Chapter Six

Lilian

Monday, October 3

7:30

    I quickly stuffed the last slice of bread into my mouth, before clearing the crumps that fell on my lips.

More like it sticked on my lips because of the lip gloss I applied.

I'm really not excited about going to school infact I don't want to go to school, but I have to, no one's gonna help me write the notes I've missed. It's great that I'm a brilliant student if not I would have been lacking behind in mathematics.

I drank the rest of the tea in the cup and used a napkin to clean my mouth before getting up from the dinning table.

So going to school is always by school bus, but I'm already late so if my mom can't drive me to school I'll end up taking a public bus... And I really hate public school buses.

"Mom, are you going out today?" I asked, she turned back to face me since she was busy washing the dishes in the kitchen.

I wonder why the house helps have not resumed, anyways that's the least of my problems.

"No, are you done let me drive you to school." she uttered, I dusted my uniform making sure I'm ready for school.

So a little about my school, it's not so awesome because I don't have friends, but it's like the best school in our area, in Lagos!

"Okay I'm done." I replied walking over to the couch in the living room, I picked my phone and flinged it into my blue school bag.

"Okay." I heard my mom say, she rinsed her hands, closed the tap and dried her hands on the apron she was wearing.

Her eyes were pale, she looked weak and she looks like someone that has been crying for days.

I just want to be strong, for her, even though she can be very annoying a times.

I followed behind her when she grabbed the car keys, shoved my legs into my well polished school shoes, more like black snickers.

Snickers and tennis shoes, that's all I ever wear.

So you can say I'm a bit weird, bossy, rude, proud... Well I really don't care, it's my life and you are not the boss of me.

So I'm brown skinned, an half caste but I look a lot more like my dad, I have his skin colour, long hair and pink lips... tall like my mom and river blue eyes like hers... Weird right?

"Did you wash the car this morning?" My mom asked our driver immediately she greeted, I stood behind her adjusting my wrist watch and when they were done discussing about the car, the engine and other things I don't care to know about, I entered the car and my mom decided to drive me to school, herself!

I'm not even bothered that I'm running late after all it isn't and it was never my dream school, I dreamt of a school where people loved me for me... Not some place where they want to walk you over and treat you like a door mat.

But it's cool that I never let them treat me like that, I'm also a violent person you know?, and I know how to punch your face when you try to prove strong.

I brought out a mirror and checked my face to see if everything was okay, it was just the same old school face.

Lip gloss and a little powder, blue wrist watch, navy blue, black and grey checkers skirt, blue shirt,  grey and blue striped tie, grey blazers, white socks and black snickers.

"Looks like you are excited about resuming, your friends must have missed you." I snorted in disgust.

Can't it just be a quiet ride to school?

"You are well aware I've got no friends." I said facing the window and staring at different pedestrians as she drove out of the estate.

"Uhmm... Don't worry sweetie, you'll find a friend one that will love you more than anyone else in this world." she said smiling to herself, unaware that she's irritating me with the whole conversation.

"don't want one, I have you and I know you'll always be there." I replied not sparing her a glance, looking into her eyes will make her go emotional again and I seriously hate it when she starts getting emotional.

It's so annoying.

"Yes sweetie I'll always be there, okay?" She said using one of her hands to touch mine, I noticed how warm her hands were unlike mine that was freezing cold.

"Okay." I replied not sure if I should free my hands or not, but I was enjoying the warmth it gave my hands so I just left it in her soft tender grip.

8:00am

Finally we got to school, stupid school!

So they were already done with the assembly and late comers were already being punished for coming late to school, but I'm a senior and my mates can't punish me.

I walked swiftly into the main school building, classmates that were busy punishing students suddenly picked interest in staring at me.

Then my phone rung, my ring tone blaring out..

' I know you don't like me, you wanna fight me, don't want no problems at you party don't invite m— '

It was the unknown number, again so I picked it to find out who the person is.

"Hello." I said pausing a little, the eyes on me suddenly increased so I decided to go to class.

"Hii, I'm Charles."

The voice said, Charles who?

People are fuckin' crazy!

"I'm sorry I don't know you, Charles from where?"  I asked trying my very best to sound nice, I carefully climbed the stairs seeing different faces of people who hate me but are too cowardly to fight me.

Whatever they are not my business.

