“A reputation for a thousand years may depend upon the conduct of a single moment.” – Ernest Bramah.

•••

“Renal artery!”

Oh, God.

Rena swirled around to set gaze upon the infuriating person, she expected. Dabby in all his irritating glory – was taking confident strides towards her with a smirk scrawled across his face. Honestly, she had been pondering the reason as to why she hadn’t been bothered by his presence all morning and she sensed it was a result of his typical late-coming attitude. Dabby still wouldn’t arrive at school early, even if the catholic Pope said it was a one-way ticket to heaven.

“I thought I told you not to call me that name, anymore.” Her forehead wrinkled, as her eyes narrowed wickedly at him as he fell into pace with her.

“And I thought I told you, you weren’t my mom.” He flashed an equally disgusting smile, draping his right arm through her shoulders. She didn’t bother to shrug it off, because she knew he wouldn’t budge and he was that strong. As a jock, he had the body faculties to bully anyone in such way. “So, how’s our favorite queen doing? Feeling satisfied that someone out of our circle won the most fashionable award?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re just projecting. You’re the one who is annoyed, and we both know it. Why don’t you go pick a bone with the social committee, and stop wasting your time with me here if you want the award.”

“Nah, it’s all a part of the plan.” His lips set into a straight line. “Hey, you have a knife I can borrow? Maybe If I put it to your neck and drag you to their office, then I’d get the award.”

“Funny, how I wanted to borrow something from you also.”

“And what’s that?” A smug smile spread across his face.

“A fuck.”

“What?”

Urgh! What a slow brain, she thought. She had just issued a classic, harrowing insult and he hadn’t grabbed the meaning behind it. Her situation was pretty hopeless.

“Dude, just get your hands off me first.” She grunted, clamping her hands down on his huge arm and throwing it over her shoulder. Luckily, it didn’t rebound or bounce back.

“…So, if you don’t have a fuck, then—you can’t give one. Ooh! I get it now.”

She tried to suppress the smile that threatened her serious resolve, but she lost the battle and it dispersed and touched upon every single nook and cranny of her face.

“I don’t know why you ever bothered about winning the most fashionable award, anyway. You’ve never ever won it, it always went to Itunu.”

“You know I don’t really care for these things.” He drawled.

“Then what do you care for?”

“You, the one and only love of my life.”

Rena snorted and shook her head. He was really back indeed, Dabby Okoli her longest nightmare. Long in the previous context, being very key and essential. Their relationship dated back to forever. Both of their dads were literally the best of friends, and the link had of course resulted in the brewing of a friendship between them. If only she had known he would turn out like this, she would have warned the baby Rena not to befriend him. Now it was too late and she had been compromised. There was absolutely nothing she could do, until the Americans invented the time machine of course.

“You mistakenly swapped you and myself in your previous statement,” She beamed up, sarcastically at him. “I don’t think you’re that dumb and don’t know that they mean different things.”

“I’m talking about you stupid, why must you always reject my love?” He rambled on, the authenticity in his baritone – inexistent.

“Once again, you’re making the same mistake.” She shook her head. Of course, he was just messing with her like he did with almost every single female in the school. Dabby was the quintessential playboy. But that didn’t stop an immense number of the female population to fall head over heels for him, but not her. They had known each other for too long and she knew his antics too well.

But she could understand the reason why any female would be drawn to him. He almost had it all. Standing at 6’4, and having a skin complexion like hers – it was easy to get intoxicated by his charm. Especially, when he was the male equivalence of her position and was the soon-to-be captain of the school’s basket-ball team. But unlike her, he had a close contender and rival for the King title of the school. Another alpha male, she sensed she might have angered by her insistence on ensuring the award went through to Tomi.

“Okay, fine. I’m worried about myself.” His voice lowered, but still she couldn’t detect any hint of seriousness in it. “Itunu is not going to take it lightly that the award didn’t go to him. Especially when I won the most attractive and most influential. The most fashionable was supposed to go to him, and you insisted that it go to your little crush. Now, he’s gonna come after me for blood.”

The assembly had concluded a couple of minutes ago, and the library prefects had rallied to discuss measures that would be adhered to in the coming session to ensure order and tranquility. What she wasn’t expecting, was to be ambushed by whiny Dabby on her way back to the class.

“Aren’t you basket-ball guys taller?” She feigned worry for him. “Surely you’d beat Itunu and his foot-ball boys if they come near you. So you’d be fine, believe me. And if you aren’t, you can just call an impromptu assembly and hand over both of your awards to him since you said earlier that you didn’t care much for it.”

The senior block hall-way wasn’t entirely empty, but it was scanty and such notion signified that it would be best if they quickened their strides and approached their destination with more speed.

“No, Rena you’ve put me in harm’s way and as a result of that. I resent you. We are no longer friends…”

Gee, I’m so broken-hearted.

