That's how almost everybody nearly crucified me for saying the last chapter would be long and boring 😂💔. It's like y'all like long chapters, so I'll keep giving them, I don't know sha. I guess it's as inspiration drops ❤️. But nothing less than 3k words💆🏽‍♀️😌.

We are getting close to the climax. Like very very close 🔥. Some really big things are about to happen.

****

"𝑫𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉. 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒖𝒑."
_𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒔. 𝑱. 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒐𝒏

𝔼𝕃𝕐𝕆ℕ

WAEC started a week and a half ago, which sort of explained why I was seated at a very secluded area of the library, all on my own, with my nose buried in my Christian Religious Studies note book. It was the Art's class last paper and the last exam generally for WAEC.

Thank God...

But that didn't entirely explain why I was alone. Christian Religious Studies was a very easy subject that I'd probably pass without reading. I was alone because somehow, I don't know where my everyday best buddy, Khalil was. He has some how managed to disappear into thin air ever since he walked out of the symposium two weeks ago.

He hasn't answered any of my calls or replied any of my messages and I barely saw him at school either. The only time I've been able to get a glimpse of him was whenever we had joined exams like Maths, English and Civics education and before I was able to get hold of him, he'd just disappear into thin air, again. I haven't really seen him since then and I really needed someone to vent to about what happened between Jamal and I that day but he has been no show.

Giving it a bit of thoughts, I figured it had something to do with how Tolani mysteriously showed back in school two days before WAEC started, surprisingly glowing. And I was worried because after much thought, I was very certain she was the one that called him that day at the symposium. She was the reason he walked out of the hall.

Yet, I haven't seen the both of them together.

And that was extremely weird.

Elyon, maybe you should mind your business. I told myself, twirling the end of my braids between my fingers.

"What are you thinking about?" A familiar voice jerked me out of my reverie, causing me to look up with a start. My eyes met with blue ones. I sat up straight, looking back at him.

"Who said I was thinking?" I asked him, my brows furrowed in question. He chuckled and sat down on the chair opposite mine, the table my books were on was the only thing between us.

"Well, you have that far away look in your eyes. Plus, you are playing with your hair and you have been reading that page for the past twenty five minutes." He answered, nodding towards my book when he said that part. My lips tugged in a small smile as I eyed him skeptically.

"Have you been watching me, Mateo?" I asked, my eyes running over him in skepticism. He gasped dramatically, placing his hand over his chest with a mock look of shock and hurt on his face. It was rather comically and I honestly wanted to laugh.

"You make me sound that sociopathic stalker." He stated, his voice having an accusing undertone to is. I knew he was teasing me as well causing an involuntary chuckle to escape my lips. He didn't say anything after that, staring at me with a small smile playing on his lips.

"You are staring." I queried, resting my elbows on the table. He shrugged, his gaze not faltering.

"It's just great to see you smile, even after everything. Though, Khalil has been doing that..." I frowned when he said that, wondering why he was bringing Khalil up.

"What's with everyone and bringing Khalil up?" I queried accusingly, getting a little annoyed. "You don't like the guy, I get it. You guys don't have to keep attributing everything to him." I began to pick my books from the table, wanting to leave.

For once, just for once, they should stop bringing Khalil up. The guy doesn't even care and they keep carrying him on their heads like a crown and it's fucking annoying. Like  jeez, give the guy a break.

"No, no. You got it all wrong." Mateo rose his hands in surrender, his face apologetic and remorse and I stopped packing my books to look at him.

"I honestly didn't mean it that way." He continued and I looked on. "If anything, I am very much grateful to him for being the friend that none of us have been. He stood by you and made you smile and that's saying a lot for anyone of us." There was a hint a guilt in his voice, I could hear it. So, I sat back down and sighed.

"I'm honestly not faulting you guys, especially you Mateo." I stated calmly and he looked at me. "Having you guys torn between who's side you'll take isn't what I want, plus you and Jamal go way back. He needed you more than I did. He still does." I ended with a shrug.

"I'm still very sorry for the part I played in this." He was apologizing for the... I lost count actually. "I didn't know everything will blow of proportion the way it did. Skye has been beating herself up over it since. She's not herself." He said, looking at me square in the eyes. I scoffed, shaking my head.

"Yet, she came to guilt trip me into helping her calm down a spiralling Jamal. She wanted to use me, even after the horrible things she said to me. I don't know what kind of person does that." I countered, my voice rising a grade up.

