Maybe I once believed in love
Maybe I even loved
Maybe it was just my imagination
________________Grace.

Grace's POV:

I stormed into my room making sure I slammed my door...hard. I was fuming throughout the car ride and I couldn't decide what was more upsetting.

Was it the self-satisfied smile Mr. Sango, the driver was wearing or was it the infuriating new kid Aaron?

Ugh! Even his name annoys me.

I hastily pulled off my uniform and headed to the bathroom. A cold shower would hopefully help me let out some steam.

"How dare he touch me?" I asked myself as I scrubbed the spot furiously until it hurt. Why are people so insensitive?... I mean you don't just go touching others without their consent. That's just...rude.

And the rubbish he was spewing? That cursed article is just as worthless as its title. All I gained was embarrassment.

My skin was red and tender when I finally made it out of the bathroom. I had bruised almost every part of my body in fury and yet I wasn't satiated.

My phone vibrated loudly snapping me out of my feelings and causing me to hit my toe on the edge of the bed.

"Shitty bed, shitty day, shitty life...can't I just get a freaking break ugh!" At this point, I'm done with this day.

"Hey babes!" She yelled the moment I picked up my phone.

Idara Star Aniekan, my friend and celebrity model/actress, popularly known as 'Star' in the entertainment industry, did not appreciate the concept of 'inside voice', and her 'phone voice' was way worse.

"One of these days, you are going to burst my eardrums with your yelling" I hissed into my phone.

"Who messed with your cubs, Mrs lioness? I was going to ask how your day in school was but I can already guess. Hang on, let's make it a group video call, Beauty needs to be here for this tea" she said in a rush.

Beauty, my other friend was just your average teen if you exclude the fact that she was an academic genius. The girl could solve mathematical equations in seconds, without using a calculator!

She had been offered a full scholarship throughout her secondary education and the girl was crushing all the competitions as though she was playing candy crush.

Her nickname should be 'goldy' because she only wins gold medals but she says it sounds like a fish's name.

"Hey guys! How's it going?" Sitting on my bed, I rub my forehead hoping it will dull my headache.

"Grace is having a bad day...again!" Idara laughed.

"Does it have anything to do with salty Amira?" Beauty asked.

"Uh, I wish Amira was the problem but sadly no. First both of you ditched me and i had to endure the boring classes on my own bu that's not even it." I stopped to breathe and gauge their expressions. Seeing that they both looked pretty interested, I carried on with my complains.

"You heard about the new students yeah?"

When they affirmed, I went on "well the guy is so annoying, I swear he is the devil's spawn but his sister is an angel just like you Idara. And let's not disregard the fact that Mr. Sango simply disgusts me."

"Mr. Sango is a creep, I have to resist the urge to whack him on the head with your tennis racket whenever I'm at your place but what did the new guy do?" I can see the disgust on beauty's face when she mentions the driver.

"Girl, you can hit Mr Sango all you want, you have my permission...and the new boy is..how can I say this nicely? A pain in the ass? Yup, that'll do. He completely ignored my presence only to ask me about some stupid article at the end of the day. Like who even does that?" Beauty looks at me like I was crazy and I could see the wheels turning in Idara's head...

"What? He was rude, can you believe he held my hand and without my consent too." Beauty sighs and Idara shakes her head.

"I know Aaron and he is a sweetheart, a beautiful one at that. I'm sure he didn't mean to be rude...I thought you'll have a problem with Avery's sweet nature...colour me surprised." Idara tended to become annoying at very odd times, especially when I was in no mood for her foolishness. This was one of those times.

"Idara is in her 'I'll spew whatever rubbish comes to my mind' phase again, what's your excuse?." I focus on Beauty but I don't miss the hurt that crosses Idara's face.
Good, she deserves it for taking the fool's side!

I noticed Beauty hesitate before responding.
"Nothing! He was rude to touch you without your consent but since Idara is vouching for him, I say we give him another chance". Another chance?

Until he does something worse like harass me!?

" Beauty is right, I've known Aaron for a while and he is a nice guy. First impressions are not always the best, you know?." Idara chimed in.

I guess it won't hurt to give him another chance, he'll obviously mess up and showcase his bad character to these two. I'll just lean back and let the drama unfold.

"Fine, I'll give him another chance but one wrong move from him and we are ruining him" I drawl and they cheer like I had done something great. Maybe I  deserved the cheers after all I had just set the stone rolling for a nice drama.

"My party is in a few hours ladies and I expect both of you to get your lazy asses here on time...no exceptions Ice-queen... I'm the host and I need my girls around me"

Idara always threw the best 'back to school' parties and it helped that our school always resumed on Fridays. It was like they had contacted her and said

'Star from henceforth, our resumption will be on Fridays, so you can throw the best-goddamned parties on resumption nights'.

"Girl, I need my beauty sleep....and you know how I'm always fashionably late." I yawned to show just how tired I am." Besides she didn't need us there, she had event planners ready to set up everything.

"Beauty will you come by my place, so we can pick out our outfits?" Beauty's family didn't have a lot of money so she couldn't afford to get any luxurious clothes and since I had more than I could wear, I shared my wardrobe with her. It's like doing charity work you see.

"I'll be there in an hour" She squealed.

"That's not fair! I'm the host...I can't be late. I hate you girls" Idara whined.

"Love you too babe!" Beauty and I chorused before we ended the call.

I'm so tired but I'm also famished, so food first and sleep later. Throwing on the first comfy clothing I found, I made my way to the kitchen.

Only God knows what delicacy Aunty Ruth has prepared today. As I got to the kitchen, I was assaulted by an appetizing aromas and I started salivating.

Jesus! This woman will not turn me into a glutton in Jesus name.

"Oh Grace, there you are. I made a special dish for you, all the way from the southern part of the country......Ekpang Nkukwo. It is made with grated cocoyam wrapped in cocoyam leaves and periwinkle. It is a delicacy for the natives of Cross River and the Akwa-Ibom States" Aunty Ruth recited.

"Oh come on Aunty Ruthie, save the monologue and hand me the food. I'm very hungry and I just need to have this delicious meal that you are talking about." If I let her, she'll talk about the food forever.

"Fine naughty girl, I'll serve you a plate now" She piles my plate with the food that smells like heaven.

"Oh wow! This is delicious Aunty Ruthie, you have to teach me this recipe. Please, keep some for Beauty, I'm sure she'll be blown away." I wonder If I should request some for Idara too but she'll probably be too busy to remember to eat it.

Delicious meals help me forget all my problems but when these problems rudely appear right in front of me, the food becomes bland which is what happens when the witch appears in front of me.

"Oh dear, how was school today? I didn't hear you come in" she says acting all friendly but she can't fool me.

I slammed my door when I came in, I bet the entire neighbourhood heard it and she didn't?

I know the truth and it is that she is a lying, disgusting, manipulative, evil witch. A perfect example of a 'wolf in sheep's clothing.'

"Just when I was relishing my meal, she had to waltz in and ruin everything". Ignoring her, I stride back to my room and flop on the bed. In a few hours, I'll have to face the devil's spawn and my annoying schoolmates again and I am so not looking forward to it.

*****†*****†*****†******†******†*******†***

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