One thing I am sure of is that classes would be better without Dorcas. She occupies two front seats but still manages to fight us at the back.

I sometimes think everyone's picking on her until she shows me that is not the case.

"Who knows how to solve this logarithm problem?" The mathematics teacher backs the whiteboard and searches our faces.

This Tuesday morning, the first class we have is mathematics.

I drop my pen and am about to raise my hand when I do not.

What if my answer is wrong? If it is, everyone will laugh at me.

Dorcas looks over her shoulder at the classmates that brought a wrong answer until her eyes linger on Ade next to me before looking away.

"Sir." Her hand shoots into the air.

"Yes, Dorcas?"

My jaw clinches.

"The answer is – "

She does not get it right, yet the teacher smiles.

"That is wrong, Dorcas. What is important is that you tried." He starts to write the correct answer on the board.

"The way to solve this question is by moving the power to the – "

"Other side. I got it," I say out loud.

"You got what? Please keep quiet, Joy. Did you say anything?"

"Ah!" Ade and Titi hold each other as they burst out in laughter.

"Quiet down, everyone. Just speak up next time, Joy." The teacher hushes them like little children.

I turn to Ade. "I am not lying; I truly knew the answer."

"Yeah, you did," He starts to write as the teacher moves to another mathematical problem.

"But look, at least."

"Joy, can't you see I am writing? It is not that deep."

Slowly, I turn to the board, watching Dorcas scribbling down before looking down at my notebook.

I do not like that girl, but get to pay her back during lunch time.

Then, Ade stays at our dining table.

Since he sits opposite me, I catch the girl staring at him just before she looks away.

"Guy, she is looking at you again. But do not make it obvious,"

I take his hand when he is about to turn to her.

Ade nods her head. "Dorcas is so desperate."

I grin. "Dorcas did it again,"

"Abeg forget her. Stop bothering yourself. Dorcas is a nobody to us," Ade waves his hand tiredly.

He was right. Dorcas is a nobody. Yet, my parents would do anything to have my exam results like hers.

Mrs. Ifeoma has requested a study session with Brian this Wednesday.

Both my school and Brian's were having us write our final school-given examination this February.

Mom does not give me enough time to change my school uniform for casual wear than to take a bath. In the evening, we are waiting outside Brian's house.

Waiting in the dining room, I listen to Brian's mom call his name for minutes. Yet, he does not come out.

"I will go and check on him," Mrs. Ifeoma leaves my mom in the living room.

I take my time to scrutinize the questions I created for him while waiting for him.

When Brian finally appears, he is in a white polo shirt and with a tight jaw.

She walks back to my mom; I watch him glare at the table.

"I thought you would teach me only on Saturday."

"Same." I hand him a paper with his test corrections.

"You did not do well at all, but I am sure we will find a way." I start to scratch my head.

We have so many topics to cover.

Slowly, Brian gets up and draws the closest seat to my left before sitting next to me.

"Joy, are you not tired?"

I raise my brow at this question.

"Didn't you just come back from school?" His face looks drained and sad at the same time.

"Yes."

"Then please do not force me to learn this subject. I do not know what I am doing." Brian smiles wearily. "I am going to fail already, so please stop trying so hard."

"Why do you say that?"

"I am just not smart."

I take his cold hands into mine.

"Do not worry. With me, you will get a B3 in mathematics on your final exams." I stare at his cream-coloured skin as he withdraws.

"But I am an art student," He whines.

"And so? That does not mean you cannot be good at mathematics."

Brian straightens up. "Better than you?"

"Maybe. Didn't think your mom said that you are going to Canada."

"Yes." He sneezes into his elbow.

"Then why don't you stop looking moody and try to pass?"

"I don't know." He nods his head in disagreement before moving to his usual chair.

"Of course, it is. You told me last time that your mom wouldn't let you play basketball. Why is that?"

"Shh. Do you know what? Just act like I did not tell you anything."

"But I would like to know because you seem enthusiastic about it." He is no longer paying me attention but is punching some numbers into his calculator.

Returning from Brian's house, I imagined bathing and eating good food. But in the kitchen, I cover my mouth when I see that the pots are clean and empty.

"Bare it, honey. It is a preview to your dad that I will not budge to buy foodstuff while things are so tough."

My stomach grumbles too. "What happened now, mom?"

"The price of things is increasing daily, and there is fuel scarcity everywhere." She taps her feet anxiously. "He is so lucky Uncle Stanley is taking care of your school fees. If not, we would have left you in your former school."

I sigh. "Thank God he understands our plight and is paying."

"Then why don't you show that you are grateful?" Her voice is louder than the television in the living room.

"What? But I tell him every month that –"

"I am not talking about that. What is wrong, Joy?"

My body tenses.

"Why are you not succeeding in school?"

Maybe it is because I have not had anything to drink for a long time, but my mouth dries. "I try, mom. I am trying."

She stares at me. "You are the reason for your dilemma."

Something was wrong. I don't know why she spoke like that, but it's not now that she started to worry about my grades.

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