STORMS AND TWISTS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Casey got home earlier than expected. He didn’t even wait for Clara to come and get him from school. He was so angry that he had to leave school at that instant. If he hadn’t left, what he would have done wouldn’t augur well for the both of them. Then, he didn’t know what came over him. He didn’t know what came over him that made him vent his anger on Clara.

“Casey, why are you back from school so early? It’s so unusual for you to come home at this time.” She asked. She had a premonition that something was going on.

“Will you just shut up already? I have access to my father’s house just as you do so shut up”. He said and entered.

He realized what he had just done and a tear trickled from his face. He felt remorse and he was sorry but he didn’t know how he would apologize to her. He was rude to her but he didn’t know what came over him.

He entered his room, locked the door and wept bitterly. He wasn’t aware Melissa was at his door. She understood his plight and saw that he must have had a bad day in school. He was in his room weeping and regretting his actions. He had never felt more terrible in his entire life.

It was 5:30p.m.Clara had to leave for a movie premiere but she wouldn’t leave him in that state. She knew better than to do that. She walked up to his room and saw that he was still crying. She knocked on the door gently and he obliged.

“Why are you here? I insulted you earlier.” He asked, trying to wipe his tears.

“I understand that your day wasn’t pleasant. It also happened to me once when I was in High School”.

“This one’s bad”.

“Okay, explain it to me”.

He told her all that transpired in details.

“He’s the one at fault. He’s a bad friend and you tried your best but he just lashed out on you without having to hear you out. True friends don’t do that. I don’t want you to be friends with him again. He has shown his true color”.

“I’m sorry for being rude to you. Sincerely, I didn’t know what came over me.”

“It’s okay. That fool you call a friend repaid you with evil all because you were concerned about his sister.”

“Thanks for your words. It was just what I needed. I even have to study for our tests tomorrow”. He said and gave her a hug.

“By the way, I’m late for the movie premiere and besides, dad is coming home today”.

“I thought this is his busiest time in the year.”

“Surprising, isn’t it? Okay I have to be on the way now.”

“Bye”.

…

That same evening, Carl and his friends were rejoicing in delight at their usual ground.

“Very soon, our plan will be complete and we will move things to the next level.” Carl said.

“Melissa made it easier. She believes everything you tell her.” Jeff added.

“She’s not even aware she’s just a pawn and nothing more.”Harry buttressed.

“Guys, I overheard something when I was on my way here”. Harry said.

“What’s that?”Carl asked.

“I overheard Casey and Cody. They were quarreling and it was about you and Melissa. I don’t think they would settle it so quick.”

Carl burst into a hysterical laughter.

“Now that there’s a rift between them, we need to act fast.”

“How do we end this charade?” Jeff asked.

“Yes, we can’t afford letting Helen to know about this. She would think you are cheating on her.”Harry said.

“You just gave me a perfect idea”. Carl said and cackled loudly.

Cody was restless. He couldn’t study well for the test. He was used to studying with Casey. He gazed at the Chemistry textbook and nodded his head. He wasn’t able to read much. He had a lot of problems with Chemistry and Casey had helped him to study with quick notes and accessible formulae.

He was frustrated. It was just as if he had a tough battle. His sweat was thick even at 16o Celsius under the air conditioner. He was angry at himself but he didn’t want to admit his mistake. He held on to his stubbornness.

“I wish Casey was here but he did wrong.” He said. He didn’t want to be corrected. He knew what was best for him and that’s just what he did.

Meanwhile, Casey had already forgotten the issue that transpired between them. He was determined to read and pass better than before. He needed improvement so that he would soar high on top of the class. He needed to work hard. Cody’s outburst made him spend more time crying than reading. He decided to make up for it by staying up all night to read. As tired as he was, he wasn’t deterred. Instead, he felt encouraged.

Clara had to wake him up because he ignored the alarm clock. He also slept during the drive to school. He got out of the car when they got to the school and bade her farewell. He yawned and then walked towards the class.

Casey and Cody were no more a duo. They did their things separately and even frowned at the sight of each other. Their classmates noticed the turn of events but no one came to discuss it with them except for Oliver.

