The next morning was so cool, dew fell, the trees danced joyfully that Fred was going to be discharged. "Are you ready?" Lynn asked Fred when she got into his ward.
"Yes, Lynnette"
She smiled at him and took his bags while he limped out of the ward, while they walked out. They started the conversation that Lynn had been dying to have.
"I want to talk to you, Fred"
"About?"
"The letter"
"What letter?"
"Don't deny it, I read it, and you passed the message well."
Fred was irritated, "I don't know what you are talking about, Lynn, can you throw more light?"
"So it wasn't from you?"
"I don't remember writing a letter"
"Then who did?" Lynn brought out the letter and gave it to Fred to read. Fred read it and shook his head.
"This is not me," Fred said abruptly. "This isn't my handwriting, I did not write this, Lynn" he tried to persuade her. "I don't know who sent this, but I need to find out" he exhaled. "I apologize for putting you through all this" he pulled her closer to him now and kissed her forehead.
"It's okay. I am glad it's not from you" she hugged him.
Lynn followed Fred home, and she entered his room. Fred was excited to be at home and excited to take a shower finally. He took off his shirt, and immediately he remembered Lynn was in the room.
"Just don't get naked in my presence." She smiled.
Fred smiled and acted like he wanted to start taking off his trousers. Lynn ran out immediately, laughing hard.
"Come back, I am not taking it off. I am not a pervert"
She came back in, and they laughed over it.
"Thank you, Lynnette, for being like a family to me."
"You are a family to me, Fred"
"That means you are going to cook for me?"
"No way"
"Please, but I am family"
"Yeah, but I am not a cook"
Fred acted like he was sad and got Lynn's soft spot. She finally offered to cook, and it was one of the most exciting days of his life.
***
Fred went back to school the next day and started preparing for his exams. He prepared himself and Lynn. A week after, some things started changing. Fred studied hard, so he could get a scholarship to college and for that reason, he didn't have enough time to spice up his relationship with Lynn. Lynn was offended, she felt Fred was tired of her.
During recess one afternoon, she went to his class expecting him to take her to the canteen as usual but this time around he turned her down with the excuse of getting the answer to a difficult question right.
Lynn sadly went her way to the canteen since Derek was also busy studying. She carefully sat on the stairs on her way as she tries to catch her breath, so she wouldn't well up,
James and his crew came stalking her. "He is now too busy for you, right?" James mocked.
Lynn ignored him and stood up to leave, but she was held back.
"Where do you think you are going to?" James pulled her by her wrist.
"James please, leave me alone" She mumbled as she attempts to leave again, but his grip was tight on her wrist. "Let me go!" she screamed hoping Fred would come and rescue her but no, he is too busy to notice she is in trouble.
"Stop playing hard to get Lynn," James said, brushing his hands on her cheek.
"Stop touching me, you pervert!" she screamed and pushed his hands away.
"You are one stubborn bitch, right? I am the head boy of this school, no one… I repeat no one, can stop me from doing what I want to do to you today, Lynnette."
The way he called her name in full disgusted her. She tried to kick his penis, but she was not so fast. He dodged it and gave her a dirty slap.
Bystanders immediately pretended not to see and started minding their business. They would rather not be dragged into trouble, so they couldn't save poor Lynn.
Lynn recovered from the dirty slap, but her eyes were unable to hold back the tears anymore.
"Lynnette, I would love to see what underwear you are putting on" he gave a sinister smile and ordered his guys to strip her of her pinafore.
Lynn struggled and tried to scream, but they held up her lips and stripped off her pinafore and her pantyhose could be seen.
"Haa haa we are almost there, Lynne…"
Before James could say any other word, Fred jacked him up and his feet dangled, he threw him down the stairs and ran to Lynn, he dressed her up immediately and tried to take her out to her block, but she didn't cooperate.
"Lynn…" his eyes were filled with pain, anger, and hate, but when he looked at her eyes, he mellowed. "I am sorry"
"Just let me go"
Fred watched her run straight into her block. He sighed and felt like crying. Lynn got into her block and the restroom and burst into a louder version of her wailing.
"Recess over!" the school bell rang and everyone returned to their classroom, including James who had broken a bone.
Lynn stayed in the toilet until school was over. She immediately ran home after school and shut her door on anyone who tried to ask her what happened.
Fred went to her house and was granted permission to check on her, he knocked on her door.
"Leave me alone!" she screamed.
"It's Fred"
"Fred, leave me alone and never come back"
A few hours later.
Fred had gone to work and Derek knocked on her door, she opened up knowing it was Derek, and let him in.
"Did he tell you what happened?" she asked.
"I saw what happened"
"oh"
"Fred is quick-temper, he is filled with hate and anger, he could kill if care is not taken" she sighs. "I want to hate him, but I can't"
"then don't hate him."
"But he deserves to be hated"
"No, he doesn't, he's a nice person. You don't know the kind of guilt he felt. He cried to mom and dad, apologizing to them for hurting you. He didn't mean to"
"He loves his studies more than he loves me."
"No Lynn, Fred loves you"
"Well, I don't need his love"
***
Lynn skipped school the next day because she never wanted to see Fred.
Fred was restless, he wanted to speak to her and make things right.
He was thinking deeply in class when the Principal walked in,
"Fred I require you in my office now!"
Fred knew he was done for it. James had reported him again.
On getting to the office, the principal said, "Fred, our school requires representatives for a coming competition. It is on Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics" She spoke calmly.
Fred adjusted his tie. He was sure she wanted him to represent the school. "What prize is for the winner?"
The principal lowered herself and smiled. "The winner gets a scholarship to a university in the UK."
"Wow. It seems like it's going to be a tough one"
"I believe in you, Fred"
"Why not James?"
"You going is what's best for the school"
"Then I would love to do what is best for the school, ma"
She studied his face and she smiled. "Thank you"
"When will it be?" Fred asked.
"You can prepare in two days"
"What? Two days?" Fred exclaimed, "How can I prepare in two days"
"You would just have to study vigorously at home, we saw the mail late"
"Wow"
The principal dismissed him, and he went back to his class happy until he remembered Lynn, his heart sank, and he yearned to see her after school.