Chapter 32: Chapter 32

“You thought we were what?” I pushed.

She tried to smile it off and failed. “You know I was going to say never mind but…no. Siobhan and Andre look good together, don’t they? And you and Aaron really suit each other well.”

Her voice was friendly but strangely measured, I found myself watching her closely as we walked toward the assembly hall. Her features were well hidden with her full black hair but what little I could see of her face got my guard up. I wasn’t fooled one bit by her smile. “I thought you didn’t like my friend?”

She scoffed. “Well, she’s not exactly bad…uhm…I should get going.”

I wanted to hold her back. Something about her wasn’t right but I didn’t get the chance to dwell on what it was. She walked faster from me and I didn't want to cause a scene so I restrained myself from calling her back.

Everyone was already filling the hall so Aaron and I took our places at the podium.

“Good morning, everyone. Without wasting your time repeating the rules and regulations of our school which you all already know so well, I will invite the basketball coach for an important announcement today," I read from the prepared speech on the podium.

I stepped back and let Coach take the stage.

“Good morning, students. I usually don’t make announcements on the podium like this,” he joked. “But this is important because we would be having our first game of the term and it’s not just any game,” he looked out into the silent crowd of students waiting and watching eagerly. “There will be basketball scouts.”

A murmur of mixed reactions went through the crowd.

“Yes, you heard me right, scouts. Now unfortunately for our junior league and the girls' team, this is only for the senior boys, there will be opportunities for you boys eventually. So, Senior basketball team, we have two weeks to prepare for our game. New members are welcome but the mindful and note that only serious members will be selected.”

As soon as the assembly dispersed I walked beside Aaron.

I cast a side glance at him. He looked worried but he hid it carefully. He said something about the game last night but the way he joked about it, I didn’t think it was really serious. I know this must be huge for some of the boys, especially those who hope to go to university, having scouts single them out of the senior league is a freeway into major leagues. As soon as assembly was over I pulled him aside.

“That sounds serious," I whispered.

“It is,” there was a tremor of excitement in his voice. He picked my hand. “That’s why I want you to cheer for me. If you’re on the sidelines and I'm sure I can carry the team myself”

I laughed. “You put too much faith in me. But I’m sure the girls and I can come up with some tricks to keep you guys on your toes throughout the game.”

He squeezed my hand.

“I trust you, I gotta go,” he bent to kiss my cheek and headed in the other direction.

I made my way in the other direction, to the biology lab, of course, I love biology. I take my studies seriously you know? I’m an A student. As much as I take my studies seriously I also take the extracurriculars we do for extra credits seriously. I know those will boost my chances of getting a scholarship to a prestigious university. One of such extracurricular is the Science club, which I joined in class two. Siobhan is in Crafts and Design.

This is my final year, I’m making the most of it studying, getting a boyfriend, being the best Head girl, and…what the heck is Andre Rios doing in the science club?

There beside him was Adeline taking advantage of the fact that Siobhan wasn't there. To his credit though, Andre wasn’t responding to her flirts even when she laughingly raised his hand and put it around her shoulders. I fought the urge to roll my eyes so hard that they would get stuck in my skull.

“Good morning, Mr. Holden,” I said as I took one of the seats in front. The science club has about 20 students, it used to be affiliated with the Space club but when there was a conflict of interest both clubs went their separate ways. I’m proud to announce that I am the captain of the science club. It took a lot of hard work.

Mr. Holden nodded to my greeting, he had one eye on the class and the other on the papers in his hands.

After a while of studying his papers, his eyes wept through the crowd and stopped on Andre.

“Ah, the new boy is in the Science club. We should do something new first before we get into the pop quiz of the day. Let’s reintroduce ourselves for the sake of the new kid and when we are done Andre, you can introduce yourself. Captain,” Mr. Holden said. “Will you do the honors of beginning the introduction? You know how we do it.”

I couldn’t resist looking back at Andre. He was looking straight ahead. I got the impression he knew I was right there watching him and my suspicion was confirmed when he turned his head slightly to give me a direct stare. His words from the other night came back. He seems to think I don’t know what I feel for him, I don’t know what my true feelings are. I know what they are where he is concerned; disgust, anger, annoyance. The same feelings I felt when he suddenly appeared in Edwin and Co. as if to continue teasing me like he did during the summer. I know where my feelings stand. And I know what I want. I want a guy that will choose me, I have endured being second choice for too long, someone wants me for me and I am taking that. And a guy like Andre who flirts with anyone is not what I want.

So why can’t I look away from him? Why can’t I stop wishing that things were different? That I was born to richer parents, born prettier more popular? That he found me attractive at first sight?

“Bianca Davis.” Mr. Holden’s voice was firm and it made me jump with a start.

I heard a few giggles and realized with an overwhelming wave of embarrassment that I had been staring at Andre for too long. Okay, I need to get my head checked now.

Andre was smiling, laughing actually at my foolishness and Adeline beside him was giggling like a fool.

My face was red as heck as I pushed my chair back and stood up, when I started to walk I tripped on the leg of the chair and caught myself in time to a hushed murmur of sorry's. Mr. Holden raised a brow at my lack of coordination.

I smiled at him apologetically and went to the front of the class. I cleared my throat.

“Good morning everyone. It's great to see some old faces and new ones however infuriating they are. You all are well abreast of the knowledge that I am the Head girl of Edwin and Co. and the Captain of the Science club.”

“Tell us about yourself, not your titties – I mean titles,” a firm annoying voice strongly said. A blanket of silence fell over the lab first before the laughter and all eyes turned to Andre. He had an arrogant smile on his face.

Suddenly Mr. Holden snorted and laughed. “That was rude but funny,” he laughed.

Oh wow. THAT was funny?

I forced myself to take a deep breath and glared at him. I have no one to blame for that but myself.

“Very funny, Rios. My name is Bianca Davis, your Head girl, and captain. My goal as a member of the science club is to make the world a better place. I believe that with innovations and interventions…”

“Cut to the chase, Davis we don’t have a day!”

“Do you mind?!” I shot back at him. “And why don’t you cut the chase through Adeline’s legs already? She’s practically drooling all over you.”