Of course, he went to them separately and tried to make them come back to being friends but they refused bluntly.

“Okay, what led to the quarrel you had with him”. Oliver recalled that he asked that question from Casey.

“There is no reason behind it”. Casey refused to divulge the reason to him.

“There are reasons for everything in life and I can’t be foolish enough to think you became hostile towards each other for a reason. You can trust me”.

“You are right but now’s not the time to tell you. There’s time for everything in life just as there are reasons for them.” Casey replied.

“First you refuse to tell me and now you use my words against me”. Oliver shrugged

“Oliver, I want you to stay out of this”.

Oliver exhaled.

“Guy, think of the good things you both did together like taking the runner up in that talent show, getting the Junior League title, scoring goals in the football team, getting high grades last term and most especially, training me from being a zero to a hero.”

“Point of correction, I brought the Junior team to the title all by myself and he got his two goals for you in the last match you played so I work and walk alone”. Casey said and took his leave.

“But you have to ….hear me out”. Oliver said slowly”.

It was the next week and it was 4:00p.m. The school premises only had few students within as usual. Most students had left. Melissa was still in the school. She had walking for the past hour looking for Carl.

Things have been good for her lately. Carl gave her all the attention she wanted, the students still love her and the most scintillating part was that Carl kissed her on the lips after he scored a goal on their 4-2 win at the city dome the previous Friday.

She didn’t have to look for long before she saw him at the hallway. What she saw him doing shook her to the bone marrow. He was kissing a girl deeply. He pinned the girl to the wall and laid his hands on her boobs. The girl also allowed him and gave in to the caress. He licked her tongue with his.

“Gross”. She said. She was angry. She walked up to him and separated them.

“How could you, Carl? You cheat on me with this loser. And you, you are so shameless for doing that. You have a problem”. Melissa said, heaving like someone who was about to have an asthmatic seizure.

“I can’t imagine that I was looking for you since the past one hour only to find you here with this whore.”Melissa said and was about to slap the girl. She tried slapping the girl but her hands couldn’t move.

She looked up and saw that Carl held her hand. He slapped her.

“It’s enough already”. He shouted. The girl ran away. Jeff and Harry advanced towards them.

“You are not special and you are so cheap. Get out of here already.”

“You are just a thug and nothing else. You will never be honorable”.

“Don’t you dare say that again”. He shrieked, pointing his right pinky finger at her.

“You are a thug”. She said out of anger. He tried slapping her but someone held his hand from behind. She was scared because she thought the slap will hit her and she almost felt her life flashing right before her. Sweat welled up her face and then she ran away.

…

Casey was in the classroom doing his usual review. He decided to take a break and ruminate about the turn of events since he broke bonds with Cody. He seemed great. He got better test results but Cod got worse. He recalled that he turned to his left and he saw Cody’s facial expression. He looked jittery and nervous. The examination hall seemed to him as if he was between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Well, Cody got a goal in their recent win at the city dome. Whatever, he shouldn’t care. He decided to go home when he reflected that he couldn’t get Cody off his head. Clara went for a movie shoot and he wouldn’t be around until 6p.m. As he approached the hallway, he heard noises so he hid himself by one of the pillars as a camouflage.

He waited a little more and then, he saw Carl and Melissa quarreling.

“The newest trend in school is quarrels”. He thought to himself and smiled.

Carl gave her a slap and that sent shivers to his spine. He had to swing into action. Either in a bid to save Melissa or play super hero, he rushed to them. Carl was just about to give her the second slap but he was quick to prevent him from doing so. He gave Carl a kick and he was tangled. Melissa got her chance. And she absconded. She was watching them from a safe distance.

Carl, Jeff and Harry pounced in him and blood oozed out from his nose and mouth. Carl gave him a deafening blow. He fell unconscious but they kept beating him. Then, Jeff made them stop.

“Guys, I think he’s dead”. Jeff said, feeling his pulse.

“Let’s get out of here, quick!” Carl commanded and they scurried out in fear.