ZARA

Whatever the noise was about, I wasn't interested. The only thing I kept my eyes on was the pair of fair finger nails that grazed on the table opposite me. I couldn't even look up to meet his eyes. There was nothing more embarrassing that meeting his eyes at this very moment.

"Osheyyyyyy!" Afam slammed his hand on the table. "so in your mind you have sense now!"

"Don't even think that I don't watch it. I do and the guy's gay in real life. I watched his interview on Ellen DeGeneres show. Hello!" Jacqueline snapped. Her hands were folded fiercely across her blossom as she glowered at Afam.

Afam snorted. "he's bisexual not gay. He likes girls too."

"Who? Is it the second son?" Mona queried, sitting up.

I looked away from them and briefly glanced at him. He had his eyes staring intently at me. Great! I snapped my eyes away. He had been trying to talk to me for days, after what had happened in the toilet, I hadn't spoken to him. There was absolutely nothing to talk about. And it didn't help that I was feeling like shit.

"Hey,I have to go. I forgot my notebook in class." Ene spoke beside me. I turned my attention to her.

"you'll go alone?" I queried.

"yes. I'll be back now." she smiled and stood up. She asked the person —Tobi— beside her to excuse her. Once she made it out of the hall, Tobi scooted closer to me, a small grin on his face. I was suddenly feeling very self conscious. Jerome sat opposite me with a grim expression on. And Toby was beside me. He looked more than willing to strike up a conversation. It was like something was about to blow over and —

"Zara, they are calling captains." I looked up to see Mirabel, the deputy head girl smiling down at me. I would have kissed her in that moment. I stood up abruptly and excused myself.

Since the day Jerome and I had shared that kiss, everything had come crashing down. I couldn't tell my best friend because she was so tight with her cousin and I didn't want any fight to ensue between best friends because of me. It was easy to avoid Jerome. During conversations that included everyone, I'd not speak to him  directly. I'd rather reply when I wanted to. But it was very uncomfortable most of the time.

"Prefects, you'll go round and share Garri. Two spoon per table o."  The dinning hall master announced before us and handed us the cooler.

Jacqueline and I stood together. We walked down the roll assigned to us, sharing Garri.

*****

"You're such a pain in the heart you bitch!" Mona laughed.

I poured more water on her, laughing. She laughed too as she ran far away from me. Grace and Jacq tore open two more bags of water and we spilled it on her. The school park was getting empty. All four of us were waiting for our parents to come pick us up. We were what teenagers called omo-get-inside. Our parents didn't like the idea of us going anywhere on our own. Ene and Toby had boarded a bus and gone home long ago. And so had many other people.

"OK. OK. I get it. It's OK. Happy birthday to me!" Mona laughed and moved back. The sachet water we bought had finally finished. And it had been wasted on her body in respect for her new age. 

As we settled back down on the cemented chairs in the school park, I rummaged through my bad to retrieve the gift I had gotten her. I finally slipped out a blue diary and a pair of silver round earrings I had bought her. I handed it to her. Mona as usual smirked. "oshey!"

I rolled my eyes and puffed a breath. "What I got my hands on."

She laughed lightly and crushed me in a hug. I laughed warmly into her shoulders. "you're welcome."

Grace and Jacqueline had contributed money and bought her a gold coloured headset. Mona was a music lover and it was only typical that it was what they would buy her. She smiled. "Awwn. Where my bad bitches at?!"

She crushed them in hugs too. We all laughed.

"Birthday baby!" she hugged her gifts and sighed. "I can't believe Lanre hasn't like sent someone to give me something. Maybe he'll give me when we resume. He better buy me pure gold."

I rolled my eyes. "maybe he's broke."

She punched me lightly. "Your boyfriend will be broke."

I smirked. "If I have one."

Grace plopped down between Mona and I and grinned at me. "what's up with uncle Toby na. Do you like the guy or not?"

Jacqueline moved closer. "do you?"

