tear shaku shaku nna na wa o!" A junior said, admist all the ruckus.

I frowned, not understanding what she meant.

"Mavis do it again so I'll get it on camera na," Stacey pleaded.

"Nuh uh, you guys want to take videos of me embarrassing myself." I said, indignant.

"No babe, they're just really surprised and happy. You're foreign and you're dancing shaku shaku, when most Nigerians haven't even perfected it." Isaac clarified. I tried not to swoon at his endearment, and instead focus on his words.

"Cough, eg Dami, cough." Mimi said loudly, causkng Dami to direct her icy glare at her, although Mimi didn't particularly care.

"Oh! You called it what? Shaker what?" I asked Isaac, ignoring the two.

"Shaku shaku."

I rolled my eyes, giving up on the pronunciation.

"Mavis do it again na." Stacey said again.

"Only if you'll do it with me." I reiterated, crossing my arms.

"OK ma." She sarcastically said, moving to stand beside me.

A random student replayed the song from the start and I began the steps with her, our legs moving in synchrony. Around us our fellow club members formed a circle and were chanting, cheering, hyping and singing along to the song. The euphoria was magic.

After dancing for a few minutes we completed the routine and received a deafening applause, complete with shouts of praise from our classmates. I looked over at Isaac and saw the unmistakable pride and admiration in his eyes, at to me, that moment was everything.

---

Strangely, my father was home when I got there. I met him by the kitchen cabinet, shuffling through it for something.

"Hey, dad." I greeted.

"Mavis, how was school?" He responded, flashing me a tight smile.

"It was okay. I joined a club, it's good for my record apparently. I got a role in the graduation ceremony." I announced, allowing the happiness from the day's events seep through my voice.

"Really? That's wonderful! I'm so proud of you." He said, sincerity softening his tone, and I smiled in appreciation.

"How was work? I hope you aren't too stressed." I asked, joining him by the kitchen.

"It's good, it's good. It's going even faster than we estimated originally. With the way things are going, you might not even have to finish your high school here. The project would be completed in three months, tops. And we could go back to Canada." He said.

I felt as though ice water had been poured all over me. I'd just began to enjoy myself, and finally found where I could be who I wanted and be accepted for it, and now my dad was saying I wouldn't get to enjoy it for much longer.

"But, what about my schooling?" I asked, trying not to betray my sadness.

"That's not a problem sweetie. You could transfer your credits. You'll be okay." He said, oblivious to the raging sadness in my heart.

"But dad... The graduation? My solo?" I asked, desperation leaking through my voice.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, kiddo. Don't worry too much about it. Change out of your uniform and come downstairs for dinner." My dad said, and I nodded.

Once upstairs, I changed into a pair of leggings and a tank top, letting my hair fall down around my shoulders. Before I could think about how I would soon have to leave Nigeria when I'd just begin to discover how beautiful life there could be, my phone buzzed with two texts.

Faith: hey I forgot to text u abt my party 2night. Can u still make it?

Isaac: hey, are you coming over to Faith's party?

I frowned. There was little chance I would be able to get my dad to agree to me going out, but I decided to ask anyway, my mind making up my excuse as I went.

"Hey dad? I'm meant to go over to Faith's house tonight, there's a study group for the CA and I really don't want to miss it." I said, my heart pounding at his expression. I really wanted to go.

"For your test? Sure you can. I'll just tell the driver to drop you off. He knows Faith's address right?" My dad said, and I fought the urge to jump up in glee.

I nodded in response to his question then dashed upstairs to change.

I threw on a pair of high-waist shorts and a short sleeved T-shirt, pairing it with low-heeled ankle boots and a hoodie. I tied my hair up in a ponytail and grabbed my backpack, shoving some makeup into it along with my books and clean uniform. If I'd done any makeup at all I knew my dad would suspect that I was lying, instead I opted to do it in the car.

Ahmed, our driver, was already waiting for me outside when I rushed. I quickly texted Faith that I would be right over, and Isaac too that I was gonna be there, and then jumped into the car.

"Going to study, Faith?" Ahmed asked, smiling ruefully as I applied makeup on my face.

"Oh come on, Ahmed. You're not gonna tell dad are you?"

"Of course not. So where are you off to?" He asked, taking a turn into Faith's neighborhood.

