"I know we dreamt of these things, but now it seems like your standards are too high."
Adira Archibong wants to be a supermodel, but as she steps into a world of money, fame, and sex, she learns that the only people she can trust are her friends.
...
"God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well." - Voltaire.
It felt like the year had taken a huge leap because all Adira had to do was blink and she woke up on the sixteenth day of October.
It was her birthday.
With a knee-length floral dress, a black triacetate-polyester jacket, a red clutch, a gold cuff, and a bondage boot that could boost anyone's confidence far better than a shot of tequila, she was ready to paint the club the deepest shade of red.
She wanted to dance her worries away, take drinks for her pain, and talk about her problems like she was jabbed with shots of scopolamine.
She regarded her reflection with certainty. She looked great in a different way. Smiling, she nodded her head that was the most bright shade of peroxide red, and left the room.
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When Adira arrived at the club, she wished she could go back home. Clubs weren't really her thing. They were too many sweaty people around and they were too close. She grimaced. The whole thing made her feel nauseous. She wished they could all try not to breathe on her.
Red, blue, and green lasers beamed from the ceiling, making the club shine in its usual awesomeness. The music was loud, freaky, and gyrate worthy.
"Happy birthday!" Brenda yelled and pushed through the crowd so she could get to her.
"Thank you," Adira hugged her friend and squeezed. "Where are the others?"
"Back back," Brenda said cheerfully. "I was getting drinks then I saw you and forced myself here. How are you, birthday girl? Feel old yet?"
Adira laughed. "At age twenty-two? No, not yet."
"Well, you're halfway to forty. Get ready for it. It will come when you least expected it."
Adira laughed louder. "Okay, talk-talk. Let's force ourselves back before someone kills me here."
"What's up?" Adira yelled when she met with the rest of her friends. The spirit of birthday might have gotten into her because she felt free, alive, and happy.
"Happy birthday!" Anna and Ndidi yelled and went in for a hug.
"My people," Adira said and getting into the hug. She shook her head madly. "Thank you for coming," she squeezed.
"Thank you for coming," Ndidi said.
"Free drinks and time with friends? I would never want to miss that," Adira declared shrewdly.
"You're such a player!" Ndidi shouted.
After everyone sang the happy birthday song to the birthday girl, the ladies started drinking happily. After five bottles of lager beer, Adira became quite loquacious.
