In the next two months, nothing much had changed. I had actually thought that the longer I stayed in Olive Valley, the better things would become.
Arthur had already began to blaze in success; he really was a talented and ingenious young man.
Dreaming of becoming the greatest robotics engineer, Arthur decided to take his humongous first step by making a dazzling robot named "BlueBot"
It was a blue coloured mini robot that possessed the ability to put persistent children to sleep.
It had access to kid's napping time by telling them stories in the most soothing way that even the most hyperactive child would fall asleep under few minutes.
It as well told bedtime stories to kids while displaying pictures from its mini screen and would tell a kid about any story the kid desired after looking up a book related to the kid's choice online.
He first called it "The sleepy Bot," then "The Blue Sleepy Bot," then ended up with "Blue Bot."
"I've been working on BlueBot with my Mom ever since I was eight. During summer, I spent so much time with my aunt and being the mother of four, she often had to multitask because of her kids.
She was only free from tasks and disturbance when they were asleep, but then they falling asleep was almost impossible. They only fell asleep when I'd take time to wear them off with boring stories and lullabies.
So that's when BlueBot popped up!"
He as well contested in several science competitions and won so many trophies and medals.
Arthur advanced further by selling his idea to a robotics company owned by his uncle's friend and he had a huge amount of cash flowing into his account every week.
He became so famous overnight just as soon as he won those competitions because he set a record no one had ever been capable of setting in decades and it was all over the news and internet.
He also made me so gratified.
The company improved his idea and the product was on sale in no time.
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While we sat in the abandoned teachers' lounge, I and Arthur chatted about his achievements and how celeberated he had suddenly become within a short while.
"If anyone had told me this would happen, I would have doubted it big time. You don't have any idea about how hyped I am that I got this far and that I made my family so proud. Well, this is just a tip of the ice berg," Arthur stylishly pronounced and rather than putting a smile of support on my face, I was bitter.
"At least you have something to be grateful to God for. I wonder if He isn't listening anymore like He used to. I just want to star in a movie and know what it feels like," I joylessly said, doodling with one of the fries I picked up from the plate of food.
"Come on Steph, don't be that way. God knows how bad you wanna get your career working, He's hearing and listening and He wants to help... He's gonna help. Everything will be alright soon."
"Easy for you to say. I mean, your dreams are already coming true." I said and picked up another fry to doodle on the floor with.
"And now you're wasting our fries," Arthur pouted then paused for a second, "It's all about faith and the right move."
"I've got faith Arthur."
"I mean, you didn't even go about those auditions the right way. You're just too hasty and impatient."
I questioned innocently, "how?"
"Um... How do I say this in a not so offensive manner? Well... Dale took advantage of you because you were too desperate. I mean who goes into auditions in an instant without going through the necessary procedures? That was what Dale was trying to tell you about but you never listened. I'm sorry to sound this way but I always knew there was a slight chance for you to make it but I didn't wanna discourage you or bring this up when you were so depressed. But I'm so glad you've got that experience and you've seen for yourself how things happen in America so now you are bound to listen and this would also help you prepare better for more auditions."
He continued, "and I can't end this without asking you to keep trusting in God and let Him guide you. For now, you need to focus on taking acting classes and watching lots of tutorials online regarding auditions and whatever you actors do. Information is key-just make sure you gain every piece of info about your career and you can as well begin from school plays."
"You really need to be composed and remember to always seek for God's opinion and approval first." He paused for a while and looked into my pitiful eyes. "Things weren't easy for me either. I accomplished all I did mostly through God's assistance and hardwork. Now we are gonna work on you. While doing your thing in school plays and stuff, let's as well make nice videos of you... Probably acting or re-living movie scenes then we post them online in order for you to gain attention. If you keep doing that and it brings you lots of views then at least that's an headstart for you to really prove yourself. Leave the rest to God."
I had already wrecked my Dad's friendship with Dale and Patrick, informing him about Dale's vile intentions to rape me. Dad kept assuring me that things would work out for my good but he actually cared less. Man! He wasn't even active about the issue as I thought he'd be. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣!
In the following week, I and Arthur spent so many hours making appealing videos. Sometimes they were hilarious and other times, they were motivational. I also mimicked the lines of some famous actors and I filmed it in a creative way, often making my actions totally exact with that of the actors or then I did it even better. Arthur directed my videos and hid behind the camera. I did great in all of my videos and I was deeply stunned to catch a whole lot of views and shares on social media.
Emlyn on the other hand was one of the co-presidents of the student body in drama club. He was being elected by students.
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It wasn't long before I and Arthur discovered that he was on the school news paper and the event of his competitions was being published on the press board. We were both thrilled!
