"This has to stop Chrisè. You're hurting yourself." Kamsi reprimanded as I lay still on the hospital bed.

I slowly opened my eyes trying to adjust to the light. I don't remember how I got here but it didn't matter. It was almost my second home anyway.

"Nice to see you too." I groaned as I tried to get up but my whole body burned in pain.

"No, you can't continue doing this. What if you died?" Tears rolled down her face as she attempted to wipe them with the back of her palm.

I didn't want to point the obvious to her. That that was what I wanted.

"I'm fine."

"No you're not." Anger, desperation was evident in her voice. "You're not fine. Nobody is right now. I know you think you lost every thing Chrisè but you didn't. We are still here. Our hands are open. You just need to reach for it."

I closed my eyes and rested my head on the pillow. I wished it was that easy. Letting go. Leaving you behind. But I couldn't. Because that would mean that you meant so little.

I couldn't stop the tears the flowed from my eyes even as they were shut as I gave it a thought.

I'm still here. My hands are very open. But you're not here to reach for it. You will never be.

                                                                              ⚜

"Every body!! Get up!!" Someone shouted waking me up from my sleep. I grudgingly opened my eyes. "You have fifteen minutes to leave the hostel. If I come back here and anybody is still here, you will not like me any more than you do now." Sister Mary- Therese our hostel mistress ordered as she stood with a long cane on her right hand and a deep frown on her face.

I got up immediately dragging my bucket under my bed and hurriedly going towards the bathroom.

"Senior Chrisè please that's my space." A small girl immediately placed her bucket in front of me. I shifted to her side opening my soup dish preparing to have a bath when a voice shouted in the toilet corridor alerting my whole body.

"You have ten seconds to leave this bathroom. 1.. 2...3.."

I poured the bucket of ice chilled water on my body while scrubbing my body like my life depended on it.

So much for my first day in Santa Maria.

                                                                             ⚜

"Oh God, I hate Tuedays!" Portia stirred her plate of akamu looking exasperated as we all sat in the dining hall eating our breakfast.

"And I hate school." Mimi added. "Can't they make the beans taste less burnt?" She commented on the food that I was finding very difficult to pass through my throat.

"So Chrisè how was your first day in the hostel?" I looked at Portia when I figured she was talking to me.

I just shrugged. No need to recount the events so far. It was just hell. "I'll manage." God this food was the real hell.

Dave chuckled. "You haven't even stayed a week and you are already managing."

Just then a guy joined us on the long dining bench. He wasn't as tall as Dave but he was about 5'8 and had a high Afro with a comb stuck in his hair. His face had a friendly grin on it.

"So what did I miss?" He asked.

"What's up T.J! I didn't see you yesterday." Portia fist bumped him making me think it was a usual thing for them.

"Aww. Pretty girl missed me." He jested.

She rolled her eyes stirring her plate aimlessly again. "God help you."

T. J chuckled before he looked at me. "And who is this pretty lady?"I almost rolled my eyes.

"Flattery wouldn't get you anywhere T.J."

He smiled at Mimi. "How would you know?" Then he winked at me.

"Chrisè I warned you. Our friends are freaks." Portia was grinning at me reminding me of our first encounter.

I giggled. "I can see that."

T. J suddenly hit Dave on his shoulder playfully. "Hey, why did you spoil my image already?" He then turned to me. "I'm sorry if this yeye boy has made you uncomfortable because of his ugliness. I'm Tejiri but you can call me T.J." He winked at me making me notice how cute he was.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Chrisè."

"Wow! Your accent is dope. So you're the Miss Americana?"

"I told you so." Mimi said. "Wait where is Zuby?" She suddenly asked looking around the table like she just realized he was missing.

T.J shrugged. "I don't know but I'm sure I'll see him in class."

"Oya!" Someone shouted while banging a table drawing everyone's attention. "You just have a minute to leave this dining. Last-"

"And welcome to Santa Maria.'" T.J said smirking at me.

                                                                              ⚜

I sat on my seat as I tried to pay attention to the teacher. I loved literature but I couldn't just concentrate on anything. For some reason a pair of strange eyes flashed through my memories.

Get a grip Chrisè.

Someone poked me from behind. It was Dina. I turned to look at her. "What?" I whispered.

She pointed at the board. I focused on what she was showing me and the bold words CLASSWORK stared back at me.

I blushed and whispered a thank you to her. I quickly opened my book and got to work.

After class I packed my books getting ready for our next class which was biology. We were having it with A class which I gathered was the science class, B class was art and C class was Commercial.

"Hey Chrisè lets go together." Kamsi joined me as walked out of the class. She, Dave and Dina where the only ones I knew in my class. Yvonne and T.J were in science class and Portia and Mimi were in commercial.

"Okay let's go." We walked together and sat beside each other when we reached the lab. Dina and the rest were already there.

"What's up my minions?" T.J greeted everyone with a high five. Well almost everyone.

