At Crossroads

Gray slung his bag across his back and crossed the busy road in front of the All Brains High School.

There were lots of students on uniforms too who trooped the road like it was a riot. Well, this was how the road really was during the end of school days, always busy, filled with students who were in different groups chattering as they walked home.

Someone called his name and he turned. It was Rebecca, his old friend from junior secondary school. She was wearing a different uniform from his and had a crossing bag to fit her hair knobs which helped pack her hair in a fine style. She was smiling, and he was too.

"Long time Becky, how was school today?" He greeted her and waited for her to meet him up on the walkway by the road.

"Good and yours?" She replied as she got closer to him.

"Just busy"

She smiled. Well, she always loved his presence and he was glad things hadn't changed though they weren't attending the same school now.

She was slim, like sliced yam. Only her skin colour was brown. So maybe she was like a sliced potato and had a dark lip. Well, she was beautiful, just like every young girl you'll see on the roads.

Now they were on the same tarmac and headed for the bus stop.

"I was finding a way to get across to you so I could invite you...

" it was Gray talking. He half finished

and she interrupted him almost immediately.

"Invite me to where?" She asked

This was one of the attitudes she put up when she was curious.

"To my birthday party at home next week" he finished.

Then she broke into a smile again

"Wow! I'd love it"

"So a yes?" He smiled back at her.

"Of course Gray, always a yes" She was still smiling.

Gray was used to her. They had been to some children's parties in the past but she wasn't much of a dancer herself. She tried, some said but it was poor.

Rebecca wasn't the brightest then in school but man! She had the luck of always matching the right answers and luck! This made her famous in her own way. But they had been friends, and even when they changed schools they had kept in contact, but there was nothing serious.

This time they had gotten to the bus stop and said their goodbyes. Gray got into a taxi and waved her as the ricketty cab pulled away. She waved back.

Inside the taxi, he pulled his headphones from his bag and turned them on. Then he nodded his head in rhythm to the song playing. (His house wasn't a far journey but he was tired that day and it made the journey seem long).

Then his mind switched off to Kate. The girl at school who everyone seemed attracted to. Almost everybody in their class spoke about her. She was beautiful, way more beautiful than other girls at his school, she was intelligent (their class teachers had almost made good compliments on her results) and she didn't let all those get to her because she had friends too, not being bossy a bit.

When she had arrived at their school last year he never looked in her direction because someone occupied his head then. But now all he could ask for was her.

Well, he had failed on his several attempts to have a good time with her and they had all gone bad. So with his party coming up soon, he set up a new strategy.

He had all his friends at school give out invitations to as many people as possible.

He wasn't famous but people knew him as cool.. the only thing they could remember he had done wrong was last year too. He had gotten a suspension for slapping one of his classmates for stealing his assignments and copying them. She was wrong, the principal had said but he still shouldn't have slapped her.

There was this thing that whenever you had a quarrel with the opposite sex and you kept seeing that person, things would become better and nature would in its power draw you both closer. This was what happened between them. After the incident, he apologized to Lucy and even surprised everyone at school giving her one of the best birthday gifts ever. So despite the bitter past, they got along and it was through Lucy he set up this new strategy.

Lucy was a good friend of Kate and he gave her an invitation personally for Kate. Somehow he knew he would get her no matter how long it took and he was ready. Kate didn't smell any foul play when she got the invite.

"Planet G is the best place to throw a birthday party

" she said, at least her weekend was not going to be boring after all she thought.

"So we are going?" Lucy asked her, it was a good thing if she didn't have to persuade her into it.

"Yep!"

"Nice..." Lucy was going to add something else

"What?" it was Kate asking

"There's something else" she replied not looking at her friend

"And what's that?" Kate was impatient already

"He wants you to be his girl for the day..." the words reeled out of her mouth.

She didn't know what Kate's take was going to be but well she wanted to know where it came " So what?.." she asked.

Kate couldn't believe it

"His girl? It doesn't just work like that!" Kate started "If that's why he's luring me to a party then no!" The "no" was resounding.

Lucy watched her in awe. Kate was mad at his gesture and maybe mad at Lucy herself for thinking of helping a guy lure her into his arms

"Why don't you think about it?" Lucy kept trying

"My answer is NO! You want to know why?" She was really mad at the unbelievable offer.

Lucy nodded yes.

"Because I know where I belong. How do I get invited to a party only because he's crazy for me? I can't" Kate told her already-broken friend

"Okay, I'd tell him just that"

"Good She heaved and packed her hair it was time to go home and she was tired from the day, and now the ridiculous birthday invite. So much she wanted to escape from.

At school the next day, Kate made stern faces at him the time they crossed paths and it sent a signal. During the break, he met Lucy.

"What's up with Kate?"

"What?" Lucy wanted to know if she told him anything already

"She's keeping a straight face the whole day"

Lucy then knew.

"Oh! She's mad at your offer" Gray couldn't bear the turn down.

"So what do I do?" He asked Lucy

"Idk, she's not planning on attending your party at all again. How I wish you grow the courage to talk to her Gray. It could go easier" She knew how he felt already.

"Alright I'll try" he said sorrowfully and went away.

He had tried this repeatedly, and it didn't just work. How then could it work now?

His mind flew between giving another try and giving up on her. "How on earth could it work today?" He kept asking himself.

It could be his birthday magic, maybe.

Once the closing bell rang, he went in search of her.

There was no shame or fear in him again suddenly.

In his search, he met Lucy.

"Any luck yet?" She asked meekly.

"Nope. I can't find her Lucy"

"Why don't you check the lawn or school field?"

