ODETTE | MOETTI

EVER SINCE I'D basically said yes to Kaede's question on me rollerskating, I had been stressed.

It had only been a few days since, but that didn't stop my muscles loosing the ability to relax. It was like my body was preparing for the worst, for the moment my phone would light up with a message from my parents. The contents summoning me to another meeting. My frame was coiled, like I was already in trouble, awaiting my punishment.

It did not help my mental state.

Aerona had gone above and beyond this week for Noor and myself. Explaining which friend groups who prioritised old money and acted above others and who to stay away from. It was for out benefit, since she was new and I. . .basically knew nobody outside of swimming.

But I couldn't even be fully there in conversation, my mind a million miles away while my stomach rolled like it was the night I got my scar.

Whenever the conversation at the breakfast table got a bit far-fetched or gossip-heavy, Jae stepped in and reigned it back. She kept the topic on its original purpose; making sure we didn't befriend aristocratic elitists or other bigots.

One thing that was different between state schools and fee-paying schools, was the importance in the connections you made. Everyone at St Everfields was wealthy; their parents well-known for their job or the number of digits of their net worths listed in magazines.

It meant the two years spent at Sixth Form were crucial for the connections made than the grades we got at the end. It made manoeuvring the world as adults more easier, since with more links, the more reach you had. If not important for all that, then for the experience of networking to better us when we were older.

Still, throughout the breakfast chat we'd had every morning so far this week, I'd either felt like I'd said too much when I did speak or said too little. The only thing I was sure of, was that I came off as awkward. The type of awkward that cast a heavy silence in the lull of my response when I was struggling to find my words.

I really wanted to be friends with Aerona and I wished I could chat with the ease Lesedi had. I was alright with Noor, who was as quiet as I was, and didn't stumble over my words as much. Jae's reservation to speak until she was sure of what to say, normalised silence around her and I found solace in it. I couldn't work out what I was missing to be able to talk to the Welsh girl without overthinking everything.

My eyes trailed Lesedi as she joked alongside Aerona across the table. I noted their large smiles and slumped shoulders.

What was I missing?

The two of us had been two introverted peas in a pod a few years back. We hadn't gone to the same school then, leaving in near opposite parts of the country and attending our local St Everfields high school. However, her timid phase had ended when she'd left for France in year eleven for a six month, exchange-student programme.

I remember her parents being in France for business back then, so I didn't know if she'd moved to stay close to them. I'd never found out the reason for her sudden departure— but the impact of her time there was apparent.

She'd come back a different person. Confident, fashionable, more sociable than we'd been put together, to the point her charm wasn't only visible to me but everyone else. She flourished once we started Sixth Form together and I couldn't have been happier— I just wished I didn't feel so left behind, like a weight tugging her down.

I was broken out of my blue thoughts when my phone vibrated with an email notification. I pulled the device out of my blazer before realising everyone, bar Noor, was doing the same. I opened Outlook to access my school email to find the reason. It was a reminder about our physical check-ups and when they'd take place.

It was normal for the Athletes to be weighed at the start of each year to check if they were healthy enough to stay in their sport. We weren't only checked at the beginning, but sporadically throughout the year to make sure no one was underweight or putting themselves at risk of injury. Mine was scheduled for later today, after lessons. I wasn't surprised when Lesedi leaned into my personal space to see when.

"Yours is ten minutes before mine," she pulled her head back from over my shoulder to smile. "Let's meet up before it."

I nodded before glancing at the time. "I'll message you after class?"

The seven minute warning bell rang through the cafeteria and answered for her. Like Monday we all split off to go our own ways and I headed with Lesedi to the Science floor in the West wing. I had Biology and she had Psychology so we eventually parted too. I reminded her over my shoulder as we headed to opposite parts of the hall that I'd send her a text after lessons were over.

I sucked in a deep breath when I ended up in front of my classroom. I glimpsed at the name on the door: Mrs Thatcher. I shook out my hands before re-holstering the bag on my right shoulder.

