One Hundred And Fourteen

Nick walked into the cafeteria and the boys started to howl with praises. I just rolled my eyes because that was exactly what I was telling Casey just now. If she had posted the girls, they would have started shaming them already, but here we were with Nick being praised.

I watched him tell Uche about not having his phone and Uche lifted his own phone to his eyes. He immediately touched all the parts of his clothes that had pockets to search for it.

"I know I've never really asked, but since when did you know how to ask, and do your parents know?"

"They don't. I wanted to find out who posted the video of me and Nick so I went online and learned some basic shit about videos, but now I take online classes. My parents pay for them, but that's only because they think I'm learning French. My mum's from there, and she wants me to learn how t..."

"Okay. Cool." I said with a smile to remind her of what I asked and where her answers should stop. I didn't want to hear about her mother's French side.

She dipped Nick's phone in her pocket after switching it off and started to eat what was in front of her."So have you told him yet?" She asked me and I looked at her for more context.

"Have you told Uche that you might be leaving soon?" She asked with a new phrase and my eyes popped in surprise."Oh shit, you haven't told me yet..." She covered her mouth.

"Casey," I groaned."I told you not to go through my phone."

"I didn't. I swear."

"How do you know about that then?"

"..." She bit her lips guiltily and I realized I wasn't safe from her hacking.

"I can't believe you." I just shook my head in disappointment and folded my arms.

"It wasn't your phone, it was Nick's." I heard her."I listened to the conversation you had with your aunt." Her eyes became glassy like they had tears in them. Except they really did.

"We're you even gonna tell me? I mean, you haven't told Uche yet, so I'm not on that list, am I?"

"Don't remind me about it," I looked away from her to avoid getting emotional from the tears in her eyes.

"I just hope your mum gets better," she said and I swallowed the urge to reply with ‚' she is better', but I didn't. Maybe not everyone was an enemy. Maybe she cared.

***

"Did you know Casey was going to post the video?" Uche asked me while we stood outside the principal's office. 

Our principal had watched the video and had invited Nick to her office. A few minutes later, I was invited too. I was with Uche when I heard my name being announced so he followed me to the office; we met Casey standing outside the office too.

"Yeah," I answered in my lowest voice.

"Did you try to stop her?" He asked but I wasn't in the mood to answer that so I just folded my hands and looked away."You good?" He asked after I didn't respond.

"She hasn't called," I sighed and he stared at me, confused about what I just said so I scratched my head before shoving all my hair back.

"Who hasn't called?"

"My mum," I sighed again when my hair fell back in my face."Stupid hair," I grunted after, wishing I could cut it right then."My aunt said she'd call but she hasn't."

"Have you tried calling her?" He came closer when he noticed I was freaking out a bit.

"No." I just answered and moved away from him. I suddenly felt uneasy when I remembered my conversation with my aunt yesterday."I don't want to."

How did I explain to him that I didn't want to call my mum because I didn't want to call her? How do I tell him that I missed her a lot but I didn't want to have the conversation about my leaving this small town and going back to join her in the city?

A tear left my eye and Uche couldn't anymore. He drew me in and hugged me, rubbing my back slowly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He whispered in my left ear, sensing there was something I wasn't telling him yet. I shook my head, still in his hug."Okay." He spoke softly in my ear again."Hold on, let me dry your tears. If she sees you crying, she would just assume that you're feeling guilty about what you did."

He referred to the principal. Dabbing my tears with his face towel, he lifted my chin and smiled proudly."Don't agree to any shit she throws at you, okay? You didn't know Casey had Nick's phone, and you don't know why and when she posted it. Okay?" 

I found myself chortling with Casey's brows hung on her forehead behind him. He forgot she was there.

"Let me correct you. I didn't touch Nick's phone, and I didn't post that video, I don't know what you're talking about." She said so believably.

****

The day ended and my mum's call didn't come. I sat at dinner with my aunt and Nick. Everyone ate silently till my aunt broke the silence.

"How was school with you two?" She asked and Nick almost coughed out his food. I turned my head to him and asked with my eyes.

'Does she know?'

"You two are quiet," She spoke again."Did Nick get into a fight at school?" She asked but neither of us said anything.

"Well, your principal called. She mentioned a video..." She stopped and looked at her sweaty son."What did you do?" 

Oh no. I knew this. She usually asked what did you do? When she knew exactly what you did. I finished my plate and took it to the kitchen so I didn't get involved.

"Julie told Casey my password so she could post it." My neck immediately turned when Nick mentioned my name.

"What! I don't even know your password," I rushed back to the dining table.

"Why would Julie have your password to your phone?" My aunt asked and I couldn't have any other question on the tip of my tongue more.

"I don't know. Maybe so she can help Casey with it?" He gave the dumbest answer ever.

"Who's Casey?" My aunt got more invested. Nick realized soon that he was giving himself away and decided to be quiet.

"The girl he's been using," I decided to be wicked to him since he started it.

"Who is that again?" My aunt dropped her fork, becoming more interested.

"Julie..." Nick begged me with his eyes.

"Casey. She does all his homework and school projects for him." I twisted my words while my aunt raised her brows.

"Is she the girl in the video?" She asked and I froze. Has she seen it already?

"I don't know. I haven't watched the video." I wasn't lying this time. I actually hadn't watched the video but I knew its content.

"Me too." She said and continued to eat."I'm afraid to open it. Nick surprises me with something new every time I get a video from the principal of your school." I noticed Nick's sigh of relief the moment she said those words, but he wasn't ready for her next few words.

"You should try to be like Uche, you know. His father only gets calls about his scholarship opportunities and other good things, and all the calls I get about you are...I don't know..." My aunt just sighed and continued eating after.

Nick bit his lips and dropped his fork loudly before taking his plate to the kitchen sink. He went upstairs and that was the last of him that night.