ODETTE | MOETTI

I BARELY REGISTERED Dube pull up on the school's drive-thru; it was Lesedi's poke that alerted me.

It meant I'd somehow missed the ID check that drivers had to undergo from the guards at the entry point to the boarding school's campus. With Dube being Lesedi's godfather, and a well known face around the Ngoy's, I wasn't surprised at how smoothly it went.

"Let's try and not get into a scrap with anyone this year Odey."

Huh?

I couldn't help but arch a brow at her. "The year's just started. . ?"

She waited until Dube had left the drivers seat to reply. "There's always time."

I couldn't keep my lips in a straight line as she stepped out of the door Dube had opened. As she thanked him, I slipped the strap of my camera back around my neck.

I caught the end of the advice she was giving him as he held out a hand to help me exit. "—and I've heard if you give two seventeen year-olds a ride around London, your hair will return over night, hair follicles will open up and you won't have to tattoo a hairline on your forehead later on in life."

"I'm not surprised to see you try something like this little Lephôi." He only shook his head in amusement and nudged the sunglasses on her head so they fell over her eyes. "Get going you two, I'm sure you don't want me reporting back to Mykel and Botshelo that you arrived late because of your dawdling."

It was the only warning that could have Lesedi moving and he knew it. I glanced over the grounds of the sixth-form, familiarising myself with the prestige that had been my home since we'd first moved in a year before.

I'd never looked into the rumours, but the school apparently used to be a castle built by William Duke of Normandy after the Norman Conquest. Regardless of its origins, it had been renovated and refurbished over the years into the architectural masterpiece it was now. It, like many old English structures, was built from pale, yellow stone. It was surrounded by a brick wall that was erected in the last two decades. For an extra layer of protection, it was toped with ink wall railings, that together, wrapped around the whole estate.

You could only enter through the main gate that was guarded 24/7 and you had to be ID'ed on both entry and exit. I'd probably been lost in thought when Dube was going through the checks but it was a process that would be done with every vehicle that pulled up as pupils came in from far and wide over the next two days.

Within the thick layer of English security, stood the school. There was a water fountain that also served as the centre of a roundabout that we passed to we pulled up the driveway. Now, I watched the hypnotising spray of water in the weak sunlight as I vaguely noticed other expensive vehicles pull in.

What would our last year here bring? Would much change? Would I win gold this year despite having to compete with women once I turned eighteen?

A hand clasped mine and I was pulled from my wondering.

Lesedi threw a farewell over her shoulder to Dube before tugging me towards the sandstone steps. "No matter what happens, we're doing this year together Odey."

I smiled softly at the back of her head before remembering to bid our favourite driver goodbye. "Thanks Dube, I'll see you around!"

I didn't even need to glance over my shoulder to know he was chuckling. It was only when we'd walked through the large, open, oak doors that I caught the click of him getting into the Rover.

The first thing we passed as we entered was the reception. Considering this side of the school served as the entrance, the positioning made sense. From a student's perspective though, it was somewhere rarely ventured. The North Wing of St Everfields held teacher's offices on the lower floors and their accommodation on the top.

Just like a castle, St Everfields was built in the shape of a square with a North, South, East and West Wing. However its quad centre held fields and sports structures. It was easy to get lost in if you hadn't been here for as long as we had. Despite the original foundations, the inside of the school was just as modern as the next.

There were marble floors everywhere you stepped, arched glass windows to let in natural light, walkways with stone arches, twinkling chandeliers wired with bulbs— and busts of past headteachers if you wandered in the North Wing for too long.

Still, we both knew the quickest way to reach the sports hall that our assembly would be held in. The shortcut meant we had to cut through the awards hallway that held all the trophies won by students over the years. They were displayed behind the glass cabinets that lined both walls.

Every time I felt down last year, I'd stare at the swimmer's section and count how many I was responsible for. It was pointless to ignore the familiar tug on my eyes as we walked through the brightly lit corridor. It didn't take more than a peek to note that my name was on at least half of the trophies in the section and Lesedi's were on a healthy amount.

