CHAPTER ONE

                             ***

Walking down the hall of Sultan high with her two best friends, Amanda just couldn’t believe it was her final year in high school. She thought about everything she’ll miss. 

She took a stop at the school fame wall, watching herself in the picture holding the trophies she had ever won for the school. She remembered her glory days, how she had led her cheerleading team, the sultan’s flower through championship and claimed the price. But there was a lot on her mind, like the state championships coming up soon and other stuff she thought her friends won’t understand but most importantly, her forever crush, Jake Bush.

Jake had been the only thing clouding Amanda’s head, aside Yale University. She talked about him at every given opportunity. How could she not? Jake was the highlight of her imagination. He was tall, blond, had a smile made from heaven, his words were like honey, his lips; sensational, his presence stopped her world from moving. 

And just the convenient mind  interruption. “hello ladies,”

Amanda shivered a little at the familiar voice, the one voice that could melt her like ice. 

She turned to face Jake 

“is he not a sight to behold?” she thought to herself, smiling out everything he said, she had lost track of the conversation and the last thing she heard him say was, “goodbye Amanda.” 

“Amanda,” Bridget shook her back to reality. “Amanda, what’s wrong with you?

“Hmm, what do you mean Bridget?” Amanda asked ignorantly still watching Jake leave.

“You’ve been this way since forever, Amanda, why don’t you talk to him already?” Elena, who also has been lost in sight of Jake, cut in. “I mean,” she continued, “he must have noticed you too if not he –“ 

Amanda grinned, interrupting Elena. 

“Girls!” Amanda called, “who are we? Aren’t the guys supposed to come crawling for our attention, why should we turn the table around? We have a standard and I think I’ll stick to that.” She continued, folding her arms and resting her back against the wall. 

“Hmm, hmm, like drooling all over him? Listen, I know you too well, we’ve been friends since kindergarten. I know you like Jake." Bridget opined,  holding Amanda on the shoulder, "And my guess is he likes you too that can only explain him coming over to say hi all the time.”

”Amanda,” Elena called “One little conversation won’t bite.” she assured.

“Yes Amanda, it won't.” Bridget concurred.

“You two, stop!” Amanda cried out. “You both know I flutter when I’m around him, I can’t help it. I can barely say two words when I’m with him so, what kind of conversation are we going to have?” she asked rhetorically. “Besides, you know how guys get when you let them know you like them, they take you for nuts. I’m not going to give Jake the satisfaction of using my name as a topic in their locker room.”

“Oh you stubborn Amanda.” Bridget said shaking her head. ”You care about what they say than your happiness?”

"You know Prom is fast approaching and you are yet to get a date.” Elena cut in.

“Yes, there are enough guys to choose from or I stay home.”

“You know that’s not an option,” Elena said.

”Why not?” asked Amanda.

“Cause, the whole school is voting for you as Prom Queen so, you need to make an appearance."

Amanda groaned, leaving her position and walked towards her locker while her friends followed after her.

”This conversation is just going in circles,” Amanda said standing in front of her locker. “I may be lost in sight of Jake but I’m not blind, yes, Jake comes around too say hi but your assumptions are wrong."

“Jake doesn’t see me Bridget,” she turned to Bridget, “you know me, and you know I’m never wrong about things like this.”

Amanda stared at confused Bridget for a while then turned to open her locker. Just immediately, a piece of paper fell out of her locker. Bridget bent over to pick it up.

“What do we have here?” She asked.

“I guess it’s a letter from a secret admirer.” Elena said coming over to Bridget side.

“And who says he doesn’t see you?” Bridget asked rhetorically as Amanda tried to take the piece of paper from her but failed.

Bridget read the letter a little loud for the three of them to hear.

To my candy, Amanda.

Dear candy

I’m sorry I’m approaching you this way.

I don’t know how you will feel or how you will react if I pour out my heart in front of you. I might fear nothing but I fear women.

From the first day I saw you, my heart literally stop. I know this is a line you must have heard a thousand times, but I’ll say them any ways.

Whenever we bump into each other, I always wish I have enough courage to speak to you but I get stuck with this thought  In my head .

"how can I compete with all of them? Would she ever give me a chance?” 

The sight of you today was breathtaking, seeing you smile always is dreams come true for me.

I love the way that your eyes sparkle whenever I look at them, the way your lips slide up a bit whenever you are about to say something funny, the way you take charge, and even the way you study in your private time.

I know this is creepy, I’m sorry.

In summary, I can’t get you off my head.

I’ll find a better way to express feelings to you face to face. Forgive my lack of confidence .

With love

“Wow, isn’t this the sweetest thing I’ve ever read?” Bridget said handing the letter  to Amanda.

“Candy, really? This is so old school. Who still send secret letters in this 22nd century?” Elena asked exasperatedly.

