“You know, I'm starting to think I shouldn't have agreed to this. They're all staring at me,” Johnny whispered to me as we walked into the Cafeteria.

He was exaggerating of course. A few heads turned but everyone generally minded their business.

“Says the guy who feels comfortable letting the whole world see his face.”

“Hey, at least I get paid for that.”

I rolled my eyes and continued to the back where we had our table. Sylvanus and Daniel were both missing but Kenny was there with Grace.

Just the person I wanted to see.

“Johnny? What are you doing here?” Kenny who was facing the door asked first as we reached them causing Grace to turn around. I was sure the jaw-hitting-the-floor look she sported mirrored the one I had on only a couple of minutes ago.

“Grace,” I started. “This is my cousin, John. Since you're probably not going to listen to me I hope you'll listen to him,” I nudged Johnny and he glared at me.

“First of all, it's Johnny. My cousins gave me the name when I was five, I hate it but it's a whole lot better than John. Secondly, Amarachi would like to tell you that she's sorry about this morning and she would like to apologize for being . . . what was that last part?” He leaned toward me and whispered.

“Apologize for being an ungrateful ass and please forgive me. How hard is that?”

“Oh,” was all he said before repeating everything save for the last question.

I would've found another way to make it up to my roommate but I knew just how much she loved Johnny's YouTube channel. I had recommended it over the holidays and I was safe to say that by the end of the three weeks Grace had come back completely smitten with my cousin.

I still didn't understand why Grace and five hundred thousand other people wasted hours of their lives and data watching a teenage boy try out high-tech gadgets and give reviews.

His channel was so popular that YouTube started paying him and companies were falling over themselves to get him to review their products. One of the said companies recently suffered when he gave a scathing review. That was how influential he was.

That was also the story behind the lavender humidifier in my room.

“Oh my God!” Grace squealed.

“She's a big fan of your channel,” I explained to Johnny so that he could understand any weird behaviour that was about to emerge from her.

“I'm Grace, it's nice to finally meet you . . .”

“Wait,” I stopped her. “Before you go any further. Am I forgiven?”

“For what?” Grace looked genuinely confused.

“This morning!”

“Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever,” she waved a hand in dismissal and focused back on Johnny. “I have so many questions.”

“Sure, always nice to meet a fan,” Johnny said and took the closest seat to Grace. I took the one closest to Kenny.

“What is going on?” she whispered in my ear.

“It's my birthday,” I replied with a bright smile and reached for a doughnut.

“So, Johnny, how are you here?” Kenny asked, interrupting Grace's rapid-fire questions.

“Oh, grandma brought me. Somehow she was able to convince my paranoid mother to let me leave the house in the middle of algebra. Not only that, she got the twins out too.”

“The twins are here? Who else?”

“Augustine,” I answered and licked jam from the corner of my lips.

“Pff!” was Kenny's reaction. “Of course she'd be here. Little Miss Prissy.”

Despite how much my birthday usually sucked, this one was turning out to be the best one after the accident.

Kenny went off on a rant about how much she hated Augustine but neither one of us was listening to her.

For someone with minimal social skills, Johnny was doing well keeping up with Grace's enthusiasm. I had no idea she was even that interested in technology.

It was at that moment that my watch beeped signalling that I had just ten minutes before the end of midday.

“Is that the time?” Johnny craned his neck to see the face of my watch. “I have to get going. I promised grandma I'd rendezvous at twelve-thirty. It was a pleasure meeting you Grace. Kenny,” he thrust his fist and Kenny bumped it with hers. “You coming?” He directed at me.

I nodded and stood up.

“Be fast oh, you know I still need to copy that Chemistry assignment from you,” Kenny told me before I could get far.

“I still don't think you get the point of being in school.”

I shook my head and escorted my cousin out.

“Remind me to wear shades the next time I'm out in public,” Johnny said, adjusting his leather jacket. “I mean it was a pleasure to meet a friend of yours other than Kenny but she's left me perspiring.”

“What are you even feeling like? You still don't know that half of your subscribers aren't troll bots originating deep in the forests of Indonesia.”

“Are you trying to say that my stats are a hoax?”

“I'm not trying to say anything. I'm telling you that your stats are a hoax.”

“Ugh, you've always been so mean,” he shook his head as we reached the parking lot behind the Administrative Building. I recognized my grandmother's red van in a spot but it was empty. “And just as I was feeling good about myself.”

“I bet that's what poor Pluto thought right before his system started shutting down,” I stated offhandedly as I plucked some leaves from the trimmed shrubs adorning the side of the building.

“For the last time what happened to your dog was neither mine nor Double Tee's fault. He wanted some cake so he came over to us.”

