chapter 7

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"Damn this sucks."

Ada sighed, picking on her teeth. It had been one entire week since Janet had been called to the principals office, one entire week of Janet being absent from school. Ada has tried to text and call, but it didn't even go through. She was beyond worried for her friend, she tried going over to Janet's house but Ada's was against it - saying Janet needed time to herself.

Everyone misses you, I freaking miss my best friend gee, please text me back.

Ada typed, sending another message to Janet before sneaking her phone back into her locker. It was true, everyone felt the absence of the ever loved head girl. When Tiwa heard about what had happened, even he seemed down. Not to talk about Derek. Ada had never seen him so worried.

Once again, the message she sent had only one tick, which meant that her phone was off or it just wasn't going through. Talk to me dammit, Ada scolded I'm her head. She remembered when Janet came back to class a week ago, she looked like she had just seen a ghost. People asked her what happened but she just grabbed her bag and fled; not sparing even Ada a glance.

That was the last time Ada had seen her.

"Ugh." Ada sighed, stretching her legs as she rested her head against her table, staring over to the empty seat beside her.

"I hope she's alright." Shalom said with a sigh, chewing the head of her pen. They were currently in the midday of school, the physics teacher talking more to himself than to them.

"I know right? She won't even come online." Ada complained, she tried to be understanding, but not being there for her bestie just pissed her off. "I knew he liked her." Shalom said with a grin, motioning her head over to Derek's direction.

He slouched against the chair, looking as moody as he was yesterday, through out the week that Janet had been absent, it was like he was on his period. Always glaring at everyone and picking on his pen, he never spoke in class and sometimes he wouldn't even show for the classes.

Ada let out a lifeless chuckled, not in the mood to grin about Derek's situation. Ada turned when she felt someone tap her back, it was Daniel. Speaking of Daniel, over the week, he had become quite popular amongst both boys and girls. She heard he even joined the boys to play football.

"Does this happen often?" Daniel asked.

"What?" Ada asked confused, Shalom turned around as well. Shalom had of course had her way with Daniel, they didn't do much according to Shalom, just regular gives. Even if Daniel seems so...innocent.

"Your friend; Janet. Do they usually call her to the principal's office?" Daniel asked again, rephrasing his question. "No." Ada sighed, if that was the case, she wouldn't have been so worried!

"She did seem so sad when she came back in. Like she lost someone." Daniel pointed out, using one hand to stroke his chin, Shalom hummed in thought.

"Geez don't say that jare! It's probably nothing." Ada said, trying to convince herself. She knew that Janet got attached to people fast...and losing someone would completely break her.

Since she had passed through that before, but that was a story for another day.

"Janet!" 

Someone yelled at the door as it creaked open. Ada instantly sprang up from her seat, her eyes wide. Janet strolled in groggily, her bag hanging on one shoulder and her nose stuffed with tissue.

Ada squealed in delight.

Forgetting the teacher that was speaking to them, Ada practically jumped from her seat, racing to the girl and bringing her into a bear hug - which earned a screech from Janet.

"She's back!" One of the boys said as students chuckled, they seemed excited at her arrival, some even clapped.

"What the heck girl!? What happened?" Ada said once she brought Janet out of her bear hug. Before Janet could look up, the teacher yelled in annoyance. 

"What's all this rubbish?! Get back to your seat jorh, Janet, glad to have you back." 

"Thanks sir." Janet murmured, stumbling over her own feet as Ada pulled her towards the back of the class. Once they were in their seat, Ada turned to face Janet, almost wincing at how bad she looked.

"Dude, what happened?" Shalom gasped, adjusting her chair so she could be beside Ada; even Daniel adjusted his seat forward.

Janet looked...Ada couldn't even put it in words. She had eye bags under her eyes which were accompanied with dark circle, she definitely hadn't been sleeping. Ada also noticed how red Janet's eyes were, her face had tear stains on them.

Janet slowly removed the tissue stuffed in her nose before taking in a deep breath.

"Hi guys." She simply said with a smile.

That must have been the most unreal smile Ada had ever gotten, she scoffed loudly. "Hi...hi?" Ada emphasized, not believing Janet. Shalom nudged Ada, "Give her time nah." She heard Shalom whisper.

"Are you okay?" It was Daniel that asked this time around, Janet looked over her shoulder, staring over at him. "Yeah." She shrugged.

"Janet seriously, your phone was off the entire week. What's going on?" Ada was getting impatient with her. Janet looked at Ada, pouting her bottom lips as they visibly quivered. 

"Daniel, could you go ring the siren?" Ada asked nicely, seeing as the class was already over. Daniel nodded, walking out from the back door.

"So...?" Shalom questioned with her eyebrows up. The girl just remained silent, picking at her nails as she looked down. "Janet..." Ada sighed, picking up her hands, using her thumb to graze against them.

"I don't want to talk about it..." Janet trailed off with a frown, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Some people snuck glances at Janet, looking to the back of the class, while some just watched from afar in confusion.

The siren howled as Daniel's voice boomed from the hallway.

"Lunch time!"

Ada frowned at her answer, she knew Janet needed time but it wasn't so easy to not be anxious for her best friend - but never the less, Ada agreed. With a caress on her cheek, Ada and Shalom made their way out of the class.

