We all stared at the uninvited guest.

"What?" I asked him in my most irritated tone.

He leaned in with a big smile on his impossibly big lips. "Gist me. Why was Ms. Daniels shouting at Vincent?"

"Guy, are you okay?" I was more than irked now. "You saw me talking to my friends and you barge into our discussion for this nonsense?"

"Girl chill. And Jude why do you like gossip so much?" Jessica said.

A guy for that matter. A gossiping dude was just a definition of gross on a different level. It wasn't cute at all.

"Did I do anything wrong by asking about what happened please?"

"Of course. I expected you to be more civilised than this. What you did is just so–"

The boy angrily stoop up. "Mbok, don't even insult me. I definitely don't look like Vincent in anyway. I will just slap you."

"Ogbeni, come and slap na," I threatened showing him my right cheek.

"God you're so rude. Well what am I supposed to expect from someone from a mushroom school?" He hissed leaving our side. I was about to stand up and talk back when Jessica held me back.

"That guy is an idiot," I muttered eating my sandwich angrily. Poor thing. What did he even mean by mushroom school? None of them here knew anything about me.

"He's like that. He likes story," Amanda said.

"He should better go and do something about his stupidity."

"Ah. Calm down," the girls told me.

Then Aliyah spoke up. "But what transpired between Ms Daniels and Vincent?"

"The boy obviously didn't like the idea of this Angel teaching him and was being the obstinate donkey he is," Jessica shrugged. I didn't fail to notice that Jessica and Vincent were not on good terms, probably from what happened last year.

I swallowed a mouthful of sandwich. "When you called me an angel were you being real or ironic?"

"That's for me to know and you to wonder."

"You're using my phrase against me?" I whined hitting her playfully. Just then Vincent walked into the class with Stephen. Chijioke was behind with the soon to be senior girl, Nmesoma– at least that's what they said. The girls claimed that she was well behaved, loved by everyone, had the perfect grade and charisma so she was definitely going to be the new Senior girl.

Then Stephen walked over to usq, his signature smile or whatever it was in place. "Hola muchachas,"

"Speak English mister," Chioma told him.

"Leave him. He's forming Parisian for us," I added with a crooked smile.

He laughed to the extent of holding his knee cap. He left me wondering what on earth was so funny. "Naya, you've killed me. It's Spanish not French mademoiselle."

He called me Naya. Yes. I somehow managed to be able to tolerate him. I don't even know how and I was also tired of correcting him and Chijioke all the time. So whatever. . .

"I don't care. Sha speak what I understand."

"Yes ma'am. We get talk sha," he said giving me an earnest look, which I brushed off easily,before leaving us.

"But why didn't they let a teacher tutor him? Why you?" Amanda asked again pulling off her glasses. Unlike with Chijioke whom I hardly remembered used glasses, I wasn't used to Amanda without her glasses. She usually looked odd.

"Mandy, are you still on that matter?" Aliyah asked.

"Well they feel it would help him better and improve our relationship. I don't even understand these teachers," I answered with an easy shrug.

"Don't be surprised on Valentine's day, Vincent might just give her a rose," Aliyah cooed dreamily.

"God forbid!" I barked eyeing her audacity

"No, it'll be Stephen."

"Or CJ," Jessica said

"No, CJ is your main man."

"Are we really going to start talking about boys?" Chioma asked.

"I want to join," I heard Chijioke squeak. He squeezed himself beside Jessica.

"Go and join your boys," She said trying to falsely push him away. I rolled my eyes at her antic. She wasn't even trying to really push him away.

"They are talking about disturbing stuff," he  retched dramatically.

"Gist us."

"No way! It's bro stuff."

"I bet they are talking about their latest fuck-mate."

"Jeez Naya!" Every single one of them exclaimed.

"What?" I gave a laid-back shrug.

"That's part of it though," Chijioke admitted with a cheeky grin.

"CJ please tell us," Jessica pouted rubbing her head against his shoulder.

"Jessica!" He groaned. "They're just talking about girls. Classmate, celebrities, f-mates and so on. Are you happy now?"

"We want details," Jessica said with a malevolent smile.

He jumped to his feet. "That's it. I'm out. Jessica's just using my head."

