Chapter 28

"Mich,wake up"I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder with a feminine voice calling me to get up from my bed.

I opened my eyes and sat on my bed,I stretched my body,I still had that morning look on my face,I checked the time,it was 7:05am,why will anybody wake me up this early?It's not as if I'm going to school or something,I finally decided to acknowledge the presence of my younger sis who was already dressed in her school uniform.

"Why did you wake me up?I told you I'm not going to school,now let me be"I said and laid down on my bed once again.

"Better wake up o and come downstairs for morning devotions"She replied still waiting for me to follow her.

Devotions ke

Since when?

"Mummy decided that since you have recovered,you would be joining us in morning devotions"

"Since when?"I voiced out my thoughts. "Since you landed yourself in hospital because of boy"She whispered yelled.

"Abeg shut up,who told you that stupid story?"

"I'm fifteen you know,fifTEEN,so I know all your stories including Mason,I even have my own story"

My eyes which were tired widened when my ears heard what she said,"Your story?Hehe,okay o"I stood up and leaped out of my room,she followed suite.

"Good morning,ma"I greeted my mum  the minute I got to the living room. "Morning,my dear,how was your night?"She asked as she flipped through her Bible.

"It was fine"I replied her as I sat down.

She rose her head and looked at Mason who was sleeping,she eyed him and shook her head.

I'm not surprised he is asleep,after playing Call of Duty till 3am in the morning,not bothering to get any sleep at all.

"Nero!"

He jerked up and looked at my mom,"Lead us in worship"

"Maya,you will lead us in praise while Michelle,you will pray for us"My mum instructed. We will obeyed her and the morning devotion session went well even though I never listened to what she preached,my mind was elsewhere,they left for school afterwards,leaving me home alone.

I leaped back sluggishly to my room probably to take my bath or sleep again, in case you are wondering my legs were already healed although I can't walk properly like every other being but I atleast I could leap,after a while of being on the wheelchair,I graduated to using clutches,I actually enjoyed the pampering I got from my family members,they all treated me like a princess till I recovered.

Everytime I rolled myself out of my room to go downstairs or even when I used my clutches,my mum would tell either Mason or Jace to carry me because she didn't want history to repeat itself.

Jace and I have become pretty close although we aren't an item yet,we are just close friends,the thought of how close we have become made me remember how Olivia,Lucas and I were,they were my gossip mates,my paddies,they were my best-friends,I burst into tears when I remembered what they did to me,the day I got discharged from the hospital and came back home,I wasn't happy, everything made me cry that day,the fact that my father heard what happened to me but never showed up or even called,he didn't budge,it hurt me deeply,that day when I grabbed my phone,the picture I saw was the one of Olivia and I,I removed it as my wallpaper in tears,I deleted each and every pictures Lucas and I took as a couple,it was fake after all.

I walked into my bathroom to take a bath,the water mixed with tears in my eyes and washed down my body,after 20 minutes of staying in bathroom,scrubbing lazily and thinking of everything that happened in my life,I finally came out. I took one step at a time like a baby who just started walking to my wardrobe,I opened it to select the clothes I would wear,the first thing my eyes made contact with was my school uniforms on different hangers,I picked out the hanger which had my sky blue button up long sleeve,dark blue skirt and red tie on it,I admired.

Maybe you should go to school today,you have alot to cover up

Aside the subjects that I offered with Mason,my rest notes weren't updated and I could move from place to place so why can't I go?

I wore my singlet and then my tight,I dressed up in my school uniform,I admired myself in the mirror,my hair was in cornrows since I loosed my braids the previous week,I grabbed my backpack and walked out of my room,I watched my steps gently as I descended down the stairs.

"Why are you dressed in your school uniform?"My mum who was downstairs in the dining room,eating her breakfast. "I'm going to school"I replied as I passed her a smile. "You need rest,go back to your room"

"Mummy na,I have been resting for up to 3 weeks now,I want to go to school,JAMB will soon start o,I don't want fail"I whined as I pouted my lips. "Besides I can walk well"I added as I gave a convincing look.

"Let me call your therapist to confirm if you are fit to go to school"My mum grabbed her phone from the table and dialed her number,after awhile,she passed me a smile and shook her head as she laughed,she stood up from the table and went into her room.

I noticed she was done with her food so I cleared the table,she came out with her car keys,"Let's go"She said as she walked out of the house,I followed her as a grin never left my face.

My mum walked me into the school and even to the Principal's office,she had a talk with him stating that she didn't want anything to happen to her daughter that I haven't fully recovered,the Principal passed me a pitiful look,my mum pecked and left.

I headed towards the stairs since SS3 was the last top floor,alot of stairs,I gripped my bag as I took a step at a time to my class,I walked past commercial class,it was empty,my heart beat increased as I got closer to my class.

