Dropping the plate of food on the table, Nathan seats opposite Ashley they are currently in the cafeteria. Xavier and Dashlin, aren't left out.
They both looked serious talking about something which was probably meaningless to every one
of them.

Ashley seemed surprisingly quiet, his concentrations were just on the plate of food in front on him.

"What are you guys talking about?" Nathan asks, sparing each of them a glance.

"Thinking about a party my cousin
in hosting. Unfortunately I won't be attending." Xavier says looking miserable, like the party meant a whole lot to him. Which it did.

Things like that meant something to him.

"Why, because of school?" Nathan suddenly asks quite interested in the topic, which he plays with the
plantain porridge.

"Not that," Xavier says in a bored
tone. "And there is this hot girl, he also told me she would be attending. But my parents said, if there is no one ready to take me to Calaber, I shouldn't..

Ashley's mock laughter cuts him off, followed by Nathan, then Dashlin.

One thing about Dashlin, his laughter could make a huge impact on someone, in the sense that, it's
funny if you are witnessing it, it could make you laugh too, but if you are the one being laughed
at, it could be very annoying and painful, because of how mocking it sounded.

The fact he hadn't said anything up until now, made Xavier glare at him.

"Kid!" Ashley chuckles, makingXavier turn to him, with an intense look, he was probably looking for a
comeback.

"Says the baby among us." Xavier chuckles, he knew how muchAshley hated been told he was the
youngest in their circle, talking about age.

Ashley pauses a moment, releasing a small smile.

"But when it comes to fucking, we know who the boss is," Ashley says shamelessly.

"You aren't a kid, tell your parents you can manage," Nathan says.

"I am not eighteen yet. Yours is understandable. You are, so you might get that freed.."

"I always had the freedom, there
is no one to stop me na." Nathan
chuckles, there was a way he said it.

"If I was to go to Lagos State now, I can, I just need to tell my Mum, so long as my relation is there.
I don't need Mummy or Daddy taking me, " Ashley says aiming on mocking Xavier, wanting to end
the conversation about Nathan's parents, also angering Xavier.

"Idiots." Dashlin chuckles, reminding them that he was still present, suddenly Xavier whistles, making the three guys follow his gaze only to meet Jewel walking into the cafeteria on her own. Ashley is the first person to look away.

"Did you whistle because of her." He says not looking interested.

"We get it. The fact she is your cousin and you can't fuck her, doesn't mean we don't want to." Xavier says giving Ashley a mixed reaction.

All four of them are now concentrated on the conversation going on, Dashlin didn't utter a word, while Nathan concentrated on his food.

"In your dreams. Go and talk to her, if she won't insult your generation, you will not look for your mate." Ashley says boasting.

"See this mumu. Is she even up to the level of gir!'s I bang?" Xavier hisses.

"Or you think, Dashlin didn't tell me how she insulted you." Ashley laughs, making Xavier turn to
Dashlin.

"Do you know, you gossip?" He hisses.

"Are those ones girls, Jewel isn't even as fine as my current date. As for Gidi, nothing come out
for that man." The last statement was pidgin, which didn't sound pleasant to the hearing.

Ashley pauses a while, more like it had gotten personally.

"At least you haven't fucked any of them. Even in your dreams, you cant. But I can't count how many
times I fucked your cousin Tania, the free giver, in fact, your Faith added me on WhatsApp!" Ashley
says keeping an innocent face, he knew his last statement was going to cause a serious argument.

"Ashley, if you go close to my sister, I swear to God, I would cut off your dick." Xavier threatens looking
grim.

"She is the one coming to me..,"

"Jewel isn't up to my date," Xavier repeats. Meanwhile Ashley chuckles.

"Who? That mbeke? Bush girl." Ashley asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Is your girl up to her?" Xavier attacks.

"You can't compare na. Is that one talk again? Is it beauty, packaging? I don't go for rubbish na."

"Of course, that's why she put you into her school bag and zipped you. Come and break up now. Akwa Ibom girl." Xavier burst into laughter. The look on Ashley's face is priceless.

"You guys." Nathan who knew where this was leading to, suddenly interrupt.

