Mr Nwosu's office was a bit smaller than Mrs Williams' office but unlike Mrs Williams' simple decor, the office was decorated more sophisticatedly with more books on the desk and in the shelves. Mr Nwosu was in his late thirties but didn't look it because he was always frowning and his bald head and bushy brows did nothing to help. It made him look like a shaven angry bird. The only attractive thing about him was his trim physique, clean-cut beard and dry cleaned suit whose jacket was on his chair. His shirt was folded up to his elbows revealing his hairy arm and a scar on the back of his right hand. He was indeed a very strict man and didn't give as much chances as Mrs Williams' did because he gave punishments without thinking twice. This was probably why students feared him, assuming they were not scared of his looks which was quite intimidating considering his 6'2 height.

Jazz and Ella sat across his desk with Ella wearing the innocent look better than Jazz who didn't even bother to wear one as she kept her face straighter than a ruler.

"Why are you so quiet? I asked you a question, didn't I?" Mr Nwosu asked calmly.

"Yes sir..." Ella started but he interrupted her. "Save it. I need answers not sentiments," He said.

"She started it," Jazz said casually and folded her arms.

"What did she do?" Mr Nwosu asked.

"She emptied a whole bottle of chilled water in my food and on my skirt, look!" Jazz stood up to show him her wet skirt.

"It was an accident and I already apologized to her but she just wanted to fight me," Ella said innocently and stood up.

"Oh please, drop the act. You did it on purpose and still haven't apologized. You're just lucky I didn't get the chance to get my hands on you," Jazz said and blew her hair out of her face.

"Sir, she's lying," Ella defended.

"No she's not," Mr Nwosu boomed.

"What? Are you going to believe what she just said?"

"I had a few eye witnesses tell me what really happened before I called you here so I could know who was lying and every one of them said the same thing. You were the one who came bothering Armstrong who is still new to our school and poured cold water on her. Are you trying to give us a bad reputation?"

"Sir, but sir, they're lying sir."

"And since you are the goddess of truth we should all believe whatever you say right?"

"No sir, I mean- I'm sorry sir, truly sorry. I won't do it again please,"

"And I will make very good sure of that," Mr Nwosu said. "Starting tomorrow, you will sweep the school premises, your classroom and your dormitory in the morning and evening, help the kitchen staff serve the food and tidy up the cafeteria after every meal. You will do this for a week. And know that I will monitor you to make sure you're carrying out this punishment so don't try to act smart, you know the repercussions. This will teach you not to bother our new students," He added and leaned back on his chair, satisfied with the punishment he gave.

"Sir please I can't-"

"I suppose you would rather be given a two weeks suspension?" Mr Nwosu raised a brow.

"No sir, not at all."

"I didn't think so. And if this shenanigans repeats itself, you will definitely get suspended and I will be glad to call your parents again."

"No there's no need for that sir, please."

"Good, now apologize to her."

"What?"

"Young lady I do not like repeating myself," Mr Nwosu boomed and Ella flinched. "Apologize," He repeated anyway.

Ella hesitated before apologizing to Jazz and Mr Nwosu shook his head in disapproval. "Are you okay now?" He asked Jazz. "Yeah, kinda." Jazz smiled.

"Don't worry, she has assured that it won't happen again so you are free to go now. And consider going to the tailor to get a more decent skirt, this is a school not a nightclub."

Jazz turned around in one swift motion and strutted out of the office, but not without smiling sweetly at Ella who glared back at her. Mr Nwosu cleared his throat. "Are you waiting for me to give you a special invitation to leave?" He asked sarcastically.

"No sir. Thank you sir," Ella squeaked and quickly walked out.

___________________________________

"Hey, let me help you with that," Kelechi offered as Jazz sat in front of the mirror on her desk, struggling to braid her hair. There used to be only two desks in the room, a desk was in between two beds but since Jazz was added to the room, an extra desk was brought in just for her.

"I got it," Jazz replied as she tilted her head and continued braiding.

Kelechi chuckled. "I know, I just want to do it for you. I'm pretty good at braiding you know."

"If you insist." Jazz left her hair and relaxed in her chair.l

"Wow I love your hair, it's so long and sleek. I wish my hair was like yours," Kelechi said as she ran her hands through Jazz's blonde hair.

"Don't say that, your full and curly hair is just as beautiful." Jazz smiled at her through the mirror.

"Thank you." Kelechi blushed and began braiding the hair. "I will be done in a couple of minutes so we can get ready for school."

Noises were heard from outside and the girls went out to see what was causing the commotion, some other girls had also gathered to see the cause. And sure enough, Ella and Somto were shouting at each other. "I'm the dorm captain so I'm only doing my duty by making sure you sweep the dorm," Somto said and handed the broom and dustpan to Ella.

