Evening.
Nick and Uche were going over to Kim's so i tagged along. I haven't told Uche about Nate yet but I planned to on our way to Kim's.
Earlier, after I got back from the principal's office, he had asked why I was called there but I couldn't tell him. Nick and his other friends were with him.
On the way, Nick covered his ears with his earphones and I knew it was my chance to talk to Uche alone.
"Uche," I whispered his name to get his attention but he didn't hear so I called louder.
"Uche." Again, he didn't hear me. It left me wondering how possible it was because he wasn't ever far from me.
I reached out and pulled him back from walking next to Nick."I've been trying to call you, why won't you answer. You didn't hear me?"
"Oh, I did."
"You did? So why weren't you answering?" I could get mad.
"Cos we both agreed not to answer each other's names unless we're called babe."
"You're kidding me," I hissed but heard him chuckled. He's so cute.
"It was your idea," he reminded me and I rolled my eyes.
"Now's not the time," I pouted tiredly. I haven't been able to smile since my visit to the principal's office."I've got something to tell you."
"It's about your being called to the principal's office, right?"
"Yessss," I stressed."How do you know?"
"You're one hell of a bad liar, when you said you were called cause' you destroyed something in the girls' bathroom, I knew it was something else. So what is it?"
He asked me but I couldn't find the words to start with. He stopped walking to turn to me when I didn't start talking.
"Julie, what is it?" He became concerned, so concerned I became convinced he had nothing to do with Nate being at the hospital.
"Do you know Nate's at the hospital?" I asked him before I resumed walking. I didn't want Nick to turn around and not see us. He followed.
"Nate's at the hospital?" He caught up with me.
"Yeah. I was surprised too when I found out. That's why I was called to the principal's office."
"Explains why he hasn't been in school. What have you got to do with him being at the hospital."
"That's the thing. Not me, but someone who's mad at Nate for liking me. That someone beat him into a coma."
"Nate likes you?" I heard him ask. He didn't know? And was that all he could pick from what I just said?
"What? You don't know?"
"Well, I thought of it but I didn't know it actually was..."
"You're serious?" I was surprised he didn't know after the thing I did with Nate to make him jealous the day he was standing and talking with April.
"I knew you asked him to play with your hair that day, and that you were just tryna make me jealous but..."
"He likes me, okay? It's what he was telling me that day before I asked him to do that." I exhaled through my mouth."And someone put a note in his locker, threatening him to stay away from ME."
i watched his reaction carefully and noticed how he blinked in silence without saying anything. Did he do it? It was his handwriting on the card. And he was pretty angry about me kissing Nate in that truth or dare.
I suddenly decided I won't tell him that they asked If I could identify the writing. I didn't want to find out if he did it or not. I didn't want to have to deal with it at the risk of loosing Uche.
"Do they know who did it?" He asked and i just rubbed my face hard with a loud sigh.
"No."
"So Nate don't know who hit him that bad?"
"Didn't you hear me? He's in a coma, they can't ask him. His parents are furious. His mum was even mad at me like it was me who did it. She even blamed Nick at some point.
"Oh." He realized. "Shit." He muttered after.
•••
Kim's house.
"Hey," Kim greeted when he opened the door. Nick took off his earphones as he walked in and followed Kim. Uche held the door and waited till I went in before following.
"I'm home alone, y'all can invite anyone else." Kim announced once we were at his game room of a basement.
"Nah, just us three is okay." Nick took a seat in front of the screen as he commented.
I sat on the beanbag in the corner and when I looked up, Uche was standing and staring at me. He licked his lips and joined Nick and Kim on the chair.
"Your nails are fire," Kim winked at me from where he sat and I just rolled my eyes. Uche helped me pick which colour to paint the nails Kim was complimenting.
"Are we gonna play or what?" Nick groaned and soon they started their game. I wonder if they've made bets on their game for today.
"Is it just me or did Lucy get sluttier over the weekend?" Kim asked while they were at it.
"Pete said her tits are padded, they ain't real but her ass is though," Nick laughed at the end of his sentence.
Uche was quiet. I would be worried that he was being pretentious because I was here, and hence his quietness amidst his friend's stupid conversation but I knew that wasn't the case.
His thoughts were elsewhere. Probably thinking about what I told him. God, I pray he wasn't the one who beat up Nate like that. If it was him, then I'm worried.
"I would hit that though, fake titties or not," Kim bit his lips amid his laughter.
"Yeah, Lucy's hot. I mean, it's not even the tits making her sexy, it's her eyes, she's got this slutty eyes, you know..." Nick trailed.
"Yeah, her eyes are it too." Kim added but noticed Uche wasn't saying a word so he nudged at his shoulder."What about you? Would you fuck Lucy if she let you?"
"Hmmn?" Uche asked while beating Nick at the game they were playing.
"Broo, where's your mind at?" Kim hissed.
"Uche would have to fuck April if he decides he wants to fuck anyone." Nick laughed.
"Yeah, you're right, he does owe April a good fucking. That girl been begging for it since forever," Kim snickered.
I wonder if they remembered I was seated in the basement with them to be saying all they were saying.
"Yo, Uche, just fuck her already. She's not gonna let anyone else get close to her if you don't..."
"Nah, that's a lie," Nick caught Kim short."She just says that, didn't she just break up with..."
"Yeah, she had a boyfriend before but she probably didn't let him hit." Kin chortled but paused when Uche killed him in the game "Aww man, come on!"