Chapter 14

Laila POV

The three weeks holiday went by so quickly and the second term resume. Everyone seem happy to be back in school. Even I am glad. I just hope that Jason had gotten tired of me.

"Hello pup." Saheed said loudly. I look at him with a frown. And walk away. He said something I didn't hear and he laughed but I don't give a shit about him.

"Hi Sofela." Jason said behind me. I look up at him as he walk past me. His headphone is on his ears and I saw him smirk.

I shake my head. He never said hi to me (despite he just said it in his usual stone cold tone) and he doesn't call me by my first name. I don't know why but I kind of like it when he calls my surname. It sound crazy but that's how I feel. I wish he was a different person when we met.

Sometimes I am mad at him but I never hate him. I want to sometimes whenever I see what he do to some poor kids or when he hurt me but I can't. Honestly I hate his friends. Maybe because they do most of the bullying for him since they are his puppet or because I hate the way they laugh. Nevertheless, I hate them. But not Jason. I don't hate him.

"Lai. Welcome back to school." Mathias said cheerfully waking me from my cloud of thought. He walk up to me smiling. He had his bag on one of his shoulder. And I grin at him.

He pull me into a bear hug earning me some look from the students but I don't care. He is the only good friend I have here since Florence had gone and he makes me happy. The guy is so cute and nice.

"You too. How was your holiday?" I asked.

"Normal. Too short to do anything than study mathematics." He said grinning.

"You and mathematics. I wish i could love maths like you do." I told him. I really don't know maths. It's not my favorite subject.

"You can."

"Don't start with your lecture." I warn and he laugh.

And we walk to the class together discussing other things.

****

I felt something hit me on my legs and I fell to the ground. Someone just threw a football at me on my leg. I watch the ball roll to my side. The spot where it touch hurt.

It really hurt. I flinch as I tried to touch my leg. I heard some girls laughing. It was Jessica and some other girls. And my blood boil.

Without looking at who did it, I know it's Jason minions.

They've been giving me hell of a time since we've resume back to school.

Students had begin to gather around looking at me. I am not embarrassed or ashame that they are staring at me on the floor. But I am angry.

I'm not just angry, I am mad. I am mad for what they just did to me. It's not the first but this is among the worst and it hurts.

I huff and pick the ball. As I try to get on my feet, I felt someone hand on my arms. I look up to see Isabella. She looks uncomfortable but was also concern.

"Sorry. Don't mind them." She said helping me to my feet.

"Thanks bella. I will be right back." I said dusting my skirt.

"Where are you going?" She look behind me. I know she is looking at Favour and the others because I could see fear in her eyes. "Don't tell me you are going to meet them."

"I'm tired of all their bullshit." I said. I am clearly angry.

"Just let it go." She said in her small voice.

"Not anymore. I've had enough. They got to know when to stop."

Her eyes were filled with fear and i smile at her reassuringly. And she nod taking her hands off me. "Okay." She muttered. "Those boys are mean, be careful."

I nod. I hold the ball tightly in my hand and I stride toward Jason's friends. Just like most of the time, Jason is not with them. He is either in the old music room or god-knows-where. He just order his minions to do the job for him.

Last night I had received an hour lecture from my aunt. She had noticed my attitude and some bruises on me. She had asked me about them but as always I refuse to tell her anything.

She sat me down and begins to say some things I never knew she had noticed. I was quiet as she gave me some advice. She had not talk to me like that in a long time. Her words gave me strength and confidence. And I realized how much she care about me even if she never act like she do.

I had promise myself not to be look down upon again. Rich or poor, tall or short, I don't give a damn.

Those guys will get it from me today. They stare at me as I approach them. They keep laughing at me like I was some crazy bitch. But that will be their last.

"I see you slipped." Favour said. My blood boils hearing his ugly voice and seeing the smirk on their faces. "It look like you've return our ball."

I threw the ball on his face and he fell from his seat. They look shocked. And now it's my time to smirk.

"Yeah. I have return it."

"Are you crazy?" George said getting up on his feet and he move toward me with his hand fisted beside him.

I dare to move closer to him. Saheed and Obinna helped Favour to get on his feet. His nose was bleeding and his lips are busted. I heard gasps from the students watching. I didn't feel guilty or pity for him. In fact I am glad. That's serve him right for what they did to me and all the other students.

"Do you see what you've cause?" Obinna yelled.

"Of course. I can also do the same for  each of you." I said hoarsely.

Saheed left his friend and walk up to me angrily. He hold my arms tightly and he try to twist it. But I slapped him on the face and he let go with surprise. His friends were speechless.

"Listen very carefully to me. This is the first and the last time you'll ever try anything stupid with me. I'm not going to watch and let you bully me any longer. If you do so much as lay a hand on me and other students, I swear to God you will hate me more. You are born with a fucking silver spoon but I was born in ghetto and I'm going to show you what I'm made of. " I warned. They keep staring at me with their eyes wide open.

" The next time you call me filthy names or throw something at me or laugh at me, I'm going to show all of you what I'm capable of doing. You are not the only crazy ones. I am too. And I'm going to show it to you. I am going to let you know i was born in the streets. So go tell that monster of a friend that is your puppeteer that I'm not going to watch any more. And for the four of you DON'T YOU EVER COME NEAR ME OR YOU WILL REGRET IT. Do I make myself clear? " I asked. They remain quiet. " DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" I asked again yelling at them. They quivered.

I smile with great satisfaction. They got to know who they are dealing with. I'm done letting them have their way with me. Someone need to teach them a lesson.

I look at the student staring at us. Some of them have a smile on their face - glad I stood up to them, some are scared and some had suprise on their faces - Jessica and Sandra included. They look away when my eyes meet theirs.

