"Hey Cassy, how are you doing?". It was Lizzy's voice, she was just getting to class when she noticed cassandra was already in class and was resting her head on the desk.
"Not fine". Cassandra screamed out without without raising her head from the desk.
"Oops, that was too much... What happened? Moreover, you came to school quite early today".
"Dad was going to work early today so we had to also go to school early". Cassandra replied this time without shouting but rather with a grumbling tone.
"Oh, but that isn't bad enough to make you look like this". Lizzy said looking all surprised.
"Nope, that one is actually a reason though plus the fact that Erica's big headed crush had the effrontery to use the whip on me". Cassandra said now raising her head and pointing at the Fair, handsome middle aged young boy that was seating on the front seat.
"F*ck, he's at it again. I told you that we should deal with him back then but what did you tell me? You told me to leave him alone, now that he has given you your own share what do you think we should do about it?" Lizzy blasted out fuming with anger.
"Yeah, I didn't want him to get his cute little face hurt back then because of Erica but as it stands now, he needs to be taught a lesson". Cassandra said with all seriousness still staring at him with the looks of "You'd be a ghost if I ever get hold of you".
"Nice, then we'll see to it during break. Take him to the Orchard, don't keep me waiting". Lizzy said as she took a quick glance at him then gave a devilish smile before leaving Cassandra's seat.
"Hey Mark". Cassandra said giving a quick wink before faking a smile after it. Immediately Lizzy left, she thought of a perfect plan to drag Mark down to the Orchard.
"Please how may I help you as you can see I'm quite busy". Mark said not raising his face from his desk.
"Idiot, I'd never need your help, NEVER, not in this Life nor in the one to come. Cassandra cursed within her but kept on faking her outward smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry for disturbing you. I won't take much of your time, I only wanted you to guide me on how to get the answers to the questions we solved this morning". Cassandra said acting like a little baby that would cry anytime soon because she isn't getting what she wants. She was dying within her, it was just too much for her but she had to keep going since at the end, she'll get the revenge she's craving for.
"I'm busy right now, ask someone else". He said as he scribbled off some words on the book on his desk.
"Mark please, I think you're the only one that can help me right now since you're the class head and the most intelligent in class, so my brothers won't say much about it." She said still acting childishly.
"Hmm". Mark breathed out heavily, he was already facing her as at then.
"I don't trust you, why are you doing this?" Mark asked staring intently at her.
"It's normal for you not to believe me, actually I was angry you used the whip on me but I later realized that it was for my own good, also I wanted to win my dad's surprise package this term, he promised to surprise any of us that scores excellently well this term". Cassandra replied convincingly, though she wasn't good at acting, she was giving this one her best.
"Oh okay, come over let me brief you a little before going back to what I was doing". Mark said
"I...I don't think it'll be possible here because I don't want my siblings to know, they might see us and I also don't want anyone to know I've started studying. I want to take them by surprise". Cassandra blurted out instantly.
"I thought you said your siblings would be comfortable with me teaching you so what's the problem?" Mark asked removing his glasses from his eyes in order to wipe off the sweat that was on his face.
"I know they wouldn't talk but prevention is better than Cure moreover I can't study in a noisy environment, we could study at the orchard, it's quite cool and quiet". Cassandra said, she was already at the verge of giving up. This was definitely the most tedious and strenuous exercise that she'd done for quite a long time. Though the classroom fan and air-conditioners were on she still felt hot within her.
"Oops I guess I need to accord actors and actresses more respect". Cassandra thought to herself. Mark then looked at her again if to believe her not, then he finally gave the long awaited answer.
"Okay give me some seconds". Mark said as he packed his books inside the locker.
"Okay". She was very happy for the fact that he didn't press further other than that.
"Go down" Cassandra pushed him down slightly and he fell to the ground immediately.
"What do you mean". Mark said and stood up as he cleaned up the sand that was on his clothing.
"Tah". She had used a big branch of wood that was on the ground to whip him.
"This is what I meant you silly thing". She said pushing him down while Lizzy jumped off from the the top of a tree's branch which made mark quite frightened, it all happened so fast that before he knew what was happening he was already tied up and they had started beating him up.
"Lizzy you know what? Let's beat him in turns then it would make him unable to even hold a whip anymore". Cassandra said to Lizzy.
"Okay then, 30minutes each won't be that bad".Lizzy said as she shrugged and used another branch to whip the already crying Mark. Mark was already down with injuries that he could no longer scream any longer, he had lost his voice due to constant shouting and crying, he couldn't even see properly because his glasses were broken and he was short-sighted which made him to barely see. Lizzy continued whipping him for long while they both laughed at him.
"What de F*ck, stop it". It was Erica's loud voice that suddenly echoed in the orchard, it was as if the trees were also terrified by the sound because the whole of the orchard suddenly turned stiff.
"Babe please I'm sorry are you alright, stand up". Erica said as she suddenly turned her voice into a calm and innocent one on seeing Mark on the floor like that. She picked him up and got him cleaned up, she then handed him over to her private guard to go clean him up. She was one of the privileged students in the school that were privileged to have a private guard with them. She then turned back to the other two.
"Really, so this is how it is right? I've spent several sleepless nights all because of you, I've wasted much of my time doing various research all because of you and here you are wanting to take my only source of joy right?" Erica said with tears in her eyes as she pointed at a confused-looking cassandra.
"And for you, is this what you call friendship. I told you both that I'm in love with him and you had the effrontery to hurt hi..."Erica lashed out angrily.
But he turned down your proposal". Lizzy cut in sharply
"I DON'T FREAKING CARE, he's mine and NOTHING not even the both of you nor my parents can change that fact". Erica lashed out again.
We're sorry". Both Cassandra and Lizzy chorused apologetically.
"Oops as usual, you both must pay for hurting my boo, I'll think of a nice punishment but for the meantime I'll let it slide, hmm". Erica said heaving a sigh of relief.
"Oh thanks but why did you say you were spending sleepless nights because of me". Cassandra asked still looking confused.
"Oh yeah, that's because I dug up some trash about you or rather still about your family". Erica said proudly as she moved forward.
"Kill the suspense, I hate it". Cassandra said with all seriousness still rooted in the position she was when Erica arrived. She actually gained lots of respect from most people because of this both from her peers and teachers even as far as her parents and siblings. She actually hates being kept in suspense.
"Okay, I found out that your brother is dating that Godamn girl". Cassandra replied as calm as ever