It all went downhill when we met.

It was the trigger to the bomb with so many casualties.

Bad things happen to bad people, isn't that what they say? That karma will always come around.

We soon learned that it was all crap, karma was a myth.

If you wanted the bad people to taste their sins, grab a gun and chase them down.

✯•Gauche /ɡəʊʃ/: Lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward•✯

»»———-YVETTE———-««

❝Let's dance under the rain
Let it wash away our wrongs,
And gift us new lives to destroy.❞

»»-————-✯ •✯ •✯—————-««

✯••✯
»»Bad things happen to bad people««

I had survived my geography exams.

Even though the tension that slithered through the silent big hall almost had me tipping over my seat, along with the now unbearable headache ripping through my skull, I had made it.

Everest was like Jasmine and blue grass during hot seasons and earth and candles and wood during rainy seasons.

It smelt like death during Exam seasons.

Exam period was always the toughest, everyone dreaded it, it dragged passed us like an aging tortoise—slow with a false image of wisdom and a hard shell. The countless sleepless nights, the mountain of textbooks, the liters of caffeine and malnourishment could make the strongest of students collapse.

That wasn't much of a surprising thing, having students lose consciousness from the stress right when the timer of the exam began or entirely breaking down in tears and snort from the mental exhaustion. On my first-ever paper, one girl had completely frozen up, not moving, not speaking, it was like she had turned off as though her body and mind had said enough.

But at the end of the day, we lived. We had to.

The sun was dipping down the horizon, and if I peeped out the window of the SS2 block I would see colors of orange and pink, and yellow splashed across the sky with a precision only the heart of an artist could create.

It was already evening, possibly around 6 or so, I still didn't have anything I could check the time with and the grand clock was on the other side of the Block, towards the Class A and a lot of my classmates were littered there, chatting as they did.

I was trying everything I could to avoid those kinds of spaces, I didn't want to bump into someone who knew Mike was looking for me or anyone whose nose was just too sharp that they couldn't help but dig into everyone's business.

This class, Class C, did have a clock, but it was as if the universe was against me because, from the stagnant hands, it had run out of battery.

After my Exams, I escaped to the empty classrooms where I had tried to fall asleep, but I was too hungry and in too much pain that it was impossible. Every time I closed my eyes I felt the bliss of darkness brush past my skin, a shock from the middle of my body would jolt me awake.

I felt miserable and tired, and worst of all, I hadn't seen a peep of Hannah all morning. It made me feel worse, like no one cared but that was just for a very brief second—just a little doubt. There was no way Hannah hadn't tried to reach me through my mess of a phone, she should be the one angry that I hadn't attempted to look for her, apart from partially scanning the hall for a sign of her figure before running away before I was spotted.

The class I was currently in was devoid of anyone apart from me because Class C was located too far from the entry which was the closest to the leisure spot. But if it was really 6 then that means my classmate will begin to trudge in, to prepare for the commencement of night prep.

And I was right because immediately the thought rounded up in my head, Sharon Mohreen struttered hips in full sway, her footsteps silent and her eyes sharp and bold. She was like a cat, made of audacity and flair. If it weren't for Alia's chattering, the loud stomping of Nuella's heels, and Terna's loud and obnoxious popping of the gum in his mouth I wouldn't have noticed she had walked in.

"Did I forget to mention?" Sharon's words dripped out breezily, she always spoke so flirtatiously, so intense.

"What?" Alia stopped mid-rant as they rounded up their seat. "Tell me!'

Sharon hopped on a table and crossed her legs, taking her time and pulling her friends' patience to a thin line. "I'm singing at the graduation ceremony."

The other girl, Alia, squealed her lungs out, jumping so high her braids almost flogged the ceiling. She threw her hands around pulling her into an excited hug.

"As you should queen!" Terna shrieked with excitement, flaring his bold rings and acrylic nails which were very prohibited as he snapped his fingers. "Who would they have had instead?"

"Anyone else but you would be second best, don't fucking play, girl!" Nuella joined too, clicking her fingers along with her friend, in a planned rhythmic fashion.

Sharon shrugged, arrogantly, so full of confidence, a smirk creeping on her plump lips which she painted dark red. She rolled her eyes as though the praise bored her but even a blind person could sense that she wanted a pool of glory to drown in.

"That is so amazing," Alia screamed, her arms still hanging on her shoulders. "Kam allowed you?"

Sharon frowned and pushed her arms off her like it was dirt, she raised her brow to a sharp angle, her full lips pursed in disgust. "Allowed me? Bitch she begged me."

Alia mellowed down, like a little puppy that had been scolded. "I'm sorry, of course, I'm sorry."

"I mean," She tossed her red braids over her shoulders. "I have the best voice this school has ever seen."

"Obviously," Nuella drawled, side-eyeing Alia, her upper lip curled in repulsion, her chunky earring swaying as she shook her head. "You're not just any singer, you're THE soprano of Everest."

"Like," Terna chewed on his gum, popping a bubble as he propped out a hip. "Kam or whatever the fuck they call that witch is lucky Shar-Shar didn't ask her to get on her knees before she accepted."

"P-e-r-i-o-d-t!"

Alia clasped her hands in front of her, her head bowed in shame and lips shut, that was probably the best response when it came to Nuella and Terna. Those two best friends were our set self-proclaimed divas, inseparable and linked with one brain cell and of course, their dripping mouths that poured whispers of gossip everywhere they went.

I could hear more footsteps approaching causing my blood to run cold. People were dispersing, heading to their classes, it was time to drop little talks and friendship groups and face the dread approaching. Our last papers were this Friday, though we had no free days throughout this week.

I couldn't be in this class when they began to flood in, especially when there was a strong possibility that Mike and his squad of friends might barge in any second from now. Without a second thought, I shot up from my seat, the sudden action causing a wave of dizziness to cross my sight, and four sets of eyes to shoot my way, as though noticing me for the first time.

There was silence for a solid five seconds, as we just stared at each other, it was like they were raking my figure, breaking me from limb to limb, dissecting me like I was a lab rat.

"Hi!" Alia chirped, waving her hands like we were long lost friends or at the very least as though we did this on a daily basis.

"Hi-Hi." I made to step out of my seat but almost fell on my face, I stumbled, grabbed the desk, and took a few quick steps to balance myself. My vision blurred for a moment and a sharp pain struck my head.

"Girl, are you okay?" I wasn't sure if it was Nuella or Terna who spoke, their voices sounded like one.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." I rubbed my sweaty hands on my clothes and continued my way out, trying to be as fast as I could before I melted under their gazes and as slow as to not be jumped by another dizzy spell.

"Yvette,"

I wanted to ignore whoever called me but I didn't want to be deemed rude, so I turned back. "Yeah."

"Is that hoodie yours?" Terna's heavily lined eyes dragged themselves over my figure slowly, a knowing smile pulling on his tinted lustrous lips. "I don't really think that's Mike's style, what do you think Nu-Nu?"

