Chapter 3

They were the most troublesome bullies in school and were best of friends and as a result of their names - Alma, Blair and Cheryl - they were nicknamed the ABC girls.

They walked in with Blair in their middle and stopped at a group of four girls who were talking about Ryan and going through his pictures.

Blair snapped the phone from them and the girls gasped.

"Blair, what are you doing?" One of them asked as she opened her eyes wide in surprise. 

She tried collecting the phone from Blair, but she giggled and didn't let her.

"Can you imagine? They're actually looking at Ryan's pictures" Blair said teasingly as she showed the phone to Alma and Cheryl beside her.

"Seriously, I wonder why they're wasting their time dreaming on something  that can never be theirs" Alma said blatantly and Blair shrugged. 

"Well, that's none of your business. Give me back my phone" the owner of the phone cried. 

"You know, if I were you, I wouldn't even bother going to his concert because he might just end up being rushed to the hospital the moment he sees your face" Cheryl said and bursted into laughter with the rest. 

The girl was already crying. 

"Seriously Blair, hand it back" another girl said and Blair kept the phone on the floor and walked away with her crew. 

They came to where Nicole and I were seated and stopped. 

"Hey puppy, you're on our seat" Cheryl said with asperity,  referring to Nicole and that was when Nicole remembered she wasn't on her seat. 

"Oh!" She mouthed and stood up with her books.

"Well, that doesn't make her a puppy" I said to them as Nicole returned to her seat next to me.

"Oh! Look who's talking" Alma said with a scoff. 

"Mummy's little girl. I wonder if your mother got pregnant on her own" Cheryl said and I sprang on my feet. 

"What did you just say?" I asked in a blazing tone and Nicole held my hand, trying to placate me.

They chuckled and took their seats which was in front of mine.

I looked at them loathfully and was about dragging Cheryl's hair when the English Language teacher walked in and everyone settled on their seats. 

But I still remained standing, staring at the three animals in front of me.

"Good morning, Mrs Lee" the students greeted uniformly as she took it stand in front of the class.

"Bethel, come on, please" Nicole whispered to me, holding my hand and immediately, she dragged me down to my seat.

Oh, God!

I swear, I'm gonna smack these ladies in the face. 

"Good morning, students; how was your night?" Mrs Lee asked as she adjusted her medicated glasses on her eyes. 

"It was fine Mrs Lee" few of the students mumbled a reply and she commenced teaching. 

*

*

We had two more classes after hers and it was time for lunch break.

Immediately the last teacher left the class, the class became a little noisy as students started trooping out. 

ABC also stood up and I stood up with them and went to stand in front of them. 

"The next time you talk such trash about my personal life again, you're going to wish you never had a tongue" I said to them - Cheryl in particular - and already having my bag with me, I started walking away with Nicole scuttling behind me.

I heard them laugh but didn't bother to look at them. 

"Seriously, those girls are becoming something else" Nicole said as we headed for the canteen together. 

"Well soon, I'm gonna shut them up for good" I replied, still feeling a little angry. 

*

We entered the canteen and ordered for some snacks and when the break was over, we returned to the class for further lectures.

We received three more classes and the bell went off for school over and that was so piquant. I mean, I was going to see Jackson. 

"Don't forget to get ready for the concert, Bethel. You know we need to go on time so we can be close to the stage when Ryan will be performing" Nicole enthused as she accompanied me to where my driver was already waiting for me.

"You talk too much, Nicole" I said, itching my ear and she laughed. 

"So...are you really going to see Jackson at home?" She asked and I nodded with a smile. 

"But Bethel, are you really sure about this Jackson guy? I mean, you don't even know anything about his family".

"Well, that's because we just started dating less than a month ago" I replied and she sighed. 

"Well, I don't know; I just kind of feel weird about him. Why does he want you to come over to his house anyway?" She asked as we finally got to where my van was. 

"How am I supposed to know? He just wants me to come over" I replied and tucked my hair behind my ear. 

"And you feel comfortable going to his house alone?" She asked and I shrugged. 

Okay; why's she trying to make me feel nervous? 

"Please Nicole, I need to go now. Jackson's a nice guy. So, stop having negative feelings about him" I told her and she sighed and gave me a side hug. 

"just be careful, okay? And don't forget to get ready for the concert in time".

"Sure, bye" I replied her and after waving at each other, I got into the van and my driver took off.