Chapter 8 Friendship with Mike

Gabrielle climbed her bed after zipping herself up in a comfy nightgown. She drew her duvet up to her chest. Brian continued staring into space. Plotting how to get her out of the lodge tomorrow.

"Please, leave the lights on, I hate darkness," Gabrielle said. There was no response from Brian. He doesn't sleep with the light on. 

Gabrielle relaxed her head on her pillow and soon hit the sack. Brian took one of her pillows and lay on the floor with his face up. He slept off too and began to snore. The noise could not stop Gabrielle from sleeping because she did not sleep well last night. 

Gabrielle woke up in the morning and was surprised he lay on the floor without his shirt. The night was miserably cold. A cold chill crept up her spine, raising the hair on the back of her neck. Gabrielle sat on her bed and stared at him with empathy. 

"Brian...Brian... Wake up, it's morning already," Gabrielle called. 

"I have been awake. Gabby you need to bathe now. I need to be at one of our building sites by 8:am." 

"Would you bathe?" Gabrielle asked. 

"Yes, when I get to the site." 

"Brian you did not bathe last night. How would you be comfortable in a public vehicle with people, knowing fully well that you stink?" 

"Gabby, go and bathe and stop bothering yourself about me." 

Gabrielle left for the bathroom. This time, Brian stood outside and kept his eyes in the direction of the public bathroom that was at the extreme of the lodge. Some girls tried to make eye contact with him, but he maintained his gaze. 

Gabrielle dressed up and was set for lectures. She liked to dress in luminous colors, so she was looking really beautiful. Brian held her hand and led her away. 

"Gabrielle you must leave this lodge. Call your people, I know about ten agents that would help you secure a good lodge." 

"Please call the agents, I would demand a refund from the caretaker today," Gabrielle said. 

"Gabby, forget about the caretaker and your refund. You need more money." 

"No...that's not possible. I'll talk to the owner of the lodge, then." 

"Okay, when you are done with your Lectures, wait for me at the eatery. You can order food, I'll pay for them when I come back." 

"Thank you, Brian, I owe you." 

Brian crossed to the other side of the road and hopped on a bus that was going down to Queenstown. Gabrielle headed to the school gate. She walked straight to her department. 

Her friend, who had been worried about her safety, ran to her. She checked her very well to make sure she had no injuries. 

"Gabby, what happened? You kept me waiting yesterday. When I made up my mind to come to your lodge, the school gate was already closed. What happened?" Agatha asked. 

"Nothing, my caretaker got me a bodyguard who scared the boys away," Gabrielle responded. 

"A man?" 

Gabrielle gave her a curt nod. 

"What did he do? He fought them?" Agatha asked. 

"Yes," 

"Gabrielle! You are playing with fire. Where is he now?" 

"He has gone to work. He is a builder." 

"The boys would take revenge on you now that he has gone, Gabby, can't you see???" 

"I'm going to meet the caretaker today and ask for a refund. I need to move out of that lodge." 

"I'll go with you after lectures. You need to move out immediately. The builder, who is he?" Agatha asked. 

"He is one of my townsmen. Thank God for him, I would have seen another drama yesterday. First, I slept off while I was making my lunch. The food got burnt and black smoke filled my room. His prompt intervention saves me. The boys came again, he defeated them. They planned to humiliate me when I was in the bathroom, they never knew I came back with him. He came out and saved me. I really appreciate his effort." 

"He is kind." 

"I don't think he is. You need to see the way he fought those boys. He is a fighter." 

Gabrielle and her friend ran into the department when they saw one of their lecturers coming. Mss. Donald was a highly principled lecturer. Once she goes into the lecture hall, no one enters until her time is up. 

Gabrielle could not wait for her to round her topic. She was very hungry. It was as if she knew what she wanted, Mss Donald rounded up and walked away with her things. Gabrielle and her friend went down to the school canteen for their breakfast. 

"Smallie," Mike patted her shoulder gently. Gabrielle's face twisted in rage. 

"Are you god?" Gabrielle asked. 

"God? No, I'm...just Mike," Mike gave her a gap-toothed grin. 

"You seem to be everywhere," Gabrielle said and took her gaze off him. 

"Smallie, can we talk?" Mike asked. 

"You can say whatever you want to say." 

"Why do you hate me so much? I'm not asking for anything beyond friendship. I want to be your brother here, Smallie. Danielle took care of me like a sister. Do you think I would sit and watch things go wrong with you? No!" 

"Friendship right?" Gabrielle asked. Mike nodded. Gabrielle stretched forth her hand and Mike gladly accepted it. Agatha grinned. 

"Smallie, I would like to have you on my volleyball team, what do you think?" Mike smirked. 

"I like volleyball and basketball," Gabrielle said. 

"You like basketball too?" Mike asked. Gabrielle nodded happily. 

"You have a height advantage, so I'll fix you with the female team. Our volleyball team comprises boys and girls. We are mixed, but basketball is strictly for either Male or female team," Mike said. 

"Where will you guys go from here?" Mike asked. 

"We have four lectures today, after that, I will accompany her to her lodge and then we come back to the field for volleyball. That I do not have height advantage doesn't mean I should not watch those who have it." 

"Okay girls, I'll be over there, waiting for you guys. Just hola me when you come around." Mike patted their backs and walked happily away. He was happy he just took the first step.

"Gabrielle, you need to be very careful. Remember, he has a mad girlfriend that is ready to tear your clothes off. Make sure you keep him in friend's zone."

Gabrielle and her friend entered the narrow path that led to her lodge. Since it was afternoon, Gabrielle knew the students would still be in the school block. 

They slowed down when they saw a shamelessly flashy SUV, parked in front of their lodge. Gabrielle walked in coldly and greeted the men who sat outside. 

"Is she the one we are waiting for?" A quinquagenarian that sat with the caretaker and some men in an Army uniform asked. Gabrielle began to shiver when the caretaker nodded his head in affirmation. 

"Okay, go to your room and wait for me." The man said.