She was getting ready to leave for home.

"Thanks for the idea," he said and left the class.

"One thing Gray!" She called back at him, and he returned.

"Please don't make it seem as if I'm the one pushing you to it"

"Okay, thanks" he knew she was helping.

"And she's got nerves so better be calm at her" she added.

"Okayyyyyyyy!" He answered back outside the

class.

Lucy cared and he knew it. She was a good friend and he had a liking for her, secretly though.

The school lawn was empty so he strode to the field. There she was, sitting alongside some of her friends who enjoyed football.

Now it didn't seem easy because of her friends. How could he shoo them away?

Just then someone called from the pitch. It was Alex, the school team football captain. " Want to play?"

"Yep" Gray answered and the girls turned to face him. So this chance he wasn't going to take it so maybe later.

He got into the field and they began. His side conceded twice in fifteen minutes and struggled to equalize. Kate and her friends didn't have favourites.

They supported whatever team that was in front.

They laughed and cracked at every successive dribble.

Then the ball came to Gray. He dismissed his marker and went forward, throwing the most deceiving leg over, saw a chance and shot! A GOAL!

He turned to where the girls were sitting to show them his celebration but they were gone. Bad.

Kate had seen him score and knew he was someway at the field because of her, so she went away with her friends. Lucy joined them and they went home.

Throughout the rest of the week, Gray claimed he had no chance to talk to her. Lucy lost her patience.

"Every handsome guy has an advantage and you

Gray is one. Why don't you utilize it?" She said to him when she couldn't listen to his excuses again.

It was advice and a compliment at the same time, he smiled at her he didn't know what else to say to Lucy. Man, he was shy. Did the whole world need to know that?

"Lucy it's difficult "

"To talk to a lady?" She couldn't believe it

"Calm down Lucy, I'm trying.." he tried explaining

"Keep giving flimsy excuses... Kate isn't a dog, she doesn't bite!"

"I know" he answered laughing

Kate wasn't a dog, she was more than that and that was what he feared.

Luck turned up. He was walking into the library and met her sitting all alone. There was a free seat beside hers. She didn't see him but the moment she raised her head, he looked away. He diverted his face and smiled at his move.

He found a book, which didn't catch his fancy and headed to where she was sitting.

The library was arranged in rows of seven, with two columns. The shelves were in another room, mostly filled with books of every aspect. The librarian was an elderly woman who wore old glasses. She looked nosy and took a cane when she walked.

"Knock, knock" he said and Kate faced up to see him

"Hi" she answered dryly

"Do you mind if I sit beside you?" He asked

"I don't mind" she didn't look at him.

He smiled mischievously and went behind her back to get access to the seat beside her. When he sat down, he took out his glitter pens and started designing his name on the reading table. Well, he was trying to find words to start a conversation with her but they weren't coming.

Kate was distracted by his presence and turned to see what he was doing

"Nice designs," she said

"Thanks, Kate. Mind if I add your name?"

She smiled. C'mon! His mind nudged him.

"What's your nickname?"

"Katy Perry" she replied.

"Wow, I knew girls were good at that, "he said, changing the glitter ink to blue.

"At what?"

"At forging and stealing names" he smiled and she smiled too

"Well I didn't steal it, Katy is my name too" She gave him a silly look

"Well of course"

His face became serious and he started.

"I'm having a birthday party at the Planet G lounge, want to come? Eh?"

"Lucy already told me she replied and thought of how bad the words had come out of her friend's mouth. It didn't seem nice to be invited to a party just to be the celebrant girl for the night. Like what?! Whoever did that?!

"So you coming?" He stopped her from thinking.

"Not sure, maybe" was the response.

Immediately she wondered why she had started the convo and hated that it was heading this way.

"C'mon, you can come with Lucy. I'd be glad to have you at my party"

"Why?" She faced him again

"Why? C'mon you are going to turn lots of heads around" he smiled

She didn't like being teased or flirted with.

"Stop. I'm not that..."

He didn't let her finish, to his utmost surprise "Of course you are that beautiful Kate" This time he was looking at her his shyness disappearing at once.

She smiled in response.

She liked his manner and easiness. But he was shy!

She almost laughed at the thought of it.

"I never knew, well thank you"

Ladies always loved to be complimented. She had heard lots of sweet talks from guys but she wasn't filled. She hated when she received compliments because she felt in the end they were only for reasons to please her.

"So? You coming?"

"With Lucy, yes" She turned her head and smiled

That was a good lead.

"I have a problem, Kate." He said

"What problem?" She knew what was to come, and she preparedly closed her book. She was more interested in his party than the dumb book he thought.

"I'm single"

"And..." she paused again

"I can't dance alone"

"Why? You have lots of girls, Lucy included.

She was trying to take his mind off her but he knew what her intentions were.

"She's already said no...". he lied "You see..." he half-finished

"Well...

"Could you?"

They couldn't even make a whole meaning to what they wanted to say.

"Me? I can't move my arm, or talk more of my whole body. Look I'm the worst option you have"

"But I can teach you...

She chuckled and took her face away from him. Gray noticed and kept quiet. Let her think, he allowed her.

One way she didn't know how to explain things to

him.

"Could you find someone else?"

"It's you and no one else Katy Perry" This was a trick, a tactful joke but she wasn't moved.

Her face looked worried.

He was looking for the right words to convince her but they didn't come.

Then suddenly she stood up and went for the door.

He was angry and at the same time calm, with guilt and worriedness about annoying her.

It all then seemed like a bad idea to him and he felt like giving up