Students returned back to school as the week-long break came to an end. Most of them didn't seem thrilled about the idea of returning to school, but one particular person was more than thrilled to resume school.

"Hey, do you mind helping me carry my bag?" Kelechi asked Jazz as she lugged her bag across the room.

"Sorry, I don't do hard labour," Jazz deadpanned and continued filing her nails. "It's been so long since I had proper manicure, my babies need some pampering," she commented and kissed her fingers.

"It's so good to be back to school, to see my friends and my beloved teachers," Kelechi chirped.

"Beloved teachers," Jazz scoffed.

"Yeah, you know they play an important role in our lives, they groom us and transform us into what we'll become tomorrow."

"Yep, they're really important," Jazz drawled, a smirk playing on her lips.

"I know you don't mean what you said," Kelechi said lightheartedly and hugged Jazz. "I've missed you so much! I can't believe I forgot to take your number so we could keep in touch."

"It's okay, I had company."

Kelechi smirked. "You mean Mitchel?"

"No, I mean the other girls also participating in the competition. We were asked to stay in the same room so we wouldn't feel lonely in our various rooms. And of course I asked them to come here so yeah, I had company," Jazz said.

"That's good. I hope you didn't give them any trouble?"

"I believe I didn't," Jazz replied, looking at the ceiling. Kelechi laughed.

"So! How has your week been?" Kelechi asked as she unpacked her things.

"Surprisingly, it went...pretty well," Jazz answered with a smile.

"Mmm, is it because Mitchel was here with you?"

"Why do you always link everything I say to Mitchel?" Jazz asked back.

"I don't know, you two have something going on so it's only normal to link him to you."

"Something going on?"

"Don't try to deny it in front of me because I'm already convinced," Kelechi warned her playfully.

Soon they were talking about other things and Jazz told Kelechi about the fun things they did during the week and the special meal enjoyed by her and her team as the winners of the quiz contest. She also told her the quiz contest between the teachers which was supposed to be a friendly one but the teachers had forgotten that part and their reactions were hilarious. Kelechi then recalled how the teachers were supposed to have a friendly football match during the school's inter-house sports competition but it turned out to be 'not so friendly'.

When Jazz asked her how her break went, Kelechi told her about how her uncle, despite knowing the truth about how she lost her phone, still decided to buy a new one for her because he knew she had always been a good girl and did well in her academics. She also delightedly told Jazz how her aunt had taken her shopping with her cousins. She then proceeded to show her new phone and clothes to Jazz who complimented them.

* * *

The rest of the students returned to school the following day being Sunday and the school was once again brimmed with students.

"Why didn't you come back yesterday?" Kelechi asked when she and Jazz were done hugging Ronke.

"Left to me I would not have even come back to school, but I have no choice," Ronke replied dryly and Kelechi chuckled.

When Kelechi showed her her new phone, she squealed with delight. "Oh my god, Kel! Your uncle still bought you a new phone? I'm so excited for you!" She exclaimed.

"These are the kind of things you like," Amarachi joked.

"And you, you also came back today right? Why didn't you come back yesterday?" Ronke asked her.

"I've been at Fatima's place since Friday that's why I couldn't come back to school yesterday," Amarachi replied.

"Oh, how is she?"

"She's recovering very quickly. At least she can stand on her own but is still having difficulty walking on her own."

"I hope she gets better soon," Kelechi said.

"So, enough of being sad and moody, let's talk about these fabulous new clothes Kel brought with her," Ronke chimed.

"Well, my aunt picked all of them for me cause I'm not really into fashion," Kelechi admitted shyly.

"I have to say, your aunt knows her stuff, these are all really pretty," Jazz commented.

Now it was Ronke's turn to narrate to them how her break went and Jazz also told her about how her week went while Amarachi silently listened to them as she unpacked her things. The girls continued to talk and laugh until the bell rang for dinnertime and Ronke jumped out of her bed.

"Thank goodness, I was starting to wonder if we were still going to have dinner," she said as she straightened her skirt. "Let's go."

They all stood up except Amarachi. "Don't worry about me, my mom already packed dinner for me," she said when her roommates stared at her questioningly.

"I told my mom to pack dinner for me but she completely forgot," Ronke grumbled as she, Jazz and Kelechi left the room.

* * *

"I can't believe you talked me into coming here with you," Jazz whined as she and Mitchel sat in the library, studying. "I've never done so much studying for something so unimportant to me." She groaned.

"The classes are a bit noisy so this is the best place for us to study without disturbance. And, this competition is important, at least for Mrs William's and Mr Nwosu's egos," Mitchel said and Jazz chuckled, earning a stern glare from the librarian.

"I've just recovered from a serious illness and now I have to face these troublesome children," she mumbled, shaking her head.

"Are you nervous?" Jazz asked Mitchel.

"What? No, I'm not. Why do you ask?"

"You've been taking this competition a little bit too seriously."

"You only think that because you're the only one who isn't taking it seriously."

"Hey, my sacrificing my free period to come here to study should count for something alright."

Mitchel chuckled. "Of course."

"Now tell me, why do you want us to win so badly?" Jazz probed.

"Because this is my school, which other school would I want to win?" Mitchel replied jokingly. "And, my dad will be attending the competition too," he added quietly but Jazz was keen enough to hear it.

