Chapter 1 Back to school
Uriel's POV
“Why did nobody wake me up for school!” I whined, thundering down the stairs. My heart beating fast.
I wasn’t about to start my first day as a finalist high schooler with lateness.
“Who’s your maid in this house?” My mother was the first to shoot back at me. She always had snarky comments stored in her heart for me.
Frowning slightly, I poured myself a glass of water first. “But you woke Emma.”
I looked over at my father to help me here. He just shrugged, looking away.
Of course.
“Because she needs to be punctual.” Mother shot me a glare - one supposed to shut me up.
“And me?” I asked, dropping the empty glass on the counter carefully, my eyes pinned on her.
“Are you asking me such stupid question? Who do you even think you are?” She hissed, turning off the gas.
Your daughter?
“Sorry Mother.”
“Sorry for yourself.” She turned the omelette into a plate.
“Is that for me? I didnt eat anything last night.” I was hopeful she’d say yes.
“And how much do you add to this house?” She snapped, making me flinch.
“Faith.” My father spoke, his tone hard.
“What? Someone has to tell her the truth. We can only feed 3 mouths not 4.” She hissed, turning away. “Eat that if you like. I already lost my appetite.”
My stomach grumbled as I looked at the food, but I wasn’t going to let her insult me like that.
“I should get going, Father.” I walked up to my crippled father, leaning to peck his cheek.
Ever since he sustained an injury on his leg, at work, things had been a bit terrible. Mostly for me. At least when he was actively working and providing, I was being perfectly looked after.
Let’s leave that story for another time.
Good vibe were all I wanted to posses today.
“Here.” He squeezed a little paper in my hand. “Please keep all.”
I gasped, looking at the money in my palm. “Father…”
“Please. You’re getting skinny. It’s bothering me.” His eyes held this sadness.
It weakened me.
“But …”
“Good thing you’re still - what are you two discussing about?” My mother eyed us suspiciously.
I squeezed the money into my pocket before turning to her.
None of your business. I wanted to say
But I settled for “morning blessings.”
“Did you bless Emma too?”
Yeah. It was always Emma, Emma, Emma.
I wondered sometimes if she was really my mother cos it didn’t feel so to me.
“Okay, bye.”
“No, wait there!” She rushed to me, chucking a wallet in my hand. “Find Emma and give it to her. Tell her my credit card is in there and she knows the pin. Tell her to get those dresses she wanted.”
“Yeah whatever.” I snatched the purse from her, fighting the urge to yell ‘what about me?’ at her.
“You better give it to her, Uriel!”
As I stepped out of the house, I debated whether to use the money dad gave me for transport or food.
I didn’t want to be all sweaty on my first day.
“Yo bitch!”
Ignoring the call, because I had a hunch it was those rich pricks that lived down the street, I continued to walk straight ahead.
“Uri!” The voice became clear and familiar. Then a car drove past me, obstructing my way.
“What the fuck?” I laughed, looking between Kathie, Lance and Chloe who was behind the wheel.
Assessing the car, I shook my head in disbelief. “No way!”
“Yes way, bitch!” Chloe nodded. “Dad let me have it. 3 times a week though.”
“Our new whip!” Lance cheered. He was the only boy in our group and sort of our big brother.
“Get in already. We can’t be too late.” Kathie threw the door open, her face so pink from happiness.
“Here. Food.” Lance threw a pack on my thigh when I entered. “I’m guessing Mummy Emma didn’t give you food.”
See? Even my friends knew.
“I mean, that’s why we call her Mummy Emma. She’s solely for Emma.” Kathie laughed, turning back at me from the passengers seat.
“That bitch.” Chloe hissed. “Anyway, read out the rules for our final year as a High Schooler to them, Kat.”
“Oh yes.” Kathie turned back, her serious face on. “We are going to live. I mean, be out there, party, drink, go on trips with the class, smoke if need be -“
“Cancel” I quickly muttered, my mouth filled with food.
“Girl, if need be. We’re going to have sex.” As she said that part, she stared directly at me
“That’s discriminatory.” I pouted, earning a laugh from Chloe and Kathie.
“Leave her alone. Do it at your pace okay?” Lance placed his hand on my thigh.
“See? Lance gets it.” I smiled at him, blowing him a kiss. His cheek got red instantly.
“Lance is a softie for you. We all get it.” Chloe shot.
“And lastly, finish off with a killer grade and leave a mark in this school for our Juniors.” Kathie breathed.
“Tell me how we’re supposed to do that when we’d be partying and all that.” I scoffed, wiping my mouth with the serviette I found in the pack.
“We’d figure it out.” Kathie hummed, opening the door.
We had arrived at school.
“We can’t be referred to as the ‘nerd group’ this year. Seriously.” Chloe said, seriousness in her tone. My eyes sparkled with admiration when I caught onto her expensive tailored gown.
“Girl, you ate with that dress.” Kathie beat me up to it.
“For real, Chloe.” I smiled brightly, my eyes refusing to get off the gown.
“Stop.” She flapped her hand in the air, a bit shy. She didn’t like to be the center of attention much.
