FLEX FRIDAY 💖. MY PERFECT ARTIST.

CHAPTER 5

     As a few other students left the classroom, Florence Hooke picked up her brown school bag. Her seat was in the front row, beside the window. Looking back, she could see Ella Peter, the mayor's daughter on her seat, puting a few books into her bag. Florence approached her, smiling.

 "Are we good to go?" Flo asked. Ella looked up as she zipped her bag. "Yes, now" she said. "We should get ice cream" Flo suggested. Ella chuckled, "The weather's cold these days, the ice cream booth won't open" she said. Flo remembered, she made a face. "Argh, can't they open regardless" Flo moaned. "Then they'll likely run at a loss" Ella stood."You could make at home" Ella added. Flo scoffed, "Then my mother would turn the whole house against me, she has a big issue with cold stuff" she said. "Endure it darling" Ella sighed. "I have to" Flo nodded slowly. "It's Monday today, I have home lesson, so I'll leave first" Ella said. Flo had forgotten "Oh, go on then, see you tomorrow" Flo said. Ella nodded, "Bye" she said and left.

     By the right of Ella's desk was Caleb's. He was still on his seat as Luke just left after speaking with him. Florence went over to his desk. "Hello" she said in her usual glee. "Hi" Caleb replied. "So, did you hear the news about my birthday?" Flo asked slowly and expectantly. Caleb seemed ignorant "I'm not sure..." He replied. "You're really not good with catching flying news right?" Flo asked jokingly. Caleb shrugged, "Maybe" he said. "I'm having a birthday party this Saturday, you're invited" Flo said. Caleb nodded slowly. "You're not the only classmate invited, so don't feel too shy to come, okay?" Flo chuckled. Caleb laughed a little "Alright, I'll try not to be too shy and make it to your party" he said. Flo smiled more, "Thank you, and congrats again on your previous win" she said. "Thank you too" Caleb replied. "I'm leaving then" Flo said with a little wave and left.

     Lisa stood beside the house on her motorbike and watched Mrs Hooke leave the house and get into her car in the house compound. After Mrs Hooke drove away, Lisa drove her motorbike into the compound and parked it beside her mother's car. Although her mother didn't travel with the car, Lisa knew she was back, since Mrs Hooke came to visit. Lisa got off the motorbike, took off her helmet, carried her school bag and headed into the house.

     In the living room, Julius and Ruth were sorting out the packages Ruth had brought from the city for the restaurant and the house. "Good afternoon" Lisa said, smiling as she entered the house quietly. "Welcome home. It's mire like evening, it's past 4pm" Ruth said, standing up straight to look at her daughter. "I guess" Lisa shrugged and changed out of her boots into her slippers, at a side of the living room. Ruth chuckled as she continued to bring out the small packs of smoked fishes from a parcel. Lisa moved closer a little, opposite her mother. "Mother" Lida called rather quietly than her usual self. Both Ruth and Julius looked at her. "Yes, honey" Ruth replied. "It's been over 24 hours since I last saw you, buh you look younger and prettier" Lisa said. Ruth chuckled, it caught her unawares, buh she knew how Lisa could be when she was kidding. Ruth sighed joyfully and reached for Lisa's face with her hands. "Don't you look chubbier honey, you must have had a lot to eat including your mother's share of food" Ruth said, rubbing Lisa's cheeks. Lisa gave a little shriek and frown as her mother released her. "Why would you touch my face?" Lisa mumbled. "I thought you missed me" Ruth returned to her task. "I didn't even say anything related to that" Lisa stood still staring at her mother. Ruth looked up at her, she turned to Julius "How do you cope with her" Ruth asked. Julius shrugged "I don't think I have any idea" he chuckled. Ruth looked at Lisa again, she was standing still, still looking at her. Ruth sighed "Go, go to your room" She said to her. "Yes mother" Lisa said and turned to leave. Both Ruth and Julius watched her enter "That was weird" Ruth remarked. "Definitely" Julius replied.

