In the campus, Fortune is seen with her two friends, the twins, in the classroom chatting with each other. The teacher was not yet in the class. Vincent's desk was close to the window while his friends, Jeff and Jeremy sat opposite each other.
They were engulfed in their discussions that they didn't notice when the three girls stormed into the classroom and started yelling on top of their voices.
"Whosoever is with my purse and my fashion design book should bring it out." Cara yelled, the owner of the stolen stuffs.
The students murmured amongst themselves.
"The drama queens are here." Ada breathed.
"If you know you're the one with her stuffs, kindly bring it out now or you won't like us if we fish you out ourselves." Amanda intervened on Cara's behalf.
Vincent ignored them and went on discussing with his friends and other students who seem uninterested in their yellings.
"Please go and look for where you kept your things and stop disturbing the class." Fortune implied, getting tired of their screams.
"Miss know it all, I didn't ask for your opinion so stay in your lane." Cara retaliated.
Fortune kept quiet and decided not to exchange words with them and focused her attention on her friends. Most times she would steal a glance at Vincent's direction but his attention wasn't on her and somehow she didn't like it. She didn't know but she wants to have his attention.
Not after what happened between you two. She always thought after that day Vincent defended her friend out there in front of the girls, that he was a good guy but little did she know that everything he did was for his own benefits. He's just too pompous for my liking, he's so full of himself. She often told herself.
"You guys won't talk now or bring out my things not when I search and catch the culprit, don't say I'm wicked if I take the next action." Cara cautioned.
The whole class kept quiet, not budging in to her yells. Cara couldn't take the silence any more and decided to search the whole class, she searched students bags and lockers expect Vincent's and his friends bags. It was time to search Fortune's bag, she refused to be searched.
"What are you doing? What will your stuffs be doing in my bag?."
"If my things are not in your bag, why don't you want to be searched?" Cara asked, skeptically.
"I said you will not search my bag." Fortune replied.
"Fort, pls let her search since you don't have anything to do with her things." Ada prompted. "I'm tried of her screams."
Fortune lets her search her bag and locker and unfortunately for her, the things was found in her bag. Fort, Ada and Ekene's eyes widened in shock. The whole class gasp, she was shocked to see her things in her bag and wondered how her things got into her bag and who put it there.
"So this was the reason why you don't want to be searched?." Cara asked as she brought out her glittery stone purse and fashion design book.
Fortune was dumbfounded at the sight before her, how did that stuffs got into her bag?. The twins mouths stood agape at what was happening, the students were muttering amongst themselves. Vincent seemed uninterested in the drama before him but his friends was.
"You stole my things and pretended you are a saint." Cara pointed out in a raged tone.
"But.....how..did that...." Fortune trailed off. She still couldn't believe it, she won't never touch what belonged to someone especially the ones that belonged to these three girls.
"Stop faking innocent, I know you are not." Clara said. "Why did you do that, Why did steal her things? Are you jealous of her?." She asked many question at a time.
Jealous?. Why will she be jealous of that Cara, I mean she doesn't have anything to be jealous of .
"Fort, how did her things get into your bag?." Ekene asked, disoriented by the sight before him.
"I don't know how?. I'm as surprised as you're. I mean how did it enter my bag?."
"Someone must have done it to play a dirty game on me." Fortune continued. "I mean who could do that and why?."
"Oh quit that melodrama of yours. The whole class saw my stuffs in your bag and that explains one thing, you stole my things." Cara yelled on top of her voice.
"I'm saying I didn't steal your things. Why would I do that?."
Vincent who was now interested in the drama spoke up.
"Why don't you admit you stole them and end the story." He implied, walking up to her and was three inches from her. Fortune wondered why he spoke up now, he pretty wasn't interested and why was he siding with these girls when he doesn't know the truth.
He should know her better by now she was not the kind of girl and she won't stoop so slow to that just to teach those girls a lesson.
"Why would I admit to a crime I didn't commit, I'm still saying I don't know how her things got into my bag." She defended herself again.
"But all evidence points to you." He replied. "Her things were found in your bag."