“And you just gave him? He had to have his stomach pumped!”

“How should I have known that chocolate was bad for dogs?”

Before I could respond another voice interjected. One that I knew.

“Children,” came the stern voice of my grandmother as she walked past us and unlocked the door of the van.

I watched as she dropped the basket in her hands, marvelling at how she was even here in the first place.

She turned around and adjusted the blazer of her navy blue sensible pantsuit. I didn't know my grandmother's exact age but I knew she was somewhere in her late fifties. Looking at her I could see why some people thought age was just a number.

Her porcelain skin had been weathered over the years to a tan that added to the matriarchal air she wielded like a deadly weapon, her thick brown hair had been waved to perfection and hung daintily over one shoulder, she topped everything off with matte red lipstick, some mascara that accented the crow feet around her eyes and a pair of red pumps that I immediately envied.

In other words, she presented a picture that urged you to think twice before messing with her.

“Is it because it's your birthday you won't hug your grandmother? Bia ebe,” she stretched her arms out and with a smile, I left Johnny's side and embraced her.

Her honeyed voice plus the faux authoritative tone with which she delivered her flawless Igbo was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I took in a lungful of her citrus perfume and tried to steel myself.

After the hug, I looked up and told her, “if someone walked up to me and told me that you were the Capo of some Mafia slash terrorist group in Uzbekistan, I'd believe them.”

She gave me a sad smile. “And why are you crying, omalicha?”

I didn't even know I was until her nail-polished, well-manicured hand wiped my cheek.

“I'll go find the girls,” I heard Johnny mutter behind us and then the sound of his retreating footsteps.

“I'm not,” I told her and shook my head.

“I hope not,” she gave me another hug.

“What are you doing here, grandma?” I asked into the silk of her suit. It was a loaded question and I knew she knew.

She broke the hug and held me at arm's length. “I know I haven't come around much since you started at this god-forsaken school and I'm so sorry, my love. But a girl only has her sixteenth birthday once and I wanted to make it special,” she turned and retrieved something from the basket and as she handed it to me I could see that it was a pink card. “We all did.”

I looked at her before I opened the slightly large birthday card. Inside were handwritten birthday wishes and messages from my family. It spanned every corner and I could pick out everything from the neat printing of my uncle Cyrus to the large doodles of hearts made by the shaky seven-year-old hand of my cousin, Neemah.

They'd all pitched in and my heart swelled.

See, you're not completely forgotten.

“Thank you, grandma, I really appreciate it. Could you tell everyone thank you for me?”

“Of course, darling, your father really wanted to call to wish you happy birthday himself but he's not going to be able to get reception where he is so he asked me to do it for him. I was planning on doing that by taking you and your cousins to the amusement park but I ran out of luck with that dunderhead you call a principal. Apparently, there's a limit to the number of favors you can call in when your son sits on the board and is a very generous gifter. Have you ever heard something so utterly ridiculous?”

“And my mom?”

I didn't know why I asked when I already knew the answer. She'd forgotten.

Grandma confirmed it by sighing and looking at her shoes, the way she did when she was about to tell a full-blown lie.

“She's thinking about you, I'm sure.”

Liar. She's probably eyeball deep in a case right now, too busy to remember her damaged daughter.

Pain so hot and deep it was almost physical shot through my heart. It was like I'd been stabbed.

I blinked rapidly and clutched the birthday card tighter in my arms like it would fly away at any time. I was not about to dishonour the efforts of the part of my family that cared about me by entertaining such thoughts.

Before either of us could say anything else the excited chatter of my cousins could be heard before the four of them appeared.

“I'm telling you, Grandma, if my birthday reaches and Amarachi doesn't come to see me it will not be funny oh. Me I've said my own oh.” Augustine lamented as she came to stand beside us.

“Biko mechionu and get in the damn car or we'll be late going back,” was my grandmother's reply.

With a pout and a quick side-hug to me, she obeyed, tucking a piece of white paper into her C-cup bra.

I shook my head and wondered why she and Kenny didn't get along well when they were basically the same person.

“Before I get in, just know she still blames us for the dog,” Johnny told the twins before hopping in beside Augustine.

“You have got . . .” Tamar started.

“To be freaking kidding me,” Tamar finished with the same shocked look her twin shared.

“Well, it was your fault.” I was not letting it go.

Grandma's groan cut whatever retort the twins were about to respond with. “Honestly children, it will never cease to amaze me how easy it is for you to find things to bicker about.”

“But . . .”

Grandma stopped Tamara with only a raised finger. “It is Amarachi's birthday and in some cultures you can be executed for even opposing her on her special day.”