"Skye didn't mean that." Mateo replied and I shot him a glare. "Sincerely, I'm not just saying that because she my girlfriend. She actually told me why she said those words to you." He said and I furrowed my brows, leaning forward with confusion written all over my face.

"Is there possibly any reason for someone to say things so hurtful to her best friends because no matter how angry I am with her, I will never say hurtful things to her." I stressed, folding my hands across my chest. Mateo exhaled, running his fingers through his curls.

"You of all people should know that when it comes to Jamal and anyone else, Skye would pick Jamal." He started and I nodded in affirmation. "Since the shit that went down in SS2 between the, Skye has been feeling extremely guilty for all the things she said to Jamal. So, she told me that she promised herself that no matter what it takes, she'd always take Jamal's side." Mateo said and I frowned.

This makes absolutely no sense...

"So, she'd take his side even if he is making stupid decisions that will cause him more harm than good?" I asked incredulously, that excuse making absolutely no sense to me. "That's not being supportive, that's being stupid. And if that's the excuse she's giving for saying hurtful things to me, then I'm not buying it." I maintained, my gaze unwavering from Mateo's.

"She's sorry for the things she said. I know that first hand because I actually gave her an hard time for what she said to you. She's been wanting to properly apologize but she doesn't know how..." I scoffed, cutting him off.

"That, I believe. She doesn't know to accept her fault." I said and Mateo sighed again, probably for the sixth time since he got here.

"At least, look at it from her perspective." Mateo persisted and I looked at him with so much disbelief.

"There is no perspective here, Mateo and you know it. If Venus does anything stupid, I'll tell her to her face. If she makes any rash decisions, I'll tell her as well. Just because I'm her sister doesn't mean I should have her back even when she's jumping into a ditch." I pointed out and Mateo looked on, his expression dropping.

"That's exactly what Skye did." I continued. "When things now went South, that's when she realized that all I was doing was to help her brother. I really don't want that kind of person in my life." I concluded adamantly, looking away from Mateo's saddened gaze and back at my books.

Yes, I did love Skye to bits. But with all that has happened,  I really don't see us being best friends... Ever.

"Elyon..." Mateo started and I shot my head, giving him a look that made him shut up immediately.

"Did you come here to speak to me in favour of your girlfriend or did you come for something else?" I asked and he opened his mouth to speak. "If it's for the former then you better leave because you are really wasting your time." I added, just in case. Mateo nodded, exhaling.

"I actually came because I wanted to know if we are cool." He said and I sighed, nodding slowly. "I see that you are already cool with Soma and Nessa and I just wanted to know if we were cool too." He added.

"We are cool Mateo. We are good, don't worry about it." I told him with a shrug and a small smile. He smiles back.

"Elyon." The familiar voice I've been waiting to hear these past two weeks finally called my name. Looking up, I saw Khalil walking towards Mateo and I. He stopped short when he saw Mateo seated.

"Well it's about damn time." I muttered, eyeing the taller boy from head to toe with a sarcastic smirk playing on my lips. "Look who decided to finally come back from the dead." I taunted and he noticed, his face contorting in a mock grimace.

"You don't have to be so dramatic." He answered rolling his eyes at me and I gasped, widening my eyes at him. "Oya, I take it back. Sorry." He apologized, even though I knew I didn't mean it. I scoffed, rolling my eyes at him.

Khalil looked between me and a very confused looking Mateo.

"Are you busy?" He asked, gesturing between Mateo and I. I shook my head while Mateo stood up immediately.

"I was just about to leave," He said, looking away from Khalil and to me, flashing a small smile. "We'll talk later, yeah?" He asked.

"Of course." I smiled back, waving to him as he walked away from my table, leaving Khalil and I alone. I turned to the six footer, glaring at him as he settled down on the seat that Mateo just stood up from.

"Are you done avoiding me now?" I inquired, making sure he hears the sarcasm spilling from my tone. He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.

"I sincerely wasn't avoiding you, Elyon." He defended, raising up his hands in surrender. I scoffed, bringing out my phone from the pocket of my blazers and opening to my whatsapp.

"Well," I drawled, opening my chats with Khalil. "The twenty five messages left on read says otherwise." I replied, looking at him with my brows raises up, wanting to hear whatever excuse he'd like to give now. Khalil threw his head back in resignation.

