Zaria's POV

...You have got to be kidding me. 

"Will you come back here!" Mum yelled after me but I didn't even respond as I made my way to my room. 

You guessed right. My mum and I just had a fall out. 

Over Salt. 

She slapped me because I mistakenly broke the jar of salt and I walked out on her, hence the yelling. 

Typical. 

I almost bumped into Sam on the stairs and immediately grimaced when he flashed his usually corny smirk at me. I made to pass by him but he held my arm, stopping me. I flashed him a glare. 

"Get your hands off me." I warned him through gritted teeth and he smirked. 

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Not even a common form of greeting and being rude." He lowered his head till his lips touched my ear and I shivered involuntarily. "You need to be spanked, pumpkin." He whispered into my ear. 

I felt my skin crawl with disgust and disdain. I immediately jerked my arm from his grasp and shot him the most deadly glare I could muster. 

"Don't you ever touch me again!" I snapped at him and the smirk remained on his lips like I hadn't just snapped at him. "Stay away from me!' I added, pointing my finger at him in a warning gesture before walking away. 

Immediately I got to my room, I closed the door, securing the lock before falling to my bed with a loud hiss escaping my lips in anger. This family was draining me. Everything I do doesn't seem good enough for them. I am basically the black sheep of the family and it's all because of Him.

All Him.

He ruined everything.

My phone rang but I ignored the call. 

Whoever is calling me should call back. I'm not in the mood. I thought bitterly, hissing.

Few moments later, my phone began to make a sound, indicating that whatsapp messages were coming it. I picked it up and began to go through it, hopeful to see something that would brighten my mood. I immediately came across a message from an unknown number. I frowned but opened it. 

+234 81****54

Hey Zaria, it's Joel.

I called few minutes ago but you didn't pick up, so I decided to send you a message.

Please, We need to get started on our project as soon as possible. Reply when you see this. 

What! How did he get my number! 

I felt anger course through my veins as I began to put two and two together. Only one person could have done this. 

Lyla. 

That girl will definitely hear it from me.

*****

"Why the hell did you give Joel my number?" I snapped immediately I got to her. She was seated with Ada at a corner of their class. 

I was angry to say the least. Why would she not respect my privacy? I loved her but I will so give her a piece of my mind. Thankfully I saw her with Ada. 

"What's all the yapping about?" Ada asked. 

"Ada, this is none of your business, okay? The person I am talking to knows herself." I scowled at Lyla. Ada was taken back. Her confused face suddenly turned into that of annoyance but I paid no mind to her, facing the one person I was there for. Lyla turned to look at me, her face calm as ever. 

"I gave him your number because he desperately needed it. Is there anything wrong with that." She replied and I scoffed because her calmness was more than annoying. Trust Lyla to always be cool and collected at very serious cases.

I was ready to give her a piece of my mind.

"Why can't you respect my privacy for Christ’s sake?! I didn't give him my number for a good reason. You had no fücking right!" I told her. 

"A good reason? Really?" Lyla scoffed in return, rolling her eyes and I folded my hand across my chest. "You guys were paired for the chemistry project. He gave you his number and you didn't even call him for once to meet up. It's almost a week Zaria!" Lyla's voice rose gradually. Ada got what we were talking about and rolled her eyes at me, hissing disdainfully. 

"Lyla, you fall my hand." She let out a sarcastic chuckle. "It's like you don't know who Zaria is. No matter the talk, she will never change." She chipped in sassily and I gapped at her in surprise. 

"I would have eventually called him!" I countered, trying to defend myself.

"When? Next week?" Lyla scoffed in sarcasm. "Almost everyone is done with theirs." Lyla gestured around her where the little crowd had already gathered to watch our little drama. 

"I still stand on my word that says you didn't respect my privacy!" I snapped. Ada hissed and walked away, muttering some incoherent words. I decided not to pay her any heed. 

"Cut me some slack, Zaria. I did the right thing and you know it. You are just too arrogant to admit it." Lyla snapped right back. I was awestruck. Everyone was surprised Lyla said that. 

"And you know what, Zaria. I have hands-off your case. I am done with all of this. You are on your own. When you get back to your senses, you know where to find me," Lyla concluded and walked out. 

I looked around and saw everyone looking at me. I took the little bit of dignity I had left and walked away too. 

*****

For two whole weeks, I tried my possible best to get back together with my best friends. In same two weeks, I completely forgot about the project. It was a week after and we were having Chemistry, it was also the day Mr. Ajanaku was to tell us our scores. 

"I will said the scores now and the grades," he announced, bringing out a sheet of paper from his bag. 

My eyes widened. My project! I almost screamed. 

I looked at Joel, his lips were pressed into a grim line. He looked… annoyed. 

"Joel, the project..." I started but immediately shut my mouth when he turned to look at me. 

He rolled his eyes. "Don't sweat it. I already submitted,” he simply said and looked away. 

God, please don't tell me I have failed, I prayed silently. Joel must have submitted in only his name. 

"…Joel Bamidele and Zaria Coker, your score is 59. That's a C..." Mr Ajanaku stated and continued. 

