Friendship In Shackles

Mrs. Angelica was in the kitchen when she heard the door slammed open. She trod to the kitchen door and stretched out her neck to verify who it was.

" Lucretia..." she mumbled, walking out of the door

"It's me mum...." answered Lucretia dully as she gently closed the door behind her.

"What are you doing at home by this time? Did something happened?" questioned Mrs. Angelica

bemused as she neared her.

Lucretia sighed and slammed herself on the sofa beside the door.

"Are you okay dear? Do you feel sick or something?" questioned Mrs. Angelica anxiously as she sat beside her.

"You can tell me anything dear." she added, brushing her hand through her daughter's hair.

Lucretia slowly turned to face her mother with tears in her eyes.

"Why are you crying dear..?"

"Mum..., it's Phil...It feels like I don't know him anymore. He has been acting so weird." she uttered amidst tears.

"Oh..dear, what happened between you two?" she inquired.

"I think Phil hates me mum..."

"No, no dear. Come here." uttered Mrs. Angelica as she had her daughter lean her head on her chest.

"He doesn't hate you dear. I think it's just a misunderstanding between you too. Let's do this, I will call Philip and talk to him. Hmm..?"

"No mum..., I think it's best I give him some space." she uttered, drying the tears from her eyes.

Just then, she heard a binge on her phone. She took it out and checked.

"I'll be in my room mum..." she mumbled as she stood up from her seat heading towards the stairs.

"Okay dear..., don't think too much." muttered Mrs. Angelica after her as she watched her glided the stairs.

"Okay mum..." she faintly answered and dashed off.

************

Mike, Philip and Eugene were in the locker room changing into their jerseys. Mike leaned on his locker with his hands folded on the right side of Philip whiles Eugene's on the left.

"Why are you behaving this way with Lucretia?" queried Mike, puzzled.

"Yeah..Philip, you didn't even ask what happened. You acted like a jerk." added Eugene.

Philip furiously slammed his locker door shut and glared at Eugene.

"Are you guys done?" he uttered indignantly as he swiftly glanced at Mike and then back to Eugene.

"I'm not ready for your sermons." he added and went over to sit on the bench dropping his boots on the floor.

Mike and Eugene were left stunned in front of their lockers. Suddenly, they heard voices approaching the room.

"Jayden... hold on...,Jayden please..." they heard one of the voices shout.

"Isn't that Crystal's voice..?" whispered Mike to Eugene.

"I think so. What is she doing here?" queried Eugene but before Mike could answer,

BAANNGG.....

They heard a strong force pushed the door opened.

"What the hel..." before Eugene could end his statement, they saw Jayden rushed furiously towards Philip; held him by his jersey and punched him hard on the face. Making him fall heavily to the floor.

"Hey...Jayden..." they both exclaimed and rushed towards them.

Philip stood up to punch him back but Mike and Eugene got hold of him. Just then, Crystal and Mimie got there. They both gasped in shock.

"What the hell are you doing Jayden? Do you think Lucretia will be happy when she hears this?" mumbled Crystal in anger as she pulled Jayden back.

"Whatever Crystal, this jerk over there doesn't deserve to call himself Lucretia's friend." he uttered furiously as he wanked his hand from Crystal.

He went over to where Philip stood with his friends holding him. They both stood glaring at each other furiously with Philip struggling to free himself from his friends grips.

"And to you Philip; if you can't treat Lucretia well, then stay away from her." he mumbled and stormed off.

Philip jerked off his friends hands and stared away in anger. Crystal and Mimie stared at them for a while and dashed out. Mike and Eugene sighed, went over to the bench and slammed themselves on it as they stared back at Philip who was touching his broken lips with his hand.

************

Lucretia went over to her table. She pulled the chair and sat down. She slowly opened her laptop and video called Linsey and Anita. The signal for connection showed for a while and soon, they were connected.

"Hi..girls..." she muttered dully when she saw them on the screen.

"Hi..Lucretia, aren't you happy to see us? You look kind of weird today." uttered Linsey.

"Yeah....Lucretia, what's wrong? You look kind of dull today. Where is that lovely sweet girl? Or she has been captured by aliens. Or am I talking to her mirage?" queried Linsey wittily.

Lucretia smiled slightly and shook her head.

"I just had a bad day at school that's all. Anyway, enough about me. How have you girls been?

" Well.., just a little ups and downs but we're doing great." responded Anita

"Um..., what about you Linsey? Any gigs to share?"

"You sure know me Lucretia, I have loads of them."

"Hmm..., get it rolling then."

"Okay..,okay..There is this new transfer boy in my school, gosh, he is so damn cool.."

"Really?"

"Yeah Luc..,I..."

Just then, Lucretia heard her mother call.

"Lucretia..., Please come and help me carry these things to the kitchen." she exclaimed.

"Okay mum..., just a second." she replied.

"Well girls..., I have to go. I will call you later."

"Okay, byeee..." they both exclaimed and hanged up.

It was already 7pm now. Lucretia laid on her bed reading a novel when she heard the knob on her door turned.

"Can I come in dear?" asked Mr. Gilbert as he flipped the door opened.

"Sure dad.." she answered, putting the book aside.

Mr. Gilbert walked in and sat beside her daughter on the bed.

"Sweetheart, I heard you had a fight with Philip."

"Um.., it's not like that dad...He..."

"You know something dear, in this world at times people need time to understand some things. He might be going through...." he chipped in advising his daughter to talk things out with her friend.

"Okay dad..., I will." she answered.

"That's my girl. Love you dear." he added as he peeked her forehead.

"Love you too dad.."

"Okay, go to bed now. You have to work up early for school." he uttered as he stood up from the bed.

"Okay dad..goodnight."

"Goodnight sweetheart." he answered and dashed out.

Lucretia laid back on her bed and turned off the light beside her bed. The fake illuminating stars lighting the room. She stared at the stars and slowly drifted off to sleep.

**********

The morning was bright, Lucretia woke up early and left for school. Mimie and Crystal were chit chatting in class when Lucretia walked in. Crystal gestured her over to their desk. Lucretia smiled and went over.

"How are you feeling today?" asked Mimie.

"Just as you can see. I'm doing good." she mumbled as she slightly glanced at Philip's desk.

"Who are you looking for Lucretia?" queried Crystal.

"Um..nobody." she mumbled, smiling sheepishly.

Just then, Jayden joined them. He sat beside Lucretia and took her hand.

"I didn't see you before you left yesterday. How're you feeling now?" he queried.

"Much better, thanks." she answered smiling.

"Well..guys, I've got to go to the library first before class starts. I'll be back soon." she added as she stood up from her seat.

"Do you need me to go with you?" asked Jayden expectantly.

"No Jay.., I will be fine. Thanks." she muttered and trotted away.

Lucretia was about to enter the library when the door flipped opened with Philip at the door, face to face with her.

She immediately saw the bruises on his face and panicked.

"What happened to you?" he queried hastily, reaching for his face. He swiftly wanked her hand away.

"You should ask your boyfriend." he mustered and walked away.

All along, Daisy was watching them from a distance. Just when Philip left, she approached Lucretia, smiling. Lucretia glared at her for a while and trod to the library. She folded her arms, smiling smugly.

"I'm so enjoying this Lucretia..." she mumbled.