STICK WITH ME

“Are you ready Riah?” Chloe asked as she desperately.

“No yet. Am having issues with my clothe.” Riah stuttered.

“Wait… Are you wearing this to meet Henry?” Chloe laughed.

Riah felt awkward.  Chloe continued laughing.

“This is the only good dress I have. The rest are torn and some are tight on me” I sighed.

Leo’s Mum came out from the house.

“Chloe what’s making you laugh that way?” She asked eargerly.

“Mum, look what Riah is wearing to go on a date with Henry” She continued laughing.

Leo’s Mum looked at Riah. She didn’t utter a word. Her look was one of despair.

“Chloe, Take her to the shopping Mall. Get her some new clothes and a new hair cut” Leo’s Mum instructed.

“Okay Ma” Chloe stopped laughing.

Riah entered the car immediately and they left for the shopping Mall.

“Riah, are you happy getting married this early?” Chloe asked.

“Not really, I don’t even know. It gave me hope. I just want to get a home of my own” Riah mumbled.

“I didn’t hear you clearly” Chloe said reducing the sound of the music playing in the car

“Can you repeat what you said?” Chloe pleased.

“Forget it. I don’t even know how I feel about it” Riah uttered.

“Okay. I don’t even care how you feel” Chloe shouted.

“Oh, I got plenty

I done seen em’ all but of you there ain’t many said

They win the race so I’m slow and

I’m steady but can’t move this slow in a Bentley, oh” Chloe continued singing her favourite song BTBT by B. I. She also increased the volume of the song.

“I shouldn’t even be discussing this with you” Riah mumbled.

Fortunately for her, Chloe couldn’t hear what she said. Riah adjusted her seat belt and Chloe sped off.

*       *.             *             *.             *            *

“Mia are you okay?” Jay and Leo asked me eargerly.

I couldn’t say anything. I freezed. Everything looked blurry in my eyes. Whenever I hear about Alison. I remember what she did to me the night before we left the old Town.

“Hey!” Jay shouted at the top of his voice.

I shocked. “Heyy” I replied with my lips shaking.

“Are you okay?” Jay asked eargerly.

“Does she look okay?” Leo replied to Jay.

“Oh… yes am okay. We were going to the cafeteria right?” I asked.

“Of course” Leo answered.

“I can’t wait to eat the spicy meal” Leo giggled like a baby.

I immediately texted Jamie that I’ve gotten the message.

I was restless in the cafeteria. Jay noticed it too.

“Are you okay.. Mia?” Jay asked.

“Yes of course. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. But am okay anyway” I lied.

“Hey Leo” Olivia called Leo as she sat beside him.

Leo shifted from her. She also shifted towards him. Leo was feeling uncomfortable.

“Hi” Leo stuttered as he removed her hands from his body. Olivia faked a smile.

“Mia… do you like the meal you are eating?” Leo asked me.

I looked at him awkwardly.

“Is he trying to make Olivia jealous or what?” I laughed in my mind.

“Yes” I replied hiding my laugh. Jay noticed it too.

Olivia rolled her eyes but no one said anything to her. Everyone ignored her.

“Mia, you’re really good in playing basketball. Do you think you’ll win the competition?” Olivia asked me.

“I won’t win the competition. Our school will win the competition” I smiled earnestly.

“Oh yeah I forgot” She sighed.

“Are you busy this weekend?” She asked me eargerly.

“Am not really sure” I replied.

“Okay. I’ll text you on phone. The girls are going for a party. It’s a very big one. You’re invited since you are in the basketball team” She said happily.

Jay and Leo smiled at me.

“Uhmm… am not sure if I can attend. I don’t really like those social activities, besides I need to practice more” I said awkwardly.

“C’mon Mia. You can practice with me. Maybe this night. What do you think of it?” Leo asked me.

“Okay. I can practice with you but I’ll have to think about the party” I bellowed.

Olivia wasn’t happy with the Ideo of Leo helping me out with practice in the night. She doesn’t look happy hearing Leo say that and I noticed the look on her face too.

She tried to fake her smile.

“It’s alright. Can I have your number. The master asked me to add you to the Group chat” Olivia said handing her phone to me.

I immediately inputed my mobile number in her phone.

“Thank you” She soothed.

I stood up to leave.

“Where are you going to?” Leo asked.

“I want visit Monica in the hospital. Then I’ll go to my Mum’s pub to help her out-”

“Am going with you” Jay and Leo cut in sharply.

“Don’t worry, I can go alone” I comforted.

Olivia stood up and left the table immediately.

“okay… let’s go” I groaned.

*.               *         *.                       *.                  *

“How does this one look on me?” Riah asked Chloe.

“It’s not good” Chloe yelled.

Riah and Chloe has been in the shopping Mall for like two hours checking the dress that looks good on Riah.

