CHELSEA

The journey

"No freaking way!" I Said looking at the dress Mary held up. We are packing for my journey out of my comfort zone to only God knows where,Okay maybe God and Richard.

"Its lovely". She said holding it up." I like it..okay since you won't take it along with you to school can I at least have it". She said blinking her puppy dog eye.

"It isn't gonna work." I said not looking at her.

"What?" She asked, faking confusion.

"That puppy dog look...but you can have it anyways I don't like the colour."

"Green?" She asked..I nodded.

"Who doesn't love the colour green.. Its a nice colour."

"Obviously I do not". I said, stressing the word NOT.

"well you are weird.. I wouldn't be surprised if you wake up one morning and say you don't like the smell of oxygen anymore." She said packing my shoes from the rack. I gasped, faking a hurt look, looking at her, she looked at me, and we started laughing,we laughed for a while then her laughing turned to sobbing..she sat on my bed burying her head in her hands...I dropped the cloth I was holding and sat beside her, a confused look on my face...

"What's wrong Maryann?" I said rubbing her back has her sobbing subsided.

"I will miss you so much.." She said looking up at me,her eyes red and puffy, now i kinda preferred the puppy dog eyes she liked using, my heart melted at the sight of her crying.

"You are my only friend Chel, we've been together since kindergarten when you leave what am I going to start doing? I've got no other friend just you Bud, just you." She broke down completely laying her head on my thigh. I knew she had,had it in her since she heard about the news she just didn't want to say anything now I guess she couldn't hold it any longer, she was right though she has been my only friend since the day I walked up to her, i was five then and she was given the last strawberry cupcake and I was given chocolate cake but I wanted the strawberry cake so I walked up to her and knocked it out of her hands but instead of wailing and whinning like the my other annoying mates, she picked it up wiped any sign of dirt and shared it into two giving me the other part smiling warmly, I collected it, but felt bad and right there she became my friend even though she was new. I wanted no other but her and I was pretty much picky when it came to choosing friends but I didn't pick her, she picked me and we have remain friends ever since, we attended primary and high school together and we both planned on going to the same university but now, not anymore thanks to Richard..the thought of it brought tears to my eyes before I knew it, I was crying too something i rarely did but recently it has become my favorite sport.

"You know what?" I said wiping my tears." I will call you everyday Mary I promise,send you pictures and short videos,we will chat and video call everyday bud, I swear to you,so here is what you gonna do... " I said, cupping her puffy face in my hands and continued " you are smart and brilliant so you are gonna take that 'joint adminstration and matriculation board exams' like that pop quiz Mrs Rebecca liked giving us in school and you are gonna murder it and then get admission into any school of your choice or you can just accept that offer your uncle in California talked about so when we come back in few years time we will remember this day and laugh about it." I sniffed and sighed, she blinked and smiled and I hugged Her my heart beat steady, now I loved her like a sister.

****         *******        ******

It was late at night when I finally retired to bed, I had just got back from spending the  whole afternoon with Mary, we went shopping, tried those things we never had time to do with each other like the rollercoaster. I couldn't remember when we rode on together, but we did shop a lot I thought to myself staring at the bags on my bed, containing shoes and dresses even bags, we stopped by my house earlier to drop the bags, then she succeeded in dragging me to  Rico's club.

I picked up my phone and dialed Richard's house, I know he and mum are out on their 'A day' honeymoon, and wouldn't be back until tomorrow noon. It rang for a few times, then he picked

"Richard's residence." I heard Michael's voice and smiled.

"What's up bro.." I said faking an american accent.

"Chelsea?" I heard him laughing

"Did I get it?" I asked..

"Yeah, it will be hard to tell where you from when get there are no worries." He said at last , I smiled, feeling more relaxed.

He crossed my mind, so I asked of him.

"And Dylan?" I said trying to sound casual, successfully
Hiding my anxiety.

"Oh..he has gone back, his house has resumed and new students are being recruited and since he is captain he has to be there, he left this afternoon." I heard him say and I felt this pang of disappointment.. Why!

"What of you, when will you be going back?" I asked.

"Tomorrow, I was going to call you earlier though, to know if you would be going with me or do you prefer to wait till mum and dad arrive?"
Did he just call my mother mum?... How does he do it, its like he finds it easy to accept her but why am I finding it hard to accept Richard..I thought to myself.

"I don't know... Can you wait till they arrive? I want to say a proper goodbye to mum before I depart..and my dad, I don't know where he is, we haven't talked for a while now."

"Hmm". He said hesitating but then continued." Do you want to see him before leaving, as..in your dad.. I can come with you if you want."

He is such a darling.

"No thank you mike..." I sighed "you are a darling, but I don't even know where he his, maybe he is with that mistress of his,don't really care...so will you wait so we can go together? Because I can't do this without you."

"Yeah that depends on the time of their arrival tomorrow, if early, we will leave together because I have booked my flight for four o clock tomorrow, I guess I should even book yours too..I went through dad files today in his study and saw your passport and certain documents... He has been planning this for a while now Chelsea , even before he announced it at the wedding, just thought you should know."

That bas... Don't Chelsea he is your mum's husband you were trained better.. I thought to myself..

"Chelsea.. Are you there?" He said
"Yes I am.. Just got lost in my thoughts I'm sorry...uhm Michael?

" yeah?" I held the phone tight now , my hand getting sweaty..

"How is it like?" I asked but then I guess he won't understand so I elaborated. "How is schooling there like?"

"Oh that's what you meant, well.. I was born there,went to kindergarten there.. Lost my mum when I was six been on my own ever since,dad was always busy, I'm used to it Chel, its not really difficult as far as you are talented just attend classes and go back to your dorm... Simple, there won't be any form of bullying in school because I'm there and I'm a senior...don't worry dear, I gat your back. " he said at last, I sighed..

"I should go sleep now mike talk to you tomorrow."

"OK...you packed up?" He asked

"Yeah, Mary helped with my packing this morning.."

"OK then sweet dreams.." He said at last and hung up.

I laid on my bed looking up at the ceiling for like an hour then was enveloped by sleep.

Tomorrow is a long day.