Dedicated to the author of How together with bullies Chloes_Ink

So before you let me go
Can we burn every photo?
Won't you let me hold
All the seconds you stole
Should have known it from the start

~Chloe~

"will you stop playing with your food?"

I looked up and everyone at the lunch table was looking at me, expecting me to stop. After staring long and hard into the faces of Molly, Antonio, Samuel, Zoe and Joel, I hissed and finally took a bite of my chicken.

It was lunchtime and I was seated with the full house having lunch. Actually, to put it more accurately, I was sitting all by myself at the table that was on the leftward part of the cafeteria, close to the entrance, when they all invaded my privacy by coming to sit with me.

We were all having fried rice and chicken; that was what everyone who came to the cafeteria was served. Fortunately for me, it wasn't my favorite food, so I avoided eating it like a plague. Not that I was allergic to it, or anything, it just didn't sit well with me; too many unnecessary ingredients: green peas, carrots, veggies, ugh—! That's why I preferred jollof rice, red and ready to go.

"What? So, you guys don't think it's unfair—I mean two days to our NECO exams and the principal thinks it's OK to bring in some new student called 'Gloria'."

"Hey, don't be judge-y, Tony Boo. I'm sure the school has some good explanation for this. What we need to focus on is our exams, OK? How did today's English papers go?"

Molly who sweetly tried to change the subject spoke up. Calling her boyfriend a pet name is definitely cute, but it still irks me a little that they are together and not just friends anymore. Sadly, for me, I'm still single, as they say, like a Pringle. Well, whose fault is that? You aren't just ready to mingle. Take a look at Samuel, totally checking you out right now, and all you can do is glare at him...And in truth, my face was in a tight smile, glaring at him for looking at me longer than he should have.

He smiled at me but I didn't even bat an eyelid at him; feeling self-conscious, he looked away and so did I. Shocking but, wetin Musa no go see for gate? No matter how high-principled and morally standard a school is, there is always a place of loopholes, and that my dear was what worked in favour of Gloria Kamari, a Hausa exchange student who became a member of our school in less than 48 before our exams were about to start.

Ever since she joined this school two days ago, this school had known no rest. There is no rest for the wicked though, but not like this. It's like everywhere she goes, trouble follows. Even in the exam hall today, when we all had to open the divider dividing each class, which was to enable us have a large enough hall to write out exams, she still manages to interrupt the whole mood for our exam by bringing a cellphone to the exam hall. It rang very loudly on her way to submit and leave the class, distracting and disturbing the rest of us.

"Chloe, you haven't eaten more than four spoons of your food. If you really want to join us for study session today, you're—"

"Heysssss—see don't disturb me, please! I don't even know why you guys are here sitting and eating at my table. It's not like I invited you all here,"

I shunned Molly just as she was about to complete her statement. She must have felt really bad because she just stood up abruptly giving a lame excuse of wanting a drink. The minute she left, everyone at the table glared at me including Antonio. He was glaring the hardest. I just ignored them completely, caring more about the half-cooked concoction fried rice that was way too spicy and more yellow than green than about them.

I gulped down a respectable amount of the content of the can of Sprite that was in my hand when, in the corner of my eye, I noticed something—or rather, someone. The only person brave enough to bring a phone into the exam hall, Gloria. She's lucky the school authorities looked past it as an honest mistake anyone was capable of making.

Else, she would have put, not just herself, but every single one of us, in jeopardy. She sat at the table directly opposite ours, and before anyone could understand her audacity, she  waltz into our table and she had already begun to flirt with Antonio who looked very uncomfortable about the whole thing.

The annoying part was that she was doing it right in front of all of us, not minding what anyone else thought or not give care to the fact that we were right there at the same table watching everything unfold.
I wanted to pounce on her and rip her to pieces, but then, I had to restrain myself. Not everything can be solved with one's fists, you know? And by the look of her confidence, it was pretty obvious she wasn't afraid to get hit, so instead of going physical with her, I cleared my throat and started to speak, choosing my next words with caution.

"Uh, OK, hi miss."

She closed her eyes momentarily, like she was trying not to snap at me for interrupting her. But as usual, she ended up talking a notch higher than expected.

"What?? Can't you see I'm talking with someone else. Or do you need me to lend you my glasses to see that?"

"Ew, gross, I don't want your fungus-infected glasses and in case you haven't noticed, that pretty boy is taken. He has a girlfriend," I said, tilting my head to the side motioning to Antonio but unfortunately, this girl doesn't take a hint.

"Well, in that case, where is she? Because I don't see her," she said, rolling her eyes, gesturing sarcastically.

"Turn around, four eyes. Now you see her," Molly said, out of nowhere almost startling all of us; but Gloria was the least bothered. Slowly, but surely, she stood up and turned around and then looked Molly up and down severally like she was a piece of shit.

I really don't know why I was trying to save Molly's relationship by prying Gloria off of Antonio; I guess it's because deep down, I knew they were my best friends and relationship or not, they were important to me. I've just been a real jerk to her—to them lately.

"Well then, garlic breath, I don't see much."

Those were the next words to come out of Gloria's mouth. Not only did it snap me back to reality, it also made Molly react. Trust me, you do not want to see angry Molly, especially because of her intimidating 6ft build. It took the quick reflexes of Joel and Samuel to hold her down before she could get her hands, on Gloria.

