Chapter 2

Alia’s POV

The sound of knocking on my door woke me up. I was not a morning person, and I didn't think I would ever be. With every strength I had in me, I got out of bed and went over to open the door, hoping whoever it was would leave me alone.

But to my surprise, a dark-haired girl with heavy makeup stood at my door with her arms crossed over her chest. She raised a brow at me and practically pushed me and entered my room, which made me roll my eyes and cross my hands over my chest too. We stood that way for a while looking at each other. I didn't know who she was, and she wasn't introducing herself. After a couple of seconds, I broke the silence.

"Yes? How may I help you?“ I asked.

"It's 7:00 AM, and you are not dressed yet?“ she said with a voice I could swear was familiar.

"Dressed for?“ I asked, confused.

"School, Alia, school,“ she said.

I mentally facepalmed myself at the fact that I had forgotten it was Monday already.

"Just great, Alia. You would be late on your first day," a tiny voice said in my head.

I quickly made my way to the bathroom, and in no time, I was done. I brushed my teeth and blow dried my hair at the same time, which was definitely not a bright idea because when I was done, my hair was all over the place like I had cats playing in them all night.

But the fact was I couldn't care less how it looked at the moment. I quickly scanned my closet and found a red crop top and a black jeans. I put them on with my ankle tops and took a last look at myself in the full-length mirror wall. I nodded in satisfaction and made my way out.

When I got back to my bedroom, the girl was nowhere to be found. I looked at my watch and found out it was 7:30 AM. "Not bad," I said to myself and made my way out. In no time, I was downstairs, but being the foodie that I was, I made my way to the kitchen to get some snacks. When I entered the kitchen, the girl was there, and she and Nana were talking. I furrowed my brows and went over to where the girl was sitting.

"Sorry, who did you say you were? I didn't get your name. I'm Alia, and you are?“ I said and stuck out my hand for a handshake, but she just burst into laughter instead.

I looked over at Nana and found her containing her own laughter, which made me wonder if I had something on my face or if my clothes were onside out. But that laughter was familiar, and I was trying to remember where I had heard it from. After a whole one minute of laughter, she finally stopped.

"Hi, Alia. I'm Tracy, your best friend. Nice to meet you,“ she mimicked me.

Now it made sense! Of course, she was Tracy! I began to remember how she looked like, but when we were in junior school, she was blonde, which was the reason I didn't remember her immediately.

I pulled her into a hug. Though she was taller than me now—heck, everyone was taller than me—we still managed to hug. She pulled out of the hug after a while, and then her expression changed to anger, which made me raise a brow.

"You big ugly shrimp, how dare you leave me like that. You didn't even tell me you were leaving. I was your best friend! How could you do that to me?" Tracy said dramatically.

"I’m sorry. I didn't mean to. I was so small then, and—" I began to say, but she interrupted me.

"We are late, Al. Let's get going already. Save the apologies for now, come on,“ she said and made her way out of the kitchen.

I shook my head and picked up the sandwich Nana had already packaged for me. She still hadn't changed. Tracy was one to make a fuss about red-colored sweets one minute and throw a party the next. See why I said I was the reasonable one?

When I got outside, Tracy had already pulled out of the parking lot and was already honking the horn like crazy. I shook my head and got into the passenger’s side. I buckled my seatbelt, and she hit the gas, and off we were to school.

In the car, Tracy tried to tell me all that had happened at the school for the past seven years in a ten-minute drive—impossible for me, but very possible for her.

"And wait, I forgot. This is the best part of it all. Do you remember Zion Knight, like Zion Enrique Knight?“ she asked excitedly.

I shook my head, which made her roll her eyes.

"Oh, you had already left then when he came to our school. Anyway, if I don't tell you anything, I need to tell you this: DO NOT EVER IN YOUR LIFE HAVE A CRUSH ON HIM!" she said in a higher pitch than usual.

"Yes, Mum,“ I said sarcastically. “Why?“ I asked. Not that I was interested, but any specific warning caught my attention.

"Because he is too good looking for his own good and too bad for your own good," she said like she was quoting scripture.

"Yes, ma’am,“ I said, not wanting to talk about the subject anymore.

As we drove into the school, the magnificent building that stood so proudly greeted us. It was definitely a sight to behold. Its brown paint reminded me of chocolate. Tracy drove like she had a specific direction she was heading to. I thought we wouldn't have anywhere to park as we were already late, but to my surprise, there was a parking spot with a mini sign that said Tracy.

When she stopped the car and started fixing her make up, I brought out my sandwich and began to eat. I was so hungry I could eat a cow. Tracy, on the other hand, just stared at me, shaking her head.

"What? “I asked her after I had swallowed the bite I had in my mouth.

