Mona, lying on her stomach in her room on a Saturday morning after breakfast, began chatting with her best friend Gina on her phone.
She revealed to Mona that she had feelings for Derrick, and Gina expressed her discomfort with how close Mona was getting to the boy she liked.
Despite Mona's explanation that she had nothing going on with Derrick, Gina believed that Derrick was pursuing Mona and that she should distance herself from him.
Gina pleaded with Mona to get Derick to like her, and after giving it a little thought, Mona decided to try.
…
In the school cafeteria on Monday, while queuing up to get food, Gina was about to inquire from Mona about her request, but Mona quickly interrupted her by shushing her.
When they got seated, Gina challenged her. "What type of friend are you, Mona? I asked…"
Mona lifted her gaze tiredly and smiled. "I did hear you, Gina but we just couldn't have that type of conversation in the queue. I'm sorry," Mona interrupted Gina to explain.
After glaring endlessly, Gina lowered her gaze. "So?"
"I haven't."
"Why?" She pouted. "I knew it, I knew you would never help me. Now, I don't feel like eating with you," she carried her tray.
"Wait, Gina, I didn't get the chance to talk…" She lowered her voice as Gina had left the table, "...to him." Mona finished by muttering to herself, she stared at her food only to recall the look Gina had on her face for her earlier.
Sadness occupied her heart but she had to swallow her feelings to ease the pain a little. She had to talk to Derrick. She didn't want to lose Gina, not her best friend.
After the lunch break, she approached Derrick who was with his friends by his locker. The look he gave her was evidence of his feelings but she phlegmatically stared at him.
He waved his friends off and placed full focus on her. "What is it, Mona?" He asked.
"I…can you follow me to a restaurant I just discovered by the street behind our school? I...heard that the meals there are rich in nutrients," she stammered, causing Derrick to have a different thought about her request.
"I never expected you to ask me out on a date," he smiled. Mona smiled back forcefully.
"It's not like that," she waved her hands in an expression of her true intentions but he leaned against his locker and circled her neck with his arm before drawing her closer to him.
"It's okay, I understand," he glanced down at her face with that look and winked before walking away.
"What do you say?" Mona needed to confirm.
"I'll go with you," he faced her as he walked in the opposite direction just to reply to her.
The problem now was how she would tell Gina about her plan for the evening.
So, after biology class, she decided to speak to Gina about what she planned for both of them. But the English language teacher walked in immediately after the biology teacher left, destroying her attempt to approach her friend.
Mona could have other friends, but Gina was special to her.
Mona believed that Gina was the best for her because the girl understood her more than anything.
Gina had risked a lot for her, especially during exams, whenever Mona found it hard to answer any questions, they cheated together.
Mona knew how risky it was for Gina as she was a scholar, so she owed Gina a lot and giving her the boy she liked wasn't too much. She couldn't let that small problem ruin their relationship.
They were friends for life, how could she just let her friend go? So, this time she'd do whatever it takes to make Gina happy, to get her the boy she liked.
Immediately after the English lesson, she pleaded with Gina to at least have a word with her and after finally persuading her, Gina heard what Mona had to say.
With that, she hugged her friend and kissed her cheek. "I knew you wouldn't disappoint me," she was exhilarated, which was Mona's joy as well.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to do this earlier," Mona apologized.
They were standing by the entrance of the class, having their warm childish conversation which was one of the features Mona cherished about their friendship and she wouldn't trade that.
The school was over, what Gina had been waiting for. She strolled the school in search of Mona. When she couldn't find her in fifteen minutes, her anger rose.
Had she been deceived by her friend? Gina looked through the window on the fourth floor only to see Mona resting against her black car busy with her phone.
Gina wasted no time or thought twice before storming out of the empty class. Mona was going to see how fierce she could be. She increased her pace down the stairs and the next moment, her phone rang. She reluctantly brought it out of her bag and answered the call.
"What is it, Mona?" She asked, halting at the second-floor stairs. "I've been searching for you, if you know you are not helping, why? Why did you give me false hopes?" She then continued her pace down the stairs as speaking through the phone didn't ease her well. She wanted to face Mona and scold her loudly.
"I'm sorry, I had things to do. Derrick just called and he's at the restaurant waiting," Mona explained.
Gina paused again and stared at her phone before chuckling softly, "All right, I'll be right there with you," she offered her response and hung up before descending the stairs in a happy mood.
Mona waved at Gina the moment she saw her. The girl smiled and ran as fast as she could to her friend, landing and pressing the girl to her car.
"Let's go." Gina tucked her hair behind her ear and ease her pants.
Gina was a tall girl with dark eyes, she had fair skin and freckles on her face. Her lips were slim and her eyes were cute and big.
The difference between the two friends was that Mona was black, not as tall and her traits were bigger than that of Gina. Gina found Mona sexier so the jealousy grew more.
And most of all, Mona was older than her friend. She should have graduated from high school but her failure in mathematics was her obstacle.
The car engine started with Ben's help, her driver and, with that, they were led to the restaurant behind their school.