It's the last day before the school prom. Everyone looked forward to it. Girls spoke about their dates, dresses they purchased, rumours about the celebrity coming to perform, and so on.
"Trina" Arthur called.
Trina was seated at the back of the classroom, busy doing what she did best- gossip.
"Yes darling" she answered
"Can I have a word with you?" Arthur said to her
"Hmm....okay" she said
"Alone please" Arthur said, and Trina's gossiping squad left their presence.
I walked into the class with Lorenzo and Kevin. Kevin was talking about a text Arthurbhad sent him the night before. He was confused and he believed Arthur was hiding something. But i told him to let it go.
On our to our seats, I spotted Arthur and Trina at the back of the class. Trina looked so angry, and before I took my seat, I heard a loud noise and the whole class gasped. I turned immediately towards the direction the noise came, but Arthur was by himself. He placed his hand on the side of his face, and he walked out of the class.
"What happened?" I suddenly asked
"Trina just hit Arthur on the side of his face" Lorenzo answered
"Hit how?" I asked staring at Lorenzo confused.
"As plain as he was, you honestly didn't understand what he said." Kevin said, but I still looked confused "Triana gave him a slap"
"And it looked like it hurt" Lorenzo added
I pressed my hands against my mouth. Why would Trina do such a thing? I wanted to go after Arthur, just to know if he was alright, but Kevin placed a restraining hand on my arm.
"Let him be Elena, you don't know what they had just discussed. Maybe they just broke up" Kevin said
"Broke up?" I asked looking at him in bewilderment.
Arthur never mentioned he was dating Trina.
I looked at Lorenzo. Lorenzo could tell I was just hearing it for the first time.
"Yes, I thought Arthur might have told you about it" Lorenzo said
"No he didn't. How did you both know?" I asked
"Rumour spread like wide fire Elena, too bad it didn't get to you" Kevin said.
"But I'm yet to believe anyways, everyone said it's a rumour, it hasn't been proven yet." Lorenzo said
"But Arthur told me that they weren't together, he further explained that it was a dare." I explained
"If it was a dare then, I guess the dare is over." Kevin said.
"But would a simple dare like that make Trina so angry" Lorenzo said
"I don't know, maybe she just wanted to add a little drama" Kevin said.
"Settle down class, we have a lot to do today" Mr Thomas, our Biology teacher said immediately he stepped into the class.
Everyone returned to their seats, and ignored the drama that had just happened.
It's 4pm and neither Arthur nor Trjna attended the rest of the classes. They both missed biology, English, Math, Chemistry, and Spanish classes.
I wasn't really bothered about Trina missing her classes, but Arthur was my concern. I wanted to stay back and search for Arthur, but Kevin warned me saying, "If you leave to go find him, consider yourself walking home alone." And Lorenzo agreed with him.
Kevin sounded like he was starting to hate Arthur.
"Is there a beef between you and Arthur? Why do you hate him all of a sudden?" I asked "First it was Lorenzo, now its you"
Kevin replied "I don't okay, I just feel he's hiding something."
"Something like what Kevin?" I asked
"I don't know Elena, I just had that feeling" Kevin replied calmly
"Let's just go home okay" Lorenzo said.
I returned home 15minutes early for dinner. My mother wasn't home, but dinner was cooking, which only meant Rodrigo was cooking.
Rodrigo loves to cook in his spare time, he dreamed of becoming a chef since when he was little.
Cooking became a hobby of his when I turned 5; he would always say. He always told me, mum and dad made a lot of trips then, and he was left to watch over Diego and I.
Diego on the other hand, wasn't a kitchen person. He was more like a car lover. He would spend most of his weekend working at an automobile shop inside of town.
I walked over to the kitchen, just to check on what my brother was preparing.
"Holla Rodrigo" I greeted
"Ah Elena, you're back. How was school today?" he responded
"School was fine." I answered
"You're back early today" Rodrigo pointed out
"Yes, Kevin made us take the bus" I answered
"Alright, go freshen up now, dinner is almost ready" he said
"Ok gracias" I said and I rushed back to my room.
Dimmer was white spaghetti and meat ball sauce. I requested to have dinner in my room, and my excuse was that I had alot of assignments. Rodrigo permitted me to go.
I hurried to finish my dinner, so I could get along with my assignments.
Right in the middle of my biology assignment, I received a call from Arthur, and I answered it.
"Hey" he firstly said
"Hi" I responded
"Ummm...are you busy right now?" he asked.
I looked at my table, filled with lots of assignments that needed my attention.
No I'm not" I answered
"Okay" he said "Can I see you?"
See me at 10:30pm. "Don't you think it's a bit late?" I pointed out.
"I'm already outside, lookout your window, but don't hang up" he said.
I rose from.my study chair, and I crossed over to my bedroom window. I saw Arthur standing outside, waving at me.
"Open the window, I'm coming up" he said.
