ANNIVERSARY.

It's exactly three months since Michael and Camille started dating, after much deliberation on what to buy for her as an anniversary gift, he finally arrived at a decision.

As early as six am on the day of their anniversary, he's at her doorstep knocking on the door after having got the present he bought for her delivered and sending the delivery men on their way.

A sleepy-eyed Camille opens the door in surprise to see Michael standing there.

"Good morning, babe why are you here this early?"

Drawing her in for a kiss, he pulls her out of the house,

"Happy anniversary, babe. You have made my life so much more meaningful."

"Happy anniversary to us babe, knowing you is the best thing that ever happened to me. You have also made my life more meaningful.

She replies returning his kisses fiercely.

"There's your anniversary gift, darling."

He points to the beautiful, pink range rover sports 2023 model parked in her driveway beside his with the inscription,

"Happy anniversary to us, babe."

Her eyes wide as saucers, she gasps taking in the beautiful sight of the car, too overwhelmed to say anything. She opens her mouth to say thanks, but no words come out.

Michael nodding in understanding pats her back to reassure her he understands.

"You don't have to say anything, babe, I know."

Sliding his hands into his pocket, he withdraws the key to the car and gives it to her.

She jumps up in excitement, running to the car to open it and admire the interior.

"You didn't have to do this, isn't this too expensive?"

She asks rhetorically.

Michael watches her adoringly, smiling at her actions, and shaking his head in the negative to answer her question.

Remembering she has not properly thanked him yet, she runs back to hug him.

"Thank you so much, babe. I appreciate this and I love it. I didn't get anything for you I am sorry. I am going to make it up to you I promise."

"It's all good babe, I know you do. Don't apologize for not getting me anything, I got you a gift cause I wanted to not cause I was expecting something in return. What do you say to dinner tonight?"

"Dinner is just perfect. I totally love my car, thank you so much. I don't know what to say, I am just grateful. This is huge."

"Good, I hope you are free for the evening. I want us to hang out with my friends before dinner, it's high time you get introduced to them as my official girlfriend. You need to stop saying thank you, there's nothing I won't do for you and there's no big deal in this. Anything for you my love."

"Sure, no problem. What time?"

"I would come to pick you up by 4 so we can be together for the rest of the evening. Is that okay with you?"

"It is, babe."

Leaning into the doorway, she calls out,

"Lara, come on out, you sleepy head."

Wait! What? Lara was in the house? Fuck that shit! Michael curses inwardly. That bitch was going to be the end of him. She has been silent with her threats that have been consistent over the phone of late. He almost dared to think she had given up on him.

"Why don't you let her be?"

He suggested when Lara didn't seem to hear Camille calling her.

"Nah, she has to see this. She slept earlier than I did last night so, she should be awake by now."

Just like that, Lara appears from the room peeking out the door to see what the commotion she has been hearing since was about. Stepping out through the door, she takes in the sight of the car and Michael, catching on to what's happening with a frown.

"Hey cuz, what's up?"

Sparing Michael a brief glance she nods at him in greeting, and he does the same.

"Look what my baby got for me."

Camille happily informs Lara who doesn't appear pleased with the news. She only offers an,

"oh I see."

Without much enthusiasm.

"It's beautiful isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is."

Throwing a look filled with venom towards Michael, she quickly excuses herself and leaves them to it.

"I wonder what's wrong with her, she's acting odd,"

Camille comments at Lara's abrupt exit.

"Pay no attention to her. So, I have made some arrangements for you."

Michael says distracting Camille from Lara's behavior.

"What arrangements?"

"I have made provisions with a friend of mine who owns a driving school, he's going to teach you to drive."

"Thanks, babe, you are such a darling."

"Anything for you, babe."

"Would you like to come in? I can quickly whip up some breakfast for you."

He was almost tempted to take her up on her offer, but he couldn't, not while Lara was still in the house. No, I am good. I haven't had my shower, and I need to get prepared for work, I have a big meeting today."

"Okay then, have a great day at work."

"You too, babe. Give me one for the road."

Pulling her in for a quick kiss, he enters his car and drives off.

An excited Camille enters the sitting room chatting happily with Lara who is seated on the couch with an ugly pout.

"Can you just believe this? Michael is such a hopeless romantic."

Rolling her eyes in her head, Lara sighs.

"What's all the fuss about? He got you a car, so what?"

"Why have you been acting off since you woke up? Aren't you happy my man got a car for me?"

She asks admiring the car key in her hand and standing up to peep from the window to confirm the car is still there.

"He's your man now, huh? I remember telling you the things he did, and I assumed you must have seen reason. Then all of a sudden, you start dating him without even informing me. Have you traded your morals for gifts?"

Turning glassy eyes from her view at the window, she takes a seat.

"I should have informed you before I dated him cause you are what? How dare you ask if I have traded my morals for money? You seem to be forgetting your place around me, I do not need your permission before deciding who to date. Is it a crime for my boyfriend to buy me a gift?"

Trying to smooth the waters, Lara takes a softer approach,

"Calm down Camille, that's not what I am saying. I remember you used to say you don't need a car for any reason yet, I am just surprised to see you going crazy cause he bought you a car. I just wonder if you have forgotten his reputation all of a sudden."

"I know I said I didn't want a car yet, but he bought it for me and I like it. I have never had a man that is not my father spoil me this much before. They all just want my money. Michael has just shown me something different so I fail to see a problem here. I know you don't like him, but please stop judging everything he does. Just be happy that your little cousin is happy."

"What makes you think I don't like him?"

"It doesn't take a soothsayer to see the hostility between you two, heavens knows the reason for that. I am telling you to trust me on this, he's a nice person."

"I know he's going to break your heart, I just know it. A leopard can never change his spots."

