Chapter 5

Melanie's POV

"Darling! Darling!! Come out. You're running late." I heard Mom's voice as I quickly slip on my wristwatch. I bent down and tied my shoelace. I rushed to the door and then looked back to ensure that I dropped nothing. I opened the door after my confirmation and rushed down the stairs.

A maid was already at the end of the stairs with my lunch bag. She handed it over and I muttered a 'thank you' which she reciprocated with a smile. I walked briskly to the fridge and took an apple which I'd have for breakfast. I stepped into the living room to see Mom pacing up and down, waiting for me and Daisy was with her as well. I smiled at her and walked up to them. 

"Good morning" I greeted. "Good morning to you too sis", she replied. Just for you to know, I've actually come to love Daisy. She's fun to be with and acts in a caring manner. Anyone who sees us would fail in recognizing that we've just known each other for some days now. The last ten days she has been here felt like forever. Getting closer to her and enjoying her company made me feel my missing part is back.

"Mom, I'm sorry for keeping you here. We can go now." I announced and mom hugged Daisy and bade her goodbye. She left the sitting room and I was about to follow her, Daisy stopped me. "What do you need?" I asked and she stretched forth her hand. "I want to give this to you." She opened her palm and I found a wrist band lying on her palm. "Why?" I asked impatiently cause I was running late. "It's a luck band." She said. I looked at her and at the band. I quickly collected it and said a thank you to her before I rushed out. I met Mom waiting in the car and I gave her an apologetic smile. She glared at me for a minute and them smiled. The chaffeur started the car and drove out of the compund.

I waved at Mom as I walked towards the gate of the great Wilford High. "Welcome back to school" a voice whispered into my ears. I shivered at the way the breeze from the person's mouth tickled my ear. "Oh Steve, I've missed you " I exclaimed as I threw my hands round the guy's neck. He giggled and pushed me away slightly. "Girl, you'd kill me one day, I swear." He put on an act as if he was dying and I hit him on his arm. He winced...serves him right. "You know your hug is suffocating." He lamented. "Seems so. I haven't seen you for a while now." I said, walking towards the school buildings. "I should be the one saying that. You should have spared time to visit me since you know am always busy. I would not be able to come visit you." He defended. "By the way, how's Jessie?" I enquired. 

Well Steve is my friend, a close one at that. He's doctor James' son, my childhood friend and a classmate. Jessica is his sister and I call her Jessie.

" She's fine." He said as he waved at some boys and I also greeted some girls who came my way. We finally got to the second floor that was mainly occupied by the Senior Class 2. We head to our lockers and I input my password before opening it and I withdrew some books from my bag and placed them in it. I waited for Steve as he does the same and when he was done, we entered our class 'Diamond'. 

Well, Wilford High grouped all classes starting from the junior class 1 to the Senior Class 3. Students were grouped into three classes according to their grades during the admission. The extremely brilliant ones were to belong to the Diamond class, the brilliant ones for the Silver class and the less brilliant for the Gold class. I was fortunate to be in the Diamond class alongside Steve and my second best friend, Janet. I sat down on my seat and Steve, his. We were sitting close to each other anyway. I looked round the class and Janet was nowhere to be found. As I turned to face Steve to start a discussion, she entered. She waved at us from afar and I smiled at her. 

"Hey bestie" I greeted as she approached us. She hugged me and I reciprocated. "How have you been?" She asked Steve. "Just the way you left me. You could not even check on me." Steve stated angrily and I chuckled. He's flaring up at her as well. Janet moved closer to him and gave him a friendly kiss on his cheek. "Awwwn, my cute little friend is miffed with me." She said pulling his cheeks and Steve's frowning face turned to a smiling one until Janet pulled his cheeks fiercely. Steve slapped off her hands and yelled. 

"Arrgh. You're annoying. What was that for?" "I'm not the only one with a cell phone. What about you? You could not even place a call?" She said glaring at him. I bit my lips to prevent laughter. These two could not even stop fighting after the long break we had. They are at it again. I stared at the red-haired, slender and tall girl in front of me and the handsome, funny and caring guy with the black hair, both with amusement.

"Stop fighting, you two" I cautioned and just then the speakers on all the floors started blaring with loud sound that called everyone's attention. A voice erupted from the speakers. "Everyone, come straight to the hall." It announced. Students started trooping out of their various classes and headed towards the hall. We joined the students as well and when we got to the hall, the principal and the teachers were waiting for our arrival. The principal mounted the podium and he addressed us.

                           * * * * * * * * * * *

It was lunch time and students were already in the school cafeteria. Those who were not with their lunch, ordered some from the school's and those who were with theirs, took it along with them to the cafeteria and I was one of them. I brought out the food that was packed for me and I started eating. Steve did not bring his lunch so he ordered for milkshake and pizza. I wondered why he didn't have his lunch bag with him since he's always with it on the first day of resumption. Janet was with hers as well. "Steve, why are you not with your homemade lunch?" 

"That's 'cause I'm a grown-up." He said proudly. "Grown-up indeed" Janet sneered. "Really?" I asked, flashing him a smile. "Yeah, I'm no more Mom's pet or Daddy's boy that's used to bringing lunch to school." He boasted. "But it's only on the first day of resumption, you don't bring it always." I continued. "Yeah, it stopped, starting today. The two of you can go on with that." He said  "You're still Daddy and mummy's pets." He chuckled. "I guess I'm not one anymore." I thought. "Meaning?" Steve asked staring at me. Oops, I guess I said that aloud. "Nothing" I faked a smile and continued with the food. 

Few minutes later, I had finished eating and I had to wait for Steve and Janet. They were still on their drinks. They hurried up with it and we exited the cafeteria together. On our way to the class, we met the famous Nancy and her clique. I tried to avoid her but she kept on blocking my path. 

"Well...well...well, who do we have here?" She asked. "Nice to meet you again, Nan" I replied. "Hey, how many times do I have to remind you that I hate that nickname whenever you mention it?" She half yelled. "And how many times do we have to remind you that it's not right to block someone's path?" Janet fired back. "Hey redhead, back off." A blonde-haired girl whose name is Rose warned Janet but she seemed unmoved by the girl, Rose.

I turned to face Nancy and she was staring back at me with eyes filled with anger and hatred. "Nancy, I don't see a reason for us to fight always. We are both classmates...we should learn to love, help and appreciate ourselves not the other way round. This hatred is baseless." I advised. "Keep your advice to yourself, Melanie." Bella, the other girl that was with her spoke up and I glanced at her with a warning glare. She looked away...great! She's the only one that can be intimidated amidst them. "I..." The bell stopped Nancy from completing her statement. Lunch time was over..

"I guess you would let us go now. Gat a class to meet up with." Steve spoke up for the first time since we bumped into Nancy and her two friends. She huffed, turned her back to us and walked away with the girls following her. I heaved a sign of relief and smiled at Janet and Steve. I guess resumption to school is resumption to hatred.

TBC ..