IRENE

"Chill out a bit, it's just school not a death sentence." I said to Ivy who looked like she just drank sour wine.

School resumption came with the new year. Ivy and Rowland were to finally resume school again. Rowland seemed very excited about it but Ivy on the other hand wasn't so excited.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, I had to use the bathroom ." Rowland said as he settled down opposite me. We were taking the Limousine to school. New year, new rules, new vibes and by the way it was the first day of school.

The car came into motion and we hit the road in utter silence. I looked out the window remembering how I spent my holiday.

I had gone to church with Theodore on Christmas Day and we went out to have some fun on Boxing Day and by we, I was referring to the guys, Theodore and I. Excluding Osaze of course. Heaven knows were the girl had been. I was certain the last time I saw her was before our exams. It was a good thing for me though, nobody needed her negative vibes.

We went on a family vacation on the 28th of December to Dubai and we had the best time of our lives. Asides how restricted I was because of paparazzi, it was a great time to spend as a family.

I got to see mum all the time and even though we never get along well, we tried to forget everything for that moment and enjoy our vacation and boy we did.

We were also very lucky that Mayowa was going to become part of our family. In the short period that he had spent with us, he had been a binding force, he did his best to keep my mum and I at peace and maybe, just maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have him as my stepfather.

So many things happened during the holiday and I was sorta disappointed it had already come to an end and we were back to school. It was even worse because being a finalist, I'd begin mock examinations during the second week of resumption to end in the last week of January.

But then again, I was excited that I'd get to see all my friends again after a few weeks of being away from them and oh I was excited to see Theodore too. The last time we spent time together alone was when we had to drop off his grandma at the airport.

She'd have had any of the drivers to take her but she insisted she wanted him to take her and for me to come with. I couldn't get the words she said to me before she left out of my head.

Theodore cares for you my dear, he just doesn't want to loose his sanity yet again.

I had been trying to give meaning to that statement but nothing was forth coming and I wasn't sure it was best to ask him anything.

The car came to a halt jolting me from my train of thoughts. We had arrived at Rowland's school. "I'll be back." I said to Ivy and walked out of the car with Rowland.

I adjusted the shades I had as I walked into the administration block with three bodyguards surrounding me and little Rowland. Rumors had it that I was being nominated as the most influential teen model in the world for the fashion awards.

Nobody was sure about it yet but ever since then, I barely moved three meters without bodyguards. Okay maybe I'm just exaggerating but then, the security around me tightened.

As soon as I walked into the reception, a neatly and professionally dressed young lady walked up to me all smiles. "Good morning Miss Coker, the head of school has been awaiting you're arrival. Come with me."

➪➪➪➪➪

"Will you tell me what it is bothering you!" I finally called out to Ivy. She had been fiddling with her skirt and I knew something was definitely bothering her.

"That skirt was neatly ironed. You don't want to rumple it now do you? As a public figure you shouldn't appear in rumpled uniform and especially not on your first day."

"That's the problem. It's my first day, I must confess I'm hella nervous."

I had to chuckle at her statement. "Why exactly?"

"I have a thousand and one reasons to be nervous. I don't know anyone, I'm not sure what people would think of Ivy Rogers." She said.

"I'm not even sure how to approach people. I'm not just Ivy, I'm now your sister. It hits different coupled with the fact that I'm also into modeling now."

My mum and Mayowa had decided that we registered Ivy and Rowland as our cousins so no one has a clue they were adopted except for the few people that already knew.

Even on the internet it's

'Stunning photos of Ivy Rogers cousin to Irene Coker a fast rising model in the industry'

I chuckled yet again and I could notice the look of frustration on her face. She could be wondering what I found so funny about her predicament.

"You don't have to worry about all that, that's why you have me here to guide you in the right path." I smiled.

"First of all, you need to get rid of that anxiety." I started and she turned to face me giving me her full attention.

"You should carry yourself like you know your worth. Be careful of the people you mingle with. Everyone would be friendly and make you feel welcome but not all of them mean well. Most of them don't care about you just your name." I ended the sentence putting the word name in air quotes.

"Don't force friendships, the right set of friends would come at the right time. Ones that want to be friends with you for you and not for you fame."

