Chapter 15: Chapter 15:

Everybody gets prepared and puts everything in order.

The door flew open and my breath catches in my throat. Tigress stood at the doorway in her bikini and heels. She wore a huge beam on her face.

"Ta da" she sung and walks confidently into the room.

We all stare at her.

"I'm finally in here again! The meeting area" she says sweetly and holds her head up high dreamily then she giggles and flips her orange hair.

"Who missed me?" She asks and we are all stiff. Aaron glares at her and Danny is sweating.

"Oh come on! Don't be bad babies! Your mommy missed you so much and none of you missed me?" She says faking hurt and disappointment. Wow! She's really  dramatic!

"We missed you too mommy" we all echo simultaneously and we look at each other surprised. What's with this echoing thing tonight?

"Oh that's wonderful" she says and blows us kisses.

She then sits up in her couch

"Actually, mommy came here to check on you and make sure you are doing your homework" Tigress states more seriously now putting all the drama aside. I liked it better when she's dramatic more than when she's serious. When she's serious, she looks frightening! And I suppose the word 'homework ' she used meant pulling stunts.

"So Kimberly! Can I have the records book?" She demands and Kimberly quickly rushes over to the counter and brings the book over. Nervousness was written all over her face. Troy looked scared.

Tigress takes the book and flips the pages. I exhale heavily. The atmosphere is tense and I could hear Aaron's heart beat. It was like it was going to come out of his chest already.

Silence hangs in the room as Tigress continues to flip page after page scanning whatever is written with her head hidden in the book.

Then she closes it and drops it on the small table beside her. Shivers run down my spine. I couldn't read her expression. She takes a cigar and lights it. Not again! I didn't bring my inhaler!

She puffs at it and the smoke moves upwards.

"I'm impressed with your performance so far! Especially you Danny" she speaks up and I follow. My stomach flutters.

"But.....I have a problem" she spits and I see everyone swallow hard.

She drops the cigar on the floor and crashes it. It goes off.

She picks the book calmly and holds it firmly in her right hand.

"YOU ARE NOT MAKING HISTORY!!!" she yells at us and everyone is shocked.

"NICOLE!!! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING" she yells at me and I swallow hard.

"AND YOU AARON! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON WITH YOU?" she yells again and I am scared.

"THIS HOMEWORK IS SHIT GUYS! LIFT UP YOUR GAME AND MAKE HISTORY" she says and tears the records book apart. I watch in horror as the pieces of paper and book cover lands on the floor.

Then she stamps her foot on the now ruined records book with her high heels.

We all look in horror.

"The next time mommy comes here, I need to see better points than this! Understood?" She spits and we all nod eagerly

"Aargh" she yells and stamps on the pieces of paper. Then she flips her hair and struts out of the room. Her face was crimson in colour and I try as much as I can to stifle a giggle.

She's quite upset. The moment she leaves, the silence in the atmosphere breaks with sighs of relief and the tension disappears.

"We did our best! She cannot just blame us for not creating some stupid history?" Danny says obviously annoyed. I was also annoyed.

"She didn't even acknowledge our efforts" Kimberly states.

"She's such a meanie! Does she know how much I bought this book?" Troy spits angrily.

"She doesn't know the risks we are taking to create that history" Aaron spits.

"She thinks its so easy!  That's why she expects more from us" I growl with  a heavy sigh.

"Let's just say this never happened" Troy says and picks up the torn pieces of his book and throws it into the trash can.

"The next time she calls for a meeting, I wouldn't show up"  Danny spits

"Me too" Aaron groans.

"I'm three" Troy says

"Four" Kimberly adds.

"Five" I say.

"It seems we are all not going to attend her meetings ever." Troy states.

"Yeah" we all say at the same time.

I grab my phone and look at the time. Its half past four in the morning. Am glad I didn't bring Trina along to see this shit!

"I'm going home" I say.

"Me too! That bitch has put me in the most shittiest mood  ever this night" Kimberly spits. I have never seen her so angry.

"I am going too! I wouldn't stay here for a second more after she's done this" Danny adds.

