This chapter is a bit long. I hope it is good enough 🙂.

Dedicated to BritneyRoRo and cx_kiki. I really appreciate you guys support ❤️❤️

Chapter Seventeen

CYNTHIA

What the hell is he saying?

I stare at him with confusion, not understanding what he just said.

"Prove me wrong about what?" I ask. "And what am I remembering?"

His face suddenly lights up, a total contrast to how cold it went just now. "You might call me a liar if I tell you so I guess you will know in due time." He replies in a sing-song manner.

I give him a frustrated look, "Know what exac-

I'm suddenly turned around to face John who is smiling anxiously, "Are you alright?" He asks, glancing furtively between me and Michael.

"No. There's someone I need to get rid off before I can be alright." I reply with annoyance and become even more annoyed by the slight chuckle that follows from Michael. I turn around to glare at him but John turns me to him again with a small laugh.

I give him a wary look, "Why are you laughing?"

"Huh?" He asks like he wasn't expecting that question and then changes the topic, "Is something wrong between you and Grace?" I raise an eyebrow in question and he continues, "Because she has sent me tons of messages asking me to plead with you on her behalf."

I remember the argument we had in the restroom and smile, "We just had a little disagreement. She was just being extra."

"I hope you guys settle it." He replies and then his face turns upset, "I can't walk you and Grace to the school entrance today as well. Mum needs me home as soon as possible."

"Is something wrong at home? You've been going home earlier these days."

"No, mum just needs help with some things."

I start to reply but get interrupted by a fake cough from a certain someone. I shoot him a dirty look, "What is wrong with you?"

He shrugs, "Don't believe anything he says. He is a liar."

I turn to John and see an annoyed look on his face, even I am offended on his behalf. I turn back to face him, "And who are you to know that?"

He gives John a pointed look, not replying my question and John returns it with a blank expression.

Okay... so what's going on?

I glance from John to Michael until John breaks the stare and turns to look at me with a small smile, "I'll get going now."

I nod absentmindedly, "Oh, okay."

"Thanks so much". He replies and before I can ask what he is thanking me for, he kisses me on my cheek. His lips linger for a while, leaving me surprised and confused because I can't understand why he is giving me a peck out of the blue but I also can't help the surge of warmth I'm feeling throughout my body and when he finally breaks the kiss, I can only look at him with astonishment as he winks and leaves the class.

I smile after he is gone, that naughty boy.

"We should get going now." Michael announces, his icy voice cutting through the warmth I'm feeling and my smile slowly fades. He goes back to our seat, grabs both our bags and comes back to give me mine.

"Let's go." He says without looking at me and goes out of the classroom. I stare at him, thinking of his sudden mood swing.

I don't think I can understand what is wrong with him so I just follow him out of the classroom, I'm beginning to think of going to my class teacher and requesting for my old seat-partner back when I find Grace waiting next to the entrance of our class, a remorseful look on her face.

She then begins in a rush, "Cynthia, I never meant to say anything to get you annoyed. I only said that because I was worried about you. I'm so sorry, I might have said some things that were out of place and I really hope you can forgive me."

I hide a smile and give her a pissed look, "You think I'm going to forgive you just like that? After everything you said to me?"

My eyes grow wide in alarm when I start to see tears in her eyes. How could I have forgotten that she takes things to heart?

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She apologizes in a broken voice and I quickly pull her in a hug, feeling guilty that I have made her cry.

"No, I'm sorry. Of course, I forgive you. I was just joking!" I reply apprehensively. I break the hug and use my fingertips to wipe her tears.

God, this girl will kill me.

She smiles innocently, "I really thought you weren't going to forgive me."

I sigh exasperatedly, "Why won't I? Don't scare me by crying ever again. You almost gave me a heart attack."

She giggles and I can't help smiling too.

"Sorry, these tears just flow easily." She replies with a grin and I roll my eyes.

"Anyways, I have a surprise for you." I announce and she seems elated.

"What?!" She shouts excitedly.

"Well, according to Michael, his friends are dying to meet me and he wants to introduce us." I reply but I haven't finished my sentence when she screams with delight and literally begins to jump around.

I burst into laughter. Is she really that excited to see them?

