I layed on my bed pondering about my life. Life was a deep struggle. I needed someone to understand me. I couldn't explain the deep feeling of confusion that overwhelmed me. At that point, I needed someone to hug me and assure me that it was going to be okay.
I prayed to God and begged Him to speak back to me or give me a sign but I got nothing.
All I kept thinking of was how Arthur trashed me. I expected him to be more gentle while rebuking me but he totally ruined my self-esteem for that day. I was beginning to feel alone; there was no one there and everyone seemed to be so occupied with their business.
Suddenly, while thinking about I and Arthur's argument, tears trickled down my eyes. Who knew words could hurt that bad, especially from loved ones? I was so tender at heart that the worst thing anyone could do to me was yell at me or talk to me rudely.
At some point, I began to feel like asking my Dad to book me an urgent flight back to Nigeria, I was sick and tired of all the drama.
Arthur was right, I was interested in being friends with Nicole not just because of the idea that she was a changed person but because I wanted to gain access to a life of luxury; I yearned to become a movie star.
I was often jealous of her flashy lifestyle and her fame because it was my dream. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮'𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙩.
I also started to wonder why God was delaying. His time which people were fond of saying is the best time was just too slow for me.
While I was pondering about it all, I was moved to open my Bible and study the scriptures to get help and so I did.
I flipped the pages and randomly came across a verse that said, "Be not deceived, evil communications corrupts good manners"
I couldn't stop meditating on those words and that was mainly due to not properly getting the message. I kept chanting those words inside of me when suddenly, a call came in from Nicole.
"I'm guessing you're bored," Nicole said and I responded, "you're not wrong," in brief hesitation.
"Look out your window," She said. I stood up from the couch to look out the window and I saw Nicole in a blue buggati.
I asked in great splendor, "oh my gosh, do you own this car?"
"That's about right. That's my driver, Lucas"
"Shut up!" I exclaimed.
"Are you up for some mall shopping? We could get ice cream on the way."
"Are you kidding me Nicky?" I opened my mouth wide.
"Don't be silly. But first, we have to fix your hair and your face, also your outfit. So here's what's up—I'm having a slumber party tomorrow for just the two of us and a couple of friends, then another slumber party for the Superstars Rock It All club to get ideas for the school concert. And lastly, my Dad is having a party next week. So I'm taking you shopping to pick as much outfit as you want for the parties and for your personal use. We are gonna have a splash of fun! My Dad's pedicure and manicure team are on their way."
Everything she said was a jaw dropper and I didn't know how to react to such awesomazing news!
Nicole then grabbed her phone and began streaming live to keep her fans updated. She introduced me to her millions of fans and announced our preparation for the mall and for the parties.
I stood calmly and gave a timid look, watching as thousands of people already tuned in to watch the video.
All I could think about was me being that important and also getting my billions of fans for my key purpose which was to set the world straight.
It never occurred to me that I may have been chasing my dreams the wrong way.
In no time, the pedicure and manicure team arrived at my house and a febrile feeling abruptly overshadowed me; I was electrified to the highest level a teenager could ever reach in excitement.
The both team initiated their work on me. Nicole even went as far as inviting her hairstylist to fix my hair.
My natural curly hair was styled and transformed, I had a cute makeover, fixed and polished nails, and a killer outfit to go.
Nicole took pictures of it all and posted them online.
When the transformation was over, I and Nicole left for the mall and Lucas took us there.
I went around the mall picking out dope and cool wears and Nicole payed for it all. It was such a sizzling experience!!!
"I think this is enough. Are you sure you can afford all this?" I asked, in fear of making her go bankrupt.
"Oh don't be silly girl. My Dad can buy the whole of this mall and it wouldn't even scratch his pocket. Suit yourself, pick as much stuff as you want, I repeat, as much as you want."
I saw an opportunity to change my wardrobe and I grabbed it. As some Nigerians used to say, "opportunity comes but once."
We had so much fun shopping and taking pictures, but the experience shortly became one that made me shudder. I wondered if I was still the good girl I was or if I was doing the right thing.
I then decided to shrug the feeling off and said to myself, "there's more to life than just acting all righteous. Seizing the moment is all that matters now."
✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆✮☆
The next day at school, I spent a lot of my recess period hanging out with Nicole and doing online updates with her like I had suddenly become a star.
