Chapter 2: The First Class
1249 Words
The bell rang.
Daniela looked around.
For some reason, everyone suddenly started moving.
Some people ran towards the classrooms, some were shouting, and one boy nearly knocked over a teacher while trying to get upstairs.
Daniela just stood there.
“Wait, where is everybody going?”
Amara grabbed her hand.
“Class, girl!”
“Oh.”
Daniela quickly followed her.
“Don't laugh,” she said. “It's my first day.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“But you're laughing.”
“Because you're funny.”
They entered the classroom, and Daniela immediately wished she hadn't looked around.
The class was loud.
Very loud.
Someone was singing at the back. Two boys were arguing over who had been sitting on a particular chair first. A girl was fixing her hair using her phone camera, while another boy was sleeping like he had paid school fees specifically to sleep.
Daniela looked at Amara.
“Is this normal?”
“Very.”
“This is not normal.”
“Give it one week. You'll be worse.”
Daniela laughed.
They quickly took their seats.
A few minutes later, a woman walked into the classroom carrying some books.
The noise stopped almost immediately.
“Good morning, class.”
“Good morning, ma!”
Daniela joined in.
The teacher looked around.
“My name is Mrs. Johnson. I'll be teaching you English.”
She put the books on her table.
“And before we start, I don't like noise.”
There was silence.
Then a boy at the back raised his hand.
Mrs. Johnson looked at him.
“Yes?”
“Ma, what if the noise is not serious?”
The class burst out laughing.
Mrs. Johnson stared at him.
“What is your name?”
“Emeka, ma.”
“Stand up.”
His smile disappeared.
“Ma?”
“You have plenty to say. Come and say it in front.”
The laughter got even louder.
Emeka slowly stood up.
“Ma, I was only joking.”
“And I was only asking you to stand.”
Daniela covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
Amaka leaned over.
“That boy is always looking for trouble.”
Daniela whispered, “I can see that.”
Mrs. Johnson started the lesson.
For the first few minutes, Daniela actually paid attention.
Then she heard something beside her.
Crunch.
She looked at Amara.
Amara was eating chin-chin under the desk.
Daniela stared at her.
Amaka looked back.
“Want some?”
Daniela shook her head.
“You're eating in class?”
“Just small.”
Another crunch.
Daniela looked towards the teacher.
“Stop before she catches you.”
“She won't.”
Crunch.
“Amara.”
They both froze.
Mrs. Johnson was staring directly at them.
“Yes, ma?”
“What are you eating?”
“Nothing.”
Daniela immediately looked down.
Amaka had the most innocent face ever.
Mrs. Johnson frowned.
“I heard something.”
“Maybe it's the chair, ma.”
“The chair is eating?”
The whole class laughed.
Amara slowly brought out the chin-chin.
Mrs. Johnson held out her hand.
“Give me that.”
“Ma, please…”
“Now.”
Amaka reluctantly handed it over.
Mrs. Johnson put it on her table and continued teaching like nothing happened.
Daniela whispered, “You really tried it.”
Amara whispered back, “It was worth it.”
Daniela laughed quietly.
Then suddenly, someone shouted from outside.
“RUN! THE PREFECTS ARE COMING!”
Everybody froze.
Daniela looked around.
“What is happening?”
Amara quickly grabbed Daniela's arm.
“Hide your phone!”
“Why?”
“Just do it!”
Daniela pushed her phone into her bag.
Two prefects walked into the classroom.
One of them looked very serious.
“We heard someone was using a phone.”
Nobody said anything.
The prefect started checking desks.
Daniela sat still.
She wasn't even using her phone, but somehow she still felt guilty.
The prefect checked the first few desks.
Nothing.
Then he moved towards the back.
Suddenly, Emeka stood up.
“Sir!”
The prefect looked at him.
“What?”
“I have something to confess.”
Daniela looked at Amara.
“What is he doing?”
Amara sighed.
“Don't mind him.”
Emeka reached into his pocket.
Everyone waited.
He pulled out...
A calculator.
The whole class burst out laughing.
The prefect looked completely confused.
“Why are you showing me calculator?”
“I thought you were looking for it.”
“For what?”
“I don't know.”
The prefect shook his head.
“Sit down.”
Emeka sat down quickly.
Even Mrs. Johnson looked like she was trying not to laugh.
The prefect eventually found a phone hidden inside another student's desk.
The student started begging.
“Sir, please. It was just WhatsApp.”
“Give it to me.”
“But sir—”
“No.”
The student handed it over.
The prefect left with the phone.
The class became noisy again.
Daniela leaned back in her chair.
“I'm tired.”
Amara laughed.
“You'll get used to it.”
“I don't think I will.”
“You will.”
Before Daniela could answer, a girl walked over.
She had long braids and a confident look on her face.
“Hi.”
Daniela looked up.
“Hi.”
“You're new, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I'm Zara.”
“I'm Daniela.”
“I know.”
Daniela frowned.
“You know?”
Zara smiled.
“Everybody knows the new girl.”
Daniela looked at Amara.
Amara shrugged.
“She's right.”
Daniela laughed.
“Wow. I haven't even been here for a full day.”
“Exactly,” Zara said. “That's how this school works.”
She pulled a chair closer.
“Just be careful.”
Daniela raised an eyebrow.
“Careful of what?”
Zara looked around before lowering her voice.
“People.”
Daniela waited.
“That doesn't really explain anything.”
Zara laughed.
“You'll understand later.”
Then she stood up.
“Oh, and don't sit in the front tomorrow.”
“Why?”
Zara smiled.
“You'll see.”
She walked away.
Daniela stared at her.
“Amara.”
“Hmm?”
“What was that?”
Amara shrugged.
“Zara likes being mysterious.”
“She definitely succeeded.”
The bell suddenly rang again.
Everybody started packing their books.
Daniela checked her timetable.
“What's next?”
“Math.”
Daniela's face dropped.
“Math?”
Amaka nodded.
“Yep.”
“On the first day?”
“Welcome to secondary school.”
Daniela sighed and packed her books.
As they walked out of the classroom, someone suddenly screamed from the corridor.
“WHO TOOK MY MEAT PIE?!”
Everybody stopped.
A boy shouted back, “Check your bag!”
“I CHECKED!”
Another voice yelled, “Maybe you ate it!”
“I DID NOT!”
Amara started laughing.
Daniela shook her head.
“This school is actually crazy.”
Amara put her arm around her shoulder.
“Girl, this is only Day One.”
Daniela stopped walking.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“You mean there's more?”
Amara smiled.
“Much more.”
Daniela sighed.
She had a feeling her new school year was going to be a long one.
And somehow, she knew Amara was right.
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