8

You say it's too late

to make it,

But is it too late to try?

--

The clock ticking away, followed by an irritating sound from a rocking chair was enough to push Chimdi to the edge.

She glared at the boy sitting beside her, narrowing her eyes in slits when he gave her an innocent smile.

That's it! How can he irritate me and still have the nerve to act like we've been buddies for life?

She raised her hand, giving him a firm middle finger before going back to glaring at the Proprietress' desk.

Earlier, Corp Ofose had called her to his office, claiming that her partner was complaining that she hasn't showed up.

And if that wasn't enough, when she defended herself saying that she needed a new partner, the asshat ,TJ waltzed in, telling her that he was sorry for taking 'those ugly pictures'.

Leaving the young Corp with a knowing smile as he dismissed them from the staffroom.

What she tried to wrap her head around was what pictures and when they were taken.

It took her a good five minutes to figure out that she'd been played.

Prompting her to launch herself at him, scratching and yelling abuses at him, which led to their sudden visit to the Proprietress office.

She groaned, slamming her hand on the desk when the rocking chair took a new rhythm. It was still a miracle that the boy wasn't dead.

"Can you stop that?" She said through gritted teeth, glaring fire and brimstone at him.

"What's the magic word?" He replied, increasing his pace.

She had it!

With that, she stood from her seat, lurching for him before the door opened, making way for the proprietress to walk in all smiles.

She immediately sat back, shooting a glare TJ's way, without missing the mischievous smile he sent her.

"My my, Gentry. It's a surprise seeing you here." The proprietress, Dr. Adelaide Azubuike. A Pretty light skinned woman in her prime, whose face was never void of a friendly smile and makeup greeted them.

Dr Addy, like she preferred to be addressed was one of Ginika Gentry's friends. At least that was what Chimdi thought, though they were nothing alike.

"Good morning Dr Addy." Chimdi managed a smile.

"Good Morning ma." TJ greeted, looking calm.

"Morning sweethearts," She sighted TJ.

"Tasie Jr, already getting into trouble? Have you spoken to your father?" TJ offered her a smile before nodding, remembering that the pretty woman had been his father's ex.

Smiling back, she sat down, motioning to them to sit too.

Chimdi shifted uncomfortably on her seat.

She hated talking to the woman, her reason very solid. Every conversation she had with her was surely going back to her mother. Not that she hated the woman who was totally loveable, who would want to despise an overly friendly woman?

She just couldn't let words get back to her mother like she was still an infant, whose every activity was monitored by a babysitter.

"So tell me guys, why are you here?" she perked up like she anticipated a juicy teen gossip.

Chimdi fought the urge to roll her eyes, but couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips.

Seconds passed by with the duo not uttering a word.

"Words went around that you two were acting like riffraffs in my hallway?"

"We weren't fighting ma-"

"He caused it!" The duo said same time.

Causing the woman to smile satisfactorily, leaning back on her seat.

"Ahha! That's more like it, go on." She said sweetly.

Chimdi groaned, realizing that they just sashayed into her bait, sat upright, ready to talk.

"I don't want to be his partner." She said, glaring at him as he put his hand on his chest, feigning a broken heart.

"Nobody wants to." TJ mouthed, earning a glare from Chimdi, which didn't go unnoticed by Dr Addy.

"But he doesn't seem to get it. He even lied to Corper Ofose."

"Oh! That's far from the truth." TJ interrupted, face mirroring shock.

"Now hold on young man, we'll get to your turn." Dr. Addy smiled, enjoying the show.

"Figuring out that he lied, I went to confront him. Thus, my being here." Chimdi continued, like she wasn't interrupted making TJ snicker.

"Alright. Your turn." Dr. Addy gestured towards TJ for him to speak up.

TJ just shrugged. "Nothing much to say. Just that I didn't lie, I might have tricked Corper Ofose." He said with a cheeky smile, getting a glare from Chimdi. "And I'm very sorry for my action."

"Tricked? You lied, there is no difference!" Chimdi sat up, countering TJ, disbelief masking her face as she stared at TJ who only smiled.

"I didn't lie,"

"You did!"

"Did not,"

"Did too!"

"Whatever."

"Alright kids, no bickering!" Dr Addy interrupted, calling them to order. Making them stop immediately and facing her.

"Let's just leave the lying aside and focus on something else huh?" She said. Stifling a smile.

"Since you two can't stand each other, let's try something," they listened with rapt attention.

"You'll work together-"

"No!" Chimdi whined.

"Now don't interrupt me Gentry," She slipped into teacher mode, causing Chimdi to sit upright.

"That's better. You'll work together one time. What's the work anyway?" She asked.

"Actually, we are to partner for the session, then submit our work for mock? That's what they call it right?" He turned to Chimdi who nodded.

"Yep, WAEC (West African Examination Certificate) mock." He continued.

"That's great. Work together for once and try not to kill each other. Especially you Gentry. Submit the day's work to me, your work determines whether I'll get you two a new partner or not." She said, overly cheerful, making Chimdi roll her eyes without holding back.

"That's fine by me!" TJ exclaimed, matching Dr. Addy's cheerful tone. Making Chimdi groan.

"Come on Gentry, I'm not asking you to donate your Kidney." Dr. Addy said, causing them to laugh.

Chimdi let out a begrudging "Fine."

"Okay, now that's good. Go for recess before you miss the next period. You've already missed the first three!" with that, she shushed them out of her office.

--

Stepping out of the proprietress office, TJ came face to face with the clique who looked so worried.

Smiling, he joined them, with an annoyed Chimdi trailing behind him, while they walked to the cafeteria together in silence.

"What happened?" Jiki was the first person to talk, after finding a table and gathering Chimdi in a hug.

TJ looked away immediately, he didn't know why seeing them together irked him all of a sudden.

"They thought we were fighting," distracted by what Lara was handing him, he took the coke can and uncocked it in seconds.

Taking a long swig before looking at them. They stared back at him.

"Yeah, they thought we were fighting while Chimdi was actually beating up my ass." he finished, grinning.

"That serious huh?" Jiki laughed, earning a glare from Chimdi.

"He lied to Mr Ofose!" She defended.

"We've been through this, I didn't lie. I tricked him. Final." He drawled out. Causing the clique to laugh whilst Chimdi rolled her eyes.

"Whatever!" She huffed.

He watched the girls ignore each other. No one spoke to Chimdi, each avoiding her.

He felt bad. Knowing he might've had a hand in whatever led to their quarrel.

But when he saw Jiki whisper something to her, making her laugh. He shrugged every feeling off, knowing fully well that she had a shoulder to lean on. The thought alone was enough to rile him up.

"So, what did Dr. Addy say?" Nene finally spoke up, avoiding Chimdi's gaze.

"Well, nothing much. We are to work together and submit the results to her. With that, she'll know if we need to switch partners which wont happen." TJ replied smugly.

"In your dreams!" Chimdi snapped.

TJ just smiled.

"But seriously, I wonder how she'll know if we are compatible with that." He mused. As usual he was heard.

"Me too, but any way. That's not going to happen. So, good luck to you too." Chimdi said, leaning more into Jiki who scrunched his nose in mock disgust.

"Stop using this hair cream now," He groaned. "Your hair smells like a grandma's!"

"Hey! That's not fair!" Chimdi shouted, grabbing Jiki's chips and making the boy slap her hands off.

Mean while, TJ watched them, feelings he couldn't comprehend rising.

--