“…But not to worry, there is a way in which you could redeem yourself.”

Oh, bite me!

“And I’m guessing this way has something to do with girls?”

“Aww, we’re so alike.” His huge arm came down on her shoulders again. “It really takes one to know one, like they say.”

“Not really, Dabby. Even a deaf man would know you’re all about girls. Cos its just radiating off your body to the environment.”

“Hmm, so you do admit I’m a babe magnet, huh?” He snickered. “I’m sure you wish that we didn’t go all the way back, so it wouldn’t be so weird for us to be together now.”

“Took the words right out of my mouth.” She retorted, making him laugh.

She felt a finger snake up her right cheek. “I’ve really missed you, Renal artery.”

“Don’t call me that!”

“Oh, but C’mon you have to admit that it’s a pretty romantic, sweet word.” He cut her off. “If you’re a renal artery, then it means you’re essential for blood flow. Without efficient blood flow, then no man can survive. That is, without you no man can survive.”

“In that sense every girl in this school is your renal artery, cos we both know you can’t survive without them all.” She snarled, shoving his arm away. “Seriously, I just don’t know why you and April can’t get together and end my misery once and for all. Both of you thirst for the opposite sex like you’re junkies. Why don’t y’all just get together and end each other’s pain.”

“No, not April. I’d pass.” He shook his head, the previous smug smile still plastered on his left cheek. “I want someone else. Someone new, someone only you could have the means to get her contact. I mean April would have such power also, but I’m not ready to go through her and make her jealous because I know she is just crazy about me–”

“Sure, that’s the case.”

“And I know she won’t be half as delighted as you would be in helping me…”

Delighted?

“I hope when you say someone new you’re not referring to the new girl?” She cut him off, and silence ensued. She was able to surmise from his decision not to utter a word that her inference was indeed right. “You can’t be serious. For goodness sake, Dabby she just got into Lake. Why do you want to ruin her so early?”

“And run the risk of the other girls telling her crap about how dirty I am? Hell, nah. And I don’t understand, would it be better if I ruin her later? Wouldn’t be better if I do it now and she gets over it quickly and move on with her life. If I ruin her next year, then I run the risk of becoming enemies with her cos it’d be close to graduation and all, and there wouldn’t be enough time to make it up to her.”

“How about not ruining her at all? And changing for the better good?”

“I am changing for the better good! I’m planning on ruining her early, seriously can’t you listen?”

“Dabby,” She halted abruptly, holding up her right arm in a cautioning manner. “You will stay away from this new girl, you will not extend your acquaintanceship with her and if you plan on ruining any girl this term, it wouldn’t be any of my friends or anyone who would hate me for life for not warning them. Are we clear on that?”

“But you just said April and I would make a great match?”

“You want April?”

“Nopsy, she’s a flirt c’mon. I don’t want to get my heart broken.”

“Y’all would make a great match, believe me. I’m exempting April from the aforementioned people. Go get her, she likes you anyway. We all know.”

“Nah, two flirts? Can you hear yourself? A good girl is what would suit me, you know a good girl that would me change me for the better and stop my playboy ways. Someone like this new girl for instance.”

“And how would you know she is a good girl?”

“C’mon, she’s dressed up as if the cold here is as intense as the one in Russia.” He folded his arms, peering deeper into Rena’s eyes. “Just find your way and get her number for me, please?”

“Why can’t you walk up to her and get it yourself? You never had a problem with doing such in the past.”

“No, I didn’t. But then she’d know my intention, and know who I am when I text her. I want to come off as an unknown person. You know a stalker. You girls act like it freaks you out, but deep inside you’re always fascinated when such happens. That’s the angle I wanna come from. So are you gonna help me or what?”

“No, find someone else.”

“Another good girl, hmm? Moyin perhaps.”

“NO!” She shrieked involuntarily, and her voice reverberated in the hall causing some room occupants to turn their heads towards them. “Find someone else to help you, I mean. I swear if you dare go near Moyin, I’d personally castrate you. You’ve seen the last Pirates movie, yeah? The blade intended for slicing Jack’s head off is what I’d use to slice that thing you have down there that is making you feel on top of the world.”

“Hey, easy there. Don’t make the babies cry.” Dabby’s palms closed on his groin region, causing her to avert her gaze elsewhere. The boy literally had no shame around her.

“I’m serious, Dabby I’m not helping you. And the next person that you go to seek for help from better be a zombie or some sort of immortal being also, cos when I set eyes on them. Well need I say more?”

Dabby nodded. “You actually need to say more. You might have various reasons for wanting to meet an immortal? An obvious reason would be – you asking the question of how they came about their immortality and how you could get yours.”

At this point, it was difficult to tell if Dabby was just being the infuriating person he was, or he was just that ignorant.

“Sure, find them for me. I’m the one who would be needing to be immortal not you.”

