Her Other Half

Chapter Seven

"Talk to me Yve." he said.

"About what exactly?" she didn't dare make eye contact with him. So he removed the book from her again.

"You know what." His gaze burned on skin. Couldn't he be gentler. They did have to talk but she didn't feel ready to do so. Lucky for her, the siren went off and she sighed in relief. She now had a reason to escape.

"Sorry Gideon, but l have to go to class." she said, nervously gathering her books and placing them in her purple bag.

"Four twenty, in that same room." He grabbed her hand and said.

Now she had to go back to the crime scene! Tough life! And.... wait. Did he just command her? She hated being ordered around. But just nodded.

Four twenty, in that same room. His last statement rang in her ears. As she has walked to the computer room. He was being a control freak, ordering her like that.

Seeing Odrah gave her a sense of relief. She needed somebody to degrade on. Gideon was swirling her mind. Odrah was the right person. She knew more about dating than her.

You ain't in a relationship. Her subconscious reminded her. Yah, they weren't. But— maybe after the "talk." Whatever, she needed to hear Odrah's suggestion.

"Yve! Your look— gloomy. What is wrong?" Odrah asked as Yve sat down next to her.

"Oh Odrah. You don't know how glad I am to see you."

"Why? What's the matter?"

Where should she start from? She hadn't told Odrah about Gideon since he came. What was there to tell even?

"There's this new boy in history."

Odrah made an O with her lips. He must be the one she was thinking "I have a hint." she said. "Does he have dreadlocks?" Yve nodded. Odrah's eyes sparked with glee. Yve shrugged her shoulders. Atleast she had a clue. "I wanted to tell you about him. His on the football team. So, what is wrong?"

Yve realized there was not so much to say about him apart from yesterday's act and also the supposed talk. And she told her that. But it was enough to send Odrah to the edge. She was an overreactor. Typical Odrah Ndahura.

"Oh my Yve. So what will you tell him?"

"I don't know. That's why am talking to you." They were interrupted by the computer teacher. Grave silence erupted the moment he entered.

"Sorry for the delay. But our lesson will begin right now." the teacher said.

Yve felt more relaxed after sharing a heart to heart conversation with Odrah. She always did the drill for her. Even when she said nothing and just listened to her. It always felt good after. She would never exchange her for anything else in the world. Odrah gave her a reassuring squeeze on the hand and Yve smiled at her gesture.

After the computer lesson, she was in for Art. Nothing was as appetizing as drawing. The teacher moved around, checking on every one's work and uttering comments once in a while. Her mind drifted to Gideon once again as she scribed on her paper. What was she going to tell him when they meet later? I love you. Would she be able to say that? He would probably think she's crazy. But that was half true. She was becoming insane for him. He had only been in her life for three days. I have only been thinking of you since we met. I don't know why but it happened. Gideon l love you. Ok, she said it in her mind. What of to him. He was making her life complicated. Maybe she should let him do all the talking. It would be easier that way.

Lunch time came by and Yve opted to remain in class. You need to revise. She told herself. You have to. Thinking about him won't give you good grades. A knot had tightened in her stomach since she spoke to Gideon during recess. It was becoming tighter and unbearable as the hours ticked by. Three hours were left till THE TALK. Enough time to run. But go where?

"Am sure Gideon wouldn't want bones and skin for a girlfriend." she heard an Odrah like voice say and lifted her eyes to the door. Odrah and Annabelle were walking towards her. "Come and we go for lunch." she added.

She rolled her eyes at her. But got up after all.

"By the way. That Gideon guy is in my class too." Annabelle said as they waited in line.

"Which one?" Yve asked, curious to know the subjects he offered.

"Submath." she answered. "Nandera was all over him. Girl, you need to be cautious about her. The way she looks at him. She must be falling harder than you."

Hmmm... What can she do? Maybe after THE TALK she will see.

"She's also your problem now." Odrah said.

Speak of the devil and it appears. Gideon entered the cafeteria as Yve and her friends walked to a table. His eyes met hers. But then Nandera came in front of him. "Hi Gideon." She waved her hand at him.

"Oh! Hi." he replied, looking at Nandera for a moment before glancing back at Yve; who cut her gaze from his and sat down.

"Looks like Nandera will be a whole lot to worry about." Odrah said. Yve looked back at them again. They were talking. Was he some jerk?! Kissing her. And being with some other girl the next moment. It's not like they are doing anything intimate. Her subconscious reminded her. She was being pathetic. As if feeling her eyes on him, he looked at her again. But this time she didn't look away briefly then she had a voice.

"Is there room for one more?" Noel said. Standing next to Yve, holding a tray. She was snapped back and looked up at him. "Oh– Noel!" She smiled. "Yah, of course." she answered remembering his question.

"See you later Gideon." Nandera said a few minutes later. Nandera was his first friend in this school. Or atleast she was close to that. She had practically followed him everywhere. Since he came. He knew her intentions. But made sure to cut them off everytime he felt her get to it. There could be nothing going on between the both of them. He wanted to keep it clean with her. At friendship level.

