Chapter 7 Not So Nice

I walk into the class with my 'Supreme' Bag strapped on both my shoulders. I missed assembly today because I and my Aunty, Aunty Iyanu had woken up late so she had to drop me off at school today. Normally I would sit at the front but since I'm late I have to sit at the back today.

I greet the teacher and make my way to the back of the class. I sit down and pull my English book out of my bag then look up at the board and see 'La France'' written across the board with a black board marker.

I have French today and I didn't even realize, the class is filled with different faces. 'It must be a joined class..', I mutter to myself. One of the twins I had met on my first day, Chinyere , so sitted at my right l, she taps me and shows me her French workbook and I nod. I fish out my locker keys from the side of my bag and walk to my locker at the back of the class to look for my French Textbook and workbook.

"You're not allowed to stand in my class Miss Ameh-Peters", I hear an angry voice say from the front of the class.

"I'm sorry ma", I finally find my textbook, "I just wanted to get my textbook ma, ive already seen it ", I try to shut my locker but it slips out of my hand and slams shut.

"Miss Ameh-Peters, go back to your seat",

" Yes ma".

I rush to lock up my locker and pick my books from the table I had placed them and then start making my way to my seat. As soon as I'm sat, my book slips from my hand and falls with a loud thud.

'God abeg', I mutter to myself.

"Miss Peters, the last time I remember, you came late to my class, what is all these distractions?"

" I'm sorry ma"

" last warning. If I hear one more noise from you, you'll be excusing us", she says turning back to the workbook she's holding in her hand, she's sitted on the teachers desk, " You should do what I have given you, the exercise is on the board".

" Yes ma", I turn to my left to take my Pen from the small zip in my bag and on turning, my eyes meet with his cold golden ones, he's slacked on a chair, not even doing his work, He must have been watching me for a while now. I feel so embarrassed all of a sudden. I turn quickly to my work and start answering the questions.

........

We have had about three periods before the twenty-five minutes short break. I'm sitted in class, still working on my French assignment when I see a shadow in front of me, I look up and I'm surprised to see the dark beautiful girl I had seen from my first day, staring at my work, she has an all pack on now, well braided with long attachment , stopping at her mid-section. She is wearing the same uniform as me, that is without the blazers, but she is putting on a sweater that has a long sleeve instead of the short sleeves like the seniors, which means she is also in my class, but I never really paid attention to any of my mates so I never saw her attend any of my classes except for the first day.

She makes the uniform look so beautiful and elegant. She looks just like a model with her slim, tall features and long legs, her skirt stops at her thighs and her white socks is ridden to the top of her ankle. She smiles at me and bends to seat on the chair beside me, and turns to face me.

"Hi", she gives me a little wave then sits down on the sit Chinyer say on earlier on.

"We've met before__, I'm Mirabel", she pulls some of the braided hair in front of her shirt and throws it over her right shoulder. "The last time we saw, I couldn't talk to you properly, hope you're good".

" I'm good", I answer. I won't lie, I'm actually very happy she came to speak with me

"I was actually sitting at the other side of the class when I saw you, sitting alone, I just said I should come and talk to you", I notice her accent, it's like everyone in this school has this American accent, "sorry about the way Onuta spoke to you that day, I won't lie, I actually felt bad".

" I understand "

" So what's your name?"

" I'm Glory.."

" Glory..,that's a nice name, I like it", " after that day, I actually thought you would be coming to the hostel but I didn't see you, what happened?", she asks with concern on her face

" I .. I prefer going from home",

"Oh okay", she says, "you want me to help you with that?, I'm really good at French"

" What about your friends?", I ask looking back at the two girls seating and chatting where Mirabel had just stood up from.

"Those one's, they are talking about Korean movies, I don't watch that rubbish abeg", she laughs, I notice her beautiful smile.

"Okay, let's seee__", she draws her chair closer to mine and bends over my book, I do the same too.

Mirabel decides to sit beside me throughout the other two periods and even offers to lend me her notes for the class and says she is willing to explain anything I don't understand. I learn that she is the acting Class Captain for Js3 with a boy named David being the assistant. Her two friends come to join us as the siren blares signalling the beginning of the long break, I arrange my books into my bag, zip it and strap it at the back of my chair just like everybody else and walk out with Mirabel .

"So you guys, this is my new friend , Glory", Mirabel says turning to her friends.

"This is Sophie", she says pointing to the Japanese looking girl with the dark straight hair. " And this one is Tolu", , she says pointing to the second dark girl in the group who is slightly shorter than Mirabel, Tolu is a bit Busty but still looks elegant, she's in all back that is braided with her natural dark brown hair, with some falling over her face. She smiles and waves.

"they are actually Ss1 students but we're all friends".

"If Mirabel has told you anything about me, don't believe her , it's not true", Tolu says and I laugh.

We continue walking till we come to a stop in front of the table I had been sent from in the first day. 'What a turn of event'.

We step over the long bench and seat.

" I like your Freckles", Mirabel says to me

" Likeee", Tolu answers , " it's so nicee,.."she continues and Sophie looks up from the book she's reading to stare at me for a short while then goes back to reading her book.

