CHAPTER ELEVEN

Saturday morning came too quickly. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten much since the incident. As I forced myself out of bed, the sound of the TV murmured from the living room. I glanced at my phone—7:48 a.m.

"Who's up watching TV this early?" I wondered, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

Padding down the hallway, I found Dad on the couch, his eyes glued to the screen.

"Dad! When did you get back?" I asked, surprised to see him.

He looked over at me, a tired smile tugging at his lips. "My flight landed in London two hours ago," he replied. "I arrived about thirty minutes ago."

"Welcome back," I said warmly, moving to sit beside him. It felt good to have him home, even if it was just for a short while.

"Thanks, Ade," he said, patting my knee. "Do you know who's being interviewed right now?"

I shook my head, turning my attention to the TV. "Roman Bekele," Dad announced, his voice tinged with interest.

On the screen, Roman was addressing a swarm of reporters. His expression was calm, but his words were sharp.

"I am not a Freemason," Roman declared firmly. "My enemies are spreading malicious rumors about me because of the elections. I am a Protestant—have been since childhood. My opponents are trying to use these lies to turn Christian and Muslim voters against me."

My eyes widened as I listened. Roman wasn't a controversial figure, he was beloved by most.

"Regererai Dube, who owns NoirNectar, is a supporter of Isla Walker," Roman continued, his tone growing more heated. "He's using his gossip site to help his candidate win."

As the interview wrapped up, I spotted Jensen standing nearby as Roman made his exit. So, I was right—Jensen hadn't traveled because of the elections.

"Ade, breakfast is almost ready. Can you tell Soren to get up?" Mom's voice called out from the kitchen, pulling me back to reality.

"What's for breakfast?" I asked, my stomach growling in anticipation.

"Eggs, potatoes, and some avocado," she replied.

I headed to Soren's room, knocking on his door. "Breakfast is ready!" I called out.

I rejoined dad. Soren emerged, looking groggy. "Welcome back, Dad," he mumbled, still half-asleep.

Dad chuckled. "Good morning, son. How've you been?"

"We've been fine," Soren replied, his voice still thick with sleep.

Dad exchanged a look with Mom, who had joined us in the living room. "Your mother and I have some news," Dad began, his tone serious.

Soren and I exchanged a curious glance. "Do you remember that my grandfather died last year?" Dad asked, his voice softening.

"Yeah, of course," I said, nodding.

Dad sighed, his eyes clouding with emotion. "I wasn't able to attend the funeral, but I've decided that your mom and I will travel to Sierra Leone to comfort my grandmother. After that, we'll go to Ghana to see your mom's relatives."

I felt a pang of sadness for him. Grandfather had meant so much to Dad, almost like a father.

"How long will you be gone?" Soren asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Dad gave us a reassuring smile. "We'll be back before you return to school," he assured us.

Soren's brow furrowed as he asked, "Why won't you take us with you?"

Dad's expression turned serious, "You can't come with us because I don't want the witchdoctor who killed my parents to see you."

A chill ran down my spine as Dad's words hung in the air. We had heard stories about this witchdoctor before, but it never felt any less unsettling.

"I've told you before," Dad continued, his voice tight with tension, "he is our neighbor in the village. My siblings and I had to flee because of him. But my grandparents stayed behind. They have their own spirits that protect them."

"But if they're protected, why did your parents die?" Soren asked.

Dad's eyes darkened. "They died because this witchdoctor sought marine spirits to bring about their deaths. My parents had converted to Christianity, but their faith wasn't strong enough. That's why they died mysteriously."

"Who will we stay with while you're gone?" Soren asked.

"Your dad has arranged for both of you to stay with his cousin Georgetta," Mom answered.

"I don't want to go there," I said quickly. "I'll be eighteen soon. I can take care of myself."

"And I want to stay too," Soren chimed in. "Addie can look after me."

Dad sighed. "I'm sorry, Soren, but we can't leave you with Ade. You're only fifteen."

"I'll be sixteen in November," Soren protested. "That's old enough to emancipate myself from you."

"Ade can stay; she'll be eighteen in August," Dad conceded. "But you, Soren, have to go stay with Georgetta."

Soren argued with them for a while, his face flushed with frustration, but in the end, he relented.

"We're leaving tomorrow night," Dad said. "Tomorrow afternoon, we'll put Soren on a train to Birmingham before we go."

"Ade, we'll call regularly to check on you," Mom added.

