Temperamental Havoc of the Teenage Life (4)

Chapter Four: A Thursday of Troubles

As soon as I sat myself at the row intended for people who are on top of their classes, my blackberry beeped. My brother who sat a few seats away from me signaled me to read the message. Kay, who is that guy who entered the auditorium ahead of you? He seems familiar. Weird, I thought. Why does my brother remember this guy and I don’t?

"Oh. Who’s that? Your boyfriend?" Said a familiar husky voice.

I tuned to the speaker and saw this Yohann guy again. He sat beside me, not even bothering to ask if there is someone sitting beside me.

"I don’t think that’s any of your business Mr. Andrews." I answered politely.

"Being snappy at me won’t do you any good Belle. And it is my business because I want it to be."

I didn’t answer him. I am not going to give him the liberty of getting through my defenses, or at least that’s how I want it to be. Only my brothers have been able to do so for the last couple of years.

Then, I felt my mobile beep again. It was Tom now. Who is that guy sitting next to you? He’s getting to my nerves Kay. Let’s talk later. Interesting.

"Many admirers I see. Now who’s that second guy who texted you?" He said, peeking at my phone.

"I don’t see how things like people texting me might concern you Mr. Andrews. Please listen to the speaker in front. It’s disrespectful to not listen."

"Still acting like you don’t know me, I see. I guess you’ll know soon enough." He said, flashing a dashing smile at me. "I think I should go now, before the boys in this school have burned me with their evil stares."

"What are you…" I started. But I never got to finish my sentence because he was beside James in a flash. He’s still looking at me though, still wearing that smug smile of his. I caught myself and started listening to the principal. Then my blackberry beeped again. It was Tom. I opened the message and it said, What the hell does that guy want with you? Then my phone beeped again. It was Drew this time. You look shaken. Are you alright? Well, at least that Drew knew better than Tom. I smiled at my brothers concern and replied, Could you two please calm down? I’m okay. Tom, don’t do anything foolish. Let’s talk it over coffee later, my treat.

And just like that, someone was beside me again. I was thinking of a witty retort to Mr. Andrews but I was to discover otherwise. The person beside me was my editor-in-chief in Blaze¸ Clark. I knew every girl in within radius has their head turned to us then, I was just trying to ignore them.

"Umm, Kathy could you please come to the staffroom later this afternoon. Maybe after your classes will do." He said.

"Yes, well has it something to do with my next article. I’m sorry Clark but I haven’t started the next part yet."

"It has nothing to do with that…" He started.

"Then is it about that feature article that Ms. Moore wanted me to do. I have started to research the topic given to me. You need not worry about that. I’m going to submit my article by the deadline."

"Okay then. But I wasn’t going to ask you about that Kathy."

"Why then are you out of your seat Clark. You know changing seats is forbidden while a program is being held."

"Just meet me later at the staffroom." He said, getting up.

I was just about to tell him then that I have an appointment with my brothers that same afternoon. It can’t be helped then. I just need to go to the staffroom for a few minutes and tell him that I can’t be there long. Or, I could just text him. I was just about to just about to get my blackberry from my pocket but the third school bell rang at the same moment and students started rushing to their first class. I stood up from my chair and headed for my homeroom, all thoughts of Clark forgotten.

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For once in my life I haven’t been listening to what my teachers were saying. There are some teachers who had noticed this and asked me questions but got disappointed because listening or not, I answered correctly. I guess it pays off to read the books before the start of the school year.

Before I know it, students were rushing out of their classrooms, grateful that another day has yet again finished, and tomorrow is Friday which means a couple of hours left more to study and it’s weekend again. This school might be for the elite but the students’ anticipation for Fridays and dreading of Mondays is the same as that of other students all over the world because elite status or not, they still have to study hard.

Some people are under the impression because our parents are "wealthy" we have the liberty to slack of and just do what we like. Well guess what? They are wrong. The pressure is still there. I cannot say that the weight upon our shoulders is heavier than those kids who come from less fortunate families. I am just saying that we don’t get things we want as easy as they say. We have to work hard for them too. True, some slack off because they know that they will have their inheritance when time comes but nothing changes the fact that working hard for what we want is still the best feeling in the world.

And then, my personal bubble popped because someone abruptly got my bag from me. I knew it’s one of my brothers; I’m only not sure which. Then someone covered my eyes. I touched the hand and tried to determine if the person owning it is tiptoeing or not. I thought the latter one is the right answer so I smiled and said,

"Andrew. I know it’s you so could you please stop playing around."

"So you knew it was me?" Someone said.

I froze on the spot, knowing that this was not my brother’s voice.

"Mr. Andrews." I said, not bothering to hide the tone of irritation.

"How did you know it was me?" He said, with that grin plastered on his face again. "What gave it away? Tell me."

"Nothing. I thought you were someone else."

