Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Joanna's POV

Groaning and murmuring like a deranged monster, I trudged as fast as I could, though it seemed like a snail's pace, along the hallway of doom that you all know as the school's hallway.

"Hunie pie!" I cringed inwardly as I heard Tenda speak, while she bounced energetically towards me. I love that bitch but sometimes her cheerful attitude could get to me, especially at such times.

"Hey," I mumbled weakly and waved at her with the little strength I had left.

"Woah, Woah, Woah!" She exclaimed as she stood in front of me.

"What the hell happened to you?" She asked and gazed at me with concern written all over her face.

"Mother nature happened," I responded, and winced as I felt a cramp pass through me.

"Aww, sorry babes." She sighed before she yanked me in for an embrace. I hugged her back and patted her on the back as I noticed her sniff.

"Let's get you to class," she spoke,

held my hand and tugged me in the direction of our classroom.

"I'm having cramps, not paralyzed." I scoffed.

"Shhh," she shushed me. "Don't ruin the moment, I'm trying to act as mother hen here."

*****

I said my goodbyes to the best girlfriend one could ever ask for, Aka Tenda, and deliberately dragged my feet into the worst lesson ever, being chemistry.

Some might say maths was the worst but trust me I would choose maths a million times over this and the fvcking chemistry teacher during my senior year didn't help matters as she totally hated me.

I grumbled something intelligible to her in a form of greeting and kept my head down. Not long after, I spotted Harmony who tapped the empty seat beside him.

"Bitch, you seem to have no respect." The so-called teacher growled in response as she concluded I hadn't greeted her.

"Calm down ma, I acknowledged your presence," I uttered, a little pissed off.

"Then how come I didn't hear you?" She quizzed, angry.

On a normal day, I would have ignored her and kept quiet but not that day when I was frustrated and was currently trying to survive the pain I was in.

"I know you hate me ma, the feeling is mutual," I smirked and flicked her the bird, settling down on the seat Harmony had pulled out.

I got comfortable, the same instant the whole class erupted in laughter as they recovered from the shock of what I had just done.

I sent them a weak wave in mock appreciation before I placed my head on the desk and emitted a groan.

"Hey B, is your monthly visitor here?" Harmony questioned, and rested his head on his own desk before he swiveled to face me.

"Yeap," I retorted. "And it chose the wrong timing." I winced again as I felt a shock run down my spine.

"Sorry bestie," He consoled after which he stationed a palm on my back, commencing to give me a massage.

"Yass." I smiled at him and gave a thumbs up. See? that was why he was my best friend. He knew me well enough to know the right thing to do at the right time to make me happy.

The bell rang signaling the end of class, which had me grumbling as I learned I had to get up and walk.

"Bestie let's go." Harmony said while jerking me up and hooked his hand with mine before he guided me safely to the cafeteria, so I don't fall.

I sighted our group of friends, as they gestured to us. Harmony and I walked over, after which I slumped in the seat between Ifeanyi and Tony, and released a tired sigh.

"Hey, partner." Ifeanyi gleamed, winking when he saw the permanent scowl on my face."What happened?"

"Mother nature and you happened," I replied, with a frown.

"What has mother nature got to do with me!" He whined and gave a pout as he noted I was lending him a harsh glare.

"Extreme dance rehearsals on Friday, does that ring a bell?" I questioned, my left eyebrow raised for emphasis.

"Awwn, I'm so so sorry baby, I'm really sorry," He apologized.

"I didn't know it would lead to this, I'm sorry, forgive me please, am too young to die."

"Dude." I sighed. "In case you haven't noticed, I can barely sit straight not to talk of killing you, which I wouldn't even do, that's except, you steal my food."

Speaking of food. Harmony dropped a tray of junk food in front of me with a plate of ice cream, this made me give him an appreciative smile in return.

I turned back my attention to Ifeanyi and noticed he was arguing with Blake. I rolled my eyes at his low attention span before I whimpered in agony as the pain in my lower abdomen intensified.

"How's it going babe," Tenda beamed at me in greeting.

