Second term exams were starting today and the last thing I expected when I set foot into the school building was photos of Peter plastered all over the notice board.

"What the heck!" I whispered to myself when I took a closer look at the pictures. The pictures captured him in a way so different from what he portrayed in school. One of the pictures was of him  walking beside a girl on a road littered with plastic and lined with shabby looking houses.

"So senior Peter is actually poor and all these while he has been deceiving us with looks and fake life," one girl from SS 1 class said to her friend face twisted in disgust.

"I can't believe I had a crush on him. Ew, he even works as a sales boy," her friend replied.

I held the straps of my school bag tighter resisting the urge to punch their mouths. I thought about pulling the pictures down but what good would that be? The pictures were everywhere!

Who on earth did this?

I decided to try maybe someone would help if I started. Even if people eventually hear from others about Peter, it was better than everyone in school seeing him like this. I started pulling down the pictures. I didn't fail to tear and dispose them in the trashcan as I did.

"And here comes the man of the day," A boy announced and two boys around him started cheering. They were the SKY squad. Solomon, Kizito and Yemi, three notorious SS 3 boys.

I looked at the entrance and saw Peter walking in slowly, confusion written all over his face. He was definitely wondering why everyone was looking at him like that and why this squad of all people was hailing him. His eyes caught the pictures that were still on the board and he visibly blanched.

I felt sorry for him.

I could not imagine pictures of me in madam hips glued on the school notice board. I'd drop out.

The three boys stepped towards him evil smiles on their faces and I knew immediately that they had done this. But why?

Yemi, the one that seemed to be the boys' ring leader whispered something to Peter. What ever he said made Peter glare murder at him. The boys turned and walked away with a swagger in their steps. How could they be proud of potentially ruining someone's life?

Peter stood there looking at them but he was not doing anything. Though he still had on the murderous gaze, I knew he was panicking. I saw it in the way he shoved his shaking hands into his pockets and the way he swallowed still looking at the boys. I was sure he was looking at them to avoid the pictures and the eyes of the students lingering on the hallway.

I disposed the pictures I was with and walked up to him.

"Peter."

He looked at me and looked away immediately. I didn't need anyone to tell me that he was feeling very embarrassed.

"I'm not here to judge you. Let's go to class together," I offered. There were still pictures around and students were staring and whispering. Going to class alone was going to be hell for him. I would have advised him to go home but then we had exams today. Those boys planned this so well.

Peter looked at me with silent appreciation in his eyes. I offered him a small smile. I was curious as to why they did what they did to him but I decided to feed my curiosity later.

When we got to my class, Peter said he would love to stay with me in my class. I wouldn't blame him. I was literally the only person being kind to him now, his silver lining amidst dark clouds. There were just three students  in my class and they were too busy with their books to pay any attention to Peter and I.

When I dropped my bag, the bell rang and Peter cursed under his breath.

"You don't have to come for assembly."

"I was not planning too." He dragged a palm down his face and looked at me. He groaned. "I'm in big soup guy. Naya, how would I fix this? Omo, these boys have ruined my life. What do I do now?"

"I really don't know." I told him sincerely, regretting not having anything meaningful to say.

Peter closed his eyes and cursed again.

"Thank you Naya," he told me when he opened his eyes. "That moment I was just praying for the ground to swallow me but then you came to my rescue."

"You're welcome."

"Thank you for not judging me like everyone else."

"You're welcome," I said again. Then I left him and went to the auditorium, hoping for his sake that this would die down quickly.

*

During break, everywhere was buzzing about Peter's pictures. The boy's name was on everyone's tongue. People were saying all sort of things about him. It made me wonder how much lies he had made people believe. He had never told me anything in particular but he lived up to the rich kids standards even I started believing a rumor that said he was the son of a certain popular lawyer.

While we were busy with our first paper, the school authorities found a way to get rid of the pictures. At least the pictures were gone even if every one in school had seen them. Peter too had disappeared. I hadn't see him again after our encounter in the morning. I was a bit worried for him.

"Peter has locked himself in the boys toilet," Chijioke said when he finally came to the cafeteria. It was me, Amanda, Jessica and Chijioke at the table. "Damilare and Alec are with him."

"Why did they do it? They looked so irritatingly smug about it. What's there to be proud about in leaking someone's private life in public?" It was me that asked. The situation painfully reminded me of how I had felt when my frenemy had told people in school then about my mother.

"They? You know who did it?" Jessica asked.

"SKY," I answered.

"Shit. He must have offended those crooks."

"The only time I know he had an issue with them was around the beginning of the term," Chijioke said.

That was surprising. I didn't know of any issues between them. If it was something that could lead to this sort of revenge, the story should have been loud.

"And they chose to payback now? They must have been plotting for a while."

Jessica agreed with me with a hum.