His face relaxed, as if a thought just struck him. Then he was wearing that smug smile of his again.
"So your boyfriend’s name is Andrew!" He said, loud enough for a couple of students walking past to hear, all of which were gawking at us now.

Okay, I’ve had enough. I dragged him to an empty classroom, composed myself for a while then faced him.
"So you find irking me amusing Yohann?’ I said to his laughing face. "What’s wrong with you? As far as I know I’ve only met you today and you know my whole name, you know I play basketball well, you know I love cream puffs…"

"I also know your mother is the chairman of the board." He said, obviously trying to impress me.

"And so what if you know those things. Why don’t you just leave me alone?"

"Oh come on now Belle. Don’t be mad at me." He said, smiling innocently at me. "I’m just trying to help you remember. And it’s proving harder that I thought."

"What. Are. You. Talking. About. I don’t know you! Didn’t you hear me say that a while back? And why do you call me Belle. No one calls me that except my elementary friends and as far as I know we didn’t attend the same branch until now and you are absolutely not a friend!"

"Ouch." He said, feigning being hurt. "That stings a little Isabelle. I never thought you would forget me that easily. I should really have let you discover it yourself. You’ll know soon enough who I am, and what I was to you back then."

"What…" I started.

"Just go to that guy named Clark now. I overheard him talking to you." He said, hiding his face from my view.

"Oh shoot!" I said, completely forgetting about Clark until now.

I got my bag from a nearby chair and ran to the staffroom.

My stride was picking up while I was headed to the staffroom. The fury inside me hasn’t died from the moment I left Yohann in that room. What was it with that guy that made me feel so vulnerable whenever I am around him? It was like his physical presence weakens all the walls that I have been building for the past sixteen years.

I nonchalantly opened the door, not aware of the stares that the other students in the hall were pointing at me. Then I saw Clark, alone in the staffroom, typing on his Mac. Once he was aware of my presence, he strode towards me, motioned me to sit down and closed the door.

"I can’t take long Clark. My brothers’ are waiting for me at the parking lot. We’re supposed to have coffee."

"This won’t take long." He said, smiling kindly at me.

"Okay, so what does the editor-in-chief want with a lowly writer?" I said, kidding him.

"There you go again!" He said, riding with my joke. "You are not just a writer Kathy when will you ever understand that? And calling me editor-in-chief again? We have known each other since we were in diapers and you’re going to talk to me like that?"

"That is embarrassing. Enough Clarkie. Get down to business." I said, smiling at his retort.

"Why? This is the usual flow of our conversation." He said, starting again.

"Oh just say what you want to say and let’s get this thing done and over with Clark."

"Okay! Such impatience!" He said, suddenly sweating bullets.

"Are you okay?" I said, worrying about him. "Are you sick?"

"I’m fine." He said, forcing a smile. "I just wanted your opinion on this, I don’t really know what to call it, thing I wrote. I’ll give you a copy and drop by you house later today to ask you opinion. ‘That alright with you?"

"Sure Clarkie." I said, knowing he hates it when I call him that.

"Stop it with that silly nickname you’ve branded me with. Just go." He said, shoving the paper to my bag and forcing me out the door.

"Fine!" I said, laughing at him. I was just about to leave when I remembered something. I turned around and saw him still looking at me. "You can’t go to our place tonight. My grandparents are there and I think the family is eating out. I can give you my thoughts tomorrow. It’s only Friday."

"No!" He said too quickly. "I mean… It’s not really that important and it’s not for the school paper and all so no pressure there Kathy. There’s no deadline, really. You can just text me your answer…"

"Calm down! What’s with the unease? It’s only me." I said, placing a soothing hand on his shoulders.

"You should really go now. Drew is going to kill me if he knew that I was the one holding you up."

"Since when is Clarkie scared of my big brother?" I said teasing him. "Are you sure you’re okay? You’re acting a bit weird today."

"I am fine. Just go will you." He said finally pushing me to take a step.

"Bye Clarkie!" I shouted while holding a piece sign with my right hand. Next time I see him, one thing is for sure, I am in deep trouble.

Clark is a year older than me. He has been friends with Drew since kindergarten, for all I know Clark is the closest thing my brother has of a guy best friend. The one year gap is not evident physically so I treat him like I treat Drew. We never got to hang out these days because of the girls in the school who dart evil stares to every girl who walks beside him. I must admit, I miss the witty conversations that I have with Clark.

My brothers were there at the parking lot, waiting rather impatiently for me while leaning at the car. When they saw me, I saw relief in their faces.

"Kayce are you okay?" Drew asked, tucking a stray hair under my ears. "Where have you been? We’ve been calling you like crazy!"

I then looked at my phone. I had thirty missed calls all from Drew and Tom. I smiled at them, reassuring them that I’m fine.

"We thought