It was night fall, a very cold night. I layed on the bed childishly grinning with my phone in hand, video chatting with Emlyn.
"So you're telling me broccoli grosses you out?" He asked and I replied, "that food should be meant for goats."
We both chorused a laughter.
Earlier, I was sitted on the sofa in my room already feeling sleepy by 6:00pm when Nicole drove over to pick me up for her slumber party.
My Dad never cared to ask questions about sleeping over at a friend's house, a friend he barely knew. He wasn't concerned about what I wore which was unusual—a mini white and pink striped romper, pink flats, make up, and fixed nails. 𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢 𝙛𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨.
On getting to the door, he interrupted, "where do you think you're going dressed like that?... wear a jacket, you'll freeze," and I complied.
Nicole's house was a massive mansion with a gate out in front. The sight of the house completely took my breath away!!! I was being a fool when I acted like my father's house was that much of a big deal because it was the first house I got into in Olive Valley.
The house had a large pool outside and deck chairs around with fine, colourful, dome-shaped canopies.
The building looked so much like a castle and the roofings were painted blue. It had few places covered in glass that enabled one see the exquisite views of its indoors. The beautiful and lustrious lights on the inside made the view from outside even more perfect.
The balconies also had more mini canopies.
Both sides of the house had stairs that curved to the front like the letter 'C'. Tall palm trees were also in the corners of the house.
The pool was designed with lights and lovely flowers. The pool itself had a very cool shape that allowed it to be surrounded by flowers and rocks.
The house was so wide and long that it made a curve.
There were just too many lights and flowers!
It was like a royal home; everything was just so perfect, stainless, fabulous, fantastic, splendid, transcendent, breath-taking, entising, fascinating, marvelous, and enthralling!
When we arrived there, I and Nicole's friends, 𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, Bianca and Jordan prepared to go in while Nicole gave the guards some instruction.
On entering the house, I saw a DJ dropping some beats, servants everywhere, body guards and bouncers at every corner, excess food and drinks, and above all, I set my eyes on the most gorgeous boys.
The party wasn't really a shindig, it was a maximum of twenty-five people who were Nicole's buddies. Some of them were actually the kids of Nicole's father's friends.' 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙.
Nicole made a flossy entry like she often did. She was wearing a very skimpy bouffant dress on knee-high boots. She had such large thighs that made any dress she wore even more short; and of course she possessed an exquisite full-figured body which made her look almost nineteen and she was a lot tall.
Nicole spoke in such a way that displayed strict authority. She smiled more often now.
The boys were all so good looking and rich; I shortly became timorous knowing I was a Nigerian and just an ordinary girl.
"Nicky in the house!" a boy hollered from the stage in the party hall and everyone made some noise.
"I'm not alone. I present to you, Stephanie Bakewell," she said and in a greatly nervous state, I waved.
"Yo, you a baker?" A boy asked.
"It's just a name Jeff, you don't have to be always stupid,"Nicole responded and grabbed a cup of an alcoholic drink. She took a sip and gave the rest to me but I refused to take it recalling my ethics and the harmfulness of alcohol.
"No. I… don't do alcohol," I said and everyone made a shout. I was kind of surprised they heard because they all seemed to be concentrated on different activities.
"But you do soda right?"
"Sure," I replied. Nicole clapped her hands like she often did when she was in need of something and a servant hurriedly walked up to us with a tray in hand.
"Frankie, give this young lady a cup of soda 409," Nicole smiled and Frankie gave me a cup.
I drank from the cup and without warning, I threw up.
"What in the hell is this?"
"Just tequila girl," she smirked.
"Ugh, it tastes awful," I wretched.
"Oh come on, don't be such a noob about everything. Just swallow up and you'll realize it tastes heavenly, trust me. It's what cool people do, it doesn't hurt," Nicole enticed with compelling eyes as usual, coupled with her smooth-talking words.
I sluggishly took another cup from Frankie and took a sip with a wrinkled face and truly, it tasted kind of good after a while.
"Here, have some more," she said and I kept drinking. I took so many cups of different alcoholic drinks and I felt no scruple about it.
I didn't only drink a lot but I also ate a lot of barbequed chicken, cottage cheese, brownies, chocolate bars, sandwich, burger, and fries. I had an enjoyable time at the party and made two more friends who were siblings, Jerome and Bella; they were really nice people.