Mom and Dad spent the day preparing for their trip. Buying gifts for their families back in Africa. They bought lots of chocolate for the kids and smartphones for the older relatives. They were both excited. 

The next day was Easter Sunday. We spent the entire morning at Church, and even stayed for lunch, as the Church served meals on big days like this one.

In the afternoon, Mom and Dad drove Soren to the train station. My phone buzzed with some texts from Eloise as I cooked supper.

Eloise: Hey Addie! 

Eloise: Sorry, I was off the grid yesterday. I was jet-setting to Costa Rica. Did you make it home okay? I gotta admit, Grayson asked me about your ride situation after you bounced. 

Eloise: I fibbed and said you'd Uber it. But then he dashed off right after you. Dude was genuinely worried about you, like, big time. My bad. 😬 

Addie: Honestly, I'd be angry if your move didn't save me. Grayson ended up driving me home. I was so drunk; if he hadn't shown up, I'd have been passed out in the bushes. I even puked in his car. 😞

Eloise is typing...

Eloise: I'm just glad he stepped up. Once you get past the bullying crap, he's not all bad 😞

Addie: Don't make excuses for him. He's a total jerk who seems hell-bent on hurting everyone. I wonder what's messed him up so bad. 😠

Eloise is typing...

Eloise: His mom disrespects him and his sister big time. She brings home rich dudes for ahem extracurricular activities, not giving a hoot how it messes with her kids. Grayson's fought with some of these guys before. His mom's apparently counting the days till he's legal to boot him out. 😢

Addie: Forgiveness isn't exactly on my agenda when it comes to him. Having a shitty life doesn't mean that you should hurt others. 😤

Eloise is typing...

Eloise: I get where you're coming from.

No matter what Eloise said about him, nothing would make me feel bad for or pity Grayson. He might have a backstory that explains his actions, but I didn't care. What mattered more to me was Tendai. He didn't reach out on Easter Sunday—no call, no text. I wondered what could have happened.

Mom knocked softly on my door at 5 a.m. in the morning on Easter Monday. "Ade, we're leaving. Come to the front door"

Groggy and still half-asleep, I stumbled out of bed and made my way to the front door. Mom stood there, a gentle smile on her face, with the airport taxi parked just behind her, its engine quietly humming.

Their suitcases were already outside, packed and ready. "I've prepared scotched eggs and sausages for breakfast," Mom said. "Your dad and I have already eaten, but I left some for you in the kitchen."

Dad approached and pulled me into a warm hug. "Be safe, Ade," he said.

Mom gave me a tight squeeze as well. "Ade, you need to stay home," she reminded me. "I've shopped for everything you'll need for the two weeks we'll be away."

Dad began wheeling the suitcases to the taxi, while Mom picked up her small handbag. "Honey, I hope we've packed everything we need, even the gifts," Dad said, glancing back at her.

"I've double-checked," Mom reassured him.

With a final wave, they both climbed into the car. I stood at the door for a moment, watching the taxi's taillights disappear into the distance. The house suddenly felt too quiet, too empty. I ate the breakfast mom had left for me then I entered my bed to sleep once more. It was still very early and I was sleepy.

I woke up past 10 a.m., it was raining heavily outside. I reached for my phone and found a few texts from Tendai waiting for me. My heart skipped a beat as I opened them, eager to read what he had to say.

Tendai: Heyy 😘

Tendai: So, we ended up staying at the festival for all the three days! I thought I'd just do Good Friday, but it was too epic to leave early. Was so wasted; I couldn't answer my calls or text.

Tendai: Can I swing by today? I need to make it up to you 🙈

Addie: Yeah, sure! Parents jetted off to Africa, my bro's in Birmingham. I am home alone. 😬

Tendai is typing...

Tendai: Let's hit up something after lunch and chill later

Addie: But it's raining like crazy outside 🌧️

Tendai is typing...

Tendai: It will stop soon.

Tendai is typing...

Tendai: Craving your cooking, gonna be there at lunch 🍲

Tendai is typing...

Tendai: You should totally crash at mine for the Easter holidays. We'll have a blast!

Addie: Lemme think about it

Tendai is typing...

Tendai: Cool. See you soon!

Addie: Waiting for you 😊💕

I got out of bed to prepare lunch for Tendai. I had eaten before I slept but I was feeling hungry nonetheless. I ate some cereal to curb my hunger. Lunch would be ready soon, there was no need to eat heavy.

