"Jazz, I know you are innocent," Somto said.

Jazz folded her arms. "Duh."

"I went to the sick bay to see Ella and guess what?"

"Please don't tell me to guess, I've already lost every ounce of patience in me," Jazz snapped.

"You have every right to be angry, because you have been accused falsely."

"Can you just get to the point already!"

"I overheard Ella and Titi laughing and talking about how their plan to frame you worked. Ella threw herself down the stairs to make it look like you were the one that pushed her. Those people are very wicked, I have never seen. Hia!"

"Imagine!" Kelechi exclaimed as she and Ronke came out of their hiding spot. "How can you harm yourself just to harm someone else? Is it worth it?"

"Go and ask Ella," Ronke deadpanned.

"Well, thanks for bringing this to my notice. This is something I already know, but it's good that I now have a witness that is not my friend. Can you repeat what you just told me to Mrs William?" Jazz asked Somto who nodded vigorously.

"Of course, I'm ready to repeat it anywhere," she said.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, but I have to go now. Whenever you need me just let me know," Somto said and walked away.

"Thank goodness Somto overheard their conversation. Now, we need to tell Miss Toke first of all so she can follow us to Mrs William's office," Kelechi suggested and they made their way to the staff room in search of the young teacher.

"Are you girls looking for something or someone?" Miss Toke asked from behind them as they peered into the staff room. Kelechi and Ronke jumped in fright.

"Yes, we were looking for you," Jazz, who seemed to be the only composed one, replied.

"Well, now that you've found me, what is the matter?"

They told her everything Somto had told them and she was baffled to say the least. "You mean to say Ella fell down the stairs on purpose?" She asked incredulously.

"Yep."

"We need to report to Mrs William immediately," she said and marched towards Mrs William's office with Jazz, Kelechi and Ronke in tow. When they got to the secretary's office, she stopped walking and turned to face them.

"Kelechi, go and call Somto. Ronke, go and call Ella," she ordered.

"Let me go and call Ella instead," Kelechi offered, "so a fight doesn't break out in the sick bay."

Ronke side-eyed Kelechi.

"Okay, good call," Miss Toke said and knocked on Mrs William's door.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"I can't believe this!" Mrs William said after Miss Toke narrated to her all that Jazz told her.

"I can," Jazz said.

"Call me Ella at once!"

"I already sent for her, ma," Miss Toke said.

"I also need to speak with Somto."

"She's on her way."

Mrs William blew out a frustrated puff of air. "What sort of nuisance is this?" She asked no one in particular.

"I told you I was innocent but you wouldn't believe me," Jazz said, staring accusingly at her.

"It's not that I didn't believe you—" she started to say but a knock on the door cut her short. "Come in!" She hollered. Ronke and Somto sauntered into the office.

"Good afternoon, ma," they greeted.

"Good afternoon. Now, Somto, I want you to tell me exactly what you heard Ella and her friend say in the sick bay. Straight to the point, please," Mrs William requested. Somto told her exactly what she told Jazz and Mrs William gasped.

"What kind of nuisance is this!" Mrs William said, her brows deeply knit together. There was another knock on the door, followed by squabbling voices.

"Come in!" Mrs William ordered. Kelechi entered, followed by Ella and Titi who looked like they were already in a sour mood.

"Good afternoon, ma," they greeted.

"You sent for us, ma?" Ella asked, looking around suspiciously.

Mrs William leaned forward on her desk, her hands clasped together. "Yes, Ella, I did send for you. Now, there's been some rumours about you going round school which have come to my notice."

Ella narrowed her eyes. "What rumours, ma? I'm not aware of any rumours," she said, then looked at Titi who just shook her head cluelessly.

"The rumours won't get to you because you have practically been living in the sick bay for the past two days, but let me tell you what the rumours are all about." Mrs William paused and cleared her throat. Everyone in the room anticipated what she would say next. Even Miss Toke, Jazz, Kelechi, Ronke and Somto all wondered what Mrs William had up her sleeve and what rumour she was referring to.

She continued, however, ignoring all eyes on her. "Your friend here has been peddling rumours about you. She said that you are a liar and that you lied to frame Jazz. She also claimed that you threw yourself down the stairs just to paint Jazz as the bad guy. Is this true, Ella?"