She revealed the gap between her teeth. "It doesn't look like something Mike would wear."

"I thought so too."

Air felt heavy in my throat, I swallowed hard and clutched the fabric of the hoodie as if it would make it look more like mine. "It-It's Charles."

"Really," Nuella cast a knowing glance at my hands, and I immediately let go. "Because I can swear I saw Anwa, that cute wannabe drug dealer, wearing the exact same thing yesterday and the day before that and the day before that, and oh! And last week too."

"Are you having problems with your boyfriend, cause why else will you be wearing his best friend's clothes?"

Terna faked whispered and whistled loudly, twirling his tie. "Oh drama."

"You know you can talk to us about it. We're friends aren't we?"

"It's nothing, please. I'm fine." I had enough, I turned on my heels and began to make my way out, to hell if I seemed rude or not.

"I'm not we," This time it was Nuella's turn to whisper, making sure I heard it clear enough.

"Don't be so rude, ma chérie, we only asked cause we cared," Terna called out, his effeminate voice playful but condensing. "It looks good on you, though."

"Cheap and haggardly but good enough for your standard, I guess."

I stooped at the door, offended for Anwa, this was his hoodie and it wasn't fair that him simply helping me by giving it to me was causing him to be dragged, he had already been through enough this morning with Kam.

I looked over my shoulder at them, but I met with sharp ravaging eyes, causing my breath to hitch. Sharon still sitting on the desk had her head cocked watching me, killing the little fight I had in me, and as fast as I caught it she looked away like I had imagined it all.

I almost ran out the door.

Even though she hung around Wines like Nuella and Terna, and Blues like Alia, Sharon Mohreen was a white. A founding member. A standard.

As I pushed myself through the hallways, I could feel my bones getting heavier and my head getting hotter, it was like it was in flames, my skull melting into my brain and my brain dripping into my spinal cord.

Everyone was a blur of oxford shirts, blazers, tweed trousers, pleated skirts, and knitted waistcoats, walking to and fro. The ornate molding that adorned the high ceiling and the tall arched windows seemed like they would crash on me, bury in me along with the several footsteps and essence that had walked through these same walls, past the wooden lockers with brass fixtures and dark wood panels.

My body was on fire, my ashes were filling my lungs, suffocating me, and turning my blood black. I stepped on my feet, wrapped my arms around my body, and held in the vomit bubbling up my throat.

Fire, ash, pain. I needed to sit down. I needed to calm down. I needed to breathe.

I pushed the door to the girl's locker room and rushed in. The ground tilted and I lost my balance, crashing to my knees. I sat there, breathing hard as the sound of the door slamming shut filled the room. I stared at the white tiles, inhaling the mix of scents of perfumes and soaps.

One at a time. Little by Little.

I took my time to gather myself, clearing the air around me, regaining my strength. Water drops fell on the tiles, they formed little pools of reflection, I wiped my face realizing I had been crying.

"What is wrong with you, Yvette," I sniffed. "Why are you so weak?"

Why do I love him so much?

I paused for a bit, a thought that I might not be the only one here. I raised my head and looked around, it was empty.

My body was on fire again, I pulled myself up, and I could almost see smoke slipping through my pores. My head, my heart, my stomach, everywhere hurt. My body was on fire.

I rushed into one of the showers and let the water pour on me. It was cold, it stung me like a hive of bees, sending multiple shivers up and down my spine. But it made the pain more better, it made it more physical.

I placed my back on the wall of the cubicle and slid down to the floor, curling my legs to my chest, taking deep controlled breaths, and feeling and listening to the water slap my skin. I hated the rain because it was unpredictable, uncontrollable, wicked but this, this felt comforting, peaceful.

Slowly the light pink colored walls began to host black spots, that grew and consumed my eyesight, stealing bits and bits of me and sneaking me into oblivion. Soon I was in a space between fatigue and tranquility, swimming and floating in the darkness, free, alive.

I didn't know how long I slept, on the ground of that cubicle, with a shower of water falling on me continuously, alone in that locker room, in peace but it was the best alone time I had had in a very long while.

"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!"

I jumped back awake at the yelling, someone punched a locker, and the sound resonated around to slap me in the face. It took me a while to properly regain myself, blinking away drops of water from my face. I was soaked to the bone.

I stood up and turned the shower off to listen properly, there was definitely someone else here, maybe even more. They were cursing and screaming, stomping and pounding, angry and crying.

Slowly I stepped out and rounded the corner making sure my footsteps were soft, I didn't want to intrude. I would just sneak out before she noticed me so she could vent alone. It probably was the exam stress, and I know all too well how embarrassing and shameful it was to have someone witness your breakdown.

There were only two routes to leave the locker room, through the out nearest to the door and the one that led to the opposite side, by the mirror, adjacent to the benches.

I had already successfully left the showers without being noticed but as I approached the door, I caught a glimpse of the girl through the mirror. She had her shirt buttoned down and was viewing the right side of her abdomen, which was pulsing with an excruciating shade of purple.

I stopped and moved in her direction unknowingly, being only able to see her through the mirror due to the lockers blocking her view of her of me and of me of her.

When I was close enough I realized it was Annalise Bamidele, she was literally shaking with tears pouring down her dark skin and off her oval face.

She kicked a locker beside her, the metal box made a loud clank sound. "FUCK, FUCK."

"Are you okay?" I asked as I stepped into her vision.

The room turned quiet as I spoke, she snapped her neck towards my direction and loudly kissed her lips before she began to button up, hurriedly, in a bid to close up.

"Did someone do that to you?"

She ignored me and fixed up her shirt, picking her bag from the floor. Annalise was never the organized type of person, this would be our first time interacting but she was just someone in the set one couldn't miss, and not just because she was sisters with the newly appointed head girl.

She had a rough image with her buzz cut, lean build, and angular face marked with her high cheekbones. She would burst into classes late with her shirt untucked, blazer thrown over her shoulders, and eyes bloody red, and walk through the school with a defiant glare and air of toughness in her slightly slouched posture.

"I-I think you should get that treated, it looks really bad." I felt a sting of my hypocrisy following her as she walked passed me, completely disregarding my presence.

I sighed and decided to let her be but I noticed she had left her blazer on the floor, I took quick steps to tap her shoulder. "Anna-,"

My fingers had barely grazed her when she whipped around, swinging a powerful arm my way and sending me crashing back first against the lockers. It happened so fast, one second I was on my feet and the next I was on the floor, an excruciating quake bellowing from my core, spreading through me.

"The fuck do you want with me, bitch?!" She was shouting, her dark eyes were wild, bulging out of their sockets, veins bulging.

I groaned loudly, curling myself to a ball unconsciously, my joints exploded and bits and pieces were stabbing me in the head. Hot tears gathered in my eyes, I couldn't even scream, the slightest move hurt.

