Dedicated to queenesthy101
Ps: If you've ever voted or commented on my book and I haven't dedicated a chapter to you, pls inform me🙏🙏I try hard to appreciate everyone who reads my book and comments and I am truly grateful

Ifechi was too quick to forget about her arch nemesis.

Grace.

She encountered her two days after the incident between Rachel and co.

Rachel had switched seats to be closer to Ifechi, whom she'd seen was the only person kind enough to tolerate her. The rest of her classmates treated her like garbage, and no, they weren't mean to her, at least not directly. But they completely ignored her existence, which to Rachel felt worse than being mean to.

She hated the feeling of irrelevance and invisibility.

It was why she became friends with Aliyah and Grace in the first place- to gain relevance.

And be popular.

"I don't get it, why must I take literature as well when I'm already taking English?" Dami sighed in frustration.

The principal had announced that morning that forms for the UTME exams were out and SS3 students were told to have their four subjects ready for when registration would begin.

"English is a compulsory subject for everyone irrespective of your course" Rachel replied.

"Did she ask you? Over Sabi Sabi" Anita retorted rolling her eyes.

Rachel turned to Ifechi who gave her an apologetic look. The slim girl now sat beside her, occupying Pedro's space. When her former seatmate arrived the previous day and saw Rachel on his seat, he didn't say a word to Ifechi's surprise. Rather, he quietly took the seat beside Rachel on the last row, making him sit two seats away from her.

For some reason, Ifechi was saddened.

"Yeah and you did not even answer my question" Dami added also giving Rachel a mean look. She turned to face Ifechi next, giving her the same look of unbelief she'd been since Rachel started sitting with them. A look that screamed "why the hell did you have to make her sit here???!!"

"Sorry, I was just trying to help" Rachel replied meekly, very aware of the fact that both girls didn't like her.

Soon it was time for break and Ifechi sauntered alone to the tuck shop. She was on her way to class with a cheerful expression on her face when someone snatched the cold bottle of Fanta from her grip.

She stopped abruptly and turned to see who it was.

Grace.

How could she forget?

"What is it?" She asked exhausted. Grace must have seen the happy expression on her face and decided to ruin it.

"What is what?" Grace said feigning ignorance, a mischievous smirk on her lips.

"I don't have time for this Grace, give me back my drink"

"Or what?"

Ifechi sighed, a low drag of exhaustion, she calmed herself down noting that this was just one of Grace's petty actions, like the one she did last time at the field, she would be fine, she knew she would.

"I don't have strength...pls, just give me what belongs to me"

"You didn't hear me before? I said or what?" Grace challenged further.

"Is it at specific times your brain use to touch eh this girl, give me my Fanta jorh"

"Oh this?" Grace said dangling the bottle from its tip.

Ifechi rolled her eyes and reached for it but Grace drew it farther away from her. She tried again but to no avail.

Grace started laughing.

"What is wrong with you na, na ment?"

Two students passing stopped to watch the scene.

"What are you looking at?!" Ifechi bawled at them and they scurried away.

"See...I really don't have time for this. Give me my Fanta or else...."

"...or else what?"

Ifechi bit her lips. "Or else, I'll force you to give it back to me"

Grace gave a sarcastic chuckle. "Ok, I'll love to see you try"

But of course Ifechi didn't make a move.

"I saw you've adopted Rachel now..." Grace started, a scoffing look on her face as she pretended to be examining the contents of the bottle in her hand.

"...I'm not surprised sha, birds of the same feather, they always flock together"

"What do you mean?" Ifechi posed, folding her arms.

"Isn't it obvious, you're both on scholarship..."

Ifechi rolled her eyes.

"... And you're both pathetic, classless lowlifes"

"Call us whatever you want Grace. I blame her for being friends with someone like you and Aliyah in the first place, how could she have treated someone you call a friend in that manner, and you couldn't even stand up for her, do you have conscience at all?"

Grace snorted. "And so you think you're what...a saint? Keep fooling yourself with Rachel, you don't know the kind of person she is. Soon, she'll deal with you and it'll be the case of Deji all over again" she said with a smirk.

Ifechi took some time to process all she had said. What kind of person was Rachel? What did Grace mean by all over again? Who the hell is Deji?

She frowned "Whatever.....can I please have my drink back now?"

"Sure.." Grace replied and Ifechi's eyes widened in surprise but her joy was short-lived.

Without thinking twice, Grace suddenly yanked the cap off the Fanta bottle and released her hand, letting the bottle fall to the ground. It took Ifechi some seconds to register what had happened. She watched in horror as the orange liquid flowed out of the mouth of the bottle onto the interlocking, her hundred naira worth of drink now wasted.

She raised her head in anger.

"Are you mad?!" She screamed, mindless of the attention she was gathering.

"Oops!" Grace smiled wickedly. "It must have slipped out of my hand, what a shame."

"What the heck is wrong with you? What did I do to you to deserve this? What is even your problem?"

