chapter 7

The next day came fast.

Faster than Janet would have hoped, she honestly did not feel like seeing anyone. Staring at her reflection, she sighed. Her plaited hair had gotten all rough because she forgot to put on her bonnet. 

After she did her morning prayer, she stepped into the ice cold shower, just how she liked it. It helped her get her mind out of the cloud, that was the last place she wanted to be in right now.

"Hm, lip gloss or no lip gloss" She said to herself, like it made any difference. Janet really wanted to look extra cute today, well, just because.

So she did her edges, a little mascara and alladat.

When she was done, she took her bag and went to school. Sometimes she would walk because she wanted to think and sometimes she'd take a cab, today was one of those days.

Her parents always refused to get a driver for her because according to them, she needed to be independent.

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"I've been looking everywhere for you!" Was what Yinka said once she saw Janet, she paused, staring her down from head to toe. "Ahan, what's the occasion?" Yinka asked, confused to why Janet was all dolled up.

"Just because." Janet said.

"Which kind of answer is that one now?" Yinka scoffed as they both made there way to her class, SS3B. Compared to Janet's class, the place was noisy, even as early as it was; the student were still messing around, talking about anything and everything.

"Anyhow, has Ada come?" Janet noticed how Yinka said her best friends name, with such spite and annoyance. So, she just shook her head, choosing to ignore it.

"Good." It was quiet, but Janet still heard it.

"So, anyways I was thinking we could hang out on Saturday." Yinka said.

"Just us." She continued.

That was weird. Did she not like when the three of them hung out? Why did she want to exclude Ada? So many questions rotated around Janet's head but they were soon blown out of existence as she heard a whistle.

More like a group of boys wooing.

"Ah! The one and only Damilayo!"

Oh no.

It was Derek wasn't it?

The call came from Jagun. Janet forgot to mention a few important details about her crush, Derek. Sure, he was a loner in SS3A and probably to a few in the other classes. But he had his boys. They were four in number, plus him. It wasn't like a popular clique or anything.

But those were the group of boys that no one really messed with.

That's why they were so scared of Derek.

Jagun was the loud mouth in their group, she had also heard that he had been the start of some rumors in their school, the same height as Derek but darker than him and had a scar that cut across his nose. They usually called him darkness because he was so dark skinned people thought he'd disappear in the dark. He was part of the people that ducked behind the tree to smoke.

Janet sometimes wondered if Derek smoked too.

"So he's really back!" Obinna laughed loudly as he watch as Derek strolled in, he had his brown bag slung on only one shoulder, his shirt unbuttoned so low that a bit of his chest showed. He looked hot, as usual.

Obinna was the only Igbo boy in their group, a bit shorter than Derek, he had a light brown completion, a thin oval shaped glasses that hung on his big nose. He was handsome as well, rich too, as she had heard.

Janet and Obinna had shared a few conversations together, nothing too serious, but even at that, he still made her laugh. He was a real charmer. 

"And we talk say make we ditch the rest of the week oh, but we now heard the rumor. We had to come and see for ourselves." It was Ope who spoke, the hothead of their group. Ope was the kind of person who didn't give two when speaking to anyone that wasn't on his friends list, which happened to be almost everyone.

He was straight to the point, sometimes even petty when he spoke. Ope was about Janet's height, which was the least tall in their group, dark beauty with green braces. Janet always wondered why he had picked such a bright colour.

What Ope said was true, whenever one of them didn't show, the others didn't too, it always seemed planned. Except when Derek left and didn't come back till yesterday.

"Glad you're back."

After their little scene, the boys sat on the table as they hugged him, well, they practically rushed him. "Ugh, he's back." Yinka muttered to herself, this time Janet spoke up.

"What's that one, now?"

"I should be asking you." 

Ahan? 

Janet was confused.

Rolling her eyes, she just pulled her attention back to Derek, who was now engrossed in a conversation with his guys, whatever they had said seemed to crack him up because he bursted into laughter.

"Omo, I make mistake as I cheat enter that class." Derek scoffed as his boys grinned, he didn't like the class he was in?

"Them dey uptight, class of the elite." He continued, making hand gestures. "Elite my foot." Ope intervened as the rest of them snickered. Janet frowned.

His words made her wonder.

Was she uptight?

It wasn't like they made their talk secretive, they spoke like they were having a conversation about something normal, so she didn't feel like a creep for eavesdropping.

Or, maybe she did. It didn't matter.

"Dotun has been expecting you." Again, she frowned. She knew Dotun, who didn't? Janet despised her, the word despise may have been too harsh bust she did! Dotun was a girl who seemed to be obsessed with Derek.

That creep!

She was bold, though.

Far more bold than Janet was, she had made her move on him secretly, it seemed like Derek just saw her as a friend. But of course Janet didn't think that was her intention! The bold lip biting and twirling of her short hair after her and Derek spoke made her cringe.

She only got close to him because of Obinna.

How she wished she was in that girl's shoes. But Janet wouldn't stoop so low, she would have been a bit closer to Derek if she hadn't made those allegations! 

Look at her, even using big words in her thoughts.

"When you're done staring at him, tell me." 

"I'm not staring at anybody!" Janet hissed, lying straight through her teeth. Yinka just looked at her, before looking the other way in annoyance. What crawled up her panties and died?

"Okay I'm all ears." Janet gave in, feeling bad.