"Will there even be enough space to put in the ones we'll win this year?"

I broke my gaze at her question but I couldn't respond. We'd reached the end of the passage and we came across other students in our year group. I could already feel their eyes land on us, then my hair— or lack thereof.

I'd expected to receive a few stares — my hair had been quite long despite its damaged state — but I didn't expect them to cut so sharply. My stomach churned despite the squeeze Lesedi gave my hand.

This wasn't me existing in my room or Lesedi's, this was me trying to exist at school. Even if you held a considerable presence in the world, people still talked behind your back here— nothing changed that. I wasn't naïve to think I wouldn't be the topic of a few discussion , especially with the social expectations tied to black women's hair.

I just wished it didn't feel like my worth was dependent on the length of hair on my head.

Two people we passed whispered behind their hands and I had to stop Lesedi from striding towards them. She'd end up fighting everyone who glanced at me for longer than three seconds if I wasn't careful.

"Moetti. . ."

A whisper loud enough to catch, had me turning before I could stop myself. It came from a group of girls in the hall adjacent to the one that led to the sport's hallway. A familiar group who sported perfect lace fronts and makeup whilst my hair was barely an inch from my scalp and my skin held a fresh breakout.

Since high school, I'd come to know Paris Abubakar's group. I'd kept my distance from them, especially since I didn't "look" or "act" like a black woman in their eyes— in their eyes that had been shaped by society.

I was too focused on maintaining my swimming career or my grades. I listened to bands that were "unexpected" like the Arctic Monkeys. I was tall, heavily toned, — especially in the arms — but slim. My body didn't hold the curves Lesedi's did— or assets for that matter. I didn't have the things black women were sexualised for. I didn't act the way black women were stereotyped in the media to be either. I didn't fit anyone's expectations full stop— and it didn't help that I was socially awkward.

Even though we'd only heard my last name, Lesedi wasn't going to let it slide. I could tell by the way her shoulders hunched and how her hand had dropped mine to form fists. There were a handful of people in the hallway, but enough that if she did something there'd be way too many eyewitnesses for it to be brushed over.

I grabbed her hand before she could take another step in Paris' direction, voice soft."Don't do somet you'll regret."

If I could survive most of the Summer with my parents, I could definitely survive this.

"Les, I swear I'm alright." I slipped my fingers between the cracks in her fists and squeezed until she met my browns. "We know Paris just wants to get a rise out of you."

The fury in her eyes subsided slightly but her scowl still remained. "You sure? I'll only drag her by her hair for ten seconds tops, I promise. I won't even pull it off."

Even angry, she could lighten my mood; I felt my lips twitch.

"No hair pulling. I already told you last week, I'm not letting you get benched this year." She had the sense to look a little abashed. "And, besides, she's all talk, we know that."

Lesedi's eyes dragged over to the girl in question, who was sharing satisfied smirks with her mates.

What a weirdo.

"What a weirdo." I wasn't surprised Lesedi voiced my exact thoughts, it was like we shared a brain half the time. "Okay, ugh, I'll let her be this one time, but you sure you're fine?"

"Yes Les." I even pulled up a smile for her.

She held my eyes. . .and if she did so a beat longer I would have crumbled.

Still, I slipped my Prada beanie out of my pocket and pulled it over my ears when her back was turned. I let her go on ahead and reach the tables that had been set out before the open doors. From the same process as last year, I knew the alphabetically ordered envelopes held our timetables and other valuables

Since our envelopes were in the columns beside each other, it didn't take long for Lesedi to notice the new accessory on my head. She gave me a long stare from behind her sunglasses as I accepted my packet from her hand. I ignored her to open it up and gave her an elbow so she'd do the same with hers. It was a perfect distraction as any for Lesedi since a rapid stream of Tswana mutters left her lips.

"Les?"

She just shoved the printed papers she was flicking through back inside, with zero care to their crumpled state. "It's nothing."

