Chapter 18

*What on earth, Lacey?!*

^^^^

School:

I gave birth to be trying to avoid Davis the whole time, since before we had a couple of tests. He would give me a death stare and I’d just stay clueless and anxious about his existence. Either way, I knew that I had an incoming trouble from him.

Now not just that, Lacey had been avoiding me all the time, I did feel like I was suddenly becoming too worried about us not talking like we should. I waited beside the female restroom where I had seen her walk into, I held the straps of my backpack tightly as though I was tense about something.

There has been a couple of popular annoying girls taunting me over the coffee incident. One of the girls mentioned something to me that kept pondering.

“You should be excited that you got wet because of Davis, we are DYING to be... as you were?!”

They giggled at each other and concluded that I would not understand what they meant after all but I'm not that dumb to not know.

I knew exactly what it was but I would not think about it too much. I love Davis very much, like with all my life, I love that boy more than I can handle but he doesn't see it... “What are you doing here?”

Lacey asked me, she crossed her arms staring daggers at me. I was snapped out of my thoughts then I crouched my neck a bit and looked around for a second and back to her. “Lacey?” I asked too, and she scoffed.

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you avoiding me? You would not answer my calls or reply to my texts or DMs or emails or anything, what have I done? I'd apologize for everything from start to finish.“ I stated firmly and she just scoffed again.

“I'm not avoiding you, Claude, I'm just upset about your obsession with those twins. It's either you're with the boy while he maltreats and embarrasses you or you're with the girl, dancing or hanging out or just doing stuff behind my back. I had no idea you wanted to be a part of the cheer squad,”

“Lacey come on, I-”

“It doesn't matter to me at all. I've been your friend from the start of time and they are only intruders but you let them have a bigger space in your life. You are forgetting about yourself and,” She added and I blew out some air. “You’re losing yourself to those suckers!” Was she correct or was she just flaring up? I asked myself.

“I'm not losing myself-”

“Then what are you doing?” She asked in a more serious tone. I had never seen Lacey in such a calm and angry state, at least not around me. We are always cool, like a tube and tire.

“I'm sorry about everything, can we go back to how we were?” I asked. I didn't know what to say about Davis and Tiffany's thing, she rolled her eyes and continued. 
 “I got soccer practice, I just can't believe this bitch?!” Lacey blurted out and walked away without looking behind. 
 There was more to that reaction, I reasoned. I turned around and then I sighted Tiffany approaching with a girl around our age, I had seen the girl with Tiffany severally. 
 Now I understood why Lacey walked away abruptly. I don't have an idea how I would get these two to get along.

“Hey, Claude, what's up? I saw your gal-” Tiffany began and it was driving at another time thing that involved Lacey. I interrupted.

“Not right now Iffy, can we not please?” I interrupted.

“Hands off honey, I won't. I promise.” Tiffany said holding out her hands, in the form of surrender. She turned to the girl next to her and smiled before she turned to me. “This is Anya, my girl, and Anya, this is Claudia. We are neighbors and she’s my lovely friend.”
 Anya waved at me with a faint smile. I just could not tell if she liked me to not. 
 I waved back with the sake energy she had given out.

“Is she a fresher?” I heard Anya ask Tiffany

“No girl, we are in the same grade!” Tiffany indignantly replied and the girl looked away. She was not comfortable with me around, I could tell. Her eyes didn't lie neither do her body signs.

“Claude, we need to practice alright, come on let's go!” Tiffany beckoned at me nicely and I retracted
 “Uhm, I have a runny stomach so I would miss it only for today. Please?” I said and she rolled her eyes sadly, she planted her hands on my shoulders staring at me innocently. 
 “It's fine darling, I'll come to check up on you later! We could go home together,”

“Okay cool. Thanks,”

She pulled me in for a hug but Anya seemed mad at what had happened. Tiffany had no idea but her reaction was not unseen by me. We retracted then Anya chirped in.

“Baby lets go,”

“Don’t be dramatic, what's wrong with you?” Tiffany asked then I walked away instead. Whatever Anya meant by that was not my problem, I'm not in the mood for anything. I have a lot to deal with after all.

I headed to the bleachers and luckily there wasn't anyone there, the school was busy with various flimsy activities that students formulated. 
 I pulled out my phone from the backpack and swiped it, I had several texts from Raphael. It dawned on me that he saved his contact in my phone the other day at their apartment. 
 *Hey girl next door!*
 *Down for coffee?*

*Just wanna talk to someone!*

I heaved a deep sigh when I read the texts, I did not know what to reply. It had been thirty minutes since the text dropped. I hit the keyboard and began typing, explaining that I wasn't so sure if I could oblige. I hit delete, and all the text was wiped. I remained still then I began again.

*Sounds like a plan.*

*Not coffee though, just a walk!*

*Can’t go out that far!*

I sighed out of relief. It can't so hard then I started at the screen for a minute, and the dot popped up. He was typing.

*Sounds great, can't wait!*

*I'll see you soon!!*

I can't lie, I smiled faintly.

Over time, I have learned the use of social media, it wasn't hard at all. I was learning so it was no big deal. I was seeing some YouTube funny videos when a notification popped up. Davis had just made a post on his Insta. Yes, I had the notifications turned on, I wasn't stalking him or trying to keep track, I just wanted to know what he was on. It wasn't necessary which I know but it wasn't going to hurt my soul or body.

Speaking of body, it tingled when I remembered the time Davis cupped my breast yesterday. My hormones instantly responded to the treacherous sexual uprise...

“Cut it, Claudia, you're horny!” A part of me was reminded.

Yeah, I agree with that. Let it go, Claudia, he will never love you back. That's a fact. As soon as I landed on his page, I breathed out. He posted a photo of himself and his friends, they were playing basketball, has was specifically taking the jump shot. He's so sexy!

Recently, I had been using the word ‘sexy’ on Davis. Severally. He's hot.

“....Come on baby, no one’s gonna know!”

I heard someone say out loud walking past the bleachers.

Inwardly, I was hoping that no one would come to sit or hang around this area. I was just beginning to enjoy the serenity.

I looked intently, Sherry was walking hand in hand with Davis. It seemed like their conversation was getting interesting, they stopped and kissed for a few seconds, and the kiss broke. He squeezed her butt cheek underneath her plaited mini skirt, she giggled and ran off, probably expecting that he'd run after her or something. 
 He looked in my direction as though he had known that I had been sitting there for a while now. 
 His stare was deliberate, he smirked. 
 His fine lips curving halfway, neatly, he raised his middle fingers at me.

That alone, hurt my feelings. I felt disregarded, when would I master the art of not expecting good from this guy?
 He lazily walked away then I turned away instantly, my phone vibrated. I got a text from Tiffany.

*Hey girl, where are u?*

*We have class, remember?*

Oh my, I almost skipped that part. We shared this particular class with Tiffany and her brother. Here's the thing, Davis and I shared most of the classes, and Tiffany and I shared a few so we met before, during lunchtime, during practices, during free periods, and after school.

*I'm on my way, save me a desk!*

I didn't want to join in the rowdiness and the stress of searching for a place to sit.