CHAPTER THREE

THE SPOTLIGHT

The next morning, I got up feeling a mix of joy and anxiousness. Today wasn’t going to be like my normal quiet school mornings.

As I guessed, when I arrived at school, the principal rang the bells, signaling all the students to gather in the school hall.

“Most of us might be wondering why I called everyone together here, since it’s not something we normally do,” Principal Dan started. He was a very tall, strict man… His sharp pointed nose made me think of Michael Jackson after he got plastic surgery.

“In the last state school quiz, our students made us proud, making Oakdale High emerge as the winner in the quiz competition.”

What followed was a thunderous series of claps from the crowd. I forced myself to clap… but was caught up by the principal yelling.

“Please welcome our champions to the stage… Asher Miguel, Brian Miller and Flora Patti.”

I dragged my legs, which suddenly felt heavy, to the stage and stood alongside my so-called buddies, with my head dropped shyly.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see guilt in My friends’ eyes… especially Brian.

“As a result of the outstanding performance of our students in the quiz, our basketball team is automatically accepted in the basketball league hosted by Harvard University,” he announced, and more thunderous clapping and screaming followed.

“So I call on the captain of the Bulldogs to come out and give a speech to the students and also congratulate our scholars,” the principal added. And a smirk climbed up my face… Tyler!

I raised my head high, trying to look as confident as I could, when he strutted up the stage in his Nike Jordans, his hairy legs a little exposed by his shorts.

“Prestigious students of Oakdale, it is my pleasure to congratulate our scholars for their hard work and success in the past quiz, which has set the pace for us, granting the basketball team of the school a spot in the Harvard league.”

The principal smiled, urging him to shake our hands. As he approached, I felt a little twirl in my chest… Karma sure is a bitch.

He brought his hands forward. I noticed a bit of malice in his eyes. He shook me a little violently… but I didn’t care. Perhaps he’d have a bit of respect for me now. I got him and his team a free lottery ticket to fame… that is if they make it to the top ten.

In class, I sat at my usual spot, isolated from the others, when Flora and Brian walked in… They approached my seat, and I sat ignoring their presence even as they stood in front of me. I focused my gaze on the diagram I was labelling.

“We know we’ve been total dicks about this whole thing between you and Tyler,” Flora began. I stayed silent, still focused on the book on my desk.

“At least listen to us… we warned you about Eleanor too at the beginning, didn’t we…?” Brian cut in, probably irritated by my silence.

“Real friends don’t run away when there’s a problem… they stand for each other,” I said coldly, still fixated on my book.

“Okay! We know we fucked up, but we’re sorry. We truly are,” Flora said quietly.

“So we won the competition, and suddenly you want to be friends again? Tell me, guys, if we didn’t win, would you be talking to me now?” I yelled angrily, and they moved back a bit in fear.

I cleared my throat, hoping I didn’t scare them. I was a calm person and didn’t like violence…

Just then, I heard a slow clapping behind me.

“Impressive, I didn’t know monks had anger issues.”

I turned to see Tyler and his gang leaning on a desk behind me. He grinned, making a fuck-off sign with his finger, and Brian dragged Flora away. I rolled my eyes as they scurried away cowardly. Then I turned towards Tyler in anger.

“What do you want?” I sneered.

“Wow! Someone feels very good about himself today,” he snickered.

“You think you’re suddenly special after your little victory at the quiz?” James, one of his minions, replied.

“That little victory got your team a spot in the Harvard leagues… you affirmed it yourself at the gathering… and oh! You even begged to shake my hands,” I turned to Tyler.

“Eleanor broke up with me,” he announced, and I rolled my eyes.

“What does that have to do with me? I’m not into her; I’ve told you a million times… whatever happened at the library was a misunderstanding.”

“I know,” he snickered. I paused as his aura darkened as he smiled with malice, and I remembered that he must have figured out I wasn’t into girls because of the magazine.

“Eleanor left me because of you, and I don’t give two fucks because I can literally get any girl I want… she even called me a narcissist,” he said coldly.

“It’s not over, Asher. I want to know what the hell she saw in you that made her compare me, Tyler, to a low-life church boy that doesn’t even follow the values of his church.”

His last statement broke me. What if he exposed me? Mum and Dad would kill me… what would our members say? I would totally destroy everything my father has built.

“I’ve got dirt on you, High Priest, and even Jesus’ blood ain’t gonna wash it off.”