Finalizing

"Did he create a new account or something?" Linsey queried over Lucretia's shoulder quite surprised herself.

"I don't think so Lin," Lucretia replied, her gaze still fixed on the screen. "Philip hates creating new social media accounts. To him, it's like starting all over again. Scout over Nita," She slightly nudged Anita on the ribs. "Let me have a look."

Without uttering a word, Anita scouted over, making room for Lucretia to settle beside her. She click opened the message and they spent the next 5mins reading it. "Woow–" Linsey instinctively simpered. "This- is- so cool. I say you should give him another chance girlfriend."

Both Anita and Lucretia deftly glanced at Linsey at her words. "What?" She queried and Anita slightly shook her head. Lucretia on the other hand just stared quizzically at her. "Are you my friend at all?" She questioned her sincerity but Linsey was indifferent. "Come on girls–" She stuttered over to her bed and sat on it. "We all wanted him to realize his true feelings for Luc which he finally did. Besides, Luc just came here for a change of environment." She made out her point and Lucretia scoffed, she had badly wanted to transfer from her school entirely and move back to Australia but then, the school refused her transfer and rather sent her on an exchange program especially knowing the unfairness she had gone through. Moreover, she was one of the best students.

Lucretia and her parents tried to convince the school authorities but they insisted. Not to pull matters any longer, Lucretia accepted their proposal. Her parents on the other hand, didn't have any problem with it so far as their daughter was okay with it so they went head and did just that. None of her friends in Washington knew about it except Mimie who recently found out from her parents by accident.

Mimie confronted her on it but she apologized and requested her not to tell anyone yet, not even Crystal and Jayden. She wanted to tell them by herself at the right time. Mimie didn't like the idea of keeping it away from them but she agreed anyway.

"I think Linsey is right here Luc." Anita snapped in after a few minutes of thorough thinking. "You have to make a decision because you still have to go back one day and face Philip. Truth be told, you miss him. Don't you?" She questioned.

Lucretia was a little thrown off by the question but refused to give in easily. "I will give it a thought." She hastily muttered and stood, hurrying off to her bed and pulled the blanket over her body. Linsey and Anita stared at her for a while and sighed, slightly shaking her head. "We have to make her understand." Linsey whispered loud enough for Anita's ears only. "He even asked her to be his prom."

"I know right?" Anita replied and glanced back at Lucretia on the bed.

*****

WASHINGTON DC

After about 10mins of walking, Jayden, Crystal and Mimie got to the bus stop. Just then, the bus pulled over. They quickly trod in with other passengers, settling in the third seat after the driver. After few seconds, the bus sped off with them chatting wittily.

All through the ride, Mimie's conscience just couldn't let her be. She felt guilty playing dumb and pretending not to know that Lucretia went on an exchange program and not a transfer to Australia. She stared quietly at Crystal and Jayden who were chit chatting and let out an inaudible sigh. "I can't do this anymore." She grumbled mentally to herself. Few minutes as their destination, she finally decided to let the cat out of the bag. "Guys." She drew Jayden and Crystal's attention. "I have something to tell you about Lucretia." She added and they just stared expectantly. "Okay, here is the thing." She paused for some seconds. "Lucretia actually went to Australia as an exchange student and not a transfer student."

"What?" Both Jayden and Crystal exclaimed, drawing everybody's attention. At that moment, the bus also pulled up at their destination. They lurked around and saw everybody's gaze on them. "Sorry–" They grinned apologetically and sauntered out of the bus. When they had gotten down, the bus sped off. Jayden and Crystal turned with surprised gazes at Mimie. "Did you guys just played us?" Crystal questioned.

"Sorry Crystal." She hastily snapped in. "Lucretia told me she would tell you guys herself. To tell you the truth, I didn't know about it either until I visited her parents some few days ago and it accidentally slipped from their lips when I was asking about her welfare. I confronted her and said she wants to keep it from Philip as she didn't want to give him any hope whatsoever."

Hearing this, their anger suppressed. "It's good then." Jayden uttered, "we should use this piece of information to our advantage then." He added.

"How?" Crystal questioned. "Simple, let's just keep keeping Philip in the dark and throw him a big surprise."

Mimie and Crystal stared at him and chuckled. "And how is that a plan?" Mimie queried amidst giggles as Crystal and herself slightly shook their heads. "Come on, let's get in." They turned and sauntered into the Café. Jayden stared at their backs and shrugged before gliding after them.

Mike and Eugene were already seated at the right corner seat in the Linkies Café when they walked in. Eugene was the first to notice them when they glided in through the door. "Hey." He instinctively smiled, waving them over.

They all waved back and trod over to where they sat. "Did we keep you guys waiting?" Crystal asked as they neared them.

"Not at all." Mike responded as they took their seat. Just then, the waiter walked over to them and they ordered for an Americano each. Within a short while, their orders were brought in and the waiter went back to his post.

They all to a sip and returned it back on the table. "So what's the plan?" Jayden asked.

"We've not thought of anything yet that's why we asked you guys over. Let's all bring out our ideas." Eugene answered.

"Well, I don't know if this piece of information will help but this is what we know." Crystal went ahead telling them all about Lucretia's transfer issue.

"Then I think she will be around during prom and the talent show." Mike hastily snapped in.

"Yeah." Jayden replied. "Since it's closer to graduation, the school will be expecting her back by then." Mimie listened attentive to everybody's suggestion then something suddenly clicked. "Guys–" She uttered with a smile, drawing everybody's attention. "I think I have a plan."

They all stared expectantly at her, waiting for her to spill whatever she had got. "Lean over." she requested and they did as they were told. When they had gotten closer enough, she whispered something to them which they all kept nodding in response.

"Are you sure it's going to work?" Eugene queried sceptically.

"Of course." She giggled. "I will ask Anita and Linsey to help.

"It's done done." Mike commented. "Let's hope everything turns out great."