I smirk. They should know I'm not so cool. I had just been holding my self from doing something crazy. I grew up with a crazy aunty and you don't expect me to be normal. Now they know me.

It's just the beginning. I said to myself walking away.

Jason POV

My friends sat in a corner murmuring something to themselves. They just told me what Laila had done. The whole school is already talking about it.

I see the way the students stare at them when they walk into the class. Christian just keep smiling looking at Laila direction.

Infact he is not the only one who is amused by what Laila did. I am. I can't stop myself from laughing when they tell me what she had said and done. Favour busted lips top it all. And they thought I was crazy.

A girl had threw a ball at him and he is crying because he have a bursted lips. He keep touching it and the others keep telling him it will be fine. It just sounds and look funny. He is more ashamed and he didn't come to school a day after that.

I don't know how I feel about it myself. I don't know if I am angry, surprise or happy about it.

Honestly I had thought something like this will happen. I didn't know it will be so soon. My friends have been quiet since. They are scared of her. I have never seen them scared of any student. They imitate me. But this is totally different.

The fear was lace in their voice. They had the strength to beat her but there is something that make them feel weak to hurt her.

"You should have seen her eyes. It means hell." George said.

"She didn't blink when I move close to her. All she had been doing is hiding under a facade." Saheed said.

"She showed her real self that day." Favour said quietly. "I didn't know she was so tough."

"She is really from the ghetto. What girl hand is so strong? My mom had to put ice on it. " Saheed said and he unconsciously touch his cheek. I couldn't help but smile.

No one had amuse me like this in a long time.

"She is just like Vicki." Obinna said and the others nodded.

Vicki was in junior class two then and we were a year higher than her in class. She is the first and only girl; in fact the only student before Laila to confront us.

She was a very fat girl who does nothing than to write story. The girls usually make fun of her. Even the teachers sometimes call her funny names. Me and my friends also found her amazing. She was too dull and she just hover and watch people make jest of her.

George and I decide to make her our little doll. But everything change.

Vicki stood up for herself.

She wrote some stupid stuff about us in the school magazine making me more angry and I added her to my blacklist.

She had yelled at me and said some things I never knew she could say. I was more than shocked and for the first time in my entire life I apologize. With the way she talked with tears, I felt a little guilty and I apologize to her in a letter.

She left for London after that day. And No one had challenged us since her..... until Laila.

**

I was standing next to my locker reading some messages on my tab when I noticed Laila approaching. I put my tab inside my school bag and watch her approach. Her hair is still wet. And I know she just finish her swimming practice.

She usually have swimming practice after school.

I clap my hands when she was within arm reach. She stop and look at me. She gave me a look that says 'I don't want trouble.'

"Here comes the queen of the school. Bravo Sofela." I said. I move closer to her and I could hear her heartbeat in the silent hallway. I smile. Maybe she isn't as tough as she seem.

"You know... you surprise me. My friends are so scared of you." I said.

Funny but it is still amusing.

Laila POV

Jason moves closer to me and I move away from him. He keep staring at me with that ever-cold eyes and it make me shiver. I try to move away from him but my back meet the locker. I saw his expression change and he try to suppress a smirk.

His presence brought this churn in my stomach and my heart beat faster. It is not because i am afraid of him. I don't feel afraid of his look and his presence, I am just uncomfortable and at the same time love his proximity. Seeing him close to me makes me speechless. He is so handsome. His face is so smooth and his hair is thick and very dark. His brow had a nice curve. I don't know if he shave them but there look great. I can also perceive his perfume. His sport wear is spotless.

I don't know how some one so handsome could have such a cold eyes. But despite the eyes he is still handsome.

Why am I thinking about his beauty? I said cursing myself within me. Why am i even having this feelings around him? Have got to let him know i won't watch and let him have his way with me anymore. I need to tell him, I am not afraid of him. Because I am not. I'm just having a different feeling right now which I can't explain.

"You know ...you surprise me. My friends are scared of you." He said.

When he mention his friends, I can't help but get angry. I just dislike those boys so much. So I said to him

"They got half of what they deserve."

"You've got some nerve Sofela." Jason said.

"They started it. You started it. I'm not just going to sit and watch." I said. I don't know where the courage is coming from for me to talk to the almighty Jason but I am grateful for the courage to talk to him.

He stare at me for what seem like forever. I don't know if he is angry or sad or amuse or confuse. His face is just so expressionless. Just like it was the first time I confronted him in the old music room to save those junior student.

How could his face not read any emotion? Is he truly an alien? He can't be. I know he can show emotions except been angry and cold. Its just that I have never seen it.

He finally said something relieving me of the pain on my chest.

"Stay. Out. Of. My way." He said in a warning tone and he move back away from me.

He look at me one last time and he begin to walk away from me.

I kind of felt like a fool. I should have told him what I need to say to him. I have try to tell him to let me be and also that he can be better than how he think of him self. But several times i just let it go. And now I've got the chance. He is here close to me, alone with no one here. But here I am with the crazy feeling and I can't. I've got to say something. Anything.

I feel like I can help him.

From what? My subconsciousness asked. I don't know .

"Jason." I called and I pray he hear me. Fortunately, he did because he stop. To my surprise, he turn around and look at me. He is not angry that I called his name. He just look at me and wait to hear whatever I have to say.

"You can be better you know. You don't always have to be like this." He was quiet. "People change."

"Not every one want to change." He said without that hint of coldness for the first time. And he turn away and leave.

He doesn't seem to be move about me telling him to 'change' but I am a little please that he try to listen to what I want to say and he replied without getting angry.

I always have my doubt but I also know that deep down that cold and handsome face, there is someone better.