"I'm also going" Aaron says and stands up.

"You are all leaving me behind?"Troy asks sadly.

" oh Troy! We wish we could help you! But we are all in a bad mood"Aaron explains.

"Like I'm not in a bad mood?" Troy asks.

"No! I didn't mean that Troy" Aaron explains.

"Then what did you mean?" Troy demands feeling hurt.

"Guys! I think we should help Troy clean up" I suggest.

"Yeah" Danny agrees.

"Thanks guys" Troy says flashing us a huge smile. When we get down, the party has already ended but many teenagers had passed out on the floor. There were empty bottles of vodka and whiskey all over. Apart from that, there were broken pieces of glassware and plastic cups littered everywhere.

"Wow Troy! You do well in cleaning up this mess every Saturday night" Aaron spits.

"Yeah" he says and scratches his head.

"Dude! If you think its too much for you stop throwing the parties! Let someone else throw them" Danny says.

"Yeah" I reply agreeing to Danny's suggestion.

Troy laughs out loud and we are all caught of guard.

"You guys actually believed me? Its all a lie!" Troy says and we are confused.

"Which lie?" Kimberly demands.

"Do you really think a rich guy like me would clean up his own club house after a party?!" Troy states and we realise we have been fooled. He had a point.

"Troy!" Kimberly says and smacks his head.

"Ouch! Kim" he grimaces and I chuckle.

"After every night, a group of cleaners come here to clean the mess but sometimes I help them by cleaning the little I can" Troy explains.

"What about the teenagers on the floor?" Aaron asks in disgust.

"Oh them! We wake them up, tell them party's over, and sack them to their homes" Troy states and we all laugh.

"So if you want to help the cleaners a little bit, you can! They will be making their appearance at six in the morning" Troy tells.

"I would just get some the empty bottles into the trash can" I suggest

"I'll pick the plastic cups" Aaron follows.

"I'll sweep the broken glassware" Kimberly offers.

"Danny?" Troy says.

"I'll erh......wake the teenagers up" he says.

"I'm cleaning up the fridge! Am sure its in a mess" Troy says

"Okay! Let's get to work people" Kimberly announces and we begin.

°~•~•~•°

By the time we were done it was five in the morning. Sunday morning to be precise. We were all panting. Our skins were dripping with sweat.

The house looked much cleaner than the way it was the first time we saw it before working.

"Thanks guys! You did half of the job for the cleaners! They  would really appreciate it and I wouldn't have to pay them that much" Troy says

"You're welcome Troy" I reply.

"Don't worry about that Troy" Danny adds.

"We are one big family! And we support each other" Aaron says.

"And we all adore you Troy! Your jokes, your sense of humour! Everything!" Kimberly spits.

"Really? Am going to cry with all that you have said" Troy says and I roll my eyes. He begins to dab his eyes with a tissue and fakes crying.

He was so dramatic! I wonder if Tigress gave him some acting skills.

"Quit that Troy! It doesn't suit you"Aaron says.

" you are so dramatic"Danny says. I was about to state the same thing.

"And you're making us feel bad right now" I point out.

"Okay okay! Drama aside" Troy says and I smile. He always listens.

"What do we do now?" He adds.

"Go home" Aaron shrugs. It was obvious.

"Okay! Let's go home" Troy says and we all walk out.

I stopped a cab

"Are you taking a cab Nikki? When we have cars?" Aaron spits and am surprised. He has been behaving strangely towards me nowadays.

"Well what do you think am doing?" I say. Its obvious I was taking a cab wasn't it.

"Aaron is right! Instead of taking a cab, why don't you join one of us?" Danny says.

"I don't want to be a burden! Besides you guys need your privacy too" I spit.

"We are one big family Nikki! Its not a big deal" Aaron says.

"Are you sitting or what?" The driver snaps at me. His tone laced with complete annoyance.

"I'm sorry but I'll go with my friends" I say and slam the door. He drives off in a huff.

"We got him quite angry" Aaron says and I laugh.

"Looked like he was going to explode actually" Troy adds making all of us laugh.

"Thanks guys! I really appreciate your kind words and gestures" I say to all of them.