Mona also had her eyes on me, like she was scrutinizing me. I suddenly felt self conscious and all too aware of them. And it felt like the perfect moment to tell them what was going on. With Ene not present and Jacq and Mona were the easy ones to tell this story to. Grace was quite, strict on moral matters. She was like so angry when it came to matters of dignity. She didn't believe in having too many boyfriends or giving up your virginity in the back seat of a car. She was the type of girl that dreamt about getting married and living a good life, not the go to club kind of girl. But it was easier to tell them about Jerome. Now that Ene was not here. I cleared my throat to speak.

"so..something happened —"

Mona gripped Grace's shoulders and spoke up, putting an abrupt purse to my big reveal. "is that Lanre?"

I whipped my head towards her direction. It was the high rise building of the senior class. On the top floor, I caught a movement. A figure. The stature looked very much like Lanre, coupled with the fair skin. And beside him, there was someone. Someone he was blocking. And all of a sudden, they both walked into the class and away from the window.

I stood up and squinted my eyes. "who is that with him?"

"it was wearing skirt. It's a girl." Mona muttered.

Grace came up behind me. "what are they doing on the top floor. That's SS1 class."

"I don't think standing here will give us any answer. How about we go and check what dog he dragged in with him?" Mona bit her lips once the words were out. We were all standing and staring at her.

Jacq nodded. "yes, let's go. Grace and I will take the stair case on the left. You and Mona will use the one on the right. Let's go and check."

I creased my brows at her. "This would mean we are suspecting him of cheating." I glanced at Mona. "are you sure?"

She nodded absently. "What would he be doing there when everyone is going home. He hasn't even spoken to me today and it's my birthday. Like what the hell. If he's not kissing someone or touching someone, then why is he there? Is he studying chemistry?"

"OK. Calm down. Let's go." I nodded. She had a point.

Grace snorted lowly. "Lanre is such a low life. I wouldn't waste time spying on him o. I just want to see who he thinks is better than Mona Lisa for him."

I sighed. This was one mission I was having a weird feeling about. But it was highschool and I liked gossip. Grace and Jacqueline claimed up the staircase on the left while Mona and I did the same from the right. We walked slowly, to make sure our footsteps would not be heard by anyone.

While we made our way to the second staircase, Mona gripped my shoulders and nodded once. "what was it you were about to say. You like Toby?"

I scrunched my face. "What?"

"before the whole Lanre mess. You wanted to say something."

"oh."my heart pounded in my chest. "it's nothing."

She raised a brow and took another step quietly. I did the same. "spill. I know you wanted to say something."

I kissed my teeth and licked my lips. "OK. Fine yeah. There is something."

"so say it. At least I want to hear good gist before I catch Lanre having it with someone else."

"you seem cool about this. I thought you and him were good."

"don't change the subject. Talk na."

I looked away from her as we made it to the first staircase and climbed slowly. "Jerome kissed me."

She stopped walking. She stood, one leg on one stair and another on the one above. She stood on the one above slowly and turned to me. "what?"

I groaned. "yes."

"was it nice? French?"

I parted my lips to say something that seemed sensible. That was not the response I had expected from her. OK maybe it was but...?! "seriously?"

She shrugged. " was it?"

"Bitch it was my first kiss. I don't know!" I walked on.

She gripped my shoulders and raised both her brows. "OK. So did all his mouth cover all of yours?"

"no." I creased my brows. What was she saying?

"OK. Did you feel his tongue in your mouth?"

"Mona why? —"

"Answer na."she snickered.

"well yes." I recall the feel of his tongue in mine that day. It had felt heavenly and...

"wow. He went straight to French for a first time. No chill. Mehnn. " she laughed. "OK. So what else was there?"

I gulped. "I don't know. Like we're both nibbling on each others lips. Like I sucked on on his lower lip while he like sucked on on my upper lip..." I stopped instantly, feeling a flood of heat on my neck. What was I doing?

Mona's eyes stood wide alert as she grinned. "Bitch your first kiss is mad o. And what the fuck?! You kissed him back!"

"well... I guess I just felt like experiencing it. I mean it was right in front of me." I looked away guiltly. In that moment, Tobi crossed my mind.

Mona smirked. "Wow. So is he as good as they say?"

I pushed her away and laughed lightly. "stop... Look I — are you not thinking about Toby? This kiss is a mess and it's it's bad... There's still Toby."