I opened the fridge after I was done with breakfast to see what food I could prepare. It was packed to capacity with food supplies that would last me some days. I was grateful to mom for the shopping she had done. I decided to prepare banku and tilapia for Tendai. "I hope he likes it," I thought.

By the time he arrived, the rain had eased to a light drizzle, making it easier for us to go out. Tendai greeted me with a warm hug and handed me a thoughtful gift from the festival—a beautifully carved wooden vulture pendant.

"Thank you," I said, my voice tinged with emotion. Tendai gently placed the pendant around my neck. His fingers brushed against my skin, sending a shiver of warmth through me. 

"I told the artist to carve a Rupell's vulture for you," he whispered. "It soars higher than any other bird. I hope you reach the highest heights with your dreams."

"Thanks again," I said, feeling deeply moved.

"Let me give you a tour of the house," I offered, blushing slightly.

"Okay," he nodded with a warm smile.

We moved through all the rooms, sharing stories and enjoying each other's company. 

"Addie, I love your house. In the future, we'll own one like this," he said at the end of the tour.

His words made us both blush. I couldn't help but smile at the thought. The idea of a future together felt both exhilarating and comforting.

We went to the dining room for lunch. I brought out the food I had prepared for him, and set it on the table. Tendai's eyes lit up as he took in the spread. He looked at me with appreciation.

"The food smells amazing," he remarked, sniffing the air. "What's the name of this dish?"

"Banku and tilapia," I answered.

"What exactly is Banku?" he asked, curiously inspecting the dish.

"It's made from maize and cassava," I explained.

"There's no cutlery? I want to taste it so bad," he said, looking slightly confused.

I chuckled softly. "This dish is eaten with your hands."

Tendai washed his hands at the sink and without hesitation, he picked up some banku and dipped it into the tilapia sauce. His eyes widened with delight as he took the first bite.

"This tastes incredible!" he exclaimed. 

He ate quietly for a few minutes until the food was over. "Can you add me some more?" he asked.

I smiled, not just on my face but in my heart too. It felt good to know that he liked it. I headed to the kitchen and served him some more food.

"I hope you can teach me how to cook this someday," he said with a grin when I returned.

I will, hopefully," I replied.

After we finished eating, Tendai insisted on washing the dishes. I playfully protested but eventually relented, leaving him to the task while I went to get dressed.

When I came back, dressed and ready, Tendai was lounging in the living room, engrossed in a mobile game. He looked up, his eyes brightening with a warm smile. "You look lovely," he said, sitting up and patting the space next to him on the sofa.

I joined him. He wrapped his arm around me, his touch sending a pleasant shiver through me. He faced me, his brown eyes reflecting sincerity and affection. "I love you, Adessa Kamara," he said softly. 

Hearing those words made my heart swell. I felt a rush of warmth and emotion as I whispered back, "I love you too, Tendai Moyo Dube."

He cupped my face gently before kissing me. The kiss was tender, his lips brushing against mine in a way that made my cheeks flush and my pulse quicken. He placed his hands behind my back and drew me closer, the kiss deepened, becoming more passionate. I could feel the heat of his body against mine, and every touch seemed to ignite a fluttering sensation in my chest.

Tendai pulled away suddenly. "Let's stop this," he said. "I won't be able to stop myself if it continues."

The shift in the atmosphere left a lingering awkwardness. I felt a mixture of disappointment and understanding; he was respecting my wishes, even though it was hard for him. My body still tingled from the kiss—my lips felt slightly swollen and sensitive, and my skin was still warm from the closeness. The kiss had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions and physical responses that were hard to ignore.

Tendai ordered an Uber, and as we waited, he rested his head on my lap. I gently stroked his dreads, finding comfort in the intimacy of the moment. We stayed there in quiet companionship until the Uber arrived. When it did, he took my hand, and we headed out together, his touch reassuring and comforting as we continued our evening.

"Tendai, how come you don't have a car?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"I used to have a Ford Bronco, but Dad took it away before I joined Riverview," he replied. "He said that since I party a lot and do weed, it's dangerous for me because I might knock someone."

"So he'll give it back to you when you sober up?" I asked, half-joking.

"Exactly," Tendai said with a shrug. "But I told him that I'm still young and need to enjoy my life. For now, I don't need the car."

"What about you?" he asked, changing the subject.

"I can drive but my parents said they'll buy me one when I turn eighteen in August," I answered.

"But you don't need to be eighteen to drive a car in the UK," he pointed out. 