I was fine, I had this.

I forced myself to step inside the classroom when I spotted some people behind me. I didn't want them to think I was weird because I was lingering, so I headed inside. I'd be in this class until the end of the year and I wanted to make at least one friend.

I turned my phone on silent and dropped it off at the front before finding a seat in the middle row. I didn't want to isolate myself by sitting right at the back. A few seats were filled and people were talking amongst themselves since class hadn't yet started

I could do this. I was fine.

I got my stuff out, keeping my eyes on my desk and trying to psyche up the confidence to speak to the girls on my right. They seemed to be talking about some Kpop groups, and despite me only knowing a little about the music genre, they seemed nice.

I wish I could wear my beanie in classes.

No I didn't, it was my anxiety talking.

However there wasn't a chance for me to introduce myself because Mrs Thatcher chose that moment to speak.

"Good morning everyone, my name is Mrs Thatcher for you all who don't didn't have me last year. I won't waste time by having an introductory lesson since you're all in second year now. We'll go straight into learning new content so make sure you have all your equipment out."

I already knew what the redhead was like, so I wasn't expecting a soft first lesson back. I could tell who hadn't been by the mumbles that echoed in the room. I just scrawled down the date on a Goodnotes page on my iPad as she moved to the MacBook on her desk to do the register.

"It's more noticeable now, don't you think?"

"Girl, I could tell last year."

The whispered conversation came from the same two girls from before and I hoped they weren't talking about me. I knew the world didn't revolve around my existence, but my mind had a tendency to overthink— especially with my awareness of my near-bald head.

"Odette?"

I jolted as my name rang out in the room and I tried not to butcher my response. "H-Here Miss."

Why did I have to stutter?

I ducked my head and hoped nobody had noticed.

My eyes remained on my iPad as Thatcher ran through the rest of the register. A disappointed sigh left my lips when I didn't hear her call on anyone I knew.

I was definitely alone then. I didn't even have an acquaintance in the room.

Thatcher shuffled some sheets on her desk and I knew what was coming. I kept my gaze on my Apple pen, but I knew better than to think that would stop her from choosing me. I'd had her last year after all; I knew what she was like.

"Odette, could you hand out these booklets for me?"

Why did she phrase it like a question when we both knew it wasn't?

Still, I got up from my seat and tried to ignore the eyes I could feel sliding over my frame. I shivered but focused on reaching the front without making a fool of myself.

Once I rounded her desk, I saw that it wasn't one pile of booklets she wanted me to give out but two. "Make sure everyone gets one of each, there's one for exam questions and the other for content. I made sure to get enough for everyone."

"Yes Miss." I picked up both piles and began my walk around the room.

I was grateful we weren't in the labs because I'd have definitely tripped over the stools. It wasn't that I was clumsy, but having to multitask under pressure — give out two different things while making my way round a class of strangers — wasn't easy for me.

My brain didn't help by throwing an imaginary timer into the mix. Plus Mrs Thatcher chiming in every so often by telling me to hurry up just made it worse. So it didn't surprise me that I'd reached the back of the class and was somehow two people short.

"Um." I felt my face burn as I stood in front of the last two boys in the class, empty handed. "I'm sorry, there's, er, none left, let me go ask Miss for spares."

Everyone's attention rested me when instead of sitting back down, I made my way to Thatcher's desk. "Um, sorry but I'm two people short. D'you have any more?"

She shifted her pale eyes off her Mac and onto me. "I grabbed exactly thirty of each booklet, there should be enough."

I squirmed under her gaze not knowing what to say when she stood up from her seat. "It's a simple task Odette, you should have been able to do it correctly."

She wasn't quiet with her words and I wished the ground would swallow me up. Still, she triggered a small flame of frustration in my chest that pushed me to speak, despite the gazes pricking my skin.

"Sorry Miss, but I felt overwhelmed. I'll do a better job next time."

If she didn't rush me that is.

She didn't look at me as she shuffled through the aisles trying to find out where I'd gone wrong. "I only told you to speed up because we haven't gotten all day."