Mona raised a brow. "let's face it. You and him never had chemistry. I was thinking more of emm.... Like what boring subject do I use?" she murmured. Then she gripped my shoulder again and spoke. "yeah! You guys have more of Music!"

I looked at her dryly. "Music is good."

"but as a subject, we all hate it. So yeah. You guys don't have chemistry. You have music. And although Jerome is more of the Chemistry guy, He's not trustworthy. He's like so unpredictable." She claimed on.

We stepped on the last stair and finally, we were at the top.

"Do you like him?"

"I never said I did." I raised a brow. "And I don't know. I like Tobi more than him."

Mona nodded. "did he say anything after the kiss?"

"I broke the kiss and walked out."

"chill. Where did this happen?"

"Toilet. During our punishment."

Mona squealed in delight. I clamped my hand over her mouth to prevent it from lasting long. Then I glared at her and gestured to the hall, indicating that we were on a mission.

She moved  away from me and spoke up. "Look, I didn't want to say anything because Well, you seem to want to like Tobi and... I don't know sef. But since you mentioned that day, God... He looked like he really likes you. With the cute nicknames and all. I liked how he kept asking for your attention. He was so interested in it. And the way he asked why you were avoiding him. It seemed so nice. I was really jealous. And You guys look really cute together. Asides from that, he seems to understand you very well. I can't explain it. Jerome seems to care for you very much. Remember that day you blacked out? When you couldn't see and he carried you. Mehnn, he was — he seemed worried. And I think he likes you. And I think he's playing games with you. He's very confusing. But games aside, I'd totally choose him over Tobi."

I stared at her. She seemed genuinely happy that Jerome had kissed me. Like she had expected it all along. And I was happy it was her I had shared such moment with.

I sighed. "the problem is that I think I like Tobi. And Jerome is with Betty."

"Forget Betty abeg. you've been talking about Toby all week and you've been talking to him all week too. But you've been stealing glances at Jerome before this week. And when he fell on the floor the other day at the assembly, you kept on looking to know if he was alright. When he stays in the corridor talking to Afam, you're always trying to butt in. And don't think Jacqueline had not noticed your frequent visits to her class. Hmm.. We've been gossiping." she added when I glared at her. "Look just think we'll about this. Know what you really feel. And take it easy with Jerome. He hasn't said he likes you. For all we know this could be some kind of test the boys are throwing at you."

"before.. Before he kissed me, he asked me how I felt? I don't understand the question. It felt serious. I don't know. And since that day, we haven't talked. I've been avoiding him."

Mona placed her hand on hips and shrugged. "Just go on holiday and figure your self out."

I looked down the stairs subconsciously and glanced around too. "yeah. I will. Wait!  What has Grace said about this?"

Mona smiled. "she doesn't like Jerome for you. She's team Toby."

"wait... Does Ene know about this whole.. Team thing?"

"No o. She might tell Tobi our suspensions. We keep her out of it. Even Grace is not that trusted."

I sighed in relief. She was right. "OK. Let's see what's happening."

Mona nodded and walked on. I walked slowly behind her. All her words rang in my head seriously. It felt like I had gotten it all off my chest and it didn't feel any better. I was still as confused as hell.

From the other end, We saw Jacq and Grace standing by the staircase discussing. Grace shook her head flung her left arm at the wall. Jacqueline rolled her eyes. Then she shook her head also and said something. They seemed to be in a heated argument. Mona and I exchanged looks. We stopped just before we got to the window of the classroom. Grace suddenly looked up and spotted us. Her eyes widened. She shook her head and made a motion for us to go back. I creased my brows and mouthed 'why'.

Jacqueline rolled her eyes and leaned on the wall. She shook her head at Grace and said something. Grace shook her head also and motioned with her thumb for us to move downstairs. "let's go an talk." she mouthed.

Mona leaned into me. "Is it just me or is my main bitch giving me a 'I know something sign?'"

Amongst us all, Mona was closest to Grace. I was closest to Jacqueline and Ene. But it was then I realized that in these few weeks, things had changed. Mona and I had become terribly closer.

"Let's see what they are trying to protect." I spoke up.

