Chapter 2 Her dear Boyfriend

Bethel's Pov:

I got to the dining where breakfast had already been served for me and I sat and ate. It was bagel and cream cheese.

It was so boring eating alone but I was already getting used to it, since mum had the habit of not staying at home.

Sometimes, I wish my life was a little different from this.

After consuming half of the meal, I stood up and left; walking out to the parking lot where my driver was already waiting for me.

"Good morning, ma'am Bethel" he greeted as I approached the black van.

"Good morning Josh" I replied cursorily and walked in, taking the back seat.

He got into the driver's seat and took off.

I brought out my phone to while away time before getting to school.

The driver turned on the car's fm and the channel that was tuned was talking about Ryan.

Perfect.

I tucked my hair behind my ear and tried listening to what they were saying. Well, what else could they say?

🎬it's really a pleasure to know Ryan's back in Dallas - his home town. At least, the country's pride is now here with us🎬 the presenter said

🎬 Yeah. I mean, I'm so excited. Even my little girl was dancing when she heard the news🎬 someone else said and another laughed.

🎬 I really can't wait for his concert. I have a feeling the entire city will be there🎬 the one who has laughed said.

🎬 yeah. It's not something anyone would want to miss. Ryan Winthorp live on stage🎬

🎬 It's gonna be a blast🎬

I sighed and took my eyes back to my phone. Geez! His pictures were all over the net.

I can't believe this. Ryan, Ryan, Ryan everywhere. Can't they think of someone else?

I rolled my eyes and logged in to my inbox to reply some messages.

After a while, we arrived at Royal High School and when the driver had stopped the van, I opened the door and stepped out.

"Bye ma'am" he said to me as I came out and I is waved at him and proceeded to my classroom.

As I walked along the premises, the whole school kept buzzing with the news if Ryan's return. Each student I came across were all in pairs and groups, taking about Ryan while going through his pictures on their phones.

👥 He's so cute!

👥 I wish I get to touch him at the concert

👥How on earth will you touch him? Do you plan to turn into a ghost?

👥 Oh! Ryan, I wonder who his girlfriend could be. If I were her, I'd kill my own father just to make sure I don't lose him.

Geez!

I rolled my eyes and tried ignoring all the buzz but couldn't as the entire building was filled with Ryan's name.

I took the stairs and following the right route, I finally got to my classroom.

Okay; now this is more wierd.

As expected, every student in the room were grouped and paired, talking about - Mr Popular.

I sighed and walked into the class and Nicole who was already waiting for me on our seats, waved at me even before I got there. We were actually seat mates.

"Hello girlfriend" she beamed when I got there and sat in front of her.

She wasn't really on her seat, but was on the seat in front of mine and she sat, facing me.

"Hi" I rolled my eyes and said, remembering how she disrupted my sound sleep because of Ryan.

"Come on, B, don't tell me you're still angry over that little issue. You should be happy I woke you up." She said, pouting her pretty lips.

"indeed. You're so annoying, Nic" I told her and she smiled.

"Whatever. By the way, aren't you glad Ryan's back? I mean, you're gonna be in the same state with Mr popular" she said ecstatically.

"Like I'll get to touch him, or its gonna add anything to my life" I replied.

"You're so funny, Bethel. You act like you don't like him, but deep down, you're ready to kill for him" she said with a teasing look.

"FYI, I already have a boyfriend" I bragged, showing my ring less finger to her.

"That anonymous boyfriend of yours? You're not in love with him, Bethel. You're only in love with love" she said and I hit her on the shoulder.

"Are you crazy? Stop speaking gibberish, okay? I love Jackson with my whole heart" I told her and she rolled her eyes with a 'whatever'.

"By the way, Bethel; hope you'll be going along with me to Ryan's concert? I've gotten a ticket already" she said and I scoffed.

"I'm not going. You can find someone else" I replied.

But of course that was a lie. I mean, what will I be doing all alone at home?

"Come on Bethel; are you kidding me? The entire city will be there. You're coming with me no matter what!" She said with a playful frown.

"Oh! Really? Well, I'd love to see you try".

She opened her phone and started going through his pictures.

"Oh! Bethel; he's so dreamy! I wish I'd be able to attend his home coming party at his house tomorrow. Too bad it's strictly on VIP invitations" she said wistfully.

'He's holding another party tomorrow?" I asked

"Oh! Not really him, but his mum. She's holding a special party to celebrate his return. You know, she treasures him a lot".

"He's her only child, right?"

"Yeah. And the heir to the Winthorp incorporated. Although, his step siblings have their eyes on it".

"How did he even end up in a polygamous family? I heard his mum betrayed her best friend which was Mr Winthorp's first wife by sleeping with her husband and getting pregnant with Ryan".

Three girls who were beside us suddenly turned and looked at me and that was when I realised I had been a bit loud.

I rose my brows a them and they looked away and continued with what they were doing.

Yeah, whatever.

"Well," Nicole started in a lower tune now.

"That's what the rumours says. Currently, Mr Winthorp has two wives and five kids - two girls from his first wife, one boy from his second wife which is Ryan's mum, and one boy and a girl from his third wife. And they stay together in the Winthorp mansion.

"Woah! That's crazy" I flinched.

"Yeah. And how It all started; his first wife was unable to give him a son. She went through a hard time getting pregnant in the first place and when she gave birth, it turned out to be a girl. Mr Winthorpe decided to exercise a little patience and she took in again but when she gave birth, it turned out to be a girl again. This time around, he lost his patience and he was a flirt and that's the reason his children are also flirts.

"So, Ryan's mother was a friend to his first wife and according to the to the rumors, she's always had her eyes on the Winthorpe wealth. So, Mr Winthorp approached her and she fell for him and boom! She got pregnant with Ryan who became Mr Winthorp's first so.

"As a result, she demanded for a legitimate position and Mr Winthorp had to get married to her. That way, Ryan became his first legitimate son and the heir to the Winthorp incorporated

"But after a short time, it became known that Mr Winthorp had a mistress who was pregnant for him. She gave birth and it turned out to be a son and also being desperate, she made Mr Winthorpe get married to her and that is how he ended up having a total of three wives and now, the Winthorp family is on fire"

"On fire?" I cut in and she nod

"You know the Winthorp incorporated is the richest company in the US. They deal in the UK buildings and marketings of real estate. Now tell me, who wouldn't want to be the heir of such fortune?

"Although, Ryan's the first legitimate son of Mr Winthorp and the rightful heir to the company, his other siblings are trying to make sure they take the position from him. So, they're all at loggerheads with each other"

"So...they're all competing for the company?" I asked, folding my hands.

Immediately, the ABC girls walked in and all eyes diverted to their direction as they walked in stylishly.

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.