"So you want us to win so you can impress your dad?"

"You can say that."

"But why is he attending the competition? Does he wanna play cheerleader for his little big boy?" Jazz joked and Mitchel chuckled, earning his own share of a stern glare from the librarian.

"My dad is the chairman of the PTA and a good friend of the proprietor of this school, not to mention he's donated quite a lot of money to this school. So when he insisted on wanting to attend the competition, the school couldn't refuse him cause you know, he's very important to them," Mitchel said and Jazz just stared at him which he took as his cue to continue. "That's why I'm taking this competition very seriously cause I can't afford to get a single question wrong, if not my dad is going to give me an earful. And if our school loses, then he's just going to blame me for being an irresponsible head boy and letting my school down," he finished with a deep sigh.

"Your dad expects too much from you."

"That's what you get when you're an only child and the only son. He's pushing me this way cause he wants me to be like him and nothing less," Mitchel said dryly.

"Well, not to worry cause now we're definitely gonna win this shit!" Jazz chirped and Mitchel shushed her. "Oops, wrong volume," she added sheepishly.

"The two of you are disturbing the peace and quiet of this library, I wonder what it is you're busy talking about. If I hear any more noise from you two, you'll have to use the door," the librarian snapped at them. She tried to arrange the books in the top shelf but her petite size prevented her from doing so.

"Mitchel dear?" She called and Mitchel looked up at her. "Please come here and help me arrange these books, they're too high up."

"Yes." Mitchel rolled his eyes and stood up. "I'll be back," he said to Jazz before walking over to the librarian.

Before Jazz knew what was happening, Ella came and sat down where Mitchel was sitting. Jazz sighed and intensified her focus on the textbook before her. Ella smiled at her.

"You think I don't know what you're doing?" Ella asked.

Jazz narrowed her eyes. "Isn't it pretty obvious with all the books in front of me? I'm stressing my pretty ass out studying for the competition."

"You know what I mean," Ella hissed.

"Oh," Jazz drawled, then smiled. "Not to worry, I'm not hiding my phone beneath these books, trust me. I've been studying really hard, you can ask Mitchel if you want," she added, her voice saccharine because she knew that mentioning Mitchel's name would spite Ella.

"Stop playing dumb, Jazz. I know what you're busy doing. You're just using this competition as an excuse to get closer to Mitchel, I know it."

"No, you don't know anything," Jazz retorted. "How can you even say that? I wasn't the one who picked myself to be in this competition, heck, I literally begged and refused to participate but the teachers insisted I was perfect for the spot. I can't help it if I'm perfect," she added, flipping her hair.

"Nobody is perfect, and neither are you. Stay away from my Mitchel, it would be best for you if you did," Ella warned.

"Don't tell me what to do, I can be with whoever I want to be with and that's none of your freaking business."

"It is my business because Mitchel is mine," Ella said confidently and looked briefly in Mitchel's direction.

"How is he even yours? He's not your boyfriend or fiance and neither is he your husband, stop saying he's yours like he's a notebook with your name on it."

"You've been warned." Ella stood up to leave but remained glued to the spot when Mitchel arrived.

"Hey Ella, what's up?" He said to her but she just smiled hopelessly at him.

"I'm good," she finally replied.

Mitchel settled down in his seat and when Ella didn't go away, he looked at her. "Do you want to join us?" He asked.

Ella's eyes widened and she quickly composed herself. "Uh, no, I just came to say hi to Jazz, I'll be going now," she said and left.

"So, what was she saying to you?" Mitchel asked Jazz.

"Hi," Jazz replied seriously but the amused look on her face gave her away.

"Come on, Jazz, I know Ella didn't come here just to say hi to you. The two of you are like cats and rats, so you were probably arguing about something."

"We weren't arguing, she was just saying some stupid shit like I should stay away from you and about how you're hers and I don't know man, the girl is delusional," Jazz said indifferently.

Mitchel looked amused. "Hold on, she told you that I was hers?"

"What's so funny?"

"I can't believe she still tells people that."

"You know that she likes you?"

"Who doesn't? When we were in junior class, she used to tell every girl that came near me to stay away from me because I was hers." Mitchel did air quotes when he said 'I was hers'.

"I bet she's not the only one who fantasizes about you being hers." Jazz smirked at him.

He smiled back at her sheepishly. "Are you trying to say that you fantasize about me too?"

"Ugh, you wish," Jazz scoffed, "I have better things to fantasize about, like being aboard a plane on my way back home."

Mitchel snickered. "You're funny."

"I know. But seriously, if you really don't like her the same way she does you, why don't you just tell her so she can stop acting like an over possessive girlfriend."

"I talked to her about it when it got really annoying and she promised to stop it then. She did keep her promise, well, until now. I've treated her like a friend ever since, in hopes that she gets the message."

"I don't think she's getting the message anytime soon," Jazz said and chuckled which made the librarian glare daggers at her.

"Haven't I warned you before, oyinbo?" The woman asked. "And you, Mr Head boy, if the two of you don't stop chattering then I would be forced to ask you to leave so behave yourselves and do what you came here for."

"Yes ma, we're sorry," Mitchel said and turned to Jazz with a knowing smile. "Come on, Jazz, let's do what we came here for."

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Yass! I don drop another update for here, say make una my lovely readers enjoy 😊

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