Chapter Nine

It's been a couple of weeks since the kiss and I've done well at avoiding Emmanuel. Even at lunch I always looked away from his gaze. I guess he got the memo later on and backed off.

Exams are coming up in a few days and I felt really nervous, these exams could make or break my progress in Belleview College, I wasn't going to let myself, Aunty and my parents down. The exam time table was out already and I've been studying hard.

It was revision week and our teacher just left the class so I picked up a few books and started my journey to the library to read when I was obstructed by a human wall.

"Hey, I'm still sorry about that day, please say something to me, even if it's a snarky comment I don't mind. Just don't ignore me." Emmanuel said.

"I have nothing to say actually." I told him. I was actually saying the truth, I'd been avoiding him because I had nothing to say.

"Can I have some days to think about it. I'm on probation, I was admitted to ss2 on trial and I have to impress the authorities so I can stay in this class for good. You and I don't need any distractions for now. We'll talk about this after the exams. Have a nice day." I said before walking away.

I wasn't a heartless person or something, all I said to him was the truth and nothing short of it. I needed no distractions and as my mom always told me 'Distinctions and Relationships are two different things, choose wisely.'. I needed to study hard.

Emmanuel's POV

I understand how weird it might seem that I just turned from treating her badly to loving her hardly the next minute, it wasn't like that. I had fallen in love with her since the very first day I set my eyes on her.

The reason I treated her so immaturely was because I felt she was pretending not to recognize me so I decided to make her feel bad in a bid to push my feelings for her to the back of my mind.

I wasn't one who believed in love at first sight until it happened to me. 

I know I treated her inhumanly since I got to know her, but hearing her say those words cut me deep, she telling me whatever we had was just a distraction to us hurt me. I guess I have to wait till the end of the exams to hear whatever opinion as she had to express.

It would take me nothing to ignore her and move on but I felt something for her and I also couldn't let Joe win or humiliate me the second time. I couldn't let him take what's mine for the second time.

I retreated to my class with a heavy heart and droopy shoulders. Attracta was right about one thing though, I needed to study. My mum would have my head if i came home with a bad result.

Rich kid or not, I wasn't a dullard and I guess I'll just have to show Attracta that too.

Attracta's POV

It's been a few days since I had the the talk with Emmanuel, the exams had started and everyone was studying hard, even the back benchers and class clowns weren't left behind.

So they could be this  serious?

No one had time to hang out with their friends anymore or sit around in groups to gossip. At this point everyone were children of their parents, no one wanted to fail. Everyone knew where they were coming from.

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So far my exams had been good and I thanked God for it. I hoped my results would be amazing too. I had just three papers to go before the term would come to an end. I had spent almost a term in Belleview. How time flies.

It was twelve pm and the siren went off signaling it was time for the afternoon exam.

I filed into the classroom with other students and sat down and the exam booklet was passed round. The almighty mathematics. I skimmed through the theory part, I always answer the theory part first. I started with number three, it was the easiest.

I was almost done with the theory aspect when one of the invigilators in charge pointed at me and asked me to stand up. I was dumbfounded as to what was going on.

"Sir, I hope there's no problem?" I asked worried about time and my unanswered questions.

"Will you shut up!" He barked walking towards me with rage evident on his face. "I don't know what's so hard for you students when it comes to reading but you'd rather come to the exam hall to disgrace yourselves." He yelled as he pointed to my face. I was so confused.

"Sir I did nothing!" I cried out already getting frustrated.

"Shut up you idiot, what's that under your chair?" He shouted back making my eyes dart to my seat as I saw a piece of paper underneath it making I and the rest of the students in the hall gasp in surprise while some snickered and sneered, the others looked sorry for me.

"Sir I have no idea how that got there, I swear I didn't put it there." I begged. I knew nothing about this.

He picked up the paper and opened it revealing all formulas to every question in the exam written on it.

"To the principal's office!" He yelled as he picked up my script and walked forward making me walk behind him. There were tears on my face already. The punishment for cheating in Belleview was suspension or possible expulsion.

I walked into the principal's office with the invigilator. Mrs Laura was the school's principal, a very nice but disciplined woman.

"She was caught with this incriminating paper under her seat?" The invigilator explained.

"Ma I don't know how that got there, I swear."

