Chapter Fifteen – No One is a Stone Wall

Examinations were in full swing and we were left with two more papers to complete the semester. My birthday happened to fall on the weekend before our final papers. I’m not one to make my birthday a big deal but I was turning 18 and it was only expedient that I celebrate accordingly.

Given the major flop that was Carl’s birthday, the group agreed that it was best if we went out instead of a stuffy room party. You can move the location of the party, but you cannot move the drama. The drama is the people and the people are the drama.

Mara and Lara hadn’t spoken since I had told Lara what she did and yet they were going to be at the same place. I was hoping that since Lara hadn’t taken any steps, it would be past her and she would have turned over a new leaf.

I don’t know why I did it, but I decided to invite Sly to the party.

There was this little evening spot not too far from campus, a club of sorts. Lara picked it out as the venue and we were all excited. The pressure of exams had us stressed and a chance to relax and unwind was always welcome.

For my birthday dress I wore a white body con dress with frilly sleeves. The dress hugged me in all the right places. Lara got me a 'birthday girl' sash and a little tiara and she did my makeup for me. I looked gorgeous.

Being my birthday, my older sister took me to get a frontal lace wig fitted and I looked like a completely different person. I wore a pair of white pencil heels but I slipped some slippers into my bag for later. As my mother always says, a lady must never be caught barefoot after a long day of heel wearing, this is law.

Boateng drove us to the venue where a couple of other friends were waiting.

I felt very special as we danced and the DJ had special music played for me. It was spectacular. Friends from high school and uni were there with gifts and well wishes.

I decided to sit and have some drinks and so naturally, Lara joined me. Boateng was there as well. Carl was next to him and Mara was next to Carl.

“Araba, I hope you’re having fun” Mara asked over the music. “Yes. Lots of fun” I replied before taking a sip of my drink.

“I’m really glad you came” I said again after a while. The music seemed to quiet just a little so we could hear ourselves more.

“Why wouldn’t I? I wouldn’t miss this for the world” Mara replied reaching for my hand. I returned the touch.

Lara saw this as her opportunity.

“I thought you wouldn’t come because no one likes a snitching bitch” Lara said bluntly. Everything seemed to stand still. Even the music felt like it had vanished. The booth was suddenly hot as tension filled the air. Carl buried his face in his drink and Boateng’s eyes widened as he looked at the ground so as not to make eye contact with anyone.

For a long time, Mara didn’t respond and I hoped that would be the end of it. Lara continued to stare her down, waiting for a response. Between the last time we spoke and now, Mara must have grown a pair of balls because her response knocked the wind out of me.

“It’s not my fault you’re a slut” Mara said.

This response shocked Lara to the core. Perhaps she had chosen a direct line of attack, underestimating Mara’s abilities. I could only assume the girl had practiced for the oncoming confrontation - a smart woman who prepares ahead. In this moment I don’t need it but I respect it.

“What did you just say?” Lara asked, setting her glass aside. She looked ready to leap across the table. Carl made to intervene, but a hand from Lara advised him to the contrary. Boateng also gave him a side eye that prompted him to look elsewhere.

“I think you heard me” Mara said.

“Oh, I did. I just wanted to know if you have the audacity to say it again.” Lara said.

“Oh okay. Sure thing. I said it it’s not my fault that you’re a slut” Mara said. The volume of her last words were a bit too loud and Lara lunged across the table seeking to grab Mara by the hair and bitch-slap her into another century.

Boateng got a hold of her in time and gently moved her out of the booth and away from us. Though Mara looked furious, I could tell she was glad that Boateng had intervened. I’m sure she was wondering whether she could back her words with the requisite action.

I rose to go and find the pair and talk Lara down. As I walked toward them, I could hear Boateng pleading with Lara to behave herself because it was my birthday. I was just about to join the conversation when I saw Sly enter.

I signaled to the two that I would be back and walked towards Sly. I was about to thank him for coming when I recalled the results of my earlier thanksgiving. “It’s good to see you” I said instead.

He gave me a hug and handed me my gift. “Open it” he said so I obliged. It was a beautiful silver necklace with a diamond pendant in the shape of a heart. “It’s beautiful” I beamed. He smiled. He asked if I might like to wear it now and I said I would so I turned around and held my hair up for him to put it on for me.

Reader, I kid you not, I’m not a bad girl (no offence to the girls who do this), I’m a Christian girl with good Christian morals, but the feel of his hands on the back of my neck! Oh, dear me! I now understood why the girls in the movies would risk it all. My goodness! It did things to me that surprised me. Before this moment, I didn’t even think it was possible to feel the things I felt.

Him asking me if I liked it was all I needed to jump back to reality. I squealed yes and turned around to face him.

The thoughts that run through my mind were enough to confirm that I in fact liked this boy.

I have worked hard to build my representation as a strong and sensible girl and so I cannot disclose what those thoughts were. All I can tell you, dear reader, is that never think that you are immune to feelings.

My headmistress in High School once admonished us, telling us we were not stone walls and if the right stimulus was there, things from within us would surface like a raging beast. Indeed, she was right.

Do with this information what you will but remember that even the hardest person has feelings too.