PRICELESS EXCHANGE

I'M STARTING A REVOLUTION

I woke up the next morning feeling tired and lazy to go to school. Tonia was up already and she was getting prepared for school

hey lazy cat what are you still doing in bed we're gonna be late, she said as she walked out of the bathroom with her body wrapped in a white towel

I wish I could just stay back home I'm tired of school, I said

we will be having music classes today so get your ass off that bed right now, Tonia said while applying lotions on her skin

I got up at once and went to dress up for school, we both walked out to the dinning to have breakfasts. We didn't find Andrew but our breakfast was there in the dinning

where is Andrew? I asked

guess he has been avoiding us since yesterday, Tonia said as she sat down

She was right, I didn't see him after school yesterday. but why would he want to avoid us? I asked in surprise

maybe he's shy, he thinks he's a weakling, she replied and I felt pity for him. I know that feeling and I wish I could make him feel better.

We both ate hurriedly and left for school. As we got into the school premises, I noticed Jeff standing with a group of boys at the garage. They were all chatting and laughing. I couldn't take my eyes off him, I continued to stare at him in Adulation until Tonia tapped my shoulders

stop dreaming about him.. she said

He's so handsome and hot, I giggled

Molly is gonna kill you if she finds out you're crushing on her ex

who's afraid of Molly? I'm not, I said smiling

Three girls walked past us and they began to gossip

.. these were the girls who tortured Molly and her friends yesterday, one of them said

serves them right, another one added

you need to see Lucy's face, she has a cracked nose, the third one chipped in and they all laughed

I smiled and looked at Tonia who was smiling too

let's see who else wanna dare, I said exuberantly as we walked away

As we walked into class, Molly and her friends sneered at us. I saw Lucy's nose which was a bit swollen and red.

Hey.. my parents are coming for you today just be prepared, she snarled at us

you want a taste of this? I asked showing her my bumped fist. She shifted uncomfortably and everyone laughed

you'll pay for this I swear she yelled

fuck you and whatever backups you've got! I yelled back while walking to my seat

I can see you've got guts.. Molly said walking towards us. I stopped and turned towards her

you want a fight? I asked while the whole class cheered behind

I can't fight with a dirt like you, she snapped

well, a dirt like me can beat you in everything trust me, I retorted

why are you avoiding a competition then? she asked with a smirk on her face

hey she won't compete with you so back off! Tonia yelled trying to drag me to my seat

she's scared, Molly said to everyone and they laughed

hey Molly, choose your time and your Venue I'll be there, I said after her and the whole class cheered. You ain't competing Sophie.. Tonia said to me

why not? I asked looking at her

well well well, Molly mused as she walked towards me. Seems like you've grown enough feathers to fly, she smirked. Ask and everyone will tell you about Molly, that she doesn't lose to anyone, she added

but I beat you once, and I'll be glad to beat you twice, I said and everyone cheered again

Molly frowned. let's meet here on Saturday after music classes, she said

music classes holds on Saturdays? I asked looking at Tonia and she nodded

OK then, it's a deal be prepared for the worst disgrace of your life, I uttered and everyone laughed. She frowned and walked back to her seat when a teacher walked in

you shouldn't have agreed to the competition, Tonia said angrily as we walked down the canteen after classes

Tonia it's time I put those girls where they belong, I said in a rather high tone

What if you lose? you'll spend the rest part of your life at school in disgrace cause she won't stop tainting your picture, Tonia said

what if I win? I asked and she sighed

that will make things worse, they might hurt you, they're dangerous! she yelled

oh come on Tonia, if we continue to be scared of them they'll still keep tainting our picture and hurting us, why then can't we just place them where they belong instead of dying in silence I know we can do it, I said exuberantly

Hmm, she sighed and we continued walking. I saw Andrew at the canteen sitting alone

look at Andrew.. I said happily to Tonia. She turned and smiled as she saw him. He saw us and hurried out before we could approach him

what is wrong with him? I asked angrily

that's Andrew for you, always ashamed of every little thing, I know it's about yesterday Tonia said sadly

I need to talk to him, I said to her. Take me to his class, I added

no, there are a lot of dangerous students over there we can't go, she said

what? come on, I said urging her

oh Sophie you're gonna get me In trouble someday, she grumbled as we both walked to Andrew's classroom which was the building next to ours. As we walked by, we noticed a group of boys smoking by a corner, there were also girls and boys chatting and laughing together while some were kissing and romancing

errrrrhhh.. I said in disgust as I walked past them. Are these the science students? I asked Tonia

they're locked up in chemistry I guess, Tonia replied and we both laughed. We got to Andrew's classroom and I noticed him sitting alone staring through space. Everyone was out by now and he was the only one in class. He was shocked to see us walked in

hey.. Tonia said walking towards him

hey.. he responded and turned his gaze towards me. I smiled and waved at him

you left without us, I said sitting on his desk

hey Tonia you shouldn't have brought her here, he said looking at Tonia

why? I asked in surprise

A lot of bad guys are here and they might walk in any moment, he replied

what will they do to me? I asked

they'll strap your bra and try to flirt with you, and they might put you on their r**e list if you try to resist them, Tonia said

I became scared at once. You need to leave now, Andrew said getting up from his seat, I stood up and was about leaving with Tonia when some group of male students walked in, Some of whom were among the guys who engaged us in a duel yesterday. This time, they were up to Six and they smirked as they caught sight of us

my spec, the front boy said walking towards me

I'm glad we met again the other one said twisting his neck at Tonia

I like your ass, the front boy said again as he walked more closer to me. I shifted backwards and he grabbed my arms and pressed by body against his

Brandy stop! Andrew yelled and everyone turned to look at him in surprise. I was surprised too cause I wasn't expecting him to say something

The boy chuckled and let go of me, he walked towards Andrew and smiled

seems like you're running faster than your shadows now, he said menacingly and grabbed Andrew by the neck

No!!! Tonia screamed hitting him vehemently. The other boys flung her away. I saw Andrew struggle for life as the boy continued to tighten his grips on him. I felt adrenaline surge through me as I rushed towards him and grabbed his neck from behind. He let go of Andrew and we both fell on the floor. I tightened my grips on his neck as the other boys surrounded us and they began hitting me on the floor but I wouldn't let go of him. I continued to tighten my grips on him and he began to cough out blood. I've never been this angry all my life.