"What do you want?" She was crazed, throwing her legs, stomping on me, on my knees, arms, thighs, everywhere.

Her foot swung out again, landing a sharp kick to my shin. I gasped a sharp electric burst radiating from the impact, like my bones were twisting.

I was pinned against the lockers, unable to escape as her boot repeatedly slammed into my side. Each kick pushed me further into the cold metal, the sharp edges biting into my back. Annalise stood over me, her heavy breathing echoing in the space.

"TELL ME!" Her foot collided with my stomach, and a jolt of pain exploded through me. "WHAT. DO. YOU WANT. FROM. ME?"

I felt the wind knocked out of me, my body collapsing against the lockers with a painful thud. My head spun from the force, tears blurring my vision.

"I'm sorry." Now I was crying, and crying and begging. It felt like she wanted to kill me like she was planning to.

I shielded my head and wept, bleeding out pleas through my tears. I curled into a ball, my arms protecting my head as her hits landed with relentless force. The agony was intense and endless, each strike brutal. I could barely move, each attempt to dodge was useless, stupid even.

She stopped finally, clutched her head, and sighed, digging her black chipped short nails into her scalp like she wanted to tear the skin off. "Next time, mind your own fucking business."

She stomped out, the sounds of her combat boots gradually fading away before she banged the door shut on her way out.

I stared at the floor, too weak to get up, too weak to move, too weak to exist. For the countless time today, my vision slowly darkened and no matter how hard I tried to resist, to push myself out of the black water engulfing me, the waves pulled me back, drowning me.

I faded away. Gone to a place where there was nothing but empty air, where I wasn't made of bones and flesh and heartbreak, to a place where Mike didn't exist, where there was no rain, where there were no color tiers, no Greys, or Blues, or Wines, or Whites. A place where there was no me.

"-wake her?" I was slipping in and out, picking up words and the rest jumbling over each other. "She smells like a wet dog."

There was giggling, heels walking away. "I swear till I die I'll never know what Micheal Fagunwa sees in her."

I was turned off again, back to a different universe made up of cold and oblivion, I could feel everything now, my body aching and head-splitting, my soaked clothes heavy on the ground freezing me. I could hear the sounds of girls filtering in and out in little cliques, ignoring me. I could smell their perfumes and taste the bitterness of their nonchalantness.

Something poked me and then a squeal of disgust. "Is she drunk?"

"Who is that?"

I felt the tip of their shoe as they pushed my head back. "Yvette, Mike Fagunwa's girlfriend."

"Take a pic of her, fast fast, take a picture."

Clicks, clicks clicks. I floated out, back to being here and there, everywhere and nowhere. I wanted to move, to get up, but I wasn't in my body, I was trapped in a little box at the back of my mind.

"Should we wake her up?" Another set of new voices.

"Do you want to touch that?"

"Ew, what's that tattered trash she's wearing? Omg! She smells like piss."

Then muffled words and more muffled sentences and then them walking away, shutting the door, and then the sound of loneliness.

Where was Hannah?

Someone was tapping me, with their hands not legs this time, shaking me to wake up. "Yvette. Yvette, what happened?"

Colors and light rippled through the darkness, killing it and kicking me out to the surface, I took a deep breath, the air settling in my lungs birthing consciousness.

I slowly fluttered my eyes open as they gently settled me into a sitting position. I was still in the locker room, still soaking wet, still on the floor.

"Yvette," Monolid eyes blinking frantically at me. "Yvette? Can you hear me? What happened to you?"

She talked too fast like her words were too hot for her tongue to hold for a second longer. Trying to process them seemed to even make my headache worsen.

"Yvette?"

"I'm," I sighed, rubbing my hands down my face. "I can hear you and I am fine."

"No, you're not." Sophia objected, she wasn't aggressive with it more than that she was seriously concerned, which was out of place because we didn't even know each other that well enough to be affected by what happened to one another.

Today, It looked like I had talked to everyone but Hannah Coker.

"You're wet and shivering, and you look very sick. Should I call an ambulance? I am calling an ambulance." She whipped out her phone from her blazer.

"No, I told you, I am okay. I was just tired, exams and all."

She slowly bobbed her head at me, thick black lashes fanned her brown almost golden-like skin, the gentle curve of her lips pulling together to form a pout. "Are you sure?"

She seemed to genuinely believe me like she was that gullible. "Yes, I'm serious."

"Well, geography is hard. But why are you wet?"

"The rain."

She stared at me for long seconds, her long legs bent to lower her tall figure to my level. Sophia Marie looked all over my body as if trying to assess the credibility of my lie.

Then she smiled. "Oh that's a relief, I was very scared when I saw you here, at first I thought you were like a bundle of clothes and was like who would leave their clothes on the floor? especially here of all places then I saw you moved and was like no no that can't be clothes cause clothes can't move, that has to be a person. So I walked over and saw it was a person and I really thought you were badly injured or someone..."

She paused her rant as if reconsidering her words, it shocked me that she even had time to think before she spoke with how she poured a stream of stories out her mouth in less than a minute.

"...You know how Everest can get." She shrugged and stood up stretching her hand to me.

I glanced from her long clean smooth hands to her face, I could suddenly now feel the stickyness of mine. I held onto the lockers and got up.

She didn't seem to mind, she looked at the wet patch that had formed the shape of my body on the floor. "I think you should change, you might get really sick if you don't, and we still have more papers to go."

"I don't," I stared at the floor. "I don't have any clothes I can change into."

"Oh that's fine," She slipped her hand into mine interlocking our fingers, which caused me to jump a little. "You can just wear your spare uniform."

I felt so bad, rubbing my dirtiness on her with our hands locked, I tried to wiggle mine out but she held on tighter. "I don't have any spare uniform."

"What?"

"I only have this one," I sighed. "My other is at my boyfriend...at my...not here."

"Ohmgee?" She exclaimed. "How can you not have a spare uniform in school? What if something spilled on you? Or you fall? Or you sweat a lot?"

"I don't know Sophia, and I honestly can't find it in myself to care at the moment."

I didn't mean to snap especially to the only person who had been genuinely nice to me throughout this horrible day but I couldn't help it, it had been building up and the tension in my body couldn't hold it any longer.

She didn't seem affected or hurt, she nodded. "That's okay. I would love to borrow you one of mine but I doubt it would fit."

It was true. Sophia was tall, one the tallest girls in our set, and though she and I seemed to have the same body size, her waist was way slimmer than mine. Her proportions were almost perfect.

"It's fine, thank you."

"But!" She pulled me to walk, bustling with so much energy. "I think you and Harida will be a good match."

I furrowed my brows at her and only when she stopped in front of a locker that was personalized with bows and glittery stickers with KAMHARIDA written brightly across it, did I realize.

I couldn't believe for the life of me that these two, Kam and Sophia, were best friends, glued together in their little clique, away from the entire set. They were so contrasting, with Kam's flashy style and Sophia's y2k fashion.