"Well I'm your classmate, don't you know me... The new guy, I greeted you before but you did not—" he suddenly paused and whispered something to someone, I hissed and felt like hanging up, I got to class and saw him talking to Morgan with his phone not very far from his ear.

I haven't noticed this so called Charles but I think he is the one seeing that he is talking to Morgan who must have interrupted.

And yes, he is the only face I'm not familiar with.

I hanged up and walked into the class acting like I did not see him and Morgan, they were both so engrossed in their conversation and I really don't care to know who the fuck he is.

So if looks could kill, ants will be enjoying my body in the grave.

There was this girl, that also looked like a new girl and she was on my seat, I hate conversation with students from this school.

"Hey." I said trying my best to be nice although there was a small frown on my face.

She was busy reading a text book.

"Hi." she said staring at me before checking me out, really I found it very annoying.

"Nice to meet you but you are on my seat." I uttered, Durrh.. I'm not very nice so don't expect me to exchange pleasantries.

"Ohh... I'm sorry, it's just that I'm new and some girls told me that I could seat here because no one was here before." She replied as she quickly packed her bags and books.

She has this round glasses and she was light skinned, pretty and looked innocent.

I think I knew what they were doing, so they want me to fight with the new girl over my seat?

"I could help you get a new seat." I told her as she scanned the classroom looking confused, I think she just resumed today.

"Ohh I'll really appreciate that." she replied, I dropped my bag on my chair adjusted my skirt, raised my head to see Morgan and Bella throwing daggers at me.

"Okay follow me, I can't lift it alone." I replied before walking out of the class.

We were heading for the Junior block were we would be able to find seats, so the main school building was divided into two, senior and junior block.

"I'm sorry for taking your seat." she uttered again looking nervous, I think she noticed my rude attitude, well I'm trying to be nice.

"It's okay." I replied, not sparing her a glance, we continued our walk to the Junior block, I suddenly stopped.

He stared at me for a little while before saying something.

"So you later resumed, I thought you died already." He said smirking, his friends rolled their eyes before totally ignoring me.

"Well I can't die before my enemies, it's just not possible." I said raising my hands in the air.

I hate him so much, I hate everything about him, I can't believe I once dated a guy like him... I so much hate him, I hate his face, his friends, his attitude....

"You were once wishing I was your everything remember?" He asked raising up his brow and staring at me catching glimpse of the new girl behind me.

Jerk!

I hate every damn thing about him!

"I don't have your time... You wish I'm your everything." I said smiling to myself, I passed beside him after glancing at the new girl to make sure she was following me.

As usual she was staring at the bad boy in front of her, I've watched this episode a thousand times... 'Wow is he in our class' 'he's handsome', 'wow I like him'.

It's not a new thing and it happens all the time.

Every girl... Well most girls because I hate his face, most girls have a crush on him, even junior girls.

He his brown skinned, red lips, hairy face, long hairs, brown eyes blah blah blah.

But he's a bad boy, has a small tattoo on his abs, don't ask me how I found out, he was once my boyfriend, and he pierced his left ear.

  He is a bad boy, a player too I heard he gave up on relationships after we broke up, who cares? I've got no problem with him as long as he doesn't interfere in my business.

I wonder why he chose to ruin my mood and start a stupid conversation with me, he should admit it he still likes me and he is angry because I broke his heart, well he had a heart before he was officially declared a play boy.

So this new girl clearly isn't aware of the fact that Edward's a player.

Well it's not my business if she likes him, I  still don't give a fuck.

"That was rude of him." She whispered when we passed beside Edward and his friends and I still saw her looking back.

Yeah she likes his looks not his attitude.

"I'm used to it already." I replied still not sure of what to say.

She whispered a silent "Oh." and I thought that was the end of our discussion when she asked again.

"Why is he rude to you." that's it I lost my temper.

"Girl please mind yo business, did you come here to learn or to interfere in other people's business?" I asked looking more furious than I sounded.

She frowned a bit, looking shocked and hurt by my words.

This is how I end up talking to other people, I'm short tempered and sometimes I misunderstand people.

"I'm really sorry... I shouldn't have asked you that, I'm so sorry." she replied, she turned and faced her front.

That came out wrong and she's probably thinking I'm rude.

"Hey, do you think I'm rude?" I asked avoiding her eyes as I stared at the floor walking slower than before.

