Saturday morning started unbelievably cold.

Even after a steaming shower, I could still feel the chill in my bones.

Which was why I chose a white woolen long-sleeved turtleneck sweater.

I didn't notice my roommates questioning stares as I pulled out a maroon skirt.

I was putting on my sheer black pantyhose when I finally registered the stares burning red on my body.

"What?" I asked the girls as I put on my sweater and skirt.

"You look nice," Grace was brave enough to say. "Who's the date with?"

I eyed her. "It is not a date."

I pulled on a pair of black suede ankle boots with a thick heel.

"It's definitely a date, no one looks this nice just for the heck of it," Telemi was in the middle of putting toothpaste on her toothbrush.

"For your information," I started and grabbed my hairbrush. "I'm leaving school for the day. You girls want anything from outside?"

"What?" Telemi and Grace asked simultaneously. Kenny was deep into her Physics but I knew she could hear us.

"I called my grandmother yesterday and she's getting me out for the day."

"You're so lucky," Grace said. "I'd give anything to get out of this hellhole for the day."

"Sha buy me burger," Telemi ordered. "From anywhere, I don't really care." She left with her towel and toiletries.

After removing the tangles in my hair I left it down and slipped a hair clip that said CUTE into it to hold one side back.

"I'm not sure I want anything," Grace yawned and threw her duvet over her head.

I threw myself on Kenny's bed and splayed my fingers over her textbook effectively blocking her view.

She looked up at me and cocked an eyebrow.

"You've been unusually quiet," I told her. "What's up?"

"You're going with him, aren't you?"

The way she asked it made me feel like I'd committed a cardinal sin.

"Who?"

"You know who. And if you lie, I'll know because you're not very good at it."

I groaned. I wished there was a handbook on how to be a master liar. God knew I needed it.

"He is coming," I finally conceded. "But only because I kinda sort of promised him."

She nodded like she'd already guessed it.

"Just be careful, ok, the last thing I want is for you to get hurt."

"Ok Mummy, any more words of wisdom?"

"Yeah," she sported a mischievous smile. "Use protection."

"Ew!" I exclaimed and hit her shoulder while she doubled over in laughter.

"For that, I'm not getting you anything," I told her cackling self.

Grabbing the bag I'd packed the night before I headed out to complete a few tasks before I headed over to the Pavilion.

After I traded the novel I had for another one and stylishly avoided chit-chat with Miss Adenuga I made my way to the Pavilion where Daniel was waiting in a black T-shirt that said 'Who? Me?' and a genuine smile, not one of his obnoxious smirks. He was in dark jeans and a pair of blue Nikes that I immediately loved. His hands were deep in the pockets of one of his many dark hoodies.

"You know, when you didn't show up to breakfast I honestly thought you'd given up this whole idea."

I gasped as I reached him. "Oh ye of little faith."

He laughed and I flicked one of his thick curls that lay on his forehead. I enjoyed the way it bounced.

"So onto our trip."

We started walking towards the main gate and I felt this was the time to educate him.

"I know you're more inclined to do whatever you want but on this trip you have to do as I say. Exactly as I say."

Daniel rolled his eyes and blinked his unnaturally long lashes.

"Or what? I could die?"

"Yes," I answered with a serious face.

For once Daniel took me seriously and finally nodded.

We got to the main gate and after telling the security man our names, he pressed a button and the huge gate swung open to let us out.

I could barely contain the smug smile that crept onto my face. Grandma had come through again, I didn't know what she told the management but whatever it was I highly approved.

"How did you pull this off again?" The awe in Daniel's voice was unmistakable.

I shrugged one shoulder proudly. "A magician never reveals her secrets."

"Who are you and what have you done with my friend?" He nudged my shoulder.

Waiting in front of the gate was my mother's brand new Lexus. My heart skipped as the thought of her behind the wheel crossed my mind.

Knowing my mother, she would kill me for even contemplating leaving school and with a boy no less. One way ticket to meet Baba God, for sure.

Thankfully it wasn't my day to die as it was only Festus who stuck his head out and waved.

"That's Festus, my family's driver, be nice to him, please."

Daniel looked at me like I'd called his mother a whore. "Stop treating me like I'm some stupid, thoughtless jerk ok?"