“I knew it.” Dabby laughed before brushing past her, and advancing towards the class-room by their left. She chuckled a bit to herself, before following suit.

The session has indeed begun.

*****

“Seriously dude, you gotta stop acting like you were just made the director of the Infinity war.”

Tomi paused his incessant pacing, and turned an inquisitive stare on cross-legged Alexis before him at the back of the class-room. For some reason, lectures hadn’t commenced since the bell for the first period went. Probably because, the teachers had converged in the principal’s office for some sort of resumption meet.

“How’s that statement making any sense?”

“Makes perfect sense to me,” Another male perched on the same bench Alexis sat on, but with his back to them commented. “It’s literally the biggest movie of the century. I bet any film-maker would wet their pants if they get handed such mantle on short notice. If they don’t deliver, then you know that bullet is going to drop somewhere and someone is going to get killed.”

His shoulders slumped, and he eased into the wall behind him. “Oh, death would solve a lot.”

“Now you’re just being melodramatic,” Alexis shook his head. “For goodness sake you were given an award, not a curse. If you knew you didn’t want such, why were you looking so good in the first place?”

“You think it’s a choice in my house not to look good? It’s even more important than eating good food.” Tomi growled. “After all these years of being my best-friend, one would think you’d know that. And I haven’t won this award in years. I haven’t even come close to winning it despite the fact that I’ve been looking this same way since J.S.S.1. So, what went wrong now?”

“He does have a point,” The boy with his back turned to them, swirled around to join in the conversation. Unlike himself and Alexis, the boy’s looks which consisted of –  ruffled brown hair and unkempt beard broadcasted an height of apathy towards his appearance. That coupled with his slightly rumpled shirt, and haphazardly knotted tie. “The criteria of winning the award isn’t solely dependent on him just looking good. You have to look good and belong to the social circle. Dabby won the most attractive award, but even I know he isn’t the most handsome boy in the school. Not trying to be gay, but it’s the truth. Everything comes with the popularity price.”

“Look, Mofiyin whatever.” Alexis waived his hands. “I’m just saying that it isn’t enough reason for him to act like he has been expelled or something, or caught banging a female in the toilet. He’s just giving himself too much stress.”

Tomi squatted, and faced both boys. “My fear is valid, boys. Can’t you see the bigger picture here? Just like Mofiyin explained, something went wrong. I’m not supposed to win the award even if I’m very fashionable. It doesn’t work like that. Meaning there was an influence somewhere, a plan to make this happen on purpose.”

“So what can happen?” Alexis asked.

“I don’t know!” He shot up to his feet again, and propped both of his hands on his waist. “Something just doesn’t feel good about this. I mean didn’t you listen to the speech of the social prefect before she called me out. Normally they’d ignore me, but this term they couldn’t just ignore me again? C’mon something is wrong.”

“This is what happens when you watch too many High-school shows.” Mofiyin shook his head, his gaze fixated on a book on his lap. Typical studious, braniac Mofiyin. Not giving a damn about anything else asides acquiring knowledge. There was no subject in which he didn’t best anyone In the entire class, save only mathematics where Tomi was the undisputed champion.

“What’s that new one everyone is watching these days? Riverdale? The adaptation of Archie, right? Told you nothing good comes out of watching High-school shows where conspiracy and all sorts of bad things happen. Those things aren’t real, we’re in the real world. This is just high-school. The most disastrous thing that could happen is when lunch doesn’t arrive on time or when the cooks overcook the food to the point where it burns.”

Alexis found Mofiyin’s statement amusing, but Tomi didn’t. It did carry a lot of truth though, It was just high-school. Nothing more. But still, he couldn’t shake off this funny feeling within him that some certain things were about to go wrong.

“I know just what I’m going to do with my new-found popularity.” Cupping his chin, Tomi feigned an insightful gaze.

“Good, that’s my boy.” Alexis jammed his hands together in applause. “And what would that be?”

“Paste it on the notice board that I need a new best-friend!” He snarled, causing Alexis to jerk his head backward. “I mean can you even share in my pain at all? Back at the assembly also, you dragged me up to my feet like I’m some sort of aged elderly woman that needs assistance to get up from her wheelchair.”

Alexis mouth fell open in dismay. “I did what I had to do, cos I know what you’re capable of Tomi. I know you were capable of remaining on that chair and acting like you’re near death for instance, like an aged elderly woman.”

“Please, save it.” Tomi spat, the anger surging out from his being. He was actually being serious. Alexis was doing the same thing he did virtually all the time. Act casual whenever there was a problem and joke about it. He was pretty sure if he informed his best-friend that his dad died on the first of April, Alexis was capable of laughing it off and saying the old man was just fooling around and that he would rise up again.

He wondered how he managed to put up with him since all these years.