I opened my mouth then clamped it shut. I didn't know if I was allowed to sit down or not and the weight of the stares of the room made me shuffle on the balls of my feet.

Why couldn't I have been assigned a different biology teacher?

"Odette," I jumped at my name on her lips again. "I've found them, go sit down."

She didn't have to tell me twice. I ducked in my seat and rubbed at my forehead in an attempt to push the last few minutes from my mind.

I should have just been late to lesson.

"This might just be me, but who argues with a pregnant woman?"

My attention was snagged at the ends of whispered conversation from the girls I'd been thinking of befriending.

Pregnant woman?

"No I agree with you. I think the fame's getting to her."

All the muscles in my body froze as they moved onto the topic of "her" bump— one I couldn't realised I hadn't noticed before. A horrible churning began in the pit of my stomach as everything clicked. They weren't talking about me earlier, they were talking about our teacher.

Thatcher was pregnant?

"She's losing touch with reality for sure."

I suddenly felt sick — was that how everyone else now saw me?

I partially didn't blame them for muttering about me like that. Of course I had no clue, but what type of person did I look like to others? Defo like I found joy in stressing out one of the most vulnerable groups of society going by the two's words.

I felt moments away from throwing up my breakfast, but I stayed stone-still in my seat. Whatever Mrs Thatcher was teaching went right over my head since I couldn't get out of mine. It was that bad feeling and my thoughts that kept me drowning in my head for the rest of the lesson.

As soon as class was over, and she let us out, I booked it out of there. I trained my browns to the floor. With haste, I made my way to the library on the top floor of the South Wing.

On my timetable, it said I had an hour of independent study, but I wanted to talk to Lesedi. The hour wouldn't be supervised — after all it was up to us to manage our time efficiently — so it would be the earliest we could talk. Sure lunch was in an hour, but with the amount of extra-curricular things she was involved in, I doubted I'd see her long enough to eat with, let alone talk to.

There was a flighty urge in my chest to justify my actions for the past year: that I hadn't been purposely adding stress onto my Biology teacher's plate. That I wasn't malicious like that. But the two girls' words replayed in my head like a broken record.

"I think the fame's getting to her."

"She's losing touch with reality for sure."

I swallowed hard and pulled out my phone amongst the bustling hallway filled with other students. I didn't even need to think and Lesedi's contact was brought up on my phone. I opened our messages and quickly typed something out.

me
hey babes are you free
now? 🫶🏽

lesssss 😋
sorry odey but i've got
this one-off hr of french
rn bc sir wants to talk
to everyone sitting the
exams but not enrolled
for lessons 😒

lesssss 😋
i think he's trying to
convince us to attend
lessons even tho we're
all fluent

lesssss 😋
i can do all the
coursework fine

lesssss 😋
and hello? did they not
remember how i spent
half a year in france
yr 11? plus i'm part
congolese? 🙄

me
don't worry abt it!!

me
i just wanted to know
if you were free to talk,
but it can wait🤞🏽

me
are you free lunch?

lesssss 😋
no 😭

lesssss 😋
i've got book club
💔

lesssss 😋
this year's going
to wear me down so
fast i can feel it ✊🏿

me
girlll you've got this!

me
God's on our side
and He's always with
us 🫶🏽

lesssss 😋
thanks for the reminder
odey 🫶🏿 amen!!!

me
we can go visit your
pastoral manager
after the check-up if
you want?

me
we can ask if they
can shift your
timetable around

lesssss 😋
you're a genius girl
why didn't i think of
that

me
you're stressed,, this
stuff happens so don't
sweat it

me
have a nice french class
🫶🏽

lesssss 😋
i'll try 😔

lesssss 😋
love you gal 😝

me
love you to 🤭

Even though the only time we'd be able to meet and talk today was after school, just texting her made me feel lighter.

Maybe this was also a sign that I had to learn to handle things on my own. Lesedi clearly had a lot on her plate and she didn't turn to me at every inconvenience. I didn't want to be a burden to her, I wanted to be strong.

