"There the bitch comes." Amelia said to Anna.
"Tara!!!" Benedicta shouted, joyfully running towards me to hug me. Her loud call called the attention of Ashley and Bella, who also ran to hug me.
"We've missed you, Tara, dear. How are you now?" Ashley asked.
"I'm good, girls. I'm so happy to see you guys. Meet Pinky, my new pet." I said delightfully.
"Oh my gosh! She's so cute." Bella said, taking her from me happily.
Bella loves cats a lot. She has 15 of them in her house, and she is fond of them. She treats them like her siblings since she had none.
"Look at her eyes, Benedicta. As charming as Asher's. I'm sure Tara sees Asher in Pinky's eyes. Bella said, teasingly.
We all giggled.
"Well, well, well. Bella, dear, what if I told you that it was Asher who gave her the kitten?" Dennis said out of nowhere.
"Hey Dennis." I greeted.
"Xup, Tara." he replied.
"Oh God, when?" Benedicta asked, sighing.
"When what?" Dennis and I asked almost at the same time, looking at her scornfully.
"Come on, don't look at me like that. I'm only jealous of Tara. I wish to have a boyfriend like Asher. Tara's so lucky." Benedicta said it shyly.
"Seriously, wait. Did I just hear someone say she wishes to have a boyfriend like Asher?" Bella, who was carried away by Pinky, suddenly asked, "
"Hahaha." Dennis laughed.
"This sounds hilarious. How can someone who wishes to have a boyfriend act disdainful towards every guy who wants to make friends with her? This is ironic." Bella said, pacing around Benedicta with Pinky on her shoulder.
"Come on, men are scum. After what Henry did to me, I decided not to have anything to do with his other species." Benedicta said, looking sad.
"Hey. Stop this. Not all guys are the same. Some guys come into your life to teach you a lesson that will make you wiser. That doesn't mean you should give up on love. Your Mr. Right is out there searching for you. You should also be on the search for him." Dennis said it consolingly.
"Hmmm.. Who knows if her Mr. Right is one of the guys she has rejected?" Ashley uttered it into Bella's ear, which led to an outburst of laughter from Bella.
"How are you guys coping with the duchess and her accomplices?" I asked, changing the topic.
"Swear, you've missed a lot." Benedicta said, clapping her hands.
She loves telling stories. That was why I asked the question—to change her mood. I've missed school—the basketball court, the cafeteria, and also the singing room. I was walking up the stairs when Asher hugged me from behind.
"Hey bae," Asher said.
"Good morning, big head." I replied.
He placed his hand around my neck, and we walked together into the class. I went to sit on my chair and started bringing out my books from my bag in preparation for Miss Tayes' class.
Anna just came in with her friends, Priscilla and Amelia. She looked straight at where I was sitting, and our eyes met.
"Oh! Tara. Welcome. Are you okay now? We were all worried about you and prayed for you to get better. Thank God you are fine." Anna said, as if she truly cared.
I smiled at her and said, Thank you.
She looked at me scornfully and went to sit down.
"Hey, Anna. You look gorgeous today." Clinton said.
"Really? Thanks Clint." She replied happily.
"Don't take that comment to heart, dear, because it's a sarcastic one." Clinton told Anna rudely.
The whole class burst into laughter. Amelia got angry and tried defending her friend.
"She is at least more beautiful than your so-called girlfriend." Amelia retorted.
"Excuse me." Clinton shouted.
He stood up and went to where Ashley was sitting, held her by her hand, and helped her stand up. He took her to the front of the class.
"Guys, please take a look at this damsel standing right beside me. Also, turn your gaze to Anna. Who is more beautiful?" Clinton said it proudly.
More than half of the class picked Ashley.
"Don't speak nonsense next time, dwarf. Speak based on facts." Clinton said to Amelia
"You have guts, you know. You aren't concerned about your height. You allow your mouth to do its thing anyway. You can easily be bundled into a portable nylon bag. Be careful." Sam, the class captain,told Amelia.
The whole class laughed again.
"Good morning, class." Miss Tayes walked in.
"Good morning, Miss Tayes." We chorused.
*******************************************
The bell rang. It was time for a break. The duchess and her friends stormed out of the class.
"I'm so loving how today is going," Ashley said.
"I love being the topic of a discussion. I love attention, and I love being sidelined. Look at what happened today in class. I felt like I was on top of the world." Ashley continued.
"You and Tara are so lucky," Benedicta told Ashley.
"Clinton is always fond of whatever he possesses, and that doesn't exempt you." I said to Ashley
"Hi girls." Ryan greeted us.
"Hi, Ryan." We all replied except Benedicta.
"Hey, Bennny." Ryan said to Benedicta
"Shall we?" Benedicta said and walked away.
"Benedicta, wait!" Bella called her, but she walked away.
"Sorry about that, Ryan. We'll talk to her." I said.
"I'll appreciate it if you do so. She doesn't want to listen to me. I just want to be her friend." He said and walked away.
"What is wrong with Benny?" Ashley asked.
"Benny?" I said, looking confused.
"That's what Ryan called her," she replied, smiling.
"Oh! It sounds cool, 'Benny. ' So cute. But why is she acting this way toward all the guys who try to befriend her?" I asked.
"Leave her! That's how she will find her so-called Mr. Right." Bella said this while she and Ashley laughed.
We had just entered the cafeteria when Anna stopped us and said, "Ashley and Tara, this has just begun. Always watch your back when you walk. Even when asleep. Tara should understand what I mean."
She walked away, and Priscilla followed her behind.
I was shocked at what she said. I remembered last night. The shadow I saw through my window Could she have something to do with that? The shadow stood there for about a minute, and when I stood up to check who was there, the shadow disappeared. I looked at Anna as she left the cafeteria. She turned back, winked her eye at me, and gave a sideways smile.
"I love threats," Ashley said, going to sit down.
"Tara, what does Pinky like to eat? Bella asked.
I was lost in thought.
"Tara?" Bella called out again, and I came back from my thinking world.
"Don't tell me you are thinking of what Tara said. Those words are harmless as a fly." Ashley said.
"Really?" I asked, looking restless.
"What did she mean by saying 'Tara would understand what I mean' ?" Bella asked with food in her mouth.
"Last night, I saw the shadow of someone beside my window. The figure had something in its hand. When I stood up to see who it was, the figure disappeared." I told them.
"We can't say she is after your life. Right?" Ashley asked, looking at Bella.
"There must be something to this." I thought.
"Benny's here." Bella said.