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21: There was a caught
My speech starts with a stutter, then a quick pause before it progresses with a ramble that has Annie and Amanda giving me looks.
Diamond, who is the recipient of my advice, doesn't even move a muscle. Her eyes are trained on me like a hawk's, her arms folded over her chest. Though she remains still when I'm finished, it's clear a storm is brewing within her and I can already tell Annie and Amanda, who are standing behind me, hate me for dragging them into this.
A chortle is what breaks out of Diamond first as she shakes her head and regards me with those stormy eyes.
“Come let me ask you,” — she gestures at me before interlacing her fingers — “Did I, in any way, mention, even if it was by mistake o, that we're friends?”
“Shebi I told you,” Ann
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Finding Us 22: Higher power
It takes time before Annie stops crying and collects the handkerchief Amanda brought from her room. She cleans her face, blows into the handkerchief and sniffs.“Are you okay now?” I ask.She nods but doesn't say anything. I'm at a loss for words, Amanda likewise. We both sit by her, exchanging glances as we wait for her to feel better and maybe tell us why she cried.When she finally speaks, her words stun us into deeper silence. “My dad drowned when I was eleven, and I saw it happen.” She sniffs, wiping the tip of her nose. “We had been on vacation and were at the beach that day. My dad was a surfer and decided to hit the waters for a couple of minutes. The ocean was calm, so he started smoothly, impressing everyone watching with a few stunts. I was so happy watching him.”
Finding Us 23: Truth hurts I
Classes ended minutes ago, but I spent most of my time (during the class) trying to get Eric on the phone. The fact that he's not in the hall when I later searched for him and he's not answering my calls makes me very worried.“Your friend's still not picking?” Caleb asks from beside me.I glance at him before staring down at my phone. “No, and I don't know why. I've searched everywhere in the hall, but I can't find him. Eric has never missed a class,” the last part I murmur as I dial his number again.He still doesn't answer.I recline with a loud sigh.“Maybe something came up at home, so he couldn't make it in time,” Caleb says. “He'll probably show up later.”“Maybe.”But my mood sours, my excitement fading away wi
Finding Us 24: Truth hurts II
Eric's girlfriend is the last person I expect to see, but it all adds up now. She's the reason he didn't show up today. But why? The question stirs a plausible answer as I analyse her clothing and slightly messed up hair. My stomach churns, a lump forming in my throat.I try to swallow past it and find my voice. “Where's Eric?”Although she just called me a boyfriend snatcher, I choose to ignore it.“You're even wearing his hoodie on top.” She points at the hoodie and laughs scornfully. “This girl you're really trying your best o. You know when those girls told me what you've been up to with my boyfriend, I almost didn't believe it. But now you're here, I don't doubt they were telling the truth.”It doesn't take long for me to understand she's talking about the girls that wouldn't stop glaring my way when I came over.
Finding Us 25: Relationship advice
My legs feels like lead. Each step weighs a ton. My heart feels like it has been crushed by a dumb-bell. And all I can do is clump my way upstairs, hoping to get into my room without being seen, slump on my bed and cry my eyes out.When I reach my door, I begin to search for my key, but the damn thing stays hidden.Exasperated, I turn my bag upside down, allowing all of its content to rain to the floor. My books hit the ground and I don't realize my mistake until my phone falls too, smashing itself to the floor.I throw my bag aside, bending immediately to pick up my phone.“Oooh, God!” I grumble when I see the crack my stupid actions has caused me.This makes me snap, lose every ounce of strength I have and collapse to the floor as I begin to cry into my hands.
Finding Us 26: Just to prove something
Days go by and try as I might, I'm disturbed by Eric's silence. But even more disturbed by Mariam's presence. She's always with him: in the hall during classes, at the canteen, on the traders' ground. They're everywhere; however, her presence sort of makes it easier to also ignore Eric.She's the girlfriend, not me. I'm that pathetic friend who will always be on the sidelines; the sooner I get this into my head, the better for me.“What are you thinking of?” Caleb asks when he sees me staring ahead with my temple rested on my palm.“Nothing really.” I sigh and sit straight. “Just wondering how I'll pass our tests.”Since Eric is never around, my new company became Caleb. Aside from when he has other things to attend to, friends to talk to, he's basically wherever I am. I know it's wrong, but his company doesn't make me feel thr
Finding Us 27: Party scatter I
“You're what?” Unlike Annie who's super-excited to attend a party this weekend, Amanda believes I'm making a terrible decision.“I know,” I say. “I hate parties too, but I already told my friend that I'll be coming.”“Did that friend tie you with rope and say you must come? Or is he or she holding a gun to your head?”“Leave the girl alone, jare,” Annie says. “She deserves some fun. Let her have it.” She turns to me in her plastic chair. “Don't mind Amanda. Going to a party is not a sin and yes, I'll follow you.”I smile at her, relief washing over me like a cold shower during a hot afternoon. I've been panicking all day, wondering how I'll attend the party alone. Although I don't like that I have to go, knowing that I won't be going alone soothes my worry a little.Amanda lets out
Finding Us 28: Party scatter II
Caleb doesn't stop on the ground floor as we begin climbing the stairs to the second floor. On our way upstairs, I bump shoulders with someone and then mumble an apology. A couple of steps forward I hear my name. Or I think I hear my name, because when I look back at the sea of people lining the stairwell and beyond, I don't see anyone I might know.Caleb doesn't allow me to dwell much on what I think I heard because he keeps moving, my hand in his grip, and soon, we arrive at a balcony. Aside from the red folding chair and a small table by our left, the place is empty and the air is clear too.“Hmm.” I look over my shoulder and then over the railing at the party downstairs. “It's a bit quiet here.”He chuckles and takes a sip from his cup. “You're like an open book, you know.”I scowl. “What's that supposed to mean?”
Finding Us 29: What to do
When I get home and my parents ask how my tests were, I simply reply I did my best. This response is met with optimism from my mom and a prayer that God will handle the rest, while my dad seems disappointed, believing my best coupled with how I sound isn't enough.I can't blame him though — even though I wish he has little faith in me. My best has never been enough to get me good grades. No matter how hard I try to study, the results never end up in my favour. Especially when I'm studying on my own. It's always been with Eric's help that I scale through any test.Although we've been studying days before the test week, Eric wasn't there to soothe my fear and tell me the test questions won't be that hard. Before I enter any test or exam hall, I always become panic-stricken; my clothes are soaked with sweat while I bite the inner part of my cheeks and rub my hands down my skirt. During such times, he'll
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