I started reminiscing over my first few days at Claret High. A small smile made its way to my face when I remembered how easily Ola and I clicked.

"You know, when I joined the school in SS1, everyone wanted to be friends with me. They didn't want to be friends with Demilade but with Irene Coker."

"So how did you find your group of friends?"

"Oh they were all friends with Desmond and Desmond and I were friends way before I joined Claret. We clicked instantly. It felt like it was preordained."

"But you should try to be nice to people. No too nice though. Just be accommodating and remember that not everyone is a friend."

"That was all you did?" She asked and I chuckled yet again.

"Oh no, I was mean, very mean but someone changed my opinion about things. He made me see things in a different light and I'm glad he did." I could feel the smile forming.

"Theodore isn't it?"

"Yeah, you got it." I said in a sing song voice.

"The first day we met each other, I was mad he didn't know me and I walked out on him." I started remembering how stupid I acted.

"But he spoke to me. I threw my sass at him as expected but with time, we grew even closer. Being paired up for photography project did the magic and I got to know he wasn't so bad. In fact he's a very great person and—"

I was smiling widely and I was aware. Our friendship didn't start on a good note but now one would never know I had once harbored hateful thoughts towards him.

"— and you two now have the sweetest relationship. Two peas in a pod I'd say."

I smiled. Yeah.

"Thanks so much for the words of advice." She said and I smiled in return.

"What are sisters for?"

The driver pulled up at the school's parking lot and we got down with the three bodyguards with us.

"That reminds me. I've always wanted to know how Theodore asked you out." Ivy said and I had to turn to give her a sharp look.

"We're not dating miss." I stated plainly.

"But I bet you wished you were." She said nudging gently.

I tried keeping a straight face but I couldn't. My smiles came out all mushy.

"You're blushing!" Ivy shrieked and I covered her mouth with my palm.

"Keep it down!" I whispered harshly at her.

"My sister is in love!" She whisper yelled and I casted her a glare causing her to stifle back laughter.

As we approached the senior block, the whispers we heard turned to loud words.

Oh God that's Ivy. She's going to attend here too!

Is it true that Senior Irene was truly nominated as most influential teen model in the world?

These cousins are so fulfilled!

Ivy is so cute

I noticed how uneasy Ivy was and I gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You'll be fine."

I walked into the SS1 block and the once rowdy block fell silent. Perks of been a celebrity and a prefect too. I led Ivy to her class SS1A the arts class. The moment she got in, I gave her a small smile and walked to the SS3 block with the bodyguards trailing behind me.

"You can leave now." I dismissed the bodyguards the moment I sighted Desmond at the front of my class.

"Hey Des!" I called as I got to him. The bodyguards had left.

"Princess!" He called back smiling as he pulled me into a big hug and spun me around. "I missed you so much!"

"I guess you missed me just as much."

"Oh I missed you even more."

"Awww," He coed as he pulled me into the block. "Girl we have a lot to catch up on." He said as we walked into my class.

The first eyes that met mine the moment I walked into the classroom took away my breath. Theodore flashed me a small tired smile from where he was seated with his books right in front of him. He looked stressed out.

He was supposed to anyway, we were to begin mock in a weeks time but then I had my doubts. I wasn't sure what it was going on with Theodore and I desperately wanted to find out. Maybe I could help, just maybe I could help him out.

"Irene." He drawled out.

"What is it Theodore?" I asked in the calmest and softest voice I had ever heard. I found it so hard to believe that that was my voice.

"I feel... I feel really... really sleepy." He mumbled the power of sleep evident in his voice.

"Then sleep." I mumbled back at him.

"I don't want to."

"Why?" It came out more as a whisper.

"I'm scared."

"You're scared to sleep?" I asked and he nodded.

My mind went back to when I went for the Independence Day shoot with Theodore and the little conversation that ensued between us in the middle of the night.

Theodore cares for you my dear, he just doesn't want to loose his sanity yet again.

Those words were replaying in my head. And I was beginning to think that all was not well with Theodore. There was something wrong and I was determined to find out what it was.

THEODORE

Getting out of bed for school was not what I wanted at all. All I wanted was to stay in my room all morning, all day even but doing that would arouse suspicions so I got out of bed lazily and strolled into my bathroom for a cold bath.

