No Need for Apologies

Chapter five

First day of resumption was the worst school day ever. Lots of cleaning, everyone trying to fill their friends in on how they spent their holiday. Zoe hated first day of second term most. You could call her crazy but that didn't matter to Zoe, she hated the noise and the screaming of happy new year every class and every hallway you stepped into.

Zoe just sat down staring at nothing in particular with her chin propped on an elbow resting on the table, thinking about the conversation she had with Nathan last night.

'Men always say they love you Zoe, it doesn't mean anything', Nathan said.

'Says who,' Zoe retorted.

Nathan went on ignoring her, 'men, boys, guys whatever you want to call them they always lie.'

Zoe laughed instantly, 'I'll believe that,' she said. 'Collins always lie.'

Zoe laughed again, 'don't worry big bro I'm not planning on falling in love anytime soon.'

'You know you're beautiful,' Nathan said. 'Don't let anyone take you for a ride. You deserve the best.'

'Yep.. I'm a Balogun, I deserve the very best,' she replied.

'Oh I love you so much Nathan, Collins would never sit me down and tell me stuff like this. All he ever does is to tease me,' Zoe said pouting.

Nathan smiled instantly, his sister was just so innocent and fragile.

Zoe was cut short in her thoughts.

'Zoe.. Zoe..' she heard Martha call.

'I've been calling you for ages, our class teacher wants us now,' Martha said walking away. Martha had never liked Zoe and still she can't figure out why their form teacher picked her as assistant class rep, if only she knew the feeling was mutual. Zoe thought she was annoying and hated that she had to work together with her.

Zoe stood up scowling, she hated this duty.

When they got into their class teacher office, they saw two new girls sitting on the only available chairs in the office.

The two were pretty, but one was extremely beautiful, Zoe noticed. She looked like an half-caste, when they got in further Zoe noticed the half-caste had the most alluring green eyes she'd ever seen.

'We have two new students joining us,' their class teacher said. 'Rachel Abati and Elizabeth Simons. Take them to the class and introduce them, make sure they're comfortable.'

Then she turned to the new students 'Rachel , Elizabeth, you're welcome to Faves Stone Hills once more. I wish you a good time here, they'll take you to your class.'

They stood up and were all about leaving when their class teacher called Zoe .

'Zoe wait behind for the class timetable,' she said checking for it on her table.

She handed it over to Zoe and she left. Getting to the class Zoe pasted it on the wall and announced to everyone that was the new class timetable.

She was surprised to see the new girl sitting on her chair. It was made for two people actually but she never had a seat mate after her friend Milly left. She was thinking about what she was going to say to the new girl but she beat her to it.

'Being a class rep isn't easy,' Rachel said.

'You can say that again,' Zoe replied sitting on the chair.

'I didn't get your name earlier, Zoe or Martha.'

'Zoe,' Zoe replied with one of her best smile.

'Rachel,' Rachel said stretching her hands

Zoe shook her hand. That little discussion came to an end when their maths teacher arrived.

?

'Recess in my previous school was 11'o clock,' Rachel said.

'It's 12 here and you can get food from the school canteen', Zoe replied. 'My mum always pack our food for us ,she doesn't want us eating from the canteen', she added.

'That means I'll be going alone,' Rachel asked.

'Yep but first let's secure a table before this place get filled up.'

Zoe walked to the a table at the extreme end of the room, she always preferred eating there. They won't be disturbed there, that was why she liked that spot.

'Is the food expensive,' Rachel asked

'It's free,' Zoe replied smiling

That was swell, Rachel thought.

Zoe gave her directions to the canteen. She brought her food out and was about to eat when Collins and his buddy Obadiah (but everyone called him OB for short) walked to her table and sat on the two available chairs.

'I have company Collins,' Zoe said irritatingly.

'Don't worry we won't be long,' OB replied.

She had wanted to say something back when it clicked to her it was OB who spoke and not Collins. Her mouth just hanged open and the words didn't come out. She didn't know why her stupid brain always shut down when it comes to OB.

OB closed her lips and said 'you're more beautiful when your mouth's closed.'

She brushed his hands off after staring stupidly for some seconds. 'Keep your hands to yourself,' she said quietly.

'Why is your sister so quiet and cool,' OB asked collins.

'Spend a week with us, you'll conclude that she's an entirely different person.'

'Shut up,' Zoe said. He was right though and she knew it. It was as if there were two persons in her.

'My friend's coming now, shoo.'

Zoe knew OB was staring at her but she didn't look.

'My gosh look at that damsel,' one of the two i***t said their attention going there.

