I've been looking
under rocks and
breaking locks
just tryna find ya...
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What was she doing? What in heaven's name was happening to her?
Chimdi kept glancing around her, paying a half hearted attention to the group of girls surrounding her.
She kept wondering what she was doing in their midst. She needed to leave, she had to.
Her eyes set to capture someone, infact, everyone of her friends. All she knew was that she was in the midst of a well-practiced gossip section, going strong. Ella's name was spouted out at intervals like a pre-communion chant.
Her eyes were beginning to grow weary, hands trembling as she fought hard, fought to beat back the panic attack. She could control it, she told herself as she took in slow, even breaths.
Where the hell are her friends?
"Look babe, I've been trying to get my hands on allure beauty," tall and slender queenbee said. "How can I make a purchase?"
Chimdi let out a pleased sigh. Finally, a change of topic.
She bared her teeth in what she thought was a pleased grin.
"There is a link on my recent post, a code too for a discount. It will lead you to our website." Her forced smile tried to falter a bit.
"Really?" Queen bee number two asked. She had a pick-me-apart-if-you-can attitude that didn't fit well with Chimdi. But Chimdi nodded nonetheless.
"Yeah, the discount is pretty satisfying. You should try it out too."
Looking around, Chimdi tried to spot even a familiar face, but couldn't.
The pavilion was filled with students of Pacesetters, ranging from Juniors to seniors. Burnaboy's Monsters you made echoing across the vast space. The school's annual bonfire, which brought with it a game night and free-for-all feasting, was held at the eve of every end of the year party.
There, the students gathered around a fierce fire, lit with the aid of woods and rubber to have a final moment of fun before dispersing for the year.
Chimdi gritted her teeth to keep calm, while the girls carried on with the conversation. Grateful that they'd stirred the conversation to Antni's new product, she decided it would be the perfect time to sneak out.
The sea of students made it too hard a task, to locate her friends. Lara had been acting some type of way, while Nene had excused herself to have a leek. But she knew better, the melanin bombshell was probably someplace, making out with her boyfriend.
And she hadn't seen the guys, especially TJ.
She didn't know what to do with the revelation she'd gathered from Antni. She didn't even know how to face him after ignoring all his texts and calls. She'd only replied one, but that was as far as she could go. She was unable to go any further with the conversation.
She knew trying to fight whatever damn feeling she felt towards him was a futile mission.
He was everywhere and her damn mind couldn't go a good hour without wandering right back to him.
She was fed up. She decided to put on her big girl slacks and man the situation. The texts he'd sent were good enough reasons to quit sticking to the well constructed lies she'd told herself.
Still searching for her friends, she bumped into one.
"Christ Dee, where the hell have you been?" Jiki asked, dragging her to a luminous space, worry lines creased his forehead.
"The girls are looking for you."
She felt a relieved breath leave her lips, glad she could finally breath properly. She tugged at the over-sized hoodie wrapping around her tiny frame.
"I doubt." She snorted. "They left me out here to go do shady things."
A slow smile crept to Jiki's lips.
"If you're so jealous, why didn't you go look for TJ?" The smile morphed into a smirk that she so wanted to slap off. "He's looking for you by the way." Her heartbeat sped up.
Clearing her throat, she folded her hands and stared the fairer boy straight in the face.
"He should come find me. That is, if he really is."
"You sure?"
She shrugged, trying to look calm. "Yeah. Where have you been?"
"Around and searching for you." His cellphone lighted to a text.
He untied the blue durag tied expertly around his head. He began tying it on hers. "The game will commence soon." He said, moving around to firmly secure a knot.
"Later you'll complain about your hair getting ruined. Have a lil sense, you won't." He scolded, causing a pout from her. In a second, he was done.
Still pissed at everyone around her, she kicked him on the chin, emitting an annoyed groan from him. "I didn't ask for your help and last time I checked, the hair was mine and not yours."
He shook his head at her, before checking his cellphone again.
"Stay here will you. Desist from wandering about, I'll be back ASAP."
She hissed, rolling her eyes. "You're not the boss of me."
"Damnit Dee! Will you listen to me for once. I'm coming back right now." With that, he walked off with long, calculated strides.
Chimdi, tired of heeding to instructions, headed south.
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TJ's patience was running thin as he searched around.
Where is she?
He couldn't see anyone on a black oversized hoodie and blue durag. That was what Jiki had told him. He couldn't spot her, not even for a brief second.
He continued his search, worry and patience creating a scene in his mind. The game would soon start and the pavilion would be one rowdy place, he thought.
What was it with her and trying to get away from him? Jiki had told him with great conviction that she would be there once he got there. But all he saw were students lingering around, paring up in groups yet, she was absent.
