A friend to remember

20: First day back to school.

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Denise stared at her ironed uniform, she had made sure that everything was neat and proper. In the morning before, she woke up to find out that Elene was gone. She was supposed to stay till the next day but she wondered why she left. Sheila wouldn't tell her anything and she did not ask.

After church, she remained in her room, reading through her old notes and trying to sort her stuff and where she was going to put it. Sheila informed her that the room decorator would arrive the next day to help her choose what she wanted.

Denise could not understand why anyone would pay five million naira for a school. The school was huge yes, beautiful too but was it worth five million naira? She did not think so.

Shettima called her the night before to make sure she was okay with going back to Queen's College. It wasn't going to be easy but she would manage it. Queens College was very far, but it didn't mean she would not manage it. Anything but going to school a school like Bellrich High. She started wearing her uniform, sniffing, she got out of the shower and the hot water helped relax her bones.

Denise stayed off social media, she did not think it was bad but she was too preoccupied to engage with it. She pulled out her new shoes and was glad she got new ones. She used her last one for two and a half years and it was so old that she kept fixing it. Dunni had joked that she would soon start walking with her bare feet if she fixed the shoes again.

She rubbed her nose and stared at herself in the mirror. She had braided her hair into all-back corn-rolls. She pulled her bag from her table and walked out of the room. It was still dark and it was just six in the morning. If she was going to get to school before seven forty, she would have to go now.

Shettima assured her that he would wait for her, since her parents had changed, they needed to register themselves as her parents. She found Shettima talking in hush whispers to Sheila, who standing next to Daniella. He looked up when he heard footsteps.

Daniella was standing there, in the famous Bellrich High uniform. It was tailored and ironed to perfection. Unlike Denise, Daniella was sporting a beautiful brown frontal that looked more expensive than her entire school fees at Queens College since she entered secondary school. Her school shoes were similar to Denise's, only that this one was black and she was wearing black knee-high socks. She smiled and had colour clippers on her hair. Her lips was glossed to perfection. Everything about her was perfection.

Daniella was glad. She did not think that Denise was serious about going back to Queens College but seeing her in the ugly uniform, she was glad. When Sheila informed her that only she would be going back to school, she jumped in happiness and smiled throughout the day.

When she met Denise in the kitchen, Daniella asked why she did not want to come to Bellrich and Denise scoffed.

"I thought you did not want me in Bellrich?" she replied eying her. Daniella stared at her while she swallowed her milkshake. "I don't, I am just curious. Anyone would jump at the opportunity to get into a school like Bellrich, do you know how many people beg to be let in?" Daniella relaid.

"But I am not anybody," Denise shrugged and dropped her cup. "I like my school and I don't wish to change it." Denise finished.

"I am so glad you are not coming to my school, I don't want you anywhere near that place, that is my domain and following me there would be a big mistake on your path."

"Well, I didn't make the mistake, did I? You act like a child Daniella. I don't want to be anywhere near you or those snobby rich kids in Bellrich." Denise informed.

"You are a snubby rich kid now, remember?" Daniella pointed out. "I thought you didn't think I was your sister? Just last week, I heard you telling your friend that you were going to expose my lies."