~°NOAH°~

I walk into class and see that girl Principal Louis introduced. I sigh and walk to my seat. Israel, Matthew and Nonso walk towards me as we talk about the plans for Saturday.

There's something in me that completely hates that Tristan of a boy. I don't know what, but I have a feeling we'll never be on talking terms. He walks in and I sigh inwardly. I'm about to head out with the boys and he bumps into me.

"Hey, watch it!" I yell angrily, moving backwards to stare at him head to toe. He gapes, shocked.

"You were in the way, goddamit!" Tris yells back and I stare at him in anger. He dares to talk back. My veins pop as I process his words. I was in the way... How?

It's the audacity for me.

"So?" I yell and he stands speechless. Not having more time for him, I say, "Watch your back around here, dude!"

"No, you watch your back! Imma rip you in pieces!" he rages like the animal he's proven to be and I launch towards him with a punch at his cheek. The nerve of him to do same. In minutes, the class has turned to a ring and I really don't plan on leaving till I rip him in two.

I'm lost in the loud cheers and my knuckles ache from punching and being punched. My uniform is a mess and I feel strands of my hair fall to my face, hair cream messing my forehead up. I feel a loud thud on my back and throw a punch which sends him straight to the ground. I pant heavily, tasting the blood at the side of my mouth with my forehead cold with moist from sweat.

I blastoff towards him once more, grabbing him by the collar. He groans. I smirk. The cheering halts suddenly and I turn to see the center of attention.

My eyes meet with hers immediately and I stop. He isn't fighting back either and I look away, letting Tris down on the floor. She looks different. Very different.

I trail my fingers down my hair and turn away, grabbing a bottle of water and gulping it down.

She cut her hair. It's in a low fade and curled. Her uniform looks new and her curves are way too visible. Her skin looks a brighter shade of chocolate and her stocking, black with black trainers. Her face looks tanned. Maybe she had make up done but she looks different. Honestly, beautiful.

The noises die down as she walks to her seat and toss Tris' bag to the floor. She sits and without prior notice, the fight ends. Everyone murmurs out of the class as the bell rings and it's time for assembly. Tris leaves too and I still can't get over what happened.

Is she still mad at me?

I would kill to know what's going through her mind. But, it shouldn't be my business. It's the past now. I turn off the sink, buttoning my shirt up and I wipe my face with the towel. After, I head out for assembly.

I'm guessing the prefectship will be announced today as Principal Louis walks into the field with a file in his hand. I hand him the microphone and he begins.

"Good morning, everyone. As we all know, this is the term for the SS2's to be assigned duties and that event will be done today. If I call your name, please walk towards me," he announces and I see smiles on the faces of my fellow classmates.

She's not around. Jennifer.

"Assembly prefect, Netochukwu. Disciplinarian, Chinonso Okeke. Social prefect, Matthew. Sports prefect, Kamsi Ogbonna. Head of student affairs, Richard Okoli...... Assistant senior prefect, Abimbola Rosemary. Senior prefect, Noah Thompson. Can we give them a round of applause?" he says and everyone claps, cheering our names on.

Jennifer isn't a prefect.

•••

"Good morning class," Mr. Nicholas greets as he walks inside, his perfume choking the normal atmosphere. Tom Ford without a doubt.

"Good morning, sir!" we say without unison. He waves his hand with a usual cheery smile and we get our government notes out for class.

"Oya, science students vamoose!" he commands and they slowly flood out, huge physics textbooks weighing them down.

"My people my people," he starts with a chuckle as he closes the door. "How you dey!" he adds and laughs loudly. Sometimes I wonder what the reason for his ever cheery mode is. Other times, I remember he's dating Miss Betty.

"So, for your mind you people are now prefects? Éwu," he insults jokingly and everyone bursts out laughing. Unarguably, Mr. Nicholas is the perfect vibe for the cold morning we've all had.

"I didn't hear Jennifer's name. Wasn't she given..." he trails off and for the first time, she raises her head up from the table. "Oh, Jennifer is around!" he exclaims. "How are you?" he asks her with a bashful smile. She shrugs, curling her lips.

"I'm fine," I hear her voice for the first time in months and I'm tempted to look sideways at her. I resist and sit tight. It's small, tiny and not as bubbly as the last time I heard it.

"Well, sorry for what happened last term. You know I always tell you people these things and I wouldn't stop saying it. Relationships are hard to handle," he says. "That event was totally fucked up," he adds. Well, we really don't mind his choice of words.

He keeps talking about everything his mind can think of and I slowly turn to look at her, hoping she doesn't notice.. She has her head on the table once again and her feet tapping on the floor.

I see a figure walk into the class. Her uniform is fitted and she has black shiny weaved artificial hair neatly hanging down her back in a ponytail. It's the first time I'm seeing her completely without make up.

"Excuse me, Sir!" she says as she looks around. She smiles as she peeks at me and heads towards my seat.