"Happy birthday my princess." I whispered into her ears softly and her eyes flickered open.

"What are you doing in my room so early in the morning?" She asked and I feigned hurt.

"I had to get up early and get here so I could be the first to wish you happy birthday and all you can tell me is what am I doing in your room so early in the morning huh?"

"Well I'll leave." I said and made for the door hoping she'd stop me.

"Well then fine, I have to catch some sleep before it's time for school anyway."

I turned to her in awe. Was she really saying that.

"Fine then, I'll just walk out the door."

"Suit yourself." She replied and my heart sank. She was going to watch me leave and do nothing to stop me.

I was just about to speak when long rolls of laughter came flying out of her mouth. I etched my brows in confusion.

"It's a prank dumbo, of course I'm glad you came to surprise me."

I advanced towards the bed and started tickling her.

"Theo-Theodore please st-stop!" She called out in loud fits of laughter.

"I won't. This is for pranking me."

"Please." She pleaded with me and I stopped.

"Hey it's my birthday. I'm free to prank anyone I want to."

"Yeah that's true. Well then maybe I should just walk out."

"Hey," She called out in an audible whisper. "I was just teasing you, I don't want you to leave me. In fact I want you to do something else instead.

I was hovering above her my knees down at either sides of her body and my hands by her side. I knew very well what she wanted me to do and I wanted it too.

Slowly, I pressed my lips against hers and I was transported to another world.

"Argh!" I groaned as I yanked my towel from the towel rack and wrapped it around the lower half of my body.

It was that day of the year. The eleventh day of January, the day Lucia was born.

Ever since Lucia died, I had always woken up in a foul mood on that very day because it reminded me of so many things I so wished I could just forget.

I quickly got dressed in my school's uniform and rushed down the stairs. I wanted to get out of the house as soon as possible. The last thing I wanted was for my parents to show any form of pity to me.

Hanging my bag pack over one shoulder, I hurried down the stairs and towards the door as quick as I could. "Dewale!"

I halted mumbling incoherent words to myself. I turned to face her giving her a small smile.

"Where are you hurrying to? You haven't had breakfast and why are you dressed like this."She asked referring to my loosened tie and the blazer I slung around my free shoulder.

"I'm going to school mum, I have to study."

"But you haven't had breakfast."

"I'll get something to eat at school." I said

She looked like she was going to argue with me but she didn't. "Okay, do take care of yourself." She said adjusting my blazer after she did my tie.

"I will." I responded and gave her a kiss on her forehead. That done, I walked out of the house.

My designated driver was already standing by one of dad's car when I got out. I jingled my car keys in his face. "I will be driving myself to school today." I said and walked to my car, got into it.

Putting in the ignition, the Range Rover came to life.

➪➪➪➪➪

"I just can't wait to write JAMB and WAEC and then get out of this school for good." Ola said as she packed her hair into a ponytail.

We were all at the love garden mostly because we were to begin our exams the next week and we had no classes. Our set mates were seated in groups scattered around the school either studying or chatting or even doing both.

"I feel you." Desmond said as he closed the book he was supposedly reading.

"Speaking of JAMB, when does the registration begin?" Zion asked.

"Next week but the school will register all of us together. First week of February." Desmond replied.

Nobody in SS3 seemed enthusiastic about resumption unlike our the junior students who couldn't stop smiling and chattering in loud voices.

"Who is excited about JAMB. I know I am." Kiki said sipping from her smoothie she got at the cafeteria.

"Why wouldn't you be when you have written it before and scored 305." Zion said with a scowl. The boy had become extra cranky ever since the big fall out with Osaze and I did feel bad for him.

"Yeah always representing the school in every single academic competition and doing well. Always winning a prize at the math bowl every year." Ola added.

"You know, with how smart you are, you shouldn't even be in the art class."

What?!

"Excuse you?" That was Irene.

"Are you trying to say that art students are not smart?"

Yeah are you Olaedo?

"I think you should answer the question Ola." I seconded.

"You really shouldn't underestimate us art students." Kiki said with a deep scowl.

"Y'all should chill out, I'm sure she didn't mean it that way." TY said holding Ola to himself as though we were going to bite her head off.