Or perhaps, you are at the wrong place.
"Hey man!" A fellow classmates hollered a wave.
He responded, about to get out his cellphone to text Jiki, when he spotted her. She was truly wrapped in an oversized hoodie that stopped at her knees, her hair was wrapped in a blue durag, a can of coke in her hand, reminding him of the first time he saw her.
He felt something tug at his heart- relief, then warmth. The silver glow of the full moon bathed her with it's pearl-like glow, alongside the orange, yellow, red flames of the crackling bonfire.
He found himself making his way towards her, the only thing on his mind was how her blemish free face which was scrubbed to perfection, looked damn beautiful. He just couldn't help his thought.
"Hey stranger," he said once he reached her and watched her whole being go still, before she whipped around to face him.
"You gave me a start!" Her free hands made to her pocket, hiding her shaky fingers. She wasn't expecting to meet him this way.
"Sorry." A sheepish grin was plastered on his face and she couldn't help but notice that they were sort of matching. He had on a black durag and a red hoodie, completed with black sweat and grey Crocs.
Goals.
No. she thought, shaking off the silly thought. They were no goals anything. Her only goal at the moment was to clear the air between them. Which she didn't know how to begin.
"Where have you been all these while?" He asked. "Congrats on your nomination -- I heard."
"Been around," the conversation was a hell lot awkward than she imagined it to be. "Thanks. It's no big deal."
"It sure is. You deserve every one of them. Umm... Can we talk?"
She nodded, relieved that they were on the same lane of thought.
"Yeah sure. And sorry I kinda ignored your calls and texts."
He raised a brow. "Kinda?"
She flashed him an innocent smile. "Yeah. I'm sure I replied a certain time."
"Whatever floats your boat then." The humor sparkling in his eyes had her relieved a little more.
Her eyes went wide when he reached for her hands, taking the can of carbonated drink from her.
"Do you mind?" He asked.
Too shocked to respond, she nodded. Then she watched him take a gulp -- then again, watched the movement of his Adam's apple, as the liquid slid down his throat and thought of how hot it was.
Girl! get your head off the gutter!!
She shook her head, trying to shake a little sense into it.
He handed the can back to her.
"Thanks. Let's look for a less crowded space, the game will soon begin." He took her hands, pulled her gently to the back of the pavilion. He wasn't about to let her get away from him anytime soon.
"I hope here is perfect?" He continued. "Don't want you feeling uncomfortable."
"Yeah, sure."
He dropped her hand and she immediately missed the warmth.
The cool night air swept past them, whispering over their faces and bringing with it scents from lurking students. It smelt of sweat, missed with pleasant and unpleasant fragrance, before making way for a pure and calming air worth inhaling.
Chimdi watched him close his eyes, nose stuck in the air as he inhaled in the cool night air, looking like serenity personified. She fought the urge to reach for his face. Or maybe, join him to just bask and live in the moment.
"This is so surreal." He whispered with eyes still closed.
"What?"
"For days I've been dreaming about this pavilion," his eyes opened, letting loose his beguiling dark orbs.
This time the humor was gone. He looked at her like she was the answer to his unanswered questions. Like she was the only thing that was of utmost importance. "You want to know what I dream of?"
"No." She said, but knew that he'd tell her anyway.
"I'd always search for you in a sea of students here and you'd always drift far -- far from my reach. I was always looking for you," he leaned against a brick wall, eyes solely on hers. "Guess it's no longer a dream, cos I've found you."
Her heart took to an of tune beat, so loud like hula drums. "Please tell me you're bluffing?" She said when she found her voice. He was moving in pace too fast it was a hard task keeping up with him.
Her fingers tightened around the half full can in her hand, willing her heart to stop it's ridiculous pounding.
And when his eyes cleared up, the humor lightening it up in seconds, she felt her pulse calm.
"Got you!" He drawled out, a hearty chuckle followed suit.
She hit his hard abdomen. "That wasn't in anyway funny Kodiri!"
"Damn! you should have seen your face. Should have taken a picture."
She sent another punch his way, her face heating up in embarrassment.
"Hey c'mon it was a joke. How the hell do you throw mean punches with these stick like hands?"
His laugh increased a notch as he held her wrists in a loose grip, trying to stop her from aiming another punch his way. And because she wanted to smile, she let out a hiss.
He let her hand go. "You should be glad I dream of you. I mean, isn't that every teenage girl's fantasy?" He wiggled his brows in a playful manner. "To starr in a hot guy's dream?"
She rolled her eyes at him. A smile breaking free. "Why? You give yourself so much credit Kodiri."
He shrugged, silly grin in place. "Why not, every girl in school finds me attractive."
