"Where were you? We'd been calling, and texting! Gabby said worriedly.
"And why do you look so good? Elaine asked." Are you coming from school? "Look at your hair! I can see some makeup as well!

Gabby gave me a once over. "I can smell rose oil."Where were you? Spill!

I sighed as I plopped on my bed. "Jayden kidnapped me. There was a relative silence as the girls registered what I'd just told them.
"Jayden...kidnapped...you? Gabby said incredulous.
"But why?! Elaine probed. "Is it because of the nose? "You're not hurt or anything right?
"If anything she looks much better! Gabby laughed regaining her composure. "So! Where does he live? Is his house big? What's inside?

"I'm tired. I complain.
Elaine raised her eyebrows "Do you think we're gonna let you sleep?! You have to gist us!! She said shaking me awake.

I sat up. I obviously couldn't grab any sleep with these peeps around. "Well, I started. Fifteen minutes passed till I was able to tell them everything.
" You got a a full body massage from BAY SPA?! As in Bay Spa Bay Spa?

"Yep I said, popping the p.
"Did you take pictures? Elaine asked.
"Of a couple of trees, yes but nothing else I said quickly, turning around and placing my head on the pillow.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
I met Elaine at the school gates and we walked in together. I got to class, and amazingly my desk was there. Clean and uncluttered. The class was full, but for some reason the desk beside me remained empty.

Miranda passed by my desk, and she gave me a sidelong glance as she and her cronies sat down.
I could care less, she wasn't the one who supplied air to me.

Mr. Bani, the English Literature teacher walked in quickly, and I sat up. I love English Literature, it is like a cold glass of Sprite, or Cranberry juice, or whatever drink you happen to like, on a hot afternoon.

"Today, we are going to start reading the book "Faceless. I smiled so wide my face hurt. I'd read Faceless prior to the class and I loved it. "It's the story of a young.........

A tall lanky boy walked in. He spoke to Mr. Bani, and he nodded. He gestured at me to get up. He then asked me to follow the boy. I frowned at him. Why did he have to interrupt this class of all classes? Why didn't he come during Mathematics? Or Science?
"The headmaster wants to see you he informed.
( In some Ghanaian schools the principal is called the headmaster it just depends on the school.)
"Why does he want to see me? I asked miffed. I didn't appreciate being called out of my favorite class like this.

I sighed as I walked out of the class. The headmasters office is all the way up the stairs in the Administration Block. When I say all the way up, I mean all the way up. The administrative building is like three stories high, and the climb up is quite the workout. My lazy self decides to take the lift up, but there's a sign on the elevator saying it's out of use. I nearly cried.

By the time I made it up the stairs I was a wreck. I was sweaty and out of breath. I sat down on the bench outside the office for a while to catch my breath. I walk into the office, still catching my breath.
"Good afternoon Madam, I said greeting the secretary. She smiled at me, her glasses raised on her nose.
"How are you? She replied. "How're you coping with the new school? "I'm still alive I huff, my chest still heaving. " Is the headmaster there? He sent for me....I informed her.
She frowned slightly, lines creasing her forehead. "Are you sure? She asked me. "He hasn't been to school today.

What? What?!

I shut my eyes briefly. Memories of my trek up the stairs mocking me.
"He...he didn't come to school today?! I repeated. But he asked me to come! I tell her, nearly pleading with her to give me a reason why I climbed all those stairs.
She shook her head. "You must've been pranked then young lady, you haven't been sent for.. she said soothingly. I nodded, and walked out slowly.
It just occurred to me that I didn't ask the boy who had come to call me what his name was.

I walked down the first five steps, looked left and right, and slid down the remaining steps. It was much more fun, and I saved a lot more time and breath than I would have done walking. When I walked back into class, the lesson was over. My heart dropped. I'd missed the first lesson on Faceless.
And for what? A mindless prank. The next time I saw that boy I would give him a piece of my mind. I turned to the girl seated next to me.
"Umm... can I have your English literature note book? I asked.
"Sure.. she agreed. "But, you'll have to return it by Friday she said solemnly. I nodded slowly. Notebooks are precious things to me too. Copying notes are a chore, and having to recopy everything is just plain painful. I made a mental note to copy all the notes and give it back before the weekend.

As soon as I bend my head to start writing a familiar voice crackles through the intercom.
"Jessica Arthur- Mensah please report to the headmaster's office. Jessica Mensah to the headmaster's office.
The intercom goes back off before I can figure out the voice. I groan in frustration. What's going on?! I don't go out and just stay in the classroom, copying my notes. Ten minutes later another message rings through.
Jessica Arthur! It blared through the intercom with such urgency I jumped. I closed my notebook and rushed out. I ran all the way to the administration block and technically flew up the flight of stairs.

Who knew? Maybe the headmaster was back and he really did have something to tell me. I quickly fixed my rumpled dress and walked into the office.
"Hi..... again I repeated. I was in class when the headmaster called me" I explain. This time I heard clearly.

"The headmaster just came in, she informed. "You can go in now. He probably did call you in this time! she laughed as I made my way to the headmaster's office.
I took a deep breath and knocked before going in.
"Good morning Sir, I greeted solemnly. The headmaster's office was beautiful, and warm, like I can definitely sleep here warm.

"Hello, he responded kindly. "How may I help you?
"Huh? I whispered. You sent for me Sir! I cry. I heard you! On the intercom! You called me twice!

He shook his head, taking off his glasses and laughed. "I'm not the only one who uses the intercom you know! You should check on the other side, he advised.

" Who else uses the intercom apart from the headmaster? I asked surprised.
Jayden Grant he replied grimly. He's the only one who has the intercom apart from myself".

I excused myself.
I screamed internally. I should have known! Jayden, that brat. He was probably having fun watching me run around the school. I stopped at one of the CCTV cameras all around the school and glared at the screen. I ran my finger across my neck and pointed to the screen to let him know I was going to kill him.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Jayden shuddered as he watched Jessica eye him through the camera. He knew she couldn't see him, but the feeling was just the same.
Even though it sounded maniacal he liked pranking and bothering her, ever since she walked up to him and stuck the ice cream cone in his face he'd been intrigued by her. No other girl had ever spoken back to him like that, no one had ever even dreamed of sticking ice cream of all things to his face.
She was different. Different from all the girls he'd ever met. She didn't laugh at every word he said, agree with everything he said. She had her own opinions, her own lease on life and he found that refreshing.

He didn't have many friends apart from the P4 and he definitely planned on barging into her life even if she barricaded the door.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
I headed back to the classroom again. I was seething by the time I got there. Surprisingly there wasn't anyone in the classroom, and the door was closed. I gripped the handle of the door to open it. That..that was my mistake. I turned the handle of the door to walk in. The moment I touched the door handle I felt something thick and sticky.

Some gluey, gooey substance had been rubbed on the door. It wasn't dangerous, but I was pissed just the same.

Ughhh! Jayden!!!!!...Jayden!!!!! I groaned. I was going to kill this boy, God help me.