"Hey are you alright? " Ella chirped.
"Yeah I'm fine" ayra replied folding her hands across her chest. "Why do you ask? Don't I look ok? "
"Oh no no that's not it in fact today you actually look more cute than usual ".
"Thank you she said simply."
"You have been kinda of quite all day, are you sure you are fine? Tell me what's wrong? Is it alice? What did s-"
Oh now you want to know whatsupp with me? She thought while gently interrupting her.
"Ella leave it alone I told you I'm fine!! "
"Woah okay no need to scream,you certainly don't sound okay but I understand if you don't want to share at the moment so I'm just gonna wait for you, anytime you are ready I'm here for you love."
Ayra felt like giving her a big hug, even though she was mad at her and Ella had no idea about it, she was still her bestie and would always be. "Ella I promise I am fine" she said with more conviction this time.
"Okay I know you are just saying that but -"
and just then Jack and Tim went passed them, jack looking at her with puppy eyes all through and even looked like he was about to say something to her. Ayra held her breath and prayed silently. Please please don't talk to me, please just go away don't stop starring at me like you fucking care because you don't. The last thing she needed right now was Ella getting a wiff of what transpired between them, she simply didn't have enough energy nor courage to answer her barrage of questions. She wanted to go home, lie on her bed, have ice cream and cry her eyes out.
Ayra released her breath thankfully he hadn't said a word to her his eyes was filled with apologizes though not that she cared and she refused to give him one more moment of her thoughts, he had occupied it for a long, long time now it's time to let go and get back on track. Gosh she couldn't wait to get home and confine herself into the comfort cocoon of her room and think about everything that had happened. "Fuck, Alice would be so disappointed at her, she had failed her sister ahhh I hate you ja-"
"Earth to ayra, where the hell did you go? " "What are you thinking about? I could literally see the clocks in your head moving over time. " Ella said starring at her intently.
"It's nothing, I just spaced out for a bit".
"That wasn't spacing out, you zoomed off to God knows where!! "
"Where is your new friend? I haven't seen her today "ayra said looking around and changing the topic
"Erhm who are you talking about? "
Ayra rolled her eyes at her "you know who I'm talking about don't play dumb with me " .
"Well for starts I thought she was "our " new friend" she said emphasizing on the our "and ayra she has a name "she said.
"Forgive me for not being cultural rooted enough because I still can't pronounce her name right and I am scared that she might take offense like she always do!!" She said slightly annoyed.
"Ayraaaaa she started slowly getting the pronunciation right doesn't matter it's the intention that matters".
"Yeah try telling her that she is the one that needs to hear it".
"You know I completely understand her" Ella started softly "She's in a new country, new school, new environment and battling loneliness and trying to figure out if her new classmates are racist or just being mean". "It's awful you get where am coming from right? "
"Wow you like her so much, you are defending her against your own best friend" Ayra knew she was being overly dramatic and unreasonable but was past caring. All her life she has never been anyone's first choice like ever! Her mom had chosen alice over her, everyone had but Ella was her only friend in this world now she had to share her too? Totally unfair and unacceptable.
"Ayra what are you saying?" Ella asked confused, you are one that suggested we make friends with her.
"What the heck am I not saying? Ella believe me I understand kachi 's predicament, gosh I actually like her a lot but she doesn't seem to like me a bit and the last thing I would do On earth is to force myself on someone that's what I want you to understand".
"Omg you got it right she said excitedly out of the blue ".
"What are you saying? "
" Kachi's name you pronounced her name correctly".
"Really?" She asked, on a normal day she would have taken the olive branch Ella was indirectly offering her and let things be but nothing was normal about the day so fuck the consequences, her day was already ruined therefore phschologically in her head, she was sabotaging her day since it was ruined already, let's make it worse.
"Ella that's besides the point and I don't appreciate you changing the topic".
"I know know tsk, just trying to lighten things up. "
Ayra looked at her she looked so torn and pitted her best friend" it's fine I understand you and kachi completely" She saidsecretly happy she got the name right again.
"Ayraaaa ? "
"What? I'm going home".
"Wait for me I will just get my backpack just a minute she said hurriedly running off".
Ayra sighed softly and was appalled to notice her eyes stinging, she couldn't hold the dam off anymore saying a silent goodbye she ran home.
Ayra am bac- gosh where is she? Ayra she screamed her heart fell and spirit lowered. "She left without me" she muttered slowly disappointed.
"Hey guys do we have any Nigerians in the building? If you are Nigerian and from the igbo tribe comment a big "Hi" with your igbo name.
It actually doesn't matter the origin, nationality or tribe we come from, we are all humans and that automatically makes us one. A wise person once said that the most beautiful garden is one that has different varieties of flowers. Stay safe and Happy reading. ❤ "