"Didn't seem like nowt." I scanned her tension-filled form. "Seems like somet to me."

Her YSL heels announced her way to the entrance of the hall as she groaned. "I was joking about the whole fighting thing earlier, but now I'm not sure."

"That bad?" With my free hand, I tugged her out of the way of a blond before she crashed into him. "Who d'you have that's got you acting like this?"

"Professor Stiggand for Socio."

Damn.

He was notorious for the harsh criticism he gave students. Sure, those taught by him got excellent grades in their A-levels, but were A*s worth the shattered confidence and self-worth?And from what I'd heard about his personality, he and Lesedi would definitely clash.

"Want me to check mine when we sit and see if I've got someone bad too?"

"Yes please." She said it like the act could cause world peace.

My lips flicked up in a half-smile as I surveyed the fullness of the sports hall. While I'd been here in the past for assemblies, the professionally marked floors made it easy to tell this was where basketball games were held. It was large— but then again the school was nothing, if not wealthy.

Of course there was a proper assembly hall, but the plush, red curtains that hung in front of the stage made the place feel stuffy and smothered. Here, in the space usually reserved for basketball, there were large windows that ran along the ceiling. It meant natural light could flow in to give it a relaxed feel. Maybe it was St Everfields logic, but the actual atrium was only used when something serious had happened.

In a way, it was a good thing Dube had made us leave the Ngoy residence when we did. I didn't want to know what it would have been like trying to grab our timetables and file into here with the whole year group unseated and knocking about.

"Odey?" The question came from a few steps up the bleachers— how far Lesedi had managed to travel in my moment of distraction. "I know you didn't just forget you were in my presence."

I snorted and jogged up the stairs to reach her. It didn't take long and barely altered my breathing pattern. Still, Lesedi looked me up and down before her face brightened and I knew an idea had cannonballed into her head.

"We are not jumping Stiggand."

"Forget that," she went to shove me but then thought better of it.

I rolled my eyes. "You're gonna jump me instead?"

"Tempting." Her eyes lingered on my feet and I knew she was thinking about what it would look like if I went tumbling down the staircase behind us. "But no, I love you too much. Race me to the back?"

"Firstly, you're in heels. Secondly, we don't sit at the back during assemblies."

I wasn't lying; we didn't usually sit there. So why would we go all the way up — the bleachers were really tall, equipped to hold students from the high school campus as well if a home game was being played — if we weren't going to sit there?

"Exactly." She grinned and made no distinction of which argument the agreement was for.

It made me feel like replicating the lift to her lips despite my wariness. "Les."

"Let's sit—" a manicured nail pointed to the leftmost seats of the row we were in—"there today."

"How about no?"

"But this is our last first assembly." Her pout had me caving and I rolled my eyes.

She was lucky I loved her. If I tripped down the steps at any point and ended up in a heap at the bottom, my embarrassment would kill me before the head trauma did.

"Ugh, alright then you elmet."

The crazy lass skipped up the steps like her heels were for show and I'd given her the sun. I shook my head to myself.

What a pair we were.

I plopped down into the seat beside her once I'd caught up to her. "You actually owe me."

She only stole the envelope from my hand. "I bless you with my presence everyday, so you actually owe me, but okay."

I laughed and let her rifle through it. It would be pointless to put up a fight, especially since I rooted through her stuff just as much. Speaking of snooping, some of my nosying on her Macbook had shown that she and her Psychology partner from last year had been emailing each other throughout the summer. I hadn't been able to see the contents but from the amount of correspondence, they certainly had a lot to talk about.

My cheeks rose on their own and I was about to ask about that little tidbit when Lesedi let out a quiet, "The devil is a liar."

I guess my timetable was quite bad then.

"What?"

I never coped well with having bad news drawn out. I preferred knowing straight away and being able to focus on tackling it. Or else my anxiety would be the one tackling me.

"You've got Thatcher."

"Bloody hell."

