Ever since the week started, Mirabel's coming birthday had been the talk of the whole school.

Miss Miracle walked into SS2 Peculiar, after the normal greetings, she went ahead to call the attendance.

"Adeboye Sayofunmi Christiana," Miss Miracle called.

"Present ma," Christy replied while packing her hair.

"Adeboye Seyifunmi Christian."

No response.

She looked around the class likewise other students.

"Christy, what of your brother?"

She shrugged, "I don't know, maybe he hasn't arrived or something, we don't come to school together again?"

Miss Miracle nodded, "Tell him to see me when he arrives," then she went on to call other students names.

"You only have till next week before the revision week and then your exams, I believe you all know what that means and I hope you'll make me proud, good day," she strutted out of the class and noise resumed.

Tife turned to Dera who had been quiet since she arrived at school, "Now, Dera, will you talk now? What's wrong?"

Dera looked at her, "It's nothing."

Tife scoffed, "I know there's something wrong, it's related to the call you got on Saturday right?"

Dera bobbed her head.

"I told you something was wrong," she turned to Mimi who nodded.

"Now, are you ready to share it? Is it that bad? You know we're your friends."

Dera sighed, she glanced at Mimi before talking, "My mom was rushed to the hospital after getting into an accident."

Tife and Mimi's eyes widened simultaneously before Tife did the talking, "Ah, I hope she's better now?"

Dera shook her head, "She hasn't regained consciousness, I can't lose her, I don't know what I'll do if she dies," she sniffed and Tife quickly pulled her into a hug.

"It's okay, everything will be fine, nothing will happen to her," Tife assured while hoping nothing bad happens to her, she was Dera's only family, her dad had abandoned them since she was young and the mother had taken up the responsibility alone.

Mimi ran her hand through Dera's hair before she withdrew from the hug.

"Thanks guys, I feel a little bit better now that I let it out," she smiled at Mimi who smiled in return before scribbling on her jotter

Should we go and get something sweet to eat?

"I agree, only something sweet gets you out of a bad mood," Tife said and Dera laughed.

***********

Christian got down from the car and the first person that approached him was Inaya. His frown turned into a smile, he'd arrived late to school because of his incompetent driver who didn't check if the car was in good condition the previous day.

The car had stopped halfway to school and he'd been so riled up, even while the driver had told him to wait so he could get the other car, he'd angrily called his dad to fire the driver but he knew it wasn't possible, his parents were nicer than that and he hated it. He had to order an Uber to school in annoyance.

"Hey, what happened to your car?" Inaya queried as she watched the Uber drive out of the car park.

"It had a fault and the stupid driver didn't check it last night, anyway, why are you just coming to school too?"

She blinked her eyes before responding, "I didn't sleep early so, I woke up late."

"Oh, let's go to class," Christian took the first step before Inaya followed him, on their way to class, she saw Malik and her heart skipped a beat, he was the main reason she'd slept late the previous night, he winked at her and she ignored him.

"Why are you just coming?" Christy queried after bumping into Christian.

"The car had a fault," he explained and Christy arched her brows.

"What! How did that happen? So, you were stuck on the road all this while? How did you get to school?" The words rushed out of her mouth while he chuckled.

"I ordered an Uber."

"What!" Her eyes bulged out and he laughed at her reaction.

"I believe you've fired the useless driver right?"

He nodded, "But our parents wouldn't allow that."

Christy scoffed, "Don't worry, I'll make sure dad fires him," then her eyes trailed to Inaya who was right beside him, she hadn't even noticed her presence.

"Hi Christy," Inaya greeted in a mocking tone while Christy rolled her eyes. It was no news that they despised each other, to Christy, Inaya didn't deserve to be a student of Maple let alone date her twin brother, she was just a gold digger. She remembered how she'd warned Christian concerning her but he was adamant.

And to Inaya, Christy was only a proud peacock who believed the whole world revolves around her. She wanted everyone under her call but she wouldn't give her that.

"Anyway, Miracle said you should see her," Christy turned to Christian who nodded.