God had blessed me to have made a name for myself in the swimming world. I could handle a few more rumours and looks. It wasn't that different to the way I'd been treated by the press all these years. This was just in the flesh.

And I could handle it, I could.

I tucked my phone away as I arrived at the library doors— though library didn't fully encapsulate what St Everfields had. It was more like a home for books with all the aisles and aisles of books from first editions to modern romance novels.

It was almost something out of a movie with the moving ladders and the desks that lined the front area with antique lamps on. The smell of old books was heavenly and despite the giant glass windows you could see when you looked above the space, the smell never went away.

I found an empty table in a quiet back corner and dropped my bag on it. I'd decided to go over everything that was covered in the lesson. I certainly wasn't in the best frame of mind during it and I couldn't afford to have gaps in my knowledge so early in the year

Monohybrid inheritance was pretty straightforward now I wasn't a cocktail of conflicting emotions. I made notes on the booklet pages that were covered in class and scrawled a note on my iPad to remind myself to ask Lesedi if I could check hers to see if I'd missed anything.

Time flew by so fast that I was startled when the bell went to signify the end of the hour. I packed up my stuff and debated having lunch with the other girls or not.

I had to eat, but with what had happened in Biology — and the reminder of my inability to socialise — I didn't feel like doing so around other people. I knew I couldn't avoid them forever but the moment I faced them wasn't right now. I ignored the voice in my head that told me I was doing what Father would want and made my to the Pavilion for the second time this week.

It was less busy than I'd expected— but then again, everyone would be eating the full meals on offer in the cafeteria instead of baked goods that were less filling, unless when eaten in excess. Only a few seats dotted around the earth-toned space were taken and the tension across my frame slid right off. The smell of bakery goods definitely had a role to play in relaxing me.

My eyes peered out of the large windows that faced the Quad until I found the swimming stadium. Just the sight of my second home settled me further. After a while, I turned my attention to the absent queue. I took advantage of the lull in customers and got a couple cookies.

I knew it wasn't wise to skip a balanced meal for a few sugary items, but I silenced the voices in my head. After saying thanks to Mrs Taylor, I walked among the relaxing space to find somewhere to sit.

I decided on the chair in the right hand corner which faced the large windows but sat at an angle where no one could see me unless they were outside. As soon as I slumped into the seat, I took out my AirPods Max from my bag and popped them on. It didn't take me long to press play on my Arctic Monkeys playlist.

After eating enough cookies to make me feel full, I leaned my head back against the sofa's headrest and closed my eyes.

I needed this- a moment to catch my breath. To do nothing but breathe and listen to the sound of my own heartbeat. . .and Alex Turner's voice admittedly.

I missed being eleven. Sure, I'd gotten no where with my swimming career but it seemed like I was blossoming everywhere else in my life. It was a shame my socialising skills had plummeted and never recovered. I pulled my headphones off and rubbed my face. All my hyper-focus on my struggle to a a social butterfly had given me a rest from worrying about Kaede.

I guess I had Mrs Thatcher to thank for that.

It was just as well that I pulled the sound-cancelling things off because I hadn't realised how much time had passed. The warning bell was echoing from the hidden speakers. Thank God I'd noticed, I had Photography next and I'd be upset to miss it.

I didn't even have to think about getting there since I was so used to the route. I remember spending so many lunches or frees in there, bettering my portfolio. Plus Ms Jennifer McSparron, head of the Art Department, was an absolute dream. The prickly, Northern Irish lady definitely came second on my list of favourite teachers— Coach Marsh taking first place of course.

The class was semi-filled when I entered, but McSparron wasn't in sight. Even though I'd been in this room countless times, I couldn't help but take it in. The wide, circular room held high arching windows that let sunlight drape across the high tables and stools. On the far wall, equipment and utensils were placed on the countertops or stowed away in the cupboards beneath.