"And that doesn't mean I put them there." Fortune reasoned trying to save herself from the temptation.
"You know what, you always preach to others like you're the saint but you are not, you are worse than a gold digger. Why did you steal her fashion book, were you trying to steal her designs?." V asked irritated. This girl needs to be taught a lesson.
Fortune was taken aback by his words, yes he didn't know her that much but that didn't give him the right to accuse her of what she didn't do. What still baffled her was how those things got into her bag.
"I didn't steal it." She defended herself again as her eyes glistened with invisible tears.
"But her things were found in your bag." One of the students yelled from her seat. "Which means you're the thief, right?." She asked the opinion of other students gesturing to them.
"Yes!." Half of the whole class answered.
"See the whole class is against you." Vincent said igniting fire the more. You're nothing but a disgusting THIEF." He emphasized the thief.
"Fort, I believe you no matter what." Ekene defended. "I know you won't try that sort of a thing, no matter what they said...." He said eying Vincent. "You would never steal what belongs to another."
"I know you're going to defend her, you crazy lover!." V screamed. "I'm telling you to quit those feelings you have for her, she's gonna ruin you." He smirked.
Ekene grabbed him on the collar of his T-shirt, rage flickering in his eyes.
"What kind of a person are you?." Ekene cried. Little tears are now dropping from her eyes( Fortune).
Vincent smirked. "The type that gets whatever he wants." He took his hands off his collar.
He shifted his gaze back to Fortune, shoving his hands inside the front pockets of his Jean short.
"What do you always say that you are unbeatable right?. Well today you're beatable. What words will I use for you?." He pulled his right hand from his pocket and placed his forefinger on his chin in a thoughtful manner.
"Yes. Shameful, hypocrite and a pretender. That's what you are." He pointed his forefinger at her accusingly. Meanwhile the three girls were loving the view including some students while others and Ada felt sorry for her.
Fortune couldn't take more of his insults and the anger burning inside her was too much for her to contain, she can't hold back anymore. Who is he to judge her that quickly?.
He doesn't know a thing about her and the kind of person she is. The rage was too much and she didn't know when she raised her hand and slapped him to the astonishment of the students.
Vincent was taken aback when her palm came in contact with his face. The whole students gasp including the three girls.
"How dare you...." He yelled but she cuts him off by raising one of her finger in the air in a warning manner.
"I have had enough of your nonsense, how can you be so judgemental towards me when you don't know a thing about me."
"I said I didn't steal it, you called me shameless." She added. "What do I make of you, going about bullying students forcing them to keen to all your demands. You are the worst being I have even seen." She concluded.
How dare you raise your hand on.... ?." Cara was cut off by her.
Shushh....." She said.
Just then the teacher walked in. "What is going on here and why are you all gathered in one spot."
"She stole my things." Cara pointed at Fortune. "My purse and fashion book, she's trying to steal my designs."
"That's not true." Fortune defended herself. I didn't steal it. "I don't know how her things got into my bag."
Vincent rubbed the part Fortune slapped. He stared intensively at her, why is that everything he does to make this girl beg at his feet seem abortive?. In fact everything backfired.
She's a headstrong woman he ever came across for the first time in his life. Usually girls fall for him, girls trample on each other to gain his attention but this one was a hard nut to crack.
When we get to the Hod's office, you both will explain yourself better." The female teacher said to Fortune and Cara and they followed behind her to the Hod's office.
The students started returning back to their various seats although there were still murmurs. Ada and Ekene went back to their seats.
"I told you to leave this girl alone, she will only hurt you but you won't listen." Jeremy cautioned.
"Yes V." Jeff said as they sat back on their various seats. "You always get yourself hurt cause of that girl. I mean what's wrong with you, this is the first I've seen you like this for a girl."
"She had the nerve to slap me, she does not know she's playing with the tail of a tiger." Vincent hit his fist on his desk.
"Just forget about it. Free her and let her go." Jeremy concluded.
Just then Fortune walked into the class wearing a gloom face. Ada and Ekene rushed to her.
