Chapter 10

She turned around and walked away. God, her skirt is so short, it barely even covered half her thighs. Simon was right, I need to stay away from the popular girls and boys.

I kept on walking, looking from door to door. I was trying to find the counsellor's office. I didn't intend to be late on my first day at school. A sign caught my eye, "COUNSELOR'S OFFICE". I knocked once.

"Come in". The voice sounded from within.

"You see Marcus...."She was saying to a boy when I came in. "This is your last warning, any more slip and you are out of this school. We have had enough of your shenanigans Marcus, I won't condone your attitude anymore. Is that taken?"

"Yes ma"

"Wow," I thought. "This woman must be really strict to command this level of respect".

The boy turned to leave.

"Wait Marcus I might need a little help".

"But....".The boy protested.

"I said wait" The woman insisted.

"Hi" She turned to me.

"Good morning ma".

"Good morning, you must be Barbara"

"Barbara" Marc humphed jokingly.

Oh no, I wasn't really gonna be made fun of on my first day at school.

"Actually, I prefer to be called Marvel".

"Anyways Barbara, I am Mrs Justice. ". She began, ignoring my statement.".....Can I have your papers?".

I gave her the papers Simon gave me.

"Take" She handed one of the papers to me. "Here is your schedule, it is a summary of your everyday classes"

"OK ma".

"Marc will take you to your class which is Grade 12 Arts A. Meet me after school okay".

"Yes, ma".

I and Marc went out of the office.

"Hi am Marcus, my friends call me Marc". He flashed me a smile.

"Hi am Marvel".

"Are you ashamed to be called Barbara".

"No...."

"it is okay to be ashamed" He cut in."Am ashamed to be called Marcus too, the funny name isn't it? Everyone calls me Marc expects close relatives".

I looked at him with meaning.

"The counsellor is my aunt" He said in response to the look I gave him.

"Oh okay. Do you know where my locker is?".

"Lockers are usually in classrooms here. Your locker will have your seat number attached".

"Oh, Duncan high really is a different school"

"You are not from around here I guess".

"Yes am not from around here"

"You see, Duncan high is a government-owned school and is funded by the joint effort of the government and parents donations".

"OK".

"My mum is a generous donor, so technically I own the school"He paused and looked me straight in the eye. "No one messes with me".

"OK" I didn't need to be told be realize that hos guy, Marc is the coolest guy in school. Such an audacity to think he owns the school.

"Here is your class Barbara"The way he pronounced my name was so irritating, I felt like I was gonna puke.

"Please, don't call my name like that"

He smiled. "Wait and see".

"Hey, guys meet Barbara. She is new"

Everyone laughed.

"A new student in final year?"Someone said.

"Hi, my name is Barbara Marvel Jesus".

"Hey, I know you"I turned to the direction of the voice. It was the girl I met in the hallway.

"Hi".

"Whatever" Gather round everyone, its initiation time".

"What is initiation time," I asked curiously.

"There are rules here Barbara. Rule one doesn't ask questions". She paused and did not say anything else.

"What is rule two".

"DON'T ASK QUESTIONS"Everyone shouted simultaneously.

"This class is the coolest class newbie". She began. "We have seven final year classes....".

"SEVEN" I repeated.

"Rule two newbie, don't interrupt the queen when she talks"One of her minions said.

"Can you call me by my name instead of new....".

"DO NOT INTERRUPT" Everyone shouted again.

"I thought you said I shouldn't interrupt the queen?".

"We also said don't ask questions"

"Oh sorry I..."

"Silence, "The 'queen' said. "As I was saying, newbie, my name is Kim and I am the queen of the 2020 class of Duncan high, here is Marc my boyfriend, next time you don't walk in with him and smiling at him, it called messing with the queen. That's rule three, you must not be seen with the high school Queen's boyfriend". She walked to a set of lockers and pointed at one of them, it has a 12 written on it. "This is your locker, you are the least ranking person in this class so you get a number 12. If you adapt to the rules, you might get a higher ranking locker. In other classes, lockers are assigned according to seat numbers but here it's different. This class is the coolest class and we live by the rules newbie. The last girl here was dumb enough not to live by the rules and you know what happened to her?".

"What?"I asked.

"She was eliminated".

"W....wh...wait.....what?".

"I mean we made her leave the school".

"Here in this class, we don't make friends with students from other classes, especially sciences, they are way too uncool for us. We hold games like truth or dare seven minutes in heaven, and sports betting here every Wednesday, we meet up at blue heavens every day and we hold parties every Friday night. Plus, each girl has a boy she likes, don't mess around with our boys. We will keep you updated on other rules. In the meantime, here is a list of things you have to do for your initiation".

"Do I really have to do all this".

"Rules are rules, Barbara".

She walked over to Marc who brought out a cigarette, a lighter and a plastic bottle that contains something that looks like gin.