No Need for Apologies

Chapter Seven

'Rachel,' her mother called.

'Rachel,' she called again.

'Yes mummy,' Rachel answered dropping her books. She was trying to solve the problems given to them as assignment.

'I'll be there in a second,' she said putting her pen in the book and walking to the sitting room.

'Mummy where are you,' Rachel yelled when she couldn't find her in the house.

'Come to the balcony,' her mum replied.

Rachel went there and saw her mum and her dad sitting and drinking enjoying the cool night breeze, what had she done again she thought.

She walked slowly and sat down beside her dad far from her mother's hands. 'You called,' she said.

'Have you tucked the children in bed,' her mum asked.

'Yes I have, it's way past their bedtime. It's 10:30 now.'

'Why are you still up,' her dad asked.

'I'm trying to complete an assignment', Rachel answered quickly. She didn't want them to think she was on her phone again. Nigerian parents and their fussing, Rachel thought.

'Hope you're not with your phone,' he asked again.

'No dad, I'm trying to complete my assignment,' she answered. Just what she had been expecting him to say.

'I told you to make your studies your first priority,' he said. 'No outing anymore, the free hand you had at Estelle high is over. If I see even a tiny bit of lackadaisical attitude towards your studies I'll take your phone. Rachel!' he called out sternly ending his speech.

'Yes daddy.'

'Can you hear me,' he said.

I'm not deaf Rachel loved to say but instead she told him she could.

'Good, make us proud daughter. If you come out among the three best in your class I'll give you anything you want, you just name it and you'll get it'

'Rachel looked at him wide-eyed,' did he really mean it.

'I mean it Rachel,' he replied as if reading her thoughts. 'Whatever you want just make us proud daughter.'

That night Rachel lay on her bed thinking about what her dad had said, 'among the three best.' Could she do it, she thought massaging her forehead.

She didn't know when her thoughts switched to Collins, Zoe's brother. She had seen him just twice and he still hasn't said anything to her and it seems Zoe was avoiding them.

Rachel thought about the new girl, she wasn't that beautiful as everyone was making it out to be. Taking her like one goddess, 'goddess my foot,' Rachel said out loud. She had never felt this way before. She didn't know why she was being jealous but it was a stupid thing to do.

Rachel didn't know when she fell asleep amidst her thoughts but when she opened her eyes she realised it was a new day.

She managed to sight zoe at the school hall as she was late for morning assembly. There was an empty chair beside Zoe so she sat there.

'You're late,' Zoe said smiling.

She seem to be in a good mood this morning, Rachel noticed. 'I know, I woke up late or rather I slept late,' she replied smiling back.

'What kept you up, what where you thinking about,' Zoe said still smiling.

'A lot of things that you don't want to know about,' Rachel replied still smiling.

'Things like what, a young girl like you isn't supposed to lay awake all night thinking about how to attract a boy,' Zoe said feigning a serious countenance.

Rachel turned instantly looking straight into Zoe's eyes, that look of how did you know. That look her younger siblings gives her when they were caught dipping their hands into the milk holder.

Zoe burst into laughter, 'chill Rachel I was just kidding.'

'I know Rachel said,' putting on a smile. 'You're no magician to know what kept me up last night.'

'Can I have some silence please,' the principal ordered. 'Absolute silence.'

The hall was silent as if an angel was passing.

'Thank you all,' she said into the microphone. 'Good morning my princes and princesses, hope you all had a good night rest.'

'Good morning madam,' they all answered.

'We are all aware of our extra-curriculum activities that holds every Thursday,' she went on.

'I don't want to find any student sitting idle in their class or walking around the school premises. Idle children are always up to mischief, so once you hear the bell...'

'More like the devil's workshop,' Zoe said laughing and Rachel joined in the laughter.

'Once you hear the bell I repeat go to your various clubs. New students are allowed to pick any club of their choice. You're not supposed to be in more than one club. We have numerous clubs; mathematics, science, music, readers even HIV club...'

When she said HIV club the whole house roared with laughter.

'HIV club,' Rachel asked Zoe. 'Who'll want to join that, I won't be surprised if they have no member.'