I start to tell her about the chocolate I received from John that is lying in my bag but I'm interrupted by a male shriek from a distance. We look up to see that it is Michael with his back to us grabbing a male student by the collar of his shirt. Students are starting to gather and I wonder if students are even in a rush to go home nowadays since a large number of them are still in school.

I see Grace moving closer to the scene and I follow her, stopping just in front of Michael. Grace is standing beside me and Michael doesn't even glance our way as he is busy glaring at the guy who is trying hard to loosen the grip that Michael has on his clothes.

"Michael?" I call out and that's when he looks at me. I edge nearer to him and pull his hands from the boy's clothes and when the boy is totally free, I grab his hand and pull him away. Thankfully, he moves and we make our way down the stairs, into the compound and then finally, out of the school gate.

Grace follows behind us with a look of resignation on her face and I, on the other hand, am at loss for words. I give him a look of indignation and drop his hand, trying not to think too much of the fact that I just held his hand and he looks away.

"I hadn't even spoken to Grace for five minutes and you were already on the brink of beating another guy. What is your problem this time around? Did I make you angry again and you are taking it out on the boy?" I question.

"Yes." He replies, surprising me and I huff with disbelief.

"Seriously? What did I do now?" I ask but he doesn't reply. "You said you will walk me to the entrance and I didn't even say no, so how did I make you angry?"

He shrugs, "Well, I'm not angry anymore." He replies quietly and I have to control the urge to hit him with something.

"Do you have anger issues?" Grace asks him and he rolls his eyes. "You can't blame me for asking because I think you have issues controlling your anger and you get angry unnecessarily."

"She is right. Normal people don't go around hitting people just because they are angry and they especially don't take it out on people who didn't make them angry in the first place." I notice something flash in his eyes but he quickly masks it. I watch him intently, trying to see any emotion from him but he refuses to meet my eyes.

"Hey guys." He calls out suddenly with a wave. I turn to where he is facing and see three guys coming towards us. I recognize them immediately as his friends.

I study them as they walk towards us, their shirts are all tucked out and their jackets are unbuttoned. Both Femi's and Wole's ties hang loose around their necks, except for Peter who has his own knotted. All of them aren't wearing black shoes but sneakers and it is the expensive kind. I can't help but to accept the fact that they actually look good.

"I bet they will be even more handsome up close." Grace whispers giddily into my ear.

"Yeah, right." I agree sarcastically and immediately notice Femi's gaze on Grace as soon as they get to where we are.

When he notices my curious stare, he screams girlishly and points at me. "She is Cynthia!" I wince, staring up at him with surprise as I wasn't expecting that as a greeting.

"I'm sure you don't know this yet but I'm totally in love with you." He continues and I raise an eyebrow. "I was impressed with you when you stood up to Michael and you did that twice by the way." He says with a wide grin while Michael gives him a dead look and the rest looks like hey are hiding a smile.

"But do you know what impressed me the most?" He asks again and I shake my head, getting amused by him. "It was what you did to Dorcas at the cafeteria today." He says with delight and claps his hands for emphasis.

"It was so brilliant I could hug you." He proceeds to actually give me a hug but I give him a dead look that makes him hesitate before finally dropping his hands. He soon waves it off and continues, "Anyways, what happened to her was long overdue and I would honestly give anything to watch that scene again and again. I should have taken a video." He adds wistfully and Wole hits him on his head.

"You do realize you are talking about your girlfriend's friend." Wole says and Femi who was talking rubs his head and gives him a dead look.

"Ex-girlfriend." He corrects with annoyance. I don't miss the way he glances at Grace, Wole shrugging next to him.

So, this guy once dated one of the bimbos around Dorcas?? I don't know how to feel about that. I also notice that Grace's demeanor has changed after the mention of Femi's ex-girlfriend.

Wait, didn't she know? She mentioned something along Femi breaking up with his girlfriend when she was describing them to me in the cafeteria, so why is she sulking?

Peter hasn't said a word since they arrived and has only been observing everything with an amused smile. I also can't shake the feeling that he's watching me most of the time especially when I'm not looking his way.

"Michael, introduce us so he would stop talking." Wole says and I'm almost tempted to say we know who they are but I keep quiet and watch Michael start the introduction instead.