I'm going to see Olivia's and Lucas's face for the first time,this year

A frown appeared on my face when I thought of them,suddenly boldness entered me and marched to my class,I could hear the voice of my Civic Education teacher,Miss Lucy,which means the whole SS3 class will be there.

Here goes nothing

I got to my class,I stood by the door,I felt alot of pairs of eyes looking at me,my form teacher stopped teaching when she noticed the class was dead silent,she turned back to face them,a surprised look was on her face,her eyes followed theirs and landed towards my direction,I looked down immediately.

"Michelle,wow!Good to have you back"Her high pitched voice greeted me with a smile when I rose my head to face her,I passed a smile in return.

"Happy new year,ma"I greeted her.

It is good to wish those who you are just seeing for the first time in a new year,my mum's words not mine.

Miss Lucy wished same as well,I entered the class,they didn't take their eyes off me,some had a surprised look,some had a pitiful look,some were smiling at me,my eyes made contact with my brother,as expected he was surprised,I didn't plan to go to school so that was the reason for that look, Jace was just grinning like he won a lottery,I blushed and walked towards an empty seat since I didn't want to be in the same space as Olivia and Lucas.

The class ended and the science students rushed out of the class,I guess they had Physics,if you are waiting for what Jace did before leaving the class then I will tell you,he just winked at me and left,I shook my head and continued whatever I was doing.

I was searching my bag for my uncompleted notes so I could update them when I saw three notebooks on my table,"Hey,I guess you will need these since yours aren't updated"A feminine voice stated.

That voice!How dare she just walk up to me and speak so casually like nothing happened

I pushed the books off my desk and they fell on the floor,I looked at her to observe her reaction,"I never asked for them,I can get books elsewhere,you can keep your generosity and hospitality to yourself because the last thing I would ever do is to seek help from the Devil"I replied and stood up without waiting for her response.

I walked to Daniel's desk,"Hey Headboy,can you borrow me some of your notes please?"I asked politely,he was about to respond when Ifeyinwa cut him short.

"It seems two best-friends are fighting,oops sorry I meant three best-friends are fighting,it ended quite fast didn't it?"Mockery filled her voice as she laughed. I glared at her,"You know Ifeyinwa,if you learn how to mind your business and pay more attention to yourself,maybe you would be able to improve your face and your disgusting character"I snapped at her as I eyed her down.

"Chaii,Ife,dem don tell you word o"Phillip mocked her and the whole class bursted into hearty laughter.

I turned back to Daniel and smiled at him,"The books?"

"Um..yeah...sure"He replied briefly before giving me his books.

"Thank you"I grinned at him before walking back to my seat.

The rest of the day before breaktime was all about teachers greeting me and me passing them a fake smile because I was getting tired of the formalities,finally it was breaktime,I didn't bother going to get something from the canteen,I stayed back in my empty class as I copied my notes,I had a bottle of Fanta that I stole from my fridge at home to keep me company.

Ten minutes into break,a junior walked into my class and since I was the only one,he walked up to me,he was in shorts which means he must be in Junior Secondary.

"Good mor..ning,senior"He greeted after checking the time,not sure of how to greet me.

I'm not scary,I'm social Prefect for Christ's sake

"Morning"I smiled at him to calm his nervousness down.

He handed me a nylon,I looked at him and back at the nylon,I took it from him and took a look inside the bag.

Fanta,meatpie,two plates of rice,quite nice

I smiled when I saw the bottle of fanta,see enjoyment,it might be Jace who must have sent this, he's so sweet,I looked at the junior who still stood in front of me.

"Who gave you this?"I asked.

"A senior,um...yes...Senior Lucas"He replied.

My mood turned sour immediately,"Okay,you can go now,thank you"I smiled at him as I dismissed him.

Lucas!!

I gripped the nylon bag and stood up from my seat,I walked to the dustbin and dumped it there,I turned back to walk to my seat when a angry voice halted my movements.

"Why the fuck did you throw it into the trash?"I turned around to see the beast himself.

"Because that's where it belongs and if it's possible,I will throw into there as well"I replied harshly.

"But I bought it for..."I cut him short.

"Did I tell you I was hungry? Because I don't remember me telling you such"

"The last time we met,I told you and your sidekick to stay away from me but I guess you guys don't just get it"

"There's something called Forgiveness,Michelle"He stated,his face growing into a sad miserable look.

"And there are things called betrayal,hurt,depression,you can't just expect me to forgive you because we entered a new year,even if I ever forgive you both,my chapters with you two are closed"I deadpanned.

"I won't say it again,stay away from me,Lucas"Olivia walked into our argument,she touched Lucas on his shoulders,they looked at each other and walked out of the class.

As soon as they left,I tried to control my tears,my response to people since today would actually make you think I'm being strong but I'm just hiding,I'm trying to build up my broken walls,I let the tears out as I sat my ass on my chair.