"Fine," I threw my hands up in defeat and walked to the car.

Getting into the front seat I immediately put on my seatbelt. Being in a car after the accident still gave me anxiety, in fact, I'd never sat at the back since that fateful day. It was either the front seat or a bus.

"Small madam, how far na?" Festus greeted with a smile that showed all his missing teeth.

I chuckled just as the door slammed and Daniel poked his head between us.

"Festus, that's my friend, Daniel. If he annoys you during any time you can just pull over and I'll kick him out."

I gave an innocent smile to Daniel's shocked expression.

Festus gave out another toothless grin. "Small oga, how far?"

I didn't expect Daniel to answer but to my surprise he replied with, "I dey."

I turned back to look at him.

"Did I get it?" He asked expectantly, his gorgeous deep brown eyes dancing.

With his accent, the word sounded crooked and wrong but because he had that voice like a thousand angels, I loved it.

"Look at you learning Pidgin," I reached behind and poked his shoulder, earning a hearty laugh from him. "Just stick to normal English, love, ok?"

"So small madam, where we dey go?" Festus asked as he pulled the seatbelt over his deep blue coveralls and started the engine.

"My father's office, I need to get a few things from there."

"Your father's office?" Daniel exclaimed with wide eyes.

I chuckled. "Relax, you're not meeting him. As of Tuesday he was suffering mosquitos in Zimbabwe to move on to France the day after."

I giggled as Daniel visibly deflated.

Festus skillfully drove the car while I tried not to hang on to the seatbelt for dear life.

"You know, I don't know why Father thought that sending me here would be punishment. I love this city." Daniel started.

Soon he and Festus were chatting away about famous landmarks while I just watched.

Daniel seemed to be in his element today and I couldn't deny that he was now a hundred times more attractive.

Facing my window the wind whipped my hair about as we shot down to the Mainland.

I had everything planned out - because that's who I was - but I still worried about what could go wrong.

The traffic was unusually light and we got to our destination in a little under an hour.

"Thank you so much, Festus," I said as he drove in and parked in front of the imposing highrise where my father had his office situated.

"Your father works here?" Daniel stared up at the steel and glass skyscraper with wonder.

"He doesn't own it. He just occupies a floor." I turned to Festus. "You have to pick us up at the beach by 4, Festus. Exactly 4, a minute later and we won't make it back by 6."

Festus nodded but I didn't think he understood me.

"I mean it, Festus. 4! On the dot. We have to be back by 6. Our lives depend on it."

"Jesus Christ, Mara!" Daniel interjected. "The man gets it. And here I was thinking you were just bossy. I can add control freak to that list."

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't worry small madam. I go remember. Before I forget oh, Oyinbo madam say make you call am when you reach school for evening."

I nodded and gestured to Daniel to get out of the car.

We stood in front of the building and watched the gleaming red car race away.

"Guess I'm at your mercy now," Daniel turned to me with a smirk.

A smug smile graced my lips as I took Daniel's hand and led him through the revolving doors into the building.

Seeing as today was Saturday, the lobby only had a handful of people and the janitor that was mopping the pristine marble floors.

The entire place was lit by the natural light coming from the high windows. The light reflected off the ornate white marble walls and floor.

"So what does your dad do anyways?" Daniel asked as I led him over to the elevator and pressed the fifteenth floor.

"He's into real estate, construction, import and export, a lot of things really. But he does real estate mostly."

The elevator dinged open and we stepped in. My hand was still in his and I hadn't noticed that we'd intertwined fingers.

"If he isn't around how are we going to get into his office?"

"Getting into his office is easy, it's Mr. Bassey we have to worry about. He's kind of my father's stuck-up second assistant which means he cannot see us."

The elevator opened to an empty reception. Just like I planned.

There was a reason I set this trip on Saturday, the fewer people that see us, the fewer that can report to my father.

I held my finger to my lip and started down the hallway on the right. At the end was a big picture window that showed off the traffic outside and the clear blue sky. We turned left and stopped in front of an oak door with a keypad on the side.

Voices emanated from somewhere and it sounded like it was getting closer. Daniel shot me a concerned look as I typed in the code.

