Chapter six

Tiana's POV

7:30am

I came down from the car with random thoughts flowing on my little head.  My heart kept skipping beats like mad. Then I offered a silent prayer.

O God, as am about to enter the class may I not encounter evil (Blake).

Then I made my way to the class. I was just about to step on varanda when I saw him running towards the direction of Mr. Jaiye's office. Probably for submitted notes. 

When I saw him, my legs failed me. Like he knew I was beside him, he turned and stopped. I had wanted to run back but I my legs were dead.

He shrugged off and continue his race.

Hallelujah!!

I entered the class, went for my literature textbook. Our literature teacher might want to distribute our scripts back to us. I went back to class immediately. All these while I never saw Blake and I was grateful for.

As I was busy thanking God for his grace, Blake entered with the literature teacher.

Gbam!!

What made me choke was that he was coming towards me where as, our seats were no way together.

He passed me by and dropped a note on my lap. I wanted to check the note when the teacher's voice stopped me.

"Your performance yesterday was awful. You guys made me regret ever teaching you" She said raising her hand which contains the scripts to the air.

"It's better for me to teach JSS3 students int. to lit. Than teaching you and getting this." She was so angry, even a blind man would see that.

"What's hard in the test, ehn!

1. Discuss the significance of the title of the play to the play's climax.

2. How does the plot structure of The lion and the jewel affect the thematic content of the play.

"Yet all you know is to disturb Instagram with pictures leaving your primary aim of coming to school aside. My dears, that's too bad. This is not encouraging for a teacher who sweat every morning for you to have good grades"

At last she ended the blab.

"The highest mark scored all, and the first runner-up was two marks lower, the rest scored below ten"

Everybody's jaw dropped at her last statement. Ahn Ahn!! How come. But i knew the twenty and eighteen marks stood between Blake and I.

He always beat me at all subjects but I was a good competition. Even teachers noted that. He himself can't even deny.

But...He could not beat me at one subject, Yoruba language.

He can't! A voice assured me.

He would have if only he was born here another voice said

Who said that? I asked the two voices but got no response.

"Blake scored twenty which is the highest mark and Tiana scored eighteen... that's expected" she said and nodded her head in approval.

"Others, Tinashe Benjamin:08..."

Wawu

"Anyway, if you don't study this book very well, I might cancel your upcoming drama performance" she said with a tone of finality and left.

Couple of minutes later...

I opened the note, while staring at him. Goodness! his eyes were also on me but he looked away when my eyes met his.

Tiana, can we talk? Stop shivering I've forgotten about yesterday. Maybe we can meet at the hall. 1:30 PM (free period). See ya.

I looked back at him his eyes were still on me. He raised his neatly carved dark eyebrows up in question. Meaning; agreed?

I nodded back in approval. And he smiled and forced a smile back. 

He stood up and my eyes followed him. It's not one thirty yet? So where was he going? Holy crap! Why am j so eager?

He came to Tinashe and stopped. Started flirting with her.

Gosh

I felt a kinda jealousy and helplessness. If I should start getting jealous of him standing with girls, I swear that's the beginning of my emotional breakdown. I had enough already, I don't want to experience more

Tinashe was still sad over the literature teacher's rantings. But as Blake was using his charm over her, she would laugh, smile or giggle at his funny talks.

Soon they disappeared from the class. But my amebo would not want to miss where they going to.

But... Why am I following them. I wanted to stop but I couldn't. My legs were just too stubborn for my mind to control

I gently followed them to empty room just beside the Locker room.

They couldn't see me. But I could see them vaguely. Their posture pierced my heart. His hand was on her hips and hers on his chest.

Blake's smile was genuine. He was sitting while she standing between his legs.

"I think Iove you too" I heard her.

What!

Cynthia?!

What of Cynthia??!!

I asked myself.

"Hey!"

I looked back to find Drake starring at me like shit.

"What the hell are you doing there" he asked with so much hatred burning in his eyes.

" This is a school and everyone has the right..." I tried to let out these words but he cut me short.

" Like pry into other people's private lives uhn" he said folding his arms.

Then he moved closer.

"What if I go in there and tell him you were eavesdropping and peeping into what does not concern you"

My face fell at his last statement. Blake would be so mad at me. I knew he hated such stuffs.

Even if he keeps quite, Tinashe! Blake's new girlfriend. She'd make a good bloodsucker. 

