Dedicated to Stardust_Wendy for making this beautiful book cover for my friend.

★

"Thanks to you, everything is ruined." I blurted out.

"What do you mean?" He looked genuinely confused.

"What part of stay away from me did you not understand? Why are you hovering all over me? What point are you trying to prove? Or have you made a bet with your friends?"

"I'm not trying to prove any point. I just want to be friends."

"I don't want to be friends with you, can't you see that? Leave me alone, Peter! You're bad luck. Because of you, Ma Suzanne got fired. Can't you see that you're causing pain to me?

"You're ruining my life. Go away! I don't want to talk or even see you. Seeing you disgusts and provokes me. Get away from me!" I yelled at him. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes.

Peter's mouth was wide opened. His jaw was dropped. He stared at me wide-eyed. People had turned to look at us and I could hear whispers and grumbling around me. Peter stood up slowly still looking at me with surprise evident on his face.

"I understand. " He muttered and turned to go.

"One more thing." I stopped him. He turned to look at me.

"Don't ever come to my house again." I blurted and he nodded his head slowly and then walked away from the class.

Mumbles from various angles filled my ear but I paid no attention. I grabbed my library card and walked straight to the library.

Peter obeyed my word by staying away from me. There was a time I was climbing the stairs while he was going down. He kept his head down and walked past me without sparing me a look.

I didn't mind. It was what I wanted. I couldn't afford more troubles with grandma. Ma Suzanne had advised me to be careful and to stay away from things that could provoke grandma's wrath.

I managed to lead a peaceful life after Ma Suzanne and Peter's incidence. Grandma got a new housekeeper the day after Ma Suzanne left. It was very simple for grandma to change staffs. She paid well so many people hoped to work for her.

I hated the new housekeeper. She was nothing like Ma Suzanne. She kept trying to make conservations with me even when I didn't want to and even when she shouldn't.

I continued to stay indoors as grandma expected me to. After celebrating my one month of not getting into trouble with grandma, ill-luck shone on me. It was just so impossible to stay out of trouble with grandma's ferocious rules; I could get punished at any time.

☆ ☆ ☆

It had been on a Monday; the start of the week and also the start of my troubles. 

I sat on my chair that day biting my fingers as I waited nervously for the Civic Education teacher. I contemplated within myself if I should return to the staff room to remind him again like I did some minutes ago.

I decided against it, knowing he would flare up in anger. He had done that countless times.

I grimaced the moment the teacher walked in. I knew I was done for. Mondays and Tuesdays were my worst day. It was always filled with fear and anxiety.

Additional lectures tagged 'lesson' were taken on Monday and Tuesday respectively after the assembly held in the afternoon. These lectures lasted for an hour and thirty minutes before the closing bell jingles.

I knew this was Mr Olu's legacy especially when he was to take the last class before closing hour. I could hear murmurs around me when Mr Olu walked in and I heard a girl accused me of calling the teacher.

Of course,  they had hoped to buy themselves some time to talk since Mr Olu was fond of being unpunctual to class   he wasn't bothered about time for he prolonged his teaching even after the bell had been rung for the end of school activities.

I could feel vicious eyes boring holes at various parts of my body but I tried to concentrate on what Mr Olu was teaching,  even when my heart was thudding loudly in my chest. 

Despite the fact my classmates felt I didn't mingle with them because I esteemed myself above them,  my lack of cooperation heightened my classmate's hatred for me. The class captain sometimes planned with the class not to call the teacher whose subject we had.

While my classmates loved this, I saw it as a disaster.  The teacher's late coming to class meant he would leave late to make up for the time he lost.

To avoid this, I called the teacher on time so he could finish whatever he planned to teach on time. But who would understand? I was only being forward  apparently, I wanted to prove that I was serious. How they could be so wrong!

This hatred led to their ganging up against me: tormenting and pouring out all sort of insults  little wonder, I wasn't surprised to hear them hauling insults at me.

"She thinks she is the most brilliant person in the world." Another girl mumbled and I rolled my eyes.

It was true I was the most brilliant student in my school and I had helped my school in winning various awards from various mathematics and essay writing competitions  the only competition I never went for were competitions related to sport. Grandma forbade me from participating in any sport for reasons best known to her  however, I was only good in my studies because I had nothing else to be good in.

"She thinks she is the best because she is rich." Another girl said again and I was tempted to look at them but I decided against it.

"She's just too proud and annoying."

My Grandma  ever since she became a caterer  gave various donations and contributions to the growth of my school so it was fair to conclude wealth coupled with my academic excellence made me proud. They could think about whatever they wanted.

I glanced at my watch minutes later and agitation welled up in me. It was almost four  closing hour  yet Mr Olu was still writing on the whiteboard. My heart began to thud violently.

I had always obeyed grandma's rule of leaving immediately the closing bell rang but what was I to do when teachers like Mr Olu decide to show their faces? I couldn't leave the class; of course, the teacher would never let me no matter how I pleaded. They didn't understand.

Immediately the bell rang, I got up with my bag in hand. I had already packed my things.

"I'd  explain the little note  on the board and continue the class later so you all should spare me just ten minutes of your time so I can explain." Mr Olu said as he turned around and faced the class. The class grumbled as usual but he was less concerned.

He raised his eyebrow when he saw me standing and asked why I was standing.

"Sir,  I need to get going now. My driver is around." I said shakily.

"Didn't you hear what I said? I said I need just ten minutes so I can explain this note. Sit down and let me explain."

But I didn't sit. This had been my predicament many times and my driver, after waiting for more than a minute would come to my class in search of me only to see me being held down by the teacher.

Grandma never believed this anyway, instead, she punished me for being late and if my driver interfered, she accused him of covering up for me and then offer him a retrenchment letter immediately.

I couldn't count the number of drivers that had been sent away for this same reason  not only drivers but other workers at home.

Countless people had been sacked due to their disobedience of her order  in grandma's language: trying to cover up for me. But this was not true; no one had tried to cover up for me instead they simply told the truth. But grandma didn't want the truth; anything that contradicted what she felt or thought was a lie

There was no way one would get a job at the house without being warned by other workers and so, Joe: my new driver, after being warned by others and even me  even when I was restricted from talking with any worker  never interfered whenever I was being punished for a crime I didn't commit.

Instead, he stood with bowed head and drooping shoulders.  I couldn't blame him for not trying to defend me. I knew he would lose his job if he did. His job was his means of survival; I couldn't take that away from him.

I shifted my weight from one leg to another as I stared at Mr Olu.  I didn't have ten minutes to spare.  I didn't even have a minute to spare. I was already in trouble just by standing here talking to him. I checked my time: 4:02 pm. My God! I was a minute late.

"Beatrice! What are you doing?"