Author's note: The Wrong Crowd is doing so well in the ranks, I am so proud of myself and my dear readers. Thank you for supporting my a month old book (today), please don't forget to leave your precious comments or votes. They go a long way to encourage me ^_^

Tami gently pushed a flustered Dami to the side before shooting Ore a warning glare. Ore stood perplexed as her eyes nervously darted between the two. Her gaze subconsciously trailed to the bulge in Dami's black slacks.

Ore gulped watching Tami smoothen the light crease in her skimpy jean skirt. Tami seemed all riled up, her wavy blonde wig was all over the place and her yellow button down blouse rided above her belly button.

"Were you guys making out the whole time?" Ore asked incredulous. She sent Dami a scathing glare as he scratched the stubble on his chin and shuffled about his feet. This was the first time Dami was acting embarrassed in front of her and she felt an intense heat creep up her cheeks.

Tami patted her hair and adjusted her top before taking a step forward in Ore's direction.

"It's not it seems like," Tami started coyly.

"Hey, why do you have to explain to her?!" Dami asked huffing under his breath. Ore lifted her head proudly and gave him the once over before letting out a garish long hiss.

"You be fuck boy na." Ore crossed her arms and pursed her lips for effect.

"Look . . . " Tami snapped a finger in front of Ore's face to convey the fact that she was still in the picture. "It's okay, we were just trying to have a conversation!"

Ore snorted in disbelief and tightened her bag strap on her shoulder.

"Oooh, having fun and missing a chemistry test?" Ore was livid and the words tumbled out of her mouth in a rush.

"You have been in and out of school Tami, what is wrong with you?" Ore guffawed. Tami slung her small purse and bit hard on her glossy lips before answering,

"Are you stalking me? It seems like you have been keeping tabs lately."

Ore blew out a breath and gave Tami a questioning stare. She mouthed a 'really' under her breath before looking at Dami who was typing something on his screen. He jammed a hand into his pocket before placing his iPhone on his ear.

The harsh rays of the sun reflected on his apple series watch and danced around in Ore's eyes. She marvelled at how sophisticated Dami looked in a pressed corporate shirt with a black tie and the same colour of two piece suit. He definitely wasn't coming from class dressed like that. Dami's jaw flexed as he spoke harshly into the mouth piece.

A minute or so lapsed in awkward silence. Ore twisted her toes in her leather sandals and began to wonder the chemistry that Tami and Dami had together. It was obvious that they had sex a couple of times judging from the way Dami acted so carefree and relaxed around her. A mild glow even showed on his caramel coloured skin.

The scrunching of a car tire on the asphsalt jolted Ore out of her reverie and she squinted her eyes to stare a black shiny Range Rover basking in the sunlight. Ore's jaw dropped and from the corner of her eye, she spotted Tami staring wide-eyed.

"New car?" She threw before pulling Dami in for a sensuous kiss. They pulled apart only when Philip cut out the sound of the engine and stuck his head out of the open window.

"Hey man, you coming or what?" Philip asked wrinkling his nose at the precarious sight. His eyes collided with Ore's and he smiled sunnily. What the hell? Ore couldn't imagine Philip and Dami being friends even after the brawling fight they had on Saturday.

She felt as if she was only existing, not knowing whatever the hell was going on in anyone's lives. How could that be possible?

Philip waved at Ore as he tersely scanned her outfit for anything out of the ordinary. Dami got in the passenger's side and slouched into the rich, leather seats. He inhaled the sweet scent of the tangerine air freshener before turning on the cooling vent.

He pressed a button for the raise the tainted windows and gave Philip a go-ahead signal. Philip jungled the car keys in his sweaty palm and slid it into the ignition. The engine roared to life once again, made a sharp u-turn around a few wooden bricks and sped off, leaving a trail of dust in it's wake.

Guilt was eating at Tami's insides as Ore sidestepped and glowered at her.

"I want to hear a candid explanation for what the hell has been going on," she stated with a forced cheer.

"So are you trying to tell me that you and Dami just hooked up in Calabar with no strings attached?" Ore munched greedily on her popcorn and sipped the chilled can of coke that Tami had ordered on impulse. She silently watched a few students scurrying past to meet up with their evening classes.

"Yeah, it's the truth," Tami slurped on her Pepsi with a straw and peered at Ore inwardly gauging her reaction. But Ore's face remained impassive, she simply nodded her head like an agama lizard and consumed her snack albeit slowly.

"It was only a one time thing!" Tami reassured hitting her index finger on the plastic table.

"Really now?" Ore muttered under her breath. She was finding it hard to believe Tami's cock and bull stories of how she and Dami still kept in touch after two years of having a fling as she put it.

"So, did you guys have sex too? I mean that day at the pool?" Ore twirled her thin straw creating a circle.

"Or was it another one time thing?!"

A minute passed without Tami giving an answer. This made Ore's suspicions to be confirmed.

"Why are you even with me?" Ore arched a brow before gulping the remainder of her coke down her parched throat.

Tami bit into her club sandwich and moaned in delight as the creamy flavour melted on her tongue.

"Does that matter?" She enquired. "I am your still your friend right? Tami bumped her leg against Ore's knee under the table making her to jerk slightly.

"Whatever!"

Tami beamed showing her pearly white teeth before leaning in to whisper something to Ore. Some couples were sitted under their colorful umbrellas and chatting noisily over their food.

"I know how much you like Dami," Tami started. And I know you want to get in his pants because he is rich and all!"

At that, Ore choked on her spittle and patted her chest, trying to take in a deep breath of the fresh dewy air.

"Correction . . . I don't like him because of his money."

Tami's mouth rounded in an 'oooh' before continuing with what she was saying.

"But, he doesn't like underage girls."

"Much less the ones who have nothing to offer," Tami snickered.

Ore shot Tami a death glare. "And what are you implying by that?" she asked through gritted teeth.

Tami gave a light shrug.

"You know what I mean . . . Your man likes big girls." Tami licked bits of salad from her glossy lips and winked at an astonished Ore.

"Don't act dumb, I am sure you already knew that!" Tami jeered.

"So, why does Dami hate me then?" Ore barked angrily, earning her inquisitive stares from others.

"He doesn't," Tami retorted. "You are just not his type."

Ore laughed loudly. Hot tears clouded her vision and it was all she punch Tami in the face for her spiteful words. She was trying hard for Dami to notice her and it was obviously causing a strain on her mental health.

Ore furiously wiped the salty tears with the back of her hand. No man was worth making her cry.

"And why do I care if he returns my feelings or not?" Ore huffed.

"You care because . . .  you love him, it's that simple!" Tami said stretching out a sweaty arm across the table and clasping Ore's own in hers.

"I know this because I have been there before, and I also know how to work through it!" Tami gave Ore a knowing smile and her hard features softened.

Beneath Tami's tough and scrawny layer, Ore sort of knew there was a kind hearted and strong willed individual somewhere–that was simply hustling to make a name for herself and not necessarily depending on her parent's impeccable wealth.

"So how did you push through?" Ore faltered. She closely watched Tami inhaling a shaky breath before cutting off their hand link and digging into her glittery purse.

Ore crossed her arms and began mentally counting from one to ten out of boredom before Tami brought out a small object in her grasp. Her palm folded out revealing a bottle syrup.

_____________________________________

Author's note: Hold up, what the hell do you think Tami is trying to introduce Ore into?

Well, you would just have to read on to find out!

Thanks for reading ❤️