"Well a bit... Yes, but I'm sorry for asking you that." She replied looking sad, she's so nice!

I thought to myself, other girls would have insulted me, she's friendly and I think she understands me.

"Well I'm sorry for shouting at you, it's just that I'm not in a good mood today." I replied and finally we got to where we were going.

"I understand." she replied smiling, one question... doesn't she get tired of smiling? I asked myself staring at the girl in disbelief.

"By the way, I'm Elizabeth, and you?" She asked, I entered one if the old classes and she followed behind me.

"Lilian." I replied not sparing her a glance, I shifted one of the seats, inspecting if it was intact, the first one had a broken leg so I had to move to another seat while she searched for a desk.

After about two minutes of searching and inspecting, I found a seat for her.

I helped her carry it back to class since she was still searching for a desk, I have a lot to write and checking the time on my watch it was already 8: 15, we already used fifteen minutes of our first period.

I walked back into our class and to my surprise there was still no teacher in our class just students making noise and all that.

"Mhad oo!" I heard some students screaming from a corner of the class, I walked in with the seat, trying my best to figure out what was going on as I scanned the whole classroom.

Edward walked out of the class angrily, some girls frowning and yelling at the new guy named Micheal, others screaming the Nigerian slang 'Mhad oo'

So there is no one I could as what  happened because I'm used to minding my business and a lot of people don't like my face at all.

So I kept wondering, most girls and even guys love Edward, so why did he walk out of the class— angrily?

All high school drama, so I walked back to my seat after dropping Elizabeth's seat in a space close to me... Who am I kidding? There are a lot of space around me.

No one wants to talk to me, stay around me or interact with me because I'm a rude person I get... They all believe I broke the bad boys heart, blah blah blah I hate high school!

"Good morning class." Our English teacher walked swiftly into the class, great!  He is seventeen minutes late.

I used my eyes to search for Elizabeth, I wonder why I care about that girl but I like her.

She's nice and I think she understands me.

Why do I even care? She might not want to be my friend, I'm short tempered and rude. We have different personalities and she won't love my attitude.

She quickly walked in after greeting the teacher who asked her a few questions like where she was coming from.

It took baby girl ten fuckin' years to find a desk.

I waved my hand a little so she'll notice me before gesturing to her seat.

Baby girl smiled and faced the floor to avoid the eyes that kept staring at her and her reaction to my wave.

So I'm sure she's a shy person.

"Where is Edward." the teacher asked as he scanned the classroom, I lowered my head a bit because he was sure going to ask me about him.

"Lilian." he called, I cursed under my breath and felt like strangling the teacher that stood beside my seat, using his eyes to search for Edward, his fingers tapping my table to catch my attention.

"Yes?" I asked, kinda rude but teachers know I'm rude and beating a student in this school is illicit.

It can lead to a teacher getting fired.

"Where's your friend?" I snorted in anger, I just hate this man, I hate every damn thing about him.

Don't look at me like that

I hate almost every person in this institution.

"He is not my friend and I'm not his body guard." I replied a bit rude making some students to murmur and make sounds that are made the teacher more furious.

Sounds like 'ouch', 'yesh', 'awhh'.

"You lack manners, you lack home training, not your fault, you don't have a real Nigerian mother to train you right, I'll show you what I can do." The teacher said looking furious, I just smirked at him.

How dare he say I don't have home training, he insulted my mom right? He can't go Scot free.

"Sir you really won't mind saying it in front of my mom, because I'm gonna video call her." He was already standing in front of the class ready to teach when I interrupted.

I stood there waving my phone, this is the disadvantage of allowing phones in school.

"What!?" he asked looking shocked, he moved towards me and snatched the phone from my hand.

He would sure loose his job if I called my momma.

"Give it back, or since when did you become a phone snatcher?" I asked raising my hands in the air.

The other students were enjoying the show, it was an interesting scenario.

He acted like he did not hear me, moved to the front of the class and dropped the phone on his lesson note, I can't believe he seized my phone because I threatened to call my mom.

"So today I'll be teaching emphatic stress." he said as he scribbled something on the white marker board.

I sat down gently although I was fuming, anger burning in me, I felt like slapping his eyes out of his face.

He is such a crazy teacher, and I don't know why but he has always bothered me ever since I came to this school.