"Just shut up will you." Kamsi sat beside him while pushing him out of his chair.

"You want to kill me woman!" I laughed at their banter. I was really loving this squad.

I looked at the stool beside me and placed my books on it. "Oh I left that for someone." Yvonne said.

"Who?" I asked. I didn't know why I asked.

Someone then dragged the stool beside me. "That would be me." His voice. I've just heard it twice but I doubt I would ever forget it. It was tattooed in my brain.

"What's up Zuby? What hole did you crawl out from?" Kamsi playfully hit his shoulder.

He chuckled. "You wouldn't want to know."

Suddenly her face crunched in disgust. "Jesus! Horny teenagers. T.J see how you're influencing Zuby?"

Zuby laughed. "Kamsi drag your mind out of the gutter."

"Wait o! How did I enter inside this discussion? Kamsi you are looking for my trouble."

She rolled her eyes. "Abeg shift. Zuby meet my cousin. I wasn't able to introduce you guys yesterday."

"Don't worry, we have met." He looked straight at me with a cocky smile on his face.

God why did he say that?

"You guys know each other?" It was Yvonne that asked.

"No"

"Yes." We answered simultaneously.

I glared at him. My mistake. I almost got lost in his eyes. "We don't know each other. Our unfortunate encounter doesn't count."

"Oh I remember your words the first time. But we met again. Twice. That automatically makes us friends in my dictionary." He smirked deliberately trying to irk me. It was working.

I opened my mouth shocked at his reasoning. "Are you serious?" I turned to his friends. "Is this guy serious?" Then I noticed everyone was staring at us. "What?!" I asked.

They suddenly faced the board just as the teacher entered into the lab. "Nothing." They muttered.

I heard someone chuckle beside me. The nerve of the cocky bastard.

Then suddenly I felt someone's breathe on my neck. "This isn't over. Stranger."

Bloody Murder.

                                                                             ⚜
"Oh God school is torture." Portia complained for the umpteenth time that day. It was time for short break and the boys were absent for their sport practice.

You're not part of them you imposter. Stop pretending like you belong.

I hushed my inner voice and proceed to buy my food from the school canteen.

After we were seated someone cleared their throat. It was Mimi.

"So I heard you and Zuby are best friends."

I chocked on my coke making Kamsi to immediately pat my back.

"God Mimi, give the girl a break." Portia cried.

"What? I just asked a question." She feigned ignorance.

I patted my chest a few times trying to get myself. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

"Soo-"

"We just bumped each other the first day off school." I shrugged making it seem like no much of a deal. It wasn't.

Lie to someone who believes you.

"But I heard you meet twice?"

"Come Mimi-" Portia said. "You will soon be more popular than Linda Ikeji o. You have ears everywhere."

"Talk about the devil." Kamsi said.

The boys walked into the canteen looking like they just took a shower.

"We just took a shower." T.J said like he read my mind before sitting beside Portia but not before stealing her biscuit.

She slapped his hands and pushed him aside. "Who asked you? Osey."

Dave sat beside Dina and they went into a silent conversation of their own.

"Can you please scout over?"

I breathed in shutting my eyes. Did he have to sit here?

I complied. No need to make a scene.

"So Zuby?" Mimi called. "You made the school team?"

The boys passed a silent look at each other. T.J then coughed dramatically.

"Let me introduce you to the new basketball captain. Mr Azuibuike West!" His voice sounded like a sport moderator.

The girls shrieked. "Zuby why didn't you tell us?" Yvonne smiled at him.

He shrugged then looked at me. I stared at him back. "What?!" I asked feigning indifference.

"You don't have anything to say about it Zina? Something like congratulations or your my hero?" Then his face folded like he was trying to understand something. "I thought girls loved it when guys are into sports and especially when they are captains."

From stranger to Zina. What a promotion.

"God! You have the ego of a planet. I don't care if you are the captain of NBA or whatever. So keep on dreaming, maybe when hell freezes over you'll hear those words from me. And my name is Chrisè not Zina."

He smirked. "Don't worry, I know you didn't mean any of that so I forgive you." He winked at me annoying me more than before. "And I can't remember asking for your name young lady. And now I have thought about it, I really don't feel like knowing it at all." And he stood up and tapped T.J on his shoulder. "I need to go. I'll see you guys later." Then he smiled at me before leaving the table.

I shut my eyes and clenched my teeth in anger. This guy was messing with the wrong girl.

"Sooo..." Someone said making me open my eyes. I almost forgot people were watching. "Are we going to pretend like that didn't happen?"

Everybody groaned. "Mimi!"

                                                                               ⚜

"So how is Nene?" I asked Kamsi after school as she was getting ready to go home.

She smiled at me while arranging her locker. "She's fine but I think she misses you. She's always talking about you this days everybody is tried."

I chuckled. "Stop exaggerating. It's only two days."

"Exactly my point."

I laughed. Somehow the thought of my aunt talking about me made me happy.