Alexis sat up straight, his head wedged in both of his hands. “So, tell me. What do you want me to do for you now? Find a secret lair, a computer expert oh and we have a nerd here,” He added, pointing to Mofiyin. “So, complete huh? All you need to do is go get lost on an island somewhere, so you can return five years later—after learning martial arts. Oh chill, we would have all being in college by then. But it’d still be worth it, I guess.”

Tomi could only shake his head.

“But seriously, what’s your problem?” Alexis pressed on. “You’re not new to being popular. Why make a fuss out of it?”

“It’s different. I’m used to being popular for the reason an actual student is supposed to be popular.” He shot back. “That is for using my brain. Not for the way I look.”

“Difference again?”

Mofiyin lifted his head up from his book. “I think he’s trying to explain that his previous popularity stemmed from the fact that he is a diligent student in his work. Not for his appearance. Perhaps, the part about using his brain was the one that got you confused, since every living human utilizes their brain.”

“Just when I was enjoying the bickering.” Alexis groaned. “Why did you ruin it? Who wouldn’t understand what he said just now?”

“For instance, someone who doesn’t use his brain?” Mofiyin retorted, and Tomi couldn’t help but smile. Jerks or not, the boys were showing their own way of support by bantering and making jokes out of everything and easing the tension.

Alexis turned his attention on Tomi. “Okay, maybe I’ve been joking all day, but could you please give me a valid reason to all your fears? How’s this one award going to change who you are totally?”

“Are you blind? It has changed everything already.” Tomi clenched his fist. “I’m currently ranking number three on the most popular list of boys. Number two on the most attractive.”

“Okay, there has to be something seriously wrong if they’re ranking you second most attractive male in our class.” Alexis cut him off. “The conspiracy wasn’t all that obvious for the fashion awards. But this one, c’mon. You second most attractive? Now I understand your pain.”

“Shut up, fool!” Tomi face-palmed, while Mofiyin and Alexis laughed. “Stop it, can you just be serious?”

“Sorry, serious mode activating in five, four, three–”

“That’s not being serious in any way–”

“…Two, one. Activated. Go on.”

He exhaled. “This new rankings is going to change everything. It has that sort of power. Very soon the elections would come around, and instead of qualifying for the immunity to run for health prefect ship or some other post in which intellectual factors are of high importance, I’d be placed into the social office or something. And you know there is no way in hell I can beat either Dabby or Itunu in general votes. Those guys have spent their entire life in school amassing popularity.”

“So you’re just scared you might become redundant in the upcoming elections?” Alexis asked. “Wouldn’t that make you less popular in the end, if your worry is about failing to keep a low profile? Shouldn’t you be happy about this?”

Yeah, shouldn’t that make you happy?

The truth was that Tomi didn’t exactly know the particular place his fear emanated from, he just knew it was valid and there was a reason to fear.

“You can’t reply, because I’m right.” Alexis proceeded. “And can you see how you’re just catastrophizing and making everything a big deal? Everything is going to be alright, just let it go. And if there was truly a conspiracy against you somewhere, like you say there is and I highly doubt such is possible, what could you possibly do about it?”

“Rent a secret lair, seek for the help of a computer expert, recruit me, get him lost on an island for the next five years. C’mon we’ve been through this already.” Mofiyin joined in the bickering. “Don’t worry bro, if Alexis here isn’t ready to help you. You know I’m always here and at your service.”

“Embrace the chaos, bro. Embrace it.” Alexis continued. “Speaking about the election, it’s only a few weeks away. If you really get placed into the social category, then you have little time on your hands to ensure you get voted in. You can’t be wasting your time on frivolities like this.”

“That’s not going to happen. I’d just request that the staff alter that. I’d return back to primary school first and redo the whole thing before I become social prefect of this kind of school.”

“Dude, calm down. Jeez.” Alexis shook his head. “You’re not putting a positive spin into this thing in any way. You could look at it this way. A new world order. Gone should be the days where the most attractive people in the school rule, the most brilliant pupils should rise up and claim it. This is school, not a fashion parade. The academic alphas should dominate in every aspect. Huh? It could be an uprising of some sort, what say you Mofiyin?”

“I hear you, bro. I hear you.” Mofiyin nodded. “Your current statements only validates the fact of you being someone who doesn’t exactly use his brain. It’s all too glaring.”

Tomi stuck out his tongue out at Alexis. “Anyway, I’m indeed, truly tired of worrying though. But I just feel something is wrong, somewhere. I mean why now of all times?”

“Is there any special thing happening this year?” Mofiyin asked again.

“You mean nothing other than the ridiculous fact that he was named second most attractive in our class?” Alexis cupped his chin in pretense contemplation. “I’m sorry, I just can’t see anything else. And for someone regarded as a person not using their brain, that says a lot.”