"Guys, this is Cynthia." He begins and points at me and I say a simple hello. "And that's her friend, Grace." He points to her.

"Nice to meet you guys." She replies timidly.

"And girls, these are my friends. This is Wole, he is the rational one amongst us." He says, pointing to him.

"Hi." He greets with a small smile.

"This is Femi, the irrational one." He points to him and he gives him a dry look.

"How kind of you for that nice introduction." He replies sardonically and turns to look at us. "Don't mind him, he is just jealous that girls notice me before they notice him." He flips a non-existent hair. "And just so you know, I'm far from irrational." He ends with a wink.

I give him a look and decide that Michael might actually be right.

Michael rolls his eyes and turns to Peter, "And this is Peter, the quiet one. He hardly talks and likes to think he is the coolest amongst us." He says and the Peter guy simply raised an eyebrow. He has this lazy smile on his face and doesn't say anything. Not even a simple hello.

"Just admit he is the coolest amongst us." Femi interjects and Michael scoffs.

"Anyways, I have never seen Michael so worked up over a girl but I honestly can't blame him, you are really beautiful." Femi starts to say again while Michael coughs loudly to interrupt him.

"You're not helping."

"Oh, sorry." He mumbles.

"Anyways, we should get going." Wole declares, "We are going to Peter's place so we all will be leaving in his car."

"Don't you have separate cars?" Grace asks.

"Of course, we do." He replies with a small smile. "We are just taking one car as a safety measure for one of us." He continues and then glances at Michael. Grace immediately nods in understanding, knowing he is referring to his bodyguards and I begin to wonder if they are lurking around nearby.

"We were actually thinking of hanging out Friday evening and I wanted to know if you girls would like to come along." Michael says, surprising all of us, including the boys.

"Really?" Both Grace and Femi chorus but with different emotions. While Grace seems to be on the excited side, Femi seems to be in shock.

"Really?" Femi repeats again. "Are you going all out now?" He asks but gets a death glare from Michael in response.

"Sorry." He mumbles but now, it seems suspicious.

"What was that all about?" I ask none of them in particular.

"It's nothing, I assure you." Wole replies with a smile that was a little too wide and it does nothing to lessen my suspicion.

"But wouldn't you have to prepare for your TGIF party on Friday?" Grace asks unsurely and I raise an eyebrow.

How does she knows about a TGIF party?

"We can always just prepare for it on Thursday." Michael replies.

"Where do you guys hang out?" I ask curiously, remembering their reactions when Michael suggested hanging out together.

"Don't mind Femi, he was just overreacting." Wole starts with a small smile. "Actually, it's just where we guys created to relax and have fun. It's like a secret room for just the four of us but it belongs to Michael and if he wants to invite new friends, there's no problem." He finishes his explanation but not without directing a questioning look at Michael.

Only Peter doesn't say anything. His silence is actually starting to bother me because I'm beginning to think he really can't talk.

"Of course, we will be there." Grace replies with delight. "So when should we meet you guys and where?" Grace asks and I clear my throat.

"I don't think I've actually agreed to any of this." I tell her and she pouts, pulling me away from the guys.

"Come on Cynthia, this is like a once in a lifetime opportunity." She whispers. "Do you know how many girls would kill for the opportunity to hang out with four cute boys?"

"Not me." I reply with a bored expression. I glance at the guys and they are also having a discussion.

"Cynthia!" She shouts and I turn to her. "Haven't you realized that the only time you ever leave your house is when you go to school or have a sleepover at my place? You don't even go out with Nanny and Sam."

"Of course not. I do go out when I feel like." I reply and she gives me a dead look. "Alright, but I don't see any reason to go out when I can stay at home comfortably."

"Exactly. And that's why you need this. You should go out sometimes you know, out of your comfort zone." She adds but I really don't see her point.

She moves closer to me and starts in a conspiring tone, "Don't you like the idea of being the only ones who knows about their secret room?" She asks and I shake my head which makes her sigh but she continues, "Cynthia, I'm so excited I could burst. I can't wait to boast to those girls in our class who are always bragging about how Michael noticed them or asked for their phone number that I have been to where they have never been in the company of not just Michael but his friends too." She says and I nod, waiting for her to continue.

