Vivian continues walking before arriving at a Gift shop a couple blacks away, she goes in and accidentally slams the door behind her which made a glass vase on the shelf fall to it's demise.
"Well someone's in a sour mood", said a tall red haired guy standing behind the counter as he dusted the shelves of gift boxes
VIVIAN: I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to (she apologized trying to pack up the shards)
GUY: Oh no worries, that's just one of my father's priceless artefacts, no big deal (he replied as he continued dusting)
VIVIAN: Oh my god, seriously!?
GUY: heh, nah, I'm just pulling your leg (He chuckled)
VIVIAN: (sighs) Seriously,you almost gave me a heartattack
GUY: Well then maybe next time you wouldn't go around slamming doors (he replied grabbing a broom)
VIVIAN: Give it to me, I'll sweep it
GUY:I was gonna give you in the first place..what?..you thought I was going to clean it up?(he said throwing the broom to her)
VIVIAN (let's out a light chuckle as she catches the broom) I'm really not in the mood for jokes Joshua
JOSHUA:Well at least I made you smile he replied with a smirk)
They both stare at each other for a moment before Vivian looks away
JOSHUA: Why are you in a bad mood anyways?
VIVIAN: I'd rather not talk about it (she says cleaning up the shards)
JOSHUA: That's not a problem,but it doesn't take a genius to figure out it's because of Stephanie
VIVIAN: But her directly tho, just some of her friends, especially that Emily girl
JOSHUA: You know it's so obvious you and Stephanie barely share anything in common
VIVIAN: Yes, but that's basically it, other than that she's a good friend and person
JOSHUA: Do you want my advice?
VIVIAN: (sighs) sure, tell me
JOSHUA: Move out of the apartment, apply for a dorm in campus, you've been in D.C long enough,they can't deny you that,If you move out, you can still be friends with Stephanie,if you choose to that is..but at least you'll be at peace
VIVIAN: It's a bit too late to be moving out right?, I mean, it's my LAST YEAR, what's the point?..it would be too much of a hassle to move to a dorm when I'll be graduating soon
JOSHUA: Could you say that again please?..I'm not sure the entire city heard you yet
VIVIAN: I said.. I'M GOING TO GRADUATE SOOOON!!, Woo hoo! (Vivian yells joyfully as she danced her way to dispose of the shards in the wastebin
JOSHUA:Yeah, that's better (He chuckled)
JOSHUA and Vivian met about a year ago, after she to DELLWOOD city, both attended the same university but were taking different courses so they barely saw each other. The two officially became friends when Civil had saved up some money to buy her parents a gift box which she purchased in his shop..but with no clue on how to send it, Joshua was kind enough to help the beautiful out, and they've remained close ever since.
VIVIAN: haha, you always know how to cheer me up (she said as she sat across him by the counter) Thanks Josh
JOSHUA: I told you, just call Joshua
VIVIAN: But Josh is the abbreviation na (she smiled)
JOSHUA: (chuckles) who asked you to abbreviate,just call me by my full name
VIVIAN: Okay, how about Jo boy?
JOSHUA: oh good Lord (he replied shaking his head)
VIVIAN: oh Come on,these are good nicknames
JOSHUA: They really aren't.
VIVIAN: okay so,if you hate the names so much then why won't you stop smiling huh?
JOSHUA: Heh, I'm not smiling because of the name
VIVIAN: Hmm,then why are you?
Joshua stared at Vivian for a while before bashfully turning away
JOSHUA: Um, well, I ( he muttered nervously but the moment is interrupted when a friend of Joshua (Nick)comes in.
NICK: Oh..sorry, was I interrupting something?
VIVIAN: uh no, we were just talking
JOSHUA: y..yeah
VIVIAN: Well anyways I should be going now (gets up) see you later Jojo (she says)
JOSHUA: oh god..just go (he smiled)
VIVIAN:(Giggles) byee, bye Nick (she waved as she left)
Joshua stared as Vivian as she leaves for a moment with a warm smile on his face
NICK: uhh Earth to Jojo(he snaps his fingers)
JOSHUA: (Glares at him) you better have a rn good reason for coming
NICK: (scoffs) doesn't matter the reason, I know you would take an entire day to keep talking to her if you could
JOSHUA:make that two( he said as he sat down)
NICK: Dude, why don't you just ask her out already?, Vivi's hot, it's only a matter of time before someone wins her over,and if you don't act quickly,it's not gonna be you
JOSHUA: It's but that easy, Vivi isn't like most girls, she doesn't folly around with just anyone and she's really focused on her ambitions
NICK: sure sure, but hey, call me stupid,but there's a fat chance she might actually feel the same way didn't you see how giggly she was when she left?..byee Jojo(he mimicks) those are clear signs!