"They say that's the legal age in many African countries, so they go by that," I explained, rolling my eyes.

"They really never left Africa mentally!" he teased, shaking his head.

"Tendai, where are we going?" I asked.

"We're going bowling and clubbing," he said with a smile. "My friends are joining us. I wanted you to meet them."

My heart skipped a beat. "What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I didn't want to put you under undue pressure," he said, casually like it was no big deal.

"I don't want to embarrass myself in front of your friends," I said, feeling worried.

"Don't worry, they're cool people," Tendai reassured me.

The mall we went to was in Westfield. His friends were already there, waiting near the bowling alley. There were three of them: two guys and one girl.

"Hi, guys, this is my girl, Addie," Tendai introduced me with pride.

The guys greeted me enthusiastically, but the girl seemed a bit more reserved.

"Tendai speaks a lot about you," Grant said, offering a friendly smile. "It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Grant, that's Tyler, and she's Rowena."

Grant had dreadlocks similar to Tendai's, but Tyler did not have any. Rowena was tall, had brown skin, and was petite.

"I can see why he likes you," Grant added, giving me an appreciative look.

"Nice to meet you," Tyler said, shaking my hand.

"Hi," Rowena said, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Should we do guys versus girls?" Tendai suggested.

"No, we're five, not four," Tyler pointed out. "How about we play in turns?"

"Fine," Tendai agreed.

"I'm in," Grant said.

"The loser pays for the first round of drinks," Tyler added, raising the stakes.

"I second that," Rowena chimed in, casting a glance my way.

She thinks I'm going to be the loser. I smiled inwardly, determined to prove her wrong. "The loser will also do the chicken dance," I added mischievously.

"What's the chicken dance?" Grant asked, looking intrigued.

"Well, you flap your hands like a chicken and cluck like one," I explained, trying not to laugh. "My brother and I do the chicken dance when one of us loses."

"I don't want to do that," Grant said, his eyes widening.

"It'll be fun," I insisted, stifling a giggle.

"If you say so," Grant replied, though he didn't seem entirely convinced.

"Addie, are you sure about doing the chicken dance?" Tendai asked, concerned. He didn't want me to embarrass myself.

"Yes, bae, let's do it," I said confidently, glancing at Rowena. I wanted to see her humiliate herself; she'd already written me off as the loser.

"Let's start before Addie backs out on the chicken dance," Rowena said, her tone slightly mocking.

The games began, and the tension in the air was palpable. Grant went up against Tendai first and won. Then it was Tyler versus Tendai, and Tendai emerged victorious. I noticed Tyler was a bit bitter about losing to Tendai. Next, it was Rowena versus me. I won, much to her dismay.

"Let's do a rematch," she demanded, her tone sharp.

"No, Roe, she beat you fair and square," Grant interjected.

"It's okay, Grant. We can have a rematch," I offered.

We played again, and I defeated her once more. Rowena was visibly unhappy.

Next, it was Tyler versus me, and I won again. Grant versus me followed, and I barely scraped a victory. He was good, I had to admit.

Finally, it was Rowena versus Tendai, and he won. Rowena then went up against Grant, and Grant won. Tyler versus Grant followed, and Grant took the victory again. Tyler versus Rowena ended with Rowena winning. Lastly, it was Tendai versus me, and I won, becoming the overall winner.

Roe couldn't believe it. "I have lots of experience in bowling," I told them with a smile.

"Why didn't you tell us this at the start?" Tyler asked, visibly annoyed. "I would never have agreed to the chicken dance."

"You guys were undermining me, so I wanted to disprove you," I said, enjoying the moment.

"Tyler, you need to do the chicken dance," Tendai said, grinning. "A deal is a deal."

Grant and Tendai pulled out their phones to record Tyler as he flapped his arms and clucked like a chicken. Laughter echoed throughout the room, other people who were bowling were laughing too. I couldn't help but laugh too. It was hilarious.

"Enough, guys," Tyler said, trying to maintain his dignity.

The mood had been light and lively. I actually enjoyed myself. Tendai's friends weren't so bad—except for Rowena, who seemed like she didn't want me there in the first place.

As we all headed outside, the cool evening air hit us. The plan to go to a bar was in full swing. Tendai's friends had cars, unlike him. Grant's sleek Honda Civic was parked nearby, and Tyler had his trusty Toyota Crosstek. Rowena, slid into Grant's passenger seat, while Tendai and I climbed into Tyler's.