People began to notice my existence and actually also put me in the spotlight with Nicole!
"Nicky… something pesters me," I said to her as we walked down the stairs.
"What is it? You can totes tell me everything."
"Well… I'm a starting to consider something. The truth is, I do miss Arthur a lot and it's beginning to seem like we've broken up because of the issue of my friendship with you. Arthur is like the brother I never had, he is loving, caring, smart… and it's totally senseless for us to just split this way, ain't it?" I said and she shrugged.
I then paused to lean on the handrail of the stairs in a more solemn manner.
"What I'm about to say might be obnoxious but I'll say it anyway just to be clear…" I hesitated and she concentrated more, in folded arms.
I waited for the coast to be clear and student-free because I was aware that so many eyes were on Nicole and the conversation had to be a cloak-and-dagger.
"Speak up Bakewell, I ain't got all day," she recklessly chewed her gum.
"Remember that day I found you in the toilet doing… you know what. I also overheard your father talking to you in the principal's office. I heard it all from the disappointment part to the probation part. As soon as it was over, you came apologizing to me, and it all now seems like you're using me to secure your secret in order not to unlock the probation. According to Arthur, you've got a better chance at getting your secret secured when we're friends and the only way you could get me to become friends with you was if you were a changed person and so he claims you're faking it."
Nicole became numb then she gasped in bafflement.
"What?! Why the hell would you think of such preposterous shit and even get the gut to say it to me! Oh gosh, why Steph?" she said and pounded her fist on the handrail of the stairs.
"Well I'm sorry but my emotional turmoil—it led me to speak to you about it."
"That's damn messed up girl! Come on, I'm not like that, I just decided to change my ways for my own good. Or are you beginning to fall for your boyfriend's stupid words of stupidity? After all I've done for you?" it now began to sound like blackmail and I wasn't willing to go down that path.
"Are you really this soft and easily controlled? You should know better than this. I know you to be savvy, not blank as f**k. Ugh!" she grunted and scampered down the stairs.
"I'm not soft… I'm not easily controlled… I'm not blank as… who am I even kidding?"
Later on, I went down to sit alone in the lab, knowing Arthur would be there for a science project.
"Hey."
"Hey," with a voice of relunctancy, Arthur replied.
"Um, I saw your Dad a minute ago."
"Yeah, the principal asked to see him," Arthur replied and we continued conversing like total strangers.
"Hope you didn't get in trouble," I said and moved closer as he grabbed a microscope.
"I… I don't get in trouble," he said again in vivid relunctancy and that sent a message to me that said he wasn't in the mood for talking. At least not to me.
When I made no further statements, he said, "how's your friendship with Nicole?"
"Good. Why'd you ask?"
"No reason. Just checking in. I thought your eyes would have been opened by now. Well, I just want you to know that you and I are still friends, but with limits. I'm not gonna be all protective of you, or be so pushy or too caring anymore. Whenever I see something bad going on, I'll just keep my mouth shut okay?"
"Okay," I quietly replied.
"Good. Now if you would excuse me, I've got a project to handle." He said and walked out on me, taking a turn from the lab table to the front of me, rather than behind—which he never did unless he was upset.
A minute later, Nicole walked in and frightened me as she moved slowly from behind and said, "boo!"
"Hey… I'm so sorry about what I said earlier."
"It's cool. So I spoke to my Dad about you and he gave it a thought. He's gonna be speaking to some producers and casting directors. All he needs is to have a conversation with you when you come over to my house and he'll help you through the process. It's Marz O'neil we're talking about here, he can make anything possible."
"I'm gonna be talking with your Dad?! Oh my God I'm gonna explode! This is the most amazing news I've ever heard in my entire life. I don't know how to express myself. Should I scream? Should I twirl? Should I trap you in a hug of gratitude? I'll just do all three." I said in extreme delight then squealed, twirled, and hugged Nicole tight.
I was completely short of words. I couldn't believe that an ordinary Nigerian teen like me would reach the point of discussing with a top American celebrity about my career.
"I just need you to trust me okay?" Nicole said.
𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧—𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙬.
𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙.
𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.
𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝘿𝙖𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮… 𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠, 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝘿𝙖𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙—𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚, "𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙤𝙣!"
𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥 𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙…