MARIE'S HIGH - CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE NEW BEE

"Hmm, I was just...", I bit my lower lip.

"I was just about to leave for the office ", Dad started searching for his big leathered, and black briefcase, fully aware that Mum arranges his stuff in his car, even before he wakes up because he's a disorganized person.

"It's already in the car", Mum was kind enough to tell him, though she knew what he was up to.

" Oh..Yeah. Thanks, honey", Dad gave her a cheek peck and left for the parking lot. He was the worst sly on earth.

"Since I'm done, let me go with you", I ran upstairs to get my school bag and follow Dad.

"That isn't necessary. I can pay for your Uber", Mom stopped me. She wished to be closer to me than Dad but couldn't bring herself to smile as much as he does. Even he was more scared of her.

I was the girl who saw the things Tony did to Nifemi at the party his sister hosted because she didn't get to attend the initiation party. My mom was a money freak so I expected her to encourage me to make my blog more popular by making the story go viral but she didn't. She said to consider what it would cost Nifemi since she was my dear friend and I agreed with her.

NIFE'S POV

THE ADEOYE'S MANSION

As we arrived in my compound, we spot Grandma feeding the birds who visit us every morning, millet. Seeing her made me not want to hold on to Loveboy's hand anymore.

"Oh, my God! Look who's here", Grandma left the birds to enjoy their breakfast, and came to hug me under the mango tree." Kids, your elder sister is back with her friend oo. "I've missed you so much, omo mi(my child).

I was even more scared to see her that way. I assumed she had an accident and developed amnesia or got replaced by another person who looked exactly like her.

"E karo ma(Good morning, ma)", Loveboy prostrated to greet her." We're very sorry for what happened the other day.

"It's okay, my son. I've forgiven you", She lifted him though he refused to do that severally."You should have just told me you guys had a get-together with your friends, so you guys can get to know each other and walk together as new classmates, and friends".

I lacked the gut to say anything because I was still amused by Grandma's new behavior.

"Oh, my God! Is this Loveboy, the famous hip-hop prince?"Segun came out of the house, with suds still hanging around his body, wrapped with a small towel, and hugged him," I'm your number one fan, can I get an autograph? "

"Yes, but you have to finish your bath first", Loveboy smiled.

"No. Who knows when I'll get to see you again?" he remained adamant. "Gbemi, come and snap us oo", He shouted.

" No. Do you want those small girls to be laughing at you on Instagram?" They both laughed.

"OK, wait oo. Let me go and finish my bath", he returned to his bathroom.

"Come in", Grandma took our hands on both sides." Breakfast will be served soon"

"I'm very sorry, ma'am. I have to go now because I have a morning lesson to meet up with", He told her.

"You're such a devoted student like my granddaughter. God bless you", She replied him.

"Amen", he turned his back on her.

"Take care, my son", She kept waving till he stepped out of our gate, and turned to me.

As soon as Loveboy left, Mrs. Adeoye stopped being the loving and caring grandma. However, she didn't tell me to go on my knees with both hands raised or flog me with a naked wire. She only said words that portrayed me as a shameless teenage girl who would soil her reputation just to be with a mere teenage boy, as a decent girl who lost every decency in her and was left with flirting, as an intelligent girl who got carried away by peer pressure and inferiority complex.

I wanted to cry my eyes out but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't even force a drop out. Her words hit me like an arrow, yet I couldn't express the pain I was feeling inside. I became weak yet I was left with no choice but to face my punishment which included handling all the chores in the house till further notice and avoiding Loveboy like a plague.

I would have been so happy that I once left Marie's High as a nobody, then returned as the girlfriend of the proprietress's son and a top teenage artist, but Grandma's words sew a seed of pain in me. I felt irritated with myself. I wished our school's headcover was a face cap instead of a boater hat, so no one would be able to recognize me as "the new bee who pretended to be saint, but turned out a slut, at the sight of her junior".

"Hey, girl", Rose spotted me in the locker room."You left your party too early last night".

"I'm so sorry. I had to sleep last night so I wouldn't miss today's lessons", I told her.