"Nothing you say can change my mind about him, he's the one I love and that's final."

Shrugging her shoulders in defeat, Lara sighs,

"Just don't say I didn't tell you."

"Yeah, I can't wait to prove you wrong. How about you come and help me pick something suitable for a hangout stroke dinner? You up for it?"

"Where are you going?"

"I have a dinner date with Michael but before that, we are going to hang out with his friends, I don't know where yet. I need one outfit that is suitable for both occasions. You know I won't be able to change."

Scrunching up her face in thought, Lara looks to the ceiling for inspiration.

"How about your transformer gown that can be switched into a jumpsuit? You can go to the hangout in the jumpsuit, and transform to the gown in the car or something."

Moving closer, Camille she pecks her on the cheek.

"You are such a genius. I never thought of that."

Getting up to her feet, she declares,

"I better go and dig it out now. You coming?"

"You don't need me for that."

"I would always need you for everything, Lara. Come on, let's go."

Forcing herself to get up, she follows her into the room.

LATER IN THE DAY.

Michael is seated in his office, sheafs of papers scattered all over his desk, flying this way and that. He's deep in thought, having just received Lara's call, threatening him to end things with Camille or risk her telling the truth.

He checks the time and stands up resolutely from his desk, picking up his suit and dialing a number as he steps out.

He picks Camille up at exactly 4 pm as agreed and drives them to the usual bar where his friends are waiting for them.

Her arm entwined in his, they make their way over to the VIP spot to meet his friends, Sola and Eben.

Introductions are made and they welcome Camille warmly into their midst.

"You are very beautiful, Camille. Even more beautiful than the first time we saw you."

Sola comments trailing appreciative glances down her body.

"Thank you, Sola."

She responds shyly.

"I totally concur with Sola, you are actually more beautiful than the  night we saw you at the club. I mean you are very pleasing to look at.  Just look at that perfect figure."

Eben licks his lips lustfully.

Squirming uncomfortably in her seat, she thanks him.

Michael catching on to her discomfort, comes to her rescue against the voice in his head.

"Come on guys, enough with the compliments. I am sure Camille has had enough of it."

Pulling her closer to make her stop feeling embarrassed, he calls for drinks.

After their drinks have been served, Sola proceeds to begin rolling a joint.

Camille turns dazed eyes to Michael and whispers to him,

"Your friends intend to smoke here?"

Whispering back to her,

"Yeah they can, no one dares disturb us here."

"Us? What do you mean by us? You want to smoke too?"

"Do you have a problem with that? You already know I smoke, why are you whining?"

"I know you smoke cigarettes, not weed."

"Now you know."

Sola clears his throat and passes the lighted joint he is sharing with Eben to Michael to take a puff. He gladly accepts it ignoring the look of protests in Camille's eyes. He takes several puffs throwing his head back to enjoy the exhilarating feeling of it before handing it back to Sola.

"What has come over you, Michael? I feel like I don't know you."

She whispers fiercely.

"Don't disturb my enjoyment woman, this is me, this is what I do to loosen up, get over it already."

Eben watching the exchange between them, his eyes glazed over from the effect of the weed chips in.

"What's wrong with your girlfriend, Michael?"

Stretching out his hand to collect the weed and puff again, he comments offhandedly,

"Don't mind her, she doesn't want me to smoke."

Sharing a knowing look with his friends, they all burst out laughing to her embarrassment.

"Michael is not a saint, you ought to know that by now. Accept him for who he is, and you won't have any problems."

Sola says by way of advice even though it's influenced by the weed he's smoking.

Camille resigns and begins to watch them silently, puffing and sending clouds of smoke into the air nonchalantly.

They soon begin to alternate between cigarettes, weed, and alcohol, making jokes and talking rubbish, a testament to the fact that they were high.

"I think I should go,"

Camille whispers uncomfortably to Michael who forcefully dips his hand into her cloth to seek out her boobs.

"Go where? Don't you like the company of my friends?"

He responds his speech beginning to get slurred.

"Say, Michael, when are you going to let us have Camille to ourselves? I can't wait to have a taste of that well-proportioned body. I would like to go first if Sola doesn't mind."

Eben grins mischievously.

Was she hearing them correctly? Did they plan to have her to themselves? For what? She probably didn't hear Eben clearly. She began to fidget in her seat, devising ways to leave.

"I don't mind at all Eben, as long as Michael gives us the go-ahead."

Lighting up another cigarette, Sola shares a knowing smile with Eben.

Unable to keep her voice quiet any longer, she turns furiously to Michael, pulling his hand out of her cloth.

"What are your friends talking about?"

Shrugging his shoulders indifferently,

"You heard them, when would you be free to entertain my friends?"

Looking from Michael to his friends, she struggles to find her voice.

"Are you all mad? Has the stuff you have taken screwed with your heads?"

Turning to Michael,

"This is the height of it."

"Calm down, Camille, I blame Michael for not telling you this before, it is customary of us to swap girls among ourselves, no big deal. We have all done it, only with willing girls though."

Sola says trying to pacify her.

"We are not rough men, we would treat you with the utmost respect."

"Yes, Camille. Just pick a date and time, it's no big deal."

Eben chips in, eyes red like burning coal.

"You all must be mad. Michael, is this some sort of sick joke? I won't be a party to this nonsense."

"Why are you acting like you are special? You are not the first girl to be told this kind of thing, and almost all of them did it. You are either in or out, I won't break the bro code for you."

Michael replies to a bewildered Camille.

Fighting to hold back her tears,

"I am completely out. Feel free to pick up the keys to the car you bought for me at any time. I am so done with your irresponsible ass."

She picks up his purse and stomps out in anger.

Michael regards her exit with a strange look in his eyes before turning back to his friends.