"Faith's house, honestly. She's having a party." I said.

"Is it safe, though?" He asked, frowning.

"Yeah it's totally safe. I wouldn't go if it wasn't." I answered, truthfully. While I enjoyed hanging out with my classmates, I wouldn't risk my life for it.

He pulled up opposite Faith's gate and we could hear faint music playing from where we were. "Thanks, I owe you one. Drive safe, okay?" I said to him after getting down.

"Okay, have a good time." He replied, before driving off.

I walked into the house and spotted several familiar faces from our club and a few others. we weren't as many as at the last party, and it was a relaxed atmosphere. Everyone was wearing either shorts, jeans or joggers, I fit right in.

"Hey guys," I greeted, scanning the room for Isaac.

"Hey, welcome!" Faith greeted back enthusiastically, hugging me. On noticing my roving eyes, she supplied, "your boyfriend isn't here yet."

I felt my cheeks heat up at her assumption, "oh no, we're not dating." I noticed a guy at the sound system, playing with wires and screws. He looked familiar, but I hadn't seen him around school.

"Who's that?" I asked her, nodding in his direction.

"That's my twin brother, David. He doesn't go to our school." She said.

I spotted Caleb nursing a can of Smirnoff ice in a corner with Luke, and walked over to them.

"Hey, y'all. What's up?" I greeted.

"Hey Mavis," they chorused.

We chatted briefly before Luke wandered off, saying something about finding Stacey, and Caleb and I were left alone.

"Are they dating?" I asked, referring to Luke and Stacey.

"On and off, I guess. No one really knows what's going on with those two. Let's go to the balcony upstairs?" He suggested, to which I shrugged, following his lead.

We got to the balcony after passing some of our classmates and saying hello, it was unoccupied and quiet, the music a faint melody.

"So congrats on getting the solo." Caleb said, smiling at me.

"Thank you, how'd you know?" I responded.

"Dami was bitching about it earlier, she's pretty pissed." He said.

"I honestly don't know what I've done to offend her. We used to be cool and then all of a sudden, boom! She's out to get me." I said, voicing my annoyance.

"She's just jealous." Caleb said.

"Of what exactly?" I asked, put out by the memory of her of Dami's sour attitude.

"Isaac and you. Everyone knows you're together." He said, spitting the words out as though they tasted vile.

"Oh, we're not dating." I said, worried that Isaac might get scared away by all their assumptions.

"Not yet." He said, and I didn't offer any response.

We sat in silence for a while, tense silence, and I wondered how to break it.

After a few more painful moments, Caleb turned to me. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you," he began.

"Okay, what's that?"

"I really like you a lot. I've always liked you. And I hoped we could be something, then Isaac came along. I don't know, since you keep saying you guys aren't dating, maybe I have some hope." He said, inching closer to me with each word, and by the time he was done, there was less than an inch of space between us.

I sat there, dumbfounded. I wondered why I hadn't noticed it before, all the subtle clues he left. And I felt a bit sick. I liked Caleb as a friend, and maybe I was a little attracted to him. But it didn't compare in any way to what I felt for Isaac.

Taking my silence as consent, Caleb leaned in to me. I sat transfixed, horrified and excited at the same time, yet feeling like I was betraying Isaac in some way. Those thoughts caused me to put my hand on his chest and stop him from planting his lips on mine.

Although, it didn't quite help. Because we were so caught up in our emotions, we didn't hear the footsteps that we should've.

"What's going on here?"

Immediately we sprung apart, turning in fright, and I locked eyes with Isaac.

---

A/N

Yawa don gas oo😭 Mavis is in trouble.

What did y'all think of this chapter? Any predictions for the next?

Omo! See oyinbo dey tear shaku shaku nna na wa o!- wow! A foreigner dancing shaku shaku, what a surprise.

Shaku Shaku- a Nigerian dance originated by the Musician Olamide for his hit song, science student.

*the video attached is of Mavis and Stacey dancing to Science student in the hall. Shaku shaku issa goal😌⚡

I will not be able to update as frequently as I thought, because I've been enrolled in a fashion school for the holiday and it is HECTIC AND EXTREMELY DEMANDING. I'm running on an average of four hours of sleep each night and it isn't funny at all. That being said, please bear with the slow updates😭

Tell me what you think.

-Rhys😘