Chapter 6

I woke up the following morning very eager and enthusiastic about school. While taking my bath in the bathroom, I sang so loud that I thought mom would come to check up on me, but I was glad when she didn't show up.

I soon got dressed in my school uniform and as usual, spent the next five minutes observing myself in the mirror.

"Good morning mom, good morning uncle Richard" I greeted him when I went downstairs.

"Good morning sweetheart" they both chorused back.

"Good morning sister Melina" Chris greeted me. I did not notice he was also there.

"Good morning Chris" I greeted anyway. I wasn't hungry so I took just a cup of coffee and then said.

"I'm ready mom" Everyone at the table turned and looked at me as if what I said didn't make sense.

"What?. Why are you all staring at me like that?" I inquired but no one answered. Chris continued eating his food as if it was his last meal.

"Is that all?. Aren't you going to eat something?". Mom asked at last.

"I'm ok thanks," I said.

"Sweetheart we're just worried about you. You have been refusing to eat for the last two days '. Uncle Richard said. I could hear the concern in his voice but even that did nothing to change the fact that I was still mad at mom for what she did. However, now wasn't the time for that, so I pretended not to know what he meant.

"I'm fine. It's just that I'm too excited to meet my friends after a long time and to also get back into action, plus I'll eat at the school canteen". I rumbled so fast hoping it was enough to convince them that all was okay.

"Fine!"

"Okay, should I wait for you at the car or what?" I said to mum who looked so surprised.

"Oh my baby, I'm so sorry but I can't take you to school today. I'm so occupied.

I nodded "Yeah, it's okay I'll just get a cab then, but I, um . . .would need some money"

"I think I've got a few dollars in my purse"

"Cool"

Luckily I got a taxi immediately after I went out. Taking my phone, I texted Julian and Emily telling them I was already on my way to school. Not more than a minute later, they both replied saying they were on their way too.

It wasn’t long before we were at school. I was a little later than usual, and most people had already arrived. I slammed the door shut after walking out and thanking the cab driver. Just then, I spotted a bunch of guys wandering over to greet me.

"Hi, Mel, you look good," Adrian said, hitting my arm a little in the process.

"I missed the party on Saturday. Heard it was lit" Nixon grinned. Just then I spotted Emily and Julian with some other seniors. They walked to me and after exchanging pleasantries, Emily, Julian, and I left the group and headed to class.

"Okay, here's the plan," Julian said when we were only the three of us.

"If we're to get boyfriends, we'd have to rebrand. First, we would no longer sit together like before and then, we would also have to make friends with the boys we have chosen. Emily and I went through all these, so it's now your turn to know what is going on, get it?"

I was trying to keep my expression neutral. "Do you reckon we’ll actually succeed?" I didn't want to sound skeptical but also didn't want something that may end up getting boys to laugh at us.

"Yeah, why won't? Don't tell me your ancestry is Thomas" Emily said.

"What?" I grimaced.

Emily shrugged "Even If you don't read the bible, you should at least add religion studies"

"All of you," Julian said, "be quiet. We don't really have time. Melina, all you have to do is sit next to Ben and I would sit next to Stephan" She concluded with a sush.

"But Stephan doesn't have classes with us. I mean, he's two classes ahead".

"Yeah, but technically, he had issues with History classes and so has been forced to take it all over this year and it so happens that History is the first class we have today" Julian giggled like she had been praying for that to happen.

"Good for you but what about me? Emily asked.

"What about you, you got Lee right?"

We all burst into laughter.

The class was very busy. Some students were busy greeting their friends while others were simply just looking for comfortable seats to sit in. It wasn't long before we spotted Ben, Stephan, and Lee.

"Okay, now let's go and get our marks".

I slowed back and watched Emily and Julian walk to their guys so confidently that I admired their courage. I watched as Emily hugged Lee and then began a discussion with him.

When Julian sat next to Stephan, I watched closely to see what she would do. She smiled at him and surprisingly, he smiled back. Julian turned and whispered something. When I read her lips, I knew she was saying "come on, go ahead and get him".

I took a deep breath, looked at Emily and Julian, and then made up my mind to go ahead.

I greeted some students as I walked up to sit next to Ben. When I finally sat down, I tried to say 'hi' but the word didn't come out.

My heart began beating very fast in my chest. 'Oh my God, I'm I feeling nervous?' I asked myself. But when I looked at Julian once more and saw how busy she was with Stephan, I gathered courage once more and faced Ben.

"Hi Ben" I bit my lip and hoped he wouldn't ignore me. He was busy typing something on his phone.

"Hello Melina," He said without looking at me. 'Like, why would he do that?'. Anyways, I tried again. "Urm…how are you…I mean I was wondering if.."

"I don wanna be rude but I can't talk to you right now. I'm talking to som' important right now". This time he did look at me.

Not rude? How does what he just said detach itself from the word 'rude'?

"Oh, fine," I said with a smile but deep down inside me, I was dying.

It was all Julian's fault. She has been the one to bring up the idea of getting Ben to be my boyfriend.

"Good morning you young fellows," The history teacher, Doctor Dominique Ansel said as he walked into the class. Immediately, the whole class became silent.

"Welcome back to this prestigious institution and your number one favorite class".

"Geez, this class sucks". Nixon exclaimed loudly.

"And he said it is your favorite class" Adrian chirped in. The whole room burst into laughter at that.

"Silence" Doctor Dominique ordered. After a few seconds of silence, he said "those comments were very hurtful. Go to the principal's office"

Adrian and Nixon both sighed before walking out, just then, the puff girls walked into the class. The class lasted for two hours in which in the end, Mr. Dominique divided us into four members per group for an assignment.

"How did it go?" Emily asked Julian and me.

"Fine, he seems to like me and I'm sure of getting him in no time" Julian sounded more pleased in herself than I had ever seen her.

"What about you Melina?" She asked me. I closed the locker and then turned to face them.

"He's a jerk. Can you believe he shut me out?". Julian and Emily both looked at each other.

"What happened?. Did you tell him you like him and he said he wasn't interested?." Emily asked.

"No, he wouldn't even give me the chance. Only thing he told me was he didn't want to be rude and that he was talking with someone important". I could feel tears form in my eyes and threatened to escape but I forced them back.

Julian and Emily both looked at me in pity and then hugged me.

"You are right, he is a jerk," Emily said.

"And he doesn't deserve you," Julian added.

"Don't worry, we'll find someone else" Emily said again.

"And we'll make him pay for doing this to you"

I let go of them and with a grin, turned to face them. "On second thought, I don't think he is," I said, trying to make them understand my point.

"A jerk?. But you just said so yourself".

"I know Emily. But that doesn't stop the fact that he is one of the hottest guys on campus. Besides, you guys were the ones who told me he liked me".

"Okay, so what are you going to do?". Julian asked.

"Just one thing," I said with an emphasis in order to drive home my point. "Continue with the plan but this time, to make him fall in love with me."

"Intriguing"