Hate and Hearts

Chapter 6

'Hi Camilla' Camilla raised her head to see who had greeted her, she rolled her eyes over the rim of her glasses and bent her head to continue reading.

'You look cute in those glasses' Evans pulled out a chair beside her and sat

'I didn't say you could sit' she raised her eyes and eyed him

He smiled ruefully 'You didn't have to say so, the library is for everyone and I can sit wherever I want' he moved his face closer to her ear 'and I choose this spot right next to you' his breath fanned her cheek. Camilla felt goey on the inside. She could have sworn butterflies were swimming in her belly. She pushed a stubborn strand of hair behind her ear and stood.

'You can have here all to your self, I'm leaving' she started arranging her books and just when she was about to leave Evans held her hand back and turned her to face him.

Camilla came face to face with Evans, she could see his face clearly. She could count the specks of brown in his eyeballs. Long eyelashes that could shame a woman. His nose ring was out of this world he looked sexy, she gulped again. His moustache was scanty, she normally didn't like guys with moustache but damn Evans made it sexy.

She stole a glance at his pink full lips.

Camilla stop staring

'Like what you see' Evans asked

'You wish' Camilla pulled her hand out of his

'I need to talk to you' Evans said categorically

'We are in the library, and this behavior of yours will raise an eyebrow' Camilla darted her eyes around in search of the no nonsense librarian.

'Let's go outside then'. Camilla walked out ahead of Evans, only stopping at the entrance for searching.

'What do you want to talk about' she faced him squarely

'I'm sorry' Evans apologized

Camilla exhaled slowly 'for what' she asked

'For my choice of words the other day, they weren't too kind' Evans stated. He wasn't too keen on apologizing when feezah had asked him to but which other way could he push forward his secret agendas if they wouldn't see eye to eye

'Ok, I forgive you' she replied him nonchalantly.

'Really' he grinned

'Anything to get you off my back' she replied

'I'm really sorry, I know we started off on the wrong foot, so this is Evans Landon before you in all his glory trying to set things right' His face mirrored his sincere apology

Camilla laughed and hard and Evans couldn't stop staring, her laughter sounded like music to his ears. He couldn't stop staring at her, she looked so beautiful, so carefree. He had never seen someone smile so beautifully. He smiled wryily and faced down.

'I cannot believe Feezah put you up to this' she giggled

'Put me up to what?' He was staring at her face and smiling like an idiot

'Apologizing to me, anyways I'll give you a B+ for the effort' the laughter was finally dying down

'Evans I've been looking for you everywhere' Audrey sashayed in Evans direction and winked at Camilla

'Cam, feezah is looking for you'

'Oh' Camilla stuttered a little 'Ok'

'Sorry baby, Camilla and I were just talking about you' he took Audrey's hand and left. "Asshole" Camilla mumbled to his retreating form.

Camilla went in search of Hafeezah, whom she later found sitting in her class. S. S. S3 students were to wait behind for extra lessons in preparation for their forthcoming WAEC.

'Hello bae' feezah greeted in a singsong voice

Camilla laughed and gesticulated with her hands 'Feezah with the sizzle' Camilla sat down beside her 'reading History' she asked

'Do I have a choice' Feezah turned to face her

'They should have added the history of SSS3 class to your scheme of work' Camilla mocked

'It's true' Hafeezah reasoned with her. SSS3 class was the only class with marble art display designed by the principal himself. Hence the name class of marble.

'Feezah, you said you were registering for GCE, how far about it'

'I've registered, didn't I tell you?'

'If you did I wouldn't be asking you, anyways why didn't come for tutorials at my place' Camilla asked again with renewed curiosity

'Oh that' Feezah scratched her head and smoothened her hijab, 'well, I went to Evans house'

Camilla stared at her like she grew horns on her head 'I hope you know he is Audrey's man'

'Nothing is going on between us Camilla, we are just good friends' Feezah bit back sharply

Camilla huffed a little 'Well next time you have to cancel, make sure you tell me, i was late for work on saturday because of you'

'Sorry dear, Evans said it was urgent' feezah smiled at her.

Lessons were soon over and the students were trooping out. Camilla hung her bag and thought about what happened with Evans in the library, it meddled with her brain activities. She was beginning to lose focus just thinking about him.

'Camilla dear, you look exhausted anything the matter?' Camilla's mum asked. She was worried her daughter was overworking herself. Camilla hadn't even bothered to come back home after school, she just went directly to work. "Bless her" she thought. When her husband had died, she was really depressed , things went haywire for them her job couldn't fend for all three of them until Camilla started working at 'Just Ricky'. She also excelled in her academics resulting in the scholarship she was on.

