Free Growing Yams in London by Sophia Acheampong Page B

and Nelson pulled me into a doorway.
    ‘I wanted to, um . . .’
    ‘Yeah, whaaat?’ I said, confused.
    He surprised me by kissing me.
    ‘Oh!’ I said, pulling away.
    Crikey, he’s going to think that I’m weird. I wait all day for it, then I pull away.
    ‘What’s wrong?’ Nelson said, concerned.
    ‘Nothing, I just wasn’t, um . . .’ I stuttered.
    ‘Didn’t you want to?’ Nelson said apologetically.
    ‘No, no, I did . . . I just . . .’ I leaned towards him and this time I just relaxed.
    Wow! Now that’s what I call a second kiss.
    My phone rang.
    ‘Um . . . hello?’ I said, flustered.
    ‘You OK?’ Tanisha said.
    ‘Yeah, yeah,’ I said, giggling.
    ‘OK! Well, I’m waiting for you at the bus stop. Hurry up, I’m freezing!’ Tanisha said.
    ‘Yeah, yeah, OK,’ I said, and hung up.
    ‘Who was that?’ Nelson asked.
    ‘My cousin. I’ve got to go now.’
    ‘Oh right. Well, I think I’m entitled to one more kiss.’
    ‘Yeah?’ I said, smiling.
    ‘You know, seeing as I had to wait all day . . .’
    ‘There you go!’ I said, pecking him on the cheek. Two can play your game, mate!
    ‘Is that it?’
    ‘Yep!’ I said, as I began walking away.
    ‘Hey wait! Can’t I walk you home?’
    ‘No, it’s OK. My cousin’s just over there,’ I said, as I pointed ahead of me.
    I didn’t want to tell him that my parents would kill me if they found out about him. I looked at my watch. It was half past seven, so I started to run. Nelson began chasing me down the
street and caught me by the waist.
    ‘Can I call you tomorrow?’ he said, breathlessly.
    ‘You ran after me to say that?’ I asked. Or maybe he wants to kiss me again, I thought.
    ‘Well, yeah,’ he said smiling.
    ‘OK. Um . . . you can let go of me now,’ I said with a grin.
    He let me go.
    Ohmigod, why did he let me go? Didn’t he want to kiss me?
    ‘OK, well . . . bye then!’ he said, waving awkwardly.
    I guessed not.
    ‘Bye!’ I said, but neither of us had moved.
    We were staring at each other. He had amazing eyes, even without the contacts in; they were an unusual light shade of brown, compared to his deep skin tone.
    We probably would’ve kissed again, if it hadn’t been for Tanisha running up to us. That would have made our third real kiss. I guessed that would have to wait till our next date. If
my parents didn’t find out first.

 
Chapter 9
Makeeda’s Online Community

    I threw my notepad on to my bed and chewed the end of my pen. I was really glad that I hadn’t just regurgitated pages from a school library book. Instead, I was learning
about an amazing woman from Ghanaian history. It was weird. I was actually enjoying the assignment and, at the same time, I felt like I was connecting with my Ghanaian culture. My only problem was
that I’d hit a wall. I couldn’t seem to understand the real reason Yaa Asantewaa went to war. I was beginning to wonder if Mrs Hipman had been right about me not finding enough
information. My phone beeped twice.
    Bharti:
Get on MSN now!
Nick:
Have u finished your essay yet?
Me:
I’m stuck so I’ll have a break.
    I switched on my computer and logged on, and a window popped up. Initially I wasn’t sure who it was.
    PrincessBhartilina:
What took you so long?
Makdiva:
Why have you changed your MSN name?
PrincessBhartilina:
Hmm . . . let me think. I should be royalty and my parents should have named me Bhartilina! Good enough 4 U?
Makdiva:
OK, crazy gal! So what’s up?
PrincessBhartilina:
You have to help me get Hitesh’s attention!
Makdiva:
Er, how? He’s your brother’s best friend. You should have it all sorted by now.
PrincessBhartilina:
Listen, Miss I-had-a-fantastic-second-kiss, we don’t all have your hot lips you know! Don’t you want to help me?
Makdiva:
OK, OK, no need for the emoticons. When’s the next time you’re going 2 see him?
PrincessBhartilina:
Um . . . Actually, I was hoping you could help me with that 2.
Makdiva:
What?
PrincessBhartilina:
Tejas is going