chapter eleven

We made our way to the pickup front and arrived just in time to see auntie Yolei's grey SUV pulling by. She stopped the car and rolled down her window.

"Hello girls, jump in", she called at us cheerfully.

Once we had closed the doors, she accelerated out of the school. There was an unsettling tension between me and Keisty. She was sulkily staring out the window not wanting to look at me. I had refused to tell her the reason for going into the auditorium alone and what had happened in there.

Auntie Yolei broke the silence when she asked, "So how was school girls?"

"It was good, l liked everything", l answered her quickly to avoid a moment of silence since I knew  that Keisty wasn't in a mood of talking yet.

"Oh, l'm glad you liked it there. What things did you find particularly interesting?", she asked.

Keisty unexpectedly blurted out to my own embarrassment. "Every boy wants a piece of you, l heard that some almost got into a fight for you."

"Keisty!, you know that's not it", l defended myself.

Auntie Yolei briefly turned back to us quizzically then returned her gaze to the windshield. She sensed the weight between us.

"Oh then what is it?", Keisty asked in a way intended to trap me by my words.

"It's - it's just that...", l thought of a way of explaining that would not put me in a corner. "Mark took my satchel and Stewart just helped me snatch it back"

"Why did he take your bag, and who is Mark anyway?", auntie Yolei asked turning to me for a brief moment.

"He's the captain of the basketball team, l think and he wanted to show me the pickup front that's why he had taken my bag", l quickly answered knowing that Keisty wouldn't give any polite remark if it has anything to do with Mark.

"Mom, he's a bully, Arielle is giving you understatements. The only reason he wants to get close to Arielle is because he wants to get into her pants", Keisty said with a sour tone.

I felt my face flush with embarrassment. Keisty finally turned to face me. Her eyes were suppressing bottled anger. I should have known that not telling her what happened in the auditorium had a prolonging effect.

"Keisty dear, don't be like that to your sister, be kind", auntie Yolei tried to ease the tension. "What happened between you two. Why are you biting at each other, are you hungry?", she said humorously. "Supper will be the first thing that we will have when we get home".

When we got home, I went straight to my bedroom. I didn't want to bump into into Keisty alone. Obviously it would cause unnecessary awkwardness. I wasn't sure of the reason why Keisty is being so irritable so l thought it best to avoid private encounters with her.

I took a shower then wore a blue sundress and blue pumps. I wanted to be in something comfortable and simple after being suffocated in a uniform. I knew that the sun was almost setting and l would soon have to wear night clothes but l didn't mind. I wanted to make the best of the remainder of day time.

I walked out of my room about to go outside. I hadn't had the time to roam around the yard and familiarize with it. I wanted to see the beautiful flowers and the beautiful swimming pool and all around the beautiful paradise.

I was making my way down the stairs when Deborah called me from behind.

"Miss, where are you going?"

"I was just going out for a stroll in the yard", l answered her.

"l have just finished setting up the table. Supper is ready".

"Oh, this early?", l asked surprised.

"Yes, auntie told me that l should prepare supper earlier on school days because school makes people hungry. She also said it will give you enough time to do your homework and rest early."

We were having rice and stewed beef with greens and salad. As always we were taking it with fruit juice. Auntie Yolei had suggested that l could take it with milk if l wanted but l politely declined the offer. Especially when milk was the only liquid l had been consuming all day. First at breakfast and then at break time. I might end up growing cow horns or moo like a cow.

The table was light spirited than l had expected. We talked of many other interesting things. Auntie told us of the man at the hospital who had to be pinned down by many doctors for them to be able to give him a shot on his butt. We all laughed heartily.

Keisty suddenly turned to face me, "Arielle l'm sorry for the way l was acting towards you. I didn't mean to but l just start to feel ill when l see everyone trying to bang their way on you. I start to feel the urge to protect you ".

I was a bit taken aback by her words that for a moment l just stared into her eyes. She was looking at me with deep sincerity that l didn't know how to react. Her eyes were glistening and looking deep into mine. I could feel that it was more than just an apology but also a secret message.

"Keisty, you shouldn't be apologizing for being protective to me. I should be the one apologizing for being careless. You know all these people more than l do", l saw her give a little smile of relief after hearing my words.

I felt that all the tension had resolved after that. We now talked freely and cheerfully enjoyed our supper.

Deborah was clearing the table for dessert. Auntie was typing something on her phone. I had volunteered to help Deborah in dishing the ice cream into the small bowls. Keisty was just staring at us with a bit of scrutiny. She might been wondering about how the new bond formed between me and Deborah.

She finally met my eyes as l was scooping ice cream into a bowl Infront of her.

"Arielle, please don't ever go to that Auditorium alone. It's been abandoned and it could be dangerous for a girl to go there on her own".

Both auntie Yolei and Deborah snapped their heads at me. I didn't have to look at their faces to know that they had questions.

"Arielle dear, what were you doing there?", auntie Yolei asked concerned.

"I- l was just....", l thought of a way of answering her without scaring her but without lying too. I couldn't find one. My words just stuck at the throat.

Auntie Yolei might have noticed and to prevent me from having to make up a story, she quickly cut in.

"Arielle dear, don't get drawn out to a secluded place alone. It's dangerous especially when considering that you are new. Some people might do wicked things on you and you wouldn't know them".