A wall on my left was covered in photos, from both alumni and current students. As expected, they were all amazing, and made up of pictures in different lighting and shots. On the strings that hung from the ceiling were polaroids clipped by pegs and gave the room a retro feel.

I didn't bother to fight the smile on my face and nipped to the storage cupboard at the back that kept all of our work. Since my last name was 'M', my portfolio was in the middle and I didn't hesitate to take it out. Even though it was all last year's pieces, I had a feeling Jennifer would want us to go over everything and check it was our best work and fit to be graded when the time came, before starting something new.

I was proved right when she entered with the coffee mug I'd got her last year, welcomed us back and told us to do just that.

As everyone got started on their own bits and pieces, I headed to the front to ask her for permission to listen to music. She greeted me with a smile few got and said yes. I headed back to my desk with a lightness in my step and put on my headphones. I pursed my lips before choosing my indie playlist. As the melodic voice of Alt Bloom filled my ears, I leafed though my photos and illustrated pages of my portfolio book.

Photography classes definitely gave me a break that Biology and Chemistry didn't. Still, I couldn't find it in myself to talk to anyone in my class and kept to the back table. Biology kept playing in the back of my head and despite what I did, the uneasy feeling from this morning hadn't gone away.

Ms McSparron must have noticed my silence because at the end of the lesson, when everyone else was trailing out, she held me back to talk.

"Odette, you've barely spoken to me this period, are y'doing alright?" She flicked through my portfolio from where I still had it on my desk and smiled at what she saw. "Your work is stunnin' as always."

I hid my grin as I put away the pencils I'd taken from the side. "Thank you Miss."

When I was on my way back, I noticed she was staring at me with an arched brow. Even though I towered over her five foot height, the dark brunette still held the power to push me to speak. She definitely noticed me avoiding answering her question; nothing escaped those pointy ears of hers.

"Just Biology class, y'know how it is."

She stared at me for a few more seconds in understanding before leaving it. I was grateful she didn't press.

"I think you'll enjoy this year's final project." She'd turned back to my work with a proud expression that made warmth course down  my neck.

"And why's that?" I leaned against the table next to her so I could review my coursework alongside her.

"It's on the different styles so you won't be limited to only one again. I'm sure you'll shine like last time." The lift on her thin lips made my day a little bit better.

I found myself returning the gesture as I fiddled with the button on my waistcoat. "Thank you Miss, I'll do my best."

"That's all I ask a you." She then gestured to the door. "Now I'll pack this away, don't worry yourself. Shoo."

I was used to her kicking me out of her classroom but it was kind of her to put away my things. "Are you sure? I'll put everything away real rapid."

She shot me a dry look as if I wasn't offering to take some work off her never-ending list as department head. "I've got a class after this, please leave Odette."

She didn't, we both knew that and I tried to keep my lips from twitching. Still, I gave in.

I playfully rolled my eyes and was expecting the light swat she gave my arms. "Alright alright, I'm going."

She called out from the storage room when I reached the door. "Make sure to grab a Kitkat from my drawer before you go, I don't want to see you frownin' the next time you're in this classroom."

I shot a soft smile at the floor as I followed her instructions. "Yes Miss, bye Miss."

Even if others might say otherwise, she really had a kind heart.

I stowed the chocolate in my blazer pocket as I entered the hallway. My mood had improved significantly and I didn't doubt a certain Photography teacher was responsible.

Checking the time and realising it was coming up to my physical assessment, I headed towards the Hospital Wing. I opened messages on my phone and typed one out to Lesedi.

me
just so you know i'm
heading to the HW
now <3

lesssss 😋
damn i didn't even
realise the time 🌚

lesssss 😋
let me head there
now

lesssss 😋
i'll see you there
in a few 🫶🏿

Hearting her text, I stowed the device away as I arrived to the corridor outside the Wing. I leaned against a wall and tilted my head back as I waited. The scene from Biology this morning threatened to play in my head again, but I opened my KitKat and ate it before I could think otherwise. The serotonin hit fast and by the time Lesedi had shown up, a relaxed aura blanketed me.