“Oh, so you admit…”

Tomi’s mind drifted away from the conversation of his two closest friends and back to his worries. Was he really being paranoid or pedantic? Was there not a valid reason for his fears? Was his insistence on something being wrong germinate from the fact that he watched numerous conspiracy high-school shows on T.V.? Were they right and he wrong?

This was tough.

First his day, kicked off with the discovery of him being placed into the B Arm. It wasn’t protocol, or inscribed into any constitution but every single student of Lake High knew what being placed in Arm B meant. It was reserved for the elites in terms of popularity. And yet, he was here. With Rena, April, Itunu, Dabby and every other single influential personality in the school. While people like him, Alexis for instance was placed in other classes. Mofiyin was in his Arm also, but in some sense he was an Elite in terms of his intellects so, yeah.

Something felt wrong.

But was it a different type of popularity, though? Popularity was still popularity at its core. Didn’t matter if its roots were inclined to academic diligence or outward appearance. It was still popularity. And it wasn’t something he hadn’t handled before and couldn’t handle now.

“…that must be the real reason why he is angry?”

“What?” His eyes dilated in curiosity, causing Alexis to repeat his previous statement.

“I said its because Legide isn’t in this class and she’s in my class, is why you’re angry oh.”

Not this again.

“What would change if we were in the same class?” He hissed.

“Everything bro, everything.” Alexis chuckled. “But not to worry. I’ma keep an eye on her, you know. Chase every single boy away that goes nears her. Put it on a tag that she’s yours. You’re welcome bro, no need to thank me. That’s how much you mean to me, and that’s what brothers are for.”

“Really need to put up that notice for a new friend.” Tomi cracked his knuckles, his stare hopping to Mofiyin. “What about you? If you agree with his assumption, then you should be overjoyed that you ended up in the same class with Rena.”

“Why should I be?” Mofiyin’s lips twitched, his gaze not leaving the book on his thighs. “Every other boy in this room isn’t doing that. Why should I? As far as I know virtually all the boys here have a crush on her. So it isn’t even like a crush again, it’s like you know just–normal. It’s like screaming out loud that a Marvel movie is awesome. It’s supposed to be awesome.”

Tomi let out a dejected sigh. “I wish I were like you. Just normal about your crush, like it’s a feeling of being hungry. You know.”

“It’s not about him being normal. It what it demands.” Alexis butted in. “If you’re not normal, then what are you going to be? You could never have a shot at her. So normal or not, y’all still on the same level of having a shot at her.”

Mofiyin faced Alexis. “Thanks for close-captioning my pain.”

Alexis shrugged. “It’s just like I’ve been saying all day boys. What are brothers for?”

*****

“Where is everyone else?”

Rena asked, a tad perplexed, as she walked into the class to meet it empty—save her best-friends occupying the desk in the center of the room. Moyin on the chair, April on the desk, with the latter’s left arm facing the former.

“What do you think, we told them to go play catch. The girls need their space.” April rolled her eyes, lifting her gaze up from the Iphone in her hands.

Rena let out a disgruntled expression, as she sunk into the seat on the east bearings of the girls. “Don’t be silly. What happened?”

Moyin’s shoulders rose, as she turned to face her friend. “Who knows? It’s resumption date and free period. The boys are probably scattered about in different classes arguing football. And girls are probably in groups like us here, talking about what everyone else is doing like we are also.”

Her statement was certainly spot on. It was typical resumption demeanor.

“So, what’s up?”

“Oh, our usual resumption routine also. Listening to April whine about what’s wrong with every new school rule.”

April rolled her eyes, and slid her phone into her denim jacket. “Now, they’re saying we mustn’t wear anything other than school wears, cardigans and all. Didn’t they think about the reason why we don’t like wearing the school’s cardigan? Now there is only exception to only new students. Even sick students are not excused. They’d be punished also.”

“No wonder you’re enraged, you’re sick in the head.” Rena tittered. “I just don’t know how you do it. You’re a prefect, and you’re going about in that jean jacket and no one is saying anything about it. You have mind.”

“Hey, the key is acting like it’s legal.” April winked, much to the disgust of Rena and Moyin. “You just gotta soak it in you know. It’s when you fidget and shake like you’ve just stolen meat from the pot that they’d apprehend you. But if you act confidently and boldly, forget. Is it not Lake teachers? They don’t know nothing. They’d begin to ask each other if wearing the jacket is legit, cos they’d be confused. But you’d now be the one to not be stupid and stay away from the principal’s block.”

“Oh, really? I thought it was just all about acting confident?” Moyin jeered.

“Oh, no be fashion parade oh. But the way you will parade the hall on your knees ehn, you’d know that it takes confidence and boldness to do such.”

Once again, April’s comment caused the trio to laugh uniformly.

“The only new rule that’s pissing me off, is the one about the assembly time.” Rena said.

“Are you sick? They brought it down.” April interjected with a scowl. “You must be crazy.”

