24| ℬᎾℳᎯ

   I GLANCE OVER AT HIM, smiling. He touches my cheeks.

   “Stop breaking the rules. I only permitted that we could go to prom,” I say.

   “The rules?” he chuckles with raised eyebrows.

   There’s a twinkle in his eyes, something deep, like a longing. I know this look. Quincy wore it the day he tried to force me to kiss him. I’m not worried by Ivan’s anyway, he wouldn’t have to force me to kiss him.

   “Yes, the rules,” I smirk.

   “Let’s see what the rules mean by the end of the day.” He smiles. I poke his dimples then he begins to laugh. “You keep teasing me.”

   “I’d never tease you.”

   “Well you just did.”

   “How?” I laugh.

   “You touched me, but you find it breaking the rules when I touch you,” he says.

   “Well, it’s not my fault when you show up looking like a mug of creamy hot chocolate.” I laugh again.

   He looks like he could erupt into a ball of laughter as he starts blushing. “See, saying things like that is teasing me.”

   “Well I’m not sorry because it’s true.” I say and he smiles that smile that makes me want to keep him in this mood forever. 

   There are a few good moments in my life, moments like this one, when I feel like everything is figure-outable, when I honestly believe that I'll be fine.

   I'll be fine. I think to myself.

   “What are you thinking about now?” he asks me out of my thoughts.

   “Nothing. I don’t want to tease you,” I say and he smiles one of those smiles again. 

   “Where would you like us to visit after prom?” he asks.

    After prom?

   “I don’t know, didn’t cross my mind.” I say.

   “Okay, I have a surprise and I think you’re going to like it.”

   “Ivan, what have you cooked up?”

   “It’s a surprise, just relax. You’re going to love it trust me,” he says.

    "Okay," I say, looking ahead. We’re almost at the hotel, I can sight the monstrous glistening towers in a short distance.

   I’ve watched some movies about prom, but I still feel completely naïve about what to expect. Ivan’s extravagant VVIP tickets guarantee us front row tables and special access to everything but I’m already so full of nerves that I don’t know if I’ll be able to eat anything.

   I just wish Jacklyn and her gang would just avoid me so I can have a good time.

   “Bo?”

   “Yes?”

   “You’ll be fine,” he says. “And I’m here so whenever you feel uneasy just start talking to me and I promise you’ll feel better.”

   “Thanks.” I squeeze his free hand. It’s calloused. I look at it closer. “This wasn’t here on Thursday night, what did you do?” I ask.

   “My door, I punched it.”

  “Why did you punch your door?”

   He looks at me briefly before swallowing and looking the other way. “Don’t lie to me,” I say, detesting the sudden heaviness in the air.

   “Someone got me upset.” His voice is low, almost inaudible.

   “And you then proceeded to harm yourself?”

   “It’s not that simple, Bo.”

   “Why didn’t you tell me when you called last night?”

   “I didn’t want to bother you.”

   “Telling me what’s going on in your life will never be a bother. I need to know that you trust me the way I trust you, understood?”

    He looks at me with those eyes that tell me he's drowning somewhere. “Understood.”

   I feel for him, if only he could let me into that space where he’s hiding all this pain.

   “You know I love you. Don’t say it back, just know and don’t hide anything from me. Like ever.” I smile and push his head. He smiles back.

   We drive in through the gate. The security checks the boot and hands Ivan a parking ticket. The prom roll up banner stands in a corner ahead. There are so many cars here.

    I should text Chinny. 

   "Hey," I text.

   “Finally, was wondering if you guys changed your minds about coming. We just rounded up with the red carpet.”

   “Where are you?” I ask.

   “Inside, where everyone else is.”

   “We’re outside.”

   “Coming.”

    Ivan finds a parking space. “Chinny’s coming out.” I tell him.

   “They’re here already?”

   “Apparently everyone’s already here,” I say. “We’re super late.”

   “Even better,” he says. “Makes for an entrance.”

   I breathe in deep when he holds my face in his direction, and I’m looking at his deep brown almost black eyes, my heart begins racing.

   “I love you. Even if you don’t want to hear it, I’ll say it and I want you to remember that I said it, because I mean it." I have never seen him so serious. "I know you feel like I’m distant at times, but I promise I would never intentionally lie to you, not without good reason.”

    Not without good reason? Maybe it's just one of those mistakes that slip off.

   “I know,” I mutter before he let’s go of my chin. 

   Why didn’t he try to kiss me? I watch him pick up his phone, still hoping that maybe, he would take the cue.

   “I’ll get your door.” He says and I roll my eyes.

   Hopeless. I just might have to kiss him myself.

   “I have hands, sir.” I say and open the door.

   The air outside the car is warm and honestly, it smells like a good time. I smile and get down. 

   This dress is just extra. I'm fascinated by how the stones seem to be getting their bling on in the low afternoon sun.