"And you can get back at Dorcas once and for all. You just show her a picture of us with the guys and watch her explode." She adds giddily and I can't help smiling. It'll really be fun to watch her reaction as she sees proof of me hanging out with her precious boyfriend.

While I'm deliberating on whether to go or not, Grace starts to plead again.

"Cynthia, please. We... I might never get this chance again. Please, say yes." She begs, pouts and blinks her eyes repeatedly.

"Alright." I agree reluctantly. "But it's only because you insist so much."

"Yeah!" She exclaims. "Thanks and who knows they might even invite us to the party." She squeals excitedly.

"Don't push it. We're only hanging out, no partying". I tell her and her smile vanishes.

"You're such a kill-joy". She replies solemnly.

"One would think you would have learnt after that party two years ago." I chide. "Anyways, let's just tell them that we would be hanging out with them, I'm sure they don't like being kept waiting." I tell her and we walk back to them.

"You girls certainly took your time." Femi says as we get there.

"So we've decided we'll be coming to hang out with you guys tomorrow." Grace announces happily.

"That's good." Michael says with a smile. "I'm glad you will be joining us."

"I'm also glad that we will be having two beautiful ladies hang out with us." Femi says, his gaze on Grace.

"Don't you hang out with girls?" Grace asks.

"Oh, we do hang out with girls. Just sometimes it has a purpose." Wole explains with a slight grimace. 

I'm glad you also know that's cringe worthy m

"What purpose do you have in wanting to hang out with us then?" I ask, my question directed at Michael.

"Nothing, really. I just want us to get to know each other and maybe change some of your views about me." He says and I scoff, not believing his excuse one bit.

"I doubt my views about you would be changing anytime soon." I reply and he sighs.

"I think we should get going, I'm starting to get hungry." Femi announces and all of them roll their eyes, even Peter.

"Nice to meet you girls but we have to get moving." Wole announces and the others nod in agreement.

"I guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other on Friday, Cynthia." Michael says but I don't give him any inclination that I heard him.

"Bye, ladies." Femi says and winks at Grace who giggles in response.

Peter waves goodbye, surprising me and Wole says bye.

"Bye." We reply and watch them walk away.

"Oh My God! They are so cute!" Grace squeals immediately they are out of sight.

"You are not wrong."

"You agree? Am I the only one feeling hot?" Grace asks, fanning herself dramatically with her hands and I roll my eyes.

"Well, they are pretty cool, especially Wole."

"Yeah, I agree but you've got to admit Femi is also cool even if he seems to blurt things out without thinking." Grace mentions and I chuckle.

"I'm glad you observed that."

"But I think he is the cutest." She gushes with a dreamy sigh and I stare at her intently.

"You like him, don't you?" I ask with a small smile.

"Of course, he is cute and funny, I just find him adorable." She says and I raise an eyebrow, surprised that she didn't deny it. "You know, today I tripped and almost fell but he caught me. It was like in those dramas, I opened my eyes and saw him staring down at me and a hundred butterflies just started fluttering in my tummy and I... I just ran away."

I was smiling at her story until she ended it, I immediately turn to her, not hiding my disbelieving look, "You ran away?"

She blinks twice at my expression before replying, "Yeah, I just felt overwhelmed. If I had stayed longer in his presence, I'm certain I would have passed out."

I burst into laughter at that, staring at her with dismay, "You like him that much?"

She nods in response and I can't help grinning.

"Who would have thought Grace, the girl who changes boys like clothes will run away at the sight of a guy" I tease then can't stop myself from chuckling.

She looks embarrassed by my words and then pretends to be offended, "What do you mean I change boys like clothes?"

"Nothing o." I quickly respond while trying hard to stop laughing.

"Well, I do like him." She mutters quietly, almost like she's talking to herself.

Who knows if she has finally found her soulmate and not another guy to add to her exes list?

She lets out another dreamy sigh and smiles, "But what about that Peter guy, doesn't he seem weird to you?" She asks.

"Yeah, he didn't say a word throughout their interaction with us." I reply, not mentioning the fact that I felt his eyes on me throughout their conversation with us.

"You think he can't speak?"

"I think he is just really quiet and feels there is nothing he has to say to whatever they were saying." I reply and Grace nods her agreement.