I've known Molly like the back of my hands, if Joel and Samuel didn't act fast, someone would have landed in the hospital and it definitely wouldn't have been Molly."Gloria, please, just leave while I'm still asking nicely."

"Orrrrrr—you're going to call the principal on me? Nah, I didn't think so. You losers are lucky I'm here on a different mission which doesn't include you. If not, you'd be begging for mercy right now." With that, Gloria was out of sight. Molly finally shrugged off Joel and Samuel and their grip came lose. They calmly occupied their seats; and so did Molly who was directly next to me. we avoided each other's gaze while she made small talk with the rest of our folks.

Feeling out of place, I just stayed mute wondering what Gloria meant by different mission. Is that a good thing or a bad thing; I guess I'll never know.
The ringing of the bell snapped me out of it, and I was the first to pack my things to leave the cafeteria.

"Yo, Chloe! Tutorial at my house tonight. You should come,"

Antonio yelled out as I left. I got mixed up in the crowd leaving them behind to get to class. I was so focused on cling to my backpack while getting out of the cafeteria alive amidst the crowd that I didn't notice someone slipping something into my backpack.

I got to class just in time to meet Zayatun Bello taking tutorials on IRK. The biracial Islam student smiled at me and I returned it with a cute nod. Without verbal communication, I took my seat at the back of the Science class. The divider for the classes was closed now because the next exam which was IRK was going to be taken in our various classes.

Once I was seated, I brought out my phone to listen to music while I edited and updated my book on Wattpad, "How to Get Away with Bullies". I was finally on Chapter 18 and I was super excited about the progress of the book. It finally got 300 reads.
Just as I finished editing Chapter 18 and got it published, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I unplugged my earphones from my right ear and turned around to find Jodee staring at me.

Creepy was an understatement to describe how she was staring—with a small smile playing on her lips. With her eyes boring a hole into mine, she stretched her lips into a full smile. "You write, huh? Well, that is certainly odd. I never thought I would live long enough to see a murderer write." Did she just accuse you of murder? "Mmm-hmm", I responded in the affirmative to my subconscious.

Funny how you almost made me be friends with her.

I had to take long calming breaths to stop me from breaking down or hyperventilating. Before I could keep myself from breaking down, she spoke again, saying something that really shocked me.

"Oh, let me guess, are you writing about new ways to commit murder then get away with it? Because if you are, then I am certain the book will be sold out within a month. Oh, you should title it 'How to Get Away with Murder'."

"Look, I don't want any trouble Jodee. And like I've said for the umpteenth time, I'm not the one who killed—"

"Don't! Don't even think about saying his name, Chloe. I trusted you and this is how you repay me? Killing my boyfriend? The one guy who makes me appreciate and embrace my culture..."

She spoke at the verge of tears in her South Africa accent. I couldn't even hold back my tears as I saw the look of agony on her face. I bet MJ was her first boyfriend, no wonder it hurt so much. I sighed, wiping my tears quickly. She shook her head and continued.

"I should have known opening up to you was a bad idea. And I do hope MJ's ghost haunts you forever."

She stood up to leave, but ended up stumbling on my backpack that I placed on the floor, knocking it over and emptying some of its contents. It was then we both noticed an envelope amongst my books. It was a red envelope, the same envelope the other letters I've got so far came in. I frowned when I noticed it was a new one. I made moves to grab it off of the floor but Jodee beat me to it.

"Really Chloe? I am here still morning the loss of my first love and you—you're receiving a love letter?"

She spoke with anger this time, ripping the envelope, and opening up the letter. After skimming through its content, she finally said with anger long gone from her eyes and tone.

"It's not—it's not a love letter?"

"No, Jodee, it's—"

"A riddle. Well, this is very misleading. Why write a riddle and wrap it up to give the impression that it's a love letter? Hold on, it says its from Jayson."

I just sighed in response. She looked at it again, reading through it before finally deciphering the riddle.

"The future!"

"What?"

"The future—that's the answer to the riddle. The future. It says 'what is always in front of you but cannot be seen?'"

"Oh, yeah, the future."

She just shrugged and gave me back the letter. While I was still lost in thought trying to figure out any hidden messages of the riddle, I noticed she bent down to arrange my things back into my bag. In the process, she spotted MJ's comic diary and without asking for permission or raising it as a subject of conversation as to why I have it.

She just stood up and left with it without giving me a second glance. I didn't bother calling her back because, truth be told, I had been looking for a way to get rid of the book and she just made it easy. I just kept staring at the letter in my hand wondering what hidden messages was in it and more importantly, why the person was sending it. I've been tortured by these riddles enough already; can someone just help make it stop??

A/N

Another mind numbing chapter, or was it only my mind it was numbing 🌚🌚🌚
Any way what do you guys think bout this chapter?

I means Jodee has guts tho she practically stole M.J's comic diary from Chloe. Would you have done that if you were her??

Would you really have the confidence to confront the killer of a loved one like Jodee did??

Oh and yes Chloe is being blamed for the death of M.J for two reasons Which will be revealed as we continue reading the story.

Now on to more important matter. Please click the cute star below and pls do comment as you read thank you 🙏🏽