One

Endings are simply new beginnings

                              ~Jade~

There was this feeling that came with the first day of a new session. I wasn't really sure about what it was exactly about but I was pretty sure it has to do with the fact that we were seeing each other again after almost three months of being apart. There were also basic things attached to these first day, students took it as an avenue to fluant their new designer bags and shoes, wristwatches, earrings and all. Infact, you'd think the girls were pitched against themselves by how much attention they took to flaunting their new collections. For some students, it was also an avenue to change their social status, elevate from that group to a more sociable group, anything to climb up the social ladder. Or perhaps, date a more popular person, that was actually the surest way of climbing the social ladder here. There was this senior that dated a boy per term. Wierd, right? Then welcome to Lakeview High.

Lakeview stood high and tall in Ibadan. Boasting of more than 4 acres of land, it was popular for its vast landmass, a hall of 2000 people capacity, a football field, a basketball court, a swimming pool admist other things. I could go on and on and I still won't get around to all the good things Lakeview boasts of. I've spent five years in the school and hardly a day passed without me admiring Lakeview's beauty and today was no exception. I watched the flowers adoring the drive way and I marveled at how beautiful they were. I wished I could get out of the car and pluck a flower just to sniffle it. But that would be a cruel thing to do to such beautiful beauty. I got down from the car, waving hi's and good mornings to my mates and juniors that greeted me.

Yah. Today is the day. I was officially a finalist. Yeap yeap. I did a mental dance, briefly imagining how my last days in Lakeview was going to be. Fun filled and glamorous.

I couldn't stop the huge smile on my face as I climbed the stairs to the SS3 block.

This is such a happy day.

I thought to myself until I bumped into someone. I moved back, my hands on my forehead.

I looked up, ready to apologize, only to discover that it was Uthman. The apology died in my throat. We did a glaring contest for nothing more than five seconds before he moved to a side, his cocky and annoying smile plastered on face.

What a great way to start the session.

'Learn to watch where you're going.'

He said and he walked away before I could reply. Michelle, his side kick or whatever you call her, who was walking with me intentionally bumped into me before walking away.

Keep calm. Jade! Keep calm. This is the first day of a new session. You surely won't allow those two to get to you.

I fisted my palms, heaved a sigh and plastered a huge smile on my face. I was all about positivity this session and I wasn't going to allow some raffs get on my nerves.

'Jade!!!'

I heard someone screamed. It was Hana,my bestie of four years. She was the first person to call Jade-as in Jade from Victorious sitcom and over the years,the name had come to stay.

She was walking, no, running towards me. I was momentarily blown away by how pretty she looked. Hana had won Miss Lakeview for five consecutive times. She was the prettiest in the whole of Lakeview and I honestly think she will drop the crown only when she graduates. She's that pretty!

She soon got to where I was and she enveloped me in a hug. I hugged her back, wrapping my hands around her. Anybody looking at us would think we did not see each other during the break but we basically spent the holidays together. We moved back at the same time and we started to walk to our class

'Hey, hi. you look incredible.'

'Come on Jade, what's up with commenting on my look first day of resumption? And was that not Uthman I saw with you?'

She asked, turning briefly for a minute to look at the place I had bumped into Uthman.

'Yeah. It was him.'

I replied in an overly dry and bored tone which Hana did not failed to pick.

'Bae, what happened to your 'all about positivity this session'?'

She made the air quotation with her hands and I did not miss the emphasis she placed on her last words.

I smiled.

'You should know I wouldn't allow him get to me.'

'What's positivity if you're negative towards a particular person?'

She asked, spreading her hands akimbo in her front as if trying to make a sense of what I said. Then she snapped her fingers together suddenly. She probably just reached a conclusion.

'Why don't you guys just try to be friends?'

I said it. Friends ko, friendship ni. Hana was teasing though. She knew there was no way I would become friends with Uthman.

I shook my head at her, folding my hands over my chest.

'That's never going to happen.'

