Chapter Seven

Weeks had gone by and the midterms were here.

Joe actually did text me and we got talking. We were close friends right now but something doesn't quite add up, coupled with the fact that whenever I ask him to sit with I and my friends he always declines and sits with his set of friends. I don't blame him actually I also won't want to sit anywhere but with my friends so I dropped the offers.

I was done writing the notes with the help of my friends, excluding Emmanuel, obviously.

I had to be updated on the previous notes. We still didn't get along and I wasn't in any way bothered.

I didn't give a fuck about his friendship, I preferred his twin. I also really need to start studying.

Val's day was next year and last week the Ss2 classes had a "valentine's raffle". That was what it was called by the students. It was an opportunity for students to pick someone else's name from the basket that held each person's name written on a piece of folded paper.

It was a tradition in Belleview and was  still being observed in partial honor of the social prefect who initiated it about five years ago. I don't understand why we had to pick so ahead of time though.

We took turns going to and from the basket. I and my friends went next. I also noticed one things about our "clique". My friends especially, none of them ever bothered to follow rules, most especially the ones made by students. They were like royalty and no one dared cross them.

Surprisingly, I picked the Val'Royale special paper. The Val'Royale paper was that which contained two people's names. It was like the ultimate valentine paper.

And yes, unsurprisingly I picked the two hottest guys in this school. Joe Alakija and Emmanuel Coker. Just great. Of all people, Emmanuel Coker? Is he even aware I chose him?

"Did you pick him? Did you pick him?" I heard some girls asking themselves excitedly as I walked past.

"So who picked Emmanuel?" One of them asked perplexed and a little disappointed.

"Who also picked Joe?" Another asked her voice breaking as she was close to tears.

On top this valentine matter?

I can't believe they actually aimed at picking that obnoxious asshole.

The only rule of valentine's raffle was that the girls were not allowed to get gifts for this guys. It was just the guys getting the girls gifts. I saw it as a little sexism dipped into a tub of feminism.

It was lunch time and I headed to the cafeteria to get lunch, I got what I could finish as I thanked the server and walked to our table. Yes we had a table and it was specially for us, no one else dared sit on it.

"Hi everyone." I greeted before taking my seat ready to devour my food as everyone replied except you know who. I was about five spoons into my food when someone cleared their throat.

I looked up to see frowning faces of my friends and an unsure look from Gina staring back at mine.

"Is there something on my face?" I asked and they all nodded negative making me continue eating but I still felt their burning gazes on me.

" Did I do something?" I asked again as I wiped my mouth with the serviette.

"A, we need to talk." Ella said.

Oh and did I mention we both call each other by the first letter of our names. Cute right?

"That's if Attracta is even her real name." Emmanuel said making me roll my eyes.

"Okay seriously A, you've been our friend for a while now and nobody knows anything about you yet you know everything about us. Isn't it worrisome?" Ella said with slight irritation in her voice.

"And Ruby also dishes you glares and dirty looks at any chance she gets. What's up with that?" Gina added.

Well I guess it's time.

"Okay, fine." I said as I took in a deep breath as i pushed my plate a few inches forward.

Story time. Let's go.

"...so that's how I ended up living with Ruby. She's my cousin but I don't know why she hates me so much. We used to be close friends will we were about eight or ten."

"Oh okay. Now that it's all cool we're sorry for going all detective on your ass. We were just bothered and it was all so freaky." Ella apologized making the rest hum and chatter in response.

I looked up at Emmanuel and noticed he had a calculative look on his face and I guess I was staring for too long as he looked up at me with an emotion I couldn't quite understand in his eyes. We held each other's gazes and only broke it when Gina cleared her throat.

"Where do you guys live?" Ella tried to end the awkward silence following the awkward moment.

"We stay at-

Brnggggg!! I was interrupted by the bell as everyone tried to round up with their food and scurried to their classes. Guess I'll tell them some other time.

I was walking out the door of the library when someone tapped my shoulder making me jolt as a reflex action. I turned to find out it was Emmanuel.

"What do you want?" I spat.

"With this sad story of yours I know you have everyone wrapped around your fingers but I'm just going to tell you that you didn't get me. I am not falling for that old trick and if you think you're going to get any pity for me you're highly mistaken so have a nice day fooling others." He said and was about to walk away till I grabbed his wrist making him stay back in place.

"First and foremost I didn't ask. Secondly I don't have any business with you so why are you acting like you are the center of everything or you make the world go round because you don't and I don't give a fuck about your opinion because I don't care about whatever you think or feel."

I had I had had about enough from him being so obnoxious. I'm done with this attitude. I went to class and I got done with the rest of the day without any disturbance from him. I guess I finally got him off my back.

I got through the rest of the day with ease and was about to head home after staying back to study for a while.

All my friends were long gone anyways and Ruby always went home with the guy in the car from the other day. I doubt Aunty knows about it.

The day was over and I was about heading home when I felt someone pull me back into the classroom. I looked up to find out it was Emmanuel.

"What do you want from me this time?"I asked him.

"Well I just wanted to let you know that your little bravery stunt back there is not going to save you from me. And if you ever try that again I'll make your life a living hell in this school." He said.

"Look here mister, I really don't care about what you feel but I can assure you that there's nothing you can do to oppress me and food for thought, I don't think I've ever done anything to get on your nerves so this whole superiority complex you're exhibiting shouldn't and doesn't even bother me. You'd step off your high pedestal when you're tired and about making my life a living hell,I dare you bro." I looked at him from head to toes before I stormed out of the classroom heading home.

I was home studying for the midterms. I couldn't afford to fail and let Aunty down because she was the one being nice enough to pay my bills alongside her husband. I got my notes out after I completed my chores and left Ruby's share for her. Whether she likes it or not, I'm not helping her out today, she wasn't an appreciative person.

I and Joe were really getting along, he was a really good friend and was always there for me and I think I have a crush on him.

Why wouldn't I? He was really handsome, gentlemanly but there's this spark I wasn't really feeling between us, It was really coming on stronger I didn't think I was ready for that kind of relation between us.

I guess I should do reduce the way we talk.

Honestly, I don't know why Emmanuel was all up in my business, I didn't expect anyone to feel sorry for me; in fact I hated people feeling sorry for me so what did I put out there that was indicating to him to feel sorry for me. He was just a douche that's proud, irritating, annoying, and inconsiderate.

The bond between Joe and I was really growing and at a really fast rate. He even called me his everything. No we weren't dating yet. Joe always recharged my line even though I told him I was strongly against it, they were all surprise gifts.

I actually always looked forward to talking to him. We bonded really while texting but our conversations face to face were always short mostly because we were getting shy around each other or was it just me?

I was shy around Joe but my heart always skips a beat when I see Emmanuel. What could this be? I hope it wasn't what I hoped it wouldn't be.

'Or you just like Emmanuel?' my subconscious mocked.

No! I don't and would never like that douche.

I was in Belleview to study and study I would.