“Madam, do my funeral service before you bury me now?” Rena grunted. “As I was saying, it’s crap. They brought it down from 7:30.A.M. to 8:00 A.M. but they didn’t do anything about the assembly time. Before, school opened at thirty minutes after seven of course, and there would be a full hour before assembly begins. But now, it’s only thirty minutes.”

“So?” Moyin asked.

“So? It might not mean anything to you, Miss all-knowing that does all her assignment at home but for us who do it in the morning before the assembly, it’s just less time for us.”

“Shit!” April gritted her teeth, distastefully. “Damn it, I knew there had to be something else wrong asides the strict dressing code. Lake’s administration are just experts at pissing people off on various fronts. Well, we just have to adapt to these hard times, I guess. After all, we all expected S.S.S.2 to be this challenging.”

Moyin smirked. “Sure, challenging in that sense. But to be honest, after the entire flood and all. I thought we were going to get a little break or something. Some schools are actually not resuming until next month, but no—Lake has to be the one school that is different. Would it kill them to just add more weeks to the holiday? I mean isn’t it more relax time for them? We all know how troublesome and tiring we are as their students, the reason why they’re always so anxious to return to work eludes me.”

Rena ran her hand through her hair, euphoria coursing through her being. It was indeed bliss to be back in school, with her squad. Although she wondered if she could call a measly number like – two, a squad.

“It’s because Lake follows the British curriculum, so judiciously. Sometimes it irks me that we resume so early, and our time-table is so advanced and stressful but its worth it. What it takes other high-schools in the country to take in three terms, we do it in just two. So it’s great all-in-all.” She explained.

“Yeah,” April smiled knowingly. “I still get this scorn whenever I tell people there is no such thing as a third term here in Lake. And they’re like, uhm what school is that? Where is it? Like they want to come pick a bone with the administration or something. But still sometimes I wonder if its worth it. All these numerous rules.”

“Numerous rules?” Moyin repeated. “How many rules are bothering you, really? Isn’t it just one? Just one April, stop acting like it’s a list of new rules that is almost a mile long. If you’re complaining, what do you want the characters in the fifth Harry Potter movie to do, when all those ridiculous rules came down.”

April rolled her eyes, and hissed. “Smart-ass, it’s still rules in some sense. Cos one rule limiting outfits, is not just a rule. If it was limiting only denim, ehen. It’s a rule. But if its limiting leather jackets, sweat-shirts and hoodies? It’s not a rule again, my dear. It’s now – rules.”

“Anyway, we all have to suck it up and put up with them. There is nothing we can do about it.” Rena heaved a sigh of exasperation. “Speaking about sucking and putting up with things, Dabby made an absurd request to me this morning. At this point I don’t think I can take any more of his peskiness again. I might just explode.”

“Tell us about it.” April sat up, with a smile on her face. A sudden enthusiasm booming out of nowhere. She gagged internally at her friend’s action. Whenever the topic drifted to Dabby, one could always count on April to put in a devotion inexistent in every other aspect of her life.

“Nothing new, just the regular. He’s asking me for the contact of the new girl.”

“Oh,” Moyin’s eyes widened, and April wore the same expression also. “But I don’t understand, since when did Dabby ever need your help to run his parole? Isn’t walking up to girls and asking for their phone number like you know—drinking water to him?”

“I know right,” Rena nodded. “Same thing I told him. But he was like he wants to feign a stalker of some sort. Saying that we girls totally dig it but we just act like we’re creeped out and all. Anyway, I didn’t help him to do such thing. I just don’t know why his prey is someone who just resumed. Is she that pretty? Cos I haven’t even seen her.”

“Well,” April’s head tilted to the side in a disapproving manner. “If you love country-side beauty, then she’s got it. You know no earrings, no make-up, wears skirts and all that. Is that what Dabby is into now?”

Rena’s head jerked backward. “Why don’t you go ask him yourself. I don’t think he is actually attracted to such person though. Probably just wants to mess with her cos you know, she’s different and that’s what he does best. I did try and tell him that he should consider April’s feelings but he didn’t pay heed to my words. He seemed pretty determined. After fourteen years of knowing that guy, I will go on to say that I do not know him. He is just—well, you know. Dabby.”

Moyin leaned back into her chair. “Why would he consider April’s feelings, flirts don’t do that. Even if they did, considering it would be like a regular human considering the number of house-flies in their house every night before sleeping and saying they won’t go to bed if they so much as see just one of em’ flying about. It’s that insignificant to them.”

“Gee, guys thanks for talking in hushed tones and subtle means so as not to hurt my feelings.” April snarled, causing the others to laugh. “But c’mon, it’s not like I’m not used to him looking at other girls.”

“And it’s not like you don’t do the exact same thing with boys.” Rena pointed out.

“That’s only cos he does that. If he liked me from the start, I’d have never become—this.” April swallowed, a huge lump forming down her throat. As Rena studied her friend she couldn’t help but think a rare moment of honesty had manifested, and April wasn’t joking around like she did.

