PRICELESS EXCHANGE

THE FIGHT

Tonia and I were woken up by the alarm which rang on the table close to the bed

argggh!!! this damn alarm again!! Tonia screamed getting up from the bed with her hair scattered all over her face.

lazy cat I said already getting up from the bed

what! she yelled and pounced on me. We both fell on the bed doing pillow fights when a knock came on the door

it's almost 8am if you don't know, your alarm was falsely set I'm off to school, Andrew said from outside the room

what!!! we both screamed looking at each other

who set the wrong alarm?? Tonia asked looking at me

you of course I know how much you love sleeping! I accused

not me! she protested taking her phone off the table, she looked at the time

Its just 6:33 am she said looking at me

Andrew you're a jerk!!!! we both screamed

After having breakfast, the three of us walked down to school as usual chatting and laughing. As we got to the lobby where we usually disperse with Andrew, we saw three boys all dressed in black trousers and shirts walking towards us

hey guys bye for now, Andrew said trying to walk away when they blocked his path. Tonia and I looked at each other.

who's that chick uh? the middle boy asked Andrew who was standing before him

his cowgirl.. another one remarked and they laughed

She looks good, the third one said walking towards me

I like her ass, just the way I want it.. the middle boy said looking at my backside. Andrew kept mute staring at them.

let's get outer here, Tonia said to me I looked at Andrew and he looked downwards before we walked out

you're letting her go away uh? seems like you've forgotten your job so soon the other boy said throwing a punch at Andrew

Tonia and I were just few yards away when we heard the punch. We turned and saw Andrew sprawling on the floor

Andrew!!! Tonia screamed and rushed towards the boys. She pounced on the middle one and began throwing punches at him. I've never seen her so angry all my life. other students began to gather around us. The other boys pounced on Tonia and began hitting her. I couldn't watch and do nothing. I threw my bag on the floor and joined the fight biting anyone I could bite and pinching them with my fingernails. Some of the boys screamed and one of them grabbed my hair he was about to throw a punch when we heard a voice

stop it now!! it's enough.. he said. The boy let go of my hair and I began to grasp for breathe. I looked at the direction from which the voice came and I saw Jeff standing before me with some other guys standing behind him. I looked at Tonia who was helping Andrew on his feet. She gave him his glasses and she came to help me up. Disperse the crowds I heard Jeff said as he turned to leave. The authority he possesses is something else I thought, he must be more than just a superstar I reasoned

Are you OK? I asked turning to Andrew. He nodded and walked out immediately, come on let's get outer here, Tonia urged and we both walked out. Halfway to our classroom, a guy rushed in and stood in front of Tonia. He was among the boys who came with Jeff earlier

we need to talk.. he said to Tonia

get the f**k out of my sight!! she yelled

Tonia I'm.. before he could finish, she shoved him away. I watched her in awe. I never knew she was this violent

Tonia.. I'm sorry give me a chance to talk to you.. the boy said walking towards her.

stay away from me!!! I don't wanna talk I don't wanna see you!! she screamed

I know I messed give me a chance.. please.. he pleaded trying to touch her arms when she shoved him off again and landed a slap on his face

ouch!!! some students who were standing by exclaimed

Tonia.. I called with fear and surprise written all over my face.

let's get out of here Sophie.. she said with cloud of tears forming in her eyes. We both walked away from him as he stood transfixed looking at us.

wow wow.. guess someone is feeling my heat already.. Lucy said appearing out of nowhere with her friends. They all laughed as she stood arms akimbo in front of Tonia

Well, you can still go back to him, I've already used him and he's my trash now.. I'm done so you can eat from my left over she said menacingly and the others laughed. I could see the anger on Tonia's face as her cheeks burned red.