I had forgotten Sophia was a white.

"No!" I pulled my hand away, a little too hard. "I can't."

"Why not?" She blinked innocently at me. "Do you have something else to wear?"

"No, I don't but that doesn't mean I should wear Kam's clothes. It's not even in your right to give me them."

She chuckled and held her chest like this was a joke. "You sound so scared."

"I-I-,"

She lowered to my height and bobbed her head. "Are you scared of Kam too?"

Too. It felt like there were so many people she knew or met with that were frightened of her best friend—a ravaging monster that tore people in their sleep—and she was keeping tally.

"I'm...No."

She stood up straight with a smile, it wasn't mocking but rather amused. "You're scared of her," She pulled the locker open, and I noticed Kam hadn't even bothered to lock it, almost as if she knew no one would dare to search through her things or she would find out if she did. "But I'm not!"

Kam's locker smelt of sweet and seemed to have everything that glistened under the sun, neatly organized, in hangers from the clothes, ranging from her tracksuit to a Roche lace slip dress and a section for her makeup.

She turned to me and wiggled her brows just when I tried to voice out to stop her once more. "Just kidding!"

She slammed it shut and unlocked the one beside it. "Harida will kill you and me if she ever finds out that I let you peep inside but I want to annoy her today. By the way, this is mine, I have a random Alex Mill Jo shirt that I think will flow down your knees perfectly-," She shoved a plain navy blue button-up shirt as she continued to scavenge through it. "-And this really cute white or is it buttercup cardigan that will make you look really adorable and..." She wasn't even giving me a chance to process anything, she was just tossing it my way.

She squatted down and got out a pair of leather black slip-ons. "Black slides that might be a bit too big but they are super comfortable. Teema, you know Fatima, disciplinary perfect and all, she got it for me for my birthday, they are Chanel. Love them."

I looked at everything in my hands, and my head slightly spun. "Thank you?"

"You're welcome!" She exhaled satisfied. "This felt like a round of dress to impress. Okay, be quick, night prep started like an hour ago or so."

"Okay, okay."

We stood awkwardly in silence though I was sure all the awareness was from my side, she blinked expectantly at me while I moved from one foot to another heat of embarrassment burned my neck and face.

It wasn't like I hated my body or anything, I just didn't really feel confident enough to have anyone but me see it, it really upset Mike a times. Even after sports or random hot sweaty days when girls would crowd this locker room in towels and sometimes nothing trooping in and out of the showers, I preferred to wait till everyone was done before I got in and entered the cubicle fully clothed and left as well.

It took a moment before Sophia realized, she smiled gently and gestured for me to continue, twirling around to face the door. "Sorry sorry sorry."

I waited until I was very sure she wouldn't spin around before I began to change, zipping down and shrugging off Noah's hoodie and unbuttoning my shirt.

Though I loved the quietness, but with the little time I have spent with Sophia I was sure that was her worst nightmare because just as it began to settle in she spoke. "If you don't mind me asking when did you and Mike Fagunwa break up ?"

I froze at his name, the tips of my finger turning colder than they were and my heart beat speeding up with a heavy thump. "What?"

"Well it was obvious," She continued as though she didn't notice the weakness in my voice. "You hesitated a lot and then changed your words earlier when you mentioned my boyfriend, like wetin I dey talk sef? Like it was a slip-up. So when did you break up with him?"

I took a deep breath unclamped my skirt and wiggled it down, it fell with a wet slap to the floor. I couldn't believe I was having this conversation with Sophia Marie of all people. It was strange.

"Sophia?"

"Hm?"

"What is my name?"

She giggled like it was a funny question. "Yvette, was this some kind of trick question?"

I stood in my wet undies and stared down at the red panther, the school's mascot, painted across the white wall. "How did you know that?"

"Everyone knows your name, everyone knows you."

"What's my surname?"

For the first time since we started talking, she was speechless. I slipped out of my remaining clothes now I was bare and naked, in more ways than one. She still had her back to me but I could envision her coming to terms that I wasn't just Yvette, Mike's girl. I was someone else first. Me.

Someone pushed the door silently, multiple voices talking over each other, my stomach dipped, and I began to scramble looking for anything to cover myself with or where I could hide.

"Stop," Sophia said clearly, loud. "I'm having a very important conversation, please wait outside."

The voices all halted at once and so did their movements, though they left the door still slightly ajar. "Sophia?"

"Yes, it's me," She answered, rather impatiently. "Now please excuse me."

"Oh okay," One of them said. "We're sorry for interrupting."

"Thank you. And can one of you guard the door, locking it might be rude so help me tell anyone that wants to enter that I am here and she should wait outside."

"Okay, Of course." The door closed.

I sighed in relief and took a second to catch my breath, I slipped my soaked socks and shoes out my feet, and the beanie off my head.

"I don't know," She was back to speaking with me. "I don't know your surname."

"I know you wouldn't." Since I did have a towel, I stood waiting for my body to dry naturally even though my teeth chattered. The cold numbed the ache.

"Is that why? Is that why you fell out in love with Mike, because no one could remember your surname but they could remember his?" She asked. "I hope you do know he is from a founding family. I'm pretty sure everyone in Abuja knows his name even if they can't recognize his face."

"It's not that." I almost snapped, almost but that would be pitiful. "I was just done. I was just done with him being everything that I was, I was done with the thought that I would be nothing without him."

It wasn't a lie, I hadn't even thought in this direction so severely until this morning, yes I had little concerns here and there but that didn't matter all I wanted to was to be engulfed by his sweetness and love and care and try hard to shun the bitterness.

Somehow talking to Sophia was therapeutic, though she sent waves of energy like a hurricane but when she put herself together she was like a calm lake I could see my reflection without any ripple. She would never understand how it felt though, to be in the shadow, all tall, beautiful, athletic, the school's cheer captain and star gymnast. She was the perfect White.

She didn't say a word as I reached for the shirt and pulled it over me, allowing it to fall to my knees and the hands past my fingers.

Then she spoke, as slowly as she could as if reasoning with me. "So while you drowned yourself in the shower and cried on this nasty floor—by the way, Kam says there might be semen on it—he is outside having a blast with his friends without a care, I literally just saw him."

It hurt so much. I know I hadn't properly broken up with him yet but I didn't expect him to be tuning me out especially when he had broken down in tears and on his knee when he came to the senses after tossing me and banging my head. I didn't expect him to mope around but even though it was foolish of me I wanted him to look for me, to care.

I wore the sweater and slid my legs into the slip-ons, and then I began to pick up my soaked clothes. "I told you it was the rain, I am not mad to just sit in the shower fully clothed

Sophia spoke again. "To me, he really doesn't seem worth it. I don't think anyone is, to be honest. We had an exam a few hours ago and more to come and yet you can't help but still think about this boy, who is very undeserving. All this for him? Really?"

