Chapter 1: First meet

Cole

As I entered the classroom pushing the door and settling down on my seat I heard a faint voice, I scanned the classroom from one corner to another but I could not see anything unusual so ignoring it I opened my bottle to drink some water, while I was chugging it I heard a loud whimper and it was clear and loud this time, frowning I stood from my seat and moved towards the direction of the sound. I was confused as I could see bag on the table but no one seating on the chair near it, I heard a sob again, deciding to see who it is I bend down near the table I saw a girl with her head buried in her knees and sobbing. I was confused for many reasons; one, who is this girl; two, why was she crying?

Deciding to find out the reason for her misery I decided to ask her myself “Why are you crying?” no response was received I could only hear her sob

“Hey girl, why are you sitting under the table?” no answers this time too, but the sobs only increased.

My heart contracted at the melodies sobbing voice of this girl and I decided to do just what my mum does to me why I am sad, I wanted to hug and comfort her so before doing that which might scare her further, I thought of asking her for permission

My mama also said; always be kind and respectful about one’s personal space

“Can I hug you?” to which I received a small invisible nod but I noticed it and sat beside her and hugged her from the side. Her head still in her knees the position was very uncomfortable for me but I managed to squeeze under the table.

Finally, after five minutes of continuously rubbing my hand on her head and comforting her I decided to speak again “Are you new to the school?” to which she nodded again

“Okay, why are you crying? Are you scared to be in a new place” to which she just sobbed again she was trying to muffle her voice as much as possible but failed.

Maybe she is scarred

“What’s your name?” no response again

Now this is irritating, I feel like I am talking to a wall. Huff

“Did someone say something to you? Did someone bully you?” no response

“Okay, then why are you crying cupcake?” I asked her in a soft voice.

Maybe she cannot talk, can that be a case? Yes, that is it. She is mute

“I am not a cupcake” a small voice brought me out of my thoughts, her face was still buried into her knees but her sobs have almost died and her voice was horse from all the crying she did

So, she is not mute after all

“Oh, so you can talk now. You ignored my questions and did not tell me your name so I decided to give you one” I said smiling hoping she could bring her face up and tell me what was bothering her. Watching her sob made me sad and want to take away all her pain, I was confused myself why did it matter to me so much I did not even know this girl.

“I lost my bracelet,” she said again sobbing, her head still in her knees.

Is she crying and making a mess of herself just for a bracelet? Seriously

“You are sad for a bracelet? You can always get a new one you know?”

“No, that one is my mother’s last gift to me, her last memory for me” she said and sobbed more, making me feel bad about what I said earlier. And to show I was sorry about it I hugged he more tightly hoping my support was enough to get her through this.

“We can try to find it. When did you see it last? Did you wear it to school?” I cannot see her crying anymore, I will have to do something about it

“Yes, I was early for the class and there was no one here in the room so I decided to walk around. I walked by the basketball court then the tennis court and then to the pool and then I tripped and as I was trying to get up I noticed that it was missing” and more sobs were heard, this time her body jerked sobbing

Oh hell now, I am find this girl her bracelet

“Did you look around?”

“I…hiccup…tried to…hiccup…walk back…hiccup…the route…hiccup…I walked earlier…hiccup…but did not find…hiccup…it” and she sobbed more.

“Did you check the pool?”

“No”

“Let’s go do that then” the moment I said that, the girl lifted her head up blinking her eyes to push back the tears that were blurring her vision. However, the second I saw her red face and her beautiful grey eyes I was astonished, my trans broke when heard I her voice again

“But…But I don’t know how to swim” sadness was evident on her face

“I can help you. I know how to swim” my chest almost swelled with pride, very grateful for my older brother Dave and his swimming lessons

“Will you really?” I nodded without a doubt, and a smile broke on her face which made me smile in return.

“Come let’s go” I got up and held my hand out for her, she took it reluctantly eager to find her bracelet

I moved my free had to rub her eyes and cheeks to clean them with the long sleeve of my shirt “What’s your name cupcake?”

“Cupcake again? I am not a cupcake. And to answer your question my name is Clara. What’s your name?” she said, her voice still horse. I helped her drink some water while I told he my name

“Cole” we made small talks as they walked towards the pool, mostly Clara fussing about the name ‘cupcake’ I gave to her

I has been in the pool for nearly 20 minutes while Clara stood there anxious praying that I could find her bracelet. Every time I took a dive and came up on the surface with no bracelet Clara’s face dropped, my heart tightens thinking how sad she will be if she could never find her mother’s bracelet ever again. This time when I came up to the surface, almost at the other end of the pool from where I started at the beginning, I could see tears start to fall back from her eyes and she fell to her knees taking her face in her palms.

“You should have faith in your newfound friend cupcake,” I said taking her left hand from her face and made her wear the bracelet I found on my last dive before resurfacing. The moment the bracelet touched Clara’s wrists her headshot to me and then back to her bracelet she hugged me with all her strength and tripped us both on the floor after she was done starring at her bracelet which was unusually long.

“Thank you…Thank you…Thank you so so so much. You have no idea how much this means to me, and because you got my bracelet back, I permit you to be my best friend and to call me whatever name you like” making me chuckled and hugged her back.