so..as...., Lucy was still trying to speak when Tonia sent a punch on her face that sent her sprawling on the floor with blood oozing from her nose

what!! the others screamed in fear and rushed towards Tonia

I've got this, I said excited to Tonia who was behind me by now. Molly was the first to attack, I rushed towards her and carried her like a child before flinging her against the wall. Cassy rushed towards me and I sent her a kick which sent her falling on top of Lucy on the floor. Tonia and I stood at a close range with our backs touching each other waiting for them to recover so they could attack again. But they just laid on the floor like sack of potatoes and everyone around was laughing by now

what's going on here? a voice asked from behind. We turned and saw Mrs Ramirez staring at us from behind with a frown on her face

Molly got up from the floor as soon as she saw her

ma'am they've hurt Lucy.. she's bleeding, she said pointing at Lucy whose nose was bleeding

what! both of you, in my office now!!! she screamed. you guys are gonna pay for this I swear, Molly said walking away with her friends who couldn't utter a word.

A high five, I said excitedly to Tonia and she smiled as we both did a high five

you girls are damn amazing, a female student said and we both laughed as we headed to Mrs Ramirez's office.

We were both sent to the old and abandoned school library to clean up the place.

this is the worst punishment ever.. I said to Tonia as we entered the library which was old and dusty. Some of the books were covered with cobwebs, some were old and torn. The whole place was dark and filled with old dusty books. Tonia lit up her phone torch which we used as light. We began to pick the books and dust them one after the other

I never knew you were such a kick ass, Tonia said smiling at me

yeah.. but I don't fight a lot, granny told me it was wrong to fight, but I guess it was fun fighting beside you.. I said and she laughed. Hey I never knew you were one too, I added

I don't fight, I only got so much provoked seeing Andrew hurt.. He's the only sibling I've got she said

I understand, it was alright to get Angry anyways. But who was that guy? I asked referring to the guy whom she slapped earlier

I don't wanna talk about him, she said with a moody face

we're friends Tonia you shouldn't hide things from me, I said looking at her. She stopped what she was doing and sighed. She wiped the sweats of her brows and turned to look at me

it all started while we were still juniors, His name is Tony, he was friends with Andrew and I, we were really close back then and I began to feel emotionally attached to him. I fell for him and I never knew he liked me too. After sometime, we confessed our feelings for each other and we started dating. After we graduated during our final years as junior students, we separated during the long summer holidays. But then, we all came back as seniors and he came back not only as a senior student but as one of the wild cats in school. I never knew what changed him or how he was influenced to join the wild cats, I talked to him about it but he wouldn't listen to me. He changed and he began to smoke and drink heavily. But then the shocking part was that, he ditched me for Lucy. I found out about their affairs and we broke up. Andrew and I deviated from him and he began to roll with the big boys and girls of the school. Sometimes when Andrew is being bullied, he'll watch and do nothing, later on he will come back and apologize to him, I so much hate him now and I don't wanna see him.. she said in tears

it's alright Tonny, I said patting her shoulders. But I guess he wants you back, I can see he is sorry for what he did I said

I don't want him back, he should go to hell I don't wanna see him! she yelled and I continued to pat her shoulders. Then a thought struck me. Jeff!

Tonia, do you know if Jeff is among the wildcats? I asked

I don't know, maybe but he moves with them and orders them around Tonia replied. my heart sunk, what if he belongs to them? oh no.. I said to myself

come on, we've got work to do, she said and I nodded. We continued dusting the books when my eyes caught a book Tonia was holding. It was so big and dusty. Seems like I've seen it somewhere

grandma! I exclaimed. What? Tonia asked looking at me

give me that book, I said taking the book off her hands. I looked at it carefully but the inscriptions on the cover isn't clear enough. The words have been scratched out.

you know this book? Tonia asked

yeah.. I guess grandma showed me something that looks like it back then at mariossa I said

well open it, she said and I opened the first page which was torn and eaten by mites.

it's old come on it's of no use, Tonia said

wait.. grandma gave me a box on my way here to Queens gosh! I haven't even checked it out! I exclaimed

really? then you really need to. . Tonia said eagerly. Just then, a sound came from the outside. who could it be? I asked

who's there? Tonia asked

it's Tony, come on Tonia you and your friend are free to go now I had a word with Mrs Ramirez already, he said