"Nathan, I am enjoying this. You don't need to." Dashlin says now relaxing on his seat, like he was
watching a movie.

"But do you know, you are a fool." Xavier suddenly attacks Dashlin. Making Nathan and Dashlin burst
into laughter.

"In case you don't know. A bet was placed on your so-called cousin. Nathan said he was going to fuck
her and get her panties." Xavier suddenly says, not missing the serious look on Ashley's face, who in return turned to Nathan.

"What?" Nathan asks in regards to the look Ashley was giving him.

"She isn't your sister, so we aren't observing any code, you have also fucked my cousin," Nathan
smirks, making Ashley turn back to concentrate on his food.

"She won't even look at you." Ashley suddenly says feeling confident.

"You want to bet?" Nathan chuckles. "The bet isn't even the only stuff, I suddenly feel pushed, Leo warned me," Nathan says and starts laughing.

"Imagine, freaking Leo!" He says amidst laughter, he couldn't stop himself from laughing.

Meanwhile, his friends stares at him looking confused.

"Are you both fighting again?" Dashlin asks.

"Excuse me! I need to use the t..., "

"Do you have to say it? Get out." Xavier says giving Ashley a disgusted look.

"You want me to break his bones again." Nathan chuckles.

"Like you didn't have a few broken bones." Dashlin mocks. The look Nathan gave him, meant he wasn't
joking.

"He said I shouldn't try to pull my usual stunt on Jewel, that if I try it.., God that boy is just stupid.
I even forgot the fool likes her." Nathan says.

"The more reason I would fuck, and show her panties to his face. To let him know I would always be better than him." Nathan spats out with venom. "Getting what he had always dreamed of." He says, the anger on his face, is evident.

________________________🖊️

"You loosed your hair!" Nathan says. Although it sounded more like a question. Which makes Cherish
turn to him slowly.

Although she found the question, a stupid thing to asks, regarding the fact it was obvious for him to see,
but as usual wanted her to talk.

"Yes!" She responds looking at him, before turning to look away, partially looking at Ashley who seemed engrossed with his notebook.

She and 0yin had been observing punishment since Friday. Even though it was against the school
rules, but was she stupid to report? Even Oyin wasn't.

As wicked as it sounded, she was happy he didn't only punish just her for a change. Oyin was
cleaning up the other part of the lab.

Most times it made her feel they should have giving him the laboratory prefect, since he was ao fond of the lab, the funny part of it is, they kept cleaning it on daily basis, not like they where in a harmattan season, where everywhere would be dusty.

"You look pretty tough." Now she was getting uncomfortable. She was already tired of him, always
trying to get this close to her. She could differentiate right from wrong.

"Thank you." She responds, meanwhile he suddenly picks her hands, making her eyes grow wide open. Suddenly feeling shaky.

"I like you." He says whispering into her eyes, this made her heart nearly skip twice.

"Cherish." She recognised the voice immediately. Turning to her left, she could see Senior Eva who stared back at her with a complicated look on her face, a look she couldn't ascertain, breaking an eye contact, she meets Ashley's stern look.

This frightens her. The fear of him prolonging her punishment, he didn't look like he was in a good
mood either

______________________🖊️

"What is the answer?" Mr Demilade asks looking grim, while he turns to the student, like he could look into there soul.

Funny enough, no one raises a hand or attempt to respond to him.

"Wait." He pauses. "Have I been talking to myself?" The look on his face showed he wasn't smiling at
all.

He could hear some murmuring in the class, which he is quick to disregard.

"Ekanem!" He calls out.

There is silence for a while, before some sounds are made, like someone was getting up.

"No idea sir," Ekanem responds. She could see the look of surprise Mr Demilade gave her. "The more
reason, I should turn this to your first test. Tear out a sheet of paper." He says in a loud voice.

"Fuck." This is head from the back row.

"Who is that nincompoop?" The whole class is suddenly quiet.

______________________🖊️

Looking up Jayden facial expression doesn't change, he still looked rather too calm, especially with the company he had.

"Don't drown in your textbooks!" Leo chuckles.

"Says who?" Jayden says now looking at him, there was no excitement on his face, but the look in his eyes, showed he was interested in the topic at hand.