"Alright. Maybe I avoided you these past weeks and I'm sorry for it. But I've not been myself for a while now and I really need to vent to someone about the things I have on my mind." He stated, the agitation in his voice very evident. My sarcastic look immediately changed to a worried one and I peered at him.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, searching his face with concern. He looked conflicted, like he wasn't finding it hard to say what he wanted to say. Which meant whatever he wanted to tell me was extremely serious. It made me forget that I also wanted to vent to him about my moment with Jamal.

And I had this hunch that it had to do with Tolani.

"I don't know if I should tell you this, because I am actually not supposed to be telling anyone about it. But I really need someone's help and I know I can trust you." He said, his gaze unwavering from mine. I nodded, wanting him to trust me with whatever he had on his mind just like I have trusted him.

"Of course. You can totally trust me. Just tell me what has got your mind all worked up and bothered." I urged on, leaning forward to listen to him. He nodded, taking a deep breath. Then, he looked around, as if looking if we were out of earshots from anyone. Satisfied that we were at a secluded area of the Library, he leaned forward, beckoning to me to lean closer as well till we were almost touching foreheads.

"Tolani is pregnant."

I veered back with a start, so fast that I almost got knocked off my chair. My eyes were widened like saucers and my mouth dropped like someone that's about to catch a fly. I searched Khalil's face intently, looking for a hint that he was joking or trying to pull my legs. But, his expression was stoic and his lips were in a grim line, though his eyes held tons of emotions, none of which showed that he was joking.

He was serious. Like, dead serious.

Tolani is pregnant.

Tolani is preg...

What the actual fuck!

"What!" I exclaimed in utter shock.

☆☆☆☆

"She'll be here. You need to stop pacing." I told Khalil for the hundred and tenth time but he wasn't listening, clearly obvious that his mind was working in overdrive, thoughts running through his head like a marathon, I could see it in his face.

After my exclamation at the Library, we got kicked out my the librarian for making so much noise so, Khalil dragged me to the stadium. There, I asked him to tell.me everything and he did, though the confliction wasn't missed and it showed how hard it was for him to tell me something has huge as this.

He told me two of Tolani's biggest secrets that legit knocked me off my feet and gave me a clear explanation why she was the way she was.

She was raped when she was younger and as since then been addicted to Sex. Now, she's pregnant and was contemplating abortion.

Father in heaven.

Though I was worried about Tolani, especially with the fact that she has been able to hide something that big of a deal so well since she got back to school, her rather bitchy attitude coming back in full force, I was more concerned about how Khalil was handling the weight that news was causing him and from the look of things, he wasn't handling it well, especially since he dumped it on me the way he did.

I was also concerned as to how he was feeling, knowing fully well his feelings for Tolani. I couldn't imagine how he'd be feeling emotionally at the moment. If anything happened to Tolani, he definitely won't take it well. This was why he needed my help. To help convince Tolani to get the right help she needs.

"What if she doesn't show?" He suddenly asked, jerking me out of my thoughts. "I haven't really spoken to her since she dropped the dime on me. So, calling her to meet up with me in the stadium would definitely be suspicious." He added and I frowned at him, not believing what he had just told me.

"You avoided her after she told you she was pregnant?!" I asked incredulously, glaring at him when he sighed and nodded. "Dick move, guy. Complete dick move!" I slapped him across his arm.

"I panicked, okay!" He yelled, throwing his hands up in frustration. "My emotions have been all over the place since she dropped that bombshell on me. I was heartbroken." He lamented and I felt extremely guilty for snapping at him. He exhaled, plopping down on the seat beside me and buried his face in his hands. Stretching my hand towards him, I gave him a small pat on the back.

"I didn't think having such a little argument about what is right for her would make her spiral out of control so much that she doesn't even know the father of her baby. I was pained, Elyon." He lamented, quickly wiping away a stray tears that left his eyes but I had seen it. Never have I seen Khalil this disorientated or hurt and it actually did hurt me to see him like that.

"I'm sorry. I can't imagine how you felt." I muttered softly, looking down to my shoes. I heard him sniff.

"Don't be sorry. I was being extremely selfish. I shouldn't even be thinking about myself, I should be more concerned as to how she's coping with all of these. I shouldn't even be heartbroken. Tolani owes me nothing." He stated, settling down beside me.