It was Elizabeth Simons, she was sitting with Martha and her crew and she was smiling, a smile that made her green eyes sparkle.

Zoe felt jealous at that moment, that feeling you get when you get slapped on the face with real beauty.

She looked at OB and he was staring with his mouth opened, collins was whistling and winking at her, blabbing nonsense.

'What sort of animals are you two,' she told them trying to get their attention.

'Don't tell me you're jealous,' Collins answered smiling. He loved teasing his sister.

'Don't be ridiculous,' Zoe replied. 'I have more important things to be jealous of than beauty,' she lied. Deep down she knew she was more than jealous.

OB burst into laughter, 'that's why I love your sister, she knows how to put you in your place. 'Zoe ,' he called.

Zoe just stared, she loved the way he called her name.

'Don't listen to Collins,' he said. 'You're a beauty yourself.' She was the beauty he hadn't been able to get off his mind for so long, he couldn't even remember when he started feeling this way towards her.

Zoe just stared at him, admiring him when Rachel arrived.

'Oops!' She said. 'Seems like you have company, I'll just look for somewhere else to eat.'

'No no no,' Zoe said almost immediately, 'they're leaving already. Collins, OB, your time is up, look for some other girl to pest' She caught Collins staring at Rachel as she said that, not just Collins they were both staring at her. What was the problem with them and why was she always furious when she finds OB staring at another girl.

'Up you two,' she yelled at them.

'Calm down Barbie,' Collins said laughing. He knew how calling his sister that name made her furious, but on the other hand it gave him joy.

'Don't call me Barbie,' Zoe retorted angrily.

'Barbie,' OB said. 'See you later, and stop acting coy with me,' he said going after his friend without waiting for her comeback.

Zoe just felt like throwing her bottle at them, silly boys she thought.

'Seems like you got admirers,' Rachel said smiling.

'More like Pest in my life,' she replied smiling. 'You took all day.'

'The queue was long, and beside I lost my way,' she said spooning rice into her mouth.

'How do you know those two?' Rachel asked.

'Don't fall for them,' Zoe replied. 'They're flirts, jerks.

Rachel burst into laughter, it seemed right she thought with that face and smile, everyone was supposed to fall.

'I'm sure they've made out with everyone in our class. One of the reason why the girls don't get along with me.'

'Why?' Rachel asked. 'Is it because they're interested in you now?'

Zoe just laughed softly, 'if it was just that I think I would have been on safer ground.'

'So why?'

'One of the two-faced idiots is my brother,' Zoe told her.

'You're kidding,' Rachel said .

'I'm serious and I'm telling you this so you won't be deceived by their words. All men lie but Collins and OB are the greatest liar I have ever met in my life,' Zoe said stealing Nathan words.

Rachel burst into laughter. 'You're kidding,' she said again.

'I'm serious,' Zoe answered.

'Collins is your brother's name?'

'Yeah, the bigger jerk of the two,' was Zoe's reply.

Rachel smiled and asked, 'the fair skin guy with high cut, gap tooth, cute dimples,' she said wide-eyed.

'Don't tell me you took in all that just now.'

'Don't mind my silliness,' Rachel said laughing. 'They both have this sort of aura that draws you to them, If there's anything like that,' Rachel added still laughing.

'He's a flirt,' Zoe said. 'Don't fall for him,' she said still contemplating on what Rachel had said. Was that the reason she was drawn to OB also, was it because of the aura.

'But he's your brother,' Rachel asked bringing her out of her thoughts.

'Who?' she answered on impulse.

Rachel told her the boy she had described.

'Oh!' Zoe replied. 'Yep, he's my brother.'

'And the other?' Rachel asked.

'His buddy, since childhood,' she said closing her flask.

'He's your boyfriend?'

'Noo..' Zoe answered.

'He was staring at you,' Rachel told her. She was standing by the door watching and deciding if she should join her or just look for another table and she saw him staring at her with a sort of affection.

'Don't kid yourself Rachel those two always stare at girls, I wouldn't be surprised if OB was staring at me, maybe Collins would stare also if circumstances were different, Zoe said.

'You mean, if you weren't his sister,' Rachel stated.

'Affirmative,' Zoe said laughing heartily. She had expected their lunch to be boring but it turned out to be her best since Milly left. 'Those boys don't feel anything Rachel, don't be deceived, Zoe said not sure who she was trying to convince, herself or Rachel.

She didn't know what she felt for OB and she couldn't also explain his feelings for her, one thing she knew was that she wasn't going to be a sucker for love.