'Never say never.'

I laughed.

We soon got to our classmates filled the class, earpiece in ears, loud talks, latest musics, couples almost cuddling in class. There was a hushed silence when we entered, half of the class greeted us while the other half ignored us, ignored me actually but ignoring me meant ignoring Hana. I wonder what made me the most popular girl in school if half of my class hated me, not the deep hatred kinda thing but I guessed everyone had to pick a side. Either TeamJade or TeamUthman. Aminah and her crew famously called the fantastic four shot daggers at me as I entered. I shrugged and walked over to where Aminah sat.

'You're on my seat.'

I stated plainly.

I've always sat in the second seat on the third row since primary. Everybody knew that. Aminah was probably just trying to irk me.

'The seat you brought from home,abi?'

She asked nonchalantly and I shrugged.

'Everybody knows this is mine so it's you trying to get us into a baseless argument first day of school.'

'Yeah but things have got to change. This is mine from now on.'

And here goes Aminah's stupid mentality.

'Yen Yen Yen.'

I replied her shaking my head in disgust.

People were looking at us,eager to know who would win the supposed fight. I hated getting into stupid issues like this.

'You don't get to make the rules around here Jade. Things have changed.'

I laughed and dropped my bag on the table.

'Be gone when I'm back please.'

I turned and saw Uthman leaning on the doorway, hands in his pocket. He made way for me to move out. When I got back to the class, Aminah was gone from the seat.

                                 ***

                              ~Uthman~

'Who the hell does she think she is? Ordering everyone around and acting like she's all above us.'

Michelle said with a hiss-like voice and went over to Aminah. She was standing beside me all the time Jade was talking to Aminah.

'Babe, you're not leaving this seat. Let her do her worst. Wha is she going to do anyway? Rant and rant. That's all she is capable of. A toothless Dog. All noise and no action.'

Aminah who was already standing up sat down angrily at Michelle's words. Aminah was fuming with anger and she looked like a short overly dressed clown with the way her school uniform clung to her body. It was like the buttons on her shirt, the ones just above her shirt would come off if she should stretch just a little. Her skirt was too tight and she looked comical. I wanted to laugh but I kept my cool.

'She thinks that just because people call her popular and beautiful makes her above me. No way, I'm going to show her.'

What a stupid argument on the first day of resumption? But what was I expecting?

I left the doorway to meet Daniel, my best friend whom everybody calls Dan. He was sitting by two chairs away from where Aminah sat.

'I'm going to bet everything that Aminah is not going to leave the seat. They're ready to go all the way in this term.'

I smiled and sat down on the table, looking at Michelle, Aminah and the rest of fantastic four plot for ways to outsmart Jade. These babes seriously need to give just have of this energy to mathematics classes.

'I'd bet everything that she's going to leave the seat.'

I replied him. Even though Jade and I don't see eye to eye and the argument is just stupid and childish. Jade did have a point. That particular spot has always been her spot. Aminah was just trying to irk her.

'Hell no, Amina is not the type to lose like that.'

'Lose wetin? On top seat? Are they going to carry it home after closing hours? And besides, she should just humor Jade and they should allow us to rest.'

Dan turned his head so he'd see my face.

'Wetin happen? Have you made a new session's resolution to humor Jade?'

I shrugged.

'Well, We're all about positivity this year.'

The bell rang, signaling the time for assembly. Hana was already at the podium when we get to the hall. After devotion and songs. The principal mounted the podium

'I welcome you all to this new academic year. Hope you all had fun during the holidays? You know we'd start classes fully today so I hope you're all prepared. Like you know, we have a lot going on for us this year with WAEC and NECO been the main one. The SS3 students.....'

'Why must he repeat the same thing at the beginning of all sessions? Like we all already know, we've been listening to it since forever.'

Dan whispered behind me and I chuckled.

When the assembly was over and we got to our class, Jade was sitting on her seat. I shrugged and turned to Dan, whose mouth was opened in a small surprised 'O'.