     Ella Peter entered the Hooke's house. She was dressed in a flowery blue flare gown, a small navy blue colored jacket and white sandals. She held a paper bag in hand as she looked around the full house for Flo's party. She bumped into George Sandford, causing him to spill a little drink from disposable transparent cup in his hand. Ella recoiled quickly to protect her dress, even as George avoided the spill on his shirt too. "I'm sorry" Ella said between clenched teeth. George was a class ahead of Ella, buh the two were normally friends, Ella was attracted to him and so she tended to be free with him. "It's okay" George nodded slowly as he took a quick glance at his shirt for any stain. "You made it here" George remarked as he looked up at her again. Ella smiled and gave a little sigh "Of course, I have no choice" she said and looked around, uninterested. George was going to scoff at her but held it in, he knew how she would begin her rant about how little she liked Florence and only tolerates her because Florence thinks they were friends, and he didn't want to listen to it this time. Quickly, he said "Alright, you should go see Flo, she might be expecting you" George added and left before she could hold him down. 

      Ella turned with faded smile, and Flo approached her, Ella smiled again. Flo was wearing a peach chiffon gown and red sandals. She styled her braided hair by packing the front ones up and allowing the ones behind to fall freely. "You're here" Flo said with her smile. "I'm a little late" Ella said apologetically. "It's okay, you still came" Flo said. "Here" Ella stretched the paper bag she was holding towards Flo, "Happy 16th birthday" Ella said. Flo was the only 16 year old in her class, as others were 15. "Thank you" Flo took the bag.

      

      "Luke" Lisa joined Caleb and Luke at a side of the living room where the party was going on. "Hello Lisa, you look pretty tonight" Luke said, flattering her. Lisa smiled, "Thank you, you look great too" Lisa replied. Caleb looked at Lisa, "Don't you look this way everyday Lisa?" He asked honestly, he wasn't the type to give compliments, buh he didn't see anything different in her. "She's wearing a gown today" Luke nodded toward her. "She wears gowns every sunday too" Caleb said. "You don't see me on Sundays, we don't attend same church" Lisa smirked. Caleb thought for a little while "Regardless" he said as he looked away a little. Lisa shaked her head at him. "You just got here?" Luke asked Lisa. Lisa nodded "Yes, Julius brought me" she said. "It's been long since I met him" Caleb said

"Because you refuse to come to my house" Lisa replied.

"You don't come to mine too"Caleb replied sharply.

      Lisa turned to Luke " Excuse me, I need to pay the birthday girl a visit" She said. Luke stood quickly as a gesture "Please, do" he said with a little laugh as Lisa left.

     Luke sat again looking at Caleb "You two really" he chuckled. "What about us?" Caleb asked, a little curious. Luke paused "Well, I thought she used to have a crush on you" he shrugged. "It was just a crush, and it was in the past" Caleb said.

"And she's still stuck with you?"

"I'm like her only friend" Caleb emphasized.

"Next to you, she speaks with me more, she really doesn't like girls?"

"She doesn't hate them. That's what she said. I don't know why she doesn't hang out with them though" Caleb shrugged.

"She likes been unpredictable to a lot of people"

      Lisa tapped Flo gently on her shoulder, she was speaking with Ella and another classmate, Patience, Ella's cousin. "You're here" Flo said, excited. "I'm sorry about been late, happy birthday" Lisa said sincerely. "I'm happy you came, I didn't see much of you this week" Flo said. "I went home early a lot, I guess I was a lot hungry this week" Lisa said and the two laughed. "You still love to eat that much" Flo said. "I put a gift with the pile of gifts in the dining room" Lisa said pointing towards the room. "Alright Lisa, thank you" Flo said.