I then realized that Tolani might not appreciate me being here. But, Khalil needed someone to help convince her to take the right steps to handling a matter that's big such as this present one. But the question is if she'd listen to me. But then, she trusted Khalil and if Khalil decided to call me to this, then she should know that it was for a good reason.

Right?

"She's coming." Khalil stated and I looked up, watching Tolani sashay her way towards us. With the way she still carried herself, it was pretty hard to know that she was pregnant. Maybe because she wasn't showing yet.

As she got closer, she stopped short when she realized Khalil wasn't alone, her eyes meeting mine. She gave me a one over, a grimace spread across her face and I swallowed, feeling extremely on easy. She stayed where she was, at the foot of the bleachers, staring at us with an unreadable expression. I could feel Khalil tense beside me.

"Tolani..." He started to call to her but she stopped him a dismissive wave of her hand.

"What is the meaning of this?" She asked, the disdainful undertone didn't go unnoticed in her voice. She looked between the both of us when we didn't talk, and a look of realization stretched across her face which was quickly replaced by a look of betrayal and hurt spreading across her face.

"You told her, didn't you?" It was more of a rhetorical question because she already knew the answer. I moved down through the chairs.

"He was only trying to help..." I started but the look.she shot me made me shut up immediately.

"I don't think I asked for your fucking opinion." She spat out with so much venom, I veered back, immediately knowing my place in this situation. I also wasn't sure if it was her pregnancy hormones or just her normal attitude.

Maybe her normal attitude with a topping of pregnancy hormones.

"Tolani, you have to calm down and listen." Khalil started moving further down the bleachers to her and I followed him behind. "Everything I am doing right now is to help you make a better decision about this situation. I only told Elyon so she could help." Tolani scoffed, then laughed hysterically yet humorlessly, clapping her hands like a typical Nigerian mother.

"Because I look like Jamal that she scared away with her obnoxious saviour of the universe attitude?" She asked in sarcasm, folding her hands across her chest.

I felt a pang against my chest when she said that, but I knew I couldn't fault her because she was feeling a lot of emotions at the moment and she was just being this way as a form of defense mechanism. So no, I won't fault her at all. Khalil looked at me in concern and I flashed him a small smile, in a way to tell him I was fine. He looked back at a seething Tolani.

"Look Tolani," Khalil started again, stretching his hands bout in a gesture that told her to calm down. "I understand the fact that you are angry I told someone about it..."

"I trusted you with biggest secrets of my life. You don't talk to me for what, two week and then, you blabbed about it to her of all people! Angry is an understatement Khalil, I am furious!" She growled out, her eyes red and blazing with so much anger, I could legit feel it oozing out of her body from ten feet away. Khalil sighed, clearly frustrated.

"But she can help! I wouldn't have told her if she didn't know how to help us, if she didn't know how to help you." Khalil stated, moving even further down till we were at the foot of the bleachers, close to Tolani.

"And how can she help? Does she know how it feels to be in my shoes?!" She snapped, casting another sneering look that no longer seemed to faze me. I knew she was acting irrationally at this point, being overwhelmed by emotions and I really didn't hold it against her.

"I might not be able to relate with what you are going through, Tolani but I know someone that can't. Mrs Tiana Adebiyi-Williams knows first hand what you are going through and she can help." Tolani scoffed, rolling her eyes with a look of boredom marrying her face. I went on nonetheless.

"She's still in town and my mum can help link you up with her." I stated, fishing into the pocket of my blazers to bring out Mrs Tiana's card. I've always had this hunch to carry it around wherever since I was give, an inclining that I might need it. I guess this is the time. I stretched it over her. "Here, this is her business card so you can give her a call." I said. Tolani eyed it, not making a move to take it from me.

"Come on, Tolani. Just take it." Khalil urged on. Tolani looked between the both of us, then smirked before reaching out to take card from me. I heaved a sigh of relief.

"You know what I think of this pathetic attempt to help me?" It was rhetorical question that left me confused. I exchanged a look with Khalil who looked just as confused as I was. But I wasn't prepared for what Tolani did next.

"Trash!" She spat out, tearing the business card into several pieces and threw the pieces to my feet.

Ouch!

"Tolani! That was totally unnecessary." Khalil said, the look on his face showing that he was tired, exhausted and frustrated. Tolani looked at Khalil, the betrayal and hurt she was feeling very much evident in her face. Her eyes had started to water and in as much as she was trying to push it back, it began to fall in beads. My heart clenched.

Maybe this wasn't the right choice after all...

