Dedicated to Chizzymichael16 for always voting and commenting on this book.

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"Why are you late to my class?" The teacher asked.

"Sorry ma, but there was traffic on my way to the school." I lied, fiddling with my fingers. I was scared as hell. She could ask more questions that would bring about more lie and I was not good at lying. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed that all the students were looking forward at us and that made me so shy and uncomfortable. But come to think of it, if this class was going on, then why were Peter and his friends not in class?

"Traffic? Where do you stay?" She asked, narrowing her eyes and I was at a loss for words. This was the exact question I didn't want her to ask. Where do I stay? Where do I stay? I didn't even know where I stayed, let alone, knowing any far place in Lagos to just tell her to escape any further questions or at least any punishment.

This was terrible.

She scrunched her face in disgust as she looked at me. "Don't you have mouth?" Her voice was squeaky when she yelled. "Or you don't know where you're leaving again."

"Uh... Ma the thing is, I don't know how to pronounce the name of the place where I stay?" My voice quivered as I said so.

"Do you hear yourself? Aren't you even ashamed of saying that in front of me and your colleagues?"

She was right. It was so stupid of me to have said that. An intelligent person should be used to pronouncing the name of the place he or she based, so saying I couldn't pronounce it was just only dumb which is why I had to think of something to back myself up before she embarrassed and call me an olodo in front of everyone, like the civic teacher did. What could I say now? Perhaps the truth, even if it's just a sliver of it.

"Um... ma, I just moved to Lagos recently, so I'm not really used to the places yet." I said.

"Oh I see." She nodded her head slowly, "You're a new student of this school, right?"

Wasn't it obvious? I mean, I was putting on a cloth that was not the school uniform, so wasn't that evident enough that I was a new student?

"Yes ma. I'm a new student." I said politely and she produced a loud gulping sound from her throat.

"Very well then, have your seat. I'm Mrs Uchenna, the English language teacher for all the ss2 classes and I don't tolerate late coming in my class. Ask your mate, they'd tell you about me. Don't worry, with time you'd get to know all the do's and don'ts in my class."

When she was done talking, I walked shyly to my seat.

"Why exactly did you come late, because I know the excuse you gave was just a lie?" Adam whispered to me as I sat down on my seat.

"I'd tell you later." I replied also in whispers.

"Now as we were saying before the new student interrupted us," Mrs Uchenna's voice boomed and Adam and I both straightened up and looked at the board. The topic on the board was 'Summary Writing'. "Wait, before we continue, where is Peter? I saw him at the school assembly this morning, so why is he not in my class?" She asked, roaming her eyes around the class as though she wanted to be sure if Peter was really absent.

The students started to exchange glances and they mumbled incoherent words at each other. Though I knew, I couldn't possibly tell the teacher where he was. I have had enough of Peter trouble already and I wasn't ready for any other today.

"Class captain, have you seen him today?" She looked at the captain and he stood up immediately. He was a tall, dark and slightly fat guy who wore a black-rimmed eyeglass. I personally thought he looked like a nerd.

"Yes ma, I have. But he hasn't come to the class today." The captain said. He had a baritone voice.

"Okay then, tell him to see me in my office before the closing of school today. Aside from him, who else is in school that is supposed to be in my class but isn't here?"

The captain looked around, "Femi, James, Mik—"

"You know what," Mrs Uchenna cut him off, "Write their names down on a sheet of paper and give it to me before I leave this class. Plus, make sure you tell them to see me today before school closes."

"Yes ma."

"So back to the topic of today, summary writing..."

***

"Wait, so you mean Peter actually took your only gala for lunch and ate it right in front of you, nonchalantly?" Adam asked as I finished narrating my ordeal with Peter this morning. It was break time and most of the students had gone out to buy lunch for themselves. Only three students, plus Adam and me, that were in class. Peter and his friends still hadn't come to the class. Was that how they do?

"Uh-huh, worse thing was that he shared it with his friends in front of me."

"That Peter really needs to be put in his place. He's too full of himself. What's the meaning of that rubbish? Why didn't you slap him like you did when he pushed you and take your gala back from him?"

"Believe me, I wanted to. But I just couldn't because I didn't want him to beat me up. To be honest, I was really scared of him."