"Its nothing" Kimberly says.

"I'll be joining Troy in his car" she adds.

I had to choose between Danny and Aaron.

"I'll take Nikki"Aaron says out of the blue with a nice smile.

" okay! So let's get going then"Danny says and we all disperse.

I follow Aaron to his car and he opens the door leading to the passenger seat. I enter and say thank you before he shuts it. He was such a gentleman but a bit weird.

He sits at the driver's seat and moves the car out of the parking lot. The car is silent as he drives. The only sound came from the engine.

"Errrr..... Nikki" Aaron starts nervously.

"Yea?" I reply expectantly.

"I know I've been acting a bit strange lately" Aaron says and my breath catches in my throat but I urge him to continue.

"I'm sorry! Its just that.....I  don't know how to explain it" Aaron says.

"Don't worry about that Aaron! I'm okay"I reply honestly.

He smiles. "Thanks Nicole"

I look back on the road.

Its 5:45am. I hope my parents are still asleep and Trina too or else she's going to be suspicious even if I lie to her.

The car is silent again. I just look at the skies watching the sun rise.

Finally the car comes to a stop in front of my house. I get down.

"See you later Nikki" Aaron says and drives off.

I feel a pit of fire in my stomach as I walk on the pavement into my house. I passed the backyard and spied. My parents were awake. I could see them walking all over the room. I tip toe to my window making sure no one spots me.

I climb my window and enter my bedroom. Boomer is still in my bed. I smile.

"Thanks Boomer" I say to the toy. I grabbed it from the sheets and hugged it so tight. Then I heard a knock on the door.

I walk towards the door with Boomer in my arms. I open it and mom stands at the doorway.

"Good morning sweetheart! How are you" Mom says.

"I'm great mother " I reply and flash her a huge grin.

"Oh! You're holding Boomer" she says surprised.

"Yeah! I needed him this night" I said and smile at what I just said.

"Why? Are you having nightmares?"

"No mom! Honestly no! I just missed it somehow"

She smiles.

"You are changing and I like that! I want you to be what you were before" Mom says.

I nod with a smile.

"Your daddy told me that you don't want to sign the agreement of good behavior the principal has offered you! Why?" Mom says with disappointment.

"I have decided to sign it mother! And I'll try as much as possible to go according to its terms" I reply honestly.

Mom's brown irises lights up and she hugs me.

"Thank you so much honey! I'm glad you are willing to change" she says behind me and I smile.

Trina and dad see us and they both have confused expressions drawn on their faces.

"What's going on?" Trina asks.

Mom and I look at each other.

"I have decided to sign the agreement daddy" I say to him.

Trina looks confused.

Dad's blue eyes lights up like a flame and he comes to hug me.

"Thanks sweetheart" he mouths in my hair.

"Could someone explain what is going on here?! An agreement? What agreement? Mom! Dad! Nicole! Don't just stare at me like I've grown two heads! I'm confused! We are a family!" Trina spills and I know she'll keep on saying more.

Mom chuckles.

"Relax Trina! Its not a secret" mom says.

Trina huffs.

"Then just tell me!" She demands.

"The agreement concerns good behavior and your sister agreed to sign it so she will be good in school" Dad explains.

Trina is shocked but she quickly comes to hug us.

We all hug each other as a family. I wish someone was here to take a picture of us.

"I want to take a selfie with all of you! Wait here" Trina  says and dashes into the room. She cones back with her white phone and raises it.

"Everybody say cheese" Trina announces and we all say it.

Then she snaps. We looked so nice in the picture.

"I'm keeping this picture" Trina says

"Breakfast will be ready soon" mom announces.

"I'm going to the market to fetch some groceries" Dad adds.

"Trina send me the picture later" I tell her and she nods.

We hear a car honk outside and then my phone rings.

"Are you expecting someone Nikki?" Mom says.

"Errrr......yeah" I reply  nervously. I go to my room and pick up the phone.

"I'm here! " Jake's sad voice comes on.

"I'll be right down" I say and hang up.

"Who was it?" Dad spits in my face.