Yet, they wanted to make an impact in school and leave a mark.
Funny people.
“You too, Uri. Crop top and baggy? My style!” Kathie cheered. “You also look great Lancey boy.”
“Okay, enough.” Lance was the first to make a move towards the school building.
“He’s no fun.” Kathie rolled her eyes, hooking her arms around mine and Chloe’s.
“And your tennis skirt and top is cool.” I told Kathie.
“I thought you’d not compliment me.”
“Trust me, she wore a bogus gown to hide it from her Ma this morning.” Lance shot from the front, his eyes still straight ahead.
“Shut up!” I chuckled, throwing my head back. Chloe snickered while Kathie rolled her eyes at us.
“Welcome to Achievers High where it’s a crime to be smart.” Lance said, pushing the door to the hallway open.
1..2..3…
Everyone’s eyes snapped to us. We were late and at least, this time it was fashionable.
“The nerds? Late? Fuck no.” Someone yelled from the corner, earning a snicker from the crowd of students.
“Don’t cower guys!” Kathie muttered.
“You know me.” Untangling our hands, I braced myself up, my glare hard as I stared at no one in particular.
I wasn’t a shy one like my friends. I was brave and mostly annoyed half of the time in this school.
Nothing interested me.
It was the typical high school anyway with the basketball team at the top of the hierarchy and the cheerleaders at the second part and then some wannabes and lastly, the nerds.
Unfortunately, I fell into a terrible bully last 2 years in the hands of the captain of the Basketball team.
A name I should never mention.
He was dead to me though, ever since he left Achievers high last year. I’ve had my peace too.
It was really a terrible experience. One I didn’t like to think about.
It was TORTURE
“You good? You’ve been staring at Ryder’s picture over there for a while.” Kathie placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Have I?” I chuckled nervously. I didn’t even know I was staring. No, I was glaring. “He has been absent for a year. Why do they still have those?”
“Cos he was the star. Undefeated.” Chloe replied in a duh tone.
“There’s a new captain. Chase Holler.” I pointed out, my eyes darting to where he stood with girls flocking around him.
The same set of girls that flocked around Ryder too. Shameless.
“Compared to Ryder, nahhh.” Chloe shrugged. “Oh look at Peter!” Chloe cooed, her dreamy eyes in full display as she stared at the blonde haired guy from the basketball team.
One of Ryder’s best friend.
“And Mason!” Kathie squealed lowly, eyeing the dark haired guy beside Peter.
That was another of Ryder’s best friend. Birds of the same feather.
They were hardly out here like this last year since Ryder left. What changed?
“Jesus Christ. You both are creepy.” Lance rolled his eyes. “You should find new friends or just hang out with me, Uriel.”
“So she’d die of boredom, reading one of those boring school textbook.” Chloe scoffed. “Shit! They’re looking this way. Quickly, act like you're removing something from my hair.”
“Huh?” Kathie creased her eyebrow in confusion, doing it anyway.
I chuckled, shaking my head.
“You both are goners.”
Suddenly a cat whistle was heard from down the hallway. “Yo Kat, wanna ride this dick with that short skirt.”
“Fuck off, Dennis” Kat shot back immediately, her cheek red from both embarrassment and shyness.
This was probably the first time she yelled that loud.
“Meet me in the empty laboratory room, baby. We can talk about the weather while we fuck.” Dennis fired back, laughing loud, alongside his other team mates.
Oh Jesus.
“I’m going to kill that boy. So annoying.” Kathie hissed, glaring daggers at him.
“At least you don’t have a stalker like Matthew. Look at him waiting by my locker.” Chloe groaned loudly. We followed her eyes, landing on Matthew who stood in front of her locker, reciting something.
“Let’s go before they ring the bell for class. Bye girl” Kathie dragged Chloe away with her. They had a class together.
“So it’s just you …. Oh.” I turned to find Lance gone. No, he was talking to a girl in his class. I bet it was about school work.
He was the real nerd. I don’t even know how he managed to befriend us.
Sighing, I walked up to my locker, sorting out my book. The bell rang few seconds later and then came the struggle. People rushed to their classes, bumping into one another.
I wasn’t going to be doing that. So, I waited for the crowd to reduce before strolling. First, I had to stop at the library to submit my letter of application to be a library assistant.
With the way my mother was going, I had to start somewhere. Because I had only me at the end of the day.
Surfing my bag for the letter, I walked frantically. Then suddenly, I bumped into a hard - very hard wall.
That was definitely going to cause me a concussion in my head.
What the fuck?
My bag fell from my hand, my books splattered all over the tiled floor. After my eyes stopped spinning, it settled on the bright, expensive shinny shoe.
Wait… it wasn’t a wall?
“Are you good? What’s with people and not watching where they’re going today? So fucking annoying.” His voice was hard, deep and somewhat…. Familiar.
My body froze.
No. No. No.
My eyes slowly travelled up to meet his, a cold shiver running down my spine.
“Ryder Connell.”
Shit.
My fucking bully was back.
It was going to be a long last senior year.