The keypad flashed green and I hurried Daniel in and closed the door behind us.

Letting in a sigh of relief at not being caught, I turned around.

Daddy's office was so big it was practically a hall. With one wall made of glass and the remaining covered in gold and brown wallpaper, it never failed to awe me. There was an office desk and chair in front of the glass wall that was completely bathed in sunlight.

Immediately Daniel gravitated to the left wall and I walked past the bathroom into the other room where my father kept his files. The scent of his aftershave brought waves of sadness with it as I entered the small room tucked in a corner.

Inside there were shelves upon shelves where brown files sat looking dull under the overhead light that couldn't turn off. That wasn't what I was interested in.

Hanging on the wall was a painting of a girl releasing doves that I painted after the accident.

It never failed to bring a smile to my face. I tucked my hand into the bottom of the painting and pushed it out revealing a stark black safe with shiny buttons.

Inputting the long combination three times I heard it unlock and opened the door.

Daddy didn't think I knew all his secrets but I did.

I reached into the safe and got out a small gold jewellery box. It was empty but I took out the bottom and took the money I'd hidden out of it.

Daddy thought I kept the box because it was grandma's but what he didn't know was that I hid all the Christmas and birthday money I'd been given in there.

Kenny always said I was lucky that my parents let me keep whatever I was given on special occasions.

After I got what I needed I closed the safe and made sure no one would know I was there.

When I stepped out I groaned at what Daniel was looking at.

"We have to go," I told him as I walked up to him.

He looked at me and pointed to the picture on the wall, a barely restrained laugh bursting out.

I rolled my eyes.

Occupying one wall were pictures of me and my family. Dad had framed all the pictures of when I was little and put them up. He said it was because his company was based on family values and what better way to show that than with his?

I thought it was bullshit and the thought of people gawking at my ugly baby photos did keep me up at night for a while.

"You were so adorable!" Daniel gushed as he pointed to one of me in ballet gear. "I could just pinch those little pink cheeks."

"Fine, fine, can we go now?"

"Your dad is the best," Daniel said idly. We obviously weren't leaving here anytime soon. "He loves you enough to put up your pictures, I don't even know if mine even has photos of me. Probably burned them all," he scoffed.

"I'm sure that's not true." It was alarming how little Daniel thought of his father.

"You're right. He'll probably keep the ones I unfortunately appeared next to his perfect son."

I turned to him. "You have a brother? Older or younger?"

Daniel scoffed again. "Older obviously. His name is David, gets off on tormenting my soul. At this point I won't be stretching it if I called him the Devil."

"Huh. How ironic. Two biblical names for two very unholy people."

Daniel looked deep in thought for a second before he said, "You know what? You're right."

"I like how you didn't deny it."

Without another word, I took his hand and we snuck out of the building.

"I have a brother too," I told him as I proceeded to intertwine our fingers again. I liked how our fingers felt together like that was the way it was meant to be.

"I saw," he acknowledged. "He was the one in that cute onesie."

"Yes, before he learned how to speak. I enjoyed being an only child before he came along."

Daniel laughed.

"So where are we headed?" He asked.

"Well, I skipped breakfast so obviously some food first. I'm craving some pizza, what do think?"

"Knowing you, of course we're getting food first. I'll follow your lead this time but try not to let it get into your head. Are we going to enter one of those?" He pointed at a yellow and black tricycle that zoomed by blaring loud fuji music.

"Not yet," I pulled him down another road and we kept walking, dodging pedestrians and hawkers and people determined to sell their wares. It was the weekend but the streets were so alive.

"You know, we never got to finish twenty questions," Daniel said as he ducked to avoid a man carrying a tray of meat.

I rolled my eyes. "Jesus, can't you let anything go?"

"What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you?"

I looked at him just as we stopped at the side of the main road.

"Seriously?"

"I'm serious, tell me. I want to know."

I didn't answer him until we crossed and entered a Domino's and I ordered.

It was somewhat crowded as families were spending time with each other.

When we sat in a cool booth and Daniel fixed me with a stern look I finally caved. Sighing I answered. "Once my father took me to this business function thing. I didn't want to go because I thought it would be boring - it was anyway but that's beside the point." I stopped.

