chapter twelve

This morning we had breakfast as usual but auntie was not the one who was driving us to school. She left even before we had been handed our bags by Deborah. I realized that was why it was so important for us to eat our meals together. With the little family time we got during week days, we had to make good use of it.

Deborah handed us our bags and we made our way out of the house. By the water fountain as always, Keisty's car waited sparkling clean. Except that it was not her Mini Cooper convertible. It was a metallic white luxury sedan.

I looked at Keisty questioningly but not surprised. I had gotten used to the wonders of my cousin's family. She knew what I wanted to ask because she only gave a slight shrug.

"Don't tell me something like, 'it's family heirloom ", l said.

She laughed at my jock then turned to me, "You could say that though because my dad gave it to me as a gift from him to me. It was his car actually, l only use it when I am going to school. Guys will think of me as unapproachable and won't bother me. Otherwise, l don't like going around with it, l'm still young and want to enjoy sporty driving and sort."

"Don't tell me you have sports cars", l asked as we were stepping in the luxurious car and fastened our seatbelts. Keisty leaned forward and pressed the ignition button. The car didn't make any audible idling sound as it came to life. Only the interior showed it by the lighting up of the large display touch screen on the dashboard. The entire cabin was faintly lighted up by small alternating color lights, illuminating the plush leather seats.

"Remind me to show you my collection sometime", she said slowly maneuvering the car around the fountain.

We arrived at school and parked at the students parking lot. I had to admit that this school was surely for the privileged. The students parking lot was crammed with many exotic cars. Keisty's was quite outstanding though because it looked like hers should be parked at the stuff's reserved parking.

We walked to our classes. Keisty embarrassingly pecked me on the cheek as we parted ways. We knew it would be until break time when we will meet again.

It was after our physics lesson, three girls entered our classroom. They were smiling and holding piles of little flyers. They started to walk role by role dropping one on each desk. When one of the girls passed by my desk, she stopped and looked at me smiling. I then realized that it was Whitney. How could l ever forget her glazing eyes and wide smile.

"Hey, beautiful girl", she said drawing out a flyer, not from the pile she was holding but neatly folded from her pocket.

"Hi", l said as l curiously looked at the flyer she had placed on my desk. It didn't look any different from the ones on her pile which made me raise my eyebrow at her questioningly.

"Oh, l made that one specifically for you. Don't worry, l'm not a prank queen or anything", she said without faltering on her smile. I wondered if the girl's cheeks never hurt from too much smiling.

"Thank you, what is the news?", l asked.

"Well, just an event that happens every team. Not a biggy though but I think it might be special this time because of you", she answered.

I nodded though l had many questions. She stared into my eyes for a moment as though waiting for me to ask more but l thought that l would just find out more in the flyer.

The girls went Infront of the class after distributing the flyers. "Hello guys, we want to let you know that the nominees for the Miss Aquila will be chosen tomorrow and the main event will be coming shortly afterwards, you can see the date and more info on your flyers", one of the girls informed us and they exited the class.

As soon as they had left, a murmur of excitement arose in the classroom. Everyone seemed to be excited about the event. It must be very special to them. The girls gathered in small groups squealing in joyful shrieks. The boys were walking around in the classroom smiling and patting each other's shoulders.

I heard something about gowns and hairstyles from the girls. From the boys l could hear them talking about choosing a date. This gave me a clue that this event would be like a special prom.

I took the flyer that Whitney had left on my desk then unfolded it. There was the date and the time for the event, which l realized was just happening the day after tomorrow. The event seemed to start from six in the evening which meant we would have our classes as usual during the day.

The flyer mentioned that strictly formal attire would be required and no entry with anything less of it. The formal wear meant dresses for ladies and suites for gentlemen. No carrying any outer foods or drinks, all foods would be bought inside from the school's cooking club. It was strictly fundraiser.

After l had gone through all the information, l turned the flyer over. The back of it was blank but l saw a phone number neatly scribed in a stylish feminine handwriting. There was small writing under the number.

"Please save my contact and just send me a text"

I looked at it thoughtfully until l decided to take the number. After l saved it, l scrunched up the flyer and shoved it in my skirt. I felt the other paper that l had shoved in the same pocket and suddenly remembered the encounter with the mysterious girl. I quickly brushed it off not wanting to scare myself.

The break time siren rang and students scurried out excitedly. I followed them less enthusiastic about break time especially remembering my milk.

As soon as I stepped out of the door, l was met by Stewart. He was looking at me with a wide smile plastered on his face and he was holding a plastic bag from the cafeteria.

He gave me a playful bow, " your majesty, would l have the honour of dining with you?"

I rolled my eyes at him. He laughed at my reaction then stepped closer.

"You know, l hate eating in the cafeteria, it's noisy and crowded. I have my own office and l'm inviting you if you want. I noticed how uneasy you were when we got into the cafeteria yesterday. I also heard that Mark was trying to hit on you. My office will only be you and me, no distractions", he said expectantly.

I thought for a while. The offer was so tempting. Neither did l want to go to the crowded cafeteria but then I had Keisty. She would be disappointed to realize that l ditched break time with her for Stewart.

"I had love to but l'm sorry, l want to have my break time with my cousin sister", l said with an apologetic look.

"Oh, you can bring your friends with you, it's still fine".

My eyes lighted up with that, "are you sure?, l don't like to compromise your privacy"

"Yeah l'm sure, don't worry. Maybe l could need some company. But this is only because you are in it."

"Ok thanks, let my go get my friends", l said hurrying to the cafeteria.