"Introduce yourself," Mr. Nicholas says with a smile. She stands up and flips the ponytail over her shoulder. "I am Ivy Lana," she says and sits down.

"Noah's friend?" he asks, looking at Jennifer. She doesn't raise her head up. It's like she's oblivious to everything going on.

"Yeah, a friend," she replies and he nods with a smile, making a little humming sound of the tune "This is super story..."

"Something fishy is going on," Mr. Nicholas sings loudly and I shake my head. Ivy turns to me and I give her a slight smile. Things are going awful.

Just when I thought it can't get any more awkward, it does.

"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," Jenny says as she stands up and leaves.

•••

It's lunch break and everyone slowly floods out of the class. Ivy is being shown around and Jenny walks into the class. Tris walks out and minutes later, Brooklyn does. I scribble down the last name and place the attendance book in my locker.

I carry my bag and bring out a can of once chilled Fanta. It turned not so cold since the morning and it makes a little sizzling noise as I cork it open. I take a sip and stand up.

Jenny doesn't say anything. I notice her taking tiny bites of the Fox cookies and I don't say a thing to her. We never even had a proper conversation. I doubt we're ever going to. We don't ever need to.

"Senior Jennifer - "

A junior student says as she walks in. "The principal wants to see you after dismissal," the little girl says and gossips with her friends as I hear them say "I told you he is super cute!" And the other replies "Did I say he's not?" before they close the door and scamper off in laughter. I heave a deep breath.

Jenny stands.

"So, you aren't going to say a thing?"

Fuck. Is she talking to me? I turn to look at her. She stares at the board at the fore front. "How've you been?" she adds, sitting on the table of her seat. She swings her legs and munches on the cookies.

I cough. "O- Okay," I reply and stand up, headed out. I really don't want to have this conversation with her.

I swear I heard her mutter "Coward" but I don't really care. I head downstairs and meet Ivy.

"Noah!" she exclaims with a smile, almost hanging her hands over my shoulder until she realizes where we are. She smiles, placing her hands on her waist, her smile widening with excitement.

"You never told me Crimson was this gorgeous," she adds, looking around. "Though it seems everyone here is a snub. Fits my persona perfectly," she smiles and it melts to a chuckle.

"She spoke to me," I tell her, placing both hands in my pockets and she sits on the pavement. I lean against the wall.

"What'd she say?" she asks immediately.

"Nothing much..." I shrug, looking up at her. She gives a half smile and pats my shoulder. "Are you going for Israel's party?" I ask. "You should come. It's one of the remarkable things about resumption in Crimson," I urge.

"Maybe then," she smiles. "If you pick me up," she adds and I smile.

"Done," I nod and she squeals.

•••

9pm.

I blow the horn for Ivy and watch her walk out of the house and she gets into the car.

"Sorry I kept you waiting," she apologizes, packing her hair perfectly in a doughnut.

"No problem," I reply and drive off to Israel's house. We don't talk much on the way, but I can't stop thinking of Akum and why she talked to me today.

What's her motive?

Israel greets us as he sees us and always, he pulled off a big shit of a party. I stare at the table near the back entrance. It's the table where I and -

"Noah, come on! It's a freaking pool party. Let's dive!" Ivy yells in excitement, getting her robe off. She dives immediately and the rest of my classmates cheer her on. She's earned herself a social life already. I smile as she motions me to come on.

I get my shirt off and dive into the water. Some people have just their legs in, others have their bodies in but arms on the tiles and others sit on the stair side of the large pool. I get my head out and Ivy screams in excitement, her two hands in the air, screaming in glee.

Israel dives in with his phone and we take underwater selfies. It's pretty hard to stay that long but the pictures makes every minute worth it. We all bring our heads from the water and I leave the pool. I wrap myself in a robe and we head to one of the pool seats.

"That was so much fun!" she cries in excitement. "It is always like this when times are good. Having someone like Israel who is always about fun is a good idea at times," I tell and she nods.

"Should I introduce you or..."

"Nah, I'd rather have a low profile," she shrugs. I laugh at her rather delayed explanation of a 'low profile'.

"All that excitement in the pool was no good start to a "low profile", you know" I say and she shrugs, gulping down a shot.

"They'll deal with it," she smiles and grabs a glass of alcohol from the tray Israel brings to us. I thought just a shot would be enough.

"No alcohol, Ivy! Remember what  happened last time?" I ask and she groans.

"Just a little. I swear I won't get wasted. Trust me," she smiles. "Join me," she says and gets another class. Israel walks away.

"No, I will not!" I say firmly, gulping a bottle of water to prove my point.

"Else I'll drink to stupor," she threatens and I roll my eyes.

"That's gonna be your problem," I reply and she laughs.

"Just one drink. And that's final," she says and I gulp it down.

Needless to say just one drink isn't all I took. I took a couple more and the last thing I remember seeing is me on my bed and Ivy beside me.

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