CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The alarm dinged, waking everyone up. With loud groans, we all rolled from our beds and started to prepare for the morning exercise. I brushed my teeth, washed my face and wore a track suit.

Coach Harper started to yell into a microphone, ‘Get your lazy bums out here in five minutes or you get a -5.’ We ran to the field where Coach wore a menacing smile that matched her fiery red tracksuit. She meant business and was ready to kick some ass literally if need be.

She made us jog 1600 metres and do a vigorous cardio routine. She kept yelling, ‘It is not all about being pretty and all…’ She adjusted her facial features to what I think was supposed to be a teenager and talked in an annoying tiny shrilly voice, ‘Oh My God! See my perky ass and abs. I am already gorgeous.’

She yelled harder in her real voice, ‘It is all hard work and perseverance and I am going to teach you that.’ She drove us harder like taskmasters. We were all sore when she was done with us.

I went for a swim after the exercise to cool down. I was lost in thoughts when I heard someone clear her throat beside me. I opened my eyes to peer into the moat beautiful eyes I have ever seen.

The intruder was a beautiful girl with the shiniest black skin I had ever seen. Her face was so smooth that I had to exert some much self control to stop myself from reaching out to touch it.

She smiled, her pearly white teeth on display, ‘I am Iffy and you are?’ I was so dumbstruck at her beauty that she had to playfully pinch me to bring me back to reality.

I smiled nervously, ‘I am Chloe. It is nice to meet you.’ She stretched out her hand and I shook it. She replied, ‘It is nice to meet you too.’ We both laughed nervously and then settled into the silence, neither saying anything to the other, until she eventually excused herself out of the pool.

‘See you around, Chloe!’ she had called out, leaving me awestruck and bewildered.

I got out of the pool and went to my room where I took a nap to regain my lost energy. My alarm alerted me after thirty minutes and went to the shower to take my bath.

On my way to the bathroom, I heard some girls gossiping. I rolled my eyes, about to ignore them when I heard my name. I paused to listen to them but I just couldn’t after hearing Ann’s name. I walked briskly to the bathroom.

Hearing her name really put me in a sour mood. I was even more upset that I made her make me upset even though she was physically absent. She had a stronger hold on me than I thought. I took in a deep breath, determined to not let her ruin my day.

I hit the play button on my happy playlist. Soon, I got lost to the rhythm. Today was free so I was going to Starlight High to see my friends and catch up on school work. I braided my hair into two cornrows and danced as I applied some eco styling gel to my edges.

I was in the mood for the barest makeup so I just applied some powder and aqua drip beauty lipgloss after lining my lips. I had stumbled across it online and it turned out to be one of the best brands I had ever used. I inhaled the bubble gum scent before dropping it into my bag.

I plugged in my earphones after flagging down a cab. The girls were waiting at the gate. Kaffy stretched her arms, to which I ran to. Trina joined in the hug and we all hugged. I had missed them so much.

I looked ahead to see the guys holding some bags. We exchanged pleasantries and found a suitable spot in the cafeteria to hang out. We ordered some food when I noticed that Kaffy seemed a little distracted.

I tapped her on the shoulders. Startled, she grabbed my hands. Relieved that it was me, she let go. I smirked, ‘That’s how it feels when you startle me every damn time. You got a dose of your medicine today.’

Irritated, she flicked my forehead or…almost… as I had dodged right in time. She rolled her eyes and read from her phone a message from her cousin, Khadijah, who would be joining us soon.

I heard that she was a very sweet but stern elder sister who seemed to be coping well with her father’s death and she was getting well just fine with everyone in the group except Jay, who enjoyed teasing her because she was timid.

We were having a nice time until Mindy popped up with her minions. I groaned, almost hitting my head on the table, ‘What do you want, Mindy?’ She sighed, ‘I want to call a truce.’

Kaffy narrowed her eyes, ‘What the hell are you playing at?!’ Mindy raised her hands, ‘Hey Tiger! Easy! I am not here for war. It is only temporary besides. Trixie, my roommate hates your guts and wants to ruin you…literally and I can not have that on my conscience so …technically, I am on your side…for now…’

Trina seemed to be contemplating something, her hands rubbing her chin and her eyes narrowed. She exhaled, ‘That is the girl who almost sabotaged you that day.’ She turned to Mindy, ‘Why are you helping us? You hate Chloe.’

Mindy simply smiled, something flashing in her eyes like vulnerability, ‘I am done here!’ She clapped her hands, ‘Mindettes!!!’ They turned away from us and started to strut away.

‘That was weird!’ Jay remarked amidst his bites of sandwich. It was a cringeworthy moment as bits of the sandwich flew out his mouth.

Khadijah walked in with her tray of food. She was wearing a blue shirt over some baggy jeans with a white hijab and white sneakers. She was almost at our table when someone tripped her.