We stay silent for a while until I remember the package from John, "I forgot to tell you that I got a heart shaped chocolate from John."

She immediately perks up, "Really? Does that mean he is already trying to win you over?"

"I guess." I reply with a shrug.

"So?" She wiggles her eyebrow.

I give her a confused look, "So what?"

She looks at me disbelievingly and replies almost impatiently, "Did you like it?"

"Yeah... I guess."

"That doesn't sound too convincing." She gives me a knowing look.

"Would you like it?" I ask and without waiting for her answer, remove my school bag from my back so I can bring out the chocolate.

She stares at me like I've grown two heads, "What are you doing?"

"Giving you the chocolate." I respond like it's obvious.

"Exactly. Why would you give me chocolate from your crush?"

I utter the first thing that comes to mind, "I'm just trying to save myself from Nanny's questions and probing."

She looks at me like I'm speaking a foreign language, "Nanny checks your bag?"

Her question makes me realise that Nanny doesn't check it. I practically stay in my room after school so I can just hide it in there if I don't want her to see.

So why was I keen on giving out the chocolate?

"You don't like the chocolate?" She asks me again when I don't respond.

"No, it's not that. I don't know... I guess..."

"You guess what?" She moves closer to me and stares right into my face. I give her a weird look then step back from her.

"Nothing." I reply with a small smile, dropping the chocolate into my bag and strapping it into my back. She doesn't say anything after but won't stop giving me this weird look,"Stop looking at me like that."

"Okay o." She replies with a less concerned tone and looks away.

I decide to change the topic.

"I wonder how I'm going to tell Nanny that I will be going out this Friday evening." Thinking of Nanny's reaction when I tell her about my outing is enough to make me stay home.

"That's so true. She has never trusted our words after we had lied to her that we were going for a sleepover at a friend's place that night." Grace says in agreement. "Maybe you should tell her that you are coming to my place."

I start to agree to her suggestion until I remember her mum, "How about your mum? What would we tell her when she asks us where we are going to?"

She gives me a kind of resigned look and then shrugs, "That we are going to see a movie?"

"Think about a good excuse. You're the liar between us." She looks at me with feigned shock at that statement but I roll my eyes and continue, "I'll just tell Nanny that I'm going to your place and she definitely won't stop me."

"Yeah, right. This liar will come up with a good excuse for us both." She says sarcastically, pointing at herself.

We wait for our cars to come, wondering if the drivers had planned together to pick us late but it isn't long that my ride arrives and I leave Grace behind.

I sink into the car's cushion, remembering all that happened in school today. From the visit to the police station to the incident with Dorcas and to the introduction to Michael's friends, I realize they all had one thing in common.

Michael.

I have to admit that he is quickly having an impact on my normal school life.

And if I continue to let him, this might only be the beginning.

***

MICHAEL

"You're really going to invite them to our secret room?"

We are all walking towards Peter's car that is parked at the opposite end of the school gate to avoid my bodyguards. We are avoiding them because all of us have decided to go to Peter's house to chill a little and we don't want them following us.

I roll my eyes again when I remember the exaggerated note of disbelief in Femi's voice because I said I wanted them to come over.

Of course, I'm inviting them over.

Anything to get closer to her and get her to remember.

"Femi is right. I've never seen you this worked up over a girl." Wole starts and I give him a glare but he continues anyways, "Are you sure you are only doing this because you want to prove that you are her 'type'?"

Is that the only reason? Or maybe I just really want her to remember me as her knight in shining armour so I can win her over?

None of them knows about the incident anyways so they can't understand.

I raise my eyebrow in mock amusement, "Oh, and what other reason could I have?"

"You might like her?" He says in a suggestive manner and I let out a humorless laugh.

Like her my foot.

"Don't get over yourself. She challenged me and I'm taking up the challenge. Of course, Peter here made the challenge even more interesting and I'll do everything within my power to make her eat her words."

Femi coughs slightly while Wole gives me a nonchalant look before replying, "I still feel all this isn't necessary."

"You weren't the one who was slapped and talked down to in front of almost the entire school so you won't understand."

"I still don't support any of this." He reiterates.

