Chapter 1

The alarm gave a loud shrilling sound. Crystal groaned and burrowed further under the covers grumbling something about getting her morning sleep only for her to sit up straight some minutes later..

Oh crap!

She had forgotten that today was the day of her project defence. She suddenly felt very nervous. After saying a short prayer, she scrambled out of the bed and hopped into the bathroom for a quick shower.

She hurriedly dressed in a light purple suit with black flats, her braids were held up in the middle of her head and her make up lightly done. Satisfiedwith her appearance, she hurried out and hailed a taxi giving him directions to the campus.

Her palms were already sweaty by the time she got to school and she tried very hard to get herself together as she made her way over to the waiting room besides the hall that was to be used for the defence.

As soon as her best friend kelly saw her, she sprinted to her side ''hey babe, your ready right?'' she asked as she walked beside her

''Sure I am but that dosen't stop me from being extremely nervous, can't wait to do it and put it behind me" she replied with a serious look on her face.

Kelly laughed "me too, but u will do just fine.. Remember presentation has never been our problem and this is kinda similar to it" kelly reassured her friend with an amused look on her face.

*****

Crystal looked at her best friend of four years and felt very grateful, they've really come a long way together. Since they stumbled into each other in their freshmen year, they have been inseparable. Despite the twist and turns of university life, they stood together and have grown to greatly love each other.

She would really miss her after they graduated even though they will always  keep in touch.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Crystal realised that the professors were already seated and had started calling the names of students to come in individually and defend the project they had spent months writing.

A lot of students including Kelly had been called in and it was almost her turn, Crystal smoothened down the edges of her skirt nervously and stood up with a start as she heard her name..

"Crystal Jason" a voice boomed over the speakers. She turned and hugged her best friend

"Goodluck" kelly whispered

Crystal hurried into the hall on shaky legs as she prayed for strength and favour. The professors sitting on the stage looked very terrifying and that only helped to intensify the cramps in her stomach.

She carefully set her laptop down and opened the power point file she had prepared for the defence.

"Miss Jason" a female professor spoke over the microphone "can you please start by stating your name as well as the topic of your project"

Crystal licked her lips nervously as she answered in a surprisingly calm voice "am Crystal Jason and my project topic is... The effectiveness of  creative writing in stimulating the mind".

Just like that question after question was thrown at her for the next thirty minutes.

Although she was sweating profusely as she made her way out of the hall, she had a triumphant smile on her face and hurried towards her best friend who engulfed her in a big hug... "congratulations hon, you did it" kelly remarked with a huge smile on her face

"Thanks Kells, congratulations to you too, am so glad its finally over" Crystal said equally smiling.

"In my opinion this calls for celebration" Kelly screamed as she half-dragged her to the nearest restaurant.

Crystal smiled as she shook her head, her bestfriend had always been the outspoken and very social one between the two of them and this was one of the reasons she was glad to have her as she clearly sucked at such things.

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