So when I call you
in the middle of the night
And I'm choking on the words
'cause I miss you'
--
Weekend with the guys was the real deal to TJ.
Getting lazy, eating greasy junk foods and going out for night walks, gave him time to explore Pacesetters the more and play games. Which was his best part.
He tugged at his black hoodie, shifting out of his comfortable position, a frustrated frown on his face as he tried to beat Elo.
The shorter boy had beaten him four times in a roll and he wasn't going to let him win for the fifth time.
He spared a glance Elo's way, to find the boy engrossed in the game, a smirk on his lips as he gave a final strike. Before a computerized voice drawled out a slow
"GAME OVER."
"Yes!" Elo said jumping up and pumping his fist into the air.
"Maaan! I'm a fucking pro, he who is brave, dare beat my score!" Elo screamed tying his loose locs into his already folded bun.
TJ rolled his eyes.
"You are cheating Man. I know it." He accused.
"I'm just a Master. Stop being a sore loser." Said Elo, reaching for his cell phone.
"Ma hia!" TJ tried to imitate Elo's pidgin accent, making the boy to crack up.
"Guyy, you cant even learn common pidgin. How can you learn my skills." Elo teased, still laughing.
That moment, Jiki entered, carrying a sealed pizza pack and a can of undiluted Black currant juice.
"Who's hungry?" He called out as he joined them.
He glanced at TJ, "Why is your face like shit?"
"I won him again. And for the fifth time. Me na boss na." Elo taunted, earning a laugh from Jiki and a scowl from TJ.
"Boss my black ass."
"Don't worry. You'll learn with time. To beat Elo, you must watch him play and not play with him." Jiki said, sitting on the floor.
"How do you even do it?" TJ finally asked, swallowing his pride.
"No sir, a good magician never reveals secret." Said the darker boy, bowing slightly and earning a hiss from the guys.
Elo quickly forgot his taunting and made for the pizza carton.
"Bless you man, my favourite."
"What's that?" TJ asked, going close to the strange looking pizza.
"It's Dodo pizza." Jiki said, attention on the said pizza.
They sat down, forming a circle around the food.
"Dodo? As in, fried plantain?"
"Yes. The one and only."
TJ took a triangular piece, staring at the hot thing with fried plantain cut in small piece on then.
"Now stop staring at it like it's a dead rat and have a bite." Elo urged, his mouth full. Making him spit out crumbs nowhere but on them.
"Guy abeg easy! " Jiki warned, going for another bite.
TJ took a bite and his eyes closed involuntarily, a moan escaped his lips, causing him to quickly open his eyes to be met with amused faces of Elo and Jiki.
"Okay, this is-"
"Delicious?" Elo asked.
"No, superb. This combination is something else. I'm so trying this again." He said, eating up the remaining in one bite.
The guys laughed and continued eating in silence.
"So, what are your plans for the weekend? The usual?" TJ asked after a while.
"No. Elo didn't tell you?" Jiki asked, sending a confused look Elo's way.
"Ooh, I totally forgot." Elo said, giving them a sheepish grin.
Jiki sighed.
"This weekend is pretty occupied. Elo is taking Abike to the dentist, filming of Frisbee has begun and I can't even miss out on an episode." Jiki explained. Helping himself with another cup of black Currant juice.
"You guys are going out like that? What about the girls, going out too?" TJ asked, shocked at the revelation.
"Umm, Lara mentioned something about a hair dye commercial, Nens is going for grand opening of her brother's hospital and tomorrow is Chimdi's shoot."
"Shoot? So soon? Isn't it scheduled for next weekend?" TJ nothing but shocked asked.
They can't leave him here alone.
"Man I'm sorry. But Elo was meant to tell you." Said Jiki who sent a glare Elo's way.
"Ah, ah, I forgot na. That reminds me, Abike wants you to tag along." Elo said, going to dispose the pizza carton.
"What! No, I'd rather stay here." He said, dreading the idea of coming anywhere close to Abike.
She'd been nothing but touchy recently and he'd tried his best to decline, in the most polite way known to man. He didn't trust himself to be polite anymore.