"Miss Peters, you know the implication of cheating in Belleview and besides you're a transfer-on-trial student so this could even ruin your chances. I'll advise you to tell me the truth and lessen your punishments." She said in a calm tone. Mrs Laura wasn't one to raise her voice or act barbaric.

"Ma I'm saying the truth, I really have no idea. I didn't do it." I insisted. Honestly who could have it in mind to sabotage me this way.

"Have your seats." Mrs Laura said making me and the invigilator seat down. Mrs Laura stared at me like she was trying to break me and make me tell the truth. She had already called Aunty's phone and requested her attention in school.

In about fifteen minutes, Aunty was present and gave me an assuring smile indicating she trusted me. I was interrogated a few times and I was so insistent on the truth.

"Principal, my daughter has been studying her butt off for the past four weeks and I can boldly say it with hundred percent assurance that she's innocent." Aunty defended.

"Madam I also haven't labeled her guilty also. As part of our rules for the student or students on probation, we always watch them closely and I must say I'm impressed with your daughter's behavior and lifestyle as a whole. I'm also on her side." Mrs Laura attested.

"Information reaching me says the security cameras in the exam hall had been deactivated just five minutes before the afternoon exam. It's obvious someone tried to sabotage her." Mrs Laura continued as I wiped my tears.

And in an instant it was like a light bulb went off in her head and she grabbed both the script and the expo(incriminating object) and studied them both. Mrs Laura sent for the invigilator and in a few minutes he was present.

"Well sir, I can see here that the handwriting in this paper is different from the one in her script. Yes, someone could have written it for her but if truly she copied from this she would've written this error that was made in the formula on the paper and lastly they're solutions to all questions here but yet in her script she's solving a really tough question and she seemed to have been a little bit stuck before you called her. Also students with this kind of incriminating objects tend to answer the objective section of the exam first, but she did the opposite. Clearly all this points relay the fact that she is indeed innocent." Mrs Laura started on a verdict.

"So let the math teacher know he's to be a script hundred percent careful and also be at alert when marking this particular script. Thank you." She continued.

"Attracta you can go back to the exam hall and make sure you are speedy enough to be able to complete this exam before the time is over and also see me after your exam." She said to me and my joy knew no bounds.

"Thank you very much ma. Aunty I'm sorry." I apologized for wasting her time and hoped she wouldn't get a query at work.

"It's okay dear,go now because the clock is ticking." She smiled.

I was handed my script and I made a bee line for the exam hall . I sat back on my desk to the surprise of some of my classmates and to the happiness of others.

I was extra speedy as I had didn't have time on my side and thank heavens I was through the same time with every other person, thank God I studied.

I went back to the principals office and she told me she was proud of me for not backing down from the truth and to also continue with my good behavior and well mannered nature. I thanked her and walked out with a smile after she dismissed me.

After my exam some of my classmates checked in me while some other frowned at me. I was happy because news went round that I wasn't the one who put the paper there.

I made sure I wouldn't let this incident affect my remaining two exams. I was about to leave the school premises when Emmanuel ran up to me.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you but I just wanted to say I heard what happened and I'm sorry I couldn't come out of the exam hall and I'm happy they rectified it." He said with a smile .

"Thank you very much."

"I also didn't believe you did that, I knew it was unlike you. Hope you're fine?" He asked concerned.

Was this really the guy that couldn't stand me?

"I'm fine thanks for checking on me.I really appreciate this." I said truthfully.

"You're welcome I know how much you would like to end this conversation soon so I'm going to tell you to take care of yourself. Good night Attracta. He said as he was about to walk away.

"Don't forget to study." He said with a small smirk making me laugh.

"No problem, bye." I said with a wave.

Why do I suddenly feel so giddy inside me? I hope my worst fear wasn't manifesting?

On getting home and Anty called me and she told me how proud she was of me and how I should never say lies just to get out of a situation. I was really happy she believed me though. It was more than enough.

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I was finally done with my exams and I was happy to say the first term was over and I couldn't wait to see my results. I hoped for the best because I really wanted to stay at Belleview and also because I couldn't let everyone down.

I've had an amazing time at Belleview, the teachers were impeccable, the students were great, my friends were amazing and even my frenemies were the bomb . I don't think I'd choose Belleview over any other school.