Mona nodded. Ignoring all Grace's protest, We both moved together. We walked forward and looked into the classroom. What we saw sent ripples of shock down our spine. Standing there, lip locked with Lanre's and a few of her buttons popped some that her black lacy bra was left on display was the fifth member of my friendship cricket, Ene.

*******

Mona stood there, her lips were parted slightly. She let out a low chuckle and clapped her hands together dramatically then looked around. I was in too much shock to speak. Ene?! My Ene?!

Mona turned to me coldly. "you knew."

"what?? How could you possibly think that?!"

It was my loud shriek of surprise that made them jolt apart and Ene's bottom hit a locker beside her viciously. She winced.

Mona went on. "she's your best friend!"

"And so?! You think I knew about this? Well news flash. I didn't!" I would have told her if I did. Or warned her. But I didn't.

Mona shook her head. "wow."

Ene and Lanre now stood, staring at us wide eyed. Lanre turned away, he walked over to his school bag that sat on one locker and opened it. I didn't care what it was that he was doing. ENE stood there, looking everywhere but at us. Pathetic people.

"Ene!" I suddenly heard Tobi's voice from downstairs. I poked my head over the slab and looked right at him. He stood there, with his school bag behind him and his hands on his waist. He smiled when he saw me. "hey!"

I nodded. "hey."

He creased his brows. "is ENE there? We're supposed to go home and she said she left her note book in class."

I snorted. Epic story. It was what she said on Saturday also. So she had been on with this for long. "OK. She's here."

"tell her my mom won't let me come home alone again if we get home by six or seven. Even five sef."

"OK. I will."

He nodded and blew me a kiss. "thank you."

I chuckled silently and looked back at where I was. ENE nodded before I could speak. "I heard him."

Mona made to move. I, fearing that she'd angrily do something, gripped her arm. "calm down Mona."

She jerked herself free and smiled at me weirdly while creasing her brows. "I'm not going to fight a rat over poison. That's stupid. It's an animal that eats the things I keep and annoyingly eats my important papers. It's better it ate the poison and died."

She hooked our hands together on her right and with her left hand, she folded her fingers and sent the fuck you sign Ene's way. Then she called out to Lanre. "Lanre!"

He didn't turn. "what?"

"Oh, too ashamed to turn huhn? " Jacqueline spat. She and Grace now stood close to us and glowered at him.

He turned finally and glared at Jacqueline. "Shut up."

Mona smirked. She waved her fuck you sign his way. "you always kissed like a dog anyways. Too much spit involved."

With that, she tightened our hook and walked towards the stairs Jacqueline and Grace had come from. We made our way down the stairs in silence. And I was shocked when I saw a tear slip down her right eye.

*****

We stood behind the school library, Mona had been crying nonstop. To be honest I had no idea it bad gotten to her. She acted so carefree about it.

"He was a better kisser than Ehis. He didn't kiss like a dog. I think his amazing kisses is what I'd miss." she confessed.

She was seated on a plastic chair behind the library. My heart broke for her. I couldn't believe Ene was such a low life. That she's cheat with someone her friend was dating. It all seemed surreal. I patted her on the back. "it's OK."

"I was starting to really like him. Like really really. I thought we were OK."

I squatted beside her and hugged her. Grace and Jacqueline stood not so far away. After Mona had lashed out on them in tears, they stood faraway. It turned out they knew about it. And they said they had asked Ene to tell him off. According to Grace, she knew Lanre was making advances at Ene but she didn't know when Ene fell into his trap. Ene had been saying she didn't want anything to do with him and that she wanted him to be back with Mona. But behind it all she had been giving him her lips to devour and apparently, a sneak at her boobs too. Jacqueline knew as much as Grace. They had been her listeners. And it hurt that Ene hadn't told me anything about this.

It was then I remembered when Grace had said. "there something going on that's threatening to ruin our friendship. But I'll make sure I won't let it."

Her look had been angry. And Only now did I catch her meaning. This was it. And it broke my heart that the first sign to the beginning of our last days in highschool was the first sign of us breaking apart before we went our separate ways in life.

*********

The drama is finally unfolding!