"Will you leave now or I do the worst." He said giving me a devilish smirk.

I gently dragged my legs with me in total humiliation and disgrace.

I couldn't suppress the tears in my eyes anylonger. I let them out.

Probably they would ease my internal pain.

I was about to cut a corner when an arm held me back. Nicholas.

"Don't mind him. That's how he does"  he consoled me wiping the tears off my eyes with his thumb.

Nicholas Adejuyigbe is a sweet guy, you can say, he always like flirting with me since SS1 second term. But....I had always snub him because I hated Blake and hated anything or anyone attached to him.

I nodded in agreement and he pulled me to himself. I soaked up his shirt with my tears then he pulled back shorter than expected.

I left for class.

----------------------------------

1:30 PM

I was still at the class, debating whether to go to the hall or just stay back.

What Drake did to me today me today still hurts.

Maybe I should just go, go hear what he wants to say then give him a hit on cheek like I did the other day. I had thought.

(At the hall)

I entered the hall set my eyes on search but saw no traces of him.

"Wow"

Somebody whispered behind me which made me to jump out of my skin. Blake.

" Hey! I was scared!!"I said, finding somewhere to place my butt on.

He sat beside me and started.

"I've been here for an hour or so. I left the room you saw me and Tinashe immediately for here"

Who the hell told him I saw him?

Who else? Drake of course.

"I'm sorry for what Drake did this afternoon he's only being an asshole" he said reaching for my hand but I held it back.

I'm not going to let you hold me  not because of Drake or because of who I saw you with this noon. But because I bad a principle. 

"It's okay" he said when he discovered I was still the stubborn gentle girl he knew since he joined us JSS2.

"Tiana, can I ask you something?"

"Go on"I said waiting impatiently for him to say slap worthy things.

He swallowed hard and let it out

"Will you be my friend please??"

"Hmm??"

I took a huge breathe leaning against the head rest for support.

Part of me was happy; going to be the school's starboy friend.

Part of me was disappointed; I thought he was going to ask me out then I boast  with it and hit him. 

I just nodded in approval, no sane girl won't jump at such offer in Stockfield high.

"Great! So would you like to hang out with me and their Nicholas after school hours today?" He asked raising his sweaty eyebrows up which made him look hotter.

"No!" Drake would be there, besides I won't like to destroy his happy moment with his new girlfriend.

"Why?"

"I have plans"

"Okay" he said raising his arms up in defeat.

He smiled at me and I looked away even though his smile had an effect on me.

He should know by now that am angry with something he figure out.

"Angry because of Tinashe being my new girlfriend?"

My jaw dropped at his statement. How did he get it. But I mustn't let him catch me.

"No what's my business with that"I asked with curiosity .

"But wait about Cynthia?"I added.

"I haven't break up with her though, but... I would do that when I get back to class" he said while playing with the hem of his shirt.

I shook my head in pity for Cynthia. She did a lot to keep this guy his first girlfriend in Stockfield high. Even though the relationship was loveless.

"You feel for her right?" He asked looking up to me, and I nodded in agreement.

"I do too, I hate to see to see her cry, but the thing is that the relationship was loveless with me initially. It's always a bet. Even this new relationship. And poor Tinashe! She's happy she's got a boyfriend." He said giving a devilish smile out, turning to me.

" But since you hate to see Cynthia cry, why do you hurt her, why do you do things that would her make her cry?" I asked with eagerness, not even afraid if he would cut me off with a snub

"That's because I don't feel anything for her so I always don't have any choice than to hurt her." He explained.

"Who do you feel something for then" if he doesn't feel anything for the two girls.

He raised his head up in innocence and blurted 

"I'm a child of God. It's not good to develop high school feelings" 

I leaned over gave him a playful slap on his shoulder and we both laughed. I'll want to have him as a friend, but we don't fit. 

"It's 2pm already, let's leave" he announced looking at his wrist watch.

We left the hall to find a lot of SS2 boys at the entrance, hailing Blake for a reason that pissed me.

Blake's new friend, Tiana.

I went to my locker to take few materials I would need at home then went back to class for my bag.

When I entered the class, I found Cynthia in a pool of tears with Blake looking at her from a distance. He's distracted with Tinashe kissing him and sucking every area of him; to show everybody that she's his new girlfriend.

Benard arrived just then and I went off to my boring home and sucking mother.