At Lunch
I packed my books into my old, worn-out, white school bag, trying to ignore the stares. My classmates trickled out of the room, whispering things I couldn’t quite make out. Some smirked as they passed me. Others didn’t bother to hide their disdain.
I made my way to the cafeteria, alone as usual. I picked up a salad and a bottle of water — a safe choice, considering the daily scrutiny of what I ate. My only friend was Rilynn Blonca Thompson, the headmistress's daughter, though you'd never know it by the way she acted. She was the one small comfort in this snake pit of a school.
Just then, Kaylle strutted in with her little gang of "cliques." Or should I say "wannabe cliques?"
“Hey, Bella,” Kaylle muttered as she passed, her voice dripping with false sweetness. She only called me Bella when she was in a good mood.
I smiled inwardly but kept my face neutral, knowing better than to show her any satisfaction.
"Eww! Look at her eat. Like a pig!" Cole, one of Kaylle’s followers, sneered loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Pigs eat better than that!" Kaylle shot back with a laugh. Her pack of friends cackled along like hyenas, and I could feel their eyes on me, burning with judgment.
My smile evaporated. What did I expect from Kaylle? Whatever. I focused on my salad, trying to tune out their jeers. I wasn’t about to let them ruin my meal — as miserable as it already was.
Suddenly, someone thudded into me from behind, knocking me forward.
“Ow…” I groaned, more annoyed than hurt.
“Hey, girlfriend!” Rilynn beamed, sliding her tray next to mine.
I shot her a look. "When are you gonna stop giving me a heart attack, you witch? You're just as bad as Kaylle sometimes!" I wanted to scream it at her, but I bit my tongue. If I let it slip, she’d bombard me with questions. And I wasn’t ready for her to know what was really going on.
“Hey, Ril…” I said instead, forcing a smile.
She caught my fake smile immediately and sighed as if to say, "Why do you keep doing this to yourself?" She took her usual seat beside me, her eyes filled with concern.
Did she see what just happened with Kaylle? I panicked internally, shoving another forkful of salad into my mouth. My heart pounded in my chest. Was I being too obvious? Was she going to ask me about it? I couldn’t deal with that right now.
“Why not get something better? Like yogurt, ice cream, a doughnut, pizza, hot cheese… or even a hamburger?” she suggested, her voice teasing but sincere.
Relieved she hadn’t caught on to anything deeper, I nodded along, pretending to consider her suggestions. I even forced a laugh. “Hahaha… yeah, right,” I said, rolling my eyes dramatically.
“Hey! I’m serious, you idiot!” She swatted at me, but I could see her concern lingering beneath the playful banter.
“I know, I know,” I laughed again, trying to lighten the mood. “But seriously, I’m not some food junkie. I watch what I eat. I might become a model someday, you know.”
“You don’t have to eat everything, but salad and water every day? That’s not a diet, that’s torture!” she huffed, practically shouting.
I covered my ears, laughing harder. “Okay, Ril, geez! No need to go full-on English teacher on me. It’s just lunch. Eat the whole cafeteria for all I care. And for your information, I do not eat salad and water *every* day.”
“Right. Except for that occasional veggie pizza and strawberry yogurt.” She smirked.
I shrugged. “Say what you want. I don’t care.” I took a long drink of water, washing down the taste of frustration.
The truth? Kaylle kept tabs on everything I ate, and I couldn’t afford to draw any more unwanted attention. Not here. Not at home. So I played it safe while watching Ril wolf down her hotdog.
Then, just as I was zoning out, another girl slammed into me.
“Ugh, seriously?” I muttered, rubbing my sore back. I turned around to find none other than Brim — the school’s resident queen bee, and, of course, the governor’s daughter.
Brim wasn’t someone I tangled with. We were in the same class, but that was where the similarities ended. She was Kaylle’s idol, and that alone said everything I needed to know about her.
“Anabella Andrews!” Brim barked, her voice like nails on a chalkboard. She leaned in, her posse snickering behind her like trained lapdogs.
If I had an ounce of the power she had, I’d give her a lesson she'd never forget.
She leaned in close, her eyes narrowing. “I suggest you be careful and play it safe around here.” Her voice was low, almost a whisper, but laced with menace.
Her breath smelled foul, like she’d swallowed something rotten, and I tried not to gag. She flashed me a tight, smug smile before stalking off with her minions.
Ril looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “What the f— was that all about?”
I sighed. “It’s nothing, just another day in Brim’s kingdom of drama.”
**After School**
As the final bell rang, I grabbed my bag and headed for the music room. Mrs. Rafaella Johnson had been teaching us how to play various instruments, but today, she was wrapping up the lesson when she made an announcement.
“There’s going to be a music competition against All Whites High, and we’ll be sending one male and one female representative from our school. So, get ready,” she said.
I should’ve been excited, but instead, I felt a sharp pain below my belly button.
