In the morning, I get ready really early and head to class. I have a mission, remember? Getting to class I walk up to Ian's place. Ian starts explaining to me the equations until I start to think of how cute he is. With the snap of his finger, I remember why am there and start to concentrate. As soon as am done, I walk to my place.
"Hey." I say while taking my seat.
"Hi. Were you with Ian?" Lauren curiously asks while looking at Ian.
"Yeah. He was helping me solve Math." As I pack up my note books.
"Oh."
Lauren looks just as surprised as the rest.
"He's never been nice to anyone."
She finally admits.
"It's just that he's cool. Too cool." I must admit while still setting up my desk.
Honestly, I just find him cool. Usual classes have just ended and am point blank of where to go. I still don't know the routine of this place.
"Aren't you supposed to be at cheerleading?" Lauren asks just as she's about to leave the class realizing how lost I am.
"I've thought it over and I think am considering basketball." I give out a sigh.
Lauren smiles.
"Welcome to the team. Let's go meet the others. Why have you suddenly dropped cheerleading?"
We're both walking to the court and Lauren decides to break the silence by bringing up the cheerleading tragedy.
"It just wasn't working out for me." I sadly admit.
"I promise you'll love basketball." Lauren assures me with a warm smile.
I totally believe her. The court is a mess. Seeing each and everyone of the girls warming up makes me nervous. Will I manage it? Lauren finally call up the girls who welcome me and I successfully join the team.
Things are pretty different here. Am told people work in groups for most of the semester. Luckily or unluckily, I end up on Ian's group. It's three of us: Ian, a guy named Cuthbert and I. We've been given some group work and these two are acting as if I don't exist. Ian and Cuthbert are basically friends and am just the third wheel. After a while of some good time to myself (note the sarcasm), Cuthbert finally decides to involve me.
"Yoh, Toriah. Is your booty real?" Cuthbert puts up his figures on the face as though he's trying to guess.
Clearly, he is mocking since Ian also seems to be laughing at me. He finally comments.
"I hate fake girls." Ian points out taking up his phone.
Ian mentioning this has just made my condition worse. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I put my face in the hands. I don't know why am feeling bad. Maybe because it is Ian saying it.
"No, you guys. It's real." Like a tigress trying to defend herself from a prey, I stand up for myself. They both look at me.
Ian gets back on his phone and Cuthbert seems to have more to say.
"Is your mom just like you?" Trying to annoy me even more, Cuth continues with the question.
"Yeah. Sort of." I glare away.
As you can guess; am undeniably not in the mood no more.
"See." Cuthbert scoffs it off.
"It doesn't matter." I roll my eyes.
"Do you have siblings?" Curious to know more, Cuthbert asks again.
"No. I'm alone." Now my eyes are sparkling.
Honestly speaking; am about to cry. Ian stares at me for a second and then looks away. I know he's about to say something.
"You're so babyish." Ian teases with zero emotions.
Ouch. He didn't have to say it.
"Toriah, don't take us seriously we're just joking." Cuth says it noticing how hurt I am.
Now Cuth my guy. He knows just the words to make one feel better. I write up some of the topics of discussion while the guys continue with their chats.
"Check out this, man. Lee's back with more LSD's, nicotine and bang." Cuthbert excitedly moves closer to Ian and shows him from his phone.
"You guys use drugs?" I ask with all sorts of emotions.
"Oops. Big words." Cuthbert mocks as he turns his attention back at the phone. And Ian, he didn't even bother to look at me.
"I can bring you some, my dad is a drug dealer." I mention while sitting upright, cross-legged.
I've finally gotten Ian's attention.
"Really?" Ian suddenly looks at me dwelling his entire attention on me.
Ian and I have an eye contact. He has these beautiful brown eyes. Just so you know, am just noticing it now.
"I'm just kidding. My dad is a normal person like Tom, Dick and Harry." Stammering at the glance of Ian, I admit.
Cuthbert starts talking of his family and I joined him. I notice Ian's silence and decide to involve him.
"What about you, Ian. Tell us about your family." I mention, full of curiosity to know more about him.
Unknown of what I've done wrong, his entire face expressions changes to that of a serious one and he's moving out. He doesn't seem okay. I decide to follow him and find him seated on the steps of the academic area, smoking. I sit next to him.
"Hey. Can I have it?" I give out a soft smile looking at the blunt in his hands.
Without question, he hands it to me. I try it and end up coughing.
"What's this?" I finally ask still coughing.
"A fix." Ian responds looking away.
I hand it back to Ian.
"Is it some sort of drug?" I decide to ask.
Ian glares away. Of course it is some type of drug. It's clear.
"You use drugs?" Why is he using drugs, I decide to ask more.
"What if I do? That's none of your business. Just leave me alone." Ian responds hoarsely.
"I'm sorry. I guess you're right. It's really none of my business." Feeling bad, I decide to give him space. I stand up and flee away.
I get to my room and find the girls chatting. I suddenly remember about the drug thing.
"Do you guys' cheat?" I ask curiously looking at the two girls.
They're looking at each other. They're just as confused as I am.
"No." Samya admits looking at Lisa.
"We don't take drugs." Lisa adds while walking to me.
"We don't eat stuff that we aint supposed to." Samya says.
"Uh-ah." Lisa mentions.
"We keep our bodies clean. Who's cheating?" Samya suddenly questions.
"You?" Lisa curiously points her finger at me.
"No…not me. A lot of people do." I confess it while taking a sit on my bed.
"Like who?" Samya asks again.
