LIFE AFTER DEATH.

NO BAY

His eyes fidgeted and he tilted his head as our eyes met. I arched my brow, ushering him to further explain himself.

''the whole school knew about their relationship, it wasn't a secret.'' Curly retorted.

My gaze was somewhere else. I was unsteady, yes, but I was unnoticeable.

''please, don't tell me he's coming here.'' Curly had an unpleasant look.

''he is,'' At the mention of that Curly looked away.

After less than a minute of conversing, Scott located me and made way to where I sat. My usual roll of anxiety had its fair share of display. I found myself swallowing saliva excessively and adjusting my seating position. Scott, drawing attention to himself and, eventually me wasn't a new thing. I had marked him for an attention magnet. I noticed how pissed off Curly had now appeared, his meal was almost done. I expected him to leave. Why he got into a new personality attire when Scott was involved, i didn't know and i wanted to find out.

''hey, hey,'' Scott announced with a sheer smile as three dudes and two girls accompanied him. Two of the boys were black and awfully identical. They were twins. While the other boy was white, too white even. The girls were heavily on their phones, they had matching hair and wore the same shoes. I got the sense that they belonged to the mean girls category.

''hey,'' I replied, ''didn't see you in English class.''

''was in the infirmatory, I had a minor football injury.'' He stretched his left arm as he spoke, ''but its all good.''

''Peyton... '' one of the twins began, ''welcome, all the way from Nigeria. '' he turned to his brother, ''remember Victor, that Nigerian s**t that left last year?''

''shut up Jean, Victor was good to you.'' The brother replied, unlike Jean, he was more composed and calm, ''hey, I'm Peter, this is my brother Jean.'' He said to me.

I nodded.

''So, do you wear wigs, i could lend you one.'' one of the girls spoke. She was white, I could tell even when she tanned her skin mid-brown.

I found that offensive, ''I dont__

The other girl jumped in, ''The black pixie curls are a no-no Anna,''

''meet Anna and Sally.'' Scott introduced them, ''and girls, I don't think she needs your wigs.''

''she does,'' Sally pinched and threw herself on the chair next to Curly, ''f**k, I hate standing.''

All this time, Curly just bit what was left of his tacos and drank his bottled water, since his soda was empty. He didn't verbally input in the conversation or lift his head from where it was positioned.

''Can we go?'' Scott asked me.

I remembered our initial arrangements, The bay. As if asking for permission, i glanced over to Curly, who now appeared interested.

''go where?'' he gestured to me,

''somewhere called the bay.'' I shared.

It caused him to scoff and gently shook his head, almost like he'd either heard of the place or been there, ''the bay?'' he asked back, i presumed rhetorically.

I retorted to placing my phone inside my bag and prepped to stand, ''your'e kidding? are you going down there?'' Curly queried.

'Do you want to come?' I asked him.

''he's not invited.'' Scott immediately said.

''the hell I am.'' Curly stood as well, ''do you know where the bay is?'' His tone was a bit intensified.

''she's gonna find out.'' Jean replied in all smiles.

''hey, Mexican...'' Anna started, ''is she your girlfriend or something?''

''no,'' i chorused with Curly, as that was not the case,

''then why are you asking so many questions, '' she turned to Scott, ''I need to get whoo_

''shut the f**k up.'' He let out to her and turned to Curly.

All this while he'd stood silent and watching Curly with a conspicuous glare. It wasn't the right place or time, but i found it attractive.

''Gustavo, isn't it?'' Scott geared at Curly, who now folded his arms, ''is there a problem?''

I was beginning to see that there was, and right there, and then I contemplated going with Scott and his crew.

Curly ignored Scott's reference and turned to me, ''Afro_

Scott circled his mouth, placed a sharp look and proceeded to take a light hold on Curly's forearm, ''Miriam... is she.. your sister?''

Curly then took a few steps backwards and unwrapped his hands, breaking away from Scott's presence ''no she's not.'' his tone was dense.

''that's what i thought.'' Scott faced away from Curly and unto me, ''can we please leave now?''

I had a fill in on the present issue and, somehow made a conclusion some possible past occurrences, Curly and Scott had some issues and none wanted to talk about them. The sour ir had gotten to me already. I looked at Curly and he had dejected eyes and a displeased emblem. I knew I would so badly annoy him if at this moment i accepted the invitation to the bay.

''its okay, maybe next time.'' Scott tapped the table thrice and bounced away with his crew behind him. He was also angry.

*********

Curly drew out an outlet of relief as Scott was out of sight, he took back his seat and gently shoved his plate further.

''okay that was weird,'' I drank my coca-cola, ''what's wrong?''

''I think you should go after him.''

''what?'' I didn't believe what i was hearing, ''go after him?''

''yeah,'' he bit his lower lip, ''I... wouldn't want to disturb whatever you too got going on.''

My brows raised, ''you want me to go with him after all those signs to stay?''

''what are you waiting for?'' He urged me.

''what changed your mind? A minute ago, you didn't want me to leave.''

''I don't know, '' He looked weak, ''look Peyton, I think you should really follow him.''

I was both confused and concerned about Curly, 'Do you have an issue with Scott? Talk to me, you look like you're hyperventilating.''

''I don't have an issue,'' Curly turned around and searched the room, he was looking for someone. I thought it was Scott.

''can you relax,''

He rubbed his eyes and snapped his fingers, ''I'm fine.''

''I don't think so,''

''I need a minute,'' He stood up and hurriedly scurried out.

*********

With a head laced with thoughts, I arranged my locker since it was almost time to go home. I needed to get some books to read and do homework. Curly missed Economics class but was present for Geography. We made eye contact but he failed to relay to me any useful information. Scott was also in Geography. He proved to me that he was pissed when he didn't look or turn my way. I felt terrible.

I sat at the back of the class, pondering about the possible mess I'd gotten myself into. Thank goodness Suresh was stationed in front of me, I coped better with him there.

*******

''Scott's new girl... ''

I turned around to see the gay boy, Parish, posing behind me.

''what do you want?'' I sounded sour, I was in no mood for his inconveniences.

''how's he treating you?'' He busted a bubble.

I blinked, the bell blared on, it was time to go home ''I'm not dating him, and, I told your brother about what you said, you don't need to talk to me.'' I banged my locker shot and walked away. And he followed me.

''you're rude, is everyone in Accra like that?''

''Nigeria.'' I corrected, ''why are you following me?''

''so tell me something, does Tess know that my brother's got a crush on you?''

I stopped my movement and turned to Parish, who smiled sheepishly, ''he what?''

The latest information, true or false, didn't shock me as i thought it would, but it briefly threw me off balance. Was that why he wanted me nowhere close to Scott? The party was the first instance. The second was at the cafeteria.

Parish walked ahead of me, ''don't act shocked, you're not dumb.''

I felt funny, an invisible coat of significance covered me, ''and you know this because you're his brother.'' I said that jokingly, ''funny he looks Mexican though.''

''he's adopted, we're not related by blood.'' Parish rendered freely.

That was when I fixed the missing puzzle, it all made perfect sense.

*********

We were outside the school now, Parish still stood next to me. I didn't know his plans, whether or not he wanted to go home together.

''hey, Parish,'' I signalled, ''Scott and your brother, did they previously have a misunderstanding?''

Parish spat out his gum, ''the cafeteria incident? we all watched.''

''we?'' I hated the sound of more attention,

''maybe you should ask your boyfriend.''

''he's not my__

A black corolla pulled over in front of us. Scott was sitting inside, driving.

''need a ride?''