" We both have geography. you? " Gen asks me
" I have maths class first," I say
" It's nice that you love maths or you would be dead now," Maya says holding my hands.
I closed my locker and dropped the textbooks into my school bag, I put both my phone and my air pods into it and then hang them over my shoulder.
" I'm fine besides I love maths, " I say with a smile.
" Oh look at you smiling. if I were treated the way you are being treated I would have beaten everyone up " Gen says
" Well not everyone is like you. strong and mean " Maya says and I chuckle again.
" Did you get bullied yesterday again after school? " Maya asked me and I frown before biting my lips
" Don't ask her that. you will make her feel uncomfortable " Gen says to Maya
" It's fine, we are here for you " she adds and Maya nods her head. I give them both a smile but my smile fades when I see Johanne coming over to where we stood with her three minions; Cara, Joey, and Andy.
" Oh look what we have here, it's the two nerds and their bodyguard, " Johanne says and stops in front of us, her three servants line at her back. they were all twirling a strand of their hair between their fingers and they equally had smirks on their faces.
" Oh, it's the fake crew, " Gen says and crosses her arms over her chest. they tend to always try to pick a fight with us every morning, well I'm their real aim but since I'm always with my friends in the morning then we get picked on together
" Oh Genevieve, being with these things doesn't suit you and besides I'm not someone you want to get bad with, " Johanne says still twirling her blonde hair.
" Just because you are the principal's daughter doesn't mean I can't break your pretty nose," Gen says with a smirk moving forward. I hold her back and nod my head.
" Oh, it's the nerdy fat hips. I didn't see you there " Johanne says talking to me while her three friends laugh. I look down at my shoes and fiddle with my fingers while Maya holds my hands for reassurance.
" Can you leave while I'm being nice?" Gen says to them
" Oh I'm so scared," Johanne says shaking her hands in sarcasm
" I meant it when I said I will break your pretty fake nose. one more word and I will show you just how bitchy I can be, " Gen says and the smile on Johanne's face falters and is replaced by a scrawl
She opens her mouth to speak and Gen steps forward
" Try me," she says.
Johanne stares at her for a second before stomping her feet on the ground. she pushes through her minions and leaves angrily. slamming someone on her way into the lockers.
" That was so cool," Maya says and holds Gen's hands
" Stop letting them walk over you okay.. " she says holding my gaze. I stay there not saying a word.
"Let us go to class " she grabs Maya and they both walk away to their class with Maya waving goodbye at me.
I release the breath I was holding earlier and then hold the locker so I don't crumble down in fear. it took me minutes to get back to normal before I walked down to my maths class.
As I entered the classroom, I ignore the stares I get around the people laughing at me. someone even went far as putting a leg on the way, causing me to trip but I didn't fall because someone held my hand. I look up to see Noah holding my hand, I stare hard into his emerald green eyes trying to find the emotions in them but I found nothing.
He lets me go and I mutter a thank you before making my way to the back of the class. oddly he stares at me till I finally take my seat. then he faces the front back and begins to scribble something down on the paper in front of him
Our math teacher enters the class a few minutes later and then starts to teach us algebraic equations. as the other kids were listening in class including me, Noah kept throwing wrapped papers at me from where he sat. I was getting frustrated but I couldn't say anything because if I do, I would get detention.
I keep ignoring him but it goes on till the class ends. why did he save me yesterday from Dean and his friends, why did he save me from tripping and falling on my butt when he was going to pick on me himself. I was getting annoyed at the mixed personality he was giving out.
I packed my maths textbook in my bag and prepared to leave the class when this time he puts his leg in my way before standing up in front of me. now that I look at him, he was pretty tall and I felt like a plant in front of him
" Can I help you? " I manage to ask him without looking at his face
" Here," he says and hands me a sheet of paper. I stare at the paper and then at him oddly
" What," I ask because I was confused. why was he giving me a sheet of paper and what was he giving it to me for
" Here take it," he says and puts the paper in my hands. I hold the paper up and read the contents inside.
Juice box
Black coffee
Pizza
Bag of chips
Refined water.
I was much more confused now, why was he giving me a list of beverages or snacks.
" What is this ?. I don't understand " I ask him.
" These are the lists of things I like eating," he says still unbothered by my shocked expression.
" And why are you giving it to me? " I asked him. I was running late for my next class.
" Well you are doing to be getting the things on the list for me because I like it," he says and I gasp in shock.