I had to clamp my lips together to avoid bursting into laughter.

“Oh yeah, and what cultures would those be, Grandma?” Johnny folded his arms.

If grandma didn't know she didn't show it because she didn't miss a beat in providing her answer. “Keep talking back to me and you'll find out that I don't need a special day to execute you. Now you two, in.”

The twins obeyed instantly.

“You know, I now see why your parents were always scared to death of leaving you all with me,” she said to no one in particular before she turned to me. “I wish this visit was longer, my darling, we could stay a while longer if you'd like.”

I shook my head. “No, I have classes soon anyway.”

Grandma nodded with a motherly smile. “I'm so proud of you and all your accomplishments.” She flicked the badge on my chest. “I will see you later.”

With a kiss on the top of my head she extracted herself from me.

“Oh, and before I forget,” she dug something from the basket beside Johnny and retrieved a brown box. “Don't eat them too quickly.” She winked, gave me the box, and went round to the drivers' side.

“Guess we'll be seeing you soon,” was the last thing Johnny said before he drew the door forward and closed it. Augustine waved over his head.

As I watched the red van with the tinted back window retreat into nothing as they passed the school gates I was again reminded of how alone I was.

I checked my watch and found that midday was over and as I scanned my timetable in my mind I found that I was free this period because it was Geography and I didn't take it.

Deciding to spend the forty minutes working on my art project — a simple yellow banana that made me want to rip my hair out because of how tasteless it was — I started toward the Art Workshop.

Getting there Mr. Salami's table was empty but it was not the same for the rest of the Workshop.

The place was crawling with Juniors who all sat and chatted with themselves all the while working on sketch pads on their knees.

“There's the birthday girl!” A voice from nowhere pierced the chatter.

The owner was a beaming Sylvanus that stopped writing on the board when he saw me.

The only person that reacted to Sylvanus' words was Daniel because he straightened up from peering over a Junior's shoulder and shot me a quizzed look.

“Happy escape from the womb day!” Sylvanus told me as his long legs got him to me in less than three strides. He gave me a pat on my head that earned him a glare.

“What the hell is going on here?” I gestured to the students.

“Ask him,” Sylvanus inclined his head to Daniel who was walking toward us with his hands in his pockets and a genuine smile.

“What the hell is going on here?” I repeated my question.

“Did you know that as soon as you're made Assistant Head Boy you're automatically the Captain of the Junior Art Club whether you want the job or not? Yeah, I just found out myself, hence . . .” Daniel sighed. “Alright people, that's enough for today, I will see you all next Friday,” he addressed the students.

They obeyed immediately by closing all their sketchbooks.

“Oh thank God!” Sylvanus groaned. “I am seriously starving.”

“So why is the Food Prefect with you?” I asked and moved out of the way as the Juniors started exiting.

I moved to the back and dropped the gifts from my grandmother on Mr. Salami's desk, leaning right next to it.

“Apparently I needed a co-captain. It was either him or Abe and latter and his hearing aid freaks me out,” Daniel leaned beside me and crossed his arms. The fresh mint fragrance that I had associated with him found its way to me and wrapped around me like a cozy blanket. He wore another black hoodie today but instead of something that would make him stick out like a sore thumb written on it, there was only the simple Nike logo on the chest.

“You're a fucking ableist, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

“I know, you can't take me anywhere,” he turned to me with a lopsided grin that caused my heart rate to triple.

Suddenly I felt very warm in my pullover even with the cool air coming in from the windows.

“I'm serious, Daniel, that was a mean thing to say.”

“I'm going to find sometin to chop, Daniel, you good, bro?” Sylvanus asked from the threshold of the door.

Daniel shook his head and Sylvanus left.

I walked around and occupied Mr. Salami's office chair. Daniel fetched his bag and a stool and sat in front of me.

“Today's your birthday, huh?” Daniel asked in his rich, accented voice that turned my stomach into a flock of frenzied butterflies. His gloved right hand drew a pencil out of his bag, his sketchbook was next.

“Yep, and please, you don't have to say happy birthday.”

“Why not?” His eyebrows dipped into a V as he brushed an errant curl out of his eye.

“Because then I'll feel homesick and miss my grandma more,” I handed him the birthday card. “She came to see me.”

“No way! Aww, this is so sweet,” he remarked as he opened the pink card. “Almost puts my present to shame. Almost.”

“Present? You got me something?” I tried to stifle it but the smile still showed.

“Yup,” he dropped the card on the table and retrieved a slender black box from his bag. “Happy birthday,” he slid it over to me.

I had so many questions but nothing topped what was in the box so I opened it.

