Dedicated to my favorite cousin JaySef, to my ogbanje friend Lol tentimileyin, to my sweet oluwatimileyin11 and my lovely Dreaboo23
Love you guys.

Lela's POV

 
  The rest of the day had gone so fast and it was now time for the long break. “I have lots of notes to copy o.” I said, shutting my locker.

  “True. I'm ever willing to lend my notes to you to copy though.” Judith said with a smile.

  “Thanks,” I smiled. “But right now, what I want to do is to go down to the cafeteria for lunch.”

  “Let's go then.” Huoma appeared beside Judith.

  “Sure.” I giggled.

  We were on our way out when someone called my name from inside the class.

  “Lela!” I turned to see Temi and Joel strolling towards us or should I say me.

  “Hi.” I said when they stood in front of me.

  “Hey.” They both grinned. I felt Judith tug at my pullover around my waist. I turned to look at her and both she and Huoma looked uneasy. Temi and Joel most have noticed as well.

  “What's up, four eyes and dogo?” Temi asked referring to Judith and Huoma.

  I turned to glare at him and so did Judith and Huoma. “You do know they have names, right?” I asked him and he laughed lightly.

  “Yes, I do know.” He grinned while tucking his hands into his pocket. I glanced at Joel and he was laughing, displaying his dimples. He was really handsome and I couldn't tell who was better looking—Temi or Joel. The only flaw in Joel's face was the scar on his brows.

  “Like actual names not silly nicknames.” I continued and he nodded.

  “What's up, Judith and Huoma?” Temi asked again with a wide grin.

  “We are fine.” Judith and Huoma mumbled.

  “So, you guys are going to the cafeteria?” Temi asked me in particular.

  “Yes.” I answered in an it's obvious manner.

  “Let's go then.” He said leading the way out.

  Huoma and Judith exchanged glances with me and then, Judith hurried towards Temi.

  “Excuse me Mister,” she said, pulling him to a stop. “What is all this about? You want us,” she gesticulated, “to go down to the cafeteria with you guys?”

  Temi nodded with a smile, “yes.”

  “Sorry o, but we don't want trouble with your girlfriend and come to think of it,” Judith said, peering at him from her glasses. “When did we become friends to be having lunch together?”

  Temi laughed lightly and he took some steps backwards to where myself and Huoma stood.
“Lela has forgiven me, right Lela?” He asked, he's eyes boring holes into my skin.

  “I did say I would think about it.” I muttered.

  “I want to show you that I meant it when I said I was sorry, so would you let me buy you lunch?” His eyes pleaded.

  “Buy me lunch?” I asked a bit unsure.

  He nodded and flashed his set of white teeth at me. “Please.”

  I glanced in Judith's direction and she was shaking her head and mouthing the word 'no.'

  “I don't think that's a good idea, Temi,” I started to say and his smile faltered. His mouth opened to say something, but I cut him off, “I don't want anymore issues with Edith. If it makes you feel better, then I accept your apology. No need to buy me lunch.” I smiled at him.

  “Are you sure you've forgiven me?” He's voice sounded defeated.

  “A hundred percent sure.” I smiled.

  “Okay. We are good then?” He asked with a small smile.

  I placed my index finger on my cheek like I was in thought, “yeah...to some extent.” I grinned.

  “See you around Lela.” He grinned, twirled around and started walking away. Judith glared at him as he walked past her and he chortled.

  “Bye Lela.” Joel said and followed behind Temi.

  “Bye.” I answered.

  Judith turned to me with a disapproving look and hurried to where I and Huoma stood. “What were you thinking?!” She snapped at me.

  “What are you getting at Judith?” I let out a sigh. Sometimes I felt like Judith overreacted things.

  “Why the frequent chit-chats with Temi? It's almost like you guys are friends now.” She threw her hands up in the air and her forehead wrinkled, a frown creasing her face.

   “Calm down Judith.” Huoma said, stepping closer to her.