But she was my soul sister so she noticed the less than positive mood underneath.

"Odey?" She looped arms with me and tugged us towards the door on the other side of the hall. "You alright? You look a little worn."

I managed to pull up a smile at her appearance even though the topic almost dragged the memories back to the forefront of my mind. "Thatcher's pregnant."

She was lucky the link my elbow had with hers was strong because she didn't fall as her feet faltered.

"Yeah." I turned my focus to making sure she was stable rather than meeting her gaze. "And I messed up in class so basically people think I'm a bish. Which is fair all things considered."

"Ode—"

I lead us over to the door when I was sure she was fine. "I have a stack of homework to do so I hope this doesn't take too long."

We both knew I was stuffing the air with idle chat to avoid addressing the bomb I'd dropped on her. I felt bad, but I knew I'd feel worse if I explained it now— and I wasn't sure I could hide my feelings from Oaiste if my eyes were watery.

Lesedi bit her lip, but didn't prod and I was thankful. Still she shot me a look that told me she expected an explanation later and I didn't expect otherwise.

Since we'd arrived on time, it didn't take long before we left the waiting room and went to the separate rooms we would be having our checks in. It was like the Hospital Wing housed a small hospital further inside, past the beds and curtains near the front that served for immediate, less serious injuries. But parents expected the best treatment money could buy for their children.

Like my previous checkups, this one went without a hitch and I was signed off as safe for physical activity. When it was done, I waited outside the door I'd seen Lesedi disappear behind. I hummed to keep myself preoccupied and before I knew it the door was opening.

"You're a couple pounds lighter than your last check, but that's nothing to write home about. Athletes in particular are prone to weight fluctuations because of how much they hydrate and sweat during workouts. It's all about water retention so don't worry about it."

I stepped back as Lesedi left the office, scanning her face. The nurse checking me hadn't told me my weight or its difference. To be honest I didn't even know we were allowed to know. Still, I didn't know what was going on in Lesedi's head, but I knew I didn't want her to worry about it.

I glanced to the female doctor behind her who smiled, before turning back to my cousin and trying to see past her unreadable expression. "What's wrong? You've been cleared for swimming right?"

Was she too underweight to swim?

The doctor — her name-tag said Maddie — spoke up before Lesedi could. "Yes she's been cleared for swimming, she's only—"

My cousin snapped out of whatever she was thinking on to cut her off. "Thanks Doc, we'll be going now."

I didn't force her to answer any questions because it was up to her if she wanted to share or not. Medical details were private things and I wasn't going to peel them out of her— especially since she hadn't done the same to me when I'd gotten my scar.

I nodded to Doctor Maddie before Lesedi dragged me through the corridors of the Wing. It didn't take me long to guess that she was finding her sister. I don't know how she located her so quickly ( maybe it was sibling instincts ) but we found her in the Head Nurse's office.

Lesedi only gave a three knock notice before she scanned her ID against the scanner and pushed the door open. I was surprised that Oaiste had let her keep her clearance after all the irritating we'd done when we used to come over last year.

My eldest cousin was going through a file with a red pen, but looked up as we entered and a smile curled the corner of her lips. "Thing One and Thing Two, stalking me again are you?"

Oaiste held similar Ngoy features that her sister did. The same round eyes and laughter lines that spoke to a happy home. Glossed lips and an even softer nose. Everything found a home on a round face a few shades lighter than Lesedi's in a way that favoured their father.

Lesedi didn't address our nicknames, instead perching on the desk while I took one of the beanbags on the floor. "We just couldn't stay away."

The Head Nurse gave her a dry look until she fessed up the truth. "Okay, I wanted to see if I could still get in here, plus I wanted to ask you about the new guy that's coming— you have heard, right?"

My older cousin and I locked eyes before rolling them.

Of course she came to get some tea.

Though as someone in such a important position, entrusted with the care of a bunch of rich people's kids, Oaiste did know more about family histories than most. It meant we could always trust her word— or in Lesedi's case get extra insight into any drama that was going on amongst the staff. Or students too it seemed.

