SETTLED LOVE

Suprised Defense

**Evening.

Ella escorted Emily to her house,on her way back,she felt some steps behind her.

She stopped to check but she saw no one.

She kept walking,, until someone touched her.

She turned back and to her surprise,it was Richard.

"Hey,you startled me!" Ella said almost in an angry tone.

"I'm sorry, okay." Richard said with a smile.

"So, what are you doing in this neighborhood? " Ella asked as they walked slowly on the street.

"I live up the street." Richard said.

"On this same street?" Ella asked surprisingly.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Richard said.

"It's okay. Where were you coming from?" Ella asked.

"Raymond's place." Richard replied.

"Okay." Ella replied.

"The same question goes to you." Richard said.

"I escorted Emily back to her place." Ella replied.

"Okay,,, send my regards to your mum." Richard said.

"I'll do that, thanks once again,I really appreciate." Ella said.

"You're welcome." Richard said.

"But we are friends for now,I did what I did to save you." Ella said.

"Okay thanks." Richard said.

"Till tommorow then." Ella said.

"Okay. Bye." Richard said with a smile.

"Bye." Ella replied,she entered her house.

**Kitchen.

Ella's POV

I met mum washing the dishes.

"Welldone,mum,let me give a hand." I said as i started washing the dishes.

"Thanks. You should have been home,, since...." Mrs Spencer said as she checked the wall clock to calculate.

"Five minutes,ago, I'm sorry mum." Ella pouted.

"It's alright,I only wanted to know your whereabouts." Mrs Spencer said.

"Okay mum, I met the boy that helped me this afternoon,he lives up the street." Ella said.

"Oh ok,, what's his name?" Mrs Spencer asked.

"Richard,,his surname is Collins." Ella said.

"Collins?" Mrs Spencer asked surprised.

"Yes mum." Ella replied as she finished washing the dishes.

"Mum, I'll be in my room,I have lots of assignments" Ella said.

"Okay dear." Mrs Spencer said.

**Ella's room

She was writing her assignment. Her phone beeped and it was an unknown number.

She ignored it, but the caller kept on calling.

She picked it.

"Hello, please who is on the line?" Ella asked.

"It's Richard." Richard said as she wondered how he got her contact.

"How did you get my contact?" Ella asked.

"Your ID card." Richard said as she popped her eyes wide. She checked her school bag and didn't find her ID card.

"Okay,,, please I'll collect the ID card in School tommorow." Ella said.

"Okay dearie." Richard said.

"I'm not your dearie." Ella said as she rolled her eyes.

"Okay. I'll call you later." Richard said as he hung up the call.

** TEM'S group chat.

"Hey girls." Tiana texted.

"Hi." Eliza and Mia texted.

"How did things go between you and Richard?." Mia asked

"Well,I was so shocked and Angry at what I saw." Tiana texted.

"What was that?" Eliza asked.

"Can you believe that Ella was in Richard's car?." Tiana asked.

"What?! How?" Mia asked.

"I'm sorry,I didn't tell you guys,, Ella bumped into me,we both fell,I was so angry,I gave her blows on her face and arms,she was so weak. By the time Richard came to her aid,Ella has already passed out,,and Richard carried her to his car, since it was already closing,,I saw him coming back to the class to take his bag,I stopped him as he was about to leave the class,I told him my mind, that I liked him, that he should give me a chance. He told me that,,he doesn't like me and left the class." Tiana texted.

"Wow,so did you allow him to go just like that?" Eliza asked.

"You know me,I didn't allow him go,,I followed him to where he parked his car,I was still telling that I liked him, and he said I'm not his type,,,he was just saying things to me,,, that was how that poor thing,Ella got down from the car and challenged me." Tiana texted.

"What?!" Mia texted.

"I was so surprised,,she told me to leave Richard alone,that he doesn't like me,,and Richard supported her,he said Ella was his type. I was so hurt that moment." Tiana texted.

"This is so unbelievable,,We will surely deal with Ella." Mia texted.

"Okay,,, I asked him if we can be friends and he accepted,,then they drove off." Tiana texted.

"That's still fair." Eliza texted.

"Yes,you can use this friendship of yours to get close to yourselves." Mia texted.

"Yeah, that reminds me,the party is in two days the, girls,let's dress beautiful and sexy." Tiana texted.

"I can't wait." Mia texted.

"To see Rayson right?" Eliza asked.

"What?" Tiana texted.

"Girl,you don't know that Mia has a crush on Rayson?" Eliza asked.

"Oh really, have fun girls, I'll see you tomorrow." Tiana texted.

"Bye." Eliza and Mia texted.