Riah was already tired of changing clothes.

“Perfect!” Chloe shouted.

“I don’t really like it. It’s too open… I mean-

“What are you talking about? This is one of the trending clothes” Chloe screamed.

It’s a Spaghetti Strap Mini bodycon dress.

“This is for parties” Riah shrugged her shoulders.

“You’re outdated. Let’s go, it’s time. He’ll be waiting by now” Chloe said dragging Riah along with her.

They stopped in front of the hotel where Riah will be meeting Henry.

Riah came down from the car.

“Have a happy date. Am going for a party down the streets. I’ll come back to pick you up once am done” Chloe waved at Riah and drove off immediately.

“How am I even suppose to talk to him? I haven’t even been on a date for once. This is my first time” Riah said to herself.

“I look very different. The make up is too heavy” Riah looked at the mirror.

Riah walked to seat number given to her by Leo’s Mother.

Henry was already seated waiting for her.

“Hi” Riah said to Henry.

“Are you Riah?” Henry admired.

Riah felt like her heart was exploding.

“Is this really the Henry? He looks so different. I mean he’s more handsome in reality. He’s pair of blue eyes and pure dark hair. Oh my goodness!” Riah screamed in her mind.

“Hello..” Henry said waving at her face.

Riah came back to reality.

“Hi” She smiled seating down.

Henry brought out a paper.

“Am Henry, your husband to be. Nice to meet you” Henry read from the paper.

“You were also given a paper?” Riah laughed.

“You too?” They both laughed together.

“It’s kinda weird. I haven’t been on a date for the first time-

“Same” Riah cut in sharply bringing out her own paper.

“Wow. We’re same” Henry smiled.

“Anyway, I’m Riah. Your yet to be wife” Riah smiled.

“She’s so cute” Henry said in his mind.

“Uhmm.. so-

“I think we should stop reading from the paper. It feels weird now” Riah laughed.

“Same. I don’t even know what to talk about” Henry sighed.

“Anyway, your dress looks good on you” Henry admired.

“I don’t really like it. My step sister picked it for me. It makes me uncomfortable” Riah explained.

“Why didn’t you drop it then?” Henry asked.

“I was forced. Besides, am not the one buying it” Riah forced a smile.

They were quite for a while.

“Anyway, your dress is nice too”  Riah said to Henry.

“Thank you. I got it by myself anyway” Henry smiled.

Henry received a notification on his phone. He was in his phone for about three minutes. This made Riah uncomfortable a little bit.

“Sorry, I received a notification. The movie I subscribed for will be released tonight. Do you mind watching with me. The cinema is not really far away from here” Henry apologized.

“I don’t mind” Riah smiled.

Riah couldn’t walk properly with the dress. Everyone fixed their gaze on her as she was walking.

Henry pulled her closer to him. A lot of people were also taking pictures of them.

Riah has a very shy personality.

Arriving at the Cinema, Alot of people were already on the queue waiting for their own turn.

“Is that not Henry?!” The girls shouted.

“It’s him!” They shouted in unison.

“Who is he with?” They asked.

They started taking pictures of Riah and Henry. Riah tried covering her face.

“Do you feel uncomfortable?” Henry asked.

“Yes” She bellowed.

“Alright, let’s leave then” Henry said to her.

“No, you’ve wanted to watch the movie immediately it premiered” She insisted.

“I don’t mind, I have the whole time to watch it anytime I want to watch it” Henry comforted her.

They went back to the hotel. They talked alot about themselves and what they love doing. They got to know each other very well. They were already getting along.

“Can I have your mobile number?” Henry requested.

“I don’t have one” Riah stuttered.

“Really?”

“Yeah, My step Mum refused to get me a phone” Riah smiled.

Henry gave Riah a brand new phone.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Take. A gift from me” Henry said to her.

“C’mon, I can’t take the phone. It’s pretty expensive” I rejected.

“It’s from my Dad. He knew about how your step mother treats you. Take it please” Henry begged.

“Alright” I collected the phone from Him.

“I’ve already saved my mobile number in the phone. You can call me or text me anytime you want” He smiked.

“Alright then” I assured him.

“It’s late. I think we should start leaving now” I said to him.

“Alright. Do you have anyone to pick you up. Should I drop you off?” He asked.

The weather wasn’t nice. The sky looks cloudy. It’s about to rain.

“My step sister went to party. I think she’ll be too drunk to drive” Riah explained.

They were in the car for about five minutes. They were silent. They didn’t say anything. The quiet atmosphere made them uncomfortable.

Riah was feeling cold. The clothe she wore was revealing her back which made her more uncomfortable. Goosebumps ran through her body.

Henry noticed it. He stopped the car for a while.

Henry removed his hoodie and wore it on Riah’s body.

This was the most awkward moment as the both stared at each other intensely. Henry kept moving closer to Riah.