Rebecca and the whole team were impatiently waiting for me outside the hall and the moment I stepped outside Hailey held my hand curious of the person I had picked for the week. Rebecca could read my face and she interrupted by introducing her brother peter and his girlfriend Tara. "Have heard so much about you and oh my, I didn't know you're this pretty," peter said as he lightly hugged me. I smiled at his words knowing he was trying to be kind. Tara smiled as she held her head down alittle as a way of saying pleasure meeting you. I nodded in acceptance as Jessica on her side stepped up for a hug as she said" have met you once but I bet you don't remember my name." " Jessica! "I pointed out." Oh yeah, it an easy old name no one can forget ",she joked pulling her eyelids together that made her face look funny.
" We are all here except for one" Hailey said ,her probing gaze on me demanding for an answer. I was at a loss for words . I never had any friends outside the circle that I could invite and I couldn't storm into just anyone asking them to be my company. Rebecca noticed my hesitation and she jumped to save the day. "Eeee ehh, peter has a friend whom I think would love to hop in. Not a big deal, we can just ask him, he's always ready. Right peter?", she suggested looking at him seeking for help ." Right" he grabbed his phone from his girlfriend, made a call and said we would be picking him on our way.
It was on Friday evening and we needed to check in by 8.00pm." everyone ready?", Rebecca asked as she led her way to a packed car by the road near the school's parking lots. "Are we all gonna fit in that small car? "I surprisingly asked. " "Hahahaha, silly Bella. We ain't sharing no cars. Each couple on their own cars, remember? " Rebecca said as she put her sunglasses . "See you at chicken inn main. " I suppose we are to meet at chicken inn main. " I said more of a whisper ,as I turned to peter." Bella?" Hailey called surprised by my words." Did you check the conversations in the group? " I haven't checked my phone the whole day.. oh , the messages. I pointed out as I hurriedly checked the phone. Ok, I get it. I'll go pick up the bags." " Bella, " peter called. " I'll give you a ride to the meet up point, he's been waiting for some time now.
"I literally ran across the school,picked up my suitcase then hurried back to the parking lot. Everyone else had left except for peter and Tara. The car boot was full of bags and suitcases which made me feel less packed . I had packed a few clothes , warm and light pants ,shorts,a couple of sweaters,a few extras ,two pairs of sandles ,two pair of Snickers,a toiletery bag, a laptop , charger and my phone. "Is that all you've packed?" Tara asked. "Yeah" I responded as I threw the suitcase at the back seat.
We drove for ten minutes before peter pulled up into a gas station close to a shiny black BMW X5. "Ms Bella, that your ride." Peter pointed towards the black car as he opened the driver's door to introduce his friend to us. The driver's door of the black car opened and a quiet familiar figure stepped out. "Joseph? " I asked. Do you know him? Peter asked. "We met at the campus a few weeks ago." I stated. "You mean you ghosted me bella. You even skipped international relations class, tried looking for you and I might say you are a hard person to find."Joseph said as he opened the door to take my suitcase. "Hey Tara." He greated and thanked peter for the drop off. "See you both at the chicken inn main."Tara shouted as peter drove off.
Joseph was surprised by the size of my suitcase and couldn't help but say " you're not here to stay, it seems." "Let say am the minimalist type.I function with less." I joked . "Seems interesting." he said lightly. He chose his words carefully and I didn't want him to feel like he was walking on eggshells. I wanted music, laughter , stories, I mean I wanted a fun environment. So I took off my trenchcoat once we got into the car , let my hair fall over my shoulders, took my USB from the pocket as the playlist I had compiled started with my favorite song. "What your music type." I didn't want him to be left out so I needed to know his type of music to keep him entertained as well. " I love your choice of songs" he replied as he started the car.
"Ready for an adventure?" ,"absolutely," I replied as we merged onto the open road, the world unfurling before us. "Let make this a karaoke night!" I said in a high tone. "Go on", he smiles with a wide grin that was so beautiful as his eyes shone in happiness . The music floated in the air , as we sang along , his voice wove seamlessly with mine, his confidence growing with every verse with a raw and beautiful voice. Every now or then He would steal a glance at me, his cheeks tinged with a hint of blush that deepened whenever our eyes met. The distance between us seemed to shrink over shared laughter and music creating a bond that felt as natural as that of friends who've known each other for a lifetime.
When the song ended , the car was filled with an electric silence, the kind that only comes from shared moments of vulnerability and maybe connection.
"You have a beautiful voice bella. It's so soft and velvet that anyone would love to listen too. Have you ever tried music?" he tried to break the silence and the arkwad moment between us." I understand you trying to exaggerate everything, but I was trying to impress you", I joked a little to let him have the moment." Oh, you did ! Trust me you did more than that."he replied." What do you mean?" I asked. He was intrupted by a call and moments later we started a different conversation that flowed through the entire ride to chicken inn main.