JOSHUA:..what..she..nah..do you really think so?
NICK: Why don't we find out?..try getting her something nice for a start, I mean, YOU OWN A GIFT SHOP FOR SHIT'S SAKE!, TAKE! ADVANTAGE!, Must I teach you everything?( He asks throwing his hands in the air)
Joshua ponders his friend's word for a moment before looking over to the top shelf at a gift box he had kept aside for Vivi some months ago.
*. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *.
Vivian returned back to the apartment, but as she approached the door , a heated argument is heard from inside the room, she hurried inside to find Stephan, Emily and Carla having an argument
EMILY: If you wanna keep being friends with that dork then be my guest, ugh, we're out of here(she said as she walked out)
CARLA: what a disappointment..
Carla follows behind Emily, shouldering past Vivian, they walk out slamming the door behind them
VIVIAN: Woah, what was that about?
STEPHANIE: (sighs) I didn't like the way they spoke to you earlier okay?, I tried to reason with them to let you be but (sighs) I don't even wanna talk about it, I don't want anything to do with those girls EVER AGAIN(She said slamming down on the couch)
VIVIAN: Oh, but I mean, you don't have to stop being friends because of me, you all seemed to get along well
STEPHANIE: My mind is made up Vivian..you were here to hear all the nasty things they said, they are NOT the kind of people I'd want to associate myself with
VIVIAN: Well I'm glad you were able to see that, those girls are the wrong kind of crowd you'd want to be around
STEPHANIE: Yeah that ended today(she replied picking up her phone)
VIVIAN: Yeah..but hey, weren't there three girls?, Uh I think Kathy was her name, she wasn't here when I arrived
STEPHANIE: oh uhh..Kathy left a while ago, after I blew a fuse
VIVIAN: oh..okay
STEPHANIE: Yeah so where have you been?
VIVIAN: At Joshua's (she replied sitting down )
STEPHANIE: Joshua?..Gift shop Joshua?
VIVIAN: I don't know how many Joshuas there's are but yes, that Joshua
STEPHANIE: That guy?, Ugh,He's such a bore,I haven't seen him in even one party..match made in heaven, I'd say(she replied with a wink)
VIVIAN:(Chuckles) no, we're just friends, I don't see him that way
STEPHANIE:ohh yeah, that's right, I forgot that big cold heart of yours only warms up for hot Steven
VIVIAN:(smacks her head)
STEPHANIE: uuu, do I see a blush coming on(she teased)
Vivian turns to leave as she tried hiding the written feelings on her face from Stephanie
STEPHANIE: By the way girl, could you please see me off tomorrow morning on my way to class?
VIVIAN: Sure but, why do you need me to see you off?, You been perfectly fine going on your own
STEPHANIE: Yeah but, just in case I run into those girls, I'm gonna need back up,I wouldn't want them ganging up on me you know
VIVIAN: I guess you right, it's no problem (sighs) I'm tired, let me go rest
STEPHANIE: Sure.
Time flew by fast, and the day was already over, Vivian slept in later than usual since she wouldn't be having exams until next week. The next day both girls head off to D.C.U, glad she didn't run into her old friends, Stephanie waves goodbye to Vivian as she happily went in, but as Vivi turned around to leave, she accidentally bumped into someone.
VIVIAN: Oh sorry I ..Kathy?
KATHY: Vivi?..what are you doing here? (She asked surprised to see her)
VIVIAN: I..was just passing by(she replied with her arms folded)
KATHY: Where's Stephanie?, Is she with you?
VIVIAN: I don't have time to answer your silly questions, I wouldn't want your silly friend Emily to show up and ruin my morning so, bye(she hissed as she turned to leave)
KATHY: Vivi, If I remember correctly,I was never rude to you yesterday, so don't be rude to me
Vivian stops in her tracks and turns back to face Kathy
VIVIAN: Okay, but what do you want?