"That's just what he wants — for people to be scared of him. Not like he can even fight." Adam rolled his eyes as he said that. "But really, if I were you, I would have punched him so hard on the jaw, bite his hand so hard and take my gala from him."

I cleared my throat, "Look who's talking? When he collected your book from you right here in front of me, what did you do biko?"

"That time, I just pitied him oh. He should try it again with me and he'd see my crazy side." Adam bluffed.

"Hmm... So Adam has a crazy side?" I said, smiling.

"Like I would always say, you have a lot to learn. Anyways, let's go get something to eat. I'm sure you must be hungry, even though you wouldn't want to say it." He said, holding my hand as he got up from the seat.

My face fell as he said that. "I don't have any money on me."

"Don't worry, everything is on me. Let's just go." He pulled my hand and I got up from the seat. We both walked out of the class and made our way to the school cafeteria, with so many students turning their heads to stare at us, actually me, like I was a creature with three heads. I was too uncomfortable with their gaze so I initiated a conversation with Adam to distract myself.

"So Adams, don't you have any friends aside from me?"

"No." He answered and I noticed the look on his face when he said that. It was quite sad.

I looked at him quizzically, "Why?"

"Funny thing is, I can't even call you my friend just yet." He said, emphasizing the last words and I felt really hurt. Wasn't he the one who requested for us to be friends and now he was saying this? "One thing you have to know about me is that I'm not the friendly type. I'm very picky when it comes to choosing friends. Have you ever heard about people building high walls around themselves? Well, that's what I do and it's very hard for me to let people get over those walls easily. But I don't know, I just liked your person and since you were kind of interested in me, I felt we could be cool friends."

"Okay, but are you saying nobody in this school is interested in you?"

"Well, I won't say no. Actually, few students are but trust me, those few just want to know the introverted guy that sits quietly at the back and read books. They're not really interested in being friends with me. I'm quite intuitive. I know a fake person when I see one."

"Which one is intuitive again? Abeg Adam! Not everyone understands your English."

He patted my back, "You'd cope, don't worry."

We both laughed quietly. I don't know why it felt so cool and comfortable hanging around with Adam. It was just yesterday we got to know each other and for me, it felt as though I've known him for years. It was a good thing though. At least, not all city kids were snobs.

We finally got to the school cafeteria and it was packed with students moving hither and thither. Some were with their friends, some were walking alone while others were with their boyfriends and girlfriends, or at least, that was what it seemed like to me.

"What do you want? Food or snacks?" Adam asked me, dipping his two hands in his trouser pockets.

"Hmm... I'm not really used to eating food outside my house, so I'd say snacks."

"Thought you'd say that." He said and we walked to the vendor selling snacks. When we got there, Adam said I should pick any snack I wanted and I decided to go for one gala and a sachet of water. He sneered as he looked at the snacks in my hand.

"Is that all you want Daniella?" He asked.

"Wait, am I supposed to pack all the snacks?"

"Daniella or what's your name? Your handsome bobo said you should take whatever you want, so you're free to pack everything here, as long as he'd pay." The vendor, who happened to be a short fat woman, said.

I chuckled sheepishly as I glanced at Adam. He rolled his eyes at the woman.

"She's not my girlfriend." Adam said sounding slightly offended.

"I was just joking young man. Don't be offended." The vendor said, acting remorseful. Note the word acting.

"I'm not offended o. Daniella, please take what you want quickly and let's go to the class."

I took one more gala and that was all. Adam looked at me as if to say, 'is that all you want?' and I nodded my head. He bought the same thing for himself and handed the vendor a five hundred naira note. So he had that much money on him. If I knew, I would have taken more than just two galas. As we waited for the food vendor to give Adam his change, I looked around at the school cafeteria and my eyes locked on Peter and some posh looking girls and boys. They were gathered at a spot having lunch. I didn't know what was said in their midst but they all laughed loudly and Peter eyes met mine in the process. I wanted to avert my gaze but I was too slow. He had caught me already. A wry smirk played on his face and I rolled my eyes at him as I looked away.

The vendor gave Adam his change and Adam counted it in front of the vendor before we walked back to our class.

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I know, I know, this chapter wasn't so cool. My head was so juggled up as I was writing it, but I just needed to give you all something to read again today to make up for my late update. Hope it wasn't too boring?

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