6 -Wink

Nicole's POV;

"Nicole! "Johan calls in a harsh whisper, but I ignore her. I'm not gonna stand for this. I won't stand here and watch them display such cruelty to someone's child.

"What do you think you're doing!? "I scream at the boys, and Mason takes a step so he can view me properly. He stares at me for a few seconds and then faces the boy about to shot the ball. He signals him to continue, and I am thrown aback.

"If you shot that ball, getting expelled would be the smallest of your problems. "I warn the boy, and he freezes with his leg in the air, ready to kick the ball.

I don't know how exactly I'm going to go about this threat, but I do know how to look intimidating, and if I really want something, my mom and sister are enough to get it for me.

I watch him drop his leg down, and Mason smirks at me. He flys his shirt up and his singlet comes into view. More like a daring, nonchalant act.

He pushes the boy before the ball away and stands before it. He sets himself to kick the ball, and my eyes twitch in annoyance. My brain running around ways to get him punished if he shoots the ball.

"What are you gonna do if I shot it? "He questions and all eyes turn to me. I smile and cross my arms.

"Are you scared? You should be. "I reply, and the students around begin to murmur.

"She get mind o. "I hear someone comment in broken English. A way we Nigerians often talk when we don't want to speak correct English or our native dialects. What the person said, means, I'm brave.

"I'm not scared. On the contrary, I'm confused. Wondering why the new girl who knows nothing about me, would want to stick her nose in what doesn't concern her. "He replies, and I intensify my gaze on him.

"This concerns me, cause it's a public matter. if you wanted your business private, you would have solved it amicably like a mature teenager, and not caused a public nuisance. "I reply.

" Burrn! "Some of the students exclaim. An act that offends Mason.

"Listen here, you don't know me, so I think it's best you stay out of my business. "He replies.

"You don't know me either, and you can't get to me. So, I suggest you forget it. "I reply.

I jump in fright when I hear a loud sound, and the ball flys last me, into the chair behind me, with full force. I turn back to him in shock and find a sick smile on his face.

"We'd see about that. "He says, and I squint my eyes at him in annoyance as he walks over to his bag, grabs it, and bounces out of the stadium with his friends.

Jerk!

The bell signifying the end of break rings, and I grab my bag pack in annoyance and walk back to class with Johan.

"Do you have any idea what you've just done? "Johan whispers to me as we walk back to our class.

"What? "I question.

"You just got on Mason's blacklist. "She says, and I adjust my bag.

"Good. I don't think I want to be in the good books of anyone like him. "I reply, before taking a deep breath. I have no idea what I'm getting myself into. But my anger has blocked out my reasoning.

I'm a very stubborn person, and I've made peace with that. I know who I am, so I know this Mason boy can't scare me. I don't know him, but he also doesn't know me. He's a teenager just like me. What's the worst he can do?

***********

It's Thursday, the second sports day in school this week. Johan coaxed me into joining the school's female soccer team. I've al aye loved football, but trust me when I say I'm a horrible player. Hence, I e always avoided it.

However, she told me the school's female team is more like a comedy setup. From practice to performance, and I don't mind having a few good laughs all in the name of playing football.

I walk into the school's stadium with Johan, and she runs off to the coach and the other team members. I take a sit to attend to my shoelaces. I tied them loosely before, and now my sneakers feel like they're going to come off.

While attending to my shoes, the sun is blocked by a figure standing above me, and I look only to find Mason standing above me. What now?

"Today feels like a good day for me. "He says staring at the clear blue sky with squinted eyes, and I stare at him with disgust. I'm still mad about what he did yesterday.

"How's that my business? "I question in irritation, as I shove my wristwatch into my bag, zip it up, and stand to my feet.

He displays a huge smile at me, and I roll my eyes and grab my bag pack, before dropping it where others dropped theirs.

"Are you the new girl? "The coach questions me as I join the circle beside Johan, and I nod.

"Yes, sir. "I reply.

"Hope you can play as well you dance? "He questions, and I chuckle.

We begin basic warm-ups as per the coach's instructions, and as soon as we're done, he sets up the team that will play a friendly game against the boys, and he chose me as a substitute.

Just as the game is about to start, a bald, coal-black, slender man comes marching into the field.

"Good Morning, Mr. Emeka. "The black man greets our coach, with anger on his face.

" Good morning sir. "Our coach replies to him.

" Who's that? "I question Johan.

"That black, short man devil, is our headmaster. "Johan replies, and it takes a great deal for me not to snicker.

"Is anything the matter sir? "Our coach questions the black man now know as the school's headmaster, and he replies,

" Yes. I was told one of these miscreants broke one of the school rules. "The black man replies and our coach stares blankly at him.

"I've heard one of you brought your phone to school! "He announced, and I roll my eyes. All this fuss is about a phone.

We are soon ordered into lines. One for boys, and one for girls. They begin searching us and searching our bags.

After about five minutes of standing idly under the scorching sun, One of our seniors yell,

" I've found it! "I turn around and freeze when I see the senior holding the phone out of my bag!

That's not my phone. I didn't even bring my phone to school. I'm being... Set up. My mind draws a straight line to the only thing that makes sense right now, and I turn to Mason in disbelief.

Only for him to wink at me.