From Crushes to Chaos

“Oli Oli, jeez! Did you notice how cute that Davis guy was?” Lola whispered frantically, raising her brows like she had seen a celebrity.

“It’s getting harder to find fine boys like that these days.” She leaned in. “What did you guys talk about? Did he ask you out? Does he like you? Come on, spill the gist! You’re already keeping me in suspense!”

She didn’t even let me speak. Lola kept pestering me like a mosquito that refused to be swatted.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I folded my arms and said, “If you really like him that much, you can have him. You two would actually look good together—"

I paused for dramatic effect.

“A chubby girl who’s loud and loves pestering people… and a slim, tall guy who’s smooth with words. It’s definitely a match made in heaven, don't you think so?”

Andrew tried hard not to laugh as Lola lunged toward me in fake annoyance, chasing me around the tree.

“Will he even look my way?” she said suddenly, collapsing beside us like someone who lost her lover. “I’ve been dying for a guy that handsome to fall for me.”

I burst out laughing. The drama was unprovoked.

Andrew chuckled softly, then cleared his throat like someone who just sipped hot tea. That’s how he has always been. Calm and rarely says much.

Lola turned to him and patted his back like a tired auntie. “Sorry, my dear. You’re the only guy in our circle. I guess you’ll just have to put up with all our nonsense.”

He gave a small smile, one of those quiet ones that say, Yeah, I’m still here.

But then he looked at me and asked, “Oli, what was Davis talking to you about earlier?”

“He just said he wanted to be friends. Nothing deep.”

Andrew stared at me for a second, then gently placed a hand on my shoulder. “You should be very careful with him.”

His tone changed. It was so serious that I had to pause for some time.

I didn’t ask him why he sounded that way. I felt like it was one of those boy-to-boy beef things. Whatever it was, I didn’t want to get dragged into it.

Since that day, Davis hadn’t stopped bugging me. Always showing up out of nowhere, trying to act cool. But I’ve got to admit, he wasn’t exactly as bad as people made him seem.

I was still lost in thought when someone nudged me gently toward the canteen.

Then I heard the girls giggle and whisper to one another. “He’s so hot,” one of them said.

And that’s when I realized Davis had just walked out of the canteen. His presence still had the girls melting like butter on toast.

On my way back to class, a junior student ran up behind me.

“Senior Olivia!” she called breathlessly. “Please… can you connect me to Davis? Just once. I can even pay you! I’ve been a fan since day one.”

I stared at her, shocked at her boldness.

“You should focus on your books and get better grades,” I said. “How dare you walk up to me for a hookup? Do this again and I might punish you next time.”

As she walked away disappointed, something about her seemed familiar. Then I remembered she was the girl who once asked me to tutor her.

Before I could call her back, she had disappeared into the crowd. I sighed and kept walking.

But the moment I reached the school wall, I saw them again. Those groups of students were still huddled, whispering and staring at something.

Curiosity tugged at me. I walked closer.

A row of paper sketches was pinned up. Some had words. Some had drawings of people. My heart thudded.

One sketch showed a girl’s face. It was not perfect, but clear enough. If my classmates saw it, they would know right away that it was Nora, the suspended girl.

Under it was a label:

NORA, the new girl who shone too fast.

It didn't make much sense. Then I moved to the next sketch.

My heart dropped.

It was me. It was not just a portrait, it was me putting something into someone’s school bag.

The drawing was detailed. Way too detailed. There were not many words, but it said so much.

Then I saw the bold letters underneath:

OLIVIA FRAMED NORA—just to keep her top spot. She couldn’t bear to come second. So she acted.

My body froze.

The ground felt like it shifted beneath me. My hands trembled. I couldn’t look at the rest.

Who could’ve done something this mean?

I tried to think. Had I quarreled with anyone? Had I offended someone without realizing it?

Then I thought of Nora.

Yes, she had her own secrets. And she has been troubling me for some time now . I know she's not this strategic but If she was behind this, she wasn’t alone. Maybe someone had been helping her.

But who?

I turned around and walked away, not toward class this time but toward the big tree near the edge of the school field.

I needed my space to think ,to clear my head and also to make a choice.