  “Exactly! Calm down...you are overreacting Judith.”

  She puffed a breath, “overreacting?! You girls think I'm overreacting?!”

  “Yes you are Judith,” I said while reaching for her shoulders, but she brushed my hands off.

  “Have you forgotten who pushed you and made you go on suspension?!” She asked, shaking with rage.

  “Judith, this is not the place for this.” Huoma whispered as she eyed the students walking past us.

  “I haven't. Temi pushed me, yes. He said his sorry, well fine...I forgave him, doesn't mean we are friends,” I explained. “Thinking about it with a clear head, Judith...Temi isn't responsible for my suspension, it was my fight with Edith.”

  “What's wrong with you, Lela?” She asked, stepping closer to me. “It's all the same thing. Edith, Temi...they are all trouble you need to avoid. Stay away from them Lela.”

  I breathed out a sigh, “I understand Judith.” I placed my hand on her shoulder, “I just need you to understand where I'm coming from as well. Let's just not talk about this anymore and go get lunch.” I managed a smile.

  She smiled back and let out a sigh, “Okay Lela. I'm also sorry for raising my voice.”

  “It's okay,” I smiled. “Let's just go.”

  “Let's go people,” Huoma said, pushing us towards the stairs. “Gosh, you guys ehh. I wonder why you didn't hear my stomach rumble over all your Edith and Temi talk.” She joked and we all laughed.

  We all agreed to have a bottle of soft drink and meat pie each; since we weren't very hungry. We brought our snacks to the table where our other classmates sat. I glanced across our table to where Temi and the rest of the popular kids sat. He smiled at me when our eyes met and I smiled back and looked away quickly.

  “I see you aren't wearing your pullover today, copying Edith's style huh?” Judith teased.

  I turned to face her and I let out a small laugh, “copying Edith you say?”

  “Uh-huh.” She nodded while sipping from her bottle of fanta.

  I glanced over to Temi's table and I spotted Edith, her lips moving erratically as she spoke to the other kids on their table. “Ohhh. I see what you mean.” I whispered to her. Edith almost always has her pullover knotted around her waist.

  “Good,” she whispered back. “Plus you have a flat chest like Huoma.” She added nonchalantly, taking tiny bites from her meat pie.

  I felt my face grow hot with embarrassment. It was true though, but I didn't think about that. Guess it was quite noticeable without the pullover. Come to think of it, I thought I was the only one who thought Huoma had a flat chest, but Judith on the other hand was endowed with both breast and a great behind, although she was found wanting in height. I had always thought that my breasts would develop some more as I grew—I was sixteen already and it was still like that of a twelve year old.

  “Don't tell me you are thinking about what I said o.” Judith's voice snapped me out of my reverie.

  “Huh?” I replied in a dumb manner.

  “About your chest being flat.” She teased and brought her straw to her lips.

  'This girl was heartless.'

  “Oh.” I simply said, then I decided to put on the pullover. I didn't want to go around school with people staring at how flat my chest was.

  'And aunt Eka-ette had said it looked 'fine' to her.'

  Mental note to self; never take fashion and clothing advice from Eka-ette because to her everything is fine.

  “What are you doing?” Judith asked when she saw me untying the pullover from my waist.

  “I don't know,” I turned to look at her and then back to the pullover. “What does it look like I'm doing?”

  “Well, I'd say you want to wear your pullover to avoid any other person taking note of your flat chest.” She grinned.

  'Okay. So, she was definitely doing this on purpose.'

  “Ha-ha, very funny.”

  She laughed, “sorry Lela. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings.”

  “Well, you should have thought about that before hurting my feelings.” I blurted in her face.

  “Chill,” she grinned. “You are not the only one..remember Huoma is with you on this.” She teased some more.

  Poor Huoma, if only she could hear all the things Judith was saying. I shook my head pitifully at Judith or was it for Huoma's sake? Which ever way.