A “C”?! A fucking C?!  I have never had a C in my life!  I screamed to myself. And here I thought he was smart. I couldn’t wait to give him a piece of my mind. 

Soon the bell went and everyone started to leave the laboratory. I saw Joel stand up and start to leave. I followed behind. 

"Hey!" I snapped. 

He sighed and turned around. "What?" He looked like he wasn’t in a good mood but I didn’t care, I wasn’t in a good mood either.

"A ‘C’, really? You ruined my perfect grades, you jerk! I have never had a B in my life, not to talk of a C. I am a straight A student and now you have ruined it!" I rapped. He rolled his eyes, turned away and started walking upstairs towards our class. I followed behind, still talking. 

"You can't just do anything right, can you? I should have asked for a replacement because you are so incompetent. Hey, I'm talking to you, Mister!" I snapped as we reached the entrance of the class. Almost everyone was seated and chatting because it was a free period. 

He walked in without answering me.

"Hey, I’m talking to you. Don't you dare..." 

He turned abruptly, his green eyes flaming with anger. "Can you just shut the hell up?!” he roared. 

I stopped short in my tracks. Everyone stopped whatever they were doing and focused on us. 

"Excuse me?" 

"You heard me!" He answered. "Can you be any more conceited? I called you so many times but you ignored me. I tried everything possible to get in contact with you but no, you just wanted it your way. I did that project all by myself, with no help from you whatsoever and you still have the guts to insult me because you had a C? Are you kidding me?" 

My words stuck in throat. Everyone was awestruck. Students from the other classes had even come out to watch. 

"Look, I’m..." I started but he raised his hand and I stopped in mid-sentence. 

"I could have submitted that project in my name, you know. I could have been the one to get a C while you would have gotten a F. I knew you wouldn't want that so I still put your name there. C is also my lowest grade ever, Zaria." 

The pain in his voice made me want to slap myself. My eyes were already glassy from the tears that threatened to fall. 

He continued, "stop thinking you are better than everyone, Zaria, because you are not. You are an arrogant brat that can't handle the fact that someone else is beating you at academics. Have you seen where that has got you?" He gestured around the class. 

I couldn't talk. The tears just fell silently but he wasn't done with me. 

"For once Zaria, stop being selfish and take that score just the way it is or so help me God, I will match down to the chemistry lab and tell Mr Ajanaku that you didn't help with the project so he can give you the F that you so deserve. So take your attitude and get lost!" he said with a tone of finality and walked out of the class, knocking his shoulder against mine so hard, I almost fell. Charles casted me a disapproving look before he followed Joel. 

Tears continued to fall as I looked around, everyone stared at me with distaste. Not only did I feel bad, dirty, selfish for what I did but I also felt humiliated. My eyes met Lyla's who shook her head in disappointment and walked away. I saw Ada who looked at me like I was some worthless doll before she hissed and walked out. 

I burst into tears and ran to the rest room. I locked myself in one of the toilets and sat on the closet, letting the tears out. 

*****

Joel's POV

Why the fuck did I do that?!  In front of the whole class! Dude you are way better than that.  I chided myself. 

I was in an empty class at the far end of the seniors block. Charles had left me because a teacher was calling him and he had to go. So I was on my own, drowning in my own guilt. 

My lashing out at Zaria didn't even make me feel better about myself. In fact, I felt worse but that didn't diminish the fact that she was wrong and she deserved what she got. 

I was so furious. Who the hell does she think she is?! The tiniest form of appreciation I didn't get even after working my butt of to do that project alone. 

What an ingrate. 

"Hey." A voice pierced through my thoughts. I looked up to see Ada standing my the door way, looking at me with a smile. I managed to muster a smile back though my mind couldn't help but wonder...

What is she doing here? 

"Hi. How long have you been standing there?" I asked and she shrugged, the smile refusing the leave her lips. She walked further in and pulled a chair close to sit down beside. 

"Not for long. I just felt the need to check up on you, after what went down in class." She flashed me a sympathetic smile and I chuckled nervously, rubbing my palm together. 

"Yeah, that." I let out a breath. I felt her hand on my thigh and I looked at her questionably. She removed her hand subtly. 

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry about how Zaria behaved. She had no right to talk to you the way she did." She said and I nodded in appreciation. 

"I already feel a bit bad as it is. I'm honestly not that kind of person." I told her but she shook her head, her hand coming to rest on my thigh again. 

"No, don't feel bad. She deserved everything that came to her." Ada replied and I looked at her skeptically. 

"I thought she's your friend." I stated. I saw something flash in her eyes quickly and before I could place the emotion, it disappeared. 

"I'm Zaria's friend, yes but that doesn't mean I wouldn't say the truth. Zaria is haughty and arrogant. I'm just so glad someone finally put her in her place. I'm even happier it was you." She said with a shrug and a sweet smile. I smiled back...

...even though I had a gut feeling at the pit of my tummy. 

A/N

Ada!!! Ada!!!

Hmmm what kind of game is Ada playing??

And geez!! That shit legit hit me. I kinda feel bad for Zaria fa, honestly.

Let's see how things will be from now on yeah... Don't forget to vote and comment.