It's been a week since Ryan got suspended and the school has been so calm even with the presence of Reuben and Ryder. Even that, I never dared to get closer to them.
"I think Ryan would come back on Tuesday ", Jennie said while we were taking a walk on campus.
"He can choose to come back next month or year or never return, nobody cares besides his absence has been of great help to the students, don't you think?", I asked with a faint smile.
It was time for him to come back to school but he had still not reported. As we sat beside the poplars tree quietly, an ash Escalade drove straight into the compound. Because the car was new in the society, we stared in awe till it parked just ahead of us. We both tried to figure out who the owner was so we focused our gaze on the car.
"Ryan?", we both asked in unison.
"You mention of the devil and he appears", I soliloquy.
He just walked towards us and stood staring at our faces.
"Surprised to see me?", he smirked.
"Urhm…we would…. be on our…", Jennie forced herself to speak as she got up to leave holding into my hands.
"Oh come on, is that how to welcome an d friend, don't tell me you didn't miss me", he said stopping us from moving.
"We are sorry but we have other thing to do", I replied and walked pass him without looking ahead of us. We were just trying to avoid more troubles.
Reuben and Ryder were already standing some meters ahead of us and the others students have also surrounded Ryan's new car. We tried to walk pass them but they kept standing in our way.
"Don't you know how to say a pleasant welcome?", Reuben asked sounding like the devil.
" We have serious matters to attend to so if you don't….", I was slapped in the face before I could say more.
"I can see you haven't learnt your lesson yet but it's okay, you can go and continue whatever business you have", he said brushing his hand in my hair.
Without saying a word, I pulled Jennie along and walked to the empty class since everyone was outside admiring Ryan's new car. I wasn't like this before, I would have hit him back if it were to be the old Ash but I let it slide.
I decided not to cry anymore since my last envoy with his minions. I noticed Ryder did not like the habit of his friends but since he was the youngest amongst them, he couldn't complain.
"I can see you are getting tougher as the day goes by", Jennie commented.
"I want to be my old self and not a weakling, I think you should do same too", I said and pinched the skin below her brow.
Ever since Ryan was suspended, I began feeling comfortable in school even with the presence of the other guys in school. I could talk freely and express my self when asked a question by the lecturer, I saw myself catching up with the present.
It was time for class to be begin so the students began rushing in one after the other to settle in their respective seats waiting for the lecturer to came in before the R3 guys walked in. Everyone was up standing immediately they entered the class with the exception of Keenan , Jennie and I, of course.
"What the heck is going on here?", Keenan asked angrily but calmly.
"Can't you see they are welcoming a member of the class?", Ryan answered back with a question.
" And why are you guys sitting?", Reuben spoke looking at Jennie and I." Ryder go get that get up on her feet", he commanded pointing at Jennie.
Ryder looked at him with an 'are you serious look 'before moving hesitantly towards Jennie.
"I'm not sure you wanna get in the bad side of him", he simply told her and she stood up on her feet as sensing his hesitation. He walked back to Reuben and Ryan and I heard Ryan asking him to meet him after the first class.
The lecturer came in and everyone settled down. We discussed about the novel, 'Wuthering Heights 'by Emily Brònte before the lesson ended. As I walked with Jennie to the cafeteria, I overheard Ryan scolding g someone. I asked Jennie to take the lead that I wanted to check something first. I hid behind one of the cars to eavesdrop.
"I hope it's not true ", Ryan asked
"You know won't lie to you guys, it just sympathy I feel towards that girl", Ryder replied sounding honest
"So tell me, is that how to force someone up on her feet?", Reuben chipped in.
"Come on, I just didn't want to scare the lady, she's too innocent ", he replied.
"Fuck you Ryder, you have fallen in love with her but just don't want to admit it, you know you can't love her right?", Ryan yelled at him.
"But…"
"Why dont you teach her a lesson the next time she tries to be stubborn ", Ryan dared devilishly and walked away from him.