"What did the Hod said, did he believe you?." Ada asked, worried.
Fortune kept quiet, staring on the floor and slumped to her seat absentminded.
"What did he say?." Ekene asked, frightened by her look.
"I'm suspended...." She trailed off as she wiped off a single tear that rolled down from her eye.
"You what?." Ada screamed, earning the attention of the students.
"How could he suspend you, he knew you can't do that kind of thing." Ekene instigated.
"He believed her, he believed I stole them cause they found her things in my bag." She said, almost crying.
"Of course he should." V inserted as he made his way to her desk ignoring the hateful eyes of Ekene. "Anyone in his shoes will. And that serves you right, a suspension won't kill you."
"Aren't you satisfied yet?." Ada asked, almost furious.
"Of course I am." V smirked. "This is the punishment you get for cooking that stupid thing you called food. I mean I could have died." Fortune stared gloomily at him. What he said didn't affect her in any way, the fact that she won't get to attend class for the next two weeks still bothered her.
What was she going to tell her parents. And how was she gonna stay at home for rest of two weeks, staying at home wasn't her things. All thanks to Vincent and the three girls.
"You're happy right?." Fortune asked, not expecting a response from him. She packed all her stuffs and carried her bag and walked out of the classroom.
Ada and Ekene ran after her. "I'm sorry you got into this cause of me " Ada apologized.
"Now tell me how is your fault?." Fortune asked looking at her.
"If you didn't become his maid, then you wouldn't have been in this mess."
"Don't worry about me. Just keep updating me with all the activities in school."
"Okay. I will, take care of yourself for me." Ekene said.
"Alright." She walked off.
**********************
Ada and Ekene walked inside the classroom and saw Vincent and the three girls chit chatting as if nothing happened.
"Look at them as if nothing happened." Ada murmured.
"Just let them be." Ekene replied.
"I'm going out to read at the library since the teacher isn't coming anymore." She pointed towards the classroom door. "Wanna come."
"No I want to stay here and finish my designs."
"Okay I will meet you here when I'm through Okay?."" She left.
She walked to the school library. Which has four rows of books, ancient histories, mystics and so many valuable books. She was walking on the aisle between the first and second rows, trying to pick up a book about fashion book in the first row, she picked up a book from the shelf and was astonished when she saw who was behind the other side staring at her.
She took her book, ignoring him and walking up to a vacant seat beside the window. Jeremy followed her and sat on an empty chair opposite her.
"What are you doing here?." She asked, sarcastically putting her bag and the book on the table.
"Is that how you greet someone." Jeremy asked.
"What are you doing here?." She asked again, annoyed by his presence. "You should be with your friends and bull other inferior students, that's all you can do."
"Whoa, whoa, hold on, Miss." Jeremy prompted, raising his two hands on the air. "I came here all the way to you and this is what you have to say to me."
"I didn't ask you to come, you came on your own free will. You should go now, I want to study, I have better things to do than to waste my precious time talking to you." She implied, turning the pages of her book and staring at the contents in it.
"Why are you playing hard." He said out of the blue. "Look Miss, I'm trying to make a conversation."
"And I don't need your silly conservation. What V your friend did to my friend wasn't enough so you came here to create your own scene."
"I didn't know a thing about that." Jeremy inserted. "And I told V to leave your friend alone but he won't listen and I'm really sorry for what happened to your friend."
She looked up at him, scanning his face, wondering why he was acting so gentlemanly instead of teasing her as he used to. And why was he apologizing on Vincent's behalf, he's the one at fault not him. She shifted her gaze from him back to her book.
"Look I'm not in the mood to talk to you, just stay away from me." She implied, her voice a little bit raised earning the attention of the librarian.
"Shh..... You guys are making noise." She cautioned.
Just then Jeremy snatched the book she was holding, holding it up so her hand can't reach it.
"What are you doing?." Ada inquired keeping her voice low. "Give me back my book."
"No, come get it yourself." He still hanged his hand in the air and stood up from his seat, making his way to the door.
"Give me back my book." She wanted to scream, she looked at the librarian who gave her a death glare. She followed Jeremy out of the library.