"What's your problem sef? You are always too serious with your life." Femi says in a scolding manner to Wole who only blinks at him. "I know you intentionally referred to Chika as my girlfriend in front of Grace to reduce my chances with her-

"I'm glad you know." He cuts in.

"-and I'll really appreciate it if you will stop doing that." Femi continues like Wole hasn't spoken.

"I'm sorry but 'no' can do." Wole replies and Femi who was walking next to Peter appears in front of him in an instant.

"I'm being serious, Wole. Don't ruin things for me with that girl, I like her." He affirms sternly and that makes Wole stop dead in his track.

"So you really like her?" He repeats with disbelief.

I let out a groan, knowing this isn't going to end well. We might as well forget about going to Peter's place right about now.

"Yeah, I do and I'm thinking of asking her out on a date soon." Femi adds, earning an indignant look from Wole.

"Are you dumb or do you just choose to be?"

Ouch. That is too much.

Saying Femi looks stunned is an understatement.

"What do you mean?" He asks, annoyed.

"Since we've begun senior year, just how many girls have you gone out with?" Wole asks him but when it seems like he isn't going to reply, I decide to help.

"More than ten." I cough out in response.

They both turn to look at me while I drop my gaze to the ground, not looking at them. Wole continues all the same, "And where are all of them?"

"They disappeared." I cough again.

"Why?"

I start to cough out a response but Femi directs a glare at me.

Mo ya look away.

Wole decides to do the honours instead, "Because they were all using you and you kept on allowing them!"

That was definitely not how I was going to put it but I guess it's still the same point.

"Is your skull too thick for you to learn something this simple? Take your last girlfriend for example, she was making out with another guy in a classroom even when she knows very well that almost all the students knows about your relationship with her. What does that tell you?-

"That chicken girl self." I murmur quietly.

"-It means she has no respect for you. She was only using you for your popularity."

"This girl is going to be different. I can feel it and I know it." Femi insists.

Wole lets out a loud sigh, "Do you even know the girl? Her past relationships? What she is like?"

"That's why I'm going to take her on a date, to get to know her!" Femi replies with frustration.

"God, this guy is such a fool." Wole face-palms himself then looks up at him. "Why? What the hell are you looking for? Love? Affection? Validation? You are looking in the wrong places!"

"That's enough."

"I know it was hard to grow up without receiving love, especially if you were abandoned by your-

"That's enough!" Femi shouts and pushes Wole roughly by his shoulder. "That's fucking enough! I know you are my friend but that gives you no right to talk to me this way!"

"I'm just looking out for you." Wole answers gently.

"I'll look out for myself." Femi retorts. "And just so you know, I'm still going to ask that girl out on a date." He adds with a glare then turns to Peter, "Peter, I'm sorry but I don't think I can go to your house anymore, I'm not feeling like it."

With that, he turns around and walks away. He didn't even say bye to me.

Wole looks suddenly exhausted and utters in a low voice, "I'll go home now. See you guys later." He also turns around and walks away, leaving only me with Peter.

I glance at Peter to see that he is no longer next to me but is already heading towards his car and since there's no way I'm going to be alone with that grumpy guy, I also turn around and head for the entrance.

On my way to the bodyguards, I can't help being excited about the fact that Cynthia will be at my place tomorrow.

I should probably make the secret room a bit girlish.

Should I add a touch of pink to some parts of the room? How about flowers? I could put chocolates at random places, she seemed to like it.

What types of game do girls even like to play?

Maybe I should just ask Maggie for help.

Ugh! Who knew impressing a girl can be this difficult.

'How would you know when you've never had to try?'

I smile at the thought. At least, my subconscious and I agree on something.

***

What's your take on Wole? What kind of friend do y'all think he is?

What's your take on Femi too? What do you think might have happened to him to get him on edge when Wole was speaking to him?

I know I'm still focusing on Cynthia and Michael for now but like I said at the beginning, everyone of them has a story and we will get there slowly 🙂.

And I don't know what's wrong with my Wattpad. I just discovered that I can drop any other messages on people's profile except reading requests. It tells me message posted but then there's no message. I've uninstalled and installed Wattpad, updated to the newest version, logged in and logged out but it's still the same and I don't know what to do anymore. Any help?

Please don't forget to share, vote and comment.

Until the next update, love you guys ❤️.