The girl laughed. "Baby boo."

"You see! I'm going to Vincent, my one and only," he said sticking his tongue out at her.

"You two are so adorable," Aliyah laughed. We all laughed including the two love birds.

Chijioke Abel from the SS3 class, your attention is needed at the library, the intercom blasted.

Chijioke groaned. "What is it again? I just stacked the new books yesterday for Pete's sake." He grouched.

"In your next life, make sure the librarian hates you," Jessica laughed at his predicament.

"We're going there together," he resolved dragging her up from her seat.

"Take it easy with the lady big boy," Jessica laughed again. "Let's go." With that they left.

"That boy is a master at giving wrong signals," Amanda said immediately they crossed the threshold.

"How?"

"The guy acts so. . .I don't know how to put it."

"Flirty. When I came to this school in SS1, I hated him at first. I felt like he was these womanizers or playboys but alas he was just a joker," Lydia said. Just like me.

"Yeah. There are some things that he'll do, you'd be forced to believe he actually likes you," Chioma added.

"He'll give you sweet nicknames and even gifts. I remember what happened between him and Blessing from the commercial class," Amanda chuckled.

"The girl went to spread false news that CJ liked her because he gave her a special chocolate whereas the boy was just being a gentleman."

"So what did CJ do?" I had to ask. Don't get me wrong here, I had no special feelings for the guy, even if he did call me annoying but sweet nicknames.

"CJ is a mean boy. When we asked him then, the boy started laughing after which he explained himself still laughing," Amanda laughed.

"But CJ likes Jessica very much," Aliyah said. I thought the same.

"I don't think so," Lydia and Amanda said.

"I ship the two though," Chioma said.

"Jessica might not like him back even if he likes her. She'll think he's just being his usual 'gentleman'" I said using air quotes like Jessica always does.

"Naya may be right. She did nominate him as one of her admirers," Chioma said thoughtfully.

"Wo let's forget this stuff. Let's go and stroll," I suggested standing up and immediately the bell for end of break time rang.

"No!" I groaned plopping back down on my seat. "This is you guys fault," I huffed making them laugh.

Lydia and Chioma left for their class while our maths teacher came in–gratefully the last lesson of the day. After the teacher left, I started arranging my bag. Just few minutes more and the bell would be rung.

"Hey Naya," Stephen greeted sitting on my desk.

"What?" I groaned.

"Remember I said we were going to talk?"

"Yes. So?"

"I just wanted to ask what happened during your supposed meeting. Vincent came to the field fuming like a rodeo bull."

I zipped my bag and kept it on my desk. "Why didn't you ask him yourself?"

"Oh trust me I did. But he wouldn't say anything." The boy sighed.

"I'm not saying anything too."

"C'mon Naya," he pleaded.

"Stephen you're funny though. Why do you keep acting like Vincent's sworn protector. Just leave the guy, he doesn't deserve your attention."

"You don't know anything about Vincent so stop assuming shit about him. He deserves every ounce of attention from me!" He snapped. He got me there though. There was only one question I could ask.

"Stephen, are you gay?"

Stephen froze at my question, then he frowned. "What kind of question is that? So me trying to help my fellow boy makes me gay?" He sighed. "Naya please don't make me angry. Just tell me what happened."

The bell rang. I backed my school bag and turned to Stephen. "Trust me it's a very stupid reason."

"Just tell me."

"Ms. Daniels and Mr Palmer suggested I tutor him and he doesn't like the idea."

"It can't be just that."

"Well they said I'll also tutor him on weekends at his home –"

"His home? That's not a good idea. Vincent won't agree."

I wanted to ask what the problem was but I decided against it and continued, "well yes. He didn't agree. Ms. Daniels got angry at him and started telling him how everyone including his father was trying to help him and he was taking it for granted,"

"Oh" he bit his lower lip. I wanted to ask what the problem was again but he spoke up again, "Thanks anyways. See you on Monday." With that he strode off to join other guys. I looked over at Vincent's seat, his head was on his desk but he was tapping the desk with a pen. I wondered what was going on in his mind and life. And this was the second time I wished our relationship was not the way it was.

When Olamide eventually pulled a seat and sat beside him, I looked away.