'You'll be more surprised to know I'm a member,' Zoe said smiling.

'You're kidding right?' Rachel asked.

'New students can check the notice board for the various clubs available and make a choice or anyone who isn't satisfied with their current club. You can all go to your classes now, in an orderly manner,' she added.

?

Hearing the closing bell made Rachel so happy, she couldn't wait to get home. She was famished and also very tired. Almost immediately she heard the bell again.

She turned to Zoe, 'what is that bell for?' Rachel asked.

'It's club time,' Zoe replied.

'Oh gosh, I totally forgot about that. I don't even know the club to join,' she said putting her things in her bag.

The class was noisy suddenly with everyone talking about the club they wanted to join. Rachel caught Zoe staring at Elizabeth.

'She isn't so beautiful,' she said.

'Who?' Zoe asked feigning surprise.

'Elizabeth,' Rachel whispered. 'What club do you think I should join.'

'Whatever club you wish to,' Zoe said. She had been staring at Elizabeth since she found out that Collins and OB were going after her.

'What club did you join,' Rachel asked.

'I'm in mathematics club, readers, music and home makers club.'

'You're kidding right,' Rachel said. 'I thought principal said you could only join one club.'

At this time almost everyone had left the class, the class was quiet, Rachel was done with her packing. 'Let's go,' she said.

'We'll leave once you decide the club you're joining,' Zoe said holding her head.

'Are you alright,' Rachel asked her.

'I'm fine,' it's just this throbbing headache again.

'You've been complaining àbout this headache all week, you need to tell your mum about it.'

'I'll tell her,' Zoe said having no intention of telling her mother she wasn't ready for those drugs she'll be forced to swallow.

'How come you're in four different club,' Rachel asked.

Zoe smiled, Rachel realized that instant that Zoe had a really beautiful smile.

She didn't have dimples but she had beautiful high cheeks that did wonders to her face when she smiled and then her gap tooth crowned it all. Now she understood why her brother's friend couldn't stop looking at her, Zoe was a beauty, a hidden beauty that you needed to focus so well to realize.

'I was having problems picking. I went to mathematics club because of my dad, he was adamant i joined the club, I hate maths though. I joined music club because of ballet lesson, they also organise music competitions. I've only attended once and I came out first. I so love reading and I realised joining the club will give me access to lot of books, so I joined the club.'

'Cooking's one my hobby also so I joined homemakers club.'

'What about HIV club,' Rachel asked.

Zoe burst into laughter immediately. 'I'm not in that stupid club I was just kidding earlier,' she said laughing again.

'So you where just pulling my legs earlier, how on earth do you manage to attend all your club meetings.'

'Simple, I rotate it,' Zoe said.

'One week this one and the other week another one. So which club are you joining.'

'I'm going to play your game, but I hope I don't get caught.'

'Trust me you won't,' Zoe said smiling.

'Okay, so I love music, books and I think I'll join homemakers club also, but not because I love Cooking but because I suck at it, I love maths but nothing is taking me to mathematics club.'

'Even if Collins there,' Zoe asked.

'Is Collins in mathematics club,' Rachel asked wide-eyed.

'Hmmm,' Zoe said. She had a hunch that Rachel here had a thing for her brother but she didn't know how to ask her. She just confirmed that right now that her hunch was right.

'I'll join maths club then, infact we're going now,' Rachel said taking Zoe's hand.

Zoe burst into laughter again, 'I'm sorry I was just kidding,' she said still laughing.

'Zoe,' Rachel yelled. 'You're always taking everything as a joke she said folding her hands on her chest and staring hard at Zoe.'

Zoe stopped laughing immediately, it wasn't the way Rachel stared but it was the fact that Rachel just told her what she always said to Collins, he was always taking everything as a joke.

'Alright I'm sorry,' Zoe said really meaning it no more jokes. 'So which club are we going to now.'

'Music,' Rachel said smiling.

Zoe had planned to go to readers club today so she could borrow a book, but since Rachel choose music club she forfeited her plans. 'After you milady,' she said bowing.

Rachel just burst into laughter picking her bag, she chose the right friend after all.