After eating and drinking, we moved on to play games of cards and also swim while playing 'marco and polo,' where some set of teenagers as well made out in the pool.
They made out in the bathroom and in secret rooms. It was then I understood the pack of condom and cigarettes Nicole had exchanged with a boy.
Later on, we did some presentations and right there, I realized another one of my talents which was singing. I was asked to sing and entertain everyone which I did.
That was the best night in my entire life and I enjoyed every single part of it.
Who knew alcoholic drinks could taste so pleasure
pleasurable even in its bitter taste. It was bitter sweet.
The party was lovely and cool, I had a lot of fun hanging out with Jerome, Bella, and Nicole. I also got to realize that Jerome and Nicole were in a relationship.
Nicole never really talked about him on social media, she only posted pictures of him.
Next, we all took pictures of every single scene of the party and posted them online then moved on to karaoke and dancing.
The party continued to be an amusement. Nicole assured me that the Superstars Rock It All slumber party would be a bang.
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While the others kept playing games, I went to sit outdoors, under a canopy. I ruminated about how much pleasurable it would have been if Arthur, Jasmine, and Emlyn were present.
I continued to contemplate on talking to Arthur but I figured he was too pissed to fix things with me.
I loved the way my life was going. It felt like I was living a dream. I didn't want that feeling to end and I didn't want anyone treating me like a child.
Back in Nigeria, I stayed mostly indoors and had no friends to share my feelings with. My parents used to be so overprotective and that was because I was an only child. When things began to bother me at school, I couldn't tell my parents about any of it. They cared less about my mood swings.
I felt Arthur was way too judgemental and opinionated. Though he was a good listener, problem solver and a smart lad but Nicole was also all of that and above all, she showered me with nice presents.
I then decided to call him and surprisingly, he picked up within a second.
"Hey"
"What's up?"
"Nothing. I'm at Jasmine's, and you?"
I stammered and he broke in, "Nicole's house. Not so hard to say, is it?"
"How did you?..."
"Come on, Nicole's life is an open book. Everyone knows she has a party with her friends and has an upcoming party with the club."
"Okay… I have to go now. Bye"
A weird feeling entered inside of me as I wondered why Nicole had to post everything on social media, even as much as her private life.
A lot of things perturbed me instantly but I couldn't understand or explain what I was feeling.
I sat to eat some barbequed chicken and Nicole walked up to me in her swim outfit.
"Nicky, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Sure girl. Watcha need?" She ate through a large doughnut.
"Well… when do I get to have the meeting with your Dad?"
"Be patient"
"Right," I rolled my eyes as she was beginning to sound like my ex best friend.
"He has been so busy. He's out of the country presently, he just needs some time. I need you to trust me okay?"
"Okay," I took a sip from my fruit juice. "I'm going in," I said and that was when I went to chat with Emlyn on the phone.
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The next day, when I got to school, I met Mrs Kayla standing by the door of my classroom and before I got the chance to utter a word, she asked me to go with her to somewhere private.
"Don't tell me this is happening," she said and I turned my look upside down, being dazed, "uh, what?"
"You, Nicole… All of this is just freaking me out! You didn't yield to my words, did you? I saw all the pictures, videos, the party," she counted her fingers, "this is all just crap!"
"Wait, did Arthur tell you anything?"
"That's not the question you're meant to be asking. You're meant to be asking yourself if you're heading the right path, if you're pleasing God, if you're hanging out with the right person, if you're slowly putting out the light to your shining star…" Mrs Kayla kept speaking in parables and before I could figure things out, Nicole walked by.
"Hey champ," she said.
"Nicole, can we be excused?" Mrs Kayla asked.
"Nah, just got here. So what's on the menu for today?" Nicole pushed further knowing the woman was pretty earnest.
"Nicole, leave this moment."
"And what if I don't?" Her tune transformed and became deep in a lack-laughter manner, "you gonna call the cops on me? Oh I see it now, you want me to go away cause I'm on the menu for today and Stephanie has to back off cause I'm a bad influence, isn't that it?"
Mrs Kayla was quiet. There was rage in her eyes.
