Peace the Savage

Chapter 9: Competition Day

THE FOLLOWING DAY WAS even more exciting as it was the day the students had to go for their competitions. For once Peace was punctual, something he'd never done in his two years of ‘A’ level high school. Even Roy was surprised to find Peace already at the school. Everyone else was also there except for Lucy who came about twenty minutes before the departure.

Peace and Roy sat on the back seats together with three other senior boys. The bus was so full it surprised Peace who had thought that only those from the P.S. Club were going to the competitions. It seemed like those from the other clubs were going too.

"I thought it was only us going," Roy said to Peace, his eyebrows high up on his forehead.

" I thought so too," Peace replied.

"So, what are they doing here?" Roy asked. "And who are they?"

"Drama Club I think.”

“I don't see Benny and James anywhere."

"Maybe they didn't make it."

The bus was full and it was time to go. Everyone seemed excited as should anyone going on a trip. The ignition was turned on and after someone prayed for their journey and trip, the bus started moving. There was a loud cheer for the driver as the bus turned and got into the highway. Peace who was on his phone raised his face in astonishment. He scanned the room trying hard not to laugh. That was when his eyes met with Lucy's, who, for some reason was staring at them.

AS SOON AS SHE saw him looking at her, Lucy who had been watching Peace and Roy for a little while now quickly looked away. She was kind of embarrassed that he had caught her staring. She was sitting three rows away from Peace and Roy. She turned slowly again to look at Peace to see if he was still looking at her. He wasn't. He was back on his phone and showing Roy something. Lucy wasn't sure if she felt relieved or disappointed. She looked away, took out her phone and earphones and played some music.

THEY ARRIVED AT THEIR destination two hours later. Leeds High was one of the most influential schools in the midlands with high ‘O’ level and ‘A’ level pass-rates. It was a big school enrolling over five hundred children every year. Peace was there for the first time and he knew he looked good in his golden blazer.

He and Roy were the last to get off the bus. As soon as they were off the bus, Peace cursed.

He tapped Roy on the shoulder. "Curse your girlfriend," he whispered.

Roy looked at him with a surprised look. "What'd Mitchy do?"

They walked away from the crowd to a secluded space where they could speak freely.

"She told me to change," Peace said. "She made me give up girls and find one to settle for, now look at me!"

Roy laughed at his friend. "So why are you cursing her now?" He asked with a chuckle. "Shouldn't you have done that a long time ago when she gave you the idea?"

"Look around, mate," Peace said gesturing around. "Look at the beautiful ladies around. And I can’t break my promise. You know, for the first time in history I didn't get to kiss a girl in the bus!"

"Seems like a good thing to me," Roy replied.

"Hahahaha," Peace said sarcastically. "Have you seen Alice?"

"In the bus," Roy said. "She was sitting five seat rows in front of ours. Dude, do you ever pay any attention to anything?"

"Yes, I do."

"Did you see Lucy in the bus?"

"I caught her staring at us once," Peace said. "That's all."

"Really?" Roy marveled. "She was staring?"

"Yeah, maybe she likes you."

***

THERE WERE A LOT of very beautiful girls from different schools but Lucy was confident enough to know that she was amongst the most beautiful girls present. Or maybe she topped the list. She got eyes and glances from all over the hall and she liked it. This is how it was always like with her. How it should be. She got all the attention a girl would ever want, from every direction. She got all the attention until Peace and Roy emerged.

For some reason, when Peace and Roy walked in the hall there was a loud cheering, taking all the attention from her. She didn't know why people were cheering for him and even Roy seemed surprised too.

THE COMPETITIONS BEGAN. First it was junior debate first round. There were sixteen schools and it took two hours for all the schools to perform and after that there was a short break. After the short break there was senior debate first round. This round took longer. The schools performed to their greatest potential. Peace's school went as opposers and Roy, Joseph and Stan were very good. Junior's second round debate followed. This time those schools which had been movers were now the opposers and vice versa but they would be competing with a different school this time. There was another short break as people went for recess. After the break there was senior debate second round. Peace's school were going third from last against Leeds High. When Peace and his team walked on stage there was a loud noise and applause. That was when Lucy found out that people were cheering for Peace when the P.S. chairman announced that Peace was a two-time Public Speaking champion.

Lucy was the first speaker followed by Peace and Samantha was be the last. They all performed well to their best and full potentials. The other team provided with good points and you could tell it was a clash of giants. The second speaker who had introduced himself as MacDonald was an outstanding competition who knew what he was doing. He crushed three of Lucy's points and one of Peace's points which was a bit higher than Peace who had only crashed only two of Leeds' first speaker’s points.

Debate was over. Public speaking for juniors followed. It was short and in no time was over then it was lunch time.

Everyone was instructed to go to the dining hall for lunch and Peace had never felt happier. They were served rice with beef stew and coleslaw salad and some soft drinks. Peace, Roy and a few others from his school sat at the table by the window at the corner. The others sat at other tables a few paces from Peace's. The DH was so full with people that it was so difficult to locate anyone but Peace hadn't found it difficult to locate Alice at a table where there was no one from their school except those from Leeds High, one of them being the second speaker, MacDonald. She seemed to enjoy the company of the boys there and that made Peace jealous.

"Staring won't help, dude," Roy said when he saw where Peace's gaze was focused. "Talk to her like you told me you would. Don't chicken out, dude."

