Tyler's POV

I quickly got down from the car and dashed towards the hall just as the bell for assembly went off. I heaved a sigh of relief that I made it just in time. If I was a minute late, I'd probably be stripped of my position as the Sport Prefect. I began to search for my guys and immediately spotted them directing the junior students towards the hall.

"Guys!" I called out to them and they saw me. They began to wave me over and I jogged towards them. When I got to them, we traded high fives and hugged.

Taking a look at my guys, I saw how the summer break had done a number on them. They looked different, the good kind of different. Joel was taller and more buffed. Charles had maintained his rather stout stature but looked more muscular. Kelvin had grown beards. Keeping of beards wasn't allowed at LLA but he could get away with it because he was a prefect.

Do I look different to them? I asked myself.

Taju had travelled out of the country. He spoke to all of us during the holiday. He had done SAT quite early, and gained early admission to a college in Europe. Though he promised he'd be coming back from time to time, specifically for prom and grad.

There was definitely no way he'd miss it. I knew that guy so well. But I was definitely going to miss his wahala.

"Aw far na, guy!" Charles began, cutting me out of my reverie. "You were pretty late, you know." He added and the others nodded. I chuckled, giving a nonchalant shrug.

"I made it before first bell, didn't I? So, I'm technically very early." I replied with a smirk.

"Of course you are." Joel rolled his eyes, checking his watch for the time. I looked around, feeling that something or someone was missing.

"Joel, where are the girls?" Kelvin asked.

Ahh! That's what was missing. Ma girls!

"I was just about to ask about them. I've really missed them so much." I revealed.

"If you had come out once during the break, you wouldn't be missing them this much." Joel stated before looking at Kelvin.  "They should be out any minute." He added and Kelvin nodded.

"Joel is right. You just stayed locked in your house the entire summer. Wetin!" Charles exclaimed. I rolled my eyes at their exaggeration.

"I didn't stay locked up in my house the entire summer. I was going for art shows and exhibitions. Plus, I took jobs as well. I need to gather money for that art college I want to go to." I told them and they nodded in understanding.

"Honestly, I still don't understand why your dad didn't want you doing art in the first place. Not that you suck at commercial class oh but I still don't know what you are doing there." Kelvin said and I forced a nonchalant shrug again.

"Well, Dad's rules are Dad's rules." I simply replied.

"Why don't you at least try to talk to him about it, you know, get him to understand. Maybe he will change his mind." Joel chipped in and I couldn't help the scoff that escaped my lips

"Have you met my father? Debola Adebiyi-Williams is anything but understanding." I said in a rush and they all gave me a skeptical look. I quickly looked for something better to say.

"He's a good father, no doubts. He obviously knows what's best for me." I lied through my teeth.

"If he knows what's best for you then why are you saving up for a art college." Kelvin asked and my words got caught in my throat.

They got me.

Fortunately before I could think of another lie to correct my error, the girls showed up. At that point, I couldn't be any more thankful for the interruption.

"Hey, Tyler!" Lyla chirped with excitement as she wrapped her arms around my middle. I chuckled in delight as her petite body pressed against mine.

"Hey, small person." I wrapped my hands around her as well.

"I take offense o." Kelvin said, pulling Lyla away from me to himself and I laughed.

"Stop being such an overprotective big head." Zaria teased Kelvin before she came to hug me, then after her was Ada.

"Did your voice get deeper?" Ada asked me and I smirked, shrugging.

"No, he definitely became more muscular." Zaria supplied, before feeling up my biceps and nodding in approval.

"Babe, you didn't even compliment my muscles. They are all yours to touch." Joel stretched his hand and wiggled his eyebrows goofily at Zaria who just rolled her eyes but I didn't fail to see the smile on her lips.

These were ma gurls, or rather, our gurls. We have all been together from Junior school, except Joel who joined us last school year and he blended in with the gang immediately, also sweeping the most uptight, difficult to impress, Zaria Coker off her feet.

Everyone expected it to be Charles and Zaria because they were the closest of all but Zaria didn't seem to like him that way. Charles was okay with Zaria and Joel being together. He even confided in me about having his eyes for someone else, that someone being Ada. Lyla and Kelvin were also together.

"How come I'm the only one that's not booed up." I whined, feigning disappointment.

"I'm not booed up." Ada said and everyone gave her a look.

"It's you that decided not to get a babe." Zaria turned to me. "I can't count the number of babes that have been giving you mad signals. You decided to ignore." Zaria scolded in a teasing way. I corked my head left and right before shrugging.

I was just joking when I made that comment. I am definitely not going to have a girlfriend.

"Well, I might actually consider it this year." I said in a strained voice. I wasn't really going to consider it.

"Better. Because you are not going to prom all on your own abeg." Lyla chipped in and we laughed.

"Are you not prefects! What are you doing outside the assembly hall!" A teachers voice  cut through our conversation.

Jesus! We lost track of time.

All of us immediately dashed into the hall, trying not to make any noise as the Vice principal had started talking and admonishing the students to behave well and face their studies in this new session.

Same old sermon.

As I moved to where the prefects were standing, I bumped into a body and nearly dropped my bag. Successful catching it, I looked up to see the person I had bumped into and my eyes met fierce ones.

Yikes.

"Watch where you are going, idiot!" She whisper-yelled at me and I stopped short.

Med o! Did she just insult me?

"Sorry?" I shrugged, my apology sounding more like a question. She eyed me and hissed.

"So many idiots in this school." She muttered but I heard anyway and stared at her in shock and annoyance.

I decided to be the bigger person and walk way. Mostly because I haven't seen her face before and she was obviously a new student. She definitely didn't know who she was talking to. I wasn't going to engage a new student in a banter in the middle of assembly but one thing was for sure.

This girl has got an attitude on her.

ATTITUDE.

A/N

Hmmm, Seems like Tiana and Tyler have met. Basically, there is no other person with such nasty attitude than Tiana. Our favourites Beneath the Surface have made their appearance. How is this book going so far? Lemme know in the comment section.

Don't forget to go to Pabpub through the link I posted on my profile and give this book good comments and reviews. Apparently you can rate the book while it's still on going. I'll be giving you guidelines with picture references soon. Please comment and rate the book, it would help me win the contest.

Thank you.