I sat down on my seat, which was directly beside hers. She turned to look at me,eyes stoic unreadable.

'And what are you doing here?'

I shrugged.

'The last time I checked, anyone can sit wherever they want.'

She rolled her eyes.

'Are you stalking me now?'

She paused and raised her hands mid air

'..... Or is this something like keeping your enemies closer. What are you up to this term?'

I smiled and turned to Daniel but not before saying:

'Think whatever you like, it's a free world.'

She murmured something that blurred out of my ears as soon as a teacher entered the classroom.

Hours later, the last class of the day was Mathematics,half of the class were listening, the fantastic four were discussing in hushed tones, Caleb and his gang were passing notes, Hana was chewing gum silently and painting her nails under the desk..

'That was not funny.'

Ewatomilola shouted unconsciously and she immediately covered her mouth with her hands but it was too late, Mr Rahmon had sighted her.

'Now, Ewatomilola, get out of this class and kneel down in front of the staff room.'

I saw Ewatomilola eyes opened a little and I could imagine what she was thinking 'I, Ewatomilola, the leader of the classic beauties to kneel down outside, opened to the public eyes? what an embarrassment?'

But she did not say anything, she stood up slowly. Gathering her books and bags took longer but finally she was done and she walked out of the classroom even more slowly,her butts shaking as she walked.

'Uthman, I saw you.'

Daniel said silently. I turned to him.

'Can I just have my peace and quiet for once?'

He narrowed his eyes at me.

"I don't think you guys have realised the enormous task in front of you. You still think of WAEC,NECO and JAMB as a joke,right? Well, I pity you" Mr Rahmon said.

'You have to prepare harder and work even harder. You have less than 8 months to start WAEC and you guys are still acting this immature in class. I pity you"

He said,shaking his head. 'I really pity you"

'Do we have to listen to this twice a day? It's already very boring once and now twice?'

Someone muttered and a hushed like silence fell on the classroom.

I knew it was Jade, I knew everybody knew it was Jade but no one said anything and Mr Rahmon stared straight on, as if he hadn't heard a thing and he went back to his teaching. After a long moment, Wale stood up and went out to ring the bell. The class was over and the first day at school was nearly over.

Hana blew her chewing gum as soon as Mr Rahmon was out of the classroom, Jade stretched and back and muttered

'Ah God, I hate Mathematics'

It sounded so fake coming from someone who always get perfect marks in the subject.

Michelle came over immediately, flashing her perfect smile.

"I thought the class was never going to end. Can't I just skip Mathematics class?"

I laughed. "It's not that bad really. You just have to focus"

'For wetin, I'd pass'

I laughed again just as Daniel walked over.

'Let's go man or am I interrupting something?'

'What could you possibly be interrupting?'

Michelle smiled and asked coyly.

'Who knows? A fine girl and a hot dude. Who knows?'

Dan replied her with a shrug and Michelle smiled again.

'Let me leave you guys, Aminah and others are waiting for me.'

She waved and left.

'Stop putting ideas into Michelle's head.'

I said immediately Michelle was out of hearing.

'What ideas? Everybody knows she likes you and you like her too, so what's up?'

'Yeah, I like her but not in the way you're talking about.'

'If I hear. Just tell me if you need help in that field. I'm a professional.'

I laughed in spite of myself

'I can see that'

'Oh oh. What do you mean? Just because I don't have a girlfriend does not mean I'm not a pro.'

Oshey! Pro max.

'That's because you enjoy kissing random lips and stuffs.'

'Makes me more experienced when I finally get to be with my original babe.'

I burst into laughter again.

'You're mad I swear.'

We got to the parking lot then, our cars were both parked opposite each other. Adamu started the engine as soon as he saw me coming and we both entered our cars at the same time.

'Don't forget what we talked about.'

Daniel said once he was in his car. I rolled my eyes. Get yourself a friend like Daniel, guys. He's so crazy.