This chapter is dedicated to LaraGold4 for being an active reader and voting on my chapters 😁 thank you!

Her friends were in a heated argument but her mind was anywhere but there.

"Josh's party was the dopest last year"

"Taarh, what about Samuel, that bi...."

"Samuel's birthday just had alcohol and disco lights, finish!" Emmanuella interrupted.

"Exactly!"

Anita hissed. "I still prefer his own" she said the last part with an eyeroll directed at the head girl, her dislike clearly evident on her face.

"How come no one's talking about Grace, her birthday is coming o"

Ifechi's ear perked up involuntarily at her name, Dami noticed her newly found interest.

"Ify when is your birthday?"

"Hmm?" She peered up from her physics workbook.

"Your birthday o, when is your birthday?" Anita repeated the question, a little impatiently.

"Oh, erm...1st why?"

Dami's eye widened. "1st of December?"

"Yeah why"

The three other girls exchanged knowing looks.

"What's wrong?"

"Girl..." Emmanuella was the first to speak.

"....You and Grace share the same birthday" Anita and Dami said at the same time.

"Oh wow..." Ifechi raised an eyebrow "...nice"

They threw her weird looks.

"What's nice about that?" Dami said

She chuckled humourlessly "What else should I say?"

"Grace always throws a party on her birthday" Anita said glancing at her long nails

"Oook...so?"

"It's difficult to beat her in that" She shrugged

Ifechi chuckled "Why would I want to bea...."

"Will you throw a party?" Emmanuella jumped in this time and Ifechi started to feel overwhelmed with their questions.

"Erm no, why?"

"Oh okay..."

"It's good you don't, because Grace's party will probably gather all the attention and nobody would attend yours" Dami said casually not with an intention of hurting Ifechi, but the latter did not take it kindly.

"Says who?" She asked with a scowl.

"She's right. Grace's party are like the highlight of the first term, everyone looks forward to it, yunno her dad is rich, she spends loooottts on her parties and I'm talking lots, barbecue, cotton candy and the food is buffet style. They even installed a hot tub for a pool party last year"

"Remember last year's chocolate fountain" Emmanuella asked dreamily and Ifechi felt her lips twitch into a scowl.

"Ow it's even true, Omo that party lit forget"

Ifechi didn't know if it was jealousy that tugged at her chest, but her breathing suddenly became hitched. She tore her eyes away from her friends who were still blabbing about how dope the party was, while she wondered if she should throw a party to prove them wrong.

Who this one dey frown for, give it up joorh, you know your parents won't agree, plus, they definitely can't afford to compete. Her subconscious mocked

She hissed in frustration and murmured incoherent words. When she looked up, all her friends had their eyes on her.

"What is it?"

Someone interrupted before any of them could answer.

"Math queen"

It was Jimmy and for the first time Ifechi saw him approaching her seat and not that of Dami.

"What's up?"

"I need your help"

"With what?"

"It's obviously maths" Dami snickered throwing the goofy boy a look, he returned a wink.

"Don't worry babe, I'm still yours, I just want to get help from your friend, my future is at stake here"

"Who's your babe?"

"You na"

"Abeg o!"

"What do you want Jimmy?" Emmanuella asked in a stern voice and Anita let out a small scoff.

"Ehen, pls come and teach me maths" He turned to Ifechi whose facial expression morphed into confusion.

"Maths?"

"Yeah"

"You have to be specific, which particular topic?"

"Omo, everything"

"Haa!"

"From A to Z o.....aswr, I no sabi anything wey dem dey talk for this textbook"

Ifechi burst into laughter "Wonders shall never end"

**********

She woke up smiling that Thursday morning. Other than the fact that the night was cold which made her enjoy her sleep better, that day was also something she'd looked forward to the past few days.

It was her birthday.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, happy birthday, Happy birthday to you..." Her mum came in right on time, singing and smiling at her daughter. Her younger siblings followed suit, and then Amanda who held the freshly baked cake with minimal icing, just as Ifechi liked it.

