We all went to our various classes. I was so excited about the outing after school. I went to the bathroom to call my brother. Phones were illegal in school except when needed during classes. The phone rang four times.
"The person you are calling is not available to pick your call at this moment. Please try again later". A female computerized voice answered.
Oh, bummer. Where is Simon when I needed him. Just the moment I was about to have fun with my new friends. I tried a couple of times more and when I still couldn't get through, I went to my class.
The whole class was silent when I came in.
"It's about time". Kim snapped.
"We were waiting for you, Barbara". Marc said.
"Oh, I didn't realize it. I would have been a bit more early to class".
"It is no big deal, "Disney said.
"It is no big deal? oh really, am really surprised to hear that coming from you. The last time I checked, you were the one being so happy to be the class representative as it would be a great contribution to your school application to the most prestigious federal university". Kim was really freaking out. Truly she is always freaking out about something but this time she is REALLY freaking out.
"No need to freak out, "I said and regretted immediately.
"NO NEED TO FREAK OUT, YOU ARE LATE TO CLASS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CRISIS". She shouted on top of her lungs.
"Crises?, is anyone I know dead?" Of course, I knew no one died, I only said that to make light of the situation. Trust Kim to put all the blame on me.
"This is why you will never fit in. The principal threatened to eliminate the high school hierarchy. In case you have not noticed, this is my kingdom. Eliminating high school hierarchy means eliminating Queen Kim, eliminating Queen Kim means hell for all of you. I am going down, trust me am taking all of you with me".
I rolled my eyes.
"You know what? This does not have to be that hard. Being in separate classes is not really that bad".
"You just shut up". She turned and gathered all of them, isolating me.
Rhyme and Angie were waiting for me after school.
"Hey, guys".
"No baby It's more like hey girls or hey besties".
"My bad. Hey, besties".I felt really good to say the word besties out loud.
"So shall we?".
"Actually, will you please wait a few minutes, I need to call my brother and tell him not to pick me from school".
"Bestie, catch up. You should have called your brother since during school hours".
"I'm sorry. You know what just go, we will do this at a better time".
"No no no," Angie said.
"We don't treat our friends like that" Rhyme completed.
I called Simon and he said he was on his way to pick me up.
"What did he say?".
"He said he was already on his way. He can give us a ride to blue heavens".
"Yippee".
We waited for Simon to come to pick us up From the looks on their faces, I could tell they were eager about going out with me. Truth be told, I was eager about it too. I miss my old friends but the idea of having new friends is really getting me excited. Just two more outings and am sure to forget completely about them. Now I get why my friends hadn't really cared about me ever since I went away. They weren't really my true friends and maybe I was really theirs either. Our friendship was based on being one of the most popular and beautiful girls in the school and making a name for ourselves. For me, it was being really smart, I was two classes ahead of my mates in algebra and a class ahead in general sciences. Usually, it's cool to be smart but it's nerdy to be really smart like I am. It wasn't so for me though because I was considered cool. That's was what made me special. For Natalie, it was being a fashionista. I have expensive clothes and all but Natalie had a natural knack for fashion. She looks good in anything and also models for a chic magazine in the neighbourhood. Anastasia's dad was a movie director at Hollywood so it was really easy for her to get into the industry. She cast in movies especially musicals and has a very good voice. During summer, she gets us tickets to places like Los Angeles, Cancun Island, Paris and New York City. We were fondly called the three musketeers. We were damn popular and that was what kept us together.
I made a decision inside me to beware of the type of friends I keep. I promised myself to make friends that will look out for me and vice versa. Simon arrived a few minutes after and drove us to blue heavens.
"You didn't tell us Simon is your brother". Rhyme commented.
"She also did not tell me she was tagging friends along". Simon said frustratedly.
"Well, he is my stepbrother. My mum married his dad". I turned to Simon. "What is wrong with making new friends".
"Nothing, as long as it doesn't involve me".
"Since your parents run blue heavens, do we get free drinks?".
"Do they?". I asked Simon.
He ignored me.
"Common Simon". Rhyme said.
"Whatever". He said dryly.
"You know Simon was so cute when he was at our school".
"Oh really tell me about him".
"You're going to regret this". Simon swore whispering.
"So he was about two classes ahead and was really cute. My sister had a crush on him". Angie said.
"My sister too" Rhyme said.
"He was taken though, he was dating Rhoda. All the girls in the school liked him especially Mercedes".
"Who?" I asked.
"Mercedes is Kim's sister. It's probably why she doesn't like you".
"You're in Kimberley McAdams' class". Simon sounded alarmed.
"Yes, why?"
"Be careful".
"I am so telling everyone you're Simon's brother". Rhyme said
"Please don't," Simon said.
"I will. It will get us into all the cool parties. Everyone will want to be Barbara's friend". Angie said and started taking pictures of me and Simon.
"I thought you were okay with being uncool and nerdy". I said.
It's Angie doesn't really care about being cool or popular. She was a very serious-minded person and equally nice. It's kinda Rhyme's thing to want to roll with the cool kids cos she had a flair for the dramatic. Of course, Rhyme could really pull off being cool. If there was one thing we had in common, it will be having a knack for popularity and of course arts. Rhyme was taking Arts as a major subject and she is really good at it. She also belongs to the drama club. It really takes a lot of courage to have friends and still do your own thing. I respect her for that. She had friends in science and still do her Arts. Her friends were in the press club and she is in the theatre club and is doing great too.
"How about I pay you back in your own coin". Simon whispered to me breaking into my thoughts.
I had no idea what he meant.
"You know I do not call Barbara by her name".
"You don't?". Rhyme and Angie said in unison.
"Barbara is so old school. I call her Babe or Barbie".
"OMG Barbie is a really cute name like she is named after the most popular celebrity doll figure". Rhyme said.
"No no, it's Babe that is cool. You should totally call her that".
"Babe. The name is totes adobes".
"It's really cool to have a nickname". Rhyme said.
"Kim, for instance, is Kimberly, Marc is probably Macaulay or something. My name Angie is short for Angela and Rhyme is not her real name"Angie classified.
"No way". I was surprised.
"Yes, Babe. I'm called Rhyme because I sing. My real name is Adelaide but I'll rather be called Rhyme than Heidi. Plus, it rhymes with my boyfriend's name Ryan".
"Ryan is Reggie's best friend". Angie cut in.
Now I know what he meant by paying me back in my own coin. This is literally a taste of my cough medicine.