" Are you asking me to do these things for you?" I asked him" Well yes, unless you want to get bullied by those guys I saw you with yesterday again," he says " I.. I... " I try to say. is he threatening me?. I didn't ask for his help yesterday when he helped me. he offered to help me and I thanked him for his help. but wait he was asking me to become his servant or get bullied by Dean and his friends."Let us start during lunch. don't be late " he says and before I could alter another word, he picks up his bag and leaves the class and I stay holding out the sheet and wearing a baffled expression.What in the world was that..." So I clearly stated the plans for my science project and he said I might have copied him, " Maya says in anger at the table. We were currently at lunch period and she is telling us how her day went. well, there is this smart guy that's always in all of her classes; Derek. And let me just say he and Maya do not mix well. they both constantly bicker and argue
As soon as I opened the back door, I am greeted with the fresh air blowing on my whole body. maya closes the door. it was easy to find Gen because she was sitting on the floor, a frown evident on her face. " Hey " I say and touch her shoulder as I take my seat right beside her. maya sits in front of us, still wearing a grin " I'm sorry " she says and looks at me. I smile at her and hold her hand." I'm sorry too okay. " I said squeezing the hand I was holding." I shouldn't have yelled at you or spoken to you in that way it's just I don't like that you take it all in " she says softly" I understand it's okay. I should learn how to stand up for myself I know but everything actually doesn't have to be violence " I say even finding it hard to believe." I just hope you know what you are doing " she says." To tell the truth, I don't know what I'm doing " I say and she and Maya both laugh, I hold Maya's hand too as I stare at the both of them." But that's why I have the both of you by
I quickly turn forward and hold my book up halfway in my face, hoping to hide the blush that must have formed. why did he keep looking at me and the most important question, why am I blushing?" With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls, for stony limits cannot hold love out " he starts and even if I hate this book, I can't help but listen to the way he reads every word from his lips, they sound so soothing. " And what love can do, that dares love attempt, therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me " he continues reading and I give into the urge and look back at his face. now that I look at him, he was handsome and he reads well, I pictured him to be a dullard. his voice sounds so sweet that I want him to continue reading further, it was pleasing to the ears" Thank you Noah, you may have your seat " Mr Edwards stops him before he can speak any further, it saddens me.I should hate him but I can't help it, he helps me and then acts weird again. I glance over my shoulder once m
" You shouldn't lose it, it's pretty important " he says and moves closer to me, each step making my heart beat more faster." I... " I start trying to hold my chin up to act as if I am not bothered" Here, don't lose this one " he says and puts a paper in my hand, I hold the paper and wait on the spot. " Read it carefully, I only forgive once, if you lose it this time, then you will have to answer to me " he whispers into my ear and I nod." Good then that you understand. take your time to read and master it all " he says and then backs off of me. Relief actually washes through me, I had thought that he was going to give me his homework and ask me to do it too. " This is Cameron and Jasper " he says and points to the two guys with him. " They will help you if you get bullied according to the contract " he says What contract " The one you are holding " he answers my question and I look at the paper in my hands again before looking back to his face." Okay " I manage to say as I
I wonder why I had thought this year was going to be different from the other ones when I know fully well that it will just be the same. none of them were going to change anytime soon. Mum is still going to be focused only on her job and she won't stop telling me how many times I make mistakes, dad won't stop making money and just ignoring my existence and the kids are school are still going to keep bothering and bullying me. But on the bright side, I still have Maya and Genevieve too, they are by my side no matter what and that gives me assurance everytime and Noah promised to protect me from the bullies as long as I obeyed him. even this sounds so untrue in my ear now that I think of it. either ways I'm still getting bullied because I can't do anything. but at least I know that I would never be involved with Dean Elmer and Wesley. they give me goosebumps whenever I see them. Being an errand girl can't be do bad can it ?. I can get my mind off certain things and do just what he wan
He put the smoke on the cigarette off and then tossed it into the dust bin behind the door before going into the bathroom to have his bath. one thing on his mind, if his father fails this time, he was getting his mother and brother out of this hell hole soon.〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️RAINEAnother annoying day in high school. just two more days and it's weekend. I just have to pass through this week with ease and then stay home for two days to gain my strength again. I make my way to the locker room to get my textbooks for today's lessons from my locker. oddly I haven't seen Maya or Gen today, I wonder why they were both running late to school because they are usually never late to classes because Maya was always trying to get to school before Derek gets to school so this is unusual.I opened my locker and then I took my geography history and mathematics textbooks out before closing it. as soon as I turn to leave the locker room, I am blocked by four ladies and their legs alone already clears thei