Inside was a simple gold necklace with a gold pendant in the shape of the letter A. On closer inspection, I found that there were a bunch of lavenders in the middle. The purple heads of the flowers snaked around the letter contrasting beautifully with the gold.

It was so altogether so stunning and I was touched by all the thought that had gone into it.

No one had ever given me something so lovely before.

“I . . .” I started, unable to find the right words. “How?”

“How what?” Daniel smirked like he was enjoying my confoundedness.

“Did you get this?”

“Let's just say I called in a few favours.”

“How did you even know it was my birthday today? I never told you when it was.”

“There was a brief article on the winner of the debate competition in the school magazine in the Principal's office, I was waiting for her and I was bored so I read it.”

“They still have those editions? Wow. But I'm still confused. How on earth did you manage this?”

“Must everything add up with you? Can't I just decide to be mysterious and get my best girl friend a gift on her birthday?”

I chuckled. “Alright, fine, I'll let you be mysterious. Thank you, I love it, in fact,” I took it out of its case and after shifting my hair aside fixed it on. “This just might be the best thing I have ever gotten in my life.”

“Oh don't exaggerate, I'm sure whatever is in this is equally as good,” Daniel started to open the sealed box that grandma had given me without my permission. It didn't stop me from noting that his chocolate skin turned darker with a blush.

He got the box open and in it were two rows of seven cupcakes with mint frosting and a bar of Twix sticking out of each one.

“Yep, definitely better,” Daniel acknowledged with a shake of his curly head. “I can have one, right?”

If even I wanted to say no, the second his sweeping dark brown eyes landed on me and his adorable mouth formed a pout I was too gone to do anything but nod.

“Oh my God, it's red velvet!” He exclaimed as soon as he bit into one.

I couldn't help my laugh at the way his eyes widened.

This was the best birthday ever.

• • •

There was a noise coming from the common room when I got back to my hostel.

Before I could enter I was accosted by Sophie who was coming down the stairs.

“Senior Amarachi!” She hugged me. “Happy birthday!”

The words had lost their sting of guilt for today. I didn't know when that had happened but for the first time in fifteen — girl, you're sixteen now oh — years I was able to give a genuine smile in reply. I had a hunch that the necklace around my neck and the electrifying kiss after that still had my blood humming had a hand in it.

“Thank you so much, Soph.”

“Here,” she handed me a teddy bear that held a red heart that said ‘Happy Valentine's’ and looked away. “I know it's not Valentine's but it was the only one I saw.”

I was touched. “I love it, thank you. And here,” I opened the box of cupcakes. “Take one.”

She squealed and took one out.

With a pat on the shoulder, I entered the common room.

The noise was coming from the speaker that was playing a lowered Tiwa Savage song plus the voices of some students and the housemistress.

Mrs. Lawal was dancing with a buttered knife held high and people were cheering her on.

Eventually, someone noticed I had entered. That someone was Kenny. She extracted herself and came over.

“Is she drunk?”

“God I hope not,” she replied eyeing our housemistress who had clutched her big gown in one hand and continued dancing. “Otherwise if she falls there'll be an earthquake that will crack the earth like an egg.”

“Ah ahn, Kenny,” I chided.

She shot me a look that said ‘what? You've heard me say worse’.

“Your grandmother brought this big cake. I'm talking,” she widened her arms comically. “That is what Mrs. Lawal is sharing. Biko can we switch grandmothers, I take God beg you? Mine is just sitting useless in Ekiti.”

Before I could release my laughter a voice whispered in my ear. “Happy birthday, Saint Amarachi.”

I froze and my good mood shifted. Turning I met Teni's sickly sweet smile and her admittedly very shapely body in a crop top and jeans. Her naturally curly hair was in a bun that accentuated her oval face as cold cocoa eyes regarded me with contempt.

“Go away, Teni. I'm not in the mood.”

Her plump lips curved when she smelled my displeasure. “There's no need to be so holier-than-thou all the time, honey. I was just offering up greetings to the patron saint of goody-two-shoes and weaklings.” Her smile broadened.

“Well, she kinda has to be holier since she's living not three doors down from the Devil herself,” Kenny stepped in crossing her arms and offering her own contemptful glare and I wished she hadn't because it just confirmed Teni's words about being weak. “You can't just show up on her birthday and insult her. We know you don't have home training but please don't go outside and be showing it, abeg.”

“Madam Kenny, e kaaro,” with that she wriggled her fingers and walked out.

“If I see her eat that cake and I don't remove her mouth with slap, call me bastard.” Kenny started.

All through the rest of the day I couldn't help but wonder if Teni's words held a little bit of the truth.