Just early on a Wednesday morning, the members of the press club engulfed us as we paraded the hallway and demanded interviewing the genius and winner of the three science competitions in the City—Arthur. Abruptly, I felt the urge to use the restroom.
"Arthur, I have to go use the restroom," I said and as I turned to leave in a jittery state, he pulled me back. "You can't leave, I'm more nervous than ever."
"But it's urgent!"
"Hold whatever wants to come out of you Stephanie! You have to be here, you need to be here."
I waited for a minute but then I already felt like I was going to wet myself.
"Sorry buddy, it'll only be for a minute, I promise," I said and raced off to the restroom.
I got to the restroom and opened the door to use the first one I could find empty. To my uttermost shock, in the restroom was Nicole smoking!
"Shit!" She exclaimed. She had probably forgot to lock herself in. 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙢𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡?! 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚?!
It was uneath for my mind to process the whole situation. 𝘽𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧!
I was indeed thunderstruck, but at the same time not so shocked that she would amount to that. I was even more startled that she had to smoke in school! 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙧!
I cleared my head of all the thoughts that kept flowing in and turned to leave the scene like I had seen nothing but Nicole seized my hand so tight and pulled me back into the toilet. I could tell she was really terrified.
"If you dare blab about what you just saw to anyone, I will stab you until you slowly bleed to death," said Nicole. She pulled out a knife from her purse, used it to identify her threat by pointing the object at my face, then tossed the cigarette out the mini bathroom window.
I panicked and got lose from her tight grip and raced out of the restroom. I ran with so much vigour that I didn't notice a boy who walked in. I mindlessly bumped into him; that way, he fell and mightily hit his forehead on a washbasin which caused him to pass out with an injury on his forehead.
I wasn't even thinking straight at that moment, my urgent need to use the restroom ceased as I ran out. I knew my heavy push would affect that boy somehow but I didn't stop to check if he was alright or go back to check up on him after I left the restroom. I was only concerned about getting away from Nicole who had already become a savage beast and even beheld the effrontery to lay a threat on me.
I was headed to the teachers' lounge to talk to a teacher concerning what I saw and by a teacher, it obviously had to be Mrs Kayla. I took a rush over to meet her but then she was nowhere to be found.
Nicole on the other hand wasn't as smart as I thought she was. She left the toilet with the knife unintentionally and fate led her to storm upon Mrs Kayla that second. I could tell that Nicole was in a puzzled state with what happened to the boy I got injured but before she could keep the knife away, Mrs Kayla caught her with it.
"Oh my God! What did you do?!" I heard Mrs Kayla say. She stooped to check the boy's temperature and Nicole stuttered, unable to defend herself. Just immediately, I walked back into the scene slowly and frightfully, and Nicole rapidly pointed an accusing finger at me-saying I was the one who got the boy injured.
Before making any more interrogations, Mrs Kayla got the attention of the school nurse and the boy was taken away for treatment.
"Now before you start talking, I wanna know why you've got a knife with you," asked Mrs Kayla but Nicole couldn't give a rational explanation or a straight answer-she was heck evasive.
"Oh my God! I can't believe... Did you really get that boy injured with that knife?!" She asked and I innocently stood beside her, unable to say what truly happened. Mrs Kayla never noticed the blood on the washbasin.
"I did not! It was Stephanie," Nicole hurled. It then dawned on me that she was trying to get herself off the hook and paint me out to be the bad guy.
Although, it was truly my doing, but it was an accident and it happened as a result of Nicole's aggressive threat! I knew that if I admitted being the one who caused him to pass out, I would have to elucidate why I ran in the first place and then end up saying I caught Nicole smoking in the toilet and I didn't want to get a participation ticket for school drama. I had to deny it because afterall, Nicole had always been a scunge and I knew anyone would believe me.
"No! Don't try to deny it, you are the one with the knife," I said and she bawled.
I wasn't thinking straight; it never occurred to me that the boy would eventually wake up and spill the truth and then I would be scolded for lying and would also displease Mrs Kayla and at last, it would have still led to me seeing Nicole smoke.
I thought it all through and suddenly felt a rue. I wondered why I hadn't said it all in the first place without having to tell a single lie. Moreover, Nicole deserved to be punished for her crime and everyone deserved to know the truth about her.
Mrs Kayla stood for me due to her knowledge of how much of a good kid I was. We were guided to the principal's office and the principal concluded the case by saying, "I would like to hear the victim's side of the story for conclusions. Nicole Martin, I hope you are not guilty because you won't get away easy this time. You shall be expelled from this school if guilty."