I back my school bag and then leave the history room. the hallways is as silent as a graveyard maybe because people were still in class. it is odd because I still haven't heard anything from Maya or Genevieve and I am starting to get worried. I mean what kind of friend would I be if I don't care about my friends. " Miss Matthews " the mention of my name has me frozen on the spot. I turn to see the principal. she always strolls in the school hallway in case she catches someone lingering or doing drugs like she usually says when they are meant to be in class. she hates me and I won't say I like her because I equally hate her too.I turn to look at her and force a smile" You should be in class " she says frowning." I don't have one now " I say quickly " Then you should be in the library. you know how I hate idle students " she saysI scoff and roll my eyes Say that to your daughter because she isn't very hard-working. " What was that ? " she asks" Nothing. I will take my leave now
" Why are you letting me go through with this stress. you read the contract didn't you " he says staring at me, the smirk replaced with a scrowl." I.. I didn't " I lied and swallowed my spit." I told you I don't forgive twice didn't I ? " he says still frowning " Come on now. my lunch can't wait, I'm starving " he says " Do you want me to shove my lunch up your nose hole or you'd just leave now while I'm asking nicely " Gen says and I hold her hand to make her stop." I heard about you " he says laughing. " the badass but I don't care what you think or do. I do not have business with you so let me take Raine and leave " he says and the mention of my name makes me stare at him.A lot of people have called my name this week which is very unusual." It's fine guys. " I speak up finally and grab my bag before getting up from the seat " Where are you going ? " Gen asks me with a frown" Calm down. I will see you in the next class " I say and smile at them both as I walk up to where No
Raine's povMaya’s car came to a stop in front of my house, and I immediately felt a knot tighten in my stomach. It wasn’t just the usual nervousness that came from returning home; it was the weight of my mother’s voice over the phone earlier. Sharp and cold. My father once said one couldn't hate one's mother but could only be mad at her and I believed that for years. Now, I wasn't even sure what I believed. I didn't know if she was doing all of this out of love, maybe this was her way of showing me love or she just simply hated me and my existence. Maya and Genevieve exchanged glances in the front seat, then turned to me. “Are you sure you don’t want us to come in with you?" Gen asked "Not really" I muttered and she nodded "What if we just say hi to your her and then leave after?” Maya asked, her voice hesitant. I knew they didn't want to leave me alone with her and I wanted them to come in with me badly. But mum didn't like them, she thinks friends are a distraction and a waste
Raine's povAfter school, Maya, Genevieve and I took the bus to Maya's house, we had the habit of doing that sometimes just so we could ride the bus and also to disobey my mother who said riding the bus wasn't ladylike. We shuffled down the familiar road to Maya’s house after getting off the bus, Genevieve who was the silent one, chattering excitedly beside me today, talking about how Jasper was in her chemistry class. We had told my parents we were going to study, and while that wasn’t technically untrue, studying wasn’t exactly the primary plan. Maya had always been the go-to host, not just because her house was spacious and welcoming, but because it felt like stepping into a world so different from my own. Maya had a life that I wanted but never had, yes I was rich just like Maya but things ran differently in her household from mine and being here made me feel like I was truly part of this house and not my empty and quiet one. Maya’s mom was a lawyer, always busy with cases and c
Raine’s povMy heart thudded in my chest as Noah and I made our way to the principal’s office. The announcement that we were both needed there echoed in my mind like a death knell. Beside me, Noah seemed unfazed, his hands shoved into his pockets and his usual smirk plastered on his face. How was he always so calm in situations like this? Meanwhile, my palms were sweating, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that my whole world was about to come crashing down.The principal hated me and Noah because she was always inviting us to her office just to either place a punishment on us or warn us. And I hated coming to her office because of the way she treats people. In a high school full of bullies, we can't even voice out because she is a bully herself. Noah opened her office and we walked in. The receptionist barely looked up when we arrived, her red-framed glasses slipping down her nose as she gestured toward the chairs outside the principal’s office.“Have a seat. She’ll call you in short