"Of course I've heard, I'm the Head Nurse here." Her eyes fell back to the papers she was reading over and Lesedi — being Lesedi — leaned over so she could read the documents too.

Oaiste immediately shut the folder and set an unimpressed look on her sister. "You've got to work on your gossiping Lesi, it's not good for you spiritually. If you promise to leave me alone so I can do my job I'll give you. . .general information."

Lesedi pretended to think about it but Oaiste's gentle correction convicted me for not saying anything to her sister.

"Alright, do you have any general news on the male Taleb twin?"

Oaiste's eyes widened slightly before she schooled her expression. I lost hope that Lesedi would drop it and I frowned.

What had triggered her to be searching behind Noor's back to find out more? This wasn't harmless speculation anymore, this was digging.

"Les—"

She cut me off, "You know something sis, spill."

Oaiste winced before sighing. "There's just been a big scandal in that family. It's not new news, you can google the family and find what I've said. I'm not going to say anything more because it's not my place— and I don't think it's yours to find out either Lesi."

Lesedi turned her gaze onto me but I was already looking at her. The drop in her face told me she wouldn't ask any more further questions. She'd seen her mistake.

Oaiste didn't let us ruminate and turned the questioning onto us. "Anyways, away from all that; how are your classes going? You finding the content alright so far? Any boys catch your eyes?"

Lesedi scoffed at the last question and leaned back on her sister's desk. I just burst out laughing and she swung her warning look onto me.

A boy had definitely caught her eye alright.

"Don't you dare Od—"

I spoke up regardless. "Did y'know she has a thing for Neo Moseki?"

Oaiste's eyebrows hitched up her forehead before she hid her smirk behind her fingers. "And how did you meet him?"

Lesedi sent the both of us a glare before speaking. "He's a basketballer but I met him since we were partners in physc last year. At first I thought he was a numpty, but. . .he's grown on me."

Her sister and I shared a knowing glance before she picked up two rubbers from Oaiste's cup of stationary to chuck at us. "Oh shut it."

We dissolved into snickers but I trailed off when I caught the narrowing to Lesedi's browns.

I would so regret whatever was gonna come out of her mouth.

"Sis, did you know this girl has a thing for the new b-ball captain?"

A look of surprise splashed on Oaiste's face. "Kaede Hayashi? Son of 'Kite' Kaito?"

I threw a pillow from the beanbag beside me but Lesedi caught it and didn't stop. "That very guy."

"I've not spoke to him since Tuesday! Which isn't something I can say about you and Neo." My face flamed and I wished Oaiste had more pillows at disposal.

Who had only one pillow in their office?

Lesedi scrambled for something to say decided on lying, "She talks about him to me enough to make up for it."

It was hyperbole at this point but I still felt hot. "You talk about him more than me!"

The corners of her lips quirked and I grumbled to myself at the disbelieving sound she made.

She better count her days.

Oaiste didn't bother hiding her smile. "You both do know the two boys are best friends, right? If you both ended up with them, I guess double dates would be on the table."

There was a pause after her words that Lesedi and I met eyes in.

"Don't ever say that again." I ignored my skipping heart to speak seriously to Oaiste.

Me and Kaede? Dating? We weren't even acquaintances— heck, I was still actively avoiding him!

"Agreed," Lesedi's voice was as solemn as mine. "We're so done with your Millennial mindset."

Oaiste snorted behind her hand and jutted her head towards her door. "It was about time I kicked you both out anyways. Get out of my office you Zoomers."

EL SPEAKS !
hey loves!! thoughts on this week's chap?? a bit more into les n odey's history 🙈
love you darlings fr for all the support,, especially the voters 🫶🏽 there are places in my heart for youse frrr
chat should i submit this book into the wattys? 🙈🙈🌚
anyways VOTE and COMMENT it helps my book reach more ppl who might like it‼️

( posted; 04/08/24 )