Sophie!!! Tonia cried trying to make me free him.

Make her stop!! the other boys screamed and a large crowd formed around us

Brandy's losing his life! I heard someone scream from the crowd.

Sophie.. let him go.. Andrew said softly as everyone began to panic. Jeff rushed in and the crowd made way for him as he rushed towards us. I let go of Brandy as soon as I saw Jeff and he laid on the floor coughing and fighting for breathe. I got up angrily and dusted my jeans while Tonia rushed towards me. The other boys formed a circle around us and one of them wanted to attack when Jeff yelled at him

let them be! ain't you ashamed enough! he yelled and they retreated.

He left and the other boys followed. The other students began to murmur while some were pointing at me. I wiped the sweats off my brow and looked at Andrew who turned away at once.

Are you OK? Tonia asked and I nodded.

hey it's time for you to leave now, Andrew said to us

we can't leave now they might come back to hurt you, I protested

I'm fine and you guys should stop trying to interfere with everything happening around me, he snapped

what! how clumsy you are Andrew, just hear yourself out.. Tonia yelled

I don't want anyone fighting for me, you guys should let me be.. he cried and I looked at Tonia

let's get out of here, I said to her and we both walked out angrily

This week had been nothing but fight, Tonia remarked as we walked back to our class. I chuckled

yeah you're right, maybe we should give Andrew some space, I said to her

you think he'll be fine? she asked and I nodded.

you almost snuffed the life out of that bastard, she said laughing I've never seen you so angry before, she added. She was right and I never knew what came over me

I guess I was just mad seeing Andrew hurt, I said and she stopped. What? I asked looking at her and she smiled. Nothing, she replied and continued walking

As we closed from school, Tonia stayed back to help her seatmate Sara with her assignments while I waited for her at the lobby. I saw Jeff walking towards me this time without his headphones and he wasn't with his phone as usual. Should I talk to him again? I asked myself but behold, he was converging my direction. I watched as he walked closer towards me with a smile on his cute face and I thought of the words to say to him but then, the unexpected happened, he walked past me to a girl behind me. I turned and watched them walk out hand in hand together.

Stop dreaming about him, Tonia said behind me

oops!! I exclaimed and she laughed

he only goes for the rich and popular girls in school just like him she added

I'm not rich, I'm not popular but I can still not be rich yet I can be popular.. I said logistically and Tonia laughed again

popular how? she asked

I'll do good music and they'll start to like me, I said

they'll like you if you're rich and you do good music, if you do good music and you ain't rich, then you've got to be under a rich godmother for you to be popular she said

so that means I'll have to look for a rich girl to be friends with ... I said sarcastically

what!! Tonia exclaimed

just joking. I said laughing and she chased after me

That night, Andrew didn't come out from his room. We didn't get to see him after school. I walked to his room and knocked on the door but there was no reply. I knocked again and I heard the door creak. He opened and he saw me standing in front of him. He was dressed in a white singlet and black pants. His eyes were blood shot and I could see part of his lip swollen and his face bruised

Andre..!! I tried to exclaim but he hushed me with his palm covering my mouth. I remained still and he dragged me Into his room and shut the door.

His room was small but well tidied. I noticed some blood stained tissues on the floor close to the waste bin.

What's going on? I asked anxiously in whispers

He sat on the small bed and bowed his face. I sat beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

what is it Andrew talk to me, I urged. He sighed and removed his glasses.

you're hurt, and I need to tell Tonia I said

no.. you can't do that, I don't want Tonia to know about this that's the reason I've been indoors, he said

they hurt you? I asked and he nodded slowly. Now I understood why he doesn't want us to come around fighting for him

they are planning to hurt you too, he said sadly

what! I exclaimed, we need to talk to the principal about this I said anxiously

no we can't, Brandy is the principals grandson, he uttered

oh.. I see, what are we gonna do now? I asked

don't worry, I have everything under control, he said. I paused and took a good look at him. How is he going to get everything under control when he can't even fight for himself. Then a thought struck me, he was going to pay the price for Tonia and I to be set free, I reasoned

how did you get everything under control? I asked and he kept mute

I know, you'll keep serving them and let them treat you like trash, you'll do whatever they ask of you so Tonia and I can be free, I said looking at him and he couldn't say a word. He let out a sigh and exhaled deeply

I'll just do what I have to do, I don't care how you put it, he said

you ain't gonna slave for them anymore! I yelled. Enough is enough already, I said angrily

Sophie you don't know how dangerous they can be, they'll hurt you and Tonia which I can't let happen, he said

and I can't let them hurt you anymore,if you continue to let them treat you like trash, they won't stop until they're done with you. We are not cowards who die a hundred times before their death. We've got only one life and we will fight for it till the end, we can't let them keep treating us this way, Andrew, I'm starting a revolution! I said and he looked at me with his mouth agape.