"Are your brothers nearby?" he asked over the phone.
"No, they probably watching a soccer game or a movie" I answered
"Okay, hang up I'm coming in" Arthur said.
I watched him climb up the tree next to my window, and when he got closer, he stretched out his hand to me. I reached for his hand, and I helped him inside.
"Thanks, or do you prefer gracias?" he said smiling
"They both have the same meaning you know" I answered
"I know, I'm just asking"
"Thank you is fine" I answered
"Alright then, thank you Elena"
I offered him a seat, and a bottle of water. He sat on my bed, and I sat on my study chair.
"So why did you want to see me?" I asked
"Firstly, I wanted to see your face again" Arhtur said and he held my hand.
"So you missed me?" I asked teasingly
"Yes" he answered and I blushed
"That reminds me, what happened between you and Trina earlier today? Does your face still hurt?" I asked
Arthur sighed, but he didn't reply me immediately. "Well I told her I was done with the dare."
"But the prom is tomorrow night" I pointed out
"I'm aware, but I had just had enough her. she's so pushy and bossy." he said "Did I also mention selfish"
I laughed. He wasn't wrong anyways.
"So you're going to the prom alone" I said
"Its sad, but yes I am" he responded "Seat next to me" he said gesturing to my bed.
I rose from my seat and I sat next to him. He held my hand in his, and he brushed them with his thumb slightly. I stared into his eyes, mesmerized by its beauty. My reading lamp shimmered in them.
Arthur then leaned closer to me, and he kissed me. He placed his hand behind my head, and pulled me towards him. His kiss felt passionate, and I loved it. We kissed for sometime, but we stopped when someone knocked against my door.
"Elena, can I come in? I need my hoodie please. I need to go see someone who is just two blocks away." the voice said "Can I come in?"
The voice belonged to Diego.
"Umm...hold.on, I just came out of the bathroom. Give me a minute to put on something." I responded
"Quick, you have to leave" I whispered to Arthur.
Arthur immediately rose to his feet and crossed over the window. He climbed out immediately.
"Come in" I yelled immediately Arthur was out of sight.
Diego walked into my room and he drew the door behind him. "My hoodie please, and hurry"
"Oh yes, I'm sorry for the delay." I said and I handed his hoodie to him.
I watched him turn around to leave. He had began to turn the door knob, when he suddenly stopped.
"Your room smells like a guy's body spray or something" Diego said
He had caught Arthur's body spray. I glanced at my school bag and an idea came to me.
"Oh....yes. I have Kevin's jacket with me. I borrowed it this evening on our way back from school. The weather felt cold." I answered
Honestly, I did have Kevin's jacket with me, and what I said was true.
"Oh okay" Diego said and he left.
That was a close call- I said to myself.
My phone rang again, and I picked it up. The caller was Arthur.
"Elena is everything alright?" he asked in a concerned tone.
"Yes I'm fine" i assured him
"Is he gone now?" Arthur asked
"Yes"
"Ok good, because I'm still outside" he said.
"What!"
I immediately rushed to my window to take a look outside. I saw Diego putting his hoodie on. Rodrigo just stood outside talking to him.
"My brothers are the only ones down there" I said
Arthur then burst into laughter.
"What's funny?" I asked
"I was only joking around. I left already." he answered. "I have to go now, I'm driving at the moment. I just wanted to know if your alright. Bye for now"
"Ok" I answered and a beep followed.
I returned to my study table to continue with my assignments, which took me about three extra hours to finish.
After I was done with them, I went straight to my closet to get my prom dress ready. I hung it out on my closet door and I placed my shoes underneath it.
The dress was a dark navy blue, knee length halter gown, with Pearl's designed all around it. The prom would begin by 7pm, and I, Kevin, Lorenzo, and Ava, all agreed to put on dark navy blue outfits
I was really excited that Ava agreed to the idea.
I glanced at my wall clock, it was 10minutes past 2am, its past bed time.
"Wake up sleepy head" and i heard and i felt a tig after.
"Why?" I muttered
"Because your assignments are due today, and you are the last person who hasn't submitted" the person answered
I honestly thought I was speaking with Diego, because Diego often woke me up from my sleep. But this voice was different, and familiar, and why was the person interested in my assignments.
Except if the person were to be my class representative, and instantly, Lorenzo popped to my mind. I shut my eyes open and called his name.
"Lorenzo!"
"Good morning" he answered
I sat up on my bed, then rubbed my eyes with the back of my palms. "Good morning" I mumbled
"What are you doing here?" I asked
"I got a text from most of our teachers this morning. They all suggested the class reps and assistants collect all assignments, and submit them on behalf of our colleagues. The principal cancelled every class today, because of the prom tonight." he explained
I was still sleepy, and all he said made no sense to me.
"Can I have your assignments now" he said
"What?" I asked still confused
Lorenzo sighed in frustration and dragged me out of bed. He straightened my posture and held the side of my shoulders.