"Really? Everyone knows you spent the night at Loveboy's, so there's no way you did that ", Michelle pestered me with a whisper."Tell us what happened else I'll send a video to your grandma".

"What are you talking about?", I asked fearfully.

"Nevermind", Rose handed me an invitation card. We have another party tonight at Michelle's and you have to come, as part of the team".

"Please", I pleaded with her." This class is different from the junior class, so I need time to study".

"Who cares about that shit", They mocked me." Don't worry, miss book head, you don't have to read once you're part of us. Consider being a member of the Marie Angels, an honor".

The last time I checked, the Marie Angels were particular about the kind of people they let into their group. Other girls from wealthy families, with good looks, and popular boyfriends didn't even get to be part of them. I read that they usually failed their test either at the final stage or from the very beginning so I couldn't stop wondering why my case was different.

"Hi. I'm Dorothy from class C. Can I get an autograph from you", A student approached me on my way to my homeroom to let me know I was more popular than I thought.

"Of course", I gave her a nice smile and took her embroidered handkerchief.

"Oh, yes!" She stopped me from leaving even after fulfilling her request. "I made this handkerchief", she gave me another pair."I know you're busy, but please don't forget to talk about it on IG".

"Okay. Thank you very much", I waved back at her, as she waved to me.

Despite being absent from school for just one day, I had a lot to make up for. The stress I went through drained the little energy left in me so I went to the school cafe to get some snacks. There, I saw Shola and decided to talk about what happened the other day.

"Hey, what's up?", I told her shyly.

" Hi", She replied likewise.

"I'm really sorry for what happened the other night", We both chorused.

" It's my fault. I should never have forced you to have a drink with me", She couldn't bear to look at me.

"No. It's my fault for overdoing it", I said remorsefully.

"Look what we have here, A beautiful black angel, and an ugly fair one", Loveboy who was about to enter the cafe laughed like a crazy person.

"Good morning, ma'am", I ignored him and greeted one of the attendants on duty. Shola also did the same thing.

" Good morning, my beautiful daughter ", She smiled as if she was being reunited with her long lost "daughter", which she just called me.

"I want a plate of beans with stew and fried plantains for lunch. I mean lots..."

"Okay. What's your budget?", She and other staff said hi to my publicity boyfriend.

" Make everything extra for her, mummy. She's my girlfriend", He smiled and took my hand. I tried resisting as much as I could, but my efforts turned futile.

"It's no problem. I can pay for my meal", I said hastily and gave her my VISA card.

"Don't use that", He ordered the attendant.

"Please use it", I pleaded with her.

" Sorry, daughter", The attendant collected his card instead.

" Why are you doing this? There are so many hungry students here", I said because our argument caused a queue delay.

"What have I got to do this? You're the cause of their dilemma ", he said with a wicked grin.

" Nifemi Adeoye", Someone called my name from the end of the Café. It was none other than my Literature teacher! " I need you in my office now".

I couldn't remember the last time I checked our attendance register, conducted a revision series, or a question and answer session, yet I followed him to his office, with no Timmy by my side today. However, he complained more of my moral conduct, than my performance as a class representative and implored me, to be mindful of the kinds of friends I keep. He specifically mentioned Loveboy. That meant I had to dissolve whatever form of injurious, or disastrous relationship I had with him or face the atrocities, that comes with it. Mr. Jeffrey's words touched my emotions deeply.

To make things right, I called DJ Freaky, my assistant for a meeting to plan a question and answer session during our free period tomorrow, to test our student's level of intelligence, and help them where we ought to.

"I can't thank you enough for your time today, Freaky", I smiled because he supported my idea.

"No probs, I've got you back, any day, any time", He arranged his laptop and phone accessories in his school bag.

"So see you tomorrow", I carried my backpack near my chair in the meeting hall that was designed for student officials.

"Come on, I'll walk you down to the park", He offered.

"No. Rose must be waiting for you", I tried to stop him.

"Nife, are you still unwilling to leave my boyfriend alone", She came in all of a sudden.

