Chapter 3 Busted

Steve's P.O.V

The class was so interesting we didn't want it to end. Students ask so many questions and the lecturer answer without any problem. I could feel Lydia shifting uncomfortably during the class. Is it because of what I said?

"That will be all for today" the lecturer says as pack his materials. When he sees the sad look on our face "Oh don't worry you can ask me any questions in the next class" the class begins to clap, some of them whistle. "thank you" the lecturer says and take his leave.

"Lydia, is everything okay?" I ask her when I notice her shift uncomfortably again. Lydia eyes open wide as she feel a little embarrass.

"Hey Steve?" Chris says calling my attention. I feel like he did that on purpose just to change the topic.

"Hmm"

"What time is it?" Chris ask and I frown a little. I check my wrist only to find out my watch is gone. Shit! My mom is going to kill me. That was watch was a gift from her and I know her. Once she finds out the watch is gone, I'm dead. I tell Chris and Lydia to help me find the watch but we couldn't find it anywhere.

"Are you sure you didn't forget it at home" Chris asks.

"No" I sigh.

"Maybe you should buy a new one then.. you can buy the exact model" Lydia suggest.

"Sure...Thanks guys" I tell them and get out of the school premises. I spot Tony waiting for me in the car.

...

"Hey what's with the gloomy face" Tony asks.

"I lost my watch"

"Oh no! You're dead" Tony chuckle.

"Yeah..I know...how was your visit with uhhmm..." What's the girl name again?

"Lilian" Tony remains me.

"Yeah Lilian"

"Trust me it was amazing, she keeps begging me for her release" Tony says in a happy tone as he bit his lower lip.

I turn quiet hearing this. I'm already used to Tony dirty words.

My phone vibrates, I pull it out from my pocket I open it and see a message from an unknown person.

*Hey pretty boy! It's Ariel I've got your watch...come'n get it in the party* I groan loudly and hit my head on the chair. I knew something was off when I talk to her earlier.

"What?" Tony ask.

"Nothing, never mind". I decide to text her back *Please I need that watch, I'm dead if I don't have it back*. Wait! How did she even get my number?

*Don't forget the invitation card* she texts back.

"Oh God" I groan again. *doing this is not going to make me change my mind, so please can I have my watch back?* I text in annoyance putting several angry emojis.

"Who are you texting, your girlfriend?" Tony asks as he keep his eyes on the road.

"No, just some weird girl name Ariel"

"Ariel?" Tony says with excitement in his voice.

"Yeah"

"You mean Ariel Johnson?"

"Yeah! She ask if I could be her private tutor and I reject her offer but she decides to steal my watch. Now she telling me to come to her party" I check my phone to check if she has reply but she hasn't.

"Woooh! You're going to the party?"

"Why are you so excited?"

"She is my crush, since ever since I got admitted. I dated one of her friend just to get close to her but she never gave me attention. I and her friend broke up after a week"

"Well that's your problem. All I need is my watch back" I check my phone again and there is still no message.

"If you aren't going to the party, Give me the card"

"I don't have it, it's with Chris" I have no interest in the party anyway.

"Your fat ass friend?"

"Stop calling him that!" I say angrily.

...

Ariel never reply me through out the day and I didn't see her the next day so I decide to tell Chris and Lydia about it and they were shock. I decide to follow Lydia's suggestion on buying a new watch but the watch model could not be found anywhere. I can't buy another watch product. I have no choice but to go to the party I've never attend before.

*please my bring back my watch* I text the weird girl again hoping she'll text me back. she is really giving me a hard time. Must I be the one to tutor her?

"Here is the invitation card, Steve" Chris says as he hand it over to me.

"Thanks"

"So you're going?"

"Do I have a choice?" I sigh.

"Sorry man" he chuckle and I feel like punching him on his face.

I check the address, it quite far from my place. I'll have to board three buses before getting there. Maybe I'll lie to my mom about having a night class on Saturday which I don't think she will believe.

...

Today's is Friday and I still did not see any sign of Ariel. We finally finish the physics assignment without Jerry's help.

"Do not try to submit for anyone else, each student must submit personally. You submit for anyone, you'll fail the course." The physics lecturer says to us after finishing his lecture.

"Submit before 12 O'clock. Once it's past twelve, forget about submitting, I repeat do not submit for anyone" he instruct strictly, as he put on his glasses before leaving the class.

"Steve! I have not seen Jerry since morning. Is he not coming to school today?" Chris asks as soon as the lecturer left.

"How am I supposed to know? we are both in school" I sign. Chris sometimes ask weird questions. I pull out my phone and call him several times but he did not pick.