"Don't ever talk to me, or come near me again." She pointed her finger to him in a warning manner and Khalil looked torn, his shoulder falling in resignation and dejection.

"I just wanted to help." He muttered, trying to move closer to her but she held her hand up to stop coming any closer to her.

"Well I hate you for trying." With that she walked away till she was out of the stadium, leaving Khalil and I alone. I paused my lip, trying to find something to say but there was nothing. We both just stood there in silence.

"What do we do now?" I asked after what seemed like an eternity of silence. Khalil sighed and looked back at me, shrugging.

"Back to the Zero point."

☆☆☆☆

I was seated on my bed, still trying to wrap my head around everything that had happened today, everything that Khalil had told me about Tolani's past and it seemed to explain everything that was wrong with her. I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming surge of guilt wash through me.

I have judged her wrongly. Everyone has judged her wrongly and I thought that if I could help her get through this, it would make up for at least, a bit of everything that I have said against her or... I don't even know. But all I could feel was the need to help her.

A knock came to my door, jerking me out of reverie. The knob turned and the door opened, revealing my mum. I shot her a tight lipped smile, watching as she made her way inside my room.

"You didn't come down for dinner." She stated, settling down on my bed. "Is this about Jamal again?" She asked and I chuckled, shaking my head.

"Not at all. I just have a lot of things on my mind, that's all. Don't worry yourself about it." I told her dismissively, not wanting her to get bothered about me for nothing. Mum looked at me skeptically, before she shrugged, standing up.

"If you say so. Just don't think too much. You have one more paper for WAEC and in as much as it's something as easy as CRS, you should still read." She teased and I chuckled, nodding. As she made her way back to the door, I decided to seek her advice about the situation.

"Mummy." I called to her and she stopped, turning around to look at me. "Can I ask you something?" I asked and she nodded, walking back into the room.

"Of course. Any thing." She answered and I nodded.

"If you have disliked someone because of their behaviors and you have always been at loggerheads with that person but then, you find out that they have had terrible past that made them the way they are, how do you make up for the wrongs you have done to the person?" I asked, trying to make my question sound as hypothetical as possible but it was still more direct. Mum had a thoughtful look on her face for a moment, trying to digest my question.

"Well," She started. "First of all, you shouldn't have repaid evil for evil. Yes, someone is not nice to you but that doesn't mean you shouldn't also be nice to them because you don't know where that person is coming from. But now that you know, you should make the first move and reach out to the person. Be the mature one."

"What if she hates my guts?" I asked, slipping out the gender of the person in a moment of frustration. Mum looked at me for a while, then smiled, her fingers running through my loose braids.

"You are a smart girl, Elyon. You of all people know how to fix problems." She stated and I sighed, not satisfied with the answer that was given to me.

"You'll figure it out." Was the last thing she said before she walked out of the room.

I fell back on my bed in frustration, not knowing what else to do. At the moment, my phone began to buzz, like multiple messages were entering phone. Hissing, I realized that I had left my data on, so I stretched my hand over to where it was on the bed and picked it up.

Just as I was about to put off my data, something caught my eyes.

Something very dreadful that made my heart pump more blood at a very rapid pace.

Oh My God!

Praying to God for it to be a mistake, I quickly opened the class group chat that kept buzzing with messages non-stop. With shaky fingers, I schemed through. The dread I was feeling kept spreading and spreading until it got to a point and I began to hyperventilate.

God no...

This can't be...

How the hell did they find out?!

A/N

Ghen Ghen!😰😰 Things just took a more drastic turn and no, it's obviously not for the better.

So, Khalil told Elyon about Tolani. They tried to help her but Tolani feels too betrayed by Khalil to even reason with them. Now, the entire Limelight Trojans know what is up with Tolani!! I can't even imagine how she'll be feeling right now.

Like I said, the climax of this book is almost here. Some deep shits are about to go down. Please brace yourself, because when shit hits fan, I won't be able to carry anyone to hospital if they faint oo 😂😂😭😭💔💔.

I'm so sorry for the late update. I should have updated yesterday but the network was very terrible and I couldn't risk loosing the draft so I just put it on hold. I finished writing this chapter inside church, in the choirs seat 😂😂💔💔.

Anyway sha, I'll update on Thursday or maybe earlier if the spirit leads me to 😌. Don't forget to VOTE! COMMENT! SHARE!

I'll see you when I see you ❤️😘.