**Richard's room

*Richard's POV.

After meeting with Ella,, I've never felt so happy and relieved in a long time. Her smile,her voice makes me happy and it gives me peace of mind.

I have this kind of feeling for her.

I've not been able to concentrate on my assignment,,her picture keeps coming to my head.

I need to focus.

**Next day(Thursday.)

**White High.

"Good morning everyone,, don't forget that the party is tommorow." Tiana said smiling.

"Of course,,, don't miss it, it's going lit,food,drinks and music. Don't miss it, remember boys are invited." Tiana said as she moved to Rayson and Richard.

"Hello Richard, Good morning". Tiana said with a smile.

"Morning." Richard replied.

"How was your night?" Tiana asked.

"Good and yours?" Richard asked.

"Good, thanks,, please I'm personally inviting you to my weekend party,as a friend,,, please." Tiana said with a begging face.

"I'll try." Richard said.

"Okay,how about you Rayson?" Tiana asked.

"Of course,I try,, that's if Richard is going." Rayson said with a smile.

"Okay, Tiana, I'll come." Richard said with a smile.

*Did he just smile at me?* Tiana thought as she blushed.

"Okay, I'll come,why are blushing Tiana?" Rayson asked as he looked at Richard who showed no interest.

"I'm not blushing,Richard please don't forget." Tiana said as she pecked him on his cheeks.

"Okay, please don't peck me again." Richard blurted.

"Okay, I'm sorry." Tiana said with a smile as she left.

"Hey, Richard,when did you guys start talking,so close." Rayson asked.

"Just yesterday,she said she wanted to be my friend." Richard replied.

"Just be careful." Rayson said in an advising tone.

"What do you mean?" Richard asked as he raised his brows.

"She's determined to make you hers." Rayson said.

"How do you know this?" Richard asked surprised.

"I have ears and eyes all around,she asked you out right?." Rayson asked.

"Yeah, but I didn't accept, because she is not my type and I only accepted to be her friend, that's all." Richard said.

"Well, let's leave that aside,,how did it go yesterday, after leaving my place?" Rayson asked with a smile.

"Well, I met Ella on my way back home,,we talked for a while and then she went home,,I do enjoy her company whenever I'm around her." Richard said with a smile.

"You like her right?" Rayson asked as he raised his brows teasingly.

"I like her, not the other way round." Richard said as the laughed in unison.

"I like her friend tho." Rayson said as Richard arched his brows in surprise.

"Really?" Richard asked.

"Yes,I have this likeness for Emily." Rayson said with a smile.

"Okay,tell her if you can't keep it to yourself." Richard said in a serious tone.

"Thanks buddy." Rayson said.

"You're welcome." Richard said with a smile.

*LUNCH BREAK*

Ella and Emily took their usual seats.

Richard and Rayson joined them, since it was a four-seat round table.

"Hey Rayson and Richard." Emily said with a smile.

"Hey." Rayson and Richard replied together.

"Thanks for joining us." Ella said with a smile.

"Here, have some." Ella said as she brought out her homemade cupcakes.

Richard and Rayson took one each. They eat it.

"Yummy." Rayson said with a smile.

"Yummy." Richard said as he took another one.

Ella and Emily were laughing silently as Richard and Rayson were rushing the cupcakes.

"Who made this? We're definitely coming to your place after school." Richard said with his mouth full of cupcakes.

"Yeah Richard, we're going to Ella's house after school." Rayson said.

"Thanks guys,my mum and I,made it." Ella said with a smile.

"I'm so satisfied with the cupcakes." Richard said.

"Same here." Rayson said.

Ella went to buy four cups of chilled orange juice.

"Have it." Ella said as she shared the drinks.

"Thanks." Rayson and Richard said.

"Cheers." Emily said with a smile.

"To our friendship." Ella said as they raised their cups up and collided it with another.

They sipped it and dropped their cups.

**

"Girls, it's time,they are over there." Tiana said.

"Let's move then." Mia said as they moved to Ella's table.

**

"Hey Ella." Tiana said as she spilled Chapman drink on Ella's uniform.

Everyone in the canteen was watching already.

"Oh my goodness, what's this,Tiana?" Ella asked angrily as she slapped Tiana hard on the face.

Tiana's face was red already.

"Have you forgotten? Yesterday?" Tiana asked angrily as Ella remembered.

"So?" Ella asked.

"You're daring me,Ella,, Girls deal with her." Tiana ordered as Mia and Eliza moved close to Ella.

"Don't lay your hand on me." Ella said in a firm tone.

"If I do,who will stop me?" Tiana asked as she scoffed.

"I will." Richard said as everyone gasped.