Daniel encouraged me to keep going and I sighed.

"There were like two other people there my age and with nothing else to do, we started talking. We got to the topic of movies and I said my absolute worst actor was Zeke Maduka. Like I wouldn't pay to go watch a movie he acted in. I didn't know why he was still relevant and all the other things you say when you hate someone. So long story short, in the middle of my whole tirade everybody starts looking behind me and guess who is standing there with my dumbfounded father?"

"The actor?" Daniel tried with the embarrassment I felt written all over his face.

"Correct. And since then I've made sure to leave the gossiping to Kenny."

Daniel burst out laughing as my order was set before me. I thanked the woman and faced my crazy companion.

"It's not that funny," I said, starting to get indignant.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. You sure have some luck, Mara."

"Right? I somehow ended up with you."

He nodded. "Touché."

My face broke into a big grin and I couldn't believe I finally got a win. This was shaping up to be the best day ever.

I took my pizza out and seeing as it was still early found us a bench in a nearby park. The bench was situated under a tree so there was at least some shade from the unrelenting sun and it was also on a sort of hill so looking below us it was nice to watch people go about their business.

"Ok, ask me something," Daniel plucked a slice of pizza and after shifting his hair from his eyes stuffed it in his mouth. It was disgustingly adorable.

"Ok," I thought about all the things I wanted to ask and finally settled on one. "You've been going on and on about how horrible your dad is, what about your mum?" I crossed my legs.

After the question left my mouth Daniel immediately started choking. Sitting up in fear I patted his back.

"I'm fine," he finally strained to say after five minutes of almost giving me a heart attack.

"Are you sure?" My worry was showing with every word.

He nodded and went back to eating the pizza like he wasn't on the brink of death a few minutes ago.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

He shook his head and dusted his hands. "It's fine, it's twenty questions so you're allowed."

As I pondered the possible rules of this bizarre game Daniel continued, "As you can tell from my reaction no one's ever asked about her so I haven't had to think about her in a while. Um," he scratched his cheek. "Actually she left, or at least I think she did. I was pretty young and the only thing I remember is her kissing me on the cheek and rolling a suitcase out. Well, that and she had really pretty dark skin, red hair and she always smelt like baby powder."

My heart broke for him and I placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I always choose to believe there's a reason for everything."

He smiled. "I like how you didn't say 'I'm sorry' like most people would've."

I shrugged. "What can I say? I'm not most people."

I took a bite of my chicken and sausage pizza and decided I would tell him about the one thing about me that few people knew. It felt wrong that he told me about his mum and I didn't share something about me, even though everything inside me was against it the moment the idea entered my head.

"When I was nine, I was in an accident," I started, ignoring the voices in my head. "I don't remember where we were going but it was raining and it was night. I was in the backseat with my cousin, Bobby," I smiled when I remembered him. "We were roughly the same age and he was my best friend at the time."

I looked up and Daniel was paying rapt attention, I tried not to blush at the way his deep brown eyes were boring into me.

"I remember my Uncle Clement was driving and I remember African Queen was playing. It's this classic song. Bobby loved Superman, was obsessed with the superhero and I remember he was wearing one of his Superman shirts that night. I wasn't that interested but then Grandma got this little Superman action figure and said we were supposed to share it. And that's what we did."

I paused and flicked a fly from my face as I watched a woman in green Ankara scold her little daughter for dropping her ice cream.

"That night I remember we just had cheese balls and some of it was stuck to Bobby's face. He was playing with the Superman and I decided it was my turn so I reached out and grabbed it," I swallowed the saliva that was slowly building in my throat like it did every time I thought of that night.

"Bobby didn't let go and I started tugging it from him. We started struggling for it and Uncle Clement turned to tell us to stop fighting. I did for a while but then I really wanted the stupid toy so I tried prying it from Bobby. Uncle Clement turned around again and the next thing I see is these two points of light and then bam! There's a deafening crash and then silence."

Daniel gasped and asked, "Did you die?"

Despite the dark mood I was slowly slipping into I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm serious, Daniel. Anyway, when I opened my eyes again it was so dark I couldn't tell which way was up. After a while, this bright light comes up and I crawl towards it. I came out of the window and stared at my Uncle's mangled car wondering what the hell happened. I don't know how long I stood there in the icy rain but soon people came up to help us and took me to the hospital."