Birthday celebrations in her house were ceremonial. It would start by everyone singing for you first thing in the morning, then special prayers and Thanksgiving flowed by breakfast which was usually the celebrant's favourite food and then the cake was cut.

There was always cake.

"Hope they're complete?" Her mum asked her few minutes later.

"I counted them, they are complete"

"Good. Remember to drop the wine at the principal's office immediately you reach school"

"Yes mummy"

Ifechi smiled in satisfaction as she stared at the contents in her bag. Sure it couldn't compete with Grace, didn't even come close, but at least it was something.

Small packs, 34 in number were packed together inside a black bag. Each pack contained a cupcake, buns, few wraps of chocolate sweet and a bottle of soft drink.

It wasn't the biggest thing but Ifechi was super grateful to her mum who welcomed her idea of sharing packs to her classmates on her birthday, and of course, to Amanda, who baked everything diligently throughout the whole of Wednesday.

Everyone sang Grace a birthday song during break and though sad that no one knew about hers, she joined happily and sang like the rest of her classmates did.

Grace's expression was neutral, like it always was, but anyone could tell that she'd been looking forward to that day as well, just like Ifechi.

"And after school, everyone should rush to Grace's house for the best birthday party you will ever attend in your life" Samuel yelled after the song had ended. Some of their classmates rolled their eyes at him, even Grace smiled a little, but they all knew he was right. They could look forward to an awesome bash sooner or later that week

And Grace never disappointed.

Ifechi sank into her seat and let out an exaggerated sigh. Her noise caught her friends attention who turned to her in confusion before the realisation hit Anita.

"Omg, it's your birthday too right?" She said loudly, earning a few stares in their direction

"We have to sing you a song too" Emmanuella said at once and everyone heard her rightly.

A few minutes later, everyone was on their feet again, to sing Ifechi a birthday song,

Everyone except Grace, Aliyah and Rachel.

But Ifechi didn't care, not even when she caught a hint of disbelief in Grace's eye, and then disdain like she couldn't believe she shared the same birth date with someone like her.

Later on when they'd finished singing, someone asked the question she'd been afraid of hearing. "Are you throwing a party too?"

She looked at Sarah, a quiet but pretty girl in her class before shaking her head.

She heard hisses of disappointment from some of her classmates which prompted her to add.

"I...I do have something though"

Anita turned to her wide eyed. "Your cake is in the principal's office?"

"No.." Ifechi said laughing, "...but I have packs"

She brought out the bag from under her seat, aware of how everyone's eyes were on her. The fear of them not liking the packs, or worse thinking she was lame was doing so ate at her guts, but it was all gone when she handed Dami the first one and she squealed with delight.

"Oooo wow! Nice!"

She smiled happily and breathed a sigh of relief when many of her classmates collected theirs with glee. Some were not very appreciative though, Aliyah looked at the packs with disdain.

"I don't want, thanks" she said rudely, sparing her a disgusted look before turning to Grace, who had the same mocking expression. She saw Rachel hesitate before declining. Clearly, she wanted it badly, but could not risk going against her mistresses.

'Their loss, more for me' she comforted herself while walking back to her seat. Anita was munching on her cupcake happily.

"Who baked this? They're soooo good"

Ifechi smiled at her "thanks, it's my sis"

Her eyes grew wider "really...omg, she needs to teach me, I swear I can eat 10 of this"

"Relax"  Dami joked.

A few minutes before break was over, Grace announced.

"I hope you all enjoyed your little refreshments. My party is going to take place this Saturday...." She started as the whole class suddenly became quiet, everyone eager to hear the details of the much anticipated party. Even Ifechi paused to listen, involuntarily.

"As usual, everyone's invited, if you can afford to attend it..." She added with a knowing smirk "... don't forget the theme for this year which is classy casual"

"Every year's theme is classy" someone murmured besides Ifechi and she giggled, not minding that Grace had just talked down on her birthday packs a few moments ago.