For a moment, everyone was stunned. Ella quickly regained her composure and forced a thin smile. "What? What kind of baseless rumours are these?" She asked.

"Don't ask me, ask your friend, she's right here," Mrs William replied. "I just want to know if the rumours are true, that's all."

Ella turned to glare at Titi. "How dare you spread such rumours about me?" She boomed.

"I didn't spread anything. Haven't I been with you in the sick bay since you got admitted?" Titi asked her.

"But you used to leave to take your bath and write exams."

"So? Are you telling me that you believe these rumours?" Titi's eyes pleaded with hers to see that this was all a lie.

"You're the one spreading the rumours!" Ella fired back.

"I told you, I didn't spread anything!"

"Then how did the rumours get out? You're the only one who knows the truth, so it could only be you that spread the rumours. You backstabbing traitor!" Ella said and pushed Titi. Titi stared incredulously back at her.

"Why are you pushing me? Am I the one that asked you to fall down the stairs and injure yourself?" Titi shot back, pushing Ella. Jazz, Kelechi, Ronke and Somto were enjoying the show but Mrs William and Miss Toke looked worried.

"How dare you push me?" Ella shouted and lunged towards Titi but Miss Toke held her back.

"Enough! That's enough!" Mrs William boomed. "Fighting in my office shows that you have no respect for me or your teacher, and it would not be tolerated. Also, you have just confirmed that the rumours are true, which means that you will be severely punished for lying and framing your classmate."

Ella broke into a sweat. "No ma, it's not what it looks like. Please ignore everything that we just said, we said it out of anger and we didn't mean any of it," she said, chuckling nervously.

Titi scoffed. "Speak for yourself."

"What do you mean? Oya, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to talk to you like that, or push you," Ella apologised but Titi knew better. She knew she had to say the truth here and now or else Ella would use it against her later, just like she did to Grace.

"You are not sorry, so save it, you have been exposed. So what if I was truly the one spreading those rumours about you, are they not true? Didn't you fall down the stairs on purpose after Jazz bumped into you? You did it so you could frame her, didn't you? Tell the truth and shame the devil."

Ella narrowed her eyes at Titi, at a loss for words. How was she going to get herself out of this? Even her wit and quick thinking couldn't come up with anything at that moment. She was doomed.

"Ma, don't mind her, she's lying," she eventually said, feigning tears.

"So everyone is a liar and you are the saint. First, it was Jazz and her friends that were lying, now it's your friend that's the liar," Mrs William said.

"This traitor is not and can never be my friend!"

"Works for me," Titi said and folded her arms.

"Ella, you have already confirmed with your own mouth that the rumours are true," Mrs William told her.

"No ma! I told you that I said what I said out of anger, I didn't really mean it," Ella kept defending herself even though she knew she looked pathetic.

"Emmanuella Okoye, you are hereby expelled from this school with immediate effect for framing Jazz for such a serious offence, and almost getting her expelled," Mrs William said.

"Ah, ma!" Ella exclaimed, tears welling in her eyes.

"Let me finish! And as for you, Titilayo Ibrahim, for knowing the truth and still allowing this injustice to take place, you will be suspended till further notice."

"Ma, but we are still writing exams, please," Titi pleaded, but Mrs William held up her hand, signalling her to keep quiet. Ella fell to the floor, sobbing.

"I'm sorry! Please forgive me, I didn't know what came over me or what I was thinking for that matter. I'm sorry!" she begged with her palms held together, still kneeling.

"It's too late for that now. Go to your room and pack your things, I will inform your parents about your punishment so they can come and pick you up today," Mrs William said. "Leave!"

Ella and Titi scurried out of the office.

"The rest of you can go back to your rooms or whatever it is you were doing. Thank you," Mrs William ordered and they obliged. "Jazz," she called. Jazz stopped by the door and stepped aside for the others to pass while she waited.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry about all this. I hope you won't hate our school for it."

"I hope not."

"What I'm worried about is how I'm going to explain all this to your parents, especially your father."

"That's your problem." Jazz smiled and sauntered out of the office. Mrs William and Miss Toke exchanged knowing looks.