Dinner plans

Kamsi smirked, "I know people more handsome than Xavier."

Zendaya's curiosity was piqued. "Who?" she asked, her eyes wide with interest.

Kamsi smiled mischievously. "The guy I bumped into earlier."

Zendaya's eyes sparkled with excitement. "O... really... Do you mind sharing?" she asked, her voice full of anticipation.

Kamsi described the guy, "He had piercing black eyes, a strong jawline, and a radiant smile. He had a tall and lean build, with broad shoulders and a fit physique. And his scent... oh my gosh, it was like a mix of cedarwood and sandalwood, so earthy and masculine."

Zendaya's eyes widened in shock. "O my gosh, Kamsi! You just gave a description of Alexander Marshall!"

Zendaya's voice cut through the room like a knife, each word laden with gravity, "The description only fits one person: Alexander Marshalla Coral Bendayaasandy Boop Attache Elo Do."

Kamsi's eyes widened, her face a mask of shock and disbelief. "What? Does this mean Chelsea is back?" she asked, her voice quivering.

"I don't know," Zendaya shrugged, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of concern. "But if it's him, it could mean one thing: there's going to be a big problem soon!"

Kamsi's curiosity piqued, her brows furrowing with intensity. "Have you ever been on the radar of the famous four?" she pressed, leaning in closer.

Zendaya shook her head slowly, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "No, I haven't."

Kamsi wasn't satisfied. She leaned in, her eyes wide with anticipation. "How do you do it?" she asked again, causing Zendaya to give her the "you said one?" kind of look. "Please," Kamsi begged, and Zendaya succumbed to her plea.

"Easy, I just stay invisible and unnoticed," Zendaya replied, her tone casual.

"Live with blind sight and exist without a presence," Kamsi mused to herself, thinking of the unwritten rules at Washington International School. There were only three protocols for survival: do your best to stay invisible, but if you couldn't, then you had to follow number two—obedience and allegiance to the terrifying three. If even that failed, you were left with number three: rebellion, a path only for those with greater manpower and authority.

Zendaya chuckled, her eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and wisdom. "But you need to know that we all have different fates. Some people are destined to remain invisible, others are meant to be obedient, and some are meant to be rebels." She paused, her gaze piercing. "So, which group do you think you'll fall into?"

As Kamsi pondered Zendaya's words, a swirl of emotions played across her face—curiosity, fear, determination. She wondered which path she would choose. Would she blend into the background, conform to the norms, or dare to challenge the status quo? Only time would tell.

"Looks like your mom's here," Zendaya remarked, snapping Kamsi out of her thoughts.

Kamsi glanced ahead, spotting her mom waving from the car, beckoning them over. "Want to come with us?" she asked hopefully.

"Really? Thanks!" Zendaya replied, genuine appreciation lighting up her face.

Kamsi took off her hijab, her face breaking into a smile. "No problem... we're friends," she said warmly. "Aren't we?" Zendaya agreed, returning the smile.

"Come on, let's go quickly," Kamsi urged, and the girls sprinted to the car. "Afternoon, Mom," Kamsi greeted, slightly breathless.

"Good afternoon, how are you?" her mom asked, her eyes shifting to the girl beside Kamsi. "And who do we have here?"

"This is Zendaya, my friend and our neighbor," Kamsi replied, beaming with pride.

Zendaya waved at Kamsi's mom, who greeted her with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, dear. I'm Mrs. Chibuike. Welcome to our car!"

"I must thank you partly for those cookies; they were amazing," Zendaya praised, her tone sincere, causing Mrs. Chibuike to chuckle.

"Thank you. I also saw the gift you gave my daughter; they were quite unique," Mrs. Chibuike added with a nervous chuckle.

"People always say that about my gifts," Zendaya chimed in, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.

"Oh, they do?" Mrs. Chibuike asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, they're always like, 'Where did you find this?' or 'This is so thoughtful'," Zendaya replied with a smile.

"Fasten your seatbelts, ladies," Mrs. Chibuike announced as they drove off, and they all complied. She turned on the engine, and the car hummed gently as it sped away.

As they rode, Kamsi and Zendaya chatted and laughed, their voices filling the car with warmth and camaraderie. Mrs. Chibuike listened in, pleased to see her daughter so happy with her new friend. She couldn't help but notice the unique bond between the two girls and wondered about the adventures they would share together.

After a while, Mrs. Chibuike broke the comfortable silence. "So, Zendaya, what do you like to do for fun?"

"I love watching movies and trying out new recipes," Zendaya replied enthusiastically.

"Those sound like great hobbies," Mrs. Chibuike said with a smile. "Zendaya, you should show Kamsi around our neighborhood sometime."

"Yeah, that would be great!" Kamsi exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

***

"Hey, neighbor!" Mrs. Hart called out, her wave enthusiastic and her smile warm.

"Hey, Mrs. Hart. Nice to see you again," Mrs. Chibuike greeted, her eyes crinkling at the corners with a genuine smile. "You come here too?"

"Not really," Mrs. Hart admitted, shaking her head lightly. "Someone mentioned this place to me. I've heard it's really famous and they have the best stuff."

"I completely agree," Mrs. Chibuike said, nodding eagerly. "Their products are amazing!"

"Oh, that reminds me," Mrs. Hart's eyes lit up as she recalled, "About the dinner I promised... what do you say to Friday?"

Mrs. Chibuike paused, her mind quickly running through her schedule. "Oh, don't say no, please!" Mrs. Hart urged, her voice rising with excitement, her hands clasped together in a pleading gesture.

"OK!" Mrs. Chibuike finally agreed, breaking into a laugh.

"Great!" Mrs. Hart exclaimed, her enthusiasm bubbling over, her eyes sparkling with joy. Mrs. Chibuike let out a light chuckle, feeling a shared sense of excitement and looking forward to their upcoming dinner.