I walked over to my locker on the opposite side, unlocked it, pulled out a biker short I used for sports, and shoved everything in, not caring as I tried to not let these tears spill and my voice crack. "I-I am do-done. I am done dressing."

She turned around and interlinked her fingers in front of her. "You're everything without him."

I closed it and sniffed. "I'm just so weak."

"Yup," She popped the p. "Then fix it, crying isn't going to solve it."

"Why are you being so nice to me," I stopped her before she replied. "Don't tell me because you want to help because Kam said the same thing today and it turned out that she was just being selfish." And horrible.

"Well, I am Sophia Marie, not Kamharida and I am being nice to you because that's the humane thing to do if I saw anyone in your position, I would help too, you're not special to me, I didn't pick you up because it was you, I did it because it was the right thing to do," She didn't have her smile any more but she wasn't frowning or angry, she was making a point. "I'm a good person."

I was already angry and upset and had no right being snarky to her, but I just couldn't help it, everything today wasn't going my way and I just poured my heart out to someone who just said I wasn't special right to my face.

"A good person?" I scoffed. "Earlier you couldn't even say someone might have beaten me up, what do you know how Everest is even mean? Saying it like it is all normal."

"Because it is. Normalcy is determined by relativity. People getting beaten up, bullied, and harassed, is normal here, it goes on and on and on. This is the way Everest is, and always has been, I am not God I can't change it can I? So because there are bullies and horrible people in this set I can't be a good person?"

"No, because you're friends with people like Kam, that's why you can't be a good person," I spat. "Birds of a feather flock together."

"Aren't you friends with Hannah Coker?" She asked then continued as she knew the answer. "Should I judge you based on her? Abi we are using idioms since we've turned to elders."

I faltered. "What do you mean?"

Her eyes softened and she exhaled. "Why are are you attacking me? Why are you attacking Kamharida? You have every right to be angry or frustrated but I will allow you to channel it all to me or my friend simply because you're too scared to confront Mike."

I looked away.

"Yvette, don't cower away." She walked to me. "What's your surname?"

I shook my head, my wet braids sticking to my forehead. "It doesn't matter. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Well, I want to know, start from somewhere, start from someone. Tell me."

I wiped my tears. "Khumalo."

"You're Yvette Khumalo before you're anything else," She placed a black beret in my hand. "I hope you get to make everyone know that one day."

She turned around and began walking away.

"And FYI, the rain stopped hours ago," She chuckled. "You are mad enough to stay under the shower fully clothed."

I looked down at the beret in my hands for a while and then slowly as realization dawned to me, reached a gnash on my head.

When I looked back up all that was left of her was her vanilla scent, the clothes on my back, and her words mingling in the air.

✯••✯

Nightly study sessions or Night prep as everyone began to call it lasted for how long one could stay but began by 6 and should be wrapped up before 11, it wasn't mandatory but classrooms were almost always filled.

It was a sort of manipulation, the school pretending like they weren't forcing us to it but then giving us a mountain of work and assignments and presentations and research that we would have no choice but to wait behind after closing by 5 and try to cover up.

Exam time was the worst, some students tried to drag it out as far as they could but the rules were clear, the school's grand gates close by 11 exactly and wouldn't open till the next morning. So begrudgingly they would pack and finish it up at home.

There was a boarding house section which was essentially what brought these late hour readings but a year before I got accepted it was scraped off like it never existed for some reason.

The seat beside mine was empty, that was Mike's. It took all I had not to change go to another class, and stay in my usual seat, especially since that might raise questions. I wanted to break up with him properly before any rumor began bubbling.

Class C, SS2 Arts and Humanity, which was my class, had always had the least serious people in the set, known for its laid-back attitude. They liked to shuffle between reading and causing disruption.

Pere and his gang were no exception. As the minutes ticked closer to 11, their restlessness only grew and began to spread like a virus. Pere leaned back in his chair, grinning as his friends gathered around him

"Anwa," He drawled playfully from the backseat where his friends had assembled around him. "What would I do without you?"

Anwa stared blankly at him as he grinned, standing over him as Pere sat, his hands buried in his pockets. Pere slid a textbook across the desk towards him, he picked it up, flipped through it, and nodded before shutting it close with a definite snap.

"He added something to the sum. It's because your stuff is good, too good, guy." Segun one of the guys chipped in, adding a boisterous laugh at the end like it was some inside joke.

"I appreciate," Anwa mumbled unenthusiastically, a brick wall to his excitement. He spun on his heel and walked out, I couldn't help but follow him with my eyes. I wanted to apologize for earlier this morning, somehow I felt I had done something wrong during the whole uproar.

Unfortunately, I was behind in class along with these loud boys, which was Mike's choice and I didn't think it was much of a bad idea then. Being at the back and with him made teachers try less to interact with me which was more than appealing.

I could see them clearly from my peripheral vision, and a little jerk of my head and I would get the whole view. Even as Pere shrugged off his varsity jacket to reveal a white plain t-shirt. "I'm bored as fuck! We've been reading nonstop, let's have some fun na."

His gang of morons were hyped, drumming on their tables in anticipation. Segun who was the appointed mouth speaker and loudmouth began to yell, in a deep intimidating voice.

"Are you people deaf?!" He jumped up from his seat, falling his chair over. "Line up! Sharp sharp!"

I didn't know what was happening, I wondered who they were raving at but it seemed like those people knew themselves. They began to begrudgingly get up, relunctantly, SJ who sat at sat in front of me got up, Cassava, whose real name was Abike adjusted her afro in distress, Amasin looked nervous as he made his way to the back, his jaw locked but eyes scared.

They lined up in a straight horizontal line, Yasira was the last to join them, she puffed her chubby cheeks in frustration and only stared at the floor. The five of them waited amid the cackling and taunting, trying to keep their faces neutral.

Pere had turned his chair to face them, leaned back, and amused. "You guys don't look happy, it's hurting me."

They peeled their lips open and bared their teeth, their eyes lacking. I looked around the class some people shifted uncomfortably in their seats, their eyes darting between the scene and their books. A few whispered among themselves, their expressions a mix of fear and pity, a good number looked amused as if their books had begun to bore them. A few more were minding their business, flipping through their books or scrolling through their screens.

"Cassava?" Segun snapped. "Is this some kind of joke to you? Is that how to smile?"

Abike in return glared at him and moved her eyes away, she kissed her teeth. "You're interrupting our reading."

The room erupted in cheers and insults.

"EYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEE"

"CASSAVA DON GROW WINGS!"

"SEE HER LARGE MOUTH LIKE ASS"

"ARE YOU MAD?"

They lost their minds, screaming, swearing, and cursing but Abike stood her ground. She wasn't going to play, her resolve was visible. She was done, she was done being a Grey.

She folded her arms but I could see them shaking, she was terrified, if they piled up on her at this moment she wouldn't even be able to walk talk less of thinking of completing the upcoming exams.

"Amasin," Pere snapped his fingers, biting down a smile. "Cover up."