“Great. Cramps,” I thought. Just my luck.
Then Mrs. Johnson called my name. “Miss Anabella Andrews…”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“You’ve been one of my top students, so I expect you to participate in the competition.”
I mumbled something about trying my best and hurried out of the room. But before I could make it far, someone grabbed me by the arm and dragged me into a corner.
It was Evan Thompson, Rilynn’s brother. He looked down at me with those dark eyes that made my heart race.
“Hi…” I stammered, completely off guard.
He smirked. “I need you to tutor me.”
********THE FOLLOWING DAY***A high pitched voice woke me from my wonderful dreamland.“Wake up, Anny!!!” She added more emphatic stress to my name like she was the one who named me.Even in dreamland, I’ll definitely recognize that voice. It is Mrs. Jane’s."Oh jeez! I so hate when she did this, disturbing my beauty sleep. But I have no other choice than to get the fuck up! Perhaps, I've never had any beauty sleeps since dad's death."I snapped out of my stupid thought, hissed and stretched my lazy body out of bed.“Come clean my room, It’s really messy!” She screamed even
*** EIGHTEEN HOURS LATER ***I was busy with some school work when Kaylle entered my room. She looked beautiful but her dress was too tight and revealing. It was so tight that she could hardly move.I guess what I called her yesterday was even better compared to the way she looked. Whatever! I don’t fucking care!!“Hello darling…?” She gently greeted.“Hi Kay, I see you’re ready for the party?”“Yeah, of course. I just wanted to ask you… How do I look?” She asked stylishly.“You look so lovely.” I blushed with a foolish smile.“Really? I know y
Weeks Later.I caught a fever and stayed away from school for a week. I couldn't eat, sit, speak, stand or walk well because I was really sick.Kaylle and stepmum feared it might be followed by an irritable fever, the terminal kind. So she called Mrs. Aurora, the home doctor to check on me. She prescribed me some drugs that would quickly heal and improve my health. The home doctor told stepmum to let me have a week of absolute rest and eat properly.Mrs. Jane promised to take good care of me in the best way but what surprised me most was that she and Kaylle suddenly became nice to me. Kaylle served me on my bed every breakfast, lunch and dinner.With all of these care, I freaking don't enjoy myself because I wasn't used to it. She even feeds me.
This chapter is specially dedicated to all my wonderful readers. It's impossible to name all of you but I'm sure you guys know yourselves. I love you! #Amana-Deena.✴✴✴The next day finally came... Evan didn't come to my desk. I'm sure he thought by now, I must have read everything. If he won't come now, then later... 'At the library' I thought."Our topic for this week is cell." Mr. Rios introduced.Just then, Brim suddenly banged the door open. She boldly went directly to her seat and sat comfortably. Meanwhile, Mr. Rios only concentrated writing on the whiteboard as if no one entered.
The Next Day...Everyone in school got the video of what happened. One of the girls must have recorded and sent it to others. Students turned to her, side by side in an idiotic manner...but it seemed she's yet to watch the video.We were on our table eating when a junior student burst out laughing (at the video of course, drawing people's attention).Brim annoyingly went to her seat, pulling her hair violently to the centre of the canteen. Other students turned to watch what'll happen to the girl."What's funny?!" Brim roared at the shivering student."No...no..thing." She whimpered."So what made you laugh, fucking moron?!" She barked. Not caring if she was the one that recorded the vi
“Anabella Andrews!” A very familiar voice called.I quickly turned and then, I noticed it was E.V.“What took you so long to come out, I’ve been waiting outta here for you for ages!” He said as I ran to hug him. I buried my tomatoes face into his broad shoulder, staining and squeezing his neat, ironed shirt with tears and mucus but he wrapped his hands over my waist instead.“I didn’t expect you E.V, I taught it was someone else.”“Did your stepmom insult you again?” He asked.I was shocked. “I didn’t say so, did I?” I replied.“But your eye
✴✴✴I passed the entrance exams into S.A.C and I now stay with Evan. He stays in a different room but we spend quality time together… Mostly watching films, playing games or studying.Evan schools in a different College where he studies Medicine and Surgery, while I study gynecology in S.A.C.Evan treats me like a princess in his house ‘cos he does everything for me. He even bought “Nokia 9” mobile phone as my 18th birthday surprise.‘Alas! At least, I’m far away from any family problem!…’*****A Year Later....It’s 14th
✴✴✴I woke up with pains all over."Anabella! Anny!! Please open the door and explain things to me....” Sam pleaded."Silence."“Anny!…I know you're heartbroken right now so please, It's not the worse but it's for the better!" She persuaded. "A problem shared is half solved... At least, talk to me Anny, I need to see you...to see your-preety-face!”"Silence."I didn't want to answer her, neither do I want to see her or open the door... All I wanted now is to be ALONE! How my parents left me, or how I proably should have been. I heard her footsteps walking away and I felt releaved... Sobbing painfull