“Yah, in a minute,” Peace said. “You can’t imagine what’s going on in my mind and what I’m planning to do to that girl when she gives me a chance.”

“If she gives you a chance.”

“Oh, she will.”

“And you are sure of that.”

“Confidence is the key, bro,” Peace said patting his friend on the shoulder.

“You’ve planned out everything in your head and you already know the outcome?”

“Just trust the process, brother.”

“You are just way too over your head, dude.”

"Maybe. Or maybe you too should go and talk to Lucy like you said you would," Peace said.

"Aaargh, nah," Roy said taking a sip on his drink. "I think I'll pass."

"Pass?" Peace looked surprised. This was new. "Why?"

"Dude, look at the girl. Does she seem like she will ever like me? I'm like a two to her. Its hopeless-"

“You must be kidding me,” Peace said with a chuckle. “You are afraid.”

I dont know, Roy said. Looking at her just made me feel nervous all of a sudden.

"Dude, don't be intimidated by anyone. Don't lose hope or courage just because the girl you like is worth millions or whatever. You die trying."

"OK, thats supposed to make me feel better?" Roy asked as he pushed his plate in-front of him.

Peace let out a laugh. "What? What’s wrong with you. You are actually being intimidated by a girl?"

“Not just any girl.”

“You know what, I blame Mitchell for this.”

"Don't bring Mitchy into this."

"She's at fault. She took all the guts."

"She most certainly did not," Roy replied.

"I wish that was true," Peace muttered.

"It is," Roy replied.

Peace let out a chuckle. "Look, just go and talk to her. The worst she can say is no. You can’t be intimidated by her money. She may look tough on the outside, but underneath that coat of money, there is a vulnerable little girl. She's just like any other girl you've dated. Once you've talked to her and get to know her, you will see she has weak-points. Press those buttons and she will be yours before you realize it."

"Spoken like a real player," Roy said with a chuckle.

Peace laughed. "Hahaha. Just go and talk to her. She's been staring for some time now."

"What? Are you for real?" Roy said leaning forward. Peace almost laughed out loud at the reaction.

Peace gave him a pat on the arm and let out a small laugh. "Don't chicken out, dude. Go and talk to her."

"Aah, come on! Help me out, man. How do I talk to her?"

"Nah. You're good to go. See you in a bit, I'm going to the rest room," Peace said standing up and went out of the room.

FROM THE RESTROOM PEACE didn't go back to the D.H. since it was almost time to go back to the hall and finish the competitions. He took out his cell phone and searched for some music to play for meditation. Just as he was about to go across an adjoining corridor, he noticed some dark figures which he did not pay any attention to. A few paces after the corridor he was startled by what sounded like a scream. He stopped quickly, removed his earphones and listened. The sound came again. Peace went back and stepped into the corridor. The sound was coming from the figures he had seen, which happened to be four people.

"You're hurting me!" A girl's voice said in a painful tone.

As he drew closer Peace realized that there were three boys in Leeds High School uniforms and one girl in Peace's school uniform. From the corridor's dim lights Peace realized it was Lucy who was trying hard to free her hand from the painful grip of one the three boys.

Peace approached slowly thinking of a way to break this off peacefully without any violence. No one seemed to have seen him approach so he cleared his throat to catch their attention.

"Hey, guys," he said then looked at Lucy. "What's going on?" Lucy looked up at him with watery eyes but said nothing. Peace put his phone back in his pocket. "Okay, boys, this is not a way to treat a lady. Let her go. Please."

The three boys looked at him but made no movement.

"Guys, let's act like civilized people here," Peace said calmly approaching the boy holding Lucy's hand. "Leave her alone."

"Dude, you don't even know what this is all about," the boy holding Lucy said.

"I don't care," Peace said loosening the boy's grip. He was getting impatient now, but he kept his voice very low and calm all the time. "You're hurting the girl!"

"Why do you care?" Another boy asked.

"If you haven't noticed, she's from my school. Back down, okay?"

"Ok, dude," the guy said letting go of Lucy' hand.

"Thank you," Peace said as the three boys walked away while Lucy came closer to him holding her wrist. "Are you ok?" Peace asked seriously after the boys were gone.

"Yes," Lucy replied in a soft innocent voice.

"Good," Peace said as he started to walk.

Lucy followed him quietly. She looked like a person who wanted to say something but didn't know how to say it. Besides that, Peace was cold like always. Yes, he had rescued her, and even asked her if she was ok, but that hadn't changed his coldness. When he had spoken, his stare didn't even show any emotion whatsoever. Rather, it showed the opposite. Thats why she was afraid of him. You could never tell his feelings or what he was thinking. He seemed to be self-absorbed, oblivious to anything else. Every time she saw him, he would always be serious. His expressions were always the same. Well, except when he was with Roy.

As they were about to reach the hall's entrance, Lucy cleared her throat. Her heart began pounding at the thought of speaking to him. She cleared her throat again but when she spoke her voice sounded like a frog croaking.

"Thank you." She regretted the moment those words came out of her mouth. There was no response. And whether he heard her or ignored her, she never found out.

The hall was already full hall when they entered. There was some cheering and Lucy felt ashamed, something she had never experienced before. She always held high regard of herself, with high self-esteem and confidence.

Peace walked very fast trying to escape the attention of the people. As he sat down, he looked up to see Lucy walking swiftly to her seat.