"Miracle? Who is that?" Inaya inquired and Christy eyed her warily.

"Don't tell me it's Miss Miracle you're referring to?"

Christy pursed her lips, "How is that any of your concern? The way our family operates isn't your business," she spat and Inaya scoffed.

"But you're in school, she's your class teacher."

Christy clapped sarcastically, "This school is part of our family business and if you aren't careful, I'll tell my aunt to revoke her scholarship and you'll go back to the gutter you came from," She fired before walking away.

Inaya sighed in annoyance as she watched her retreating figure. The fact that Aunt Kemi was the one sponsoring her education doesn't give Christy the liberty to rub it on her face. Agreed, she was an orphan whom Tife's mother took interest in, it had been during one of Lisha, Kemi and Soil, their mother's visit to the orphanage, Kemi had seen her that day discussing with her roommates about her love for modelling and her dream to become a model and she'd decided to sponsor her.

Even Tife didn't rub it on her face, whenever she visits Tife's mother, Tife always welcomed her even though it was all a pretence in front of her mother. Tife only sees her as a classmate but then she had the liberty to rub it on her face so far it was her mother sponsoring her but she never did, Christy was the one who took pleasure in that.

"I'm sorry about that," Christian apologized and she snapped out of her thoughts.

"It's okay," she managed a small smile then he headed towards his seat.

****************

"I believe you know the way to the art studio now, don't go and get lost again oo," Dera teased and Mimi smiled. She'd been to the art studio more than thrice now so it was impossible for her to get lost.

"We're off to our photography class or should we lead you to the art studio?" Tife joked and Mimi eyed her.

Tife and Dera smiled before walking out of the class while Mimi stared at their retreating figure, immediately they were out of sight, she packed her stuffs and headed to the art studio for her painting and decorating class.

She found a seat at a corner before other students trooped in, only ten students offered painting and decorating in her class, the other twelve offered photography.

Mimi flinched when the person she'd been avoiding lately sat by her. She raised her brows at him while he smiled. Mimi wondered how he was able to smile and be at ease after killing Benita but who was she to wonder to, after all she sometimes smiled too.

"Relax, I'm not going to bite you," he said in a jocular tone and she rolled her eyes before looking away from him, she saw Christian walk into the class with their teacher.

After the normal greetings, Mrs Williams; their painting and decorating teacher talked, "So, we've finished our scheme of work for this term but you haven't done your projects, it won't be an individual project this time," she stopped and looked around the class before picking up her book from the table.

"Two students will have to do the project together, I already paired you here but before I call the names, you're all going to do the same project and I'll pick the best, throughout this week, after school, you're to go to the nursery School, Kindergarten and Creche to be precise, you have to do some paintings and decorations in their classrooms."

Noise filled the class for some seconds before she cautioned them, "Listen to your names attentively, Clarissa and Lola."

A grin appeared on Lola's face upon hearing this, she'd been longing to spend alone time with Clarissa, amongst them, Clarissa hadn't accepted her yet not like Christy or Mirabel accepted her but they still talked to her but Rissa had only been indifferent towards her. Her eyes met with Rissa who wore a blank look, it was hard for her to read her expression. Good thing Christy and Mirabel were in photography class, Rissa wouldn't have any other choice than to talk to her.

"Mimisola and…"

Immediately Mimi heard the name of her partner, she almost passed out, she glanced at the guy seated beside her and he smiled at her. Just why on Earth was she paired with a murderer? For goodness sake she had to be paired with the person she wanted to get away from.

"This is really nice you know," he grinned at her and she glared at him.

"We are stuck together for a week, you know I've been looking for an opportunity to be with you alone."

Her heart skipped a beat at his latter statement as her eyes bulged out.

He smiled before placing his hand on her shoulder while she quickly shrugged it off, "Relax baby, it isn't what you're thinking, Benita is gone and there's no way you can reveal my secret, you're mute remember?"

Then he lowered his mouth to her ears, "You're the one I want now."

Mimi's eyes almost popped out if it's socket as she moved away from him while he grinned at her. She hoped history wouldn't repeat itself.