I stared at the envelope in her hands, willing the twisting in my stomach to stop. "Anyone else?"

She was just a teacher — but one I didn't like at that.

"Just her."

"Thank God." It was like there were actual weights on my shoulders by the way they loosened up at Lesedi's answer.

I'd cope with that— somehow.

"But you can't fight her."

My browns whizzed to my cousin's as I tried to work out how to respond. "Stop with that you goon, why would I resort to physical violence?"

Lesedi only lifted her threaded brows at me as if I knew a good enough reason to. I almost burst out laughing in her face at her seriousness.

"Lesedi stop." I put on a babying tone as I placed a hand on her shoulder. "This isn't you."

She swatted my hand whilst a smile teased the corners of her lips. "But I'm being for real, promise me. I'll promise you that I won't jump Mr Stiggand."

I was so glad we were so far up and away from everyone else, because I was sure her words would have gotten us second glances and a trip to the counsellor's office.

I rolled my eyes, giving in to her games as I hooked a pinkie around hers. "I pinkie-promise. Now can we move on?"

That seemed to satisfy her and she reclined on her seat, setting her crossed ankles on the bench in the row in front. "Yes ma'am."

I didn't have a chance to push her legs off when I caught two people on the edge of my vision. Sure, more and more students were filling up the seats, but no one was crazy as us to sit all the way up here. I didn't even know if we would be able to hear Gareth — the school's Deputy-head — when the assembly started.

Upon closer look, the two guys were still heading up the bleachers— and they'd past the highest normal place to sit a few rows ago. One of them was asian and the other was black, but they were both tall, even by my standards. I was 5'10, but from the way one footstep of theirs took five steps effortlessly, made me guess they were easily over six foot.

I couldn't help but notice that they both had clear skin like the models in adverts did. The dark-skin wore his shoulder-length locs down and they framed his sharp face. It was currently alight with happiness as his mouth ran a mile a minute. It didn't seem like his friend was paying attention by the way his attention was on the papers in his hand— his timetable? 

Still, he was just as pretty, with high cheekbones and a strong jaw that complimented his athletic, inverted-triangle physique. His pink lips stood out against his tan skin— but before I could stare any longer, his hooded eyes met mine. They were a deep grey, like the reflection of the moon in an outdoor pool— and they were trained on me. My heart thudded against my ribs but I couldn't find it in me to look away.

Why was he staring for so long?

Lesedi was the one to break my gaze with a whisper. "You still going to skate this year?"

I blinked once, twice, three times, before what she'd said registered.

My vision slipped to my feet and I tugged down on my beanie as I whispered back, "That's my aim. I've not told. . .them and won't be."

Near the end of last year, I'd picked up the habit of rollerskating in the mornings. It was mainly done in the old dancing studio, an hour before I had anything on my schedule, like practice or gym sessions.

I knew that Lesedi understood that I was alluding to my parents when she nodded and looped her elbow with mine. "My lips are always sealed."

I chuckled, grateful for her unconditional support. "Lying is a sin babes."

She didn't have a chance to verbally tally with me when a low laugh echoed over from the two lads. I glanced over to see Grey-Eyes biting his fist in an attempt to stop. However, Locs didn't offer any help and strode off in a huff towards the seats that mirrored ours. The ones in the other far corner to this row.

Before I had a chance to discuss the scene with Lesedi, Deputy Gareth Prescott stood before the microphone on the stage that had been conjured up for the event.

"Firstly I just want to say, welcome back Upper Sixth!"

The twinge in the forty-year-old's voice made it easy to note his Scouse accent. In my head, it fit perfectly with his personality. He was down-to-earth, liked to joke with us, and treated us like the adults we'd be seen as when we left St Everfields— rather than trust fund kids.

Garreth rubbed his jaw along his freshly trimmed beard. "It's your last year with us, and we all understand how scary it'll be. There's your exams— and for youse who do sports, you have competitions to train for and compete in. Overall, there's a lot going on, and we understand, so we decided to make some changes to your timetables and dorms this year."