Amasin hesitated, he looked at Abike and then back at the crowd, and picked a side. He walked up to the front of the class, dragged a chair under the CCTV camera, and stood on it, turning the camera towards the door away from the scene.

His earlier reluctance didn't go unnoticed by Pere, whose eyes narrowed, and then he slowly nodded. He waved Abike over. "Come, let's talk it out. Let's adjust our schedules."

Abike didn't move, she didn't even budge a bit. "There's nothing to discuss. We're tired of being your playthings, let us breathe abeg. Our parents aren't beggars."

Now that made everywhere drop in temperature, a cloud of tension so palpable began to thicken below the ceiling, condensing the five of them with pressure.

Pere stood up, He wasn't as big as Mike but was still imposing being tall and fit as most varsity players. He was the son of a pastor, a son from a very prestige family, one of our star footballers, and a very sick individual.

He had a history of bullying, always targeting those who he perceived as weaker, it was almost like he got a high from it. His arrogance stemmed from years of getting away with intimidation, his family's influence only adding to his sense of entitlement.

I knew him well because he was cool with Mike.

Birds of a feather flock together.

He walked up to her, slowly, his friends quietening down. He stopped in front of her and dipped his head to her eye level. "We just wanted to have fun, you know, ease the exam tension."

Abike struggled to look into his eyes. "Well, we don't appreciate it."

Pere reached for her chin, but she moved back, he attempted it again and held her face between his fingers. "I'm sorry, me and my friends sincerely apologize."

The tension in Abike's stance wilted, she glanced around the room, to the unmoving bunch of students, her eyes met mine for a brief moment. I wanted to scream at her to run.

He moved closer to her, entering her space, the boys began to howl, hyping him up. I shut my eyes close and turned back to my book. I focused hard on the letters, trying to digest them but I just couldn't.

Abike said something I didn't catch but made everyone interested bluster, my eyes involuntarily went back to the scene now she was angled to Pere's level, eye to eye, nose barely inches away. "You need to do more to earn our forgiveness, the years and years-" She swallowed thickly. "Your words aren't enough."

He grinned wider. "And how can I start?"

"By letting my friends go back to their seats. And stop calling me that awful name"

"Friends?" Segun's face crumpled. "Are you guys forming some kind of low-class community for the helpless?"

Pere didn't comment, moved his head so close to her, his voice dropping lower, tempting. "And?"

She tried to move back but he held her in place. "You're too close."

"I really want to kiss you," He groaned, his grin widening as she recoiled. "I find it hot when girls talk back to me. It turns me on when they fight me."

"You're not taking me seriously."

"Neither are you. Fight me, continue to resist."

She put a hand on his chest. "Stop it, Pere."

"Fight me."

"Please just stop, I didn't mean to sound demanding."

"I SAID FIGHT ME. RESIST."

She was shaking sweats now, she looked over to her friends for help but their faces were turned away. Her eyes might with mine, begging me. I blinked away. "Pere, a teacher might-."

To be honest, my head was too heavy to fully grasp what transpired next and it was only after a solid five seconds when the deafening screams slapped some sense into me did I realize what had happened.

Pere had pressed his lips against Abike's, mauling her as he did, it was so sudden it caused her eyes to widen. The abruptness of it paralyzed her for a second before she tried to shove him off, but it was too late.

The noise grew louder and louder. The room completely exploded into chaos when Abike fell to the floor, screaming, blood trickling down her chin. For a moment, no one moved, no one spoke. Then, Pere spat something onto the ground, a piece of flesh, and wiped the blood from his lips. The menacing smile on his face sent a shiver down my spine.

He had bitten a piece of her lips off.

"I changed my mind. I don't want your forgiveness."

The boys were loving it, way more than they should. Their cruelty was unrestrained, they were falling against each other like dominos high with hysteria.

He thrashed her with a sneer. "The bitch was actually kissing me back, the fuck?"

Abike was still on the ground, face buried in her arms, I wasn't sure if she was quavering with pain or her silent sobs or maybe both but she didn't move an inch even when one of the boys had reached out and smacked her hard on her butt.

Pere looked up from her, that amused smirk gone and now replaced with a heavy scowl. "Does anyone else have something to say? Barney and friends, how about you guys, anything?"

Now he had thrown the question violently to the remaining four who stood in horror, with a thunderous tone that struck them to look away in fear or shame, avoiding his glare. Their fear immobilizing them.

I was squeezing my hand, my eyes wide, I was pissed, frustrated, but most of all I was scared. I knew if I spoke up there would be nothing stopping them from doing what they did to Abike to me, nothing but Mike.

You're everything without Mike.

That was a lie. I was nothing.

Another commotion broke out when Abike rushed up from the ground, she shoved Pere away, the abrupt force causing him to stumble backward, off guard. She made a move to run, scrambling through the rows, passing girls and boys who could only watch her without intervention.

It was all so insane, with the screaming, the laughing, the bellowing. With blood and tears streaming down her face as she leaped to freedom, and some people didn't even bother to look her way. It was like it was a random Wednesday night prep.

Maybe because this was our normal.

Abike had barely made it halfway out of the class when Segun jumped her, grabbing her by her afro and flinging her like she was a piece of rag. She flew, off her feet, weightless, and crashed into chairs, tables, and people.

Now this got everyone's attention, as they fumbled into each other, clamoring, falling off their chairs and smashing into desks, a crazed maddening outcry.

But he wasn't done with her, he marched to her, amid the clutter, as everyone else struggled to stand up she remained laying there, helpless, as people stepped on her in the process, pushing her around to get through.

But Pere was faster, he was in front of her in a flash, breathing fire and smoke. He stamped a heavy foot to her head, this time harder, riled up from her actions, she groaned softly and I swear I heard her splutter something from her throat.

Maybe I should've stood up and yelled for him to stop, maybe I should've called security, maybe I should've done something more than gawk pathetically. But honest to God, I was just scared, I was just so scared that my heartbeat spiked up with a raging speed that made me dizzy and oxygen repellant.

"The fucking audacity!" One of his friends chimed, and they all began to gather on her, shoving anyone that was in their way.

"Won't you get up and accept our forgiveness, aren't our actions enough?" Another teased a not-so-inspired joke that managed to crack a solid laugh from Pere and spread across them.

"Ogun wan kee your papa?" He then reached to Abike and smacked her head. "With her mouth wey be like tear gas. Stand up jare, shey your mouth be dey run like a tap."

Another joke, which had them almost convulsing with sheer joy and laughter, echoing his words like a taunt.

I should read. But my bones would decay with exhaustion if I did. That was better than being here, trapped unable to run.

In the midst of everything, Segun lost his footing and misstepped, bumping into a table which in turn hit the next and had whatever content on the table to spill over.

No one else noticed it but I did, he had gone back into the madness unaware as the owner stared at the mess. Kamla Imani didn't frown, her facial expression didn't even twitch in the slightest, she remained stoic as she slowly raised her water bottle that had toppled over.

