Staggering out of the house, Alexa and Curtisia took the pavement to the bus stop walking side by side with each of them carrying a baggage or two; chatting wittily.
"I'm so glad you finally got mum and Auntie on your side." said Curtisia.
"I am too Curtis. Huh! after all those months of trying to get them change their minds. You should have seen mum's face when I told her for the first time that I want to take up dancing. Girl, her eyes almost popped out." Alexa remarked and they both roared into laughter as they continued on their walk chatting and giggling.
After some few minutes walk, they got to their destination and fortunately for Alexa the bus was already there.
"Here Alexa." Curtisia grinned, handing the bags over to her.
"Mm" she mumbled with a smile, taking the baggage back. "Will call you when I get home." she added slightly raising her eyebrow.
"Sure." Curtisia reply with a smile on her face as she watched her cousin glide onto the bus and took her seat beside the window. They waved each other as the bus sped off.
When Curtisia was finally out of sight, Alexa turned well in her seat; looking forward as she relaxed back, closing her eyes with a sigh totally relieved.
"We finally did it Alexa."
The bus sped through the quiet busy town and Alexa sat quietly by herself in the window watching as the sun slowly navigates its way to the east gradually making way for the evening. Alexa glanced down on her watch and noticed that it was almost 6pm.
Slightly stretching her neck to have a look on the street, she noticed that the traffic jam was still bad. She whined in displeasure hoping to get home soon but there was nothing she could do than to sit patiently behind.
After an unpleasant hour more of waiting, the bus finally pulled up in front of Alexa's stop.
"Huh finally." she sighed, getting up from her seat.
She picked up her things and sauntered out of the bus struggling with the bags around her arms and headed straight to the house.
"Mum!" she exclaimed, pushing the door opened as she staggered in.
Mrs. Bruce hearing her daughter's voice in the hall glided in from the kitchen with some dishes in hand wearing a bright smile.
"You're back dear. Were you able to meet your Auntie?"
"Yeah mum. Woow wait, did you just trick me into going to town today? Thought you said there was nothing at home for dinner?"
"Sorry dear, but I had to." Mrs. Bruce said, placing the dishes on the table. "Your Auntie had wanted to have a talk with you but seeing how reluctant you were about going out, I had no another choice."
"Mum...." she groaned, thumping her feet on the floor as she slightly wiggled her body not happy with her mother's trick.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry dear but your auntie said she missed you and really wanted to have a talk with you. So tell me, what did your auntie say?"
Looking her all pissed, Alexa took the bags with the groceries, "I'm not telling you mum." She left the bags with her discs behind and headed to the kitchen. "You could have just told me the truth mum. Moreover, I had plans on going there already. Curtisia asked that I passed by this weekend."
"Hmm, forgive your mum dear."
By this time, Alexa was returning from the kitchen. She pulled the chair in front of the table, settling on it with a grin on her face.
"Okay, how about you make it up to me? Perhaps after the exams."
"Okay, okay, you won this time." Mrs. Bruce said, settling in her chair opposite Alexa's. "So how about you tell me now."
"Well..., it was nothing really serious. She wanted to talk about my plans after the entrance exams. She wanted me to take up violin lessons with Curtis but you know that's really not my thing." She put a spoon full of vegetable rice in her mouth. "Wait a minute," she gasped as she sent her eyes scanning the hall. "Where is Dad?"
"Oh that, he called to inform that he will be late today since he have to work an extra hour."
"Oh okay.." she mumbled, slightly nodding her head in response.
"Back to you dear, so what did you tell your Auntie?"
"Hmm...,I told her my mind. Dancing is my passion mum. It was quiet difficult convincing her though but she finally understood. You should focus on your meals now mum if you don't want to have anyone choking from it."
"Agh right." she mumbled and they went on with their meals in silence. When they were done, Alexa helped her mother clear the table and wash the dishes. They then took the groceries from the bags and arranged them into the cabinets; putting the ones needed for freezing into the refrigerator. When they had had everything sorted out, she picked her discs, bid her mother goodnight and went up to her room.
*****
After almost 3weeks to a month of preparing, the final exams was finally here. Alexa rushed out her room, hurrying down stairs as she shoved her bag over her shoulders.
"Leaving mum!" she exclaimed, "I'm already running late. Where is Dad?"
"He is already waiting for you outside dear." Her mother's voice echoed back the backyard. Not long has she said that, that she strolled into the hall to meet Alexa almost out of the door.
"What about your breakfast dear?"
"I'll will skip mum. Dad and I are already running late and I'm quiet nervous about the exams too. I will get a bottle of juice along the way to school. Wish me luck."
"Alright dear, good luck." Mrs. Bruce shouted after her daughter as she rushed out of the door.
"Good morning Dad.." she mumbled as she got to where her father stood in wait for her beside the car.
"Good morning sweetheart, how is my little princess doing?"
"Doing great, can we go now?"
"Yes dear, let's go." He murmured and they both glided in, taking their respective seats. "You should put on your seat belt dear."
Alexa nodded in response and obliged to her father's request. She is usually not a fun of seat belts but anything for her Dad.
When Mr. Bruce had checked that everything was set, he sped off. After about 30minutes drive, he pulled up in front of the school.
"See you after school Dad." she said, picking up her bag from the back seat.
"Alright dear, have a nice day and good luck with your exams."
"Thanks Dad." she pecked him on the cheeks and sauntered out of the car, joining the numerous young teenagers rushing into the school's premises. Mr. Bruce stared at his daughter with a smile on his face as her back fades through the crowd of students taking up the corridors to their class and sped off after some few seconds.