Cassy Santos : A Clash Of Eventful Birthdays

Cassy's POV I hurried out of mom's car waving her good bye. Without turning to look at her again,I raced towards the locker room. I was almost late for my presentation in English language,which will start my 8:00am and its almost 7:50am. The classroom block is still a little bit far from the school gate. Well, that's the disadvantage of having a very large school compound. "Sorry!",I apologized when I collided into someone. I continued in my track,not waiting to hear his/her reply. Knowing miss Helen,the English teacher, she won't allow me go on with my presentation once I am late which will result to losing the 10 marks allotted to the presentation. Losing any marks carelessly, is something I don't want this term. Its my last year in highschool and I not only want to graduate with the best result, but I also want to win the Erudite Topper Prize. I was about to enter the locker room when someone held my hand pulling me to a corner. "Please excuse me,I ...", the words stopped flowing and I stood there shocked. "Charlotte?",I still couldn't believe my eyes. How could my best friend be standing right before me? "Yeah it's me", She replied."Aren't you supposed to be happy to see me?" she placed her hands on her hips which caused me to laugh. Charlotte has not changed. "Sure I am but I didn't expect you to be here. What happened?", I asked and then I noticed Charlotte's expression change from to a sad one. I had a feeling whatever happened isn't good at all. "I will tell you later. There's no time for that now",she replied. And when she mentioned time, I remembered my presentation. "Oh my gosh", I looked down at my wrist watch and turned around racing to the classroom with all my stuff. I only had three minutes left. "Cassy what's it?", Charlotte asked running after me. I felt a little guilty for making my best friend run after me like that when I should be welcoming her after a whole year of not seeing each other. "Sorry Charlotte,I am late for my presentation", I shouted so she could here me. Students were giving us wierd looks but I didn't care anyway. Right now all I care about is my marks. When I approached the class, I hurried inside just when I heard "You are late". I would have been sorry and offered an apology if it were miss Helen. But it was no other person than Stephanie. Anger boiled in my veins,why can't Stephanie mind her own business. I couldn't move any inch further because all eyes were on me. Miss Helen was standing before the class which means the presentation has officially started. Since no one said anything,I made to move further and that was when miss Helen spoke up. "Didn't you get her?, you are late and you should be leaving the class not stepping further into the classroom.",She said turning around to write on the white board. A smile rose to Stephanie's face on hearing that. "Sorry miss,it wasn't intentional.", I replied. I noticed movements behind me and turned around to see Charlotte panting. I have forgotten all about her now. "Cassandra, please leave my class",She said looking at me eyeball to eyeball. I looked at her with pleading eyes but she won't budge. That's miss Helen anyway. I could feel tears forming in my eyes. I spent a whole night preparing for this presentation and now I didn't even get a chance to present it or witness others present theirs. The students looked at me pitifully except for two people. Stephanie couldn't hide her Joy, and Brynn's expression was neutral. At a point, I thought I saw an angry look cross his face, but it soon turned neutral. I didn't give it a thought anyway, of all things, he couldn't possibly be angry with Stephanie or Miss Helen. For all I know, Brynn could be happy just like Stephanie, for a chance to score higher than myself. "Miss Helen, please permit her to stay. Since no one has presented yet and you just entered the class.", I turned around to look at Brynn shocked. Is that Brynn Dennison pleading on my behalf? "Brynn, she is leaving the class and that's final. One more word from any of you, you are going to join her", She warned. I threw Brynn an appreciative look, but he didn't even look at me. He just kept his gaze in front of the class where miss Helen was standing. But I wasn't surprised, I was rather surprised that he pleaded for my sake. Turning around,I left the class dejected. There was no private place to go now, so,I headed for the locker room to at least drop my stuff. Tears welled up in my eyes and I held them preventing them from falling. I wasn't going to cry, No!, not in front of everyone. Cry?, yeah I am crazy enough to cry for lost marks. No matter how little,they mean a lot to me. "I am sorry Cassy. I didn't know you had a presentation", Charlotte said trailing behind me. "Its not your fault Charl", I said unpacking my stuff in my locker. "It is, because you were pretty much in a hurry before I stopped you",She persisted. "We are going to plead with the principal to talk to miss Helen so that you will be permitted to partake in the presentation or rather, present next time", "Mrs Pierre?",I asked and charlotte nodded. "Charlotte you can't just walk into the principal's office and demand that she talks to a particular teacher, especially not miss Helen. She has her duty and the teachers have there's too",I replied picking some books. Since I didn't have anywhere else to go,I wanted to go to the library. "I know but since I just transferred, I will have to make same presentation. Maybe, I will use the opportunity to ask on your behalf.",She said and then it dawned on me. Charlotte is wearing our uniform which means she's now back to Stratos highschool. "Charlotte what's going on?, you are supposed to be at All Stars highschool.",I inquired forgetting entirely about my presentation. "I already moved down to Lagos City. I stay with my dad now", Charlotte replied,that pained expression crossing her face once more but it remain this time. "Your Dad?, What of your mom?",I asked moving close to her. Charlotte closed her eyes as tears flowed down her cheeks, "My mom was murdered last month".