Chapter 16

*Stay out of my way!*

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I gathered the courage to walk even when my legs quivered to walk down the hallway, it felt like every pupil was staring at me but just a few cared if I was walking or not. I pulled out my phone and there were a thousand and one messages from Lacey. I walked into the class instead and then texted her.

*Lacey, I'm in the class!*

I hit send. Some minutes later, Tiffany's call came in. At first, I didn't want to answer it but then it wasn't her fault that Davis bathed me with coffee earlier and I assumed that she may or may not know about it earlier.

"Hi, Iffy!" I answered yet I could hear the faintness in my voice.

"Claude, where are you at the moment? I've been tryna reach you but I got unlucky!”

"Yeah...Uhm...I was kinda busy and you know.." I stopped talking because I didn't know what else to say.

"We need to talk right now,"

"I got to class and it starts in twenty minutes," I explained to her, truth be told I didn't want you to talk about anything just yet. To me, it was overly pointless.

"Great! See you in a jiffy!" She hung up then I sighed. I looked up and down, corner to corner, side to side, seat to seat and there wasn't a sign of comfort coming from anyone. Once upon a time, I was as happy as the morning bird that chirps as early as six o'clock but now Davis has made all my fantasies fade, I was a mirror of myself, a stranger to myself. I hadn't had such a moment in my life but Davis was beginning to introduce me to hell. Lacey walked in briskly, the click-clack sound coming from her ankle boots made the recognition easier. She ran in my direction and hugged me, it felt warm and genuine, it felt really like a true friendship. She tucked her hair behind her ear and sat on a seat in front of me, that was her actual spot anyways.

"Wanna talk?" She asked staring at me coolly, I saw nothing but sympathy and that was the last thing I wanted. Sympathy. I nodded negatively, I guess it wasn't a big deal to talk about the past.

"It's okay Lacey, I'm fine you can see that!"

"No, you're fuckin not! Did you see the mess he made out of you?" She retorted "You know I thought that he was a nice guy...like really nice but he's just a piece of trash. A deuce bag..." She was getting pissed raising her voice then I cut short

"Lacey... Lacey just stop already," 
 "I'm going to face him for the second time you know you'll see!"

"Well I don't want that, just stop," I warned calmly then turned away from her but she was still looking at me very closely.

"He didn't have to treat you that way and do you know what baffles me most, is the fact y'all have never crossed paths or got on each other's nerves on purpose, he's always angry and mad at you for no fuckin reason..."

"He was wrong but you should let it go!" I said to her. Tiffany walked into the class, she looked a bit disappointed about something then she stopped on my right side.
 "Hey, Claude."

"Hey!" I snapped

"What's the matter Claude, you look a mess right now..." she blurted out sincerely but Lacey didn't let her complete her statement.

"...A mess that your freaking twin made. Tell me how spilling coffee on someone makes him any cooler?" 
 From the way, Lacey was staring at Tiffany I knew that she'd say something displeasing.

"Well that ain't my fault," Tiffany said defensively

"'That ain't my fault' How does it make you better?" Lacey raised her voice

"Claude, who the hell is she, I mean what's she doing here?" Tiffany was losing her cool, the atmosphere was getting tense and heated and they were getting me uncomfortable.

"Lacey is my friend,"

"Well, I don't give a damn if she keeps her shit together! I'm not Davis and he ain't me so," Tiffany blurted staring at Lacey in a distasteful manner

"Nah, Claudia. You've got to tell this GAL over here that if she says any more shit about me again, it's going to be a pity for her." Lacey warned

"Please calm down," I said holding the sides of my head while they continued exchanging unruly words at each other, students were beginning to flood the classroom and I didn't know what else to do so I yelled

"STOP!!!!" And there! They stopped talking, two famous girls arguing over a naive churchy girl like myself, it was somewhat delirious but intense. Now I wondered if they had once crossed each other's path.

"I don't want this please, let's not do this." I pleaded, maybe it was time to practice peace again.

"Nah I'm out of here!" Lacey took her bag and stormed out of the class.

"Lacey!" I found myself calling out her name then Tiffany placed her hand on my arm gently 
 "Claude," she called out softly
 "Just go away...please. Not right now," I said, "We'll just talk later!" I dismissed her turning away. For some reason, I was acting like Lacey. Iffy was completely innocent. She didn't have to carry her brother's cross; at least she's never been rude or hostile to me.

∆∆∆∆

I took up my books tucking each into my bag, Lacey didn't attend the class since the lst clash and I couldn't help but blame myself for it. A girl approached me only to ask if I was the same girl that Davis spilled coffee on, before I could give a response she was laughing hysterically. At that time I realized that Davis had made a bigger mess out of me. She went ahead to say that I was really lucky that I had the right outfit for it, I couldn't stand the jest anymore so I walked away. I headed out through the exit doors and I found Davis and the twin boys talking on the right side where the parking space was, he was leaning on the car probably waiting on his sister. 
 "Hey, cutie!"I heard someone call from behind, I knew that it was one and only Mason, he calls me that most times, and I can barely count the number of times he's called me by my name. I turned immediately wearing a decent smile then I saw Johnson standing next to him waving and me 
 "Sorry about what happened, that wasn't cool." Mason began and he meant every word

"It's all okay, I'm..I'm over it!" I snapped. Of course, I wasn't over it just yet and I would very much appreciate it if Davis apologizes to me first. A dream that would never come through.

"I spoke to him and I think he's heard. He won't cross your path again, I promise." Mason added then I gave a faint smile.

"Thanks. You really shouldn't bother I swear it, I just think that he doesn't like me...as much you do! I'm lucky you both do anyways."

They smiled at me and that was a comfort.

"Have you seen Lacey anywhere?" Mason asked, I knew that he'd ask that

"We got into an argument she left. I don't know!" I explained

"Okay!" He nodded gently portraying his disappointment, he must have assumed that I knew. Mason pulled me in for a hug. It wasn't so awkward maybe because I was completely used to him, Johnson did the same; no awkwardness. 
 "I'll talk to you much later A'ight!" Johnson said to me, behind those words he wanted to ask a whole lot of questions but time was a limitation, they both had basketball practice. 
 I sighted Mom's car from a short distance, I heaved a very deep sigh. I ran over to the car whether or not it was childish or uncalled for.

(❤️❤️Hi, y'all, Tell me what you think about Davis and Claudia. Can't wait.)