Raine's povThe classroom was suffocatingly quiet as Mr. Stevens continued to drone on, outlining the intricacies of the day’s calculus problems. Despite the soft hum of the fluorescent lights overhead, I could barely focus on anything except the way my thoughts kept drifting back to the morning. Noah’s hand had been warm around mine when he’d pulled me into the janitor’s closet, and I couldn’t get the image of his eyes, dark with something I wasn’t ready to label, out of my head. The heat of his body close to mine, the slight tension in the air... I still felt it all. Why was I bothered so much by everything that he did?I scribbled a half-hearted answer to the first problem on my worksheet, my pen making slow, jerky movements across the paper as if my hand wasn’t connected to my brain anymore. I couldn’t focus on the numbers. I couldn’t focus on the formulas. I couldn’t focus on anything other than the way my body reacted to being near him. Why did I close my eyes when his head lowe
Chapter 33Raine's povThe hallway was quieter than usual when Genevieve and Maya left, their chatter fading into the distance. They had intentionally left me alone with Noah because they probably wanted him to talk to me even though I told them that I was perfectly fine. I tried not to pay attention to the heavy silence left behind, but being alone with Noah was unnerving. Jasper and Cameron were still standing by his side. Cameron was leaning casually against a locker, tossing a basketball up and down. "How are you today Raine?" He asked and I knew he was referring to the cheese accident. "I'm okay" I muttered and he nodded with a smile "Jasper and I are off to the field, we have P.E this morning, I will see you and Noah at lunch" Cameron added and I nodded before he and Jasper made their way out of the locker room and in no time, it was just me and Noah alone in the hallways.I glanced at him. His gaze was fixed on me, unreadable as always. The weight of it made me fidget. “Is t
RAINE I shut the front door with a bang as soon as I am in the house after school that day. " Raine is that you? " I heard mum's voice as she came down the staircase and then gasp in shock. " What are you doing here looking like that and why didn't you come home with Mr Benson earlier today? " she asks me but I don't give her replies or even acknowledge her presence. We weren't talking and she slapped me this morning. I wasn't going to act like I was fine when I wasn't fine. I sat down on the floor to take off my boots that are already soaking with water from the rain. " Is that what we are doing now Raine, I talk and you don't reply me. you ignore me " she says in anger " What do you want me to say mum. apologize for coming up drenched in cheese and the rain. apologize for not looking lady like or apologize for not asking you to travel like you want " I say sarcastically " Now that I think of it. I think I have a lot to apologize for mum. well then I'm sorry " I yell and then g
NOAH FLYNNI have never felt so bad in my entirely life before but seeing Raine cry yesterday because of what I did made me feel so guilty. that girl has been making me feel a lot of things since I met her. she is making me lose my cool and it isn't my style. I was at the school parking lot with Cameroon and jasper after Raine had gone home in the rain. " Man you shouldn't have dumped melted cheese all over her body " cam says and I give him a frown. " I didn't do it intentionally. it wasn't meant for her I'm telling you. instead of the teacher she just walked in on the trap by herself and what was I supposed to do. save her from melted cheese? " I scoff in disbelief" At least you could have made an attempt. she must have gone through hurt. " cam says " And why are you even getting angry in the first place cam. you know this girl because I introduced you to her and you are so concerned about her all of a sudden " I say " Well that doesn't matter. Raine is my friend now and I am n
" Oh my God. Raine just blushed, the only thing you have ever blushed at is when you see cats " Gen mutters and I eye her." I didn't blush and I do not like anyone " I say silencing them." And was that your number he collected at the end... he was so cute " Maya chirps again and I really want to slap her right at the back of her head" Yes he collected my number but it's no big deal. he is just a friend " I say" He is a friend already?.. but how come Noah isn't classified as a friend when cam is, that's not fair you know " Gen says with a pout" Noah is not my friend.can my friend boss me around and send me errands all the time?. You guys are my friends but you don't boss me around all the time do you " I frown " You are just so hard to cut into " Gen says with a frown and then drops the topic about Noah but I don't think they will drop the topic about cam. Why are they even bothered about Noah in the first place. He saved me yes, he is still currently saving me yes, but he is sti
" Raine " the sound of my name has me staring at the room, wondering why Cam was calling me and running towards me again, this moment is like one of those scenes in the movie where the guy the girl has liked all her life finally notices her and then kisses her on the lips but that can't happen in a million years because cam is a popular and I am just someone. He walks up to me now, my heart is beating in a way it shouldn't even be beating and I don't even know why. it's too odd for me to have feelings for cam right?. because he will get to see me in weird situations because of Noah. " Hey what's up ? " I ask him as soon as he stops in front of me." Can I get your number ? " he asks and I stare at him for seconds trying to understand what he just asked." My number ? " I ask with surpriseHe wants my number?. why does he want my number?. no one has asked for my number before. no one even has my number in this school except maya and Gen and it's also going to be in my student file bu