That got him whispers and general shock from the crowd— plus us, because what did he mean?

He patiently waited for the noise to dim down before he carried on with his explanation. "This year, athletes and non-athletes will have a separate timetables. Partly, this is to avoid any difficulty in locating you all in the rare chance of a fire. In addition to this, both groups will be separated in their dorming."

There was a louder uproar this time, and for good reason. It was a hundred times easier to make an acquaintance out of a dorm mate when they weren't your competition in whatever sport you played in. Non-athletes didn't care about sports as much, which was relieving when you didn't want to think about your career all the time.

The thought of not being roomed with the girls Lesedi and I had been with last year curdled my stomach. They were were hardcore readers, kind, and we all knew each other from St Everfields high school branch. I didn't know if I was still equipped with the skills to make any more people like me.

It took longer for silence to resume in the hall this time. "The decision came after long deliberation, but from feedback of how difficult it is for the two groups to coexist — for example, how non-athletes struggle to maintain their sleep schedules when their counterparts are moving around at five AM every other morning. We had to think of everyone's mental health and what works best, and this is the conclusion we've come to. The last page of notes in your packs should contain your dorm number and deatils of your rooming."

The hall descended into shuffles of paper as people checked if what he'd said was true. By Lesedi's furrowed brows, I knew he wasn't lying. His reasoning made sense, but still, couldn't they asked us which athletes we'd like to room with? I couldn't imagine having to endure more hours in Remington's presence.

"With that, I'll leave you with a few words from your Head Girl."

He then left the stage after shaking hands with the girl I'd come to notice was stood there too. I had to give it to Gareth; everyone was too distracted by the bomb he'd dropped to barrage him with any questions.

"Thank you Deputy Prescott. As some of you may be aware, I'm Akira Jae Yamada, your Head Girl this year."

I wasn't surprised she referred to Garreth by his last name; she exuded class and professionalism with each step she'd taken to the microphone on stage. The second thing I noticed — which seemed to juxtapose the image — was the pair of silver studs on her nose. They glinted like her hooded green eyes and I was made speechless at her beauty for a moment. Her dyed ( judging from the dark roots ) copper hair was clipped behind her head with a claw-clip, while a few strands were free to frame her oval face.

I remembered seeing her name on the ballot last year and her face on posters and badges during the campaign stage. Hers was unforgettable.

"I just wanted to say thank you for having the faith in me to fill this role and vote for me. I promise I'll strive to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable within these walls. The door to my office will always be open, no matter how small you feel your enquiry is. I want to make sure everyone's voice is heard." Her voice was soft but strong and her promises didn't sound empty.

"A few notices from Principal Osmond: leaving the school grounds without notice is still forbidden; having hallucinogenic substances on your person or being caught taking them remains punishable by exclusion; the old dance studio has been converted into an extension for the kitchen. For the time being, whilst renovations are in their last stages, the area is closed off. With that, I wish you all a good day and hope you'll all be able to settle in before classes begin on Monday."

My heart sank as I digested her words as she left the stage. The old dancing studio was where I roller-skated last year. It was sat near the cafeteria in a small room in the West Wing. With its size and a newer studio that was made a few years back, it was rarely ventured. Since I only frequented the space in the early hours, I'd never seen it anywhere close to full. Regardless, it fit my requirements and kept me satisfied.

But now it didn't exist anymore.

Where would I skate now?

The question weighed heavy on my shoulders so I pushed it away to focus on the present. If I let myself ruminate on it, I'd stress myself out— and there were plenty of other things that my worry could be directed at. I rubbed at my eyes and when the black dots across my gaze had settled, I noticed Akira had sat with Locs and Grey-Eyes. I didn't get to watch the three interact, since Lesedi elbowed me and grabbed my attention.

She shifted so we were shoulder-to-shoulder and our letters were unfolded across our thighs. "Okay, so we're dorm-mates — obviously."

"Obviously."