"Time is 6pm...that's all!" She gave a girly shrug and sat down leaving her classmates to murmur among themselves.

"When you said everyone's invited, do you mean we can bring anyone? I fit carry my junior brother come?" Samuel asked jokingly laughing loudly as he did.

"Guy have sense na" Tolu, the head boy replied him.

"And pls o..." Jimmy butted in "...let's all have sense, no SS2 abi SS1 allowed"

"Yes o"

"Seriously"

They all chorused.

"Except na fine babe" one boy added, several other guys agreed with him throwing their responses which made Ifechi roll her eye.

She wasn't attending the party, that's for sure.

"Will you attend the party?" Someone asked as if reading her thoughts. Anita's eyes were filled with excitement and Ifechi's answer seemed to kick the light out of them.

"No"

"Ah ah why now, is it because you two are not friends, she said everyone is invited o"

"My parents won't agree" she said in a monotone

"Hmmm, ok o, you'll sha miss a lot" Anita said rather mockingly and there was nothing Ifechi wanted than to slap her at that point.

She gisted Amanda about her days event in the evening.

"So you're going for the party right?"

Ifechi hissed. "Mtchew, did you hear me when I said no, I'm not going"

"But why? Shey you're the one that's been complaining of living a boring life, now they don invite you for party you no wan go"

"She didn't invite me"

Amanda rolled her eyes. "She said everyone is invited isn't it?"

"Ehen...?"

"Ehen then go, see you're the one dulling o, if na me I for don dey plan my self for that Saturday by now"

"Peele o, event planner" Ifechi joked folding her arms, Amanda poked her head before continuing.

"I really think you should go, even if you don't like this Grace girl. And shey you said her father is rich, I thought you've always wanted to 'see' what a rich person's party is like" Amanda said making airquotes.

"That was then" Ifechi retorted. "I've grown"

"Peele grownish" Amanda said and burst into laughter at her awful joke, Ifechi shook her head smiling, but a part of her had begin to consider the idea as well.

"Mummy and daddy will refuse"

"Refuse what?"

"To let me go naw" she frowned at her sister's slow understanding. Amanda thought for a while.

"Then don't tell them"

Ifechi's mouth dropped "Ahhh...you know that one is not even possible"

"How? Will they know if you don't tell them?you'll just go to your party and come back before they figure out anything"

"Just like that? The party is by 6 o, and who knows when it'll end, I'll just crawl into the house by around 9pm or 10 and you think mummy and daddy will not notice, chai..you underrate your parents, it's not good o" She teased a pouting Amanda who gave a funny expression with a hiss.

"Anyhow abeg"

They kept silent for some seconds, Ifechi stared at their room ceiling, following the trail of cobwebs that ran from one edge to the other, she made a mental note to deep clean the room during the weekends, before she went for Grace's party, if she would go that is.

"If only they could just travel" Amanda muttered, Ifechi turned to her. "Hmm?"

"I said, if only mummy and daddy can travel" she repeated, Ifechi smirked.

"That is very unlikely"

Amanda shrugged "you never know what could happen"

And some minutes after that, Ifechi would think that her sister was a magician or something, because their mum summoned all of them to their room for a brief meeting.

"Your dad and I are traveling tomorrow"

Ifechi and Amanda exchanged shocked looks.

"Ah ah..why, why so sudden, what happened?" Ifechi asked still not believing her ears. Could this be God's way of approving her going to the party?

Her mum gave an exaggerated sigh before replying. "One of your dad's elder sister's son is getting married on Saturday, the wedding is at Owerri so we have to travel tomorrow morning in order to meet it"

Normal Ifechi would scoff at her mum speaking such long grammar instead of just using the word "cousin" but that was the least of her concerns then, she couldn't believe her ears.

She was going to the party!

What's up beautiful people, another chapter done. Special thanks to the one person who motivated me to complete this chapter fast. The next chapter will be dedicated to her.

As usual, pls vote and comment and share with your friends if you enjoy the story.

God bless you ❤️