KATHY: I want you to be careful (she replied in what almost seemed to be a shaky tone as she glanced left and right) Stephanie is not your friend (she continued)
VIVIAN: Wh..what are you talking about?
KATHY:You just have to be careful, don't trust anyone
"Kathy!", Emily yells as she stomped towards their direction, her face flared up as she glared at Vivian from a distance,but Kathy runs to Vivian and whispers "no one".
Vivian not wanting to get in a fight walks away before Emily could catch up to them.
EMILY: Aww, did I scare you off now?, Go ahead and run like a rat(Emily mocks)
Vivian ignores Emily's taunts and continues heading back home, she thinks back on what Kathy said, but couldn't seem to make sense of it, distressed, she stopped by a 'shake shop' and orders a vanilla milkskake ro calm her nerves
"Don't tell me you're gonna finish that all by yourself now?", Said a voice from behind.
Looking back, Vivian almost skills her drink in surprise of who was standing right behind her
"(Chuckles) Easy now, we wouldn't want that pretty dress of yours ruined" the voice continued revealing himself to be 'Steven Darson' From D.C.U.(B).
D.C.U.(B) (Dellwood City University (B), is th second D.C.U, located in the outskirts of D.C,owner and supervised by the spouse of the director and owner of D.C.U (A), the school is just another branch that gives students outside of D.C the opportunity to attend the city's most prestigious university.
VIVIAN: Steven! (She exclaimed happily as she embraced him, but quickly pulls away embarrassed) sorry, um, but what are you doing here?
STEVEN: eh, I was in town (he shrugged)
VIVIAN: Oh, well I actually live around here
STEVEN: Really?, What a coincidence I actually have an uncle that lives just down the street
VIVIAN: okay, so you came to visit him?
STEVEN: Yeah sort of..I've missed you tho,it's been a while, how have you been?
VIVIAN: I'm good,I'm good(she replied with a smile) um, should I buy you a milkshake?
STEVEN: Nah, but you could do something else for me
VIVIAN: And, what could that be?
STEVEN:Well, now that I'm in town, why don't I take you out for dinner?to make up for not giving me your number last time, remember?
VIVIAN: (Giggles)I didn't forget..but actually I..
STEVEN: Are you really gonna tell me no?, After I travelled all the way here just to come see you?
VIVIAN: What, but I thought you came to visit your Uncle?
STEVEN: yeah but, you were the whole point(he smirks) come on Vivi, you know I like you,just say yes
Vivian had not been in a relationship since she left Nigeria, being so focused on her goals ,she never entertained any ofrm of distractions,but this time Vivi couldn't help but fall for Steven's charms. She say yes on having dinner with him, giving herself the chance to be in a relationship with the boy she genuinely liked.
Vivian goes home,and spend most of the day sleeping in bed, almost to the evening she wakes up and prepares for her date, firstly by picking out what to wear, as she does so she receives a call from her mother back in Nigeria 'Mrs Anthony'.
Warning: The below conversation contains certain slangs/expressions that may come across as bad grammar but is actually a common Nigerian language called 'pidgin'.
VIVIAN: Hello mummy, good evening ma
MRS ANTHONY: ha!, You this girl, God won't let you give me a heart attack (she exclaimed)
VIVIAN: Ahn, but what did I do?
MRS ANTHONY: I have been trying to call you since, what happened to your phone??
VIVIAN: Nothing happened to my phone o, maybe it's network
MRS ANTHONY: Where are you now?
VIVIAN:Right now I'm at home, but Mummy is there a problem?
MRS ANTHONY: Yes my dear, there is ..I've been having terrible dreams about you!
VIVIAN: Ah!(she exclaimed)
MRS ANTHONY: Yes, and in all I saw you surrounded by different types of snakes of different sizes,and in the dream I had yesterday,one of the snaked bit you!
VIVIAN: Ah! (She exclaimed again)
MRS ANTHONY: I hope you're not jus shouting 'ah', do you remember what snakes mean in a dream?
VIVIAN: Deceitful and unfriendly friends (she replied)
MRS ANTHONY: Exactly, so now you know you need to be careful of the people you think are your friends,stay far from them!, and be very prayerful!, I spoke to the Pastor yesterday and he said ..
'beep' 'beep' 'beep' , The phone sang as the call got disconnected
VIVIAN: Okay...now I'm getting scared (Vivian mutters to herself)
NEXT: Episode 3
Betrayed