" No. It's me. Would you just let me have a taste of her lips? Loveboy says it tastes minty? Sweet? I need to confirm what he said it takes like", He winked at me.

"You dare not!", She gave him a stern look."You're mine and mine alone".

Marie Angels rule 101 stated that members must stay together, except during class sessions, or teachers' calls but I didn't follow suit today until it was time to go home. Then, I enjoyed listening to their gist, which was about the youngest teen in our class just growing boobs and how they felt accomplished after humiliating the girl that used fake Milan powder at school.

"Bye", I waved to them. I wasn't the only one leaving, but the only Marie Angel with the last ride. Rose had the Mercedes, Michelle loved the SUV, and Cammie, Ferrari. And no uncles were riding them but chauffeurs ".

" Take care, baby", They chorused.

It's quite understandable that Bo wouldn't talk to me, because I've humiliated her for the second time, but having Gbemi as an enemy is worse. I felt like the biggest fool in the whole wide world, on our way home.

At home, Grandma told me to make some soft amala wraps without lumps, and vegetable soup with assorted meat, and fish for dinner. As if that wasn't enough, she didn't give me money to go 'To Olori's supermarket which was very close to us, but Eko. Left with no other choice, I changed from my school uniform into blue jeans and my favorite Tom and Jerry top to go there, using a public bus. She knew Bola was far better than me when it comes to pricing, yet she chose to let me go alone. Still, I did what I could to get everything she wanted, and ended up having outstandings that I had to pay for with the saving I toiled for. I was extremely sad.

Marie Angels rule no two stated that all members must be online during the group's chat time. During that period, Michelle messaged us that their Chinese Chef was making sushi for our sleepover, Rose said through a voice note that she was having lunch with Freaky at an Italian restaurant, and Cammie made a video of her having skincare treatment in a spa. I was the only person begging Google to help me cook the kind of local dish my grandma wanted.

"Oh, my God!" Grandma screamed behind me abruptly because the pot of over bleached palm oil on our hot plate was already turning fire, because of my divided mind.

" Jesus Christ!", I trembled like someone who's been under the snow for a long time. "Fire! Fire! Grandma, please help me".

Even before saying that, she already got everything under control.

"Can you explain what just happened to me right now?" She was mad at me.

"I'm very sorry", I said with my eyes on the kitchen's tiled floor.

Despite what happened, she asked me to start all over, even though I developed a phobia for the electric cooker. I thought she was gonna ask Bo to supervise me, so I'll at least have time to participate in the group's chat which hadn't ended but she chose to do that herself.

After the meal I prepared had been served, and eaten, she kept stressing the fact that there was nothing spectacular about it! That the amala had lumps that were big enough to kill Goliath, that the efo was too peppery, that the pepper wasn't done enough before I put in the vegetable, and that the boiled meat we used to eat it was not tender enough.

"Aunt, when is Loveboy coming back?" Segun questioned me while I was helping him wash off the remnants of yam flour and soup from his right palm. "Can't you tell him to have dinner with us? Tell him our Grandma makes the best meals".

"I don't think she will be happy to see him", I replied.

" Why not?", He almost cried.

"It's okay. We attend the same school so you can always see him anytime", I said to make him happy.

Failing to keep a promise made to your fellow member was a big offense, that warranted a great punishment, different from not showing up at a group's meeting, part of which was the sleepover. Unluckily for me, Grandma refused to go to sleep on time, thanks to Odunlade Adekola's witty remarks. I had to go upstairs to bring out one of my loose clothes, then beg Bola to help me sow it in front of everyone, under the pretext that it was needed urgently because I needed to tell her my plight privately, so she can help me find a way out. If I hadn't done that, Grandma would have suspected us.

"What do you want from me?" Bola asked as soon as we entered our room. She knew the cloth was an excuse before I even told her.

"I'm sorry for what happened", I apologized to her.

"Nevermind. Just go straight to the point", Her ears were ready to listen to me.

A/N:
How do you think Nifemi is going to make it to Michelle's home without bringing trouble upon herself again? I'll be waiting for your reply in the comment section.

Yours faithfully,
Eniola Oluwamuyiwa.