'I'm just a little tired that's all, Nothing to worry about Mum' Camilla stood up to give her Mum a bear hug

Camilla's mum was still worried 'Why don't you take a break for now, after your WAEC you can resume work'

'Mum, that's too long, WAEC is still like 4months away' Camilla whined

'Camilla, try to understand, I just want you to focus solely on your studies. Tender your resignation at your workplace, I'm sure your boss will understand'

'OK mum, where's Kevin' Camilla asked

'Oh, he slept already, he was dying to show you the new pad I got him' Camilla's mum smiled 'Now go shower and come eat your dinner'

'Really!, poor boy must be sad now' Camilla smiled to herself 'I'll see it tomorrow morning'

Camilla was half asleep when her phone rang, she rolled over to the side where her phone was but she already missed the call. She hissed and stood up groggily to the bathroom to wash her face. She already missed the alarm she set for studying. She pulled out the chair from her reading table and sat down to commence her reading. She was in the middle of solving a maths problem when her phone rang again. It was the same number from when she was sleeping.

'Hello' she was wary of unknown numbers especially since there were rumors circulating about phone call murders.

'Camilla' The voice responded. She would recognize the voice anywhere.

'Where did you get my number from' Camilla asked the voice

'From Audrey, who else would I have gotten it from' The voice replied her sharply 'Sorry I disturbed you sleep, I just wanted us to have like a mini chat'

'Why then did you call at this time, I'm sorry I'm busy now, maybe some other time Joel'

'OK, good night' Joel ended the call

Camilla was surprised Joel had called. In the years she had known him he never bothered to acknowledge her. She was still pondering over Joel's sudden change in character when her phone beeped. A message from Joel

'I'm sending a thousand angels to guard your night and make sure you have a lovely night rest. Sweet dreams Camilla. Joel cares'

'Care my foot' Camilla murmured to herself, she was starting to feel awkward. What if he accosted her at school, it sure would be embarrassing for her. Who would she tell, maybe Audrey. 'Don't tell her' Camilla's subconscious chided her.

'Oh Camilla, you are such a mess' Camilla said to herself and placed her hand on her forehead.

'Does he find me pretty now?'

'Maybe he thinks I'm cute now, well he is always handsome to me' 'Camilla's mind was running around with different thoughts. She eventually went to sleep when she couldn't continue reading.

*********

'Kevin, let me see the pad mum got you yesterday' Camilla smiled up at her brother while they were having breakfast

'I waited up for you yesterday but you came back when I was asleep' Kevin spared her a glance and continued his food

'Sorry' Camilla held her ears and made a sullen face

Kevin laughed 'I'm not angry with that face of yours, I'll show you when we are back from school'

Camilla pinched his cheek to which he muttered 'I'm not a child, so don't pinch my cheeks' She laughed and they finished their breakfast rather hurriedly. They bade their mum goodbye and left.

'Good morning Cam' Evans rose from his seat upon seeing Camilla entered the class

'It is Camilla to you' she hissed and plopped down on her seat and promptly stood up when she recalled that she had not dusted it. She stood up and wiped her skirt and started duusting her chair until she felt a presence behind her.

'You didn't reply my greeting, so I'll take that as you are still mad at me' He sat behind her. Camilla ignored him and brought out her Biology notebook. She pretended to be engrossed in her reading till Evans yanked her hair.

'Ouch' she yelped in pain, she turned around to dish Evans some hurtful words and he was staring at her directly. She gulped and blinked her eyes. Evans smiled at the effect he had on her. He ran his tongue over his lower lips ever so slowly that Camilla wished she was his tongue. Damn this boy should be illegal she thought to herself.

'Your hair is very soft' Evans complimented and touched her hair again. Camilla sat frozen and didn't dispute what he was saying. Evans bunched a handful of her hair and sniffed it. 'smells nice, try wearing your hair loose this way' he smiled and pinched her nose. She nodded her head affirmatively. He immediately stood up and left the class.

Camilla blinked and immediately packed her hair up. She didn't want to give Evans the satisfaction of seeing her wear her hair loose. Audrey came into the class and they chatted and Camilla stylishly asked Audrey if she was still interested in Joel to which she said no.

Klaus rang the bell for assembly and student trooped out for their daily morning routine. The weather was not favorable so the assembly was dismissed quickly.

Camilla was about to enter her class when a voice stopped her.

'Good morning Camilla' the voice greeted

Camilla tensed up knowing who it was, she had been wishing she didn't have to see him that morning.

'Good morning Joel' she replied awkwardly

'You hair looks lovely' he smiled at her. Camilla nodded and smiled back 'I just wanted to say hi' he continued even though her discomfort was obvious 'I'll see you later today' he winked at her and left for his class.

Camilla was relieved the encounter had ended sooner than it began. She made her way into the class to commence the days activities.

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