Gideon's lips made a hard line when he saw Noel sitting next to Yve. His legs lunged towards them immediately. This bastard shouldn't be anywhere close to her. She was his. Noway Noel was having her. Not even when having a friendly lunch or talk, whatever. Not on his watch. He was going to show him his ground.

"Yve." he called, already at her table. Yve swallowed down the half chewed fries in her mouth, her eyes on him. She could nolonger move a muscle with Gideon staring down at her. But then she remembered him and Nandera. What now?

"Hope you didn't forget about our little meeting." Of course she didn't. It was the reason for her discomfort all day. He didn't have to remind her. But then she remembered Noel. He was right next to her. She could see the confusion on his face in the corner of her eye. But then he had nothing on her. So she didn't have to explain anything.

Gideon must be said that just to anger Noel. He was the reason as to why he pulled her into a classroom. Oh goodness! That steamy sensation she had had with a complete stranger. She knew close to nothing about him. So he was still a stranger. A stranger who turns you into mush. Her subconscious just didn't know when to just suck it up. It intervened in the worst moments. Like right then. It should wait till she's by herself.

"I didn't."

"That's good." He bent down, his eyes now on the same level as hers. Oh good Lord! She felt a jittery vibe. Her eyes were closing unhurriedly. Was he going to steal— another kiss? They were in public. The cafeteria was full and people must be watching but she didn't care. If he was giving it, she wanted it. So bad. They would be breaking some school rule. But it would be worth it. Kiss me Gideon. If only she was brave enough to say it out loud.

He made sure to smug at Noel but planting a quick light kiss on the corner of her lips. Earning a ketchup stain on his. He licked it divinely. Mix of her and ketchup. Damn satisfying. He wanted more. But he knew he had to control. He has already caught her off guard twice now. And he didn't know how she would react the next time if he did. He barely knew her. Actually they both didn't know exclusive things about each other. But he was eager to know her. And he would make use of their time together today. He hoped to break down the wall between them.

One that had a peephole that he was able to see right through and discover her. To be honest, she was the first girl he felt a connection with. Though there was Teka. But he rested his case on her. It wasn't love. Atleast they both know. "Catch you then." He walked off.

Did he– Did— they! OMG! Gideon was just so daring. He was— Yve didn't know how to characterize him. She looked at her friends sitting across the table and they were speechless. There eyes wild. The OMG look. She needed to retrieve. Even from them.

"What was that all about Yve?" Noel was not in the position to question her. But he couldn't help it. That bustard had obviously done it to mock him.

Yve was nolonger composed. She couldn't answer his question. Why would she in the first place? She needed to retrieve. To be alone and reassemble herself. The restroom would be the best place. But they were usually filled during lunch. She decided to go for the classroom. They were always abandoned during lunch.

"I have to go." She stood up and walked off. Gideon was adding indecency in her too. She always took her plates cleared her plates. But because of him, she left them there. He was driving her nuts. In a good way. Maybe also bad. But in those joyful moments, fear always crept in. What if he crashed her? She trusted Mitch to and he did. Could Gideon be more different? She hoped he was.

And maybe– just maybe. He was. She couldn't rely on the assumption comfortably. His black eyes were hard but somehow she knew they had more softness than ever known. She loved getting lost in them. Even though it had happened only numbered times. The memories stuck. She remembered his tender touch of yesterday. So heartwarming.

It helped that she didn't have a lesson immediately after lunch. And so the library it was.

"Hi Ankunda." she greeted the librarian who was a good friend of hers on entering.

"Hello Yve." she replied. Yve noticed that she looked pale and her lips were chapped. Her eyes a bit hazy too.

"Are you ok." Yve asked her.

"Yes dear. Just a simple fever but l will be fine."

"Oh sorry."

One hour and twenty minutes later, Yve was in for Art theory. The lesson was a mixture of the teacher's high pitched voice and Gideon. He always made her regret taking Art. His voice was so annoying. But Gideon was there to dilute it. One good thing he had done for her. Since he took over her mind.

After the lesson, Yve decided to first take the book she had borrowed back to the library before meeting with Gideon. But damn! He was getting them together no matter what. He pulled her into the classroom as she passed by.

"Are you running away?" he asked, caging her with his hands pressed to the wall above her shoulders.

"No Gideon, am returning a book back to the library. Then we can talk." she said.

"Ok then, I will go with you." He held out his hand for her to grasp. She looked at his face, then his hand before putting hers in his. The simple gesture made her blood sing a glorious melody. She never thought holding hands was intimate.

"Hi Ankunda." Yve greeted the librarian on seeing her. She was picking the books for the tables and placing them on a cart.

"Hi." her smile was small yet warm. She still looked sickly. Poor Ankunda.

"Are you feeling any better?" Yve let go of Gideon's hand and approached her, placing her hand at Ankunda's back.