Did she really mean what she said?

“Thank God that happened. Just imagine me not like this, and like you know—you guys for example. Pinning for one guy’s love at a time. Life is too short, biko.”

And she’s back!

“Speaking about pinning for guy’s attention,” Rena sat up, as a cold chill settled in her chest. “I have a confession, guys.”

“You like Dabby too?” April’s brows rose. “C’mon here, join the club. We have crying sessions every weekend in the midnight. Location, in your bed and under the warmth of your comforter. It’s advisable to have a cup of coffee nearby.”

“Touching, girl. Touching.” Rena gritted her teeth. “Okay here goes, I think I might have a crush on Tomi.”

The heads of both girls jerked back, before they exchanged curious looks with themselves.

“Hello? Is anyone going to say anything?”

“We’re just trying to soak it in.” Moyin waived her down with her right hand. “Processing, okay. Done. So wow, you have feelings for Tomi Adeiye!”

“Could you stop saying it like, you just got the news that April topped everyone in class and became the highest ranking student on the score log?”

“I’d have killed you for that, but this news don weak me and I can’t wait to get to the bottom of it.” April shook her head. “So for how long? How do you know if it’s a real crush anyway? What do you know about liking someone?”

Rena’s brows creased together to form a frown. “What do you mean what do I know about liking boys? I’m someone who likes boys a lot. You think If I didn’t, Dabby wouldn’t have died a premature death in the past?”

“Okay, let’s be serious.” Moyin interjected. “How do you feel towards him? Are you sure the reason why you’re saying such isn’t as a result of—you know that he’s lookable?”

“Lookable?”

“Yeah, lookable. Lake slang for a person not looking all that bad.” April explained. “Now are you sure it isn’t because he looks just good, that you’re saying such?”

“You guys sound really silly, right now. Is he the only attractive male in the school?” Rena’s words came out in a rush. She was trying to keep her anger in check but she didn’t in any way enjoy what the girls were insinuating. That she wasn’t capable of having feelings? “By that standard I should have feelings for Dabby and Itunu also, since it’s all about looking good.”

“There is a valid explanation for that.” Moyin continued. “Dabby has been zoned into every possible zone existing by you since y’all go way back, and let me remind you that you did have a crush on Itunu some years back. It only died when he noticed you, and began to give you all that attention you tagged as exhausting and you know you stopped liking him cos he’s clingy.”

“No, I know when I like someone and I think I feel such towards Tomi.” Rena insisted, but the unbelief in both girl’s stare was all too glaring. “Why is it so hard to believe! I just haven’t liked anyone in a while, that’s all.”

“No, Rena you haven’t liked anyone for real before.” April clarified. “Back then when you said you liked Itunu, can you remember the feelings only lasted for like three weeks? Is that what you call the actual having feelings for a person? It’s not. And before that, there hasn’t been any other boy. I think it’s safe to say you just feel such towards Tomi because like what Moyin said, he is lookable.”

No. Were they right? It couldn’t be true. Was her heart that shut out to feelings? Till date, she hadn’t realized that fact but the girls did have a point. Unconsciously, she had thought she was the regular compassionate person and was only void of feelings because there was no one worthy around her. That was how she structured her mind, but the girls were speaking on the contrary that she wasn’t exactly capable of such.

“Listen to me, I’m a human being like the both of you.” Rena continued. “I have hormones, so it’s not possible for me not to have feelings for people, especially when no one has broken my heart in the past or something like it’s in some silly novels. Sorry about that, Moyin. But I think I do like Tomi. You’re talking like I don’t go out to meet people. I see other people, you know and I don’t crush on them instantly.”

“When was the last time you saw a dude who didn’t live here in the County?” Moyin sighed.

“Well, I—it doesn’t mean. There are still a lot of—”

“No, never. You’ve never had reason to step out of the island.” April completed. “Your dad wouldn’t allow you do so. Even if he did, you’d be followed by an entourage of at least five Range Rovers. It wouldn’t even be like you’re actually going out, you know.”

“You don’t really meet people is what we’re saying, dear.” Moyin clarified. “Of course, you’ve gotten tired of looking at the old faces here in Lake over and over again. That’s why you’re not attracted to them all.”

Rena shook her head, rising to her feet. “No this is ridiculous. I know when I like someone, even if it has been a really long time. Okay, give me one good reason why I can’t like Tomi.”

“Like we’ve been saying, he’s a relatively fresh face but C’mon he isn’t even all that.” April chuckled.

“All what?” Rena hissed. “Not everyone likes 6’4 tall guys, with 6 pack-abs and empty heads. Some of us are actually attracted to other things.”

“Why are you getting so worked up, jeez.” Moyin grunted. “What April is saying is that Tomi is just okay. He’s attractive, but not that much. Don’t be fooled just because he is ranked #2 in the class. We all know how these rankings work.”