When Yinka began to speak, her ears perked up, but to Ope's question to Derek. Which very much intrigued her.

"So, guy. Where have you been all this while?"

"Yeah, where the heck did you go?" Obinna backed up, their curiosity matching Janet's.

"Long story." Was what he replied.

"The walls have ears." Great. It was almost like he knew she was listening in on their conversation.

"No problem." Ope said, before standing to his feet, banging on the table as everyone looked up at him annoyed.

"Sorry guys, our boy needs some privacy." Ope began as Yinka scoffed, along with many others. What was he up to now? 

"Just go to another class, it's not that hard." Bami spoke up as some people looked at him like he had gone mad. "Piss off! All of you!" Ope spat as people scrambled to their feet and out the door. An annoyed Bami soon following after.

"We should go." Janet spoke, earning a glare from Yinka.

"Because of what?" 

"Yinka, now." Janet groaned, Yinka sometimes liked to behave stubbornly. What would putting up a fight solve?

"Is like this one has gone deaf, abi?" Jagun asked, pointing to them, this made her tense up because Derek's gaze followed his hands and landed on her.

She could feel his eyes on her, this made Janet look up, almost gasping when their eyes met. Don't be a chicken! Before she could blink, he narrowed his eyes to the tables, turning away from her.

Ouch?

"This is my class too, abeg!" Yinka began, crossing her legs as she folded her arms. Yinka let's go! Only if she could hear her thoughts.

"Obi, see this babe oh." Jagun cackled, patting Obinna's head as he nodded. She could tell Yinka was really testing their patience. "Head girl, you too abi?" Obinna questioned in amazement, crossing his arms at her. This wasn't even her class! So she had no excuse.

Janet opened her mouth to speak but let out a nervous laugh, putting her base behind her ear. 

"Ah, I didn't even notice. See how she's looking fine today." Ope grinned at Janet, his statement made all of them to look back at her, even Derek. Like they were analyzing her or something.

"Your face just dey shine oh!" Obinna complimented with a wink, but of course Derek remained silent. Simply staring a hole into her darn head, she couldn't quite read his expression so she decided to read the writings on the table.

Suck my pe-

Okay, bad idea.

"Are you shy?" Ope questioned, noticing how uncomfortable she looked. "Shy for what now? Are we going to bite you?" They had completely forgotten about Yinka and now focused on Janet. Finding her little motions attractive.

"So we can stay?" Yinka asked.

"No." 

All three responded in unison.

"See, no hard feelings. But can you not see the hot gist waiting for us? So you guys should get out abeg." 

Rude.

At least he said no hard feelings.

"What if we don't want to?"

What on death was wrong with Yinka today?!

"Let's go." Derek finally spoke.

He seemed sick of Yinka's attitude. To be honest, they all were. "No! We already sent the other people, it's now this one that has two heads abi?" Jagun gestured.

Janet really didn't want to get further on Derek's bad side, so she stood up, pulling Yinka up with her.

"We'll go."

Yinka scoffed at Janet's statement but still obliged, they walked to the door, watching as the boys eyes followed them. Well, not them. Their behinds. Or better yet, Janet's behind.

She wasn't flat, no she was far from that. Her skirt made her shape look even more enticing, since she decided to wear her favorite skirt. Which happened to be a lot shorter and slim fitted.

"Janet, wait."

Ehn?

Hesitantly, she stopped. Then realized.

It was Derek who called her, when she turned he was in front of her which made her gasp, stumbling back in shock.

He had a note in his hand, pointing towards her.

Oh right.

She had given him her note.

"Nothing happened to it, don't worry." Derek gestured once more, waiting for her to take the note from his big veiny hands, which was absolutely not the point of her focus. 

Right.

Janet wanted to apologize for yesterday, she needed to. But honestly didn't know how.

What one earth was she going to say?

Sorry for calling you an ex convict?

Sorry for being inconsiderate?

Now, she was over thinking it.

"Ah, well." Was what managed to escape her glossy lips, which seemed to captured his attention.

"Thanks." Repeating his words, which she happened to not hear when wondering how rugged his hands looked. He dropped the book in her hands, he was right, not even a stain was on her note, still neatly wrapped and everything.

Derek turned, and began walking away.

He was walking away!

This was the closest she was going to get to apologizing!

She had to do it now.

"Sorry." 

He stopped.

He had heard her, even if the apology was pathetic and nothing more than a glorified whisper.

"For yesterday." She finished.

Yinka knocked on the door, confused to why she was just standing talking to Derek's back side. "Is it not you that wanted to go?" Yinka called out.

Yinka! We are having a moment here! Sheesh!

Was what Janet would have screamed, but of course she didn't. Derek sucked on his teeth, then turned to face her. 

"No wahala." He shrugged, patting her shoulders before returning to his guys who cooed at what they had just saw, clueless to the full story.

Mission accomplished.

She apologized.

Did that mean they were cool now?

"Janet oh!"

Oh, right. She had to leave now. 

"What the heck? Have you juniors lost it?!" The voice belonged to Ada, she sounded pissed off. "What happened, babes?" Janet called out from behind her, when she turned, Janet's eyes almost bulged out of her sockets.

"Wawu!" Was all she could say.

"See the nonsense I found in this girls bag!"

It wasn't skittles or a handcuffs or anything.

No, no.

If it was, it would have been better.

This worldwide ultimate mumu put a dildo in her bag and brought it to school!

Wonders shall never end.

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