"Spin, let me see," He moved back and I did a little twirl. He didn't say anything immediately, just smiled stupidly and ran his hands through his hair.
"What?" I wanted to know what he was thinking.
"Skirt looks so fucking good on you," he confessed and smiled again."But, it really is short. We're gonna get it." He resigned to our fate, but I had to remind him that it didn't have to be 'we'. I wore the skirt, I could take the scolding for it, and he didn't have to share the blame.
"We? What, is your dad gonna scold you for going out with a girl with a skirt this short?" I joked.
"No, but you know what he's going to make a fuss about? Hanging out with you is the reason he's not at home but rather at your aunt's. We should get going." He grabbed me by the waist and led the way.
"Hold on, my school bag?" I halted when I realized I didn't have it with me.
"With me," he turned his back for me to see it hanging on his shoulder, next to his.
***
We got home; to my house and we met Nick sitting outside, using his phone. Uche stopped holding me once he saw Nick.
"Really?" I turned to him. I could get mad. I left him and went to Nick."Why are you outside? What's going on?"
"I didn't wanna be stuck with the two of 'em in there," Nick answered, surprisingly. I thought he'd ignore me like he has been doing.
"Remember that day I got punished for a party we both attended?" I thought it was time to use up my coupon."And you promised you'd owe me a favor?"
"It's been a week since that expired." Nick snickered and was going to block his ears with his earpod.
"I'll go in and tell your mum right now," I threatened and he laughed.
"Yeah, go on. Like you're not already in trouble for being out with him this late." He said and covered his ears when Uche joined us.
I shook my head and opened the front door. I didn't really want to have to do this, but he pushed me.
"Hi aunt," I greeted when I walked in and saw her headed to the kitchen to check what she put on the stove. She turned and screened me from forehead to toe, then she looked over at Uche and shook her head, continuing on her way to the kitchen.
Uche's dad had his laptop in front of him on our dining table. The light from the screen of the laptop flashed on his face as he typed on, ignoring both Uche and me.
I almost groaned at how dramatic they were being. Nick came in and met us standing there; he chuckled and went and took a seat on the couch in the living room.
I sighed and looked at Uche before wanting to head up to my room to change at least. But I guess my aunt wasn't in on that.
"Julie, come here." I heard her when I was on the third flight of stairs. I went back down and saw that she was still in the kitchen.
"Yeah," I joined her In the kitchen.
"Can you help me get the tin from up there?" She pointed at one of the high-up kitchen cabinets.
"I can't reach it," I shrugged. I've tried going for it before and my hand was nowhere close to reaching it.
"Try," she forced a smile for me and I sighed, not believing I had to show her and probably everyone how short I was.
I stood on my tippy toes and stretched my arm, trying to reach the cabinet, then I realized my skirt was going up so I stopped to readjust my skirt. While doing that, I realized what my aunt was doing. She was trying to point out to me that the skirt was short.
"Really aunt? You could have just scolded me, I was already prepared for it, you didn't have to do this."
"Scold you? No, I've gotten tired of doing that. I just wanted to show you how you've been exposed to everyone who saw you in that skirt today."
I chuckled dryly because no way she was serious with that shit."Well, if you must know, I've not been trying to reach for things my hands can't reach all day."
"If I see you wearing that again, I swear I'll set it on fire." My aunt threatened and I just couldn't believe her.
"You're gonna burn my clothes? Ooo, I'm scared. If you burn any of my stuff, I won't forgive you 'cause you have no idea how hard I had to work to get this for myself."
"You bought this yourself, with your money? Surprising. You'd think no one is willing to waste their money on stupid things."
"My skirt's not stupid, urgh!" I hissed and walked out on her, then I remembered Uche was there and he just witnessed all of that. I couldn't be more embarrassed. I immediately ran upstairs and shut my door behind me.
***
"What?" I asked when I heard a knock on my door.
"Mum wants you down for dinner," It was Nick. I threw my head backward with a sigh. I didn't know how to face her after that shit that happened downstairs. I didn't know how to face anyone.
I texted Uche and waited to see if he replied. If he did, I'd know he wasn't in trouble.
Me: Hey
Uche: Everyone's waiting for u downstairs. U coming?
Me: U're still here?
Uche: Ur aunt made dinner for everyone. U good?
Me: Idk. I feel like shit for talking to my aunt like that. Did ur dad scold you?
Uche: Just apologize when u come down for dinner. She's seem cool rn. She's talking with my dad.
I noticed that he didn't reply to my last question so I asked again.
Me: Did ur dad scold u for keeping him out that long?
Uche: He didn't. Prolly waiting till we go back to our house.
I read his message and sighed to myself before going for the door. As I made my way down the last flight of stairs, I saw Nick take the pan of lasagna from the kitchen top to the dining table where Uche sat opposite his dad.
Uche's dad looked up when he heard me join them in the dining room, but he just looked back at his laptop, and somehow I felt rejected by the way he looked away.
"Come help Nick with this," my aunt called to me like what happened earlier didn't happen.