"I'm surviving so far." I groaned out in reply.

"Psst," someone whispered in my ear. I swirled to my left and caught sight of Tony staring at me with worry in his eyes.

"What!" I growled, tired of the misery I was going through. The first thing I was going to do when I got home was to ask mom to get me some painkillers because I didn't think I could stand the anguish any longer.

"Why the tired face?" He polled.

"Time of the month," I reacted in a grimace.

"Aww, does it hurt?" He inquired looking into my eyes.

"Ha." I scoffed. "It's delightful, very delightful, am in cloud nine at the moment," I answered, my voice soaked with sarcasm.

"Let me massage it for you," He said, and bestowed on me a soft smile.

Barely some seconds later I sensed his palm on my back as he began to massage exactly where it was hurting. Unknowingly his fingers sent sparks through my whole 206 bones.

PS: I was not sure if we humans had 206 bones in our body, or more or even less, so don't call me dumb.

"Thank GOD!" Ifeanyi exclaimed dramatically. "At least I won't hear her hiss every minute."

"Idiot." I frowned. "Thank your stars am in pains, if not, trust me I would go back on my promise and kill you."

"I might be an idiot, but you can't deny the love you have for me." He smirked.

"I do not," I countered.

"You do," He retorted.

"I do not,"

"Trust me, dear, you do." He grinned.

"I do not."

"You do not."

"I do," I acknowledged absentmindedly and growled when I discovered he got me.

"See, you admit it," he grinned.

"I love you too dear."

"Hey, guys," Blake called the attention of everyone at our table, which did wonders as everyone stopped their various conversations. Even Tenda stopped drooling at Tony. Yeah, she was actually drooling.

"Whatsup," Tony conversed.

"Yeah dude what's the matter?" Harmony queried.

"What could be so important to make me stop arguing with this shit bag here," Ifeanyi said and shoved Harmony.

"Boys," I dubbed, as Tenda rolled her eyes at their childish behavior. "Let's hear what Blake has to say."

"There's this new guy in town," Blake started.

"Do we know him?" Tony implored.

"I don't think so," Blake replied and shook his head. "But news floating around says he's hot."

"Oooh meat," Tenda let out with a wiggle of her eyes at me as I winked back.

"I also heard he lived here a few years back before moving away with his parents," Blake continued. "He's about our age and got registered in our rival school."

"Hmmm," Ifeanyi murmured with a serious expression, which was weird because he hardly gets serious.

"What's his name?" Harmony contested.

"Francis James, but he prefers to be called Frank," Blake answered with a nod.

"Hey, that's my cousin's name, he's my cousin," Ifeanyi told, earning him shocked looks from everyone.

"Wait, why didn't you say so sooner?" Tony interrogated, amazed.

"I wasn't sure till I heard his name," He blurted in a shrug and continued to munch on his half-eaten burger until Harmony gave him a slap upside the head.

I just sat there gaping at him as I contemplated how he could be so dumb. "I never knew you were this dumb."

"Y'all are dumb too, especially you Blake," He spoke, as Blake offered him a look that screamed <How>. "Yes Blake, you are dumb for not realizing we have the same surname."

"Bravo Ifeanyi." I clapped, "For the second time today, you succeeded in rendering me speechless."

Tenda looked at us all in shock with her mouth hanged open and eyes wide. "How, on earth do you guys get this kind of information!"

Tony shrugged, Ifeanyi gave a shy smile that had me awning internally. *I didn't even know if that was a word* Harmony just laughed.

*Francis James, Francis James* I repeated to myself. Why did that name give me goosebumps and sound so familiar at the same time?

"Ifeanyi, you said this guy is your cousin," I mumbled, and conveyed a questioning look to which he nodded.

"Blake you also said he'd lived here before with his family?" I quizzed.

"Yeah," He replied before he granted me a curious look. "Any problem?"

"No, the name just sounds familiar that's all." I shook my head, acting nonchalant, but inside I was going haywire.

Hope you loved it as much as I did writing it.