PRICELESS EXCHANGE

I DON'T BELONG HERE

We soon got to an office with a tag on the door: "Mrs Ramirez's office", He looked at me and urged me to go in, I nodded and walked inside. I saw a lady probably in her late forties giggling with a telephone on her ears. I stood by the door waiting for her to notice me. After a while, she turned and gave a warm smile

newbie? she asked grinning. I nodded and she smiled again

come in, come in, she urged. I moved forward to take a seat opposite her.

So, how do you want to make the payment, a transaction? or you've got cash.. she asked jotting a few words on a book. I shook my head and she frowned. I brought out the letter and handed it over to her, she looked at me disdainfully as she reached out for the letter,

The girl from mariossa, she muttered and sighed. She brought out a file from her desk and ordered me to fill a form which I did hurriedly. She took me some pictures and ordered me to sign which I did too. She handed me a key with a lock tag

that's the key to your locker, you can go now, she said picking up the telephone again.

um... what about my accommodation? I asked

what accommodation? there is no accommodation, the whole place is filled up, she said angrily

but.. the Duke....

there is no accommodation for you can't you get it! she yelled and I stood up at once in fear

I could use an hos...tel... I stammered

There are no hostels left OK? the other students from abroad already occupied the hostels.. she fumed

where I'm I gonna stay? I don't know anyone around here.. the Duke said I would be accommodated when I get here.. I managed to say

who runs the schools uh? the Duke or your parents? she asked sarcastically

I couldn't say a word, i was fed up of this place already, I walked out of the office angrily to meet the nerd still standing beside my luggage . how did it go? he asked anxiously as soon as I walked in. I let out a sigh and took my hat off, I sat on the floor beside my luggage with both hands on my knees

hey.. is everything alright? he asked in a calm tone

no, everything is not alright here, Queens is not a place to be, I guess I should have choose a school of my class, I don't belong here.. I said sadly with my face downwards. He exhaled and sat beside me on the floor. Gosh I wasn't expecting it, how could he sit beside me on the floor? I tuned to look at him and our eyes met, he turned away at once with the sheepish smile on his face. A deep silence fell in, and we both sat down quietly trying to read each others mind I guess. Some students walked by and made jest of us

the nerd and the cow girl are having a good time dirtying themselves on the floor, one of them remarked and the others laughed and walked away. I wasn't hurt, they've hurt me too much to be hurt again I thought

hey.. you haven't told me what the problem is, he said

yeah... they said I can't be accommodated here, the hostels are filled up, I replied

Are you here on scholarships? he asked

um.. kind of, it's from the Duke, and when I showed them the letter they were acting weird like they don't want me here,

the Duke? He's a popular man around here, he's among the sponsors of this school he said

why then were they acting weird? I asked

they really don't like it when a student is here on scholarships, they are fraudsters and they know how much they make from each student's registration, so when you're on scholarships, they can't make the dubious amount of money they usually make on a normal student, he said

I sighed and waved my hair backwards

so you're saying I can't have a place to stay? I asked

unless you contact the Duke, you don't know any relative who lives here in the city? he asked

I shook my head. All my life I've never left my county, I said and he smiled

well, you.... could...um... he stammered and I looked at him perplexed

what? spill it out I urged and he smiled trying to avoid my gaze again

I was.. trying to say.. you could use my place..he said. I let out a chuckle at once

I don't stay alone, I live with my sister Tonia.. she's just like you.. he said at once

I looked at him in surprise, what about your parents? I asked

they don't live here, Tonia and I came here alone to study, he replied

But you don't even know me, how come you trust me to live in your house? I asked

I'm only trying to help, he replied

would your sister be OK by it? I asked

yeah.. she's a nice girl like you too.. he said and I laughed

how do you know am nice? I asked

He kept silent and smiled sheepishly again.

you allowed me take a walk with you.. he said and I looked at him with surprise written all over my face, um...

come on, let's go.. he said cutting me short. He stood up and took my luggage from the wall. I stood up and dusted my jumpsuits.

hey I don't even know your name.. I said

Am Andrew, he replied stretching his hand for a handshake

Am Sophia, I replied receiving his hands. He Shook my hands warmly and smiled sheepishly again. I chuckled and he turned away from me,

So funny, I muttered to myself as we both walked away.

