Things We Left Unsaid

A Different Monday

The weekend arrived quietly.

No school bell.

No teachers calling my name from across the corridor.

No rushing through breakfast because I had five minutes to get to class.

Just Saturday morning, sunlight slipping through my curtains and my mother voice coming from downstairs.

" Viola."

I pulled the pillow over my head.

" I'm awake."

" You've been saying that for ten minutes."

" I was mentally awake."

" Then tell you mental self to come downstairs and help me."

I laughed.

There went my peaceful morning.

I dragged myself out of bed then looked at my room.

My books were scattered across my desk,my uniform hanging over at the back of my chair, and my English book still opened to the same page I'd been pretending to study the night before.

I picked it up.

Read two lines.

Closed it.

Maybe later.

Downstairs, Mum was already moving round the kitchen.

" You're finally here."

" I came."

" After I called you four times."

" I heard."

" Then why didn't you answer? "

" I was thinking."

" Thinking about what? "

" Whether I wanted to come downstairs."

She shook her head.

" You're becoming stubborn."

" I learned from you."

She laughed.

I helped her with breakfast, and for the next hour, school felt like something that become to another world.

That was what I liked about weekends.

They gave me a few hours where I didn't have to think about classes, assignments, teachers or people.

Unfortunately, my phone didn't understand that.

It buzzed while I was eating.

Dami.

Dami: You alive ?

I smiled.

Me: Unfortunately.

Dami: Good. I was about to report you missing.

Me: To who?

Dami: Your mother.

Me: She'd probably thank you.

Dami: Exactly.

I laughed.

Mum glanced at me.

" What are you laughing about? "

" Nothing."

" You're smiling at your phone."

" Dami."

" Of course."

After breakfast, I went upstairs attempting to study.

Attempted.

It lasted for about twenty minutes before I found myself staring through the window.

The street outside were quiet.

Children were playing somewhere nearby.

A radio was playing somewhere from a neighbor's house.

It felt peaceful.

Then my mind wandered back to school.

To Ashley.

To Dami.

To the feud.

And then to something else.

The announcement we'd received some time ago.

I remembered it clearly.

The principal had mentioned that the school was considering having our class and the other class work together on some activities.

At the time, everyone had laughed about it.

Some students had complained.

Others had joked that the school might as well be preparing for another fight.

Nothing had happened afterwards.

So we'd forgotten about it.

Or at least, I had.

I didn't think much of it.

Surely the school wasn't actually serious.

I pushed the thought away.

The weekend continued.

Sunday came and went almost as quickly.

By Sunday evening,I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

I wasn't ready for Monday.

I wasn't sure anyone ever was.

My phone buzzed.

Dami : Tomorrow again.

Me : unfortunately.

Dami : We should petition against Mondays.

Me : You'll sign?

Dami : Absolutely.

Dami: Knew I could count on you.

I smiled and put my phone down.

Monday came anyway.

I woke up late.

Mum shouted from downstairs.

" Viola."

" I'm coming! "

" You said that five minutes ago."

" I know."

I rushed through getting ready, grabbed my bag and hurried outside.

By the time I reached school the compound was already crowded.

Students were everywhere.

I spotted Dami near the gate.

" You look tired."

" So do you."

" I look beautiful."

" You look like you fought your alarm clock."

" I won."

He laughed.

We walked towards our classroom.

Everything seemed normal.

Almost.

There were more teachers gathered around the administrative block than usual.

I noticed them but I didn't think much of it.

Then I remembered the earlier announcement.

The two classes working together.

I frowned.

Could that be what this was about?

" What's wrong? "

" Nothing."

" You just made a face."

" I was thinking."

" That's dangerous."

I ignored him.

We entered the classroom.

Folani was already there.

" Morning."

" Morning."

He looked at me.

" You seem distracted."

" I'm fine."

Dami dropped his bag on his desk.

" She probably remembered the Monday announcement."

Folani frowned.

" What announcement? "

I looked at him.

" The one about our classes possibly working together."

" Oh."

He smiled.

" That could be interesting."

Dami stared at him.

" Interesting."

" Yes."

" You're new."

" And? "

" You haven't experienced them yet."

Folani laughed.

Before we could continue, the bell rang.

But instead of our teacher arriving, a student appeared by the door.

" Everyone should go to the assembly hall."

The classroom immediately became noisy.

" Why? "

" What's happening? "

" Did someone do something? "

Dami looked at me.

" I knew it."

" You knew nothing."

" I knew something was coming."

We joined the other students heading towards the hall.

When we arrived, the other class was already there.

I noticed Ashley sitting among them.

She looked around and spotted me.

She smiled.

I smiled back.

Then I noticed the teachers

Both classes had the teachers standing together.

My stomach tightened slowly.

Dami leaned towards me.

" It's happening? "

" What? "

" The thing from the announcement."

I looked at him.

" You think? "

" Definitely."

The principal stepped towards the microphone.

The hall slowly became quiet.

" Good morning, students."

" Good morning, ma. "

" I hope everyone had a pleasant weekend."

She paused.

Some weeks ago, I mentioned that the school was considering having students from both classes participate in certain activities together.

A few students immediately started whispering.

Dami muttered.

" Here we go. "

The principal continued.

" After careful consideration, the school has decided to move along with that plan."

The hall erupted.

" What? "

" Seriously? "

" No! "

The principal raised her hand.

" Please, let me finish."

The noise gradually died.

" Starting this term, both classes would be working together on selected academic activities, group projects and school events."

I stared at her.

So it wasn't just a suggestion anymore.

It was happening.

Dami looked at me.

" I don't like this."

" I tried not to laugh."

" You don't even know what the activities are. "

" I don't need to."

Folani smiled.

" You might actually enjoy it."

Dami looked offended.

" Whose side are you on? "

Folani shrugged.

" I don't think there are sides."

I looked across the hall.

At Ashley.

At the students around her.

At the class we'd spent so much time avoiding.

Maybe folani was right.

Maybe there didn't have to be sides.

But judging from the expression around me, I wasn't sure everyone has received that message.

The principal continued speaking, explaining the purpose of the arrangements and reminding everyone that whatever happened in the past wasn't an excuse for students to continue fighting.

I listened quietly.

The past.

That word stayed in my head.

Two years of resentment.

A feud.

Amara.

Ashley.

Her brother.

And now the school wanted us to work together as if putting us in the same room could erase everything that had happened.

Maybe it could.

Maybe it couldn't.

I didn't know.

But one thing was certain.

The hint we'd laughed about a week ago wasn't a hint anymore.

It was real.

And whether we were ready for it or not, our two classes were about to become impossible to keep apart.