“Well this dude does and I admire his courage at least he has spoken to me in his own way.” Amanda defended.

“Do I sense a glimmer of jealousy?” Bridget asked rhetorically but Elena said nothing except having the irritation look on her fair face.

Ignoring the look on Elena’s face, Amanda turned to face Bridget.

“Do you think it’s from him?” she asked.

“Jake? Of cause it’s him. Who else could it be?" Bridget asked.

“I’m so happy it’s him. But, he looks so confident and speaks so boldly. How can he have that trouble expressing his feelings? That’s hard to believe.” Amanda concluded.

“Amanda?” Bridget called out her name and held her on her shoulder to calm her down. ”The point is, he likes you back and that is enough.”

Amanda felt a sense of peace run through her. She had the whole world to her favor and she had her friends too. And now she could say, just like every cheerleader’s story, hers won’t be so different.

"Eh, eh." Elena cleared her throat. “Girls, we have a class to be in,  like right now, remember?" She reminded them.

“Oh yes, I have to be there on time so as to convince Mr. Quinn to let me play the role of Miranda in TEMPEST.” Amanda quickly locked her locker  and they hurried off to class.

Bridget has been close friends with Amanda since forever. They took bath together when they were kids, went on camping trips together, live in the same neighborhood, spend holidays together and people do mistake them for sisters.

Their friendship was actually passed down from their fathers to children. Bridget’s dad, Mr. Eric Robertson was the first friend Mr. Michael Udoh made when he first came to Sultan Lake. He helped him get the house he was able to buy and they’ve been close ever since.

Bridget is a little bit dark skin than Amanda, she is friendly, easy going, loves adventure, loves nature and loves her boyfriend, Max, who is presently in college.

Amanda on the other hand has a bright chocolate skin tone. She is tall, has a sexy body figure with everything in the right proportion.

She loves acting, dancing and singing. Well, she acquires those skills to keep her from thinking too much. She goes sight seeing with Bridget not because she wants to but because she’s asked to.

Amanda possesses a mean look that scares almost everyone away; she’s like a mean girl in school but if people only knew those were just appearance and her personality contradicts her appearance.

Amanda cares a lot about her family and friends; she’s quite emotional but very strong at the same time. She joined the Children Care Group (CCG) in her community in helping the homeless. She loves challenges and she is diligent in all she does. She takes nonsense from no one, but makes peace with everyone, at least she tries to.

Amanda is like a mystery box. You’ll never know what you’d find inside.

Amanda lost everything that could make her smile the day she lost her mom to a tragic car accident. But, she had to remain strong for her dad and kid brother, Drake. And Mrs. Robert, Bridget’s mum, has been of great help to her family.

For the first time in four years, after the incident, Amanda had never had her eye on any guy. She had too much to think about and also she had Yale, too.

Despite Amanda’s mysteriousness, Elena still managed to be friends with her.

The three of them were in the same cheerleading squad, which Amanda was the cheer captain.

Elena is white,  blond hair; her dad is a divorced billionaire which makes Elena the standard in Sultan high. Every girl want to be friends with her and every guy wants to date her.  She’s beautiful, classy, SOPHISTICATED and drives the best car. She’s also into fashion and she is very picky.

Sometimes, she showed mood swings and this took her friends quite some time to get used to. 

Her encounter with Amanda was a very embarrassing one for her. One day, she was being bullied in the ladies room by Juliet, Samantha and Florence also known as the trinique. They were the richest kids in school. They were mean, violent and always intoxicated before coming to school.

They tried recruiting Elena but she refused. Ok, even if she did agree, were their names going to change from Trinique to Quadruplenique? That will be painful to hear.

But ever since then, they made school unbearable for her. But on that wholesome day,  Amanda and Bridget came to her rescue.

Amanda, Bridget and Elena got to their literature class a minute before Mr. Quinn came in.

He ordered them to bring out the recommended novel, the TEMPEST written by Williams Shakespeare. Mr. Quinn opened his own copy and he asked.

“Samuel, will you like to play the role of Ferdinand?”

Shocked, Samuel raised his head, looked around and spoke.

“That’s a generous offer sir, but I’ll pass.” he said in his surprisingly beautiful deep voice

“What if I tell you Amanda is playing the role of Miranda in the play; will it change your mind?”  Samuel turned to face Amanda, their eyes met and caused hot chills to run through his spine. In as much as he’d love to play Ferdinand, he was force to say

"No sir, thanks.”

Everybody burst into laughter, Samuel couldn’t understand their reason for laughing.

Amanda cared less. What was important to her was that she got the part she wanted.

Samuel sank into his chair trying to block out every voice.

“Quiet,” Mr. Quinn ordered. He moved to where the student are and he pointed to the guy seated beside Samuel.

"Mark, you will play the role of Ferdinand? ” he asked.

Without waiting for Mark to decline, he moved to other students appointing to them roles.