"Who do you think you are?" Ella fumed.

"These orders are from Mr Nwosu so I'd suggest you get to it or else." With that, Somto walked away. Ella looked around and saw her dorm mates staring at her, she was abashed to say the least. "Just do what she said so she doesn't report you to Mr Nwosu, we will help you," Titi told her and she nodded.

"Go on," Ronke said mockingly.

"No need to be so mean, she could prolly end up crying," Jazz said with an equally mocking tone.

"Laugh all you want now, but I will have the last laugh," Ella said with a frown.

"Yeah yeah yeah," Jazz drawled and went back to her room followed by her roommates.

"You guys shouldn't have rubbed it in her face," Kelechi said disapprovingly.

"What? Powder?" Ronke asked mischieviously and Kelechi gave her a look. "Oh come on Kel, she would have done worse if it were us."

"But that doesn't mean that you should make fun of her while she's serving punishment."

"Whatever." Jazz leaned forward to check out her hair.

"Wow your hair looks great," Ronke complimented her.

"Thanks to her," Jazz said and gestured to Kelechi. "But mostly thanks to me cause I can pull off any hairstyle."

Kelechi sat on Jazz's bed, facing her. "What?" Jazz asked her.

"Don't you miss your parents?" She asked.

Jazz's smirk faded and she turned away. "I do."

"Then why don't you want to call them or at least talk to them whenever they call? They've been calling you for days but you refused to talk to them, they must be worried about you after not hearing from you since you got here."

"I know, but I'm mad at them."

"When you do something wrong and your parents get angry at you, they don't stop talking to you, do they? They continue to love and care for you and I'm sure that they forgive you even before you ask for their forgiveness. So couldn't you just relieve them and let them hear your voice. I know you love them, no matter how angry you are."

Jazz groaned. "Geez, why are you being so sentimental?"

"You haven't seen anything, just do as she says or get ready for speech number two." Ronke laughed.

"I don't feel like talking to them," Jazz said.

"At least you have an option to talk to them when you feel like." Kelechi choked on a sob and Ronke went to her side to hold her.

"What do you mean?" Jazz asked.

"I don't have anyone who checks up on me or worries about me or even calls me and here you are saying that you don't feel like talking to your parents."

"What's up with you?"

"I wish I had parents like yours who would spoil me and pamper me and give me everything I wanted, but we don't always get what we wish for, and such is life."

Jazz stared at her then blinked. "What?"

"I lost my parents when I was just ten years old. My father's siblings and relatives refused to take me in because they hated my mother so my mother's only sibling, my uncle Mark, took me in. He was married with six children but he still took me in, catered for me and sent me to school. Though he was wealthy and was capable of taking care of seven children, I still felt like a burden to him. His wife was the sweetest person ever as she took care of me the same way she took care of her children. I always made sure to make my uncle proud by excelling in my academics- and I still do. I never wanted the money he spent on my school fees to be a waste because he sent me to a very reputable boarding school with expensive fees. After my junior WAEC exams, we moved from Abuja to Lagos and that was when he enrolled me in this school to begin SS1. Neither my uncle nor his wife ever call me to check up on me or anything, I guess that's because they are very busy people and have six children to look after as well. Although my uncle made sure I had what I needed, I never really experienced that parents' love from him and his wife, I felt like the ninth wheel in the family. I always envy children who have parents to give them all the attention in the world, they are foolish not to realize how lucky and blessed they are because people like us never got to enjoy that love and attention for long."

"Woah," Was all Jazz could say.

"That's why I'm not happy with you for refusing to talk to your parents, and I'm sure they are too. Some of us don't have parents to talk to or get angry at for sending us to boarding school. I had to go to boarding school because I didn't even have a choice."

"I told you. You better do as she says or you're going to get speech number three," Ronke said and Kelechi nudged her playfully.

"Fine, I'll talk to them after school. Ya happy?"

"Your parents would be even happier." Kelechi smiled and Jazz huffed, turning back to her mirror to start on her makeup. She felt bad when she thought of Aimee and how awfully she spoke to her the last time they talked. Aimee had also been trying to call her, just like her parents. She then decided to call her parents and best friend immediately after school.

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GLOSSARY
Abuja: Nigeria's capital city.
SS1: The first class in Senior Secondary School
WAEC: Acronym for West African Examinations Council. An exam is conducted by the Council every year for junior and senior secondary school students.

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Thank you my lovely readers for reading and voting. Hope y'all are staying safe for moi??

Please comment what you think of this chapter, I hope you like it. I thought I should add a glossary at the end of each chapter for clarity. Suggestions and corrections are welcome. Thank you.

Love y'all❤