Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Living

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Narrators pov

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Curiosity got the better of Elena and she decided to take Ava to school and not the driver. The only thing Ava had talked about for the past week was about the new girl in her class.

"My friends keep saying that we look alike, mum, but we don't. Her hair is cropped and she is skinnier and darker than me and I'm way prettier than her. "

"You don't say." Elena smiled at her overdramatic daughter.

"The only thing she does better than me is French, she can speak and write French mum."

"Was that why you insisted on having a French tutor." Elena was disappointed, Ava was never content.

"Mum, you said I should be the best I can be," Ava whined.

"Yes, but be content with what you have. We can't have it all." She sounded sad and her eyes clouded.

"Are you okay mum?"

"Yes." She turned and smiled at her daughter. Lately, Elena had been feeling nostalgic about the past. She attributed it to her decision to end her already failed marriage.

The remaining journey to school was done in silence.

The school car park was crowded with parents and their children, the honking of cars could be heard from a mile away. Elena didn't know how much she had missed going on school runs till now, she had always sent the driver.

Silently she promised herself to make out more time to spend with her child, she wanted to know her better and also maybe reduce the influence her mother was having on her.

"Mum, stop here. I will trek the remaining distance. I don't want to be late."

"It never bothered you to be late before, why the sudden change of heart. I'm not complaining though."

Ava shrugged and took her bag from the back seat where she had kept them. "Our teacher said we should be punctual and also the new girl…, "

Elena interrupted her daughter before she could finish her statement "Doesn't the new girl have a name."

"She does but I don't care to know. Bye mum, love you." She leaned closer and kissed her mum on her cheek before coming down from the car.

Elena watched her daughter till she disappeared into the school. She had wanted to see the new girl that rattled her daughter so much.

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In school

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Smiling and nodding her head in approval. "Well said Ava, personal hygiene is very important to teenagers."

Ava was thrilled with the remark and grinned before taking her seat.

"I love the way you answer questions, yourself and Ava are similar in that way."

The smile faded quickly. Since this new girl came she had to share everything with her, her friends were gradually becoming friends with her and now they are fighting for the best position of best in class. "I wonder what else we would likely share again." she fumed

Ava hated that she could see the similarities in their features. Though she insisted she was more beautiful.

"Can I borrow your Science notebook? I am far behind because I missed some lectures." Emma, who had walked up to where Ava was seated, asked as soon as the teacher left.

The not so genuine smile plastered on her face Ava started to make a derogatory statement but stopped.

"I heard you are the best in class." Emma continued oblivious of the dark looks coming from Ava.

"Yes, I am. Thank you. But I won't be sharing my notes with you."

Emma was shocked "Why."

"I know your type, you want to have what I have. But I won't let you have your way."

Emma didn't wait for more tongue lashing and walked away.

"That was rude Ava, She has been nothing but nice to you." Her best friend said

"Yes Ava, Emma has you in high regard she was telling me the other day how intelligent and beautiful you are." The other friend said. They all turned towards Emma who had gotten a science note from someone else and was busy doing her classwork.

Ava felt sad suddenly, regretting her actions. Her mother had always told her to think before acting so she wouldn't hurt others but lately, she had been doing the opposite. She wanted to apologize but decided against it after all everyone wanted to be her friend and Emma would surely come back begging for them to be friends.

But Emma didn't return as Ava had expected, she avoided her and didn't talk about her to others.

"Did she say anything about me?" Ava would ask her friends.

"No, each time we wanted to say something about you to her, she would cut us off. I think she is done trying to be friends with you."

Ava shrugged, angry that this new girl was getting on her nerves.

"And do you know both of you share the same surname?" Her best friend said as they walked back from the school cafeteria.

"What?"

"Yes, I was surprised too."

Ava was left speechless for the rest of the day. The new girl was surely here to steal her identity was all Ava could make out of it.