ZASMA

"Zasma, Zasma, Zasma" I hear a voice calling me from behind.

I turn to see who is calling me. It was my friend, Nasma. I stop walking and wait for her to catch up with me. She stands beside me and places her hands on her waist.

"Why have you left without me and you know that we're going back home together?" she asks.

I stare into her eyes because I don't understand what she means by we're going home together. I'm about to say something when I hear a voice calling out my friend's name. We all turn to the direction we heard the voice calling out and see a girl about my age walking toward us. When she reaches, she places her hand on Nasma's shoulder.

"I've been calling out for you since but your mind...".

Before she could finish talking, Nasma interrupts her by saying.

"This is our new friend Zasma, say hello to her"

she takes my hand and places it on the new girl's hand.

"This is my friend Basma, now you're going to be friends too" she says excitedly.

I open my mouth to talk but Nasma interrupts by saying.

"And you know what?, from today onwards we're going to be the best friends ever" she says.

"It's nice meeting you uhm...."says Basma. "Zasma" I tell her.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Zasma and as my friend here told you, my name is Basma, I assume you are new here?" she asks.

"Yes, I just started attending this school today and....".

"What class are you?" she interrupts me.

"They haven't assigned me to a class yet but I'm sure I will be assigned by tomorrow" I answer.

"I hope you will be assigned to our class" Nasma says excitedly.

"Have you forgotten that we are going home together today?" asks Basma.

"No I haven't forgotten but it looks like Zasma has completely forgotten" she eyes me as if I did something wrong.

"Yeah, I almost forgot but now you have reminded me" I answer and we both smile.

I'm about to say something when Nasma's driver arrives. She pulls Basma and I by the wrist while saying.

"It looks like our ride is here, so let's get going" she says.

Nasma opens the passengers door for us. Basma enters first and I wait to see if Nasma would enter but instead she says.

"You first milady" and we both giggle.

'What a cutie she is' I say to myself and I enter the car and Nasma hops in too and we're all in the car. We all greet the driver and he answers politely.

"How was your day at school?" he asks.

"It was fine" we answer in threesome.

"Well, that's nice" says the driver.

"Thanks Sir" we all answer again.

He Switch on the car and off we go even though I don't know specifically who are we going to drop first. Maybe Basma or I. I don't know.

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NASMA

"What a nice day is it today" says Basma who is sitting at the other side of the passengers seat.

I look away from the window and face my friends whom are like my sisters.

"Yeah it was really a nice day and I have a feeling it's going to be fantastic through out" I say.

"I really do hope so" says Zasma.

"Yeah, me too" Basma adds.

It was a very tiring but still a nice day today at school because our mathematics teacher was collecting our assignment today but guess what happened, he fell sick yesterday and couldn't come to school today. Ha! Don't get me wrong. He's one of my best teachers or should I say my best teacher but the assignment he gave us was one fucking task and I couldn't finish it before the due date no matter how hard I tried and he only gave us three days for an assignment of 150 questions, Just imagine. Hmm! Maybe that's why the Lord favoured us by making him sick and I hope by the time he's fully recovered that I've Completed the assignment or else I know that we'll get double or triple punishment.

I feel like someone is touching my shoulder. When I turn, I see that it's Zasma who's patting my shoulder.

"What were you thinking about?, I've been talking to you but it seems like your mind is somewhere else" asks Basma.

I sigh.

"I'm just thinking about our mathematics assignment" I answer.

"Well, I haven't even started mine yet, What about you?" she asks again.

"What!" I panic.

"You haven't started yours, Seriously?" I ask in shock.

"I'm here worrying my ass because I haven't completed only 10 questions out of 150 and you're telling me that you haven't even started yet" I add.

"You know it's your Fav subject but as far as I'm concerned, I'm always at the bottom line in mathematics class" she says.

"Then you better try and do it before next week, If not, you'll face the wrath of that man" I warn her.

"I was hoping that you could teach me during our sleep over this weekend" she says.

"Oh my Gosh!" I exclaim.

"I have even forgotten about it because of this assignment's tension" I say.

"I've reminded you now" she says.

"And it's on Saturday at your house in case you've forgotten that too" she says jovially.

"Kk I'll save it at the back of my mind, What of you Zasma you're coming too, right?" I ask her.

She looks at me.

"I don't know and what's a sleep over?" she asks.

"You mean you haven't been to a sleep over at all?" Basma asks in amazement.

"Yeah, I've never been to one" Zasma answers frankly.

"A sleep over is like sleeping or staying for the night at your family or friends' house and it's so much fun" I excitedly explain to her.

"Uhmm, I don't think my Mom will let me spend the night somewhere else" she says.

"Well I'll ask her myself then" I say.

"And I know she'll never say no to me" I add.

"Yeah, you're right" she says.

"It's settled then, Sleep over you must come" I say.

"Yeah" Basma adds.

"And you're gonna enjoy it I assure you".

We just crossed the lane to Basma's house which is in Hanwa Road, GRA, Zaria. He parks the car in front of her house.

"Well it's my call now, Would you like to come in and have lunch with us?" she asks.

"Thanks for the invite but we really gotta go but I promise next time we'll come in but please give our regards to the family" I say.

"Bye have a wonderful evening" says Zasma.

"Thanks dear you too, Have a safe journey home, See y'all tomorrow, Bye, miss you" she blows us an air kiss.

"Sir, thanks for the ride" she says to the driver.

"You're welcome dear" he answers.

She turns and head toward her house. Well now that leaves the two of us.

Zasma and I have been living in the same street for a year now and it feels like eternity because her family are the most wonderful people I've ever met in my entire life. They are also like my family now. We live at Telex Road, Tudun Jukun, Zaria. We moved here from Abuja because of my parents Job. My Father is a business man so I guess I'll sort of say it's not because of him we moved here but because of my Mom. She is a Doctor and was transferred from General Hospital, Abuja to ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika. She is a Gynaecologist. Our street is a very friendly neighbourhood and I like it so much.

"Did you like our school?" I ask Zasma.

"Yeah, I guess" she answers nervously.

"I assure you you will like it, our school is one of the best schools in Zaria, even though I've been in this school for over a year now but I can tell you it's the best" I assure her.

"That's interesting" she says.

I'm about to say something when the car halt. This assures me that we've reached Zasma's house.

"Now you're gonna leave me all alone" I say as she is opening the door.

"Sorry but will you come in and have some rest at our house?" she asks.

"Thanks but I really gotta go home and I'll come over later don't worry dear" I say.

"Send my regards to Ummi" I add.

"Ok send my regards to Mom and Dad too" she says with a smile on her face.

"Sure I will, take care, bye, mwah" I blow her a kiss.

She heads home and we drive off to my house which's not far from Her's.

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