"It's so unfair you still eat like a cow and look like a freaking runway model, but I, on the other hand, if I ever ate like you, I would look like a fat potato. So not fair,” she whined.

"I wish I had your looks, Tracy. You look like a Vogue model. I, on the other hand, look more like a 15-year-old than a 17-year-old. Be thankful,“ I said and continued eating my sandwich.

"Really, you think so,“ she said excitedly, to which I just nodded my head in response.

"Well, I would be a horrible bestie if I ever let you appear in class like that. This is senior year, girl; you have to look it. The clothes are not bad, but that hair? Oh no, no, no, no,“ she said as she was going through her purse. She brought out a comb and hair cream, which made me roll my eyes.

She came over to my side of the car, pulled open the door, and started combing my hair.

After few minutes of torture, we were done, and my hair looked more human than before. The cream she applied on it made the hair shine a little. My Mum called them dark clouds framing my face, and the green eyes I had with them made me look somewhat beautiful but nothing special.

"Now, let's get to class. We just have five minutes left until we’re officially late,“ Tracy said and pressed a button on her car keys to lock the car.

Every step I took towards the building only made me more nervous. What if they all didn't like me? What if some people remembered me? What if someone that knew my father informed him that I was here now? What if my teacher turned out to be my dad? All these and many more questions were going through my mind, which made me more nervous.

"Earth to Alia, please,“ I heard Tracy say and snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"Stop overthinking. You still do that thing with your face whenever you are thinking of something bad. Everything will be alright; you are safe,“ Tracy said.

"Thanks, T, but how do you know?“ I asked suspiciously.

"Your Mum told me everything, and I made a promise to her to make sure you would be fine. Now, we both have U.S. history. Get a move on or else we will be officially late!"

"I thought we were 'officially' late already," I said, emphasizing the “officially.”

"Whatever,“ Tracy said and made her way to class. She went into the class before me, which made me even more nervous. I bit my lip and slowly entered into the class like everyone had a gun pointed at my direction.

But when I got into the class, it was a different scenario entirely. The teacher was talking, but no one was listening. Some looked bored; some had headphones on; some were chit-chatting, and Tracy had quickly joined in the conversation. I stood at the door awkwardly as I didn't know what to do. No one had noticed me, not even the teacher.

Tracy signaled me to come sit beside her. As I was making my way to the seat she had left for me, someone called my name, which made me stop dead in my tracks.

"Alia Trey Bailey, please, come over here. Sorry, I haven't introduced you to the class yet," I heard the teacher say.

I turned back and went over to where the teacher was standing. As always, I looked very small by his side.

"Everyone, I would like you to meet Miss Alia Trey Bailey. She was once a student at this school, and now she's back. Many of you might not know her, but she's a wonderful person, and I believe you all will respect her and treat her nicely," the teacher said to the class and then gestured for me to take my seat.

Everyone's eyes were now on me. Some looked happy to see me, and some couldn't care less, while some were scrutinizing me with their gaze. A few already started sending me death glares, your typical high school response.

I took the seat Tracy had already kept for me and was glad she did as it was in the middle of the classroom. I opened my bag and took out the notebook I’d brought from home when suddenly someone threw a crumbled piece of paper at the back of my head. I turned to see who did it, but everyone looked like they didn't see anything. I turned back to start writing, and again they threw the second piece of paper at me. This time, I didn't bother to turn back as I knew I wouldn't see who had done it.

When we were almost at the end of the period, two tall boys walked into the class: one with white-blonde hair and the other with golden blonde hair that had dark roots. The guy with the golden blonde colored hair had a tattoo on his left arm. They both looked rough, and the way they strolled into the class like they owned the entire building made me dislike them immediately.

"That's the devil I told you about," Tracy whispered to me, pointing at the guy with the tattooed arm.

"Oh, okay,“ I whispered back.

"Mr. Knight and Mr. Cole, so glad that you could join us," the teacher said sarcastically.

The guy with the white-blonde hair was first to speak.

"We are really sorry, Mr. Martin. We had early morning training for the big day; we've been working really hard, so we could come home champions," he said sincerely.

The other one had his hands in his pocket and gave off a “couldn't care less” attitude.

"Just this time, I will pardon you both,“ Mr. Martin said and continued his lectures.

The two boys strolled past me and made their way to the back of the class. I heard noises like someone was standing up from their seats. I turned to look at what was happening, and I was right: the guy with the tattoo on his arm had bullied someone out of his seat. Well, maybe not exactly bullied—he just stared at the poor boy, and he scrambled out of the seat, while the other guy with white-blonde hair was sitting next to a girl he was teasing.

As my eyes came back to the other boy with the tattooed arm, our eyes mistakenly held contact, and I quickly faced the front again. I didn't want to have anything to do with him as Tracy had warned.

