The Newbie

"Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Everett's scholarship has been revoked."

"No wonder I didn't see him at school today."

"Is that all you've heard?"

"Yes, is there more to it?"

"Of course, the whole school already knows that Everett and Olivia go way back."

"Way back?"

"Yes, they've known each other since they were in middle school."

"Where on earth did you hear such news."

"The newbie."

"The newbie again!"

*****

Achoo

"I keep on having these feelings of being cursed at the moment." Natasha said as she flipped her book open.

Riley chuckled as he removed a textbook from his bag.

"Your feelings are right. Can't you see the way everyone's staring at you?"

She smiled, then looked up to see those who were staring at her. But the moment she rose her head up, everyone looked away, and continued with whatever they were doing before.

" They even fear you now. They don't want you writing about them on the school group chat." Riley said after seeing everyone's reaction.

Natasha laughed gently and suddenly turned to face Riley.

"Hey, did you read the story?"

Riley was a bit startled, but soon calmed down. He smiled and shook his head I the negative. Natasha quickly shifted her chair closer to his. And looking into his shocked eyes

"Do you want to hear the full story from me?" she asked with a very bright face.

"Uh, Uhm, I'm not su....."

"Sure, I'll tell you. Listen carefully."

*****

Olivia and Everett were classmate at a public junior high school. They were close friends, whether or not they were, that was just what others noticed. One was rich, while the other came from a middle class family. One was the favored last child, the other was the first child. One dreamt of living each day to its fullest, one just wanted a simple life.

But it just so happened that one was already so used to having the other by her side, she was not ready to part ways with him. She asked her eldest brother, who was successfully running their father's business to offer a scholarship to her friend. Her brother agreed and did just that, so she and her friend ended up in the same school. Their friendship continued, but not so long, classmates began to ship them. He felt uncomfortable, so he joined another department before it was too late for him to change classes. He joined quite a lot of activities and a club, so that way, he had little time to spend with her. Although, people no longer shipped them,she ended up falling in love with him. She confessed to him, he felt confused, and asked her to give him some time. He met her two days later, after thinking about the dangers of turning her down. He agreed to date her, but asked her if she could keep their relationship a secret, gave a thousand reasons as to why their relationship should be kept a secret. She agreed without thinking too much about it back then.

*****

Riley looked at Natasha and could only nod his head. How she knew what happened was what he found surprising, just as how no one, not even he, knew how she got a video of when Everett visited him at the hospital. He seriously wanted to ask, but at the same time, he didn't want to know. All he knew and cared to know was that he was finally free from the bullying of the TST girls.

After all, it was a new week, and three days had gone, yet no one came to bully him. He smiled when he heard the bell ring.

"Prep's over." Natasha said as she hurriedly packed her bag.

"Hmm. You have somewhere to be, you look like you are in a hurry?"

He asked as he watched her arrange her books in a hurry, which was unlike her.

"Of course I am."

She placed her bag on the table, got up and arranged Riley's books into his bag and placed it on his laps.

"Get up, I still haven't had an opportunity to have lunch with you after school periods, all because your big brother gets here too early."

She picked up her bag and Riley also got up. They stepped out of the class, ignoring the stares they got from others. Stepping out of the school premises, Natasha brought out her phone and read out a name Riley probably never heard of.

Seeing him looking confused, she smiled and pulled him closer then placed her left arm across his shoulders.

"Hey, don't you even bother knowing the places around the school?"

He just smiled and shook his head in the negative.

She smiled

"That means I would be the one taking you around the street."

She took him through an alleyway, and they ended up in another street which had a French restaurant in view.

"pomess cache."

Riley read out in a bit of a struggle. Natasha smiled hearing him pronounce it so wrongly.

"Promesse cachée."

Riley looked at her and did nod his head in agreement.

"It means hidden promise."

Riley scoffed and took a good look at the big restaurant and laughed.

"Just which moron name a restaurant such. Even if the person loves hiding things to have given it such a name, hidden recipe sounds better to me, or doesn't it?"

Natasha looked at him and smiled, she shook her head in amusement. Seeing him all happy made her damn happy. She was happy she was finally strong and bold enough to protect a friend. She gave him a playful push towards the restaurant.