Samya's always on my neck about stuff. I sense she thinks am a bad girl or something.
"Ian." I give out a sigh.
The two blankly stare at each other before Samya comments.
"He gets sense from it."
"Yeah. At least it adds up to his cuteness." Lisa does the backing.
"Cuthbert is cute too." Samya adds while nodding.
"And sadly, they're my group mates." I sadly confess.
These girls can hype guys for an entire day. They're a vibe though.
Some days back we had written a test. A lot of people have failed and am scared to even think of my own paper.
"Miss Johnson…" The principal mentions while taking a close look at my script.
Startled, I get up and walk towards the teacher to receive my paper.
"Brilliant. Keep it up." She finally comments as she hands me my paper, satisfaction written all over her face.
Turns out am the second highest and first to the females. Not a bad start after all. I can already notice some unhappy faces.
Lauren and I are walking together to class after lunch.
"When do we have outings?" I decide to break the silence as we're walking.
"Saturdays. You wanted something?" Lauren asks, looking at me.
"I want a wristwatch. The previous one broke. My aunt's going to kill me if I won't get another. I'll tell my roommates." Trying so hard not to stress Lauren.
For a moment we both walk in silence.
"At first, I had a problem with me staying here. I guess I was wrong, I actually like this place." I give out a sigh in excitement.
"At least you'll stop complaining." Lauren comments while looking at me.
"Stop teasing me."
Lauren laughs it off. She's right, there hasn't been a single day that I haven't complained. Getting to class, I find the class divided. Everyone's on his or her own group. I notice Ian and Cuthbert. They haven't spared a chair for me and am totally stranded. Cuthbert notices it.
"Sit down Toriah." Cuthbert blurts it while trying so hard to focus.
"I don't have nowhere to sit. I'll just sit on your lap." I say it while walking towards Cuthbert.
"No, you'll kill me." Cuthbert raises his hands in denial and at the same time giving me space to sit on his lap.
"I sit on Cuthbert, anyway and Ian continues with the explanation.
"I'm I that heavy?" I ask Cuthbert in a low voice.
"No. it's actually ok." He responds, almost sounding comfortable.
Ian looks at the two of us before he continues with the reading. I can imagine how irritated Ian is right now.
"Let's continue." I exclaim, almost smiling.
Ian continues and am literally bored. I think am gonna disturb again.
"Am I hurting you?" I turn at Cuthbert and whisper.
Ian stops explaining again. Gosh. I decide to rest myself and sit on a desk. I then untie the buttons of my shirt. The way Ian stares at me is crazy. Cuthbert starts laughing.
"Man, she's annoying." Ian just closes the book and throw it on the desk. What just happened?
Before I can ask what's happening, Ian walks out of the class. Then Natalie and Bianca show up.
"Your girlfriends are here. I'm going out." Feeling relieved, I decide to start walking around.
I am in the school corridors and I have no idea of where am going but one thing is certain; am bored and want some company. My eyes meet with Ian somewhere close to the open theatre. I don't expect him to talk to me. As am about to walk away, the impossible happens.
"Wanna hang out?" Ian suggests looking at me.
For a moment we both walk in silence until we get to the basketball court. Ian starts smoking.
"So, this is it?" I give out a sigh, feeling really useless.
"My dad was white." Ian finally speaks.
I look at him and give out a soft smile. Now he's talking.
"My parents separated when I was eight." He takes up a blunt and then exhales.
"Do you know the reason?" I curiously ask.
"My mom proved to be a bitchy slay. I hate to talk about this." He finally admits hoarsely.
"I feel you. So, you alone or any siblings?" Am really trying to understand what his life is like.
"A young brother. His name's Derrick." He responds.
"That's really cute. I wish to meet him one day. I've always wished to have a younger brother or sister. Why don't you stay with your dad?" I ask while looking at his blunt.
"He's in UK. She won't let me." He responds while getting rid of the ashes.
"Why?" I look into his eyes.
"She thinks she'll lose me forever."
His voice seems to be breaking but I want to hear more.
"It seems your mom loves you a lot." After a moment of processing, I say.
"I wish she did." He sighs.
"She does." I acknowledge him.
"If she did then she could have understood me." Ian also sound confused right now and he's a mess.
"She doesn't? Why don't you just leave then?"
"I admit I don't like her but that don't mean that I hate her. That would hurt her feelings and that's not really what I intend to do. Why are you so concerned about her; just leave it." He's pushing away the topic.
Ian might seem like a tough boy but I've noticed he also has feelings and one thing is clear; he loves his mom a lot. I decide to change the topic.
"You take a lot of study at home, right?" I say while looking at him curiously.
"Don't be fooled. Am repeating." His response is really cool.
Did he just say repeating?
"But you're so like good in class." Still in disbelief, I comment.
"I'm doing it for my dad." Ian unlight the blunts before getting rid of it.
"What's up with him?" I now turn to him.
"I was selected to Havard so I didn't want it. I want Edinberg so I can catch up with my dad."
"Are you kidding me, it's like everyone wants to go to Havard."
Honestly speaking, am disappointed in Ian. Who doesn't want to go to Havard?
"Our goals are different."
"I thought everyone wanted to land at Havard." Admittingly, I look at Ian.
"That's what everyone thinks." Ian agrees with Toriah.
Ian looks at me in a certain way; I really like how he does it. He looks at his wristwatch. It's pretty cute.
"My schedule says I need to go." Ian stands up.
Before I can comment, Ian leaves. Then Lauren shows up.
"Toriah, you coming?"