Chapter 8 A new life, maybe

Jason sprang out of bed, a wide grin spreading across his face. He let out a loud yawn, stretching his arms.

Timi, sitting at the table, scrolling through his phone, tossed a pillow at Jason. "You're way too loud."

Jason caught the pillow and threw it back at Timi, laughing. "What's the time?" Jason asked.

"7:36 am," Timi replied.

Jason beamed. "I woke up at 7 am feeling fulfilled. Today's gonna be great."

Timi chuckled. "I found a spot for us to check out today." He raised an eyebrow, hinting at excitement.

Jason's eyes lit up. "I'm so down." Just then, Jason's phone buzzed with incoming messages.

"Jasmine's been blowing up my phone," he said, chuckling as he read through them.

Timi's curiosity piqued. "What did she do?" *******

Hazel navigated the admin building, searching for the principal's office. Earlier, she had approached two girls for directions, but they had dismissed her with cold indifference.

Despite feeling frustrated, Hazel pushed aside her anger and continued her quest. Determined to stay positive, she focused on her excitement about this new chapter. As she turned a corner, Hazel spotted her destination.

"Finally!" she exclaimed, gazing at the door bearing the sign "Principal."

With renewed enthusiasm, Hazel knocked twice and entered the office with a bright smile.

"Good morning, ma'am," Hazel greeted warmly, addressing Mrs. Daniels.

"I'm the new student on scholarship," Hazel introduced herself confidently.

Mrs. Daniels looked up from her papers, her expression welcoming.

Mrs. Daniels slipped on her glasses, scrutinizing the papers on her desk. "Ah, Abasi-bong Effiong?" she inquired.

Hazel swiftly corrected her with a polite smile, "No, ma'am, it's Williams Hazel." Mrs. Daniels' expression turned perplexed, her brow furrowing.

Hazel seized the opportunity to express her gratitude, her voice filled with sincerity. "Thank you so much, ma'am, for this incredible opportunity. I don't take it for granted. I promise to work diligently and make the school proud."

Mrs. Daniels' face softened, captivated by Hazel's warmth and determination. She smiled, instinctively drawn to the young girl.

"You came alone?" Mrs. Daniels asked, her tone gentle. Hazel's smile faltered for a moment, but she summoned courage to reveal a painful truth.

"Yes, ma'am. When I came for the exams, my mom accompanied me. But... she passed away last month." Hazel's voice trembled slightly, but she maintained her composure, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes.

Mrs. Daniels' expression turned empathetic, her eyes conveying compassion. She got reminded of her late sister, she feels pity for little Hazel

"Your mom must be so proud of you right now, because you did absolutely well in your exams and had a 98% overall, it's a rare one" she smiles at Hazel "may her soul rest in peace, I pray God heals your heart as well"

"Amen, thank you so much ma!"

"Here" She gives Hazel a fancy book "That contains the map of the school, in case you want to tour around and you can find your way to your class with it"

"Thank you so much ma"

"Behind it, you will find list of extracurricular activities, they are very important and will commence tomorrow, do well to join one"

"Alright ma"

"Have an amazing first day here!"

"Thank you so much" Hazel smiles as she walks out.

Hazel navigated the corridors, consulting her map to find her next class.

As she walked, she caught the gaze of several boys, their lingering stares making her uncomfortable. Distracting herself, she admired the stylish hairstyles and manicured nails of passing girls.

Following the map, Hazel turned into a seemingly deserted hallway. The silence was sudden and eerie. As she approached the stairs, muffled voices and a loud slap echoed from a nearby classroom.

Curiosity piqued, Hazel retreated from the stairs and tiptoed toward the source of the noise. She cautiously peered through the doorway, her eyes widening in shock.

Inside, three girls stood over a fourth, who knelt, tears streaming down her face. Hazel's eyes mouthed a silent "Wow!" as she swiftly turned to leave. But her escape was thwarted.

Fear clenched her heart as she spotted Melvin standing right behind her, his presence unnerving. Hazel swallowed hard, her breath catching in her throat. Melvin's piercing gaze locked onto hers, his expression unreadable.

Melvin's grip on Hazel's hand was firm but gentle as he led her out of the hallway. They stepped into the bright sunlight, the sounds of the compound enveloping them.

Melvin released Hazel's hand, his piercing gaze holding hers. "Hi," Hazel managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Melvin's expression softened, a hint of amusement dancing on his lips. "You're new here, or curiosity got the better of you?" he asked, his tone calm and measured.

Hazel held up the map, a smile spreading across her face. "I'm new, and I was following this map. It seemed like a shortcut to my class."

Melvin chuckled, shaking his head. "There's no shortcut to success," he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Hazel raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her own eyes. "You think so?" she teased, her voice laced with skepticism.

Melvin's smile widened, his face relaxing.

Hazel smiled warmly. "I know so."

"Which class are you headed to?" he asked.

"Finals, Sciences!" Hazel replied.

Melvin's eyes widened. "Wow, hi newbie! We're classmates."

Hazel smiled shyly. "Oh, hi."

"I'm Melvin," he introduced himself.

"I'm Hazel," she replied. "How did you know I was there?"

"I saw you walk in," Melvin explained. "The school can be tough, with different cliques and bullies. Be careful."

"Thank you," Hazel said gratefully.

"Want me to walk you to class?" Melvin offered.

Hazel's face lit up with a bright smile. "Yes, please!" As they strolled to class, laughter and conversation flowed easily.

Hazel found Melvin calm and intriguing. Melvin thought Hazel adorable, with the prettiest smile.

Across the stairwell, Kelvin noticed them, his gaze narrowing.

Kelvin nodded toward Melvin, asking MG, "Does he look like me?"

MG glanced at Melvin, then back at Kelvin, raising an eyebrow. "Is it fever?" MG joked, pretending to check Kelvin's forehead.