There was no chance of us not being roomed together; my parents were benefactors and suppliers of a good ninety percent of objects in this school while Lesedi's had delivered them. What we'd wanted since we enrolled — in this case to always be together — we got.

"The real question is who we're with." She mumbled as she lifted her shades to scan the papers before us.

I didn't want to look in case I saw someone I wished I hadn't— namely Paris in some sort of freak event.

"Found it! So we're in room U6D12 with Aerona Prosser, Noor Taleb and Akira Jae Yamada." She didn't seem upset so I let out a long exhale that I didn't realise I was holding.

It couldn't be that bad then; Lesedi knew way more people in our year than I did so I trusted her judgement. She stared at me to gauge my reaction, but I didn't have one. I didn't know who the people she'd listed were— except Akira obviously. You couldn't forget someone with an aura like that.

I told her such as I fiddled with my camera strap. "Les, I don't know any of 'em except for the Head Girl, so please give me a run down."

She nodded whilst she slipped all the papers back inside our separate envelopes. "Our dorms this year are on the top floors of the East Wing, but I know you're asking about our roommates. I've heard about Aerona in passing, she's a bubbly socialite. Cheer captain too. However, I don't know who Noor is, the name doesn't ring a bell."

"Maybe she's new?"

Lesedi pulled a face that I snorted at. "Moving the year of A-level exams? Could never be me."

I agreed, but everyone did have different circumstances. "I guess we might as well get going and go and say hi?"

She nodded and stood up with speed you wouldn't expect from someone sat so high up. Apparently I was taking to long to follow, so she grabbed my wrist and tugged me after her.

It took a while to get to the bottom of the bleachers with everyone else going the same way. Since we were at the very back of the sea of students, it took as long as expected.

Lesedi was fine with the wait, content to swing my hand from where she'd interlocked it with hers while we trailed the people in front of us. Still, I wasn't surprised that once we'd left the hall, she split us off from the crowd. It barely took me a moment to guess which area she was directing us too.

Of course she was making a detour to get some munchies.

Despite the supposed renovations, the hallway to the kitchens' entrance was the same as last year. I guessed they'd done work on the other end, especially since right now it was scarce.

Now I thought about it, it was a clever idea to sneak in whilst everyone else was preoccupied.

"We're getting some chilled grapes."

I didn't expect otherwise from her. She had a tendency to spend an oddly long amount of time devouring a bunch whilst doing time-consuming tasks like homework. Plus they always tasted good so I couldn't complain.

Even though Lesedi was the only person present, I kept my beanie on. I swung our linked arms with her to an imaginary beat only we could follow. I thought the sound on the edge of my ears was her humming but as we neared the doors, I was able to string together masculine words.

You shouldn't even be eating Jaffa-cakes right now you spanner, we're in season."

It was cracked open and Lesedi didn't even need to mime at me to be quiet; I was already leaning over her shoulder to look through the gap.

The guys from earlier ( the ones weird enough to sit as high up as we did ) were there. Grey-Eyes was pulling on Locs' arm that wasn't rooting through the stainless steel cupboards above a sink.

I glanced at Lesedi but the cheeky smile on her face had slipped at the sight of the boys. "Les?"

She whipped her head over to me as she took a step back. "We've got to go."

I tried to wrap my head around her odd response; she was a social butterfly through and through. "Why? Do you know them?"

Was she not on good terms with them or something?

Our whispers clearly weren't quiet enough when one of the male voices came again, but this time by the door. "Lesedi?"

Well, there went our chance to escape undetected.

EL SPEAKS !
↬ i hope that the portrayal reactions of odette's hair doesn't seem too far-fetched, especially as i based it on my own after mine was chopped as well as some friends. it's honestly crazy how society feels entitled to bw's (black women's) hair. i hope there's a change.
on a lighter note, neo and kaede's appearance 🤭 next update will be from kaede's pov
i really hope you enjoyed the chapter, please like vote and comment lovelies 🫶🏽

( posted; 23/12/23 )