Someone knocked on the janitor's room I had locked myself in for two hours, crying my eyes out. Tears was the only thing I could use to pacify myself but it only gave me bad headaches. I stood up quite feeble and put my ear against the door.
'Anna are you in there?' Andre asked with concern. What was Andre doing there. Was I in here all day? I opened the door for Andre who studied my look. I wanted to say all was okay but I could not; things were not okay at all.
'Andre.' I said hugging him tightly. I burst into another series of tears.
'Anna who did this to you?' Andre asked me emotionlessly. His eyes gave no sign of concern anymore but of revenge. I cleaned my tears with the back of my hands.
'Let's just go Andre.' I said.
'Anna what's wrong with you? I asked a question.' Andre said.
'I said nothing is wrong.' I held Andre's hands trying to get him to calm down. 'Listen to me Andre, it's alright. There.. there's nothing to be angry about. I'm okay.' I said. I began trembling. Not Andre's anger. Not in school.
Andre walked out of the janitor's room. I followed suit. I had to catch up.
'Andre stop this!' I shouted following him at his back. We were beginning to attract students and now they had taken to their phones. A boy chuckled on seeing me. Andre stopped.
'Yo, who you laughing at?' Andre asked holding the boy back by his jacket.
'Andre!' Said the boy.
'Do I look like I'm in the mood for shit, yo? Why you laughing at my sis?' I was so confused with what was happening. How did he know Andre? The boy told him everything in detail as if to annoy Andre more despite my signs to make him stop talking.
I prayed Lucie had gone home but who was I kidding? Lucie was still in school.
*********
'Andre?' No. Lucie was actually trying to get Andre's attention. She was even coming towards him.
'Is that Lucie?' Andre asked me. I kept quiet.
'Andre don't do this.' I said. Andre was no longer with me. He had Lucie's hand pinned to the wall held tightly by his. Lucie whinned in pain.
'Why'd you do that to my sister?' Andre said in fury.
'You're hurting me, Andre. I didn't know that she was your sister.' Lucie innocently said as if she was to do it to someone who wasn't Andre's sister.
'If you were a guy, I would kill you but you're a girl...I never want you or any fucking person to hurt Anna again!' Andre shouted. There were phones around me, recording every moment of Andre acting like my bodyguard. I walked to the car and sat there. This was total embarrassment.
Andre came to the car still angry.
'Why would you do that Andre?'
'Because you don't!'
'I can fight my own battles.' Andre stopped the car and came outside, I followed, ready to pour out my heart which was so full of anger.
'Yeah, you were fighting pretty well in that room.' Andre said rolling his eyes. 'Face it Anna, you just can't stand up for yourself. That girl was so much like you but she had confidence.'
'Do you know what gives her that confidence Andre.'
'Her father's got a lot of dough Andre!'
'Yeah your father does not.' Andre said with so much sarcasm.
'I can't talk about my father!' I said. Andre raised his eyes. I said the truth and he realized it. I burst into tears once again.
'Anna—'
'No Andre! I know you are gonna say it's all dad's fault but it isn't. You don't need to stand in as dad.'
'I wasn't standing in—'
'You hate dad so much but you guys are a—you know what, forget it. You're still gonna loose your temper.'
**********
It had been two days and I still could not face school, Lucie and definitely not Caldwell. My phone rang. It was not mom, dad and Andre, and they were the only ones whose numbers I had.
'Hello.' I said when the person called a second time. 'Who_who is...this?'
'Sup girl.' The unknown caller said.
'Marie?'
'Hi Anna. Can you meet up at Nate's place. We gotta start working on the mystery once again and_' Marie paused. 'Say hi to your brother, Andre.' Marie said. She didn't even wait to hear me ask questions or say anything. Why did everyone react so much to Andre's coming to the school. Asking Andre would be breaking my vow of silent treatment towards him. I dressed up and got ready to go. Andre was in the sitting room with a book
'Where are you going?'
'Why should I tell you? Want to embarrass me more?'
'Anna don't be like that.'
'Bye Andre.' I said slamming the door. I imagine my brother's regret. I could not believe we haven't spoken to each other in two days. I didn't care if Andre's anger was a part of him, when it came to my problems I preferred he stayed away. I put my ear on the door longing to hear him cry. Hello Jenna. I heard him say. What the_ My brother called Jenna when he knew I was so mad at him! I gave him the middle finger over and over again even though he could not see me.
Andre was the worst! I stomped out on the street in anger. Why was I even angry with Andre? Maybe I was jealous because he did what I couldn't; stand up to Lucie.