CHAPTER TWELVE
1222 Words
Grace was running. The sun warmed her skin, and the sea breeze danced through her hair as she laughed breathlessly. Bami was ahead of her, throwing playful glances over his shoulder, urging her on.
"Catch me if you can!" Bami's voice rang out, teasing and free.
They were on a beach—somewhere far away from everything. Just the two of them. Sand sticking to their ankles, waves rolling in behind them, and laughter echoing like a song they never wanted to end.
Grace chased him, eyes bright, smile wide. Her heart wasn’t racing from the run; it was from being near Bami, from the way the sun caught in his lashes, the way his laugh made everything else disappear.
Then Bami slowed, turning to face her. His smile softened. Grace’s breath caught. There was something in his eyes—something familiar, something safe. They stood close now. Closer than ever. Closer than they’d ever dared to be.
"I think I finally caught you," Grace whispered.
Bami tilted his head, his hand brushing Grace’s cheek. "Maybe I wanted to be caught."
They stood still, time stretching between them, waves murmuring in the background. And just as Bami leaned in—
BRRNNN!
The alarm pierced the dream like a cold splash of water to the face.
Grace sat up, heart pounding, face warm, breath shaky. She blinked around the room, trying to hold onto the beach, Bami’s voice, the warmth... but it was gone. Replaced by the sharp memory of last night’s fight. Her chest tightened, and her stomach turned.
She hadn't even said goodnight.
After storming in, she'd gone straight to bed. Maddie had already turned in, lights off, tension thick in the air. Grace had fallen asleep, angry and hurt—too proud to admit she was wrong, too exhausted to care.
But now, the dream... and the silence.
She lay in bed for a minute longer, letting the shame and guilt rise like a tide. The dream had felt so real. So raw. She rubbed her face, sighed, and finally got up. Her feet were cold against the tile floor, the morning air crisp.
In the small common area, Maddie was already up, sipping from a chipped mug. She didn’t look angry. Just tired.
Grace hovered at the doorway for a second, then stepped in. “I’m sorry,” she said softly.
Maddie looked up.
“I shouldn't have left without telling you anything. I was just so tired, but that’s no excuse. I’ll never let you down like that again.”
Maddie studied her for a second, then sighed. “It’s okay, I'm sorry I yelled at you both. We’ve both been stretched too thin. Maybe it’s time we admit something.”
Grace tilted her head.
“We need rest days.”
Grace nodded slowly. “Yeah… maybe an hour or two. Just for us. To be the young girls that we are. To not worry for once.”
They shared a small, knowing smile. It wasn't much, but it was real. Things were still tight—money was still a thing, their responsibilities hadn’t vanished—but food was no longer a daily fear. They’d been approved for the t****k Creator Rewards Program, and now, they got paid monthly. Not a lot, but enough for groceries, data, and even some basic devices for filming.
They weren’t rich. But they were surviving. And now, they decided, they’d also start living.
Later that day, after lectures and a long group project meeting, they went back to the room and collapsed onto the bed.
“I can’t feel my brain,” Maddie muttered.
“Same,” Grace replied, face down into her pillow.
But they still got up. They still studied for a bit, finished editing two short clips, and scheduled a third for the weekend. Then, they changed into comfy clothes and decided to take a walk.
The air outside smelled like roasted corn and red sand. The sun was low, painting the buildings in warm hues. The school buzzed with energy, but it was softer now. Like everyone was winding down.
As they strolled, they passed a commotion near the cafeteria. Two girls were shouting, arms flying, voices sharp.
“You knew I liked him, Shade!”
“And you knew I liked him too!”
Grace and Maddie exchanged glances.
“Shade and Deborah at it again,” Maddie whispered.
Grace stifled a laugh. “This week it’s Bolu. Last week it was Tope.”
They watched for a beat longer before walking off, the laughter light in their chests.
Farther along, they reached the prettier side of campus—all trimmed lawns, fresh paint, and glowing windows. This was where most content creators filmed their videos. It had the aesthetic.
They spotted a group doing synchronized dance moves under the golden light. One of them turned and lit up.
“Grace! Maddie! Come shoot with us!”
They paused.
“Why not?” Grace said with a shrug.
They dropped their bags on a bench and joined in. No ring lights, no perfect transitions—just rhythm and laughs and barefoot dancing on the warm pavement.
One of the girls, a natural hype queen, kept yelling, “Yesss! Period! You ate that!”
Maddie burst into laughter mid-dance. Grace spun and nearly tripped over her own foot. They didn’t care.
It wasn’t about content. It wasn’t about likes. It was about letting go.
And for that hour, they were just girls.
Just girls who were still tired. Still overwhelmed. Still hustling.
But who had decided they deserved joy, too.
As they sat afterward, flushed and sweaty on the grass, passing a bottle of water back and forth, they scrolled through the videos they’d taken. One stood out—the sunlight, the chemistry, the energy. Grace smiled.
“We should post this one.”
Maddie nodded. “Now?”
“Right now.”
They uploaded it without filters, without edits—just raw joy.
Within an hour, it was blowing up. Comments poured in:
“Love the energy!” “You two are a vibe!” “Can’t believe y’all danced with randoms! So cute!”
And then came the one that made them freeze:
@MissTeniolaOfficial: “That’s my girls! Proud of you both.”
Grace’s jaw dropped. Maddie gasped.
“She saw it. She really saw it.”
The same Miss Teniola—the famous TikToker who had first invited them to her house on the Island. Who had encouraged them when they were unsure. Who had given them a platform when no one knew their names.
Grace’s eyes watered. Maddie reached for her hand.
“We weren't handed this on a silver platter,” Grace said quietly. “We built this, Maddie. From scratch.”
Maddie nodded. “From garri and shared data plans. From stress and small joys.”
And somehow, it was enough.
The sun dipped below the horizon, and the sky bled pink and gold. Grace looked around at the group, still dancing, still laughing.
She thought of the beach. She thought of Bami. She thought of Maddie, beside her, laughing without reserve. She thought of the life they were building—messy, hard, but somehow beautiful.
And for the first time in a long time, she felt light.
Not perfect.
But light
- Writer