"and the fact that you're dark makes it even more unique..... wait, are you mixed?", Tolu asks out of curiosity

" No",

" Where are you from?",

" Benue state",

" Really?, Omorr, I've even forgotten that place existed self... it's almost like this Yole abi Yobe or Nasarawa or even Jigawa, like those places never come to my mind self", Mirabel says laughing, "which language do you guys speak "

"Idoma and Tiv, but I'm Idoma ",

" Wow, I've never heard idoma before",

" Speak one idoma, like.., say something in Idoma" , Tolu cuts in,

" I..I don't know, I only understand it", I lie to them, I actually know how to speak Idoma , I came from the village, I just don't want to say anything in my language to them, it would be so weird.

" Oh okay, even me too, I can't really speak igbo, my father is literally on my neck because of it. But I understand it , I'm from Anambra by the way and Tolu is from Lagos"

" I did not ask you to say my own sha", Tolu replies while adjusting the table clothe, " where are these boys self?".

In all these, I notice Sophie is still very quiet, her head is still bent over her book and her long jet black hair acts as a shield to the sides of her face. I also notice how pale her skin is compared to the rest of us, she has baby pink lips and tiny eyes. She's really so cute. She had been busy reading a novel, not really paying attention to any of us, she hasn't even said a word to me.

From afar, I notice a group of boys walk into the refectory shouting and jumping. I recognize them as those boys with Onuta from last week

"Guyyy, Tika almost got that babe",

"That girl dey lie"

" No cap"

" Tika self dey craze"

They all step over the other side of the table and sit down.

In front of me is sitted, Chidera, Samuel, Farouk and Onuta , Tobi goes to seat beside Mirabel.

"Ha, ohh God, why did you come and seat beside me nau?", Mirabel exclaims

" Why not, I like fine women ", he grins from ear to ear.

" Guyyy", Samuel draws, giving him a pointed look.

Tobi looks at him, acting confused and Innocent, "What?",

"Stop_", Onuta continues

He ignores them and turns his attention to Sophie who is sitting across him. "Sophie, my cute baby girl", she shows him her middle finger then turns to the next page on the novel she's reading.

Mirabel turns back to me, "So Glory__", she says and all six pairs of eyes fall on me, Sophie is still busy with her book.

" Talking about pretty girls, how didn't I notice you", he stands up from Mirabel's seat and comes to sit beside me pushing Tolu a little to the side. "Howfar?, it's been long since I last saw you, are you sure you're still in this school?"

"I'm in this school", I reply laughing, " I just hardly come for lunch that's why".

"Why didn't you. The food here is not that bad actually "

" Yeah it's no'....",

" I thought we sent her from this table four weeks ago ", Onuta interrupts me.

Mirabel looks around the table, "Yes,but ...",

"Then why is she here, you know I can't stand Js3 students"

" I'm the one that brought her here Onuta, she's my friend and she's not as bad as you think the rest of my mates are but not her_. And I'm also in Js3 Remember?"

"You're the only one I allowed to stay here Mariam, I don't care about the rest. And you guys know these Js3 students irritate me", he replies

"They're not actually that bad", Samuel chimes in and Onuta Scuffs, leaning his back a little on the pillar beside him.

"It's not funny how you guys keep doing this".

I look around the table and notice everyone is silent again, I realize that this was the reason I had been sent away from the table the first time, I try to open my mouth but think against it.

"Onuta, at least she's new, she can't be that bad nah, I think you should chill with this one.." , Tobi says nonchalantly while every other person is tensed on the table.

He doesn't reply. He drums his right fingers which has been on the table against it while looking at something other than the people on the table in the, he uses his left hand to move his hair away from his eyes.

"I'm really sorry if i caused any problems with my presence", I finally find my voice.", he scuffs again. "I'll be happy to leave if you want me to__"

" Yeah, leave..",

" Onuta!!", Mirabel and Tolu exclaim in unison

" Guy , stop this now, it's not really necessary ", Chidera says

" Yeah, for you."

" Bro", Michael finally chips in, " chill, it's not that deep"

I make a move to stand up but Mariam holds my arm . We hear the siren wail and every other person stands to get the food from the counter .

"Tobi, it's your turn", Sophie says amidst the silence

" It's always my turn", He murmurs and stands up reluctantly.

Sophie goes back to her book like she had not said anything, and was not aware of what was happening on the table. Maybe she was oblivious to what is happening on the table or she decided to ignore all together.

"I'll just leave", I say finally standing up.

Mirabel places her hand on my arm and mumbles a sorry helplessly.

"Sorry ...Onuta"

"Excuse me?, it's 'Senior' for you", he replies ferociously.

" I'm sorry..", I repeat, smoothening my skirt and stepping over the bench. I make my way out of the refectory.

.......

I hear light footsteps behind me as I round the corner of my class, someone calls my name,

"Hey!! Glory, wait", it's Mirabels voice. She catches up with me then bends to catch her breathe.

She finally stands up straight, "You walk really fast"

"Yeah,..thanks", I say, wondering if it was a complement.

She pulls me into a hug leaving me stunned, "I'm so sorry Onuta embarrassed you like that", she pulls back and holds me at arms length, " it's just , he's not always that mean. Like, he just has a problem with Js3 students because of something that happened a long time ago"

" It's actually okay.."

" No it's not!", she exclaims with worry, " I felt bad that I had to watch you leave like that, you're not the first person he's doing this thing to..", she stops to take in a deep breathe, "He's actually not as bad as he presents himself because I know you must be thinking he's very mean, you just have to give him sometime, okay?"

" Yeah, it's fine"

" But everyone wants you to come back to the table, there's a plate for you there and if you don't eat, Adam will know and will punish you"

I laugh and follow her back to the refectory.