I don't need your pardon Tony just get out! Tonia yelled

hey Tonny I'm tired already please let's go my body aches I said tiredly looking at Tonia. She gave me a hard look

please... I pleaded again. She smiled a bit and we both walked out of the library. We met Tony standing outside looking so dejected and weary.

hey he said drawing her backwards as she tried to walk past him. He pinned her to the wall and place his hands above her.

let me go, she struggled

I can't let you go, I wanna talk to you he said

I couldn't help but watch them both. I wish I had a guy who would chase after me just like he's doing to her now.

please excuse us for a while she'll catch up later I'm sorry, Tony pleaded looking at me I nodded and Tonia tried to utter a word but I walked out smiling. As I strolled out of the library, I went to the locker room to get my stuffs before heading to class. I don't even have any idea of what class we're having next. As I walked into the locker room, I noticed someone standing at the locker before mine. He was dressed in a black hood and a black jean. He had headphones on and he was busy with his phone. Jeff, I said softly to myself. He's so handsome that I couldn't stop staring at him even if he doesn't notices. He stood in front of my locker still staring at me but he didn't notice me. Then I recalled how he had helped us earlier when Tonia and I engaged the bullies, maybe I could use this opportunity to thank him and converse with him I reasoned

hi.. I said waving my hands towards him. But he didn't notice, he was busily typing something into his phone

hi, I said and this time he turned and my heart sunk as soon as he faced me. I became speechless at once and couldn't utter a word

what? you wanna make use of your locker? he asked in a masculine voice

um.. no.. I .. just.. ,o my gosh I've lost it. I couldn't say the word. He's kind of giving me a knot in my stomach.

Whats the matter with you? he asked looking surprised

um.. that isn't my locker, I just wanted to say thank you for the other time, I managed to speak

oh.. OK what time? he asked and turned his attention to his phone again

when you saved Tonia and I from the bad boys, I'm so grateful for your help, you came in at the right time I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't showed up.. I continued to blab while he continued with his phone. After sometime, I stopped talking when I saw he wasn't paying attention to me. I looked at him and he seemed not to have noticed that I've stopped talking.

hi.. I said again and he turned to look at me. Hey were you saying something? he asked and my heart sank again. I looked like a fool now why did I even have to approach him at first, he's rude I said to myself

um.. no.. I wasn't saying anything I said and turned back to my locker

oh I'm glad I saw that, you know Jeff doesn't have time for losers like you, you're such a low life and what were you expecting? that he should laugh and roll with you? I heard Molly ask behind me. My heart skipped as I saw her but I didn't utter a word

low life, go stick with your nerd! she scoffed

it will be a pleasure to send you to the sickbay just like I did your friend I uttered and she frowned and sneered before walking out to meet Jeff who wasn't paying any attention to us

hey baby.. she said wrapping her hands around his neck

Molly this isn't time for this, he said but without resistance

come on I wanna show you something baby, she said pecking him on his cheeks. I turned away at once and she giggled. I wish I could snap the life out of her right now I thought as I watched her giggle around him excitedly

come on baby please... she urged

I'm busy you know I don't like getting disturbed whenever I'm busy, he said to her and she plunged her lips into his keeping him shut. I could feel the heat burning inside of me as I watched them kiss, I left the locker coldly

I've been chasing for too long...

chasing after the wind for something which will never be mine..

I feel stuck with this feelings stirring all over me

I can't get my head over you...

I know you'll never be mine... but I would keep on trying

I'll never fit in your world, but there is no harm in trying

I wish I could make the pain go away, I wish I could stop thinking about you

but this feelings are stuck and I'll keep on chasing after you

chasing after the wind

I sang so much that I lost myself in the song until someone tapped me from behind. I turned and saw Tonia standing behind me

hey.. are you OK? she asked

yeah I'm fine how did it go with your lover boy? I asked smiling

he ain't my lover OK? He's a jerk and I told him to f**k off! she said and I punched her on the shoulders

you like him I know, I said jokingly

hey don't even go there she fumed

yeah you do I said running away and she chased me from behind