CHAPTER 6

      Ruth Obla opened the door to her daughter's room. She held on to the door as she called to Lisa. Lisa was sitting by her reading table at the left side of the bed. Lisa turned to the door "What are you doing?" Ruth asked. "English essay" Lisa replied. "I made popcorn and milkshake, do you want some?" Ruth asked. Lisa blushed and nodded a yes slowly. Ruth gave a faint smile "Come out, I need to talk to you" Ruth said and left, closing the dior behind her. Lisa looked on at the door for a while before standing. Her blush was gone, it was unusual for her mother to have something to say to her in a serious manner. As Lisa picked up the faded purple jacket on her bed, wearing it cover her peach tank top, she hoped the talk had nothing to do with cooking, she hated cooking but she loved to eat.

      Lisa came out of her room, her mother and brother were on the dining table. There were three bowls of popcorn and three transparent cups if milkshake. "Hope this isn't dinner" Lisa joked as she took her seat beside her brother who sat opposite their mother. "Of course not, it's barely 5pm" Julius said. Lisa nodded, "Thank you for the snack" she said, she hid her anxiousness about whatever her mother had to say to her. From the tray in the centre if the table, Lisa picked a spoon for her popcorn, she didn't want to get her hand wet. Lisa put a spoon of popcorn in her mouth, she ate slowly as she could feel the tense in the quietness of the room, her brother wasn't looking at anything particularly, buh her mother's gaze was fixed on her. "Lisa, we're moving" Ruth said, she had to say it fast to prevent beating around the bush and upsetting her daughter too much.

       Lisa chewed faster. "We don't have to live inside the town mother, we love it here."Lisa said, she turned to her brother " Right, Julius?" she asked for his approval. His face was unreadable to her, she looked on at him as he fixed his eyes on their mother. "Not into town, Lisa" Ruth swallowed. Lisa didn't look at her mother "Then where?" Lisa asked quietly, raising her voice would reflect her anger, which wouldn't help because she already knew that if her mother said it, only God could change it. Lisa could feel the popcorn in her throat, she hated that it was in her throat and she hated the idea of throwing it up. "Vedar" Ruth replied, avoiding Lisa's face for a second. Lisa swallowed hard, her almost teary eyes were looking into the popcorn in the bowl. "For how long?" Lisa built a false hope within, she knew it was a permanent moving, buh she shouldn't be too sure. "We're moving to stay. I know it might be hard on you, buh we have no choice" Ruth replied. Ruth wasn't so fond of her daughter but she wouldn't want her hurt for any reason.

     Lisa was speechless. She wasn't the type to cry so easily, but she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She knew she didn't have any friends to miss, and she was angry that the tears came even when she had no reason to cry. Lisa was angry, as much as she tried to justify her anger searching inside her, there was nothing enough to get her angry, but she still was.

     Julius sat still beside Lisa, unsure of what to do. He loved Tegavis as much as Lisa did, and he was going to the city for University soon, he didn't think he would ever leave Tegavis without having to return. He preferred to stay in Tegavis a million times than to leave, but if there was a reason and it didn't destroy him, he would leave.

     "I'm getting married" Ruth said. Julius knew. It took Lisa by surprise, she looked up from her blurry popcorn to her mother. Her mother would be forty years old the next year, she didn't think her mother was the kind to get married again and at that age even though she knew people gat married even at older ages. Her father had died 11 years ago and her mother didn't seem like the type that really needed a man. "You'll have a father and a younger sister" Ruth added. She thought it would be better to tell Lisa the details of it now rather than later. The only thing Ruth knew she could do to console Lisa was letting her stay in Tegavis. Now, Ruth wasn't so fond of her daughter, but she wouldn't want to live far away from her.

      Lisa's tears finally fell. She remembered the initial taste of the popcorn and wished she had taken up to half of the bowl before her mother spoke, she hadn't even had a taste of her milkshake, the apple milkshake, her favourite kind of milkshake. Now the popcorn and milkshake would just go to waste as Julius would surely not eat the food originally meant for her. Lisa wiped her face with the back of her right hand as she sobbed, "When are we leaving?" She asked. Ruth hesitated "Monday" she said. Lisa nodded and stood quietly from her chair. "Lisa" Julius called as she stood. "I'll be in my room, not moping" Lisa said and went into her room. They knew she meant it if she said she wasn't going to mope.