I found Keisty, Prisca and the other girl whose name l hadn't bothered to know yet, sitting at the table in the crowded cafeteria.

I told them about Stewart's offer and we all agreed that anywhere was better than the cafeteria although l could sense that Keisty was not up for the idea.

Keisty led us to his office which she knew because she was once invited for club discussions. The the rest of us followed whilst quietly scanning the place. We had left the loud, crowded students area and we were now walking in quiet corridors. The scene made me think of some horror movies where school girls are invited to a haunted mansion or invited to a Hotel Transylvania by dracula.

Keisty pushed a door without knocking. It revealed a generously specious room with a generous bright lighting that reflected on the white walls.

Stewart immediately stood from the black leather couch that formed a semi-circle around the room. He picked a large bouquet of flowers and slowly walked to where we were standing . I could see that his eyes were on me which made me fidget a bit nervously.

He came right before me and knelt. His shirt's sleeves were folded to his forearm and he was not wearing his blazer. He extended his hand holding the bouquet of flowers and looked into my eyes, his eyes blazing with passion.

"I know we have barely known each other. I just met you yesterday but l couldn't sleep. I felt like my heart was on a halt from my birth till yesterday waiting for this, the time you stepped into my life. Now, would l please have the greatest pleasure and honour that ever cross by my uneventful life, would you be my date for the promenade?"

I was dump struck for seconds. This really caught me off guard. It felt so new and l didn't know what to feel. My mind was reeling back and forth but my eyes kept looking at the person kneeling before me. My mind wasn't prepared for anything to do with the prom and l didn't know if l even wanted to go but now l felt a flip in my stomach and jitters craw like an army of ants up my body. My eyes started to tear up and my nose burned and started to water up causing me to sniff.

Stewart quickly reached into his pocket and drew out a folded soft tissue paper. I extended my hand looking away but instead he stood up and gently pulled me by my shoulders to him. He then put his other hand on my cheek turning my face to him. He then started gently wiping my tears and then handed me another dry soft tissue for me to hold to my nose. The tissue paper smelled like his perfume.

He looked into my eyes,"if you can't speak right now don't force it. l will wait till you can, okay?"

I just nodded in reply. I noticed that my friends were just standing with Jaws dropped. They had stood a few steps from us watching.

We did continue with break time but a bit more quiet than we had hoped it would be. The girls kept talking about anything else avoiding anything to do with the prom. Keisty though looking reluctant was giving Stewart death glares like what are you trying to do with my cousin sister. I was quiet now, the scene that had occurred seemed to have triggered many emotions. Stewart was being all talkative trying to act as though nothing had happened but l knew that he was unsettled inside.

Fortunately the siren rang signalling the resuming of classes, a good way of breaking from the tension. We were all thankful of the life saving siren.

In my class l was trying to concentrate on my lesson that l only noticed the note on my table after the lesson. It was written in a very small handwriting:

"Auditorium after school, don't let anyone know, or else you will regret it "

I didn't know what to do with it so l just put it where l put all the other notes. I definitely won't go to the auditorium again after l almost got into something l don't want to imagine what would have happened if Keisty and Stewart hadn't showed up. Keisty had pleaded with me not to go to that Auditorium alone so l wouldn't want to disappoint her again. I wouldn't like to be the cause of stress for my aunt too.

It made me remember of the note from the morning. As our last lesson came to an end, l walked out of the noisy school corridors and went outside. I pulled out my phone and sent a text to the contact l had saved in the morning. l just sent a 'hi' since l had nothing else to talk with her because we barely knew each other.

Suddenly l felt a gentle hand squeeze my shoulder. I turned around and saw James standing behind me smiling. He was holding two Pepsi cans and handed me one.

For a moment he held my gaze in his. I turned away to avoid any complications. He noted then gestured to a small bench that stood isolated from the others in the sports field.

We set down keeping a safe gap between us so that from afar one would not assume that we were doing something else. He sighed then turned to look at me.

"Are you always this quiet or is it that you don't like me?", his question caused me to look at him in surprise.

"No, l don't dislike you. It's just that l'm just in a watered down mood, l'm sorry", l said softly.

"Are you always pissed off all the time or maybe you just don't like people", he said with a slight chuckle. "I never forget the first time I saw you. You just looked as beautiful and cute as always, but you didn't even say a word to me, l thought that you didn't like me. The day you first came to school, you were so pissed off that for a moment l thought you were going to embarrass me at the cafeteria."

Until now that he said it l started to realize that maybe James just got bad timing. "The day you first met me l couldn't speak, l was coming from the hospital and l had lost my voice."

"Oh, what happened?, how did you get hurt?", he asked with a worried voice.

"I don't know what happened, my memory seems to start from the hospital".

He stared at me without blinking. His face was shocked. He was now looking at me as though he was seeing me for the first time.

"I'm so sorry, l can't imagine a girl like you going in such traumatic experiences", he said almost like he wanted to cry in my stead.

I scooted a bit closer to him and  to patted his back. " No, it's nothing serious, l'm fine now don't worry.

He looked at me with his eyes red, "Arielle please, if you need my help on anything, anything l will be pleased to help you. Never hesitate to ask me. I want to prove to you..."

"Arielle!, there you are. Now please come we have to go now", Keisty interrupted James as she called me from behind.

I stood up and looked at him. Then l nodded. "I'm sorry I have to go, but l will take you at your words." I paused and smiled, "nice meeting you, you are such a sweet guy ".

I didn't wait to see the reaction on his face, l was already running to Keisty who was waiting for me.