"Rowena doesn't drive too?" I wondered aloud as Tyler started the engine.

"She does but usually when we hang out, she prefers riding with Grant," Tendai replied.

Tyler drove us to The Opal, where we met up with Rowena and Grant. The moment we stepped out of the car, I noticed the way Rowena clung to Grant, her hand slipping into his as they walked ahead of us.

It wasn't until they shared a quick, affectionate kiss that it clicked. "They're together," I realized, feeling a little silly for not having caught on earlier. It should have been obvious, especially since she had chosen to sit in his car.

Inside The Opal, the atmosphere buzzed with energy. The music thumped through the speakers as people danced and laughed, but the scene quickly took on a different tone for me. Girls kept approaching Grant. They were clearly captivated by his charm and good looks. 

Rowena's frustration was palpable. Each time a girl tried to get close to Grant, she would intercept them. It was almost like a game of cat and mouse, with Rowena chasing away the girls who seemed too eager to get Grant's attention. Grant was unfazed by Rowena's efforts and continued to flirt with his admirers, disregarding her. 

Meanwhile, Tyler was unusually quiet, nursing his drink as he watched the room. But as the night wore on and the alcohol started to take effect, he became more talkative, his words slurring slightly as he spoke. True to his promise, he paid for the first round of drinks, a gesture that earned him a cheer from the group.

Tendai and Grant soon got caught up in an animated discussion about Formula One, their voices rising and falling with excitement. As they talked, Tyler turned to me with a mischievous grin.

"Come on, Addie, let's dance," he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me up from the sofa before I could protest.

"I—" I started, glancing at Tendai, but he was too engrossed in his conversation to notice.

"You can't say no," Tyler insisted, his grip firm. "Tendai's busy, and we're here to have fun."

He led me into the crowd of people dancing. The beat of "Pushback" by Ne-Yo, Bebe Rexha, and Stefflon Don pulsed through the room. Tyler moved behind me, trying to coax me into dancing with him.

"No, Tyler, I'm not comfortable with this," I said, trying to pull away, but his grip on my hand tightened.

"He can't see us," Tyler whispered in my ear. "Come on, just dance. I know you'll enjoy it."

I glanced around, realizing with a sinking feeling that Tendai was out of sight, obscured by the crowd. We were surrounded by people, and I felt trapped.

As the song changed to "Fever" by Vybz Kartel, Tyler's hold on me tightened. His left hand moved to my neck while his right gripped my chest, and he pressed his pelvis against my butt, grinding on me with a disturbing sense of entitlement.

A wave of panic and revulsion surged through me as he sang along, his body pressing against mine. I tried to push him away, but his grip was too strong, leaving me feeling helpless and trapped.

Finally, the song changed, and Tyler released me. Without a second thought, I hurried away, my heart pounding in my chest. I needed to find Tendai and leave.

When I reached the spot where Tendai had been, he was gone. So was Grant. Panic set in as I scanned the room, searching for any sign of them.

"Has he left me?" I wondered, the thought sending a chill down my spine.

Rowena found me sitting alone, anxiety written all over my face. "Where's Tendai?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"The boys went to the restroom," she replied, her tone flat.

I tried to compose myself, but then Rowena's words cut through the air like a knife. "I don't like you, Addie," she said bluntly, her eyes cold. "You're going to destroy our friendship group, just like the other girl Tendai dated."

"Rowena, why would I want to destroy your friendship with the guys?" I asked, genuinely confused and hurt.

"Because girls always come between guys," she snapped, her voice laced with bitterness. "I'm warning you, stay away from Grant. He's mine."

I stared at her, taken aback by the jealousy and insecurity in her words. "This girl is so insecure," I thought.

At that moment, Tendai and Grant returned, laughter in their voices as they rejoined us. Tendai looked at me with concern. "What were you two talking about?" he asked, sensing the tension.

"Boys, of course," I lied, forcing a smile. I didn't want to cause any drama, especially not tonight.

"Tendai, I need to go back home," I said softly. "I'm tired."

"It's still early, let's stay a little longer," he pleaded.

"I really need to go," I insisted. "You can stay if you want. I'll just order an Uber."

"No, I'll come with you," he replied without hesitation, pulling out his phone to call an Uber for us.

"Goodnight," I said.

"Goodnight," Grant replied, his smile feeling misplaced.

"Goodnight, Addie," Tyler added, his voice too casual. "I enjoyed our time together."

"Goodnight," Rowena said flatly, not even bothering to look my way.