Between Rivals

5

Chapter 5: Caught Unawares

“Had a great day at school today, Nina?”

It was Ms Kler, a middle aged woman who owned a kiosk just in front of our compound.

“It was cool, Ms Kler,” I replied, waving.

“Go in, Kid. I'm sure your momma made something nice for you, I have been perceiving it from here,” she said as she waved back.

I laughed and went inside.

Memories of the day crept slowly into my head as I made to pull off my shoes.

From my encounter with the two school Lords, to appearing before the principal, down to Lottie's threats.

Liam!

My heart thumped hard at the thought of him.

He had appeared from behind the tree, immediately after Lottie left.

“Hope she wasn't a bother?” He had said.

I had turned to see that dazzling human, standing right behind me, a ball still tugged on his armpit.

My heart had thumped the way it was thumping now.

“You got punished?” I had asked.

“No, he just admonished us, what were you trying to tell me, then?”

“I just wanted to appreciate you for earlier,” I had replied, wondering whether that was the reason I called him then.

“It's fine, if you need help, you can still contact me, I will be glad to offer a hand,” he had added before he left, smiling broadly.

I pulled off my shoes and slumped onto the cushion.

Why would a boy like him even bother about me?

He was the kind of boy everyone noticed without trying.

I shouldn't even be thinking about it.

Hold on!

Lottie had mentioned something like him being hers, maybe they were already in a relationship.

I sighed heavily.

If I was a boy, I wouldn't mind killing for that kind of girl. Even as a girl, her beauty captivated me.

“I didn’t know you were back, sweetheart.”

Mom stepped out from the kitchen.

“How was your new school today?”

“It was… a lot,” I said carefully.

Her face tightened. “Trouble again?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

She studied me for a second, then nodded slowly.

“That’s my girl. I'm happy there's a change.”

She sat beside me. “We need to start thinking about college properly. Law would be a good path for you.”

I straightened immediately. “Law?”

“Yes. Something stable. Something that secures your future.”

“I want music, Mom.”

Her expression changed. “Nina..”

“I said music.”

“We can talk about this later, I prepared beef sausage.”

“I already know,” I uttered, “Ms Kler told me about it.”

“That woman talks a lot," she added, giggled and went back into her room.

Later, I couldn't stay still. I needed to see my best friend, Sophie.

I went into my room, changed my uniform into a light pink top and a black pajamas.

Mom's beef sausage tasted good. I rushed it down. I had to quickly see Sophie.

I needed to tell her everything that has happened in the past three days.

Closing the gate lightly so mom couldn't hear, I scampered away carefully to Sophie’s house.

She opened the door at the first knock.

“Girl!” she screamed, “I've missed you.”

She gave me a long warm hug, it was the kind I needed after long days of constant bullying.

“I've missed you too, Sophie,” I replied, while ushering myself inside. Sophie's house was like a second home.

“You didn't even bother to check up,” I asked immediately as I entered.

“I'm sorry about that, Nina,” she pleaded, “Nel has been ill, I have to take care of him. Dad hasn't been home for days, and mom has to run the cafe”.

Nel was her little brother, the most adorable human I know.

Sophie and I were good friends but we were completely different.

My dad was gone before I even knew what having one felt like.

I didn't know of any relatives, mom never mentioned them.

Sophie's family was different from mine, stable in a way I sometimes envied.

She knows everything about my struggles, and has been both an emotional and financial backbone.

Nel ran to welcome me immediately I got in.

“Don't get sick again, Nel,” I said, while playfully patting his cheeks.

“What's up with you, Nina?” She asked, immediately she noticed I was done with Nel.

“A lot has happened, Sophie,” I adjusted myself, ready, in a bid to tell her everything.

“Firstly, Sara and Rossy were at it again, the day before yesterday, pulling my hair and dragging me on the floor. This time Phil was with them.”

“For real, Nina?” Her eyes sparked, surprise written all over her face, “I thought you two were a thing?”

I laughed. “A thing? He has been the architect of all my problems and I wasn't even aware.”

“Here is the most interesting part of it all,” I continued after I had allowed the shock of the revelation sink into her.

I went on and told her everything about the new school and my first day encounter.

“You have really been through a lot, Nina”, she screamed after I was done.

“I don't want you to ever back down, you need to give it to them hot, keep up with this new identity.”

“What if they find out?” I asked fearfully.

“Nobody would, kill those fears, Nina,” she screamed, “I will help you with some make over.”

She rushed into her room, and came out with some make over kit.

“No way!” I screamed.

“Yes way,” I replied and we laughed. Sophie was more than a sister.

She proceeded to give me a thorough hair and face makeover. By the time she was done, I couldn't recognize myself again.

“Yoh, girl! Now you look like a real James Hemsworth's daughter.”

I hugged her tightly, “thank you sister.”

Sophie and I walked hand in hand as she escorted me back to the gate.

“Bye, Nina,” she said as she waved me goodbye, “I will come around tomorrow.”

“I will be expecting you, come early,” I waved back.

I glanced at my watch, I had stayed at Sophie's house for four hours, and it was already evening.

I hastened my steps. A few inches away from Ms Kyler shop, I noticed a black bike advancing toward me at full speed.

The bike suddenly stopped abruptly in front of me.

I froze.

Who was this? And what does he want?

This is my neighbourhood, nobody would dare bully me here. The fears vanquished at the thought of that.

I almost lost my breath when he removed his helmet.

Adrian!

My heart pounded like a pestle against a mortar. I suddenly wished the ground would open and swallow me.

He gazed around for a few seconds, then turned to me.

“You live here?”