"Oh dear Ifechi, if I had known the Fanta meant that much to you, I would have been more careful. Too bad I don't have money for charity" she laughed and walked off.

Ifechi was almost in tears as she bent to pick up what was left of the mess. The Fanta was more than half empty and after seeing the curious stares of those who witnessed the incident as to whether she was going to keep the remainder, Ifechi decided not to embarrass herself any further and dumped the remnant in the bin.

"I'm going to kill that girl I swear" she muttered to herself.

She stormed off to class, her anger evident on her face and in her hurried steps. She sighted the least person she wanted to see a few feet away from the door.

Damien.

He gave her an awkward nod of acknowledgement to which she hissed. Never in her life will she play such a pitiable game of being the friend someone was ashamed of talking to in public, no! She was better than that.

Damien seemed shock when she brushed past him without even as much as a blink of an eye, did she hate him that much now?

Ifechi rushed into class, went straight to her seat and buried her head in her desk to the amazement of her friends. Everyone wondered what went wrong with her.

Someone even dared to tap her.

"Leave....me...alone" she said through gritted teeth and the person flinched while retreating their hand.

The rest of the day went by and Ifechi was grateful when bell for the last period went off.

"I saw what happened" someone said, she turned beside her and her jaw dropped slightly when she saw Pedro seating next to her on his former seat.

They had chemistry next and only science students remained in class while science students in SSS3C joined them. Art students including Dami and Rachel had left for CRS.

"Saw what?"

"During break, near the canteen"

Ifechi didn't respond.

"Why'd you let her do that?"

"Do what?"

"I felt someone like you wouldn't have allowed her do such, you're a fighter aren't you?"

"I..don't fight"

He chuckled. "That's not what I meant but nevermind" he said discontinuing the conversation since her responses weren't welcoming.

Truth be told, he wanted to interact with her more, to be more social in general but she didn't make it easy. Maybe it was because they started on a bad note last term, but P.G was willing to make a difference this term, if only she would co-operate.

His prayers were answered the next day.

The day had already begun badly for Ifechi when Grace dumped a bunch of books on her desk that morning after second period.

"I need help with my notes"

Ifechi gave her the 'are you ment?" look, but Grace didn't back down. Instead she said in a loud voice so that everyone could hear.

"We have chemistry fifth period and I'm yet to complete my note from yesterday, don't make me lose 5 marks" she said and sashayed off.

Her classmates looked at Ifechi anticipating a heated argument to break out but were pretty dissapointed when their golden girl, the only one who seemed to put Grace in her place gave a defeated sigh and looked away.

"Are you seriously going to write her notes Ifechi?" Dami asked incredulously. Rachel and Anita had the same look of shock on their faces as well.

"It's no biggie..." Ifechi replied trying to wave the discussion, when she saw her friends weren't bulging she lied. "...I owe her"

"For what possibly?" Rachel snapped and Ifechi looked at her sharply.

"You guys don't disturb me, face your front, civic teacher is here" Ifechi said dismissively. But as class went on, she couldn't ignore the bad feeling that ate her guts. It was like Grace coming to her seat that morning had spiked a new cause for gossip. Things were starting to get out of hand, Ifechi knew and she had to do something quickly.

"Stupid girl" she muttered to herself.

"What did you say?"

She raised her head to see the teacher looking at her. The rest of the class turned as well, including Grace.

"Huh?"

"What did you say? I heard stupid, who were you calling stupid....me?" The civic teacher, a balding young man in his late forties said glaring at her.

"What....no!" Ifechi blurted. "...I was talking to myself"

"Really? So you were calling yourself stupid then?" He said derisively which caused the class to laugh.

"No...well, not really..I'm not sure but no..." She stuttered, her cheeks already heating with embarrassment.

The civic teacher paused and looked at her briefly before signalling to the door "Oya leave my class"

"Sir?"

"I said leave my class!"

"Sir please..."

"Out!"

Ifechi sighed and bent her head in defeat. Packing the books off her desk into her arms, she left the class feeling deflated and ashamed.

Who gets thrown out of class for talking to themselves?

She did a mental map reading of the school's hang out spots wanting a place not too hidden, but secluded enough so that all these itiboribo teachers will not ask her any nonsense question.

Soon, she found herself on the pavement at the back of the school building facing the field. It wasn't up to five minutes when she had an unexpected visitor.

"Thought I'd find you around here" he said startling Ifechi who looked up with a scowl to question the intruder.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Relax...I just came to chill" P.G chuckled taking the space beside her.

"Chill kwa? Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

"He sent me out too"

"How come? what did you do?"

"I got myself kicked out....intentionally" He bent over to hug his knees.

She raised her brows. "Why?"

He turned to her with a grin.

"So that I can hang out with you"

A/n

*Clears throat.

P.G wants to hang out with Ifechi? Meddo!😂

There are a couple of things I want to say concerning this chapter but I just can't put them into words right now.

Anyhow sha, leave me your comments and thoughts so far.

Also pls vote and share

God bless you❣️