Derek hadn't taken his eyes off her.

He watched as she took a deep breath, ignoring everyones stare; bringing out her notes from her bag and placing it on the table. She began to scribble into it the notes on the board, a slight smile on her lips, but he knew one or two things about fake smiles.

Go to her. Derek's mind urged, he wanted to know what happened to her, why she hadn't showed up in school for an entire week and why she just came now, acting like nothing had happened - like she hadn't ran out of class last week with tears in her eyes.

Derek finally gave in to his urges, about to walk towards her, but that new guy beat him to it. 

"Hey." Daniel said with a smile, pulling out a chair from the side and blocking her way. Derek groaned inwardly, taking a seat as he watched the both of them. Janet looked up at him, that same damn fake smile on her lips, "Hi." She just shrugged.

"Are you sure you're okay?" When he said this, Derek saw how Janet's jaw clenched for a quick second, before she unclenched it. "I'll be fine." She simply said.

"You need a hug?" Daniel asked sadly, stretching out his arms over to her; Derek's jaw ticked. This new kid was really pushing it. Janet let out an emphasized sigh, showing an actual sigh. 

"Thanks for the offer, I'm fine." Her words were harsh, but her tone made it seem kind. Daniel awkwardly drew back his hands before nodding his head. 

"Uh, sure no problem. I'll be here if you need me." He comforted, walking away from her, Derek's lips tilted up, but faded as fast as it came. She was hurting and he needed to find out why.

Janet immediately got on her feet, storming out of the class.

"Dang, I've never seen this babe like this before." Ekene said once she was out of the class, Derek wondered how he even knew his name.

Go to her you mumu. Derek's conscience spat at him. So he did, Derek walked out of the class as well, seeing as she walked into the assembly hall; he followed her.

He didn't even know what he was going to say to her, he just followed her like a puppy; pushing through the people in the hallway.

Derek finally reached the hall, it was almost empty; only about one or two people sat at the edges of the hall. Janet sat in front of the air conditioner, she had her hands wrapped around herself and her head down. His heart clenched at how sad she looked.

Okay, you got this. Derek muttered to himself, inching closer to where she sat. Oddly, he felt tensed, he couldn't understand if he was nervous or just shy to approach her. Shy, yeah right. Derek chuckled to himself. He pulled out one of the plastic chairs, placing it down loudly so it would catch her attention.

"Oh, hey..." Janet snuffed, sipping her eyes with the back of her palms as she put up a fake smile again. He felt his lips get heavier, he didn't know what to say when he sat down beside her.

So, he asked the question that everyone had been uttering since she had arrived at school. "Are you okay?" Once he said that, it was like something in her unhinged. Janet snapped her head towards him in lightening speed, her eyebrows knitting and her jaw tensed up.

"Why has everyone been asking me that?! No I'm not fucking okay! So what? Now I've said I'm not, what's going to happen?!"

Derek was stunned by her outburst, she yelled at him with tears running down her cheeks. Derek smiles inwardly, this was the first time he heard her swear and he loved it. He didn't want her bottling up her anger and telling everyone she was fine, he wanted her to let go - scream if necessary.

Janet's eyes widened like she had just realized what she said. She exhaled sharply, wiping tears from her eyes but they just kept dropping.

"That's better." He said, using his hands to wipe away her tears. Janet continued to sob quietly, pushing her bottom lip out. "What happened?" Derek asked slowly but Janet just shook her head.

"I don't want to talk about it." Janet sobbed out, leaning into his touch. Without warning, he scooped her small figure into his; hugging her tightly.

"D-Derek..." A shocked stutter came from Janet, her breath brushing against his neck. Crap, I can't abort now! I shouldn't have hugged her so suddenly. Derek you idiot! Derek cringed in his mind, getting flustered. Janet's hands slowly wrapped around his chest, sniffing into his shirt.

No...I didn't want to wash this shirt. Derek sighed to himself.

"Stop faking it, if you're not okay...that's normal, nobody is going to bite you." Derek impressed himself with his words, he never knew he could say stud so comforting. Well, to him it was. Janet nodded, her head still buried in his shoulders. 

"She died..."

Was all she said. 

"Who died?" Derek didn't want to push it but he knew she had to talk about it, he gently put her back on the chair so she could be facing him, her eyes were now a bloodshot shade of red.

"Juliet...she's my..she was my v-very good friend. She was t-the help." 

Janet said through her stuffed nose and a cracking voice.

"They s-said a c-car hit her and those bastards ran away. They didn't even call an ambulance."

Janet seethed, venom laced her voice.

She looked down at her fingers the whole time, sniffing every now and then. Derek just nodded,pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry for your-" Derek began to say but Janet just shushed him, shaking her head vigorously.

"Can you just...hold me?" 

She asked nervously, meekly staring at him as she played with her bottom lip. Derek didn't even nod, he just pulled her on his laps quiet effortlessly, wrapping his hands around her small waist. Janet gasped silently, tensing up at his action, but she finally gave in. Hugging him tightly.

His heart warmed up at the fact that she wanted to hold him, not Daniel, not Ada...but him.

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