"You spilled water on me." I couldn't hear her but I assumed that was what she said with the noise. It was like she was talking to no one but someone at the same time, as even Segun hadn't realized what he did yet, or didn't seem to care.

"You spilled water on me." No response. She was like a broken record.

"You spilled water on me."

"Cassava! Cassava! Cassava!" The boys were singing, ridiculing Abike. They had lost interest in hitting her and were now chanting the nickname they had assigned to her, drumming and dancing, causing a nuisance.

Abike was still on the floor, still in a fetal position shielding her head and abdomen. Pere had his head thrown back, lips red, barking out a throaty laugh, a barbarian. Segun was still in bliss.

Kamla sighed silently, stood up from her seat, and stepped out. She picked up her water bottle and rounded the table that had hit hers earlier till she was directly behind Segun, who was smiling and dancing in ecstasy, the lead hypeman.

It all happened like a movie, she raised her water bottle high as Segun was significantly taller than her. One of the other boys, Abba spotted her from his peripheral vision and turned to her, his brows furrowed as he made an attempt to voice out but it was too late.

Kam crashed her bottle so hard against his head that it shattered. It was so loud that it engulfed the deafening noise that was booming the class, a pin-drop silence, adorned with bulging eyes and wide mouths was birthed.

All eyes snapped their way, everyone was shocked out of their skins. Segun let out a shocked ey!, cupping his head, more in disbelief than he was hurt. Whether it was out of instinct or just pure pain, he launched an elbow in her direction as he spun around.

Kamla was quick to dodge it, taking a fast step back, so smooth, her scarf barely moved an inch on her head.

But his anger watered away when he came face to face with her. Fear. A fish caught out of water. He was terrified, and somehow I knew it had more to do with her chilling gaze.

She threw was what left of the plastic bottle, and stared into his eyes expressionlessly. "You spilled water on me."

Now that she could be heard more clearly in the silent room, I noticed she had a northern accent and a thick voice, it sounded gruff like her throat was waking up for the first time today.

There was something so very very off about that girl, from the way she stared at a person to the way she slithered through like a black mamba, quiet and full of poison, to the way her eyes had absolutely no life.

Everyone knew it but no one spoke it, Kamla was a witch.

And she loved that we knew it.

"Are you deaf?" She cocked her head to the side when all he did was grab his head and lock his jaw.

His ego was slashed, the hurt evident on his face, I could see him shrink in size when eyes kept darting his way waiting for him to make a comeback, waiting for him to step up to her and smack her to the ground like he had done to Abike.

Or like to see him try.

Segun just glared. I swear I could read his mind from the look on his face, why did she have to pick him out of everyone, why did it have to be him to be used to prove a point or be shamed? Either way, he was destined for both.

Pere tried to interject. "What are you-."

She raised a finger. "I'm not talking to you," Still pinning her gaze on his friend. "I said you spilled water on me."

Segun played out a scoff, folded his arms, and took a step forward, his bigger frame could easily swallow her thin smaller figure. "It was obviously a mistake. I apologize, no vex."

"What will I do with your apology?"

"Look," Pere glared. "I'm really not in the mood for-"

"Shut up," She cut him short, focused back on Segun. "I asked you what will I do with your apology?"

"See ehn," He started pissed but then shut up when their eyes met cooling his words. "We were just messing with her, nothing serious."

She clasped her hands behind her back. "I couldn't care less what you were doing with her."

Abba had enough, he pushed his way forward, pissed. "Abeg abeg, what's all this rubbish?"

"What I want from you is silence," She nodded his way. "You fools should shut up and let me speak."

"Eh?"

She didn't say anything else but then watched him, blinking so ever slowly as if she was counting the seconds with her eyes, waiting for an objection.

He glanced around, adjusted the royal blue sweater vest on his shoulder, and moved in his space uncomfortably, he opened his mouth to speak.

She raised a sleek brow.

He clamped his lips shut.

"Undress," She gestured to Segun, whose face squeezed in confusion. "I want you to undress."

I could hear everyone murmuring beside me under their heavy breaths, I couldn't explain, no one would understand until they met her, aura to aura. She had the type of energy that could cost her to be burnt alive if it was back in the olden days. Something chilling, demonic, lost.

But overall, Kamla Imani was a White.

"How?" Segun looked round for support but his friends had all unknowingly taken a step back, then at his white collared shirt.

"I want your shirt, mine is ruined. An eye for an eye."

"What kind of nonsense talk is that?!" Pere was charged, his head sparking. "Segun, you're still listening to this mad woman? Who be her papa?"

She ignored him. "I want your shirt."

Pere barged in between them, and because Kamla wasn't fazed by it and hadn't attempted to even move backward an inch to accommodate him he unintentionally shoved Segun back, had him almost falling on his back.

"If you don't leave my face," He barked wagging his finger. "I'll break your mouth."

"Do it."

A familiar high-pitched sugary voice sang. Kam leaned by the door frame, hip popped, she looked between them and wiggled her brows, urging them on. "I have never seen anyone break a person's mouth before, show me."

At her sight Segun took a step back and then another and then another, like he wanted to cower and become the grey paint on the wall.

"Segun," She giggled. "Where are you running to?"

For some reason he looked more timid than earlier, he averted his eyes, shifted his foot, and scratched his head. He looked displaced.

"See him, see him." She teased pretending to look for him, she threw her head back and laughed.

Even Pere noticed it. "What are you doing like this?"

He couldn't even look at his friend, feigning casualness, he shrugged. "Nothing."

"Segun Balogun Abimbola." She was singing his name teasing him, trying to accent a Yoruba voice. "Why have you been hiding from me?"

"I haven't."

Pere frowned. "What is going on?"

"Baba Segi," She clapped rhythmically. "Remove your shirt."

Segun looked at her for a long second breathing heavily. Kamharida paused her theatrics, though she still had that childish wonder on her face she looked like she was done playing. She folded her arms and waved him on.

"Be quick."

Segun's Adam's apple bobbled and hands trembled as he fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, his face a mixture of shame and fear. His movements were slow, each button undone with a shaky breath, as he glanced nervously at his friends, who looked at him like he had gone insane.

"The fuck?!" Pere jammed his shoulder, tapping the side of his head roughly. "Have you gone mad? If you don't stop ehn!"

He ignored him and continued to strip, Pere held on to his hand to stop him and they began to struggle, shoving and heaving. One desperately trying to remove his shirt and the other forcing him to keep his pride. Pere was enraged, any more and he would grind his jaw off his face entirely.

"I know something you don't," Kamharida was singing, twirling around like a little girl. "Segun should I tell him? Should I tell everyone?"

This gave him a rush of strength, he tossed Pere away from him so hard even he was shocked. His eyes were wide, urgent, and scared, he quickly pulled his shirt over his head.

"Kam please, I beg you. Please, abeg," He was shaking. "I'm giving it to her already."