O my gosh.. I can't believe you've gone so viral over the school with a cow girl.. what the heck!! I heard a girl scream with a phone on her hand as Andrew opened the door. She stood with her back facing us as we walked in, she turned as soon as we got in and shrieked as soon as she saw me

The cow girl? she asked staring at me disdainfully. She is tall, slim and fair with dark curly hairs, she had an oval face with small pink lips. I gave a weak smile wondering what the cow girl name was all about

Who's she? and why is she trending all over the school with you? she asked waving her phone over Andrew's face.

oh no...! he exclaimed taking the phone from her , I walked towards him to catch a glimpse of what was on the phone. I saw a picture of me and Andrew when he fell on top me with potatoes and carrots rolling out from my bag.

oh no... I said sadly

o damn!!... he said while Tonia took the phone from him

It's all over the internet now, you guys are trending.. oh poor me.. I can't even walk my way to class tomorrow.. she said sadly sitting on the bed

why? because of just this? I asked

yes Sophie, they're gonna throw truants at her and point fingers because her brother was chased by a dog and he fell on a...

cow girl.. Tonia put in, cutting Andrew short

I'm not a cow girl! I said in a rather high tone

but you were dressed like one earlier, that was a cow boy's hat you wore on the picture, Tonia said

Oh.. I said in a low tune, really? was that why everyone was staring at me? I asked to no one in particular

yeah maybe.. Andrew said

Cassy, Molly and Lucy were the ones who posted those trash.. Tonia said

who are they? I asked

the girls beside you before I bumped in, Andrew said

no way! I exclaimed, those girls have been on my neck for sometime now, they're so mean...

hey you guys have a beef? Tonia asked

no.. they just don't like me right from the day they saw me at the Duke's party in mariossa and I performed better than them in a music competition, ever since then they've been on me neck!.. I said in frustration

hey you don't mess with them, they're the craziest and the hottest girls in school they can taint your image and rubbish your reputations in just seconds, Tonia said

They've got rich parents, their parents are billionaires Andrew added

My jaw dropped on hearing the word billionaires, wow, no wonder they look so polished, I said to myself

you need to stay off their path Sophie, Andrew said looking at me and I nodded

Tonia meet Sophie, she's new here at Queens she doesn't have a place to stay cause she's on scholarships so I decided she could use our place for the moment, Andrew said to Tonia. My heart skipped as I looked at Tonia's face expecting her reply. She smiled at once and I took in a deep breath.

welcome Sophie, you and I can use a room, she said smiling

I told you she's nice, Andrew said smiling as I gave Tonia a hug

Thanks guys, the school had been so mean to me and I thought I don't belong here but you just gave me a new hope, I said with cloud of tears forming in my ever blue eyes

It's okay Sophie, as long as you act like a good girl.. Tonia said patting my shoulders, we all laughed

so Sophie.. are you into music? Tonia asked as we walked into her room

you are joking to have ask me that... I love music!! I exclaimed

wow... we're on the same boat then not like someone who doesn't like a single thing about music.. she said looking at Andrew who scoffed

what, you don't like music? I asked and he shook his head

everyone likes music, what are you doing here at Queens if you don't like music? I asked

well, dad says Tonia and I can't be in different schools so I had to go with Tonia that's how I found myself here.. this is not my dream school.. he said and I laughed. This was the first time I'm hearing someone say this about Queens.

well, now she's here and you gotta love it.. Tonia said and I laughed

Tonia can you sing maria matte's so obsessed with music? i asked excitedly looking at Tonia

wait.. you know that song?!!! she exclaimed

yes.... come on.. sing with me I urged, Andrew sighed and walked away

I can feel the air and everything that spins around me

they speak of how I feel and the feelings that's been burning throw my damaged heart

they're burning and churning in side of me

Chorus: music is the air I breathe.....

music is the voice I hear.....

music is the one and only touch I want to feel..

I'm so obsessed with music!!!........

I'm so obsessed with music!!!......

Tonia and I sang so beautifully as we entered her room, we both fell flat with our backs on the bed. We laughed so heartily and it felt like I've found a good friend, not just a good friend but a sister!