“He is really fashionable and I dig that. That’s enough reason.” Rena declared, her lips set in a straight line.

“Fine, fine. Let’s just accept your premise.” April sighed. “So why exactly are you telling us this?”

“I don’t know isn’t this the sort of things friends share with one another?” She barked. “Are you guys trying to get on my nerves intentionally? Well, mission successful you have. Now you can hop off them, before you break them.”

“Sorry, we’re sorry.” Moyin reached out to Rena’s right hand, and stroke it soothingly. “We’re just surprised that’s all. I mean put yourself in our shoes. We have this friend who hasn’t talked about liking any guy for like her whole life, and then suddenly bam! Just like that. We’re just juggling our options.”

“You still don’t think I like him?” Rena shook her head. “He is very handsome.”

“Not the most.” April butted in.

“Smart.”

“Not the smartest.” April opinionated again.

“Fashionable, I said that earlier. He is the best as far as I’m concerned and the school also.”

“Fashion isn’t exactly something you can say a person is number one in. Because it’s just too vast and all.” Once again, April argued. “He is only regarded as the best, because his style is distinct and different and untapped.”

“So could you please explain why I feel funny within myself whenever I see him?”

Moyin’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, I didn’t want to say this before because I didn’t want to hurt your feelings and I think the same goes for April. But now we really have no choice. You’re the Alpha female of S.S.S.2. and soon to be Queen-Bee of the entire school. Virtually all boys in the school fuss over you. You’re used to it. It’s like the way every regular Nigerian is used to our backward government. So, when one of them doesn’t exactly give you the time of day, don’t you think you’d feel different towards him?”

Whoa! Was it as a result of that? Moyin posed a very cogent point. Almost every male in the school worshipped her. The few that didn’t, she wasn’t bothered about because they weren’t exactly in the class of being desirable. Tomi was the one guy, who belonged to the desirable class and who didn’t exactly worship her.

“So you think it’s just an ego thingy?” Her heart sank at the realization. So this was what she was? Incapable of feelings? Just someone who cared only about herself at the end of the day and the worship awarded to her. Was that it?

“Oh, I wish I were like you.” April sighed. “It would be so much easy.”

Moyin flashed April a scowl, before pulling Rena down back to her chair. “It might be that. It’s just a probability, and we’re saying you shouldn’t get ahead of yourself, that’s all.”

“But I really want to like him.” Rena sighed. “Not because I’m desperate for him or anything. I just want to feel normal for once and experience what it feels like to have a crush on a guy. A real one. This sucks.”

“Like I said, it could be real. We’re just putting our options out there.” Moyin continued. “But there is only one way to find out?”

“How?” Hope surged in her.

“Befriend him,” Moyin replied. “Become friends with him and we would see where that leads. Don’t go into it flirting, or the way you would act with a guy you actually have feelings for. Just go into it like you just want to make friends, so that you don’t complicate it further. If you become friends, and the feelings persist – then my dear, you are in crush with him. But if it vanishes…”

“Then I’m just a heartless vessel.” Rena swallowed hard.

“Good for you.” April repeated, her attention back on her Iphone.

Well, she knew she could always count on the girls to make things clearer. Now, she did have an agenda and how to proceed with her feelings.

Befriend Tomi Adeiye.

Roger that, Director.

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Hahaha, roger that indeed.

Please, please do your bit in promoting this novel by tagging your friends, family and everyone else that you know on Wattpad, with an in-line comment, here.

This chapter is edited by an amazing author and dear friend of mine – Lemarson. Do check out her profile and her works, she writes pretty captivating books. And it was proofread by the able – taryking89. Great people, thanks for the immense support.

So, so. There goes the 2nd chapter!!! How was it? Every bit as entertaining as the first? I hope so. What about the newly introduced characters – Dabby and Mofiyin. Are they a good addition, and how do they fit into the narrative. There are still a handful more characters to be introduced, so do have a seat and relax. This ride is only warming up and is yet to start.

Tap that star, and don’t you forget to comment. See you next week.

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Glossary:

Vernacular interpretation.

Pidgin English.

1. You have mind – You got balls.

2. No be fashion parade – It’s not fashion parade.

3. Don weak me – It has made me weak.

Local Idioms.

1. Run his Parole – Parole in this sentence, means the action of wooing a girl or vice versa. So when a parole is being run, someone is wooing and the other is getting wooed.

Words.

1. Ehn – Used for a variety of purposes.  Mainly for emphasis and clarification.

Other terms used.

1. Arms – Division rooms of classes to prevent congestion. Usually, there is a fixed number of Arms but it could exceed the stipulated value if the population of the class in question is massive.

2. Prefects –  A School pupil in a position of power above regular ones. The offices are vast and numerous in a typical African high school setting.