Lucretia sat on sofa, staring down at her feet with her parents sitting at her sides but this time, she was calm.
Mrs. Eugenia draped her hand around her shoulder assuredly.
"You can tell is anything dear, we're here for you."
"Yes dear, you can share your problems with us." Mr. Gilbert added, his hand resting on her daughter's laps wearing a worried look.
Lucretia knew very well how worried her parents were. A part of her really wanted to pour out all the problems she was going through but there was that part also stopping her from doing that. Knowing really well how her parents loved her, she was not ready in anyway to make them disappointed in her. No, not with this ridiculous scandle.
She slowly lifted her head, glancing at her parents worried faces.
"I'm fine mum..." she sniffed, drying the tears from her eyes, slightly smiling. "I'm okay, why are you guys so serious?"
She stared from her mother's face to her dad's.
"Because we worried about you dear.." replied Mrs. Angelica.
"Why won't we dear? You've never been like this ever since we came here. Returning from school like this will of course make us worried." Her father chipped in.
She tilted her head, slightly chuckling. "Okay, okay, sorry for making you guys worried. Just had a bad day at school."
"Just that?, I don't think so dear. See," Mrs Angelica held her daughter's cheeks, slightly turning her gaze to her. When Lucretia's eyes met her's, she (Angelica) sighed, softly patting her (Lucretia's) thighs.
"You know you can tell us anything dear. Don't be keeping things to yourself mm...?"
"Alright, then..." she slowly rose up from her seat, "I will be in my room." she smiled as she took leave of her parents, the smile turning into a stern look.
Both Angelica and Gilbert stared worriedly at their daughter as she glided the stairs to her room.
"What do you think might be eating her up?" queried Angelica.
"I'm not sure what it could be dear."
Angelica swiftly turned to her husband, a thought suddenly hitting her up.
"How about we call her friends and ask them? They might know a thing or two."
"No dear, I don't think it's a good idea." he paused thoughtfully for a while, "Let's do this," (sighs) "how about we let her handle things for now. Then if we see that her mood is not improving then we step in."
"But dear she...."
"She is a strong girl Angie....." he cuts in, " Just trust her and let her handle things for now."
"Okay, if you say so." she sighed worriedly.
"Come here." Gilbert drew closer to his wife, making her rest her head on his shoulder as he stroked her arm.
"She is going to be okay, trust me."
They stayed in that position for a while, staring at nothing in particular.
***********
Lucretia slowly pushed her door opened as she sauntered in with heavy feet, totally exhausted. She slammed herself on to her bed, dropping the bag beside her as different thoughts rushed through her mind.
Just then, she heard her phone ringing. She slowly picked it up, checking the caller ID.
"Oh Crystal." she murmured, picking it up.
"Why didn't you call me when you got home? I was so worried about you." a voiced queried from the other side of the phone.
"I'm so sorry dear, just got home. I haven't even changed."
"It's okay Luc..., but have you been able to your parents about the scandal at school?"
"No Crystal, how will I be able to say something like this to them? Don't you think it will really be disappointing of me? Being involve in this kind of situation is already shameful enough."
"I understand you dear but don't you think getting your parents involve will help out situations?"
To get her parents involve in the situation wasn't something of her plans. The thought of them finding out alone was already killing her not to think of telling them herself. That was a totally "NO" on her side. She would rather kill herself than have her parents find out.
"No Crystal, we can't do something like that now. I don't want my parents to get disappointed in me. Let's handle things ourselves first okay..?"
"Okay, okay, calm down." Crystal answered, putting herself in her friends shoes. "Since Jayden said he has a way of finding out the truth, let's go by it then."
"Alright, I will check on him after freshening up."
"Then.., I'll hang up now."
"Okay, see you in school tomorrow."
"Certainly, bye..." replied Crystal, hanging up.
Crying earlier on and also talking to Crystal made Lucretia felt freshened with a suddenly new found energy rushing through her.
"Okay, let's do this." she sighed, dropping he phone on the bed as she headed to the washroom to wash down.
After that, she joined her parents at the dinning table for her meals. Angelica and Gilbert seeing their daughter beaming with joy once again made them confused but they kept it to themselves. At least, they have their daughter back.
After he meals, Lucretia helped her mother cleared the table then hurried to her room. She changed into her night wear and glided to her bed.
She picked up her phone and saw a message from Mimie and another from Jayden. She first checked Mimie's message and smiled on reading the text.
"You always know how to make someone smile Mimie." she mumbled, slightly shaking her head with a smile as she scrolled to Jayden's message.
Clicking on it, it reads
LET'S MEET AT THE SCHOOL LIBRARY TOMORROW, SOMEONE IS READY TO HELP US WITH THE EVIDENCE. I WILL TEXT MIMIE AND CRYSTAL TOO.
Lucretia felt glad reading this, at least she will be vindicated soon and this meant a pay back for Daisy. Placing the phone on the drawer next to her bed, she tucked herself under her blanket with the hope of things returning back to normal and Daisy getting paid back with her own coins.
But little did she know of Daisy's next big plan.
She turned off the light and soon drifted off to sleep. Mr and Mrs. Woods came around to wish their daughter goodnight but seeing her sleep peacefully made them returned back to their rooms.
***********
The next morning came by faster and sooner just as Lucretia had wished. She was in the washroom taking her bath when she heard her phone ring but she couldn't help it with all the foams covering her entire body.
On returning to her room, she walked up straight to her bed, picking the phone from the side drawer. She glanced at the caller ID and showed missed calls from Anita and Linsey.
She felt surprised since it was really unusual of to call her this early morning. She called back but there was no reply from either of them.
She checked the clock and it was already 7:00 am.
"Guess I have to call them during lunch. I'm already running late for our appointment."She dropped her phone and rushed off to her wardrobe, brought out her well ironed uniform and got in.
She picked up her bag and rushed out of her room. She got down stairs to meet her Dad already gone.
"See you after school mum..." she shouted as she rushed out of the door.
"But dear, your break....fast." she called after her, her voice fading away with her last words but Lucretia had already left.
"Oh mine, why so much hurry?" she muttered with a smile, slightly shaking her head.
Philip was also getting ready in his room when he saw Lucretia rushed out of her house in so much hurry.
"Where is she up to in so much hurry?" he murmured to himself thoughtfully.
He shrugged, as he went on with what he was doing with the bid of catching up with Lucretia at the bus stop.
Lucretia kept checking her time all along as she raced to the bus stop. Luckily for her, she was able to catch up with the first bus. She joined the passengers getting on board and soon settled in. After a few seconds, the bus sped off.
***********
After about an hour of driving, the bus pulled up at the school's bus stop since it wasn't a school bus. She hurriedly got down and rushed off towards the school entrance which was just 5mins walk away.
On getting to the school's compound, she raced into the school through the hallway. Just when she was about passing by the washroom, someone pulled her in.
Who do you think pulled her to the washroom?