"Yeah, all I was trying to say is that Art students don't really need maths and you're a maths guru. Is that why you guys want to kill me with those glares?"

Kiki face softened. She smiled.

"Every subject is important. We need maths too. At least to get into the university we do plus I can't even be in any other department other than art. You're speaking to Barrister Okikiola Olaniyan in the next six years."

"Oh yeah about JAMB, what course are you putting in?" Desmond asked facing me.

"Law." I replied and he nodded his head in approval.

"So I'll have two lawyers as my friends. Sweet."

"Barristers." Kiki corrected and I gave a small smile. I picked more interest in Kiki the moment she said she was an aspiring Lawyer few seconds ago.

"Will your father will let you study law though?" Ola asked me and I arched a brow.

"Why won't he?" I asked.

She shrugged. "He's a politician and most politician want their kids to be like them."

"He was first a businessman before he became governor Ola. If he'd want to impose a profession on me then it'd be in the business lane but he won't do that because my eldest brother is already a businessman just like him."

"And so is your immediate older brother." Ola replied trying to prove a point.

"Tony is a trained surgeon. He studied Medicine and surgery and only started his business few years ago and might I add that he'll be going to specialize as a plastic surgeon soon so business wasn't forced on him, it was his choice and trust my I'm not treading that path. I'll follow my grandfather's footsteps instead."

"Wait," That was Kiki. "Is Chief Justice Eliakim Thompson by chance your grandfather?" She asked.

"Yeah he is."

"Oh my gosh!" She squealed.

"Who's he?" Ola asked digging her hands into TY's dreads. I wished those hands were in my hair instead. I really needed a head massage.

"I do agree that you do not offer Government or History but don't you at least know your current affairs." Kiki rolled her eyes. "He was the Chief Justice of the federation from 1980 to 1987."

"Oh wow! Your family members have always been into politics." That was TY. I smiled and shrugged.

"So Irene are you also going to apply for law?" Zion asked and I looked at Irene who just looked up from her phone.

"No." She replied and returned her gaze back to her phone.

"What then do you want to study?" He asked again.

"Dunno." She shrugged.

My eyes fell wide and I was certain that was the same expression everyone else had on their faces. She turned to us and raised up her hands. "What!"

"What not?" Kiki said pushing her hair backwards in a dramatic way. "We have barely a month to JAMB registration and you don't know what course to apply for."

"Isn't there any profession you have desired since you were a kid?" TY asked.

"There is, modeling."

"Something more professional." Ola said.

Irene shot her a glare. "Modeling is professional."

"You can add acting to it too yunno." TY added.

"I have told her several times," Desmond chipped in. "One time she was given a lead role in a movie and she rejected it."

From what I had known about Irene, I knew she was multi talented and would fit into almost any profession.

"Y'all should stop making a fuss about this," Irene said dismissively. "I'll probably just apply for Theatre arts." She said and her eyes met mine.

The voices of the others faded as my eyes maintained contact with hers and it felt like she was trying to read through me, decipher something and it made me feel so uncomfortable. Suddenly, I broke the eye contact. I looked away.

➪➪➪➪➪

"Theodore!" I heard Irene call again and I had to stop to hear what she wanted to say even though I so badly wanted to be home in the comfort of my room away from every other person especially Irene.

Ever since this morning, she had been glancing at me at intervals as though she though something was up and it irked me to my bone marrow.

I heard he footsteps louder as she hurried towards me. "I have been calling you Theodore." She said as soon as she got to me.

"I know Irene," I simply responded. "I know."

"Are you okay?" She asked in a tender voice.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"If there's something going on with you and you need somebody to talk to about you know you can always come to me."

"There is nothing wrong with me and there is nothing to talk about." I was already getting irritated. Doesn't she just get that I want to be all alone.

"There is no reason to get mad at me Theodore, I was just worried about you. You don't look to good and I just wanted to be sure you're fine."

"Well I'm fine and I do not need your sympathy. If you don't mind, I'd like to be alone please."

She looked up at me for a while. "Take care." She said.

I looked away from her and walked away.

                                          *

Another chapter for y'all. Yay!

So I got complaints that the last few chapters were short so I'll be making up for it in the chapters to come.

Do tell me what you think about this chapter.

See y'all soon.

Word Count: 3757