"Man, you can't stay here. You will be bored to death. This is weekendoff, the school is always empty."
Elo laughed. "Trust me. He better stay back here than come with Abike and I."
TJ joined Elo, nodding.
Suddenly, the silliest idea known to man struck him.
"Maybe, I can go to the shoot with Chimdi, from there, I can do the group work." He suggested while they stared back at him.
"What?"
"Chimdi? As in, the Chimdi that you can never stay with, without killing each other?" Elo asked, looking at him like he grew a second head.
"Yeah. It's just group work." TJ tried to convince himself.
"Dude, leave him. At least, it's better than staying here alone." Jiki said, getting out his phone.
"Here, call her. Let's know what our next action is. You can't stay here alone." TJ took the phone, and at the second ring it was answered.
"Jiki boo!" Came Chimdi's excited voice. "Did you change your mind?" She asked.
"Maybe, yes." TJ replied, laughing.
"Who is this?" Her tone turned cold.
"TJ. I was thinking, can I tag along with you to the shoot? You know, for the group work." he asked. His heart beating so loud.
Chimdi waited few seconds before replying.
"Sure. Be there by six." A shocked TJ stared at the phone.
Just like that? He asked himself. Of course, he was heard.
"What did she say?" Elo mouthed.
It happened that Chimdi was still speaking.
"Hello? Are you there?"
"Yeah. Sure by six. Anything to bring along?" he asked. The whole thing seemed so surreal.
"Your camera set of course and pack an overnight bag. Please give the phone to Jiki." She said calmly. While he passed the phone.
Elo still waved his hand, trying to get TJ's attention.
Giving Elo sign to wait for a while. They listened to Jiki converse with Chimdi. All smiles and teeth.
"So, what did she say?" Elo asked impatiently after Jiki ended the call.
"I should pack an overnight bag and camera set." TJ replied. Surprise still evident in his voice.
"Hmmn." Elo hummed, his expression thoughtful. "It will end in tears."
--
Five minutes late.
TJ was five minutes late.
Chimdi checked her phone one last time, growing impatient by the minute.
It was five minutes past the scheduled time and he was nowhere around.
She sighed, getting comfortable on one of the cushions in the waiting lounge.
She wasn't ready to face any of Antni's impatient drivers.
Still fuming from waiting for TJ, she sighed when she saw two juniors approaching.
Probably going home early too.
She served them an acknowledging nod as they waved at her, before looking down at her phone.
She heard a shuffle, only to be met with one of the Junior's cheeky smile. The other, rocking her foot in a nervous way.
She raised a brow.
"Umm, can we take just two group pictures with you?" The taller one asked shyly.
Chimdi sighed, before nodding. Grateful that she let Lara choose her clothes for her.
She was dressed in a white shirt, with suck it up calligraphed on it in italics, tucked into a short beige halter skirt and a white sneaker to complete the look.
Nene had tried to coerce her into applying, even a little amount of makeup, but she declined.
She packed her soft kinky hair into two full buns and leaving out two ringlets by the side.
And so, they took more than two pictures. At the tenth shot, TJ chose the moment to grace her with his presence.
Simply dressed in a black Tee, a ripped jean, a denim jacket and a white pair of trainers to complete the look, with his backpack hoisted on his shoulder. He pulled off the brooding bad boy look so well. Except he wasn't one to her.
Simple but sophisticated.
Chimdi rolled her eyes when he walked in, smiling at the juniors who looked at him with googly eyes.
"So this is your Six o'clock?" She asked after the juniors left.
"I'm sorry. I had to eat. Didn't you eat?" He asked settling his backpack beside him.
"Nope. I don't eat before my shoot." She replied, remembering her mother's threat words.
TJ nodded as they waited in silence.
He couldn't believe he was to hang out with her during her shoot. Her, agreeing to let him tag along was shocking enough.
One of the skinny security men came to inform them that their ride was around. Chimdi nodded his way, telling him to follow her.
He stood up and trailed after her.
Here goes nothing.
--