I felt the worried tone that was in her voice. It worried me too and made me feel bad. I hated myself for putting everyone in a worried state.

"I'm so sorry for being so careless and I will try to be more careful next time".

By the time we had finished our desert, the sun had already set. I went to my room and put on some night clothes. I went to lie down on my bed but on top of the comforter. I was feeling a bit restless. My memory kept taking me back to the auditorium.

' What kind of person was l before the hospital. What reason brought me to the hospital anyway.' The thoughts kept bugging in my mind. If they continue like this, a headache might follow.

I rose from my bed and put on a night gown over my night clothes. I had decided to go outside for a refreshment. Since in the first place I had planned to roam in the yard, l might as well do it even though the sun had settled.

I silently made my way out of the house. Fortunately, the main door was unlocked. I guess no one needs to lock the door when the tight security system outside the wall is impenetrable.

When l stepped outside, the air was cool and earthy. It was very refreshing, just what I needed. The wind blew my hair causing it to rise a bit from my back.

I went round the fountain smelling the cool water. That's when I noticed for the first time that there are little green fish in the fountain. I dipped my fingers in the water and the fish gathered around them. I laughed as they tickled me.

I went over the trimmed dark green lawn stomping over the fluffy layer eagerly. It was smelling like mud. I went to the flower hedges smelling the scented petals. It was a heavenly feeling of inward peace. The strips of lights on the hedge was making the garden seem like a fairy tale land with pixies flying around.

I saw a high trimmed hedge of yellow roses behind the house. There was a small gate at the middle making me curious of what was behind it.

I walked to the small gate and pushed it inside gently. The gate didn't make a sound because it was grazing over the trimmed lawn. When l looked up to see what lay concealed behind the hedge, l was stunned for a moment.

In the middle of the beautiful flower paradise, was a beautiful girl seated at a small round table. This girl was none other than Keisty. Her blond hair was being driven by the wind to one side revealing her pretty slender neck. Her red strap top added an elegance by leaving her beautiful feminine shoulders exposed. Her legs clad in tight jeans were crossed and she was leisurely swinging the fir red slippers at her toes.

I deliberately made silent footsteps behind her. She hadn't noticed my entry. I saw her reach the table and grabbed a bottle of plum juice. When she had brought it to her mouth, l ran my hand lightly from her neck down her shoulder.

She almost spilled the entire contents on her dress top, l had to quickly move the bottle to the side so that it spilled to the ground. She snapped her head to look at me with her eyes open wide.

I laughed at her shocked face as l went to take a seat opposite to her on the table. My eyes got teary from laughter that l had to wipe them with the sleeve of my nightgown.

"Arielle please never do that again, you almost shocked me to death", Keisty said with her hands on her chest.

"I'm sorry, l was just trying to refresh so l thought of being playful a bit."

"Next time, be careful, l am a black belt, you wouldn't want a black eye on your beautiful face ", she said humorously and we both laughed.

"So Keisty, this is were your secret paradise is?", l asked looking around in admiration.

"Well yes, but I don't come here oftentimes, how did you know that I was here?. I thought you were already in bed", she asked giving me questioning look.

"Well, l was just out for a refresh, l was a bit restless tonight. Anyway, you said that you don't come here oftenly so tonight what's the occasion?"

"Same reason why you are out here, couldn't fall asleep", she said it plainly and took a sip from the remainder of her drink.

"What's bothering you?", l asked though at the same time l feared that the answer would be me.

"Arielle, l don't know, you seem to have affected me today so much, l can't forget about it though l have tried", she said it with a tone that made my heart sink with worries.

"Keisty, why?. What is it?. I'm so sorry, l promise that l will not hangout with James, l can already tell that he is a bad guy. If it's Stewart then l can tell him to keep our relationship academic only or maybe it's Whitney we can..."

"Arielle, it's not that, agh", Keisty said with a groan and leaned her forehead in the palm of her hand.

"Then what is it Keisty? I hate to see you eating up yourself because of me. Tell me who it is and l promise that I will cut off the relationship there and then."

"I don't know Arielle, the thing is", she paused for a sigh. "The moment I saw you in the dark auditorium, my heart dropped, l felt cold. You were hastily tugging down your skirt and your hair was disheveled. Your face was flushed but when l asked you what happened, you wouldn't tell me."

"Oh my god, Keisty l swear it's not what you thought l..." I didn't finish the statement because Keisty had raised a finger to stop me.

"Arielle, l'm not mad at you for hooking up with someone. The only thing that worried me was that you couldn't get to be open to me. It made me doubt if my sister bonding time with you was worth it. I mean, I wouldn't have encouraged you to hook up with someone on your first day but I would have understood if you would have done it and tell me."

"Oh Keisty please don't say that, l didn't do such a thing honestly. And l'm so sorry for acting that way. Don't hurt me with such words, you are the closest person that l have as both friend and family and l don't want to lose you", my voice was starting to waver and l was blinking already on the verge of tears.

Keisty reached her hand over the table and patted the back of my hand soothingly. "Forgive me, if l have sounded accusative, l am not putting you at blame. I just want us to have a better relationship, more openness. I know l might not be as sisterly as you would have wanted but l am trying my best believe me. I always wanted a sibling before you came and you are the god sent in my life."

"Sister from this day l will be more open to you", l said with tears.

"Promise?"

"Promise."