I got home feeling very weak. After dropping my school bag on top of my reading table, I headed straight to the bathroom. I sat on the bathtub filled to the brim with soap lather. Then, I remembered my suspicions about Helena which for reasons best known to me, I couldn't tell Olive. With the depressed and sad look on Helena's face the first time I saw her with the principal, I think there must be something behind Helena's transfer to our school, though, the principal, her parents and herself did a good job hiding it. I know it isn't advisable to intrude into someone's personal life. I mean almost, if not everyone detest that but her story seems interesting to find out.
As I got to school the next day, I started plotting out my strategy for finding out about Helena, if there was anything interesting at all. The first thing I need to put into consideration is that nobody should know or find out what I am about to do, including Olive. It's going to be tough but I'm not giving up.
I walked up to Olive in class and asked her.
"You seem close to Helena so I wouldn't be asking too much if I say you should help me ask her some questions would I?" I politely asked.
"You can talk to her. She ain't a snob. You just wouldn't have anything to do with her", Olive answered.
"I didn't ask for all that talk. I simply wanted a favor from you. Would you mind it or not?" I snapped impatiently.
"I would mind doing it. Go meet her yourself, she doesn't bite", Olive said rejecting my proposal.
All throughout the class, I kept thinking of a way to strike a conversation with Helena. Suddenly, I had an idea but I hoped it would work. I met her in her seat and asked.
"Would you mind lending your book to me?" I asked fearing she would turn me down just like Olive. Instead she said,
"Sure, but for how long?"
"Just today, then you will get it back", I replied reassuring her. I took it and returned to my seat.
"You see, you were able to do it but instead you would want to disturb me with everything", Olive said as I sat down.
"Now's not the time for your bickering", I replied absent mindedly. I was too engrossed in my plan to notice any side distraction. I checked her notebook thoroughly and found the name of a school at one side of it. Was this the name of her previous school? I didn't know so I ended up writing it down and then checked her note again for any other clue. After finding none, I returned the notebook to her
I was already thinking of how I would research into the school, when Olive suddenly told me.
"I wanna have a sleepover at your place, it's Friday, you know"
No way was she going to ruin my plans.
"Maybe next time", I said.
"Why, do you have plans already", she asked.
"I just don't want anybody around this weekend", she stated.
"What are you up to, you sound suspicious?" She stated.
Did she see through me? Or did I sound suspicious? I don't know.
"Why would you think so?" I asked hoping she hasn't found out about what I plan to do.
"First, you wanted me to ask Helena some questions suddenly. That was out of the blues. Then, you took her notebook under the pretense of updating yours when we both know you never lag behind when it comes to updating notes. Afterwards, you supported my suspicions by just running through her notes as if you were looking for something. Then as if that was not enough, you copied something strange out of it and returned the notebook to her. Then, I told you I wanted a sleepover at your house to see if you would be jolted. I did see that reaction on you which conclude that you are trying to find out something about Helena but decided to exclude me from your plans. Well, it's understandable. But we could work together, you know. I just proved to you that I am a great observer and about the sleepover, I actually meant it", she finally concluded.
No way! So, she had been observing me from the start. I'm screwed for sure but since she knows, there's no need to hide it from her.
"I will include you in my plans only if you swear to me that whatever we find should never become a breaking news in your newspapers from 'no-privacy-for-students' Press club", I said, stating my ground.
"Okay, fine, is that all?" She asked.
"You can come over if you want to", I said.
"Great, finally I'm embarking into an adventure", she dreamily said.
"Interesting", I laughed.