She popped her dimples. "I find it hot when a guy begs me, don't you Kamla?"

"No."

Segun roughly folded the shirt and handed it to the dark-skinned slender Hausa girl, who tossed it on the floor and wiped the under of her shoes without care.

"I changed my mind, I don't want it. Pick it up and wear it back."

Segun cast a look at his shirt on the floor and I saw a flash of something glistening in his eyes. The vein on his head popped in anger. He bent down and picked it up.

As he began to shrug it on she made to walk away when Pere tried to block her path, and Segun in return hauled him away. In retaliation, angry and confused Pere threw a punch straight to his face, sending him tumbling to the ground.

"Guy what is wrong with you?!"

"Please, please," He cupped his face crying. "Please stop this, ABEG."

Everyone watched him in utter perplexity as he coughed out a croaky sob, lying defeated on the floor, begging and pleading with his friend to just let them be in nothing but his dirty whites and grey uniform trousers.

"I told you," Kam skipped over him, and to her friend, hooking their elbows, she stared pointedly at Pere. "I know something you don't. And he would rather die than allow anyone else to find out."

She grinned, pretending to notice everyone's eyes for the face time, and gasped placing a lacy gloved hand over her mouth. "I'm so sorry for the noise, please go back to your books." She then looked at the boys. "Anything else?"

"Fuck this!" Pere had gone insane, his leverage snatched in a breeze. "Fuck you all!"

"Abeg abeg, you're spitting on me."

He took a step at her, opened his mouth to say something but barked out a laugh instead. "This girl, count your days. I'll fuck you up so bad you'd want to shoot yourself in the head."

"Ahan," She waved her hand over her face. "Can't you talk without spitting? Is it madness?"

He took another step but Kamla was quick to tuck her behind her and standing against him head-on. Her glare ice cold, her demeanor blue fire.

Pere looked between them clicked his tongue and shook his head. "You two are done. I don't care if you're father is an Amaechi, or if your grandfather owns this stupid school, you're done."

She leaned on Kamla's shoulder and wiggled her pinky. "Should we bet? If you lose," She drawled childishly, a giggle in her voice. "I'll make your life miserable."

The crowd of our classmate began to exclaim, anticipation vibrating off them.

He cracked a crooked smile. "Bet. If you lose, I'll come over to your mother's club and show her and you a fucking good time."

Another round of prattling, loud wheezings of astonishment. It was all a show for them.

She grinned, her eyes twisted and crazed, and she articulated her words slowly, shiny lips smacking each other. "Bet."

He cackled, his body literally quaking with a monstrous force as he roared at her, unhinged, a mad man.

He drew a loud slob of saliva and spat the red thick liquid at his friend on the floor, all the time his eyes on them, Kam, to be exact.

"Be a doll and help me take out the trash."

He nodded at his boys and stomped out, making sure to trample on his now ex-friend on his way out. His entourage quickly followed exchanging glances at Segun on the floor and the girls, their faces heavy with mixed emotions.

Kam rolled her eyes dramatically and beamed at the eyes pinned on her petite body.

"Does anyone want to say anything else?" There were no other objections apart from Segun pitiful tears. "I'll take that as a no."

She and her best friend, Kamla walked out of the class, skipping on her feet leaving nothing but chaos in their wake. I couldn't help but watch them leave, stares and glares flying as arrows towards their backs but fell off inches before they hit them.

The craziest thing was that Abike was still on the floor, drowning in her tears and ache, abandoned. Our classmates as a whole had deemed her old drama and were blabbering about the latest declaration of war.

I let out a breathe I wasn't holding and shut my book close, there was no way I could read anymore, not until I took a break, the class was already stuffy, random classmates poking their heads through the windows and trudging in to get the gist, my head was too full.

I strode out my books in hand shielding my face with Sophia's beret, somehow as disgusting as it sounded, I didn't want to see Abike as I passed to leave. If I helped her I would somehow be involved in all of this, and I would not need rumors at this moment. But most of all it was because I was a coward. I maneuvered through a little crowd of people that had formed without even noticing my scent.

The best thing about Class C was that we were far too tucked in a corner of the building to be noticed quickly. Fortunately, even our commotions.

I stepped into the hallway and took a large gulp of fresh air. Today was too much, too chaotic, I needed to go home. I reached for my phone to order an Uber but quickly remembered I had no phone, I let out a bitter sigh.

Maybe I would find a taxi.

I didn't care, I just wanted out. But as I turned I melted, everything in me plummeting like a large drop of water, into a pool. That familiar masculine voice I had been going through hell to avoid all morning floated between the walls and snatched me by the throat.

Mike.

He was walking this way, too busy chatting and laughing away with Charles to notice me but if he just so much as shifted his gaze I would be in his line of vision.

I swallowed hard at the way he smiled, He was so beautiful, crafted with delicate hands and a fierce passion. Every inch about him was lined with perfection, even his imperfection captured his magnetic essence.

I was going to stop loving him. I was going to break up with him. But I couldn't confront him, not just yet, I just couldn't.

I swung around in the opposite position but then froze again, my mouth going sour, because a few feet ahead of me, Sophia Marie, Kamharida Amaechi, Kamla Imani, and Fatima Amari were standing, huddled together in their glory and staring right at me, reading me.

The Whites

What was going on?

I looked back at Mike and saw him coming, my legs were rooted, and I didn't know where to go. it was like a trap, I had to make a decision, face Mike, or possibly walk through what looked like an ambush.

I wanted to dig a hole through the tiles and hide there till I die. I was shuddering from the inside, my breaths coming out as heavy pants.

What do I do?

A shadow crossed over my sight, and a tight protective grip took my hands. All curls and might with a heavy hint of flowers, Hannah stood firmly beside me, the first time I saw her today all of a sudden leaving me in a slight shock. But she wasn't even looking my way yet, her eyes were narrowed, hot, and firey.

She was glaring at them, all four of them, without relenting, like a shield, my shield.

Those Whites.

Everyone wanted the whites to fall.

ROSE'S LITTLE RANT;

Who is curious about Mike?

Pere is such a horrible character to write but I would be lying if I said he is the worst. I'm even tired😔

What do you think about Segun and what do you think Kam has on him?

Annalise was meant to be a semi-plot twist in my other book, but anyway, things change! Yes, she is Zoey's sister, which means Mother isn't far behind. Get ready to meet the Bamidele girls again.

Pere vs Kamharida who do you think is emerging the winner? Place your bets now o. As it is, the stakes are high.

From their aesthetics and these few chapters, you would know that how you see Sophia and Yvette is how you get them. But with Kamla, it is the opposite😩 what you see about her is because of what you haven't seen.

Okay okay, there's one more White that we've barely talked about, guess what? She'll be properly introduced in the next chapter sling with a new POV🤭 Can't wait until you meet them!

Till next month! Thank you for reading!

Love, Rose❤️