"I am not as boring as I look. Actually fun, If we are relatable." Leo chuckles. Making Jayden twitch his left cheek.

"I can see it. You look more like a pretender." Jayden says, Leo who knew it was meant to be a joke, even though he didn't smile, chuckles.

"Not really, I caution my self."

"Confuse yourself with grammar," Jayden responds placing his book on his laps.

"I thought I was a book worm, until I met you," Leo says taking one of Jayden's textbooks and flipping
through it.

Surprisingly Jayden lets out a small smile, in response to his statement.

"Give that book a break most times," Leo chuckles.

"Continue whining yourself. Like I don't see you reading at night." Jayden says, taking a good look on
Leo for the first time.

He hadn't really taken a good look at him, He didn't need anyone to him, tell weren't age mates, his
behaviour, the way he talked and acted maturely sold it off.

"Is your Biology note complete" Veronica suddenly says referring to no one in particular. But looking at
both boys.

"I am not with mine," Jayden responds, surprisingly. Although she pretends like she wasn't surprised, they had spoken a lot of times, but she had convinced herself, he was a complicated fellow.

"Mine is in my bag pack." Leo suddenly says, making Veronica turn to him, how she looked at him, felt creepy, making him more conscious of himself.

Seeing this, she lets out a small smile.

"Didn't mean to creep you out, you just look a lot like Nathan." She laughs. "More like I am seeing him on afro." She chuckles.

Meanwhile Leo chuckles.

"Of all people," Leo says, his facial expression blared. Jayden is back to reading his book.

"Maybe because I am used to him, " She smiles.

"Is he your boyfriend, " Leo asks without beating around the bush.

"Straight to point. How come we aren't friends?" Veronica smiles.

"Semi Jayden. Swears whenever you keep that serious face of your's. Anyone who actually wants
to be your friend will rethink his or her decision." She says, meanwhile a small smile crept unto his face.

"Really:" He asks chuckling.

"He isnt my boyfriend actually. A best friend could be appropriate." Veronica says, meanwhile Leo who almost choked at her last statement. Pauses, giving her an awkward look.

"For the record, we aren't related." Leo suddenly says. "Not like it's something personal, but please don't tell me, I look like him, " Leo says and laughs, although it didn't meet his eyes. Meanwhile, Veronica gives him a confused look.

"More like you are into him," Leo says. "That's why you tend to see him in just anyone. Come to think
of this, how on earth do I look like Nathan." Leo who found it offending laughs. There was this look on his face, which Veronica couldn't ascertain.

He and Nathan weren't what you called friends, in fact they did well to avoid each other.

________________________🖊️

Walking alongside Jewel, Geraldine tucks both hands into the pocket of her blazers while they both advanced to there classroom in silence.

The fact Jewel wasn't talking was a testimony, although it felt odd to Geraldine, and to top it all, she had been acting strangely.

Not contributing to their little chit-chats or joking around like before.

They are forced to halt due to the person who stood in front of them.
"If I talk now" Geraldine says clearly trying to intimidate Nathan with her eyes. The fact he was one of the hottest boys in her class, didnt change anything, she was never friendly, ever since there clash, which led to a slap from her side.

Nathan was just an annoying fuck boy to her, she couldn't count how many girl's she had seen him
having sex in the toilets.

To her, the fact he was handsome and hot, didnt mean he should act like a male whore. Although she
knew how crazy Jewel was over him.

Jewel's heart almost skips a bit immediately there eyes meets. She silently hoped he couldn't hear
her heartbeat. Those eyes where captivating.

She could also feel Geraldine by her side, surprisingly she hadn't said a word to her, since they left the cafeteria, because she didn't even know what to say to her.

Which was abnormal, she always had something to talk about with Geraldine.

"Hey!" Nathan says with a smile. This makes her heartbeat rate increase. This feeling was driving
her insane, it made her very scared and insecure.

"Hi." She responds her voice shaky.

"Your note." He says handing her the physic notebook. Which she hesitates a while before receiving it.

"Thank you." She responds, meanwhile Nathan smiles.