     "I'm sorry about the moving Julius" Ruth said to her son. Julius gave a faded smile and a quick nod "It's okay mother, I hope it's for the best" Julius replied.

      Lisa sat on her bed with a sigh. She cleaned her face with her hand and looked around the room. "It wasn't her actual room but she loved it. She loved it but maybe not enough to miss it. The room was initially a visitor's room, and since they hardly had any visitors and she preferred been there, she moved to the room when she was turning 14. Lisa laid on the bed, her face towards the ceiling. It was Wednesday, and by Monday, she would be moving out of town.

      "No one's picking me up today, so I just thought to check out the cinema, see how far they've gone with it" Ella said to Flo and Patience by her desk. She was sitting while Flo and Patience stood opposite her. "We could go together, I'm curious too" Patience remarked. "Are you going too?" Patience turned to Flo. Flo nodded, "I'd like to. Could you wait a little for me, I have to get to the restaurant first" Flo said. Patience looked at Ella, "We can, just hurry then" Ella said. Flo nodded "Alright, I won't be long" she said and headed out of the class with the last set of classmates leaving the class, leaving only Ella and Patience in the classroom.

As Flo walked out of the school building, walking past the parked cars, she heard her name and turned. Nathan waved, he was Ella's older brother. He stood by his car. "Good afternoon" Flo greeted as she moved closer to him. "Where's Ella?" He asked. "She's in class, she didn't think anyone was coming to get her" Flo said. "Could you get her for me?" Nathan asked. Flo nodded slowly, "Okay, hold on" she said and walked again to the school building.

       "So annoying" Ella said, not long after Flo left the class. "What is?" Patience asked. "Who just left?" Ella smirked. Patience sighed a little "I was beginning to think that too" Patience said. Ella stood and walked towards one of the windows. Patience sat and placed her head on the desk, facing where Ella was by the window. "Sticking like a glue, and expecting me to do same" Ella said. 

"It's so hard to rid her"

"I guess I'm not the only one who finds her sticky" Ella gave a dissatisfied smile.

"Of course not, I do too. I think others know too, that's why we're her only friends" Patience said as stood and went to the window beside Ella, making comments of the garden only in their thoughts.

      Flo entered the class, about to call Ella's name but cut off by Ella's next words. "You know she's been trying to befriend Lisa for a long time" Ella said. Flo stood still by the door and peered into the classroom, both Ella and Patience were looking out the window, their backs towards the classroom door. "Then Lisa too must know she's a pain" Patience added. Flo wondered for a while who they were talking about, it seemed to be her except Lisa didn't think she was a pain, what do these people know? "Well, I'm the mayor's daughter,and Lisa's mother is the largest business woman in Tegavis, she must have eyes for rich people" Ella scoffed, and Patience chuckled.

      Flo turned and left the class, both Ella and Patience turned back slowly "Was someone here?" Ella asked. "Forget it, I don't suppose" Patience said as the two faced the garden again. As if just seeing the garden, Ella remarked "It's grown more beautiful"

      Flo stood beside the classroom on the corridor for a while,she was shivering, it had been a while since she shivered this way. Flo took a deep breath. To her, Ella was more of the fool, she was the mayor's daughter yet, she had only her cousin and a friend to follow her about and still she was proud. Flo knew she wasn't head over heels for Ella, Ella didn't even grow up in Tegavis, she had only moved there after her father became the mayor of Tegavis, her father serving his second term as mayor. Flo began walking slowly down the school corridor, Caleb and Luke were walking towards her. As the two were about greeting her, Flo fell slowly as she fainted, Caleb caught her quickly with a light yell of her name.

       Ella and Patience turned at the hearing of Flo's name. "What's that?" Ella asked. "Come on" Patience said and led the way out of the class.