Chapter three

Monday morning came sooner than I'd expected. Dad dropped me off at my new school, note the sarcasm, and eyed me curiously as I tip toed towards the school's building. I don't blame him though, cause I'd caught myself eyeing me. I mean, who goes to school in baggy sweatshirt and crazy Jean? Me. Why? Because I intended to remain invisible to the human eye. That's weird right? I know, but I couldn't help myself.

It was my first day in a new school and I'd not even met anyone yet I felt like peeing in my pants.

The school was magnificent.

I forced myself to move towards the hallway wishing in my heart of heart that I had worn something else. Fadalawd I was looking so underdressed. I glanced around to find solace in other students dressed like me but I couldn't see none. If it helps, I noticed other girls where dressed fashionably in tank tops, skirts and trousers. I was the weirdo.

Finally, I found my way through the hallway which was inscribed in bold big letters. I walked into the marble high ceiling foyer where the principal, vice principal and school attendant stood, a huge symbol printed on the floor where they waved welcoming both new and returning students.

Mom had thought it great if I knew my way around the school before I resumed and it was. Seeing the timid position I was in now, I had her enough to thank. Yes, I had my map to locate places in the school, but even heaven knows I hated map reading. Where the map was currently? Shoved into the bottomless pit of my school bag.

Finding my locker wasn't hard as my name was boldly inscribed on it, thanks to yesterday's tour. I spun the lock and withdrew a few pen, notes, deodorant and dropped it inside.

"Hey." A voice called out of the blues making me freeze in mid air.

Spinning around, I came face to face with a wild scattered afro haired girl who had long legs and a models body. She was breath taking but didn't she comb her hair? Mum would never let me leave the house that way.

"Hey." I replied glad that she couldn't read my thoughts.

Leaning on the locker close to mine she said,"you're new right?"

Eye rolls. I hated being the new girl right from time. It sucks. " I am."

"You're beautiful." She said making what felt like a blush creep up my face, "I'm foluke ojukwu by the way, returning student."

"I'm the newbie," I said rolling my eyes now that I felt more comfortable with her, " Emem yonas. I prefer to be called Emmy. From Nigeria."

Giving me a lopsided grin,she said,"I'm from Ondo state. Congratulations, you just got yourself a friend babygirl."

That made us both laugh,drawing the attention of the students nearby. Some gave us eye rolls, some acted as though we where some annoying things while others went about their business. I tried to stiffle a laugh.

"What? It's a free world. The sooner you stop caring about your impression on others, the better for you." Foluke said popping a chewing gum in her mouth. She had very nice set of dentition and very sparkly. She smiled in a way that it reached her eyes. She was a beautiful girl. 

I watched her pile textbooks on the crook of her arms from the third locker across mine.

"Well, welcome to Greenville High school, Florida." She said her aroms flailing in opposite directions, "welcome to where life sucks."

I couldn't help but laugh. "So school's where life sucks huh?"

"Yeah." She popped a gum.

"So what time does class start exactly?" I asked. I knew already I just needed something to keep talking before she saw how much of a bore I was.

"Homeroom starts by 7:40, class officially starts by 8:00." Foluje said like it was something disgusting.

"Where's your homeroom?" She asked.

"Room 214 I believe." I said producing my schedule.

"Luck you, it's the same as mine." Foluke said, "Grab your stuffs so we can get going. I'd brief you about our school on the way."

I grabbed what I thought I would need heaping them on the crook of my arms.

"Well the teachers here are friendly. But you should look out there are some you don't wanna step on their toes."

Processing the information I asked, "so what do you guys do before school starts?"

"Well we just walk around. It's the only time we can see our friends asides lunch and study hall." She explained, "oh! Here are my friends." She announced pointing to a group of brightly colored girls walking towards them and smiling as bright as the sun.

And right behind them was Alain Greenbolt. I felt my heart skip a bit in my chest and my hands grew warm instantly. I clenched my fist to stop my trembling fingers. Holding my gaze, he took purposeful strides towards our direction.

My entire body grew stiff and cold. It wasn't from the way my heart flutter . It definitely was as a result of the way he was looking at me.

Foluke laid her hand on my arms and started to drag me into her group of friends but I was locked in an eye embrace with the sexiest man of the year.

Before I could be introduced, Alain welcomed himself into our circle and stood beside me. Turning on his mega watt smile, Alain smiled distractedly, silently disarmed and charmed every lady in the circle. Why did he have to be this fine? " Ladies.... Good morning."

He directed the statement to their circle, but he turned his head and looked straight into my eyes. His eyes twinkled in amusement at my speechlessness and obvious nervousness. His eyes looked me up and down making me clutch my necklace in my fist.

"Hey,Alain " someone said.

"How was your holiday?"

Beautiful morning to you too." Some of them said.

All eyes where on us. I felt their gaze lingering on I and Alain who intimately leaned into my space as if he belonged there.

"Good morning, Em." Alain said in a mesmerizing low tone that all girls in this school wished to hear over the phone late at night as they lay in their bed thinking of unspeakable things.

"Morning Alain." I said clenching and unclenching my fist "You don't get to call me that. It's Emmy and nothing else."

"Oh." He feigned innocence, "I didn't know that."

"Now you do." I rolled my eyes. "Took time in dressing today. Any special occasion?"

"Does it entice you?" He asked cocking a brow and giving me the puppy dog eyes.

"Come on mister. You have to put in more effort than upgrading your dress sense. And stop keeping your face that way."

"Why? It affects you that much?" He said giving me the look of a lost puppy. I hated to admit that it made him look charming. More charming.

"Nope. It doesn't." I lied, "just that you look like an hausa goat when you keep your face that way. And where I'm from, that's not a good thing."

The circle of onlookers gasped. I heard whispers of "does she know he's a senior?"

"She shouldn't be talking to him that way!"

"The nerve." Others said.

Winking with his right eye which was perfectly hidden from the group of foluke's friends. "Have a good Em." He said my nickname again before pushing off the locker and continuing on in the same direction he came. But not before his fingers grazed the bare smooth skin of my thigh along the Hem of my crazy Jean in a very intimate manner on skin that otherwise would not allow to be touched by boys without permission. Fire erupted over my leg where he touched me. That fire flamed over my body to my heart where it flourished in my chest."

Spreading her hands dramatically as if returning from a trance Foluke said, "meet my friends. Meredith and Bisola. The only girls I've ever seen stand up to the queen bee."

"Queen bee?" I asked,"it's a name of a person?"

"Nope, she's Alains girlfriend." She said popping the 'p', " Mitchell Drew, AKA, the queen Bee."

"Ow!" I said, unable to explain why for some unknown reason I felt a tug in my chest.

The bell rang signifying the end of homeroom.

"What's on your schedule?" Foluke asked.

"History." I replied , my emotions at war with each other.