"I am the one suppose to do that." He chuckles.
"Thank you!" He says, his voice sends chills into her body. She doesn't respond, she only breaks eye contacts with him, taking her eyes downcast. "See you around. Your hair is beautiful though." He smiles when he doesn't get any response.

"Thank you on her behalf, you can now leave the way," Geraldine says giving him an irritating look.
Which makes him smile, then releases a wink.

"You can never change." He says referring to Geraldine, not after taking a last look at Jewel, who was unfortunately not looking at him, before walking away.

"When did you both start talking?" Geraldine calls out to her lost friend. Meanwhile, Jewel licks
her dry lips before responding to Geraldine's question.

"He just asked for my notebook." She responds in a bored tone.

________________________🖊️

Dropping her school uniform on the hanger, Cherish uses the corner of her eyes to watch Senior Eva. She had noticed the awkward looks she had been given her, and wasn't comfortable with it.

Even though she acted weird most times, she spoke, so it made it less creepy. But the fact she wasn't talking, and had been silently glancing at her occasionally, bothered her.

Funny enough she had even followed her all the way from the room to the washroom.

Cherish hangs her clothes to dry, without uttering a word. She did nothing but wish for the mid-term
breaks. She was already tired of everyone, especially the senior's around her. Remembering Nathan you soak her hand into the bucket. She just didnt know how to avoid him, besides she knew he wasn't a
good person.

Especially after what he did to her best friend, why would he tell her such? He had no conscience. Didn't he know that could destroy her friendship with Zara? All these thoughts kept going through her mind.

"Cherish!" She could identify that voice anywhere. She turns slowly to Eva's direction.

"Yes, Senior." She responds turning to her, with a calm look on her face.

Do you have a boyfriend?" That question came like a bomb, Cherish pauses a while, not knowing what to say, although she had never had a boyfriend, before.

"Is Nathan your boyfriend?" Eva asks calmly.

"No!" Cherish responds almost immediately. She didnt want any misconception. She doesn't miss the suspicious look on her face, which suddenly seems calm.

"Never let him touch you like that ever again. Don't let yourself turn into a toy for a boy. Boys aren't worth it." Eva says, making Cherish lick her dry lips, quite tensed.

________________________🖊️

"Why is Jewel like that?" Munachi suddenly asks. This question makes Geraldine who wasn't talking
before now, turn to her direction, giving her full attention.

They were both standing a few meters away from the prep hall.

Almost all the junior students were inside the halls already. While few prefects were on duty to make sure there is orderliness in the various halls. But as usual, most SS3 student's are seen patrolling during
this period.

"She seems rude and just somehow. How are you friends with her?" Munachi asks, in a bold tone.

"She isn't that bad. If you get to know her." Geraldine responds sincerely.

"She might be difficult, but honestly, she has no real issues," Geraldine says.

"She does have real issues, " Munachi says. "Picking on everyone for no good reason. She has got an attitude problem, serious one, honestly you should tell her." Munachi says looking grim, meanwhile Geraldine who didn't know what else to say, licks her dry lips.

"So you are part of the students who wonders around during prep time?" Geraldine recognized the
voice immediately.

She and Munachi turns to the direction in which the voice came from, at almost the same time.

"Jason!" She calls out involuntarily.

"What are you also doing outside?" She asks, with a raised eyebrow.

"I am on duty." He responds.

"Lair!" Geraldine says.

"I don't even have your time." He suddenly says, his eyes roaming over Munachi who stood there
saying nothing. "Munachi right?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes!" Munachi responds more like her voice was failing her.

"I am Jason! The only Jason in SS3!" He says flashing her a smile. Like it was an achievement. "Hope you enjoy your stay here." With that, he walks away, without sparing Geraldine a glance, or even
uttering another word to her.

"He is nice," Munachi says immediately he was out of reach.

"Yes, he is." The sarcasm wasn't hidden.

"Aren't you guys friends?" Munachi asks immediately Geraldine takes a step.

"The only guy am friends with In this school is Nengi, and maybe my annoying cousin Ashley, the rest are bunch of idiots." Geraldine comments.

"Calm down!" Munachi chuckles.

3197 Words🌹