Chasing him all around the corner of their department, trying to reach out for her book which seemed impossible, just because he's tall does not give him the right to underestimate her like that. They ran all the way to the department field which made up of tiny little grasses on level, very nice and pleasant to the air. Luckily there was no one there and only few students are seen outside from other departments.
"Jeremy I'm asking for the last time, give back my book!" She demanded furiously.
For goodness sake this guy should give her back her book and leave her alone, ever since the day she started working for Vincent as a maid. This guy won't let her be, he had been annoying her since then.
"Come get it yourself." Jeremy challenged still raising the book up out of her reach.
They ran into the department field and unknowingly she puts her leg in his way trying to reach for her book and unfortunately for Jeremy he collided with her leg, making him to fall on the soft fluffy grass dragging her along with him.
She fell on top of him. She was shock at their position. Why must she land up on this guy most of the times?. Jeremy stared at her as he took in the sweet fragrance of her,she might not be the type of girl he dates but something about her attracted him.
He can't quite name it but he loves being around her, teasing her and kind of touching her. He had fallen head over heels for her, her quiet and naive nature had brought him closer to her. He admits she might hate cause she thought he's a bully but the truth was that he hangs out with Vincent alot and everyone thought he was also a bully.
They stared at each other for some moment, lost in each other's eyes, to them the world has come to a stand still. The only thing that mattered was them. They'd forgotten where they were. He raised his hand and tucked a strand of her braided hair behind her ears making her face more visible to look at.
He stared at her dreamy eyes down to her lips. Ada's blood ran cold in her system as his hand came in contact with her face, every of his touch affected her and she has to admit that. But she can't be falling for this guy, for this playboy. She will be an old story when he's done with her.
"You're beautiful." He said out of the blue, staring deep into her eyes. In spite she wasn't wearing any makeup. "You're so beautiful."
She couldn't help but smile at the compliment, for the first time he complimented her instead of teasing or bullying her.
"Ada I'm sorry if you are angry with me." He apologized. "Although I know I shouldn't be apologizing cause I don't apologize. You are the first girl I ever apologized to in a very long, long time." He said smirking.
She laughed.
"Men's ego." She scoffed.
That's was the first time he saw her laugh with him and he was so happy he's the cause.
"But why do you liking teasing me, bullying me?.
"Isn't it obvious. You are a naive girl and who wouldn't want to tease a naive girl. In fact teasing you and seeing your turn in a tomato makes me happy." He joked. She hits him playful on his chest.
"I love seeing you angry, you look cute when you are angry." He pinched her cheek.
"Jeremy why are you being so nice to me?." She asked, getting the question out of her mind, she can't understand why he's been so gentlemanly and sweet to her.
"I mean you should go ahead and tease and bull me. I'm uncomfortable with this new side of you, I'm used to the teasing."
"I wanted to apologize to you, I mean I know I have done bad things to you and I regret that, that's why I'm saying sorry. And I don't know why I love being around you, that's why I love bulling you to get your attention."
Her breathing stopped for a moment at the sound of that. Oh lord tell me he's not falling for me, how can I deal with that. Being informal in front of him.
"Ada let me be sincere with you." He continued staring deep into her eyes even when she wanted to look away, he turned her face to look at him.
"Ada I can't quite name this feelings but I think I'm falling in love with you". She froze at that outcome. Her heart thundered against her chest, how can he say he's in love with her when they are different from each other?. They came from different worlds and the truth is she wasn't ready to love or date any guy.
And the worst part is that the guy in question is Vincent's friend, how would Fortune and her brother react if she tells them. And Vincent and Fortune are mortal enemies, they can't stand the sight of each other and how will they react when they know two of their friends are dating.
"You are just flirting around with me, I know". She chuckled nervously standing up, Jeremy followed.
"No I'm serious." He said not smiling. "I've fallen for you, I know you must be thinking you're not my type of girl. But I don't know how this feelings came about. I'm really in love with you."
"You are not serious, you're kidding right?." She asked, not believing any word of his.
"I'm not."