Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

Chapter 7: 'Im Doyin by the way'

“You haven't been given your uniform yet?”
The school tailor stared at me, a surprised look crossing her face.
“No, ma.”
“I was told to come here for my measurements,” I added.
I'd actually been on my way somewhere else when the counsellor spotted me and stopped me.
"Why aren't you in your uniform?"
That was how she discovered that I hadn't even been measured yet and sent me straight to the school tailor.
Apparently, that was a major error.
The tailor sighed.
“You should have come earlier. Now you'll have to wait about a week before your uniform is ready.”
A week?
Great.
Just great.
That meant I'd be stuck wearing the same outfit I'd resumed with—white shirt and black skirt—for an entire week.
Wonderful.
The tailor pulled out a long measuring tape and began taking my measurements.
When she got to my chest, her hands brushing against my sides as she measured around me, I suddenly burst into giggles.
“Heehee... that's ticklish.”
“Please, stay still,” she said, clearly unimpressed.
“Sorry, ma.”
I tried my best to keep a straight face while she finished.
Once I was done, I hurried out of there and made my way to the dining hall.
Lunch was rice and stew.
Thankfully, the rice wasn't as terrible as the porridge from yesterday.
It was actually pretty decent.
Although it could have used a little more salt.
Someone really needs to teach these kitchen staff how to season food.
I had barely taken a few bites when I heard a familiar voice.
“Dee!”
I looked up.
Porridge girl was already walking towards my table.
She dropped into the seat beside me.
“Are you planning to ditch this food too?” she asked. “Because I'm available.”
I laughed.
“No. I think I'll actually eat this one.”
“Good. But I'm still here if you change your mind.”
She grinned and started eating.
“Anyway, how was your placement test?”
Ah.
The placement test.
It felt like I'd written it yesterday, even though it had only been a few hours ago.
“It went fine. I'm just hoping for the best, by God's grace.”
“Yeah, you'll be fine.”
Before I could respond, a group of girls approached our table.
“Heyyy!”
Porridge girl immediately stopped eating.
The girl at the front looked at her, then at me.
“Victoria, I see you've already found yourself a new friend.”
I finally remembered her name.
Victoria.
Of course.
Victoria pushed her chair back and stood.
“And?” she asked.
The girl raised an eyebrow.
“And what?”
“Can I ask why that's your business?”
I nearly choked on my food.
Oh.
Victoria had a backbone.
“Whoa, calm down, Vic,” the girl said, clearly caught off guard. “We're not enemies.”
“I know.”
“Then don't use that tone with me.”
Victoria stared at her for a moment.
“I don't have time for this today.”
She turned to me.
“Doyin, I'm leaving. See you later.”
“Okay.”
She walked straight past them.
The girls watched her leave before the leader turned her attention to me.
She smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
“Watch your step, Cinderella.”
Then she walked away with the others.
I stared after them.
Seriously?
Another person calling me Cinderella?
What was with these people?
I just wanted to eat!
Still, despite my best efforts to stay out of whatever drama was happening around me, I couldn't help wondering what exactly had happened between Victoria and those girls.
And why Victoria seemed to hate them so much.

***************

Night prep was exhausting.
After spending most of the afternoon writing a placement test, the last thing I wanted to do was sit under fluorescent lights for another two hours.
So when the bell rang, I planned to pack my books and sprint straight to the hostel.
Unfortunately, I was only five minutes away from freedom when disaster struck.
A boy walked towards my table.
He was tall and extremely thin, with metal-framed glasses that sat low on his nose.
“Hi. You're Doyin, right?”
I looked up.
“Yes?”
“Your name is on the sweeping roster for tonight.”
I stared at him.
“Sorry?”
“You're supposed to stay behind after prep and sweep the classroom.”
A meteor could have crashed into my head and I wouldn't have been more devastated.
Can tonight get any worse?
Apparently, yes.
“How am I only hearing about this now?”
He adjusted his glasses.
“I just got the roster today myself. It was with the class teacher before now. I'm sorry.”
“Can't I do it tomorrow?”
He shook his head.
“I'm afraid not. It's against the rules.”
Rules.
Of course.
Another rule.
I could practically feel my blood pressure rising.
“Please,” I pleaded. “Just this once?”
“I'm really sorry. You have to do it tonight. It's only once a week.”
I sighed.
Fine.
I'd sweep.
I'd survive.
“She's a feisty one, you know.”
A voice came from behind me.
I turned.
Muscular guy was sitting across the table, grinning.
The same guy I'd snubbed on my first day.
The same guy I'd spent the last few days pretending didn't recognise me.
My heart practically stopped.
“What?” I asked.
He shrugged.
“I was just warning him. You might decide to walk out on him or run back to the hostel, and he'd never catch you.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“And why would I do that?”
He laughed.
“Because that's exactly what you did when I tried to help you.”
Oh.
There it was.
The elephant in the room.
“You... recognised me?”
The moment the words left my mouth, I wanted to slap myself.
Of course he recognised me.
He laughed.
“Obviously.”
I looked away.
“I just didn't want to bring it up.”
“Why?”
“Because I figured you'd start trying to explain why you walked away, then I'd tell you it was fine, then we'd both get awkward...”
He shrugged.
“So I just left it.”
I nodded slowly.
“That makes sense.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” the class representative said, sounding slightly exasperated. “But you're going to sweep, right?”
I sighed.
“Yes. I'll sweep.”
“Thank you.”
He walked away.
I turned back to muscular guy.
“So you just watched me for the past few days and didn't say anything?”
He chuckled.
“I wasn't watching you.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Okay, fine.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“I was more confused than offended, honestly. You just walked away when I was trying to help you.”
He paused.
“Then I saw you again and thought about asking you why you did it. But after a while, I figured it wasn't important anymore.”
He tilted his head.
“Should I have said something?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“Honestly, I think I owe you an apology.”
“You do?”
I frowned.
“Don't you think I do?”
He smiled.
“Well, if you think so.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I'm sorry. I just... I get anxious in new environments.”
He nodded.
“It's okay. I understand.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I get awkward around new people too.”
I smiled slightly.
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
There was a brief silence.
Then I smiled.
“So... we're good now?”
“Yeah.”
He smiled back.
“We're good.”
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
It wasn't exactly uncomfortable.
Just... quiet.
Then he suddenly extended his hand.
“By the way, I'm Bolaji.”
He smiled.
“Nice to officially meet you.”
I looked down at his outstretched hand.
Then back at him.
I hesitated.
What am I supposed to do now?
Shake his hand?
Obviously.
I reached out—
RIIIIING!
The bell exploded through the hall.
I practically jumped.
“Oh! I have to go sweep.”
I grabbed my books and stood up so quickly that I nearly knocked over my chair.
Bolaji's hand was still hanging in the air.
I had just rejected his handshake.
Again.
I took two steps before turning around.
“I'm Doyin, by the way!”
He stared at me.
I smiled awkwardly.
Then I ran.
I didn't know whether to laugh or hide under my bed.
But at least one thing was certain.
I'd finally introduced myself to Bolaji.
Technically.
Maybe next time, I'd actually manage to shake his hand.