Kelvin shot MG a side-eye. "You don't find this surprising?" Kelvin pressed, watching Melvin and Hazel laugh together.

MG squinted. "Is that a girl from RHS?"

"Yeah," Kelvin said. "And remember Melvin's 'no girls' rule?"

MG nodded. "Because of you!"

Kelvin rolled his eyes. "But Melvin's going against it."

MG countered, "Maybe he's just helping her. I've never seen her before. Let's not jump to conclusions."

Kelvin scoffed. "Whatever!" He sipped his bottle drink.

"Let's go play games, come on," MG suggested.

"It's the first day of resumption," Kelvin protested.

MG teased, "Come on, why are you being Melvin?"

They burst into laughter.

"I'm not Melvin, I don't support good conduct!" Kelvin joked, sparking more laughter. MG chuckled.

"Let's go!" They headed off to play games, leaving Melvin and Hazel to their conversation. As they walked away, Kelvin glanced back at Melvin and Hazel, a hint of curiosity still in his eyes.

MG noticed Kelvin's gaze. "Drop it, man. Let's focus on gaming." He drags Kelvin's hand.

>>>>>>>>

Hazel and Melvin entered the classroom, all eyes turned to her. The class's collective curiosity was palpable.

MG and the twins were notorious for keeping to themselves, making Melvin's friendly demeanor with Hazel a shocking sight.

Hazel beamed with excitement, taking in her new surroundings.

The classroom was twice the size of her previous one, with over a hundred students. The spacious, air-conditioned room was a welcome change.

Following Melvin, Hazel navigated through the sea of curious gazes to the back of the class. Whispers and glances trailed behind them, students intrigued by the unexpected pairing. Melvin seemed unfazed, leading Hazel to their seats with ease.

As they settled in, Hazel couldn't help but notice the varied reactions: some students looked surprised, others curious, and a few seemed displeased.

Chris, Kelvin's basketball rival, snickered, "Brought your girlfriend to class, Kel?" He delighted in teasing Kelvin, exploiting their identical appearances.

Melvin remained stoic, ignoring Chris's jab. Chris continued, "Oh, hi Mel!" As he uses silence to differentiate twins. He knew Kelvin would never ignore him.

Hazel's confusion deepened. Melvin intervened, "You can sit here, beside me."

Hazel smiled, "Okay."

Melvin leaned in, whispering, "In case you're not comfortable using the front door," he nodded toward the back door, "you can always use that."

Hazel smiled gratefully, feeling blessed to have met him. As they settled in, whispers spread through the class like wildfire. Girls formed cliques, exchanging hushed comments and sidelong glances. Some couldn't help but glare at Hazel, their disdain palpable.

Seeking refuge, Hazel pulled out her novel and began reading. Melvin seemed engrossed in his phone, oblivious to the commotion.

Just then, Theodore slammed his hand on his desk, commanding attention.

"Everyone!" he boomed.

The class fell silent, eyes fixed on the class captain. Theodore exuded confidence, his tall, dark, and handsome frame commanding respect. His nerdy demeanor belied his sharp intellect; he was second-best in class.

Theodore cleared his throat, beginning his announcement.

"Welcome, everyone. As your class captain, I have a few important update, The timetable has been shared in the class group. Classes start at 8:30 a.m. today, marking our first day of resumption."

The room murmured in anticipation.

"The principal's office informs us that tests will begin in three weeks, leading up to our final exams in high school."

Eva's enthusiastic clap sparked a wave of applause.

Theodore continued, "Additionally, prefectship elections will take place during the second week, that's next week Friday, The principal will announce her nominations for each role by Friday, Please note that we have new teachers for our final year. I advise everyone to demonstrate good character, as it's our last year at RHS."

The class erupted into chatter, excitement and nervousness mingling.

Eva squealed, "The thought of it makes me want to boogieee!!!" She burst into laughter.

Hazel couldn't help but smile at Eva's infectious energy.

Theodore concluded, "That's all for now. If I remember anything else, I'll let you know." He took his seat.

Eva turned to Theodore, her eyes sparkling. "Do you think the principal will nominate me as head girl?"

Ethan snickered, "You dullard!"

Eva frowned, "Shut up. I wasn't talking to you."

Theodore intervened, "Truth be told, Eva, you lack the typical head girl qualities." He grinned mischievously. "But you make up for it with your... let's say, unique character and questionable grades."

Ethan chuckled, "But she's your best friend, for life!"

Eva's frown deepened, "I hate you two."

She turned back to face the front. Theodore and Ethan exchanged amused glances. Theodore, Eva, and Ethan - the 'HSL'-(Holyspirit lives) were RHS's most beloved gospel music trio.

Ethan's father was a pastor, his calling had rubbed off Ethan, making him form this amazing team with his best friends. Childhood friends turned musical sensations, their popularity soared with over 200k social media followers.

Theodore's gaze drifted to Regina, sitting serenely by the window, lost in her music. "I think Gina will be nominated," he predicted, referring to the assistant prefect position.

Regina, the class's calm and intellectual stalwart, ranked second academically, only behind Theodore. Eva rolled her eyes, exasperated.

Just then, Joan, Morenike, and Amelia sauntered into class. Hazel's eyes widened, recognizing the girls from the hallway earlier. Their classy, sassy demeanor commanded attention.

Melvin's phone rang, breaking the spell. "Hazel, I need to take this call. I'll catch up with you soon," he said, smiling.

As Melvin exited the class, Hazel wondered why he'd leave just before their first lesson.

Amelia whispered to her friends, "Was that Mel or Kel talking to that girl?"

Joan and Morenike turned, their gazes locking onto Hazel with disdain.

Hazel met their hostility with a raised eyebrow, unfazed.