"Is everything alright?" Lydia asks seeing our sore face.

"Our third person. Jerry is not in school" Chris answer her.

"So..."

"He is literally going to kill us if we don't submit his assignment. We've called him several times but he didn't pick up" Chris tells her.

"There's nothing you can do. Just go and submit yours. If he tries to do anything stupid report him to the school authorities" Lydia says.

"That is going to make it worse, if he sees us outside school, we might not be able to walk again" I say freaking out a little when I remembered when Jerry came to my house to beat me up when no one is around just because his girlfriend smiled at me. I couldn't talk well for three days.

"Let's keep trying his number, he might answer" Chris suggest. I try his number again and it turns out to be switched off. I groan and decide to text him.

"You can't keep doing this, it's 11:30 already...you heard what the lecturer said" Lydia tell us, we decide to submit the assignment together and we get back to our busy shedule.

...

I get back home a little late, Tony did not even bother to wait for me so I decided to take the bus home. I enter the bus and was so happy to find a seat at least. After some minutes, I finally reach my destination.

"Evening mom" I greet her when I spot her at the dinning table ready to serve. Her food aroma fill my nostril, she is the best when it comes to cooking. Her restaurant is just across the street.

"You're late Steve" she says and goes to the kitchen to serve dinner.

Emma and Abi is busy watching cartoon while my dad is busy with his phone. I greet them and head to the kitchen.

"Do you need any help?" I ask as soon as I enter the kitchen.

"No need, I am done already. Just go and freshen up and come and eat. How is school today?" She says as she put a spoon of vegetable on a plate.

"Stressful" I says staying at the kitchen door.

"Sorry dear, What are you still doing, Go and freshen up" she says.

"I..I need to talk to you" I should probably try my luck.

"What is it? Is everything okay?" She drops what she is doing and turns to me with full attention.

"Everything is fine mom, I just want to let you know I won't be home on Saturday night" I tell her to see her reaction.

"That is never going to happen. What are you doing on Saturday night" she says as she fold her arm.

"I have a group night class and I don't want to miss it" I lie, at least she might consider it, if it is for a school purpose.

"You don't like reading at night Steve, when did you start having night classes. Is there something you're not telling me" she is right, I don't read at night, I can't; it is as if my brain comes down when the sun does.

"It's a group night class mom, I need to be there" I try persuading her again.

"Nope, you're not going and that's final. I don't want you to start sleeping in the church on Sunday" she says and continue what she was doing.

"Mom please..."

"I said no Steve, you can do your night class in your room then if you really need to do it. Now go upstairs, freshen up and call your brother for dinner" she says.

"It's a group night class, I can't do it al..."

"I said no!" She says almost raising her voice.

I groan and go upstairs, what am I going to do? This is getting nowhere. She has my watch and I can't get it unless I go to the party. I freshen up, call my brother and we head downstairs for dinner.

"Eat more! Abi" my mom warns abi during dinner.

"But I don't like vegetables" Abi says with her puff cheek.

"Eat or you won't eat dinner" she warns again.

"Go easy on her Mary" my father says softly "eat more dear, it really good for your blood" my father says softly while Abi tries her best to eat.

After dinner, I lie on bed thinking of how tomorrow is going to be. I still haven't seen her text and I'm sure she ignore me on purpose. If I don't get the watch back soon my mom is going to find out. I even wonder why she love that watch so much.

...

Every Saturday, I help my dad in his art work business. Yes, he is an amazing artist and I got the talent from him. Trust me he is the best.

"Steve" my dad calls as he pulls out a fresh paper.

"Hmm"

"Pass the brush" he says and I pass him the brush. "Is everything alright?"

"Hmm?"

"Is everything alright?" He repeats.

"Yeah! Everything is fine" I assure him.

"You don't look fine to me" he says as he begins to mix the color. He is the only who seems to understand me. I guess I should let him know about it.

"I lost the watch mom gave me"

"Oh no! you're dead" he chuckle saying exactly what Tony told me.

"I know, but why do mom cherish the watch so much, beside I can't even find it anywhere even if I want to buy it" I tell him and he begin to tell me how the watch come about.

He gave the watch to my mother as a gift after they got married. Unknown to him he bought a male watch. Instead of getting upset, she cherish the watch with all her heart even when she couldn't wear it. On my birthday last year she decides to give it to me. He told me he spent a fortune on the watch since he likes it very much.

...

At night I keep thinking about the watch. Hearing how my mom cherish it, I decides to get it no matter what so I decide to sneak out. It wasn't easy for me to reach the door step without making a single noise.

Just as I am about to open the door the light turns on.