Cassy Santos : A Clash Of Eventful Birthdays

Promises and Requests

Charlotte's POV

I felt guilty for being the reason why Cassy has missed her presentation. I have just resumed today, and I am already causing problems for my best friend. So I began to think of how to approach Miss Helen, the Principal, and make a request on her behalf even when she just stated that I shouldn't.

"Aren't you supposed to be in All Stars highschool?",She asked, looking at my uniform in surprise as if she just saw me.

"I already moved down to Lagos. I now stay with my dad.", I replied looking away in an attempt to conceal the sadness within me from showing in my face. I didn't like where this discussion was heading, because, I didn't plan on telling her now at least not here. But she didn't stop asking further.

"Your Dad?, What about your mom?",I couldn't control it anymore and the tears began to flow. She moved closer to me, confused and concerned at the same time.

"She was murdered last month", I said and broke down in tears as the memories of that day came running fresh in my memory.

***Memo***

It was my 17th birthday and Crazy as it might sound,I share the same birthday with my mom. She's turning 40 this year. So, I left the house very early to go get her a present. It turned out the money I had wasn't enough. So I walked back to the house to get my ATM card.

I stay with my mom. My dad is still alive but he's staying in Lagos City,in Nigeria. Earlier this year,mom took me with her on a supposed vacation to Denmark and we never returned. On getting to Denmark,she took my mobile phone from me and bought me a new one and never allowed me to communicate with anyone in Nigeria not even my dad. Wondering if she has kidn*pped me?, I also thought same too but she never restricted me from doing anything over here at Denmark. Except of course, calling my dad. She is still the best mom you could ever dream of. We have have been living that way though. I mean My parents and I have been traveling from one country to another ever since I was a kid. I have lived in more than six different countries. So it's not a new thing to me that we had to travel out unexpectedly, but the problem is this time,my dad is not with us and we haven't spoken with him since we got here.

I was surprised to see a black Camry car with tinted glass driving out of the house. Well it's a surprise mom is already getting visitors this early. Maybe it's because of her birthday. I sneaked into the house,I didn't want her to know I was already out. I wanted to give her my present first. I never bought her a present before. This is going to be my first time and I wanted it to be a surprise. I was about to enter my room when a sound came from my mom's room. At first, I wanted to ignore it but it continued.

Curious,I walked over to my mom's room. Her door was locked from the outside. Turning the lock,I opened the door and the sight before me sent cold chill down my spine. Right before me,my mom lay in a pool or her own blood. She was struggling as tears flowed freely from her eyes. She looked at me with a mixture of pain and love. Recovering from my shock,I rushed to her in tears holding her.

"Charl... ",She tried to call my name as blood gushed out of her mouth. "Thhhhe fffllloower vvvasse. ttthey arre in Lllaaagosss. He...", and she gave up a ghost.

I let out a sky piercing wail as I threw myself on my mother crying and shaking her vigorously but she was gone. Never to return to come back. I rushed into my room to get my cellphone and there,on my bed, was a birthday present. I opened it to see a necklace and a T-shirt with 'Mom loves you Charl', written boldly on its back. Fresh tears flowed down my cheeks as I read the words. I couldn't even buy the gift for her. Right there,I promised my mom to bring whoever killed her to justice.

***End Of Memo***

Cassy pulled me into a hug consoling me after I told her how my mom died. They tears in her eyes too. She knew my mom and loved her too. "I am so sorry Charlotte. Its okay",She said wiping my tears with her handkerchief.

"Cassy I need your help",I said after I have calmed down. I hoped she would agree.

"Don't you think that's going a bit too far", She asked calmly. "You can't possibly be thinking of revenge",

"I am not thinking of revenge. I just want justice that's all. The murderer has to suffer for his/her action.", I replied

"How do you want to go about it? Don't you think it will distract us from our studies. Charlotte we are not damn detectives. We are students", She commented. I knew she was right but I had to try. Cassy and her studies are inseperable and that's one thing I was worried about.

"I have clues Cassy. My mom left some stuff,we could start from there. Please Cassy, I need your help.",I pleaded.

I watched as she sat there quietly. I could tell she was deliberating on whether to help me out or not. I just gave her the time to think and decide for herself. She was about to say something when the door to the locker room flew open and students flooded in.

"Great", She rushed to her locker to check her schedule for the next class. We have forgotten all about our classes by now.

"Maths class", She said turning away from her locker with her books.

" I know it's a huge task and I understand if you're not going to help. We will still remain best friends.",I said moving to my locker .

"And who said I am not helping?",She questioned moving to the door.

"What?",I asked rushing after her.

"You are right. Whoever murdered your mom must face justice.",She said running to class.

"Hey, wait for me",I shouted running after her.

"I don't want to be late twice the same day.",She said moving faster.

"So what happened to me being the time management freak?",I asked. Cassy calls me the 'Time management freak', because I always ensured we were never late to event. That was before I left Stratos highschool though. She is brilliant and intelligent but has a problem with keeping to time.

"Looks like you lost that trait in Denmark", She replied turning to a corner when someone blocked her way.

"Rushing to somewhere?"Stephanie asked blocking her way.

"Out of the way, Steph", Cassy said tapping her feet on the ground impatiently.

"Losing 10 marks is such a good lead at making the best result. As if that's not enough, you are also late for your maths class.", She said, a devilish smile on her face. I was surprised by her statement like,I knew Stephanie always picks on Cassy but are they in some kind of competition?

" Hey spoilt brat,if you don't get away from that door in the next second,I will...", Cassy said.

"What?,Plead with me like you pleaded with miss Helen?, Cower before me with tears in your eyes?", I watched Cassy clench her fist and I decided to intervene.

But before I knew it, Cassy already pulled her out of the door, pinning her to the wall nearby. I blinked my eyes in surprise. This is not the Cassy I knew. The Cassy I knew would turn around and look for another door or somewhere else. Just anything to avoid Stephanie's problems.

I moved to her drawing her away from Stephanie."We will be late again,if you continue staying here.", I said and Stephanie's eyes landed on me.

"I see that your body guard is back.",She said her gaze Still on me.

"Its clear she doesn't need any bodyguard to deal with you anymore", I said with a smile and she looked away. I could see the hurt in her eyes and I liked it. It was a good sight to watch Cassy stand up against Stephanie for the first time. She released Stephanie and we hurried to class.