I discovered that he was a very cool guy. He sounded sincere and only spoke about himself. We talked more when I discovered he also liked animes.

"Why are you friends with them?" Donald said as I stared at him weirdly.

"Do I have to have a reason to be friends with people?" I asked back and he laughed shaking his head.

"I didn't understand my question. Let's drop it. What's your future ambition?" Donald asked.

I gave a wide smile immediately "I want to be a surgeon like my mom" I replied.

"Your mom is a surgeon?" Donald asked.

I nodded my head proudly "One of the best Nigeria has" I replied which earned laughter from him.

"Do you even know what medicine is all about? Do you like surgery?" Donald asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Not really" I replied as he laughed.

"You just want to be like your mom; you don't actually like surgery" Donald stated as I sipped my Fanta.

"That doesn't sound like a question" I said turning to him.

"Nothing interests you?" Donald asked.

"I like.... " I paused in the middle as I pursed my lips. Donald was probably going to say the same thing Gani had always said Music is for boys.

I shook my head immediately "Nothing really interests me" I said as Donald looked at me weirdly.

I glanced at my wristwatch as my eyes widened.

"Oh my God!" I yelled as I stood up and ran out of Dallas. I talked to my legs as I ran inside the school. It was about ten minutes past break over.

Classes had resumed and I hurriedly ran to my class. I cursed silently as I saw my Class teacher in front of the class.

"Rachel, where are you coming from?" Mrs Olutola asked.

Everyone turned to me as swallowed my saliva. I hated being the center of attention. I was nothing good, so their gazes looked mocking to me.

"I went to visit the restroom" I lied smoothly.

"Okay. Come in" Mrs Olutola said as I muttered a thank you and walked straight to my seat.

"I was about talking about you" Mrs Olutola said as I froze.

"Out of everyone in this class, only your spreadsheet scores are looking horrible. Everything is red Rachel" Mrs Olutola said as I bit my lower lip.

"I don't want anyone repeating this class. I know this is just second term but we all know that you fail any of the terms, you repeat" Mrs Olutola added.

I lowered my head ashamed and embarrassed. It wasn't my fault I wasn't good at science subjects. I never excelled at anything. The only thing I excelled at wasn't for girls.

"So, Ini, I'm going to ask for your help. Can you please coach Rachel for me? For the upcoming exams" Mrs Olutola asked.

I raised my head up in shock as my eyes went to Ini. My heartbeat went into a frenzy when Mrs Olutola's question repeated in my head.

Ini was going to coach me for the exams?

I wanted to faint. But his answer snapped me straight out of my dizziness.

"I'm sorry ma but I can't. I'm busy" Ini replied.

I felt my heart stop at that moment. He rejected?

"Please Ini, this concerns a fellow classmate's future" Mrs Olutola pleaded.

"Ma, I am really busy honestly. Besides; she's unserious and doesn't know what she wants. She sleeps in almost every class and never submits her assigment. I can't coach an unserious student ma" Ini replied as the class went silent.

I pursed my lips as I felt tears rush to my eyes. Was that supposed to be an insult? I bowed my head as a tear slid down my cheeks. The tears started running down my cheeks as I bolted out of the class.

"Rachel!" I heard Mrs Olutola yell but I continued running.

Mrs Olutola glanced at Ini and sighed when she noticed Ini's expression didn't change. She glanced at her so called friends and frowned; they weren't even concerned in the least and she could hear them chattering amongst themselves.

She sighed as she turned to the girl seated on the second third in the third row. If Ini had rejected she wasn't sure if she would even consider it but she decided to try her luck.

"Joy, can you coach Rachel for me?" Mrs Olutola asked.

The girl didn't respond for a while. She nodded slowly "Okay ma" She replied.

The class and Mrs Olutola was stunned by her reply. Mrs Olutola couldn't contain her excitement.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yes ma" Joy replied as she looked outside.

I hugged my legs to myself inside the toilet. I didn't know why I was crying exactly. But I knew I wasn't crying because I was a dullard; I was crying because someone I liked very mucg had called me one indirectly.

I checked my wristwatch and noticed it was almost school over. I pursed my lips as I lowered my head; none of the girls had even tried to look for me. I felt more down at the thought.

As I rose to my feet; I heard the closing bell. I walked out of the toilet and splashed water on my face repeatedly. I then dried my face and walked back slowly to my classroom.

I felt hurt seeing the class empty, they didn't even wait for me. I was surprised to see Joy seating on her seat and watching me as I entered.

She stood up, upon seeing me and walked towards me. I swallowed my saliva as I tried to muster a smile.

"Hello Joy" I greeted and I discovered my voice had gone hoarse from the tears.

"I'm coaching you for the exams" Joy stated as my eyes widened.

"Here's my number, give me a call or message me on whatsapp" She added as she dropped a paper on the table and walked out.

I stared at the paper not believing my eyes. I slowly picked up the paper as I tried to let what Joy had said register into my mind.

Joy was teaching me. Arogundade Joy was teaching me.

Arogundade Joy was Snr Promise younger sister. She became a day student when her elder brother passed out. Joy was different from her elder brother in every way.

While Snr Promise was friendly, outgoing and funny; Joy WS quiet and aloof. She didn't smile or talk a lot. Ini struggled for the first position with her every time since they were in the same class since JSS1 but not even once had Ini beaten her.

She preferred to be lowkey and rarely attended competitions. She and Ini were close friends which infuriated Josie. None of the girls liked Joy, especially Josie. She hated Joy and always tried to find fault with her but Joy never really gave her face.

I knew she was jealous of Joy so I also stayed away from her but I definitely didn't hate her. Why would I hate such a pretty girl? Only her face was enough to make me like her but since Josie hated her; I didn't dare go near her. That would be the same thing as declaring war against Josie or better still; as Gani would put it  was betrayal.

I held my head helplessly. What was I going to do? If I didn't take coaching lessons with Joy; I was sure I was going to repeat. If I took coaching lessons with her; I was risking loosing my friends. I fell into a dilemma.