"Steph are you gonna let them control you? You are not a puppet. You are supposed to live your life the way that pleases you, not cause everyone says everything is wrong. They are not your parents… they are not your life. You know, there's more to life than just sitting around and letting some set of people push you around like you don't own your life. You should have a say over certain matters involving you. Like I said, I know you to be savvy, not blank"
"Now let me correct you…"
"Hold it," Nicole dramatically clenched her fist on air, "don't wanna hear those counseling stuff—oh Nicole, you're so bad, you're so wrong… nah, don't wanna hear it. You can go on with your little chit chat but Steph, always remember, your choice is your choice, no one should define it for you." Nicole pulled out a lollipop from her pocket, she unwrapped it and slowly licked it then walked away—all in a form or ridicule.
I was thrown off balance and at loss of words to say. I could tell Mrs Kayla was extremely agitated and it was only a matter of minutes before Nicole and I would be held under custody in the principal's office.
Mrs Kayla had always had a problem with other teachers for being too calm.
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During recess, I went to Emlyn and we sat outside for a chat.
Emlyn wasn't that much of a problem solver but I loved that once in a while, he was a good listener.
I discovered his caring nature just from the first hour we got to spend together. He had a voice that pacified and when we talked sometimes, his words were filled with flattery. He talked harmoniously and was never a trouble maker, not to mention that I had a titanic crush on him; my feelings were veiled, even from him—𝙄 𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙨.
Pouring out my feelings to him felt so relaxing.
"Steph, I thought you and Arthur used to be besties," Richard said; he and Andrew joined in from nowhere.
"Where's your other half?" Andrew mentioned.
"Leave her alone. Go find someone else to pick on, maybe Nicole," said Emlyn.
"That witch" Andrew replied.
"Emlyn finally got the girl of his dreams," Richard said after a while.
"Oh shut up," Emlyn gave a poker face.
"Yeah shut up Ricky, don't let the girl know he likes her," Andrew said out loud and a blush appeared on my face. I was flattered even though I knew that they were only teasing me.
I was dying to talk to Arthur. I felt so lonesome and uncomfortable. Emlyn regard towards me made him take note of what I was feeling inside and he said to the rest, "okay guys, let's do something fun, a game called random questions."
"I'm in!" Said Andrew.
"In!" Said Richard.
I gave a smile of approval.
"So here's how the game goes, I'm the game master..."
"And why do you get to be the game master?" Andrew disrupted.
"Uh, cause I brought the idea."
"Well why'd you get to bring the idea of what we should do?" Richard questioned and I sighed loudly.
"Can we just focus guys? Look, Steph is getting bored already."
"Well why do you care so much about how Stephanie feels?"
"Yeah, why do you care so deeply?"
"Because... Uh..."
"Cat got your tongue?" Richard said again.
"We were playing a game! Can you guys just stop being silly and let's do this thing if you're interested. I was gonna state the rules."
"Well, I thought the game already started. You said 'random questions' and clearly, we've been asking random questions," Andrew said and Emlyn growled, "That is not how it works!"
All three of us laughed.
"Don't mind them Emlyn, proceed," I said.
"So I'm the game master and I direct the questions to whomever I please. It's a combination of general and personal question so when you give your answer, we all get to share our opinions on your answer. Copy?"
"Roger that boss."
Gradually, I was starting to feel bright and better. Mrs Kayla was right when she said, "at one time or another, all you need is just the right company to help cheer you up when you feel blue, and sometimes, all you need is to get involved in a useful and fun conversation with those that matter to you and you'll bounce right back up!"
"First question goes to Ricky. Is it more acceptable to tell your problems to your parents or should you share them with your friends?"
"Parents!"
"I disagree!"
"Chillax Andrew and let the dude explain. Ricky, explain."
"Well, your parents gave birth to you and they deserve to gain full knowledge about what's going on with you, not some strangers."
"Friends are not strangers. As a matter of fact, they could be one's family."
That was the opportunity for me to direct the topic to my own parents. "Yeah Ricky is kind of right but at the same time, parents never give their kids the opportunity to open up to them. They tend to be busy, strict, over-protective, they lack understanding and all of that."
"Well friends could easily walk out of your life, mislead you, betray you, use your problems against you, and share them with others," Richard responded. I had actually never seen him that serious before.
"But parents often don't understand, they rarely do! Friends understand better," Andrew attacked.
"Parents could be friends!"
"Friends could be parents!"
"Uh, that's not right," Emlyn said and we all burst into laughter. "Okay people, next question. Andrew, do you believe in forgiving and forgetting? Does forgetting define forgiveness?"
"I'm not so sure bruh. I hear that stuff a lot and it drives me crazy. Sometimes, I do pardon people for their mistakes and the hurt they caused me but then forgetting about it? That's damn tough man."