  I glanced over at Huoma and she was engrossed in a conversation with the rest of the classmates. I turned to my meat pie lying untouched on the table and finally, I brought it to my mouth and took a bite from it.

  “I hope you aren't mad at me o?” Judith asked in a mocking tone.

  'This girl was sure trying my patience.”

  “Please leave me to eat my meat pie in peace na.” I pleaded without looking at her, but from the corner of my eye, I saw her giggle.

  “Hey Lela,” Huoma called my attention and I was happy she was the one talking to me not Judith. I turned to look at Huoma. “All the while you were away, we couldn't contact you—why was that?”

  “Same thing I wanted to ask you.” Judith said.

  “Oh..that's the worst part of everything still o.” I answered.

  “What do you mean?” Judith asked with concern.

  “I'm grounded, so no devices...just always in my room studying.”

  “Ah!” Huoma exclaimed. “That's too bad.”

  “Tell me about it,” I shook my  head. “My mom wasn't even speaking to me. It was just until this morning on our way here that we reconciled.”

  “Seriously?” Judith asked and I nodded.

  “Then when are you getting your phone back?” Huoma asked.

  “Next Week.” I simply said and took a bite from my meat pie.

  “Sorry dear.” They chorused.

  “It will pass.” Judith assured.

   Just then, I had a super duper idea and I thought it would be great to share it with the girls. “So, we will be going on midterm break soon, right?” I asked with a smile.

  “Yeah.” They both answered excitedly.

  “So, what do you say about coming over to my house for a visit during the midterm break?” I asked with a wide grin plastered on my face.

  Judith and Huoma exchanged excited glances. With the expression on their faces, I thought they were going to scream, but they got a grip on themselves. “We would love to.” They chorused.

  “It's settled then.” I smiled and took a sip of my coke.

  “And Lela?” Judith called and I turned to look at her. “We would be having a swimming competition with SS1 before the term ends o.”

  “A swimming competition?” I asked, feeling uneasy and the girls noticed that my countenance had changed.

  “What's wrong?” Huoma asked with concern written all over her face.

  “Does everyone in class have to participate?” I asked.

  “No..not really.” Judith answered.

  I heaved a sigh of relief, “thank goodness.”

  “But what's wrong?” Judith asked and I looked up to see that she and Huoma had confused expressions on their faces.

  “Well, you see....the thing is that, I-I-I don't know how to swim.” I blurted the last part out. Judith and Huoma exchanged glances, there was a little bit of shock on their faces.

  “Well, it's not a crime Lela,” Judith started. “It's definitely alright if you don't know how to swim, you just won't swim.” Judith smiled as she finished.

  “Yes Lela. Just inform the school authorities that you can't swim,” Huoma smiled. “But you'll come watch us and cheer for the rest of us, right?” She asked.

  “Yeah, I can do that.” I smiled and breathed out a sigh.

  “Then it's all settled.” Judith said.

*****

  “Good afternoon mom.” I greeted as I got into the car.

  “How was school today?” She asked with a smile.

  “It was fine.” I answered and buckled my seat belt. I looked up from the seat belt and I saw mom waving two packets of pure bliss in my face. “Oh my God! Mom, h-how—”

  “Saw you looking at it earlier today,” she grinned. “So, are you going to take it or am I going to return it?”

  I quickly snatched them from her hand and we both laughed. “Thanks mom.”

  “You are welcome dear.” She smiled, the car rumbled to life and we drove away.

  'Guess I'd still be getting the pampering.'

A/N

Hi guys, another chapter it is. I hope you enjoyed it.
Well, who else apart from Lela thinks Judith is overreacting? Do you think it's right for Lela to have forgiven Temi? So, Lela doesn't know how to swim. Guess what, so do I and I'm scared of learning how to 😂😂😂
What do you think will happen next?
Tell me your thoughts in the comments and let's get interactive.
Please remember to vote, comment and share as well.
Your support counts a lot.

With love, Anna 💜