Then if he saw me talking to Edward he would come in between us and start asking us stupid questions like 'what's your plans with this girl?', 'must you always follow him around?, is he your book?'.

I know I'm going to make him pay for what he just did, stupid teacher!

10:00

  

    Break time alas!, students playing, running around, scrambled in two's and three's, and me alone moving to the dinning hall.

   And behold!, they are serving fried rice and chicken today, I wonder why though, the food they serve here everyday is always trash and one can almost throw up at the sight of the food.

"Lilian." the tiny voice called, I turned back to see her waving at me, she adjusted her glasses closer to her eyes.

I loved the way she walked, she looked like an innocent cute angel.

"Elizabeth." I replied smiling at her, it was rare to see my smiling though, but I was a bit surprised that she recognized my back view and she still remembers my name.

Other people forget me, it's as if I don't even exist.

"That's too formal, just call me Lizzy." she said waving off her hands slightly.

"It's because Edward complained to his parents that is why they changed food they served." an SSS2 girl whispered to her other friends, as they gossiped while shoving spoonfuls of fried rice into their mouth.

"So they serve good food here, my previous school we bring our lunch from home or we pay for it." Elizabeth said as we walked side by side, we spotted an empty table that was unoccupied so we decided to seat there.

"Yeah but it's paid for in your tuition fees... Let's sit here." I said, I dropped the book in my arms on the table before taking a sit on the round table.

The table which could occupy twelve students was painted grey while the walls of the dinning painted blue, about twenty four more tables in the hall though.

"Ohh okay, so I can eat whatever I want?" she asked looking a amazed.

"Yep." I said, I opened a bottle of Coke I brought from home, as I gulped it down my throat rather than sipping it, and it was a bit awkward because I had a straw with me but I was very thirsty.

"Okay, I'll be right back." she uttered before leaving her seat. I opened my History text book, started studying as I drank my Coke, this time I made use of straw.

10: 17

  I raised my head and gazed at my blue wrist watch with tiny diamonds on it.

I did not notice he had been staring at me, in fact seating near me until I raised my head to search for Elizabeth.

"Hey." he said waving like the idiot he is. I think he has been stalking me, and I kept wondering since when he has been there staring at me like a jobless person, well it is break time but still,  is this guy normal?

"Who are you?" I asked narrowing my eyes at him, I'm sure he is Charles.

"Charles." he uttered still smiling like a fool.

He peeped into my book and when he noticed I was staring at him furiously he moved back.

"What?" he asked staring at me almost like he was admiring my eyes.

"Who gave you permission to sit here?" I asked, you'll actually think I owned the school but seriously he was pissing me off.

"Me gave me permission to sit here." he uttered smirking like an idiot, I hissed and snorted in anger.

"Please leave here, and why are you even calling me, you don't just call people, it's not done." I said staring at him in disgust.

He unbuttoned his shirt a bit, placed the tie over his shoulders and he's one of those guys that refuse to tuck in their uniforms.

"Chill, just wanna make friends I don't bite, and you don't tell me what to do." he uttered resting his back gently, he was not going to leave, he was here to stay.

I packed my books and threw the empty coke bottle at him in anger, stood up and was about to leave.

He started biting onto the straw which I found really annoying, he's such a riff raff.

"Stay away from me because I really hate your face, you disgust me."

I said looking very furious.

"Yeah yeah I love you too." he replied, that really irritated me and I felt like breaking a plate on his head, I turned back to face him, he was smiling again.

"Don't dream, I never said I love you." I replied smiling sarcastically.

"well I'm not dreaming, you just said it now." he uttered throwing his arm in the air, a smile plastered on his face.

I gritted my teeth, trying not to loose my temper, so I left immediately, new students are so  annoying.

  So I went in search of Elizabeth to find out whether she was able to get her food, wonder why I'm searching for her but I think it's the right thing to do.

After all she came in search for me earlier.

I moved towards where they were serving food and to my surprise I found her.

I recognized her back view and besides her uniform were still sparkling new, she was shorter than I am and she has a sweet low cut.

My mouth dropped when I saw her talking to Edward, more like he was flirting with her.

What the fuck?!

She has not even used a day here!

I felt this wave of anger even though I don't know why I was angry, I felt betrayed or something I thought she was going to be my friend but I was wrong, very wrong indeed.