"But that's the point of forgiving—forgetting about the offence. If you still hold on to what that person did to you and you don't let go, then you really haven't forgiven the person."
"Stephanie, let's hear you out."
"Um I don't know guys. I'm undecided—oftentimes, it's not like you wanna keep holding on to what someone has done to you, you truly forgive that person but memories could just pop up in your head and..." I was at loss of words. " Well, it's not like I don't forgive you for what you did but whenever I recall bad experiences in my life, I'll simply recall what you did. Recalling what you did could make me get offended by you all over again but I've forgiven you and that's it. Truth is, forgiving Is forgetting cause if you keep remembering what the person did to you, it might cause you to hold grudges all over again but that doesn't mean you won't remember once in a while."
"I don't fully agree with you Steph," Andrew stated.
"I guess we shall all agree to disagree then," Emlyn said. "Stephanie, you're up. Have you ever had the thought of ending your life?"
"No, no, no. I don't think I'll ever get to that point in life."
"Well, I've attempted suicide just once. But I thought of not being selfish... I couldn't have been thinking about ending my pain and causing my loved ones pain after I pass away. I considered my Mom's efforts and love, my friends... And then it all just led to me embracing hope."
"Ricky?"
"Life's too fascinating to wanna end it. I mean, I don't wanna miss all the money, the food, the people... The everything that makes life interesting."
"Good one guys. Now Ricky, when was your first crush?"
"Age seven."
"Dude!"
"What? She was really pretty and she was an albino."
"Age seven? What were you even thinking?" I chuckled.
"Andrew, would you tell all of your secrets to your best friend?"
"Hell naw! I can't tell all of my secrets to a human."
Richard said, "Well that's why they're called one's best friend," he emphasized on 'best.'
"So what?" Andrew answered, "I don't trust nobody enough to tell 'em all of my secrets."
"I think it depends. Sometimes you need to share certain things with certain people who are close to you. It might be something secretive but might also require you to share with someone in order to place you on a safer side. I feel sometimes it's necessary for you to share your secrets with that special someone you trust."
"I'm with Steph," Richard said. "it doesn't mean you tell the person completly everything but sometimes, it's required that you share these things with people for safety sake. And if you trust the person enough, you can tell them everything."
"Alright. Now Richard, since we don't fully agree with sharing all of our secrets with a fellow human, would you advice anyone to share their deepest thoughts and secrets with a book?"
"Like a journal? Well... I don't know about anyone else but I can't keep my deepest secrets and thoughts in a book.What if someone finds it and reads it?"
"It can't always be like that. I have a journal," Andrew grinned.
"That explains why you don't agree with sharing secrets with friends, cause you have a journal," I rolled my eyes.
"Well I've had my journal since I was nine and no one has found out about it ever since cause it's involves a security pin to get the book opened. Arthur made it secure for me last summer by planting a cool gadget in the book and even before then, all I had to do was to be mindful of how I handled it. I think it's cool to keep your secrets in your journal or tell them to someone trusted."
"And there you have it people! Last question goes to Stephanie. Steph, do you believe in teenage true love?" Emlyn stared deeply into my eyes. Andrew and Richard made silly faces and communicated through gestures.
"Say what now?"
"Come on, do you?"
"I-I don't know. I've never been in love with anyone."
"Well do you have feelings for anyone presently?"
"I'd rather not answer that."
There was an awkwardish moment of silence. Richard said, "um, I think true love during the teenage years does exist but is very rare. I mean I've heard of people who were together since the teenage years and end up getting married. But most of the times, the feelings are all an infatuation"
Emlyn remained quiet as he looked slightly sad.
So far, the discussion was going well and it taught me so much about the teenage life.
I learnt to be happy without needing the help of Arthur.
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I failed to heed to the words of the school's counsellor and my best friend; it was too late, I was already getting attached to the celebrity's daughter. 𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩? She had it all, the money, the fame——𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙮 "𝙖𝙡𝙡"?
That was all that mattered to me now—the fame and the money.
I wanted so badly to be in the spotlight and fulfill my heart desires once and for all.
I wanted so much to prove Arthur wrong so I sought influencing Nicole on the positive side before she would get the chance to influence me negatively. The only problem was that I was easily distracted by her luxurious form of living and the delightful ideas of doing something else she often brought up each time I made an attempt to make an impact.