"What happened to you?"

"I don't remember this part - but it's true - but mum and daddy told me they found me with this giant pane of glass in my head."

"What?" Daniel exploded.

"I'm telling the truth. I've got the scar right here," I pushed the hair behind my right ear back and exposed the long scar. "Thankfully my hair hides it well."

I felt Daniel's finger trace the thin scar and tried not to shiver at the odd sensations rippling through me.

He removed his hand and I dropped my hair back.

"That's effed up, Mara, really."

I nodded. "Yeah but if it ended there that would've been better. Bobby didn't make it and my Uncle caught a steel shard to the back. He can't walk anymore. I know you don't believe in miracles but I do. How else could I have come out of that with only a well-hidden scar?"

He shrugged. "It wasn't your day to die?"

I shook my head. Of course, he had an explanation.

It was only the sound of the wind for a while as neither of us spoke. Then he said, "That's why you can't sleep, isn't it? You think that it's somehow your fault."

I turned to him with wide eyes.

He chuckled. "Did I ever tell you I have this thing where I can read people? It's kinda like my superpower."

"It's not, you're just really perceptive."

"Be that as it may, you know I'm right," when I didn't reply he continued. "It's ok, you know. We all have our demons and the first step to conquering them would be to acknowledge they exist."

"That sounds unusually wise for you, but it'll be a cold day in Hell before I take advice from you, no offense."

"Fair enough."

He trapped me with his effervescent eyes and I could've sworn I saw streaks of gold in their alluring dark brown depths. Before I knew what was going on he reached up and took off my glasses leaving the world before me a fuzzy mess.

"Hey, you really shouldn't . . ."

The rest of the words died in my throat as Daniel's warm lips found mine.

I was utterly shocked at first and seeing as it was the first time I'd ever been kissed my mind was devoid of what to do next.

Then just as soon as it came the insecurities evaporated and I closed my eyes and leaned into the kiss.

He tasted like the minty aroma he always carried with him and as it progressed I could feel the sparks from both of us coalesce in the air between us becoming a fire that seemed to encase us in a protective bubble.

My fingers were acting of their own accord as they reached up and entwined themselves around his velvety curls.

When we finally separated because of the tiny inconvenience of having to breathe Daniel reached up and tucked my wayward hair behind my ear.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," his voice was hoarse and I just wanted to kiss the life out of him.

The way his gaze was trained on me combined with his angelic voice and the tingling I still felt on my lips almost made me combust.

Thankfully, that was prevented by the beeping of my watch. Bringing my arm closer to my eyes I squinted at the face and made out it was 2 o'clock.

"Jesus! We really need to get going if we're going to make it to school on time. I'm gonna need my glasses back, thank you very much."

He laughed. "Nope, I think I'm going to keep them. I like looking at your eyes."

"Fine, but I have to tell you I'm essentially blind right now, and seeing as I'm the one who knows the way, I think we have a problem."

He groaned and finally handed my property back to me.

I tried not to think about the kiss and how mind-blowing it was - and also how much I would like to repeat it - as we finally got onto the sand of the beach.

"So? What do you think?" I asked as I crossed my legs in front of me and dug my fingers into the sand. The waves of the water stopped just before us as a cloud blocked the sun, allowing the cool wind to wash over us.

"Well, it is hot sand but I don't see any naked people. Which is good, don't get me wrong."

I giggled.

"Have you done this before?"

"Done what?" I picked up a handful of sand and watched it slip through my fingers.

"Left school before."

"Once, last year. I got a ninety-eight over hundred in Chemistry and I felt so bad I needed to leave."

He looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "You do realize that that is someone's dream, right?"

"Maybe, and call me a perfectionist if you want, but if I get less than a hundred in anything I just might pass out."

"And do you get a hundred regularly?"

I shrugged one shoulder. "Do you expect anything less?"

We stayed at the beach a while longer just talking about nothing in particular.

On the way home I couldn't help but realize how much I didn't plan for any of this. And how much I was beginning to like this particular curveball.