"And that is the end of the class. See you guys tomorrow,“ Mr. Martin said and left the class.

When he was out the door, the class erupted with noise. Someone started singing, and some moved from their seats to their friends’ seats, but I noticed most people wanted the attention of the guy with the tattooed arm, especially the girls.

"Hey, Zion. How was practice,“ I heard a girl say, desperately trying to gain his attention.

I waited for a response, but none came. Rude, I thought. How could someone do something like that? The whole class knew she was talking to him, and he just snubbed her.

I turned to look over my shoulder at him but caught him already staring at me with a frown on his face. I quickly turned back.

"Where is she? Where is she?" A guy barged into our class, screaming with excitement.

He looked familiar, but I couldn't pinpoint where I had known him from. When our eyes met, his face lit up with a smile. He made his way towards me and pulled me in a hug with everyone's eyes on us.

When he pulled out of the hug, he gave me a kiss on the cheek, and then I remembered him.

"Daniel?“ I said, not too sure in case I was wrong.

"Oh, Emerald, you remember me,“ he said and pulled me back into a hug. This time, I hugged him back.

"So, you barge into the class like a maniac just because you want to hug little Alia?" I heard a voice say behind me, which made me and Daniel pull out of the hug.

"Mind your business, Claire,“ Daniel said.

"Yes, Claire. Whatever my friends do is not your business, so back off," Tracy added.

"Wow... little Alia’s defenders...still hasn't changed. Very stupid of you two,“ Claire said.

"Claire, Claire, Claire. You still are stupid and insecure the way you've always been around Alia, and I am sure it hurts you to see how beautiful she is now, right?“ Tracy said with a smirk on her face, while I just stood there receiving death glares from Claire.

"You wish. Well, my dear Alia, welcome to Excellency High. If you really want to graduate, I advise you stay away from me and everything that belongs to me," Claire said and left the class, brushing Tracy's shoulders with hers on her way.

"You just got back, and you've already made an enemy,” the guy with the white-blonde hair said.

"Stop it,“ Daniel said to him and took my hands and led me out of the class, and Tracy followed suit.

"Don't let them get to you, okay? Claire is just made up of meanness, and Derrick loves teasing people. It gives him joy,“ Daniel said as he led me to what seemed like the cafeteria.

"Dan, was the dramatic entrance really necessary?“ Tracy said by my side.

"Yes, when you don't see your best friend for seven years, it is necessary, and I would do it all over again if I have to. Now, shut up,“ Daniel said, frowning.

"I will eventually be the one to end your life; I promise,“ Tracy said and crossed her hands over her chest.

The two made me burst out in laughter. They really hadn't changed.

"What's so funny, Al?“ Tracy asked, and her frown deepened, which only made me laugh harder.

"Come on. Let's go," Daniel said and took Tracy's hands.

"I'm sorry. Wait for me please,” I said and followed them.

When we entered the cafeteria, it was full to the brim, but we somehow managed to make our way through the crowd to a table I was guessing Daniel and Tracy always ate at.

"So, why did you come back?“ Daniel asked after we had gotten our food and had taken our seats.

"I... I didn't even know I would be coming back," I said with all honesty.

"Why did you leave without a word?“ he asked again.

"I....I... can’t say,“ I said and looked down at my food. I could never tell anyone why we'd been running. Even if Tracy thought she knew, I was sure Mum lied to her. No one apart from me and my mother knew the reason why we'd been on the run.

"Let it go, Daniel. She's back now; that’s all that matters," Tracy said.

"Hey, everyone. Over here. I have a welcome gift for our dearest Alia," I heard Claire's voice say.

The three of us turned to the direction of where her voice was coming from. She had everyone's attention as she had climbed on top of a table and had a mega phone in her hand that she used to talk. Two girls were holding a projector up, and another was holding a video player down.

"Hey, Alia. Welcome back. I never forgot you. You know you are special to me; here are the memories I have of you,“ she said and snapped her fingers.

Then the video started playing on the projector, and all the embarrassing moments I ever had in Excellency High in my junior year began to play in front of me.

As each video played, the laughter increased. Some people even brought out their phones to record it. The shame and embarrassment were unbearable.

"I’ll kill her," I heard Tracy say.

I didn't want to cry in front of everyone, so I made my way out if the cafeteria with people laughing and pointing at me. I began to walk as fast as my legs could carry me. Little by little, my visions began to blur because of the tears that were threatening to spill out of my eyes. I accidentally bumped into someone, and the next thing I knew, I had orange juice all over me. This made the laughter double. I couldn't take it anymore. I ran out of the cafeteria.

"What a first day," I said to myself, and the tears began to spill uncontrollably.