   “My lady,” Ivan prostrates and takes my waist in his arms. It’s not working. The dress is too much. I smile as he struggles to make it work. He looks disappointed.

   “Will you take my hand please, and leave my waist alone?”

   He rolls his eyes, prostrates again and takes my hand in his. 

   As we walk out, I sight Chinny. She’s not wearing her glasses and I’m wondering what she has planned out because without them she's like a bat flying in the afternoon.

   She looks all shades of breath-taking gorgeousness. Her dress is strapless and has the colour of rich vintage red wine. It flows in a straight form fitted pattern to the floor where it spreads out like a fishtail. With a glorious heart shaped cleavage that shows off her large boobs, it couldn’t have been more Chinny. 

   She runs across the moment she sees us and she’s wearing the Chinny smile so I start smiling too. 

   “I couldn’t find the car.” She pants. I look at her face, something seems new, she starts squealing, waiting for me to figure it out.

   Contacts!

   “Contacts! You got them?” I ask,

   “Yes!" She spins. "Mom surprised me this morning when I got home.”

   “Aww. The blue suits you, we’re now twinning,” I twirl her around. “Your hair is gorgeous by the way, I still can't believe that they finished braiding it that short time.”

   “It's a miracle." She moves her head around to show me the waist length of the braids. "Talk about you, I don’t even want to start,” she laughs.

   "Mom's handiwork." I smile.

   “Apparently, you lack basic lady skills afterall." My jaws drop and she rolls her eyes. "Ivan, welcome to our prom," she courtesy's.

   “You look stunning.” Ivan says.

   “Thanks,” she twirls again. "You don't look bad yourself." She nods, smiling.

   Ivan puts his hand to his chest and bows. I'm so proud of him, such a gentleman.

   “Everyone’s already seated, let’s get going.” Chinny says and we start walking towards the entrance.

   “You didn’t get a date?” Ivan asks

   “Oh, he’s inside.” She says

   “Okay, we have VVIP tickets, the table is for four and I hope you guys won’t mind joining us.”

   “Of course not. I’ll tell Albert, we’ll join you guys up inside,” she says. 

   The bouncers at the door ask for our ticket, Ivan hands it over. I can feel their eyes on me, it makes me uncomfortable. I'm surprised when Ivan puts his hand over the small of my back and clears his throat, almost like he could tell I was uneasy. The way he does it makes me know he is definitely the one.

   The one, the main one, or am I just being a stupid teenage love addict?

   They hand the tickets back and we proceed. The usher guides us to our seat, Ivan still has his hands on my back. I like having it there.

    As we walk into the cool hall, the twinkling disco lights make Ivan's suit and my dress sparkle. All eyes are on us as we stroll along the middle aisle. I hear little gasps here and there. Then I hear Jacklyn's annoying voice and roll my eyes.

   “I just can’t." She screeches, "I’m sorry. I had to force my daddy into buying the VVIP tickets and it’s for Quincy and I, alone.” 

   “Lyn, please, Quincy is not even here yet and it’s not like we even have dates. It’s just going to be us and then you guys at your table,” Mabel’s voice sounds like she’s almost in tears.

   “Lyn, it’s not like we’re strangers o. How can your best friends seat in regular and you have a space to accommodate them in VVIP?” Confidence adds, she doesn’t sound so confident. 

   "Wait. What am I seeing? Is that her?" Jacklyn asks and I stop listening.

   “Hello Boma.” Albert hugs me. “You look amazing.” He turns to Ivan and offers a handshake. “Albert Wechie. Chinny’s boyfriend,” He says.

   “Ivan Adebayo, Boma's date.”  

   “Nice guy. Love your suit. What label is that cause I’m sure it's a designer.”

   “Givenchy.” Ivan says. My eyes almost pop from the sockets.

   "Givenchy?" Chinny whispers.

   I shrug. "I'm amazed too."

   “Nice. Welcome to prom, Cedar Heights class of 2019.” Albert says.

   “Thank you, please join us at our table.” Ivan replies. 

   Chinny and I are watching these guys be gentlemen and I swear it’s making my butterflies crazy.

   The four of us proceed to the front where the usher shows us our table. Ivan pulls my seat out and I sit.

   With a deep breath, I take in the scenery,  the cool ambience, blue shawls spread across the tables and wrapped around the chairs. The twinkling disco balls add sparkle to the dimly lit room, reflecting virtual stars around every surface the lights touch. Just ahead of us, the stage stands. Behind, the screen flicks pictures from our year book, we look just in time for mine. Ivan whistles. "That's my babe!"

   I look over my shoulders at Jacklyn, she's scowling seriously. I don't see Quincy though.

   The spotlight comes up and the beautiful hostess, Becca, a radio presenter for Nigerian info, steps on stage, I join everyone clapping.

   Prom is about to be lit!