Rita's Road (Episode 6)

In an ideal world, thought Rita, my best friend would not be such a thorn in my side, as she stared at her phone. It had been three hours, and not so much as a flash from Bibi. After their last phone call, Rita had strolled back to her room, made herself lunch, and had even fallen asleep. Still no Bibi.

"How long does it take to get to town and back?" she muttered. *Beep Beep* She picked up her phone to read the text message.

I forgot to give you your copy of the assignment. I'm downstairs. Could you come get it? Collins.

She groaned. I have a stupid assignment to work on. Then with a hiss, got off her bed, and headed out the room. She saw him first. He appeared to be deep in thought. What is he thinking about? She wondered, as she walked right up to him, and then snapped her fingers in his face. "Hey!"He frowned, then hissed. "Rude girl. How far?"

"You have something for me".

"Yes. Here it is", and he handed her a sheet of paper.

"Hmm, I didn't even look at this thing properly before. Plastic factory?"

"Yup. He's given all the variables so it shouldn't be too hard".

"I don't think it's hard. I think it's easy, actually. Why make this a group assignment?" Collins shrugged and shook his head, "I don't know, maybe he wants us to learn how to work together. Make our education more rounded".

"How is that important?"

"How is what important?"

"Learning to work together" she replied, making a face, "People only slow you down". Collins frowned, as he folded his arms to stare at her. "What? it's true.

Rita asked, “Are you telling me that you can't finish this assignment yourself today?"

"I probably could", he said.

"I most likely would"

He laughed, and said, "I get it, Rita. You're a genius who doesn't need anybody, but remember that organisations are made up of people. If you want to run one, how do you intend to avoid the people who work for you?"

"Two words - Human Resources".

He blinked, and then burst out laughing hard. Rita smiled at his amusement, but continued, "I'm serious. I'm not a people person. I just...ugh, I am just not a people person and-

"Human Resources" Collins said, still laughing, "Oh Rita, e go hard you o!" She hissed, "Abeg leave me jor".

"I'm going, my ignorant little genius. I have to be somewhere right now anyway" he said, then pointed to the sheet and added, "read through, and get ready for our date tomorrow". She made another face, and said, "I'll be sure to get prettied up for you".

"Oh good, that's always nice. I look forward to it", and with a smirk, a wink and a wave was off.

She hissed, and smiling to herself, started heading back upstairs. Just then the near quietness characteristic of evenings in the hostels was obliterated by the screeching of a car. Rita stopped walking, and prayed simultaneously, please don't let that be Bibi, please let that be Bibi.

*Dah Dah Dah* She looked at her phone. *Dah Dah* Incoming call. Bibi. She sighed, and thought, I'm really beginning to hate this phone, and turned to go outside to the sound of blaring music in the car park. Bibi who was sitting in the front seat of a now parked navy blue Peugeot 407, saw her coming out of the hostel, and screamed, "Rita baby!"

"Hey Bibi", Rita replied with a smile, and a wave, "you're looking good". "I am, aren't I?" she said, then clippety clopped in her neon pink Lady Gaga-like shoes and pulled her into a bear hug. "Girl, you don't look so great", she pulled her out of the hug and said, "you've lost weight".

"Campus living" Rita replied, making a face. "Hey Bibi, are you good?" yelled the driver of the car, "I'm heading back to town". "One minute", she said to Rita, and went to the driver, said a few words to him, and then with a wave, headed back to Rita. "Now" Bibi said, as the car behind her started its engine, "take me to your room".

Rita shook her head, and thought, ever the drama queen.

 

...to be continued

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