Someone sat down on the desk beside ours. It was Portia. "So you people didn't invite me for your family time." She then place her legs on Kamsi's desk,

Kamsi rolled her eyes. "The key word day is family Posh. And bring down your dirty legs from my locker before I chop them off."

Posh shone her eyes in mocking surprise. "You are not a nice person at all." She then turned to me. "Chrisè leave this girl. Let's go to the hostel. Day students suck."

"Abeg shift jare." Kamsi them pushed her legs down from her desk. "Eh he! Have you seen Yvonne? She is with my Economics note o. We have assignment today."

"Do I look like her keeper? Why didn't you ask her boyfriend now?"

"I asked T.J and he said he had not seen her since break time."

"Wait!" I had to say something. I just thought I heard them say T.J and Yvonne were dating. "T.J and Yvonne are dating?" It didn't make sense to me. Since the few times I've seen them together, there wasn't much of a interaction between them more or less intimate.

"You are not the only one who doesn't understand. But we are already used to it now." Portia waved her hand nonchalantly.

"It's just that-"

"They are not compatible? They don't have any connection more or less chemistry? They don't even like each other? Don't worry they are too many reasons to start mentioning."

Kamsi sighed. "Posh, you have to accept they are dating already. It doesn't matter what reason. Just let it be."

I sensed there was a story there and decided it wasn't my place to pry.

"No," I said. "I'm just surprised. T.J doesn't look like her type. Maybe someone like-"

"Zuby?" Portia interjected. "She wishes. And beside Zuby will never date anyone more or less her."

I didn't know why I was relieved yet sad to hear that.

"Okay Posh. That's enough. Let's stop here before you say somethings you will regret."

Portia nodded. I felt left out and awkward. It made me feel stupid that I didn't notice anything from the group of friends. Like the relationship between T.J and Yvonne. Or the enmity between the girls. 

Then Portia broke into a crazy laughter. "Don't mind me abeg. Sometimes my village people like to press my buttons." She smiled and got down from the desk. "I'm going to the hostel. I'll see you guys later. And Kamsi make sure you bring food for me tomorrow o." And she picked her bag and left the class.

I watched her in awe. She was a wonder that girl.

I heard Kamsi groan in annoyance. "That girl." She muttered.

                                                                               ⚜

It was time for night prep. At least that's what my roommate told me when I asked what the bell was for. I was tired and all I wanted to do was just sleep and now I was told I had to go to a classroom and seat for two hours pretending to read when all I wanted to do was sleep.

"Hey Chrisè! Wait for me!" I turned to look for who was calling me. It was Portia.

"You are everywhere I go. Are you sure you're not stalking me?" The grin on her face told me she was joking.

"You wish."

She laughed. "God so you do have a sense of humor. Come on let's go before these seniors look for what they would say."

I nodded following her. "Do you know where your prep hall is?"

I arched my brows in confusion. "Is it not supposed to be our class room?"

"No, we are shared into different prep halls most of the time. Junior students and seniors are together to reduce the noise and shit like that." She said the last part like she didn't believe it. "Hey see we are here." She pointed at the notice board. "Let's check for our names. See the SS2 list."

I check for mine and finally saw it. "Too bad. We are in different halls. I'm in JSS2C but it's not so far from JSS3B. They are both in Junior secondary building. Come let's go together."

We walked to the junior secondary section. It was the first time I had been there and it looked almost the same with the senior secondary building except from the different desks in the classrooms. We climbed to the second floor and finally reached the classroom.

"Thank you."

She waved her hand. "We are friends so no problem." Then she smiled at me. "I'll see you after prep." And she went down the stairs.

We are friends.

I shook my head shaking the thought away with it.

"Won't you come in?" A guy that was about to enter the class said.

"I'm coming."

His eyes shone in recognition. "So you're her?"

I didn't know what he was talking about so I just smiled and walked into the class. I sat down on an empty seat at the back.

"Good evening everyone!" A huge guy who just walked in the class said alerting everyone. "Welcomes back to school. Are they any Jss1 students here?" Some hands were raised up. "Okay. So my name is Senior Onyemachi Ibe and I'm your prep prefect. See, I don't like trouble o so you people should just behave yourself."

Just then someone rushed inside the classroom. "Ibe!" He shouted then he looked at us. "Why una dey look me? You never see fine boy before?" His statement made everyone laugh. "Why are you laughing eh? I'm not fine?"

His friend slapped him on his shoulder. "Makki shut up abeg."

"Wait I'm looking for someone. New money! I saw his name on the list."

"Senior he's here!" Someone shouted.

Then he grinned and walked towards the person. "My gee!" He shook him. "Why didn't you tell me you have come back now."

The person chuckled. "I didn't see you."

That voice. God don't tell me!

"Makki make una take your discussion outside. You and Zuby should not disturb my prep hall."

Then he stood up and followed Maki out but not before looking at me.

God it was really him. Why was fate so wicked?