"Alec said he warned him about those boys. Peter is stubborn."

"A stubborn boy and a charming liar. I wonder what else he is." These were the first words Amanda was saying since we gathered at the table.

"But he didn't technically lie. He just allowed people come up with theories and he sort of lived up to those theories," I said in a bid to defend the boy. I didn't want my friends to be against him too especially not Amanda.

"It's lying," Amanda said to me. I frowned. I didn't expect Amanda's reaction to the situation. I expected her to be more understanding. It was beginning to seem like she was angry because the boy she liked was not from a wealthy background as she had believed.

"Oh no, Naya. Don't look at me like that. This is not about me dating a poor boy–"

"You two are dating?" Jessica interrupted, staring wide eyed at Amanda. The girl looked away for a moment.

"We were."

"Do you really want to dump him now?" I asked incredulously.

"He was the one who said we could tell each other anything. He made me trust him with my secrets and now there's a possibility that his secrets are lies."

"Maybe–"

"Nairobi can you like stop making excuses for him?! He freaking told me that he was sent back to Nigeria from the states to study because his little sister was sick. According to him, his parents did it so he wouldn't worry about her health but they didn't know that he knew. Can you believe that?"

Her question was for everyone at the table. I couldn't even defend Peter anymore. That was so low of him. Even though I hated to admit it to myself, I sometimes yearned to actually fit in at Regal high. I wanted to put on expensive weaves like Olamide and rock designers like Stephen. I wanted a driver like Jessica and a big house like Vincent. But faking it to make myself feel better? I couldn't. It would only make me hate my life more because when I'm out of the walls of this  school, I would be thrown back into the bitter reality of what my life is really like.

"How do I know everything is not a lie? How do I know if he really likes me or he's actually after my mother's money?"

That shut me up.

"Amanda instead of this, why don't you talk to him instead," Chijioke said to her. "I'm not going to defend him but I don't like you judging him like the rest of the school is. If he hears you talking like this about him, it would break his heart."

"If he had been truthful from the start these pictures would not make much waves like it's doing now," Jessica said.

"I don't think that's true. Besides he never said anything to anyone, he only led them on," I countered. "You don't actually expect him to start telling everyone that what they think about him is a lie and that he is just some street boy who got lucky."

"He should have come clean to Amanda at least," she argued.

I sighed. "I don't want it to seem like I'm supporting him but you have to understand that he was insecure. I know he was only trying to fit in. I mean the girl he likes is wealthy, do you know the amount of courage it would take for him to admit his real life situation?"

I could see Amanda's disapproving stare behind her thick glasses. "You're not making any sense. I'm not materialistic. He should know that."

Why did it seem like I was the only one that understood or at least was trying to understand Peter?

It didn't take long for me to realize why after studying the people I was sharing the table with. That subconscious feeling of being the oddball came but I pushed it down as soon as it did.

Of course they didn't know what it felt like to want to have their life. They didn't have an idea of the feeling of inadequacy that may come with just being around them.

I didn't feel like that often. It just subconsciously happened once in a while. A few times, I found myself envying my friends because being with them reminded me of how unglamorous my life was. Living up to their expectations may have made Peter feel like I did when staring at those pictures from the Love Fest. Those pictures had me smiling to myself because it felt like for once I wasn't being odd, instead I fit in like a perfect puzzle piece.

I sighed. "Just talk to him like Chijioke said."

Amanda only looked away and I knew she was not considering it.

*

"I have a feeling that Mandy hates me."

I jumped, startled at first. Peter stood behind me looking like he wanted me to debunk that.

I gave him an apologetic look. "You lied to her."

We were one of the few people who were done with our paper and were standing outside the class waiting for the closing bell.

"I rushed through my exam so that I can see her but it is beginning to seem like she's delaying her submission just to avoid me," he said peering into my class. "How do I fix this mess?"

I was going to repeat 'I really don't know' but I thought for a while. I had the instinct to help since they were my buddies but I was scared it would only backfire. I looked at Peter who was staring at an oblivious Amanda. He looked very remorseful and I understood he wanted to make things right with his girl at least. Then I decided that playing a part in that was a gamble I was willing to make.

"I can try getting her to talk to you," I told him.

"Really?" His face had lit up remarkably.

"Yes."

I spent the rest of the time before closing convincing Mr. Ola to let me have the Art studio keys and promising a million times that I was going to submit it before leaving.

After informing Peter of the plan I had, I made him hide in the inner studio while I went to get Amanda. I claimed I wanted her view on an art work I was making. She reluctantly followed me after refusing several times. She was in a hurry to leave school premises so she wouldn't have to meet Peter.

Immediately we stepped into the studio, I guarded the door and Peter came out from hiding.

Amanda turned to me. "Naya–"

"Just hear him out," I reasoned with her.