Shaking her head, she snorted. "The short sighted ones?"
He took her hands into his, an absent gesture that he did because it felt absolutely right, and an act Chimdi wasn't aware of while she was busy going with the flow.
"You know that's a pure fact. You're trying to puncture my ego."
"I've never had the need to shield the truth."
"It's your way of denying what's right." He cocked a brow. "Look at this hot piece of art."
Chimdi couldn't help but roll her eyes. "More like beef."
"You like beef?"
"Nah, I prefer white meat." She smiled as his face fell. "You know, cos it's healthy. Doctor's words not mine."
He pouted. "Kill joy. I'm sorry."
The apology caught her off guard. That was when she felt his hand right on hers. Embarrassment made her let go.
"For what exactly?"
"Dunno," He shrugged, trying to mask his shyness. "You weren't answering my calls and any of my sent texts... figured I might have done something wrong."
Her heart fell, filled with pride, then warmth.
Oh TJ.
How could he be so sweet. The sincerity of his words, caging her in it's guilt trap.
"It isn't you this time." She said in total frankness, watching the relief take over the worried expression on his face.
"My act was all intentional, I was seeking for answers." She tightened her grip around the can in her hand, just because she needed to hold something. "Everything was overwhelming and fast paced." She had a feeling he understood clear enough.
"Did you find the answers you were looking for?" His gaze fell on her, held hers with the intensity that always rocked her.
She felt her heart flutter for a good ten seconds. He had so much effect on her which had her feeling scared atimes.
But the unanswered question was, Did she?
"I'm not quite sure..." She answered tentatively. She didn't know if she got the answer or if more complications were set.
He stepped forward, making her heart flutter wildly. "Fine. I hope this isn't the point where you tell me to stay aware from you?"
She laughed, a slow one that was driven by memory. "Nope, not anymore."
"Great," he sighed. "Cos I wasn't planning on letting you be this time." The grin on her face had him smiling back.
Silence ensured. It felt so necessary -- standing there with him, basking in therapeutic breeze. Calm music flowing from the DJ's wheel, while the moon and stars bathed them. The universe aligning in their honour. It felt so good -- so right.
Till there was commotion. Students began running, excited voices filled the air while the DJ replaced Ladipoe's voice with a more rushed and fast paced song. Something like the songs Elo loved, TJ mussed. To set them in the mood.
The game had started.
Chimdi drew in, relaxing on the brick wall.
"The game has started." She said, eyes darting around.
"Figured." He'd taken her hand into his again. He just couldn't help it. Her slim fingers felt warm and soft.
"This is meant to be fun, yet there will be students at the sickbay tommorow morning, complaining of several sight problems. Game night has officially been set for revenge and plottings."
He shrugged, playing with her fingers, which she didn't mind. "Man made man to be wicked."
She sighed. "That's Shakespeare."
He nodded, while she felt her heart swell up with pride. His brains -- had been one out of a lot of things that pulled her to him. He was not in anyway shallow, aside the looks, he was much more, much more that she didn't even know him anymore.
You never knew him.
That's absolutely right.
Antni's words rang out in her head. She wanted to ask him -- no tell him, but didn't know how to bring up the damn topic without scaring him. Or worse, being tagged a stalker, he might sue for encroachment.
A group of students breezed past them and in defense, TJ made a small move re-angling his body and shielding her from them, leaving her between him and the wall.
Her skin glinted under the moonlight, like pear-like tears. His eyes flitted to her lips, glossy and inviting. Beckoning him to lean in - to take a sip. She was like a siren, drawing him in and he stood helpless.
The moon was full, like his heart.
"You know what they say about full moon?" He leaned close, watching the movement of her eyes.
She looked up, the dreamlike light, which was bright enough to be read under. "Don't worry, we won't turn into werewolves."
That got him cracking up. She joined him, the air clearing up.
"Smart ass." He shook his head, fighting the urge to tap her button-like nose.
Now's the time Chimdi.
Her subconscious mind urged, but she didn't know how to begin.
He raised a suggestively brow. "Would you come with, if I asked?"
Her brows furrowed in confusion. "To where?"
"The end of the year party tomorrow..." Vaguely embarrassed, he ran his hand through the back of his head. "You know... as my date. No, that came out wrong. Would you be my date?"
The question threw her off. Yet she knew the answer to his question, anytime.
Just ask him now Chimdi, damnit!
"Umm..."
But then, a splash cut short her sentence. Followed by a gasp and fit of giggling.
"I told you they weren't kissing yet, you dimwit!" Nene scolded, making her way to where they stood.
"Oopsie," Lara giggled, trailing behind.
Chimdi let out a groan. They had the worst timing in the world!
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