chapter 6

"Oh my, I missed you so much Charlie!" Aunt Lena exclaimed and hugged me tightly.

"Feelings mutual, but you know I'm going to be here for a long time so we can do more hugs then or if you want we can finish with the hugs now." She hit me playfully on the head and chuckled with Cleo.

"Very funny." Cleo chuckled.  "I know right." Aunt said sounding more like a teenager. I smiled, "I get that a lot."

"Of course honey, I can never get enough of you." Aunt chuckled making me grin wider.

"Cleo go and help your sister unpack and get ready for dinner. Your dad will be home soon." Aunt said. 

"Are we really sisters?" Cleo asked. 

"Of course. Listen, in Ghana my mother's sister's children are my siblings. Making you, Cleo, my sis." I answered. 

"Oh the joy and honour." Cleo sighed dramatically making me chuckle. 

"The best part is, WE'RE GONNA BE  ROOMIES!" Cleo exclaimed. 

"Wooooooo! We're gonna have so much fun. #Cleo and Charlie." I hoot.

Cleo giggles opening a cream coloured door which led to a magenta coloured room with blue designs on the wall. It also had a  built-in-closet with drawers painted white, an en-suite on the left side of the room, two beds which were laid to perfection with blue bed spreadsheets, a dressing table and stool, mirror, bookshelf filled with different coloured books and a side table and chair which had a laptop and books which I assumed belongs to Cleo, there are also some writings like; 'wild and free', 'dream, wake up, kick ass and repeat' I smiled at the writings taking in the beautiful room. 

"Earth to Charlie?" Cleo snaps her fingers drawing me out of my trance.

"Welcome to my sanctuary. It's not always this clean. It took some ice cream and other snacks to get this clean." I chuckle. "Lemme guess, mom bribed you."

"Yes. Does your mom do that too?" She laughs. I chuckle and nod.

"It's so beautiful. I could stay forever." I say dreamily.

"Wait till you see the rest of London." She smiles.

"Here's your bed." She points to one of the beds which had a uniforms laid on it.

"Are these my uniform for school?"

"Yes, dear. I bet you'll look pretty in them. On Fridays we are allowed to wear our own clothes." I nod.

The uniform consists of a white blouse and black skirt with blue tie and V-neck jumpers and long socks.

"Thanks but I'll like to charge my phone."

Cleo puts my phone on charge close to her laptop and helps me unpack my stuff into the empty drawers and closet. 

"Charlie, you've grown so big and beautiful." Uncle Arnold says. "Thank you Unc but I'm still slim not big."  I'm a brown skin girl, who has black hair, pink lips, a little bit tall and dark eyes. Everything else is proportional. I like to dance and sing, design stuff, talk, swim and run and I love anything chocolatey. I'm a chocoholic. "Hahaa that's right Char but you know what I mean."

"Yes I know." We all laugh.

"Aunt, I really have to say this..., this food tastes awesome." We're having spaghetti bolognese. Aunt Lena has always been a good cook just like mother. I also love to cook a lot. I guess it runs through the family.

"Thanks dear." Aunt says.

We talk for a while and after dinner Cleo and I do the dishes and leave for our room.

"Char? I'm going to have a quick shower. I'll be back soon." Cleo says. I nod my head in response and go back to talking to my mom on the phone.

"...so do you like the place?" Mother asks.

"Of course mother. I love it here. Cleo's room is so amazing." I said. 

"Oh I see you've met Cleo."

"Yes and I'm grateful that I at least have someone who'll be in the same school as me. We even share a room."

"Okay dear it's time for you to go to bed. It's twenty after ten here in Ghana meaning it's twenty after eleven in London. The one hour time difference." Mother says.

"Yes mother. Goodnight and have a sound sleep."

"Goodnight." She says and ends the call.

That's how everything changed but little did I know there's more to come.

"WAKE UP SLEEPYHEAD!" Someone I'm guessing Cleo shouts.

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm up! I'm up!"

"Today's America's birthday." Cleo shouts happily.

"Who's America?" I ask.

"America Watson, she's a very good friend of mine from school and she's throwing a birthday party today which I've been invited to and I'm taking you with me." Cleo says.

"Why do I have to come with you?" I ask.

"Umm I think it will help you get to know some people from school so that you don't have an awkward first day."

"Okay, so what's the dress code?" I ask.

"It's anything crazy." Cleo responds.

"Alright and when are we leaving?"

"You know you ask too much questions right?"

"Yup, now will you answer my question?" I ask getting out of bed and heading towards the bathroom.

"Six in the evening." Cleo answers.

"And is mom aware?" I ask just to annoy her. Aunt is a doctor and isn't always at home. Uncle Arnold is a professor, I'm very sure he's travelling today. 

"Very funny Char." Cleo rolls her eyes. I chuckle. "Oh really, tell me when I'm qualified to be a comedian."

"Char, I'm sure you're not aware it's twelve in the afternoon." Cleo states making my eyes widen.

"What, why did you let me sleep that long?" I ask.

She just shrugs, "dunno."

I quickly brush my teeth, bath and put on a tank top and sweatpants and put my braids in a ponytail. 

"Hey save me some of the food." I tell Cleo who's eating and watching something on her phone.

"I saved you some chips and fish in the microwave." Cleo says. 

"What's the difference between chips and fries?" I ask her as I take my own share.

"According to my dictionary and the explanation it's giving me, they're the same." Cleo states. "They're both potatoes that have been deep fried."

"What are you planning on wearing for the party?" Cleo asks.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I was just wondering. No biggie." She shrugs.

"You'll see. Just wait."

"Whatever sis." She says as she rinses her plate.

"Hurry up and come watch a movie with me miss hottie."

"Heyyy...don't call me that and I'm coming with my food." I shout.

"No shouting hottie. You're right behind me. I can hear you." She chuckles. 

"What are we watching?" I ask.

"Dolittle." She announces.

"I've watched that." I say with my mouth full. 

"I can't hear youuu." Cleo says as I stand to take my plate to the kitchen.

Ding! Dong! Who could it be, I rinse my plate and hands and leave for the door. Cleo beat me to it. 

"...and who's this hot stuff?" The unknown guy asks. 

"Oh come on! Really, Cleo?"

"Heyyy, I didn't do anything." She raises her hands in mock surrender, chuckling.

"Am I missing something hear?" Mr Unknown guy asks.