"No." It was so curt, it took me off guard. I thought seeing Peter at least would weaken her resolve.

Amanda was already stomping towards me when Peter held her hand causing her to turn around.

"Peter leave me," Amanda said, calmer than I expected.

"Babe just let me explain."

"Let you explain what? That you're just a gold digger and I'm your gold mine?"

A look of hurt flashed through Peter's eye but it was gone quickly.

"I'm not a gold digger Mandy. I'm sorry I lied to you. But I didn't lie to you because I was after your money, I just didn't know how to tell you the truth."

"I should have listened to my mother. She warned me about boys like you. Do you know your action peeled open an old wound. You reminded me of my father and what he did to us."

My ears perked up on hearing that. It was no news that Amanda had only a single parent which was her mother but she had never said anything about her father.

Peter was quick to respond. "I swear I'm not like him. I told you all those things because I was scared that you knowing me would affect us.  I couldn't let you see me for who I truly am. You're wealthy and I'm just an urchin. I was afraid you'd be ashamed of me."

"If you knew me like you said you did, you would know that I wouldn't give a damn about your financial status–"

"I was insecure," Peter admitted.

I couldn't see Amanda's facial expression but I knew that her resolve had weakened on hearing him admit that. She pulled her hand from his hold but she didn't make any attempt to walk away. That was a good sign.

"Peter, I don't like you because I think you're rich. I like you because of your smile, how you listen to me rant about my favorite books, how we debate over the most insignificant things. I like your presence Peter. You're a breath of fresh air. The unique thing in my life. I like holding you, talking to you, even seeing you."

It was sweet hearing Amanda say these things. Peter looked at Amanda with admiration. I knew he was beating himself mentally for doubting the depth of her feelings for him.

"I don't have any business with money. I have a lot of it waiting for me already. You told me we could lay ourselves bare to each other and I did just that because I trusted you. You would have done the same if you trusted me too. You didn't. Your secrets were lies."

Peter reached out to take hand again. She didn't struggle.

"Amanda please listen to me. I was just a coward. I'm sorry for betraying your trust like that. I'm not trying to commend what I did but I need you to understand the reason behind it. Having you it seemed like something was finally going well in my life. You are like the candle flame that brought warm beautiful light to my life. I was scared of losing you. And I'm sorry I thought so low of you and your feelings towards me."

Peter knelt down still holding Amanda's hand. I stared wide eyed at the boy and I knew Amanda was doing the same. The boy took both of us off guard.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for lying to you. For not trusting you enough. For not appreciating your feelings towards me enough. I'm very sorry babe. I just want you to find a way to forgive me."

Amanda didn't say anything for a while. "Y-you don't have to kneel Peter," she finally stuttered. She was flustered.

"I would lie down at your feet if it's what it would take for is to put this behind us."

Amanda stared down at him for a while then fell to her knees in front of him.

"I don't want to hate you. Honestly it's not even up to a day of avoiding you but I already feel so miserable. I want us to put this behind us so tell me your truth. Tell me everything you couldn't tell me before. I'm giving you the chance to tell me the truth and we would put all these behind us. "

Peter swallowed. He looked from Amanda to me then back at Amanda.

"Okay. What I told you about living in the states was a lie."

"I know."

"I used to live well before. But everything changed when my father disappeared two years ago. He didn't die, he just packed up and left without an explanation. Me, my mother and little sister had to move to the low class area to save the cost of a good home. Regal high scholarship came at the right time for me. My sister is ill. I was considering dropping out of school so that my school fees, though it was nothing compared to the bill, would be saved to cover her hospital bill. I have to work extra hours after school to help my mother with our upkeep."

That was quite a story and I knew I shouldn't be there with them listening. It was supposed to be their secret. I decided to go outside and wait for them.

Minutes later they came out of the art studio, holding hands and smiling. It made me glad. At least something I did brought smiles to the face of people cared for.

"Thank you," Peter said to me. "You really came through for me today. I owe you a big one."

"It's the least I can do for you guys."

"I have to go. I have an evening shift, I need to study before then."

"Isn't it easier now that you can actually be yourself?" Amanda asked him.

He smiled at that and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. "See you tomorrow."

We bade him goodbye and when he was out of sight, Amanda turned to me.

"I know you heard what I said about my father. Can you not tell anyone about it?"

"Who am I to tell?" I asked right back, totally understanding her.

"And can you never bring it up or ask me about it?"

"I don't have the right to." I had secrets too that I wasn't willing to share.

Amanda smiled at me and looked at me like I was worth millions. Before I knew it, she had thrown her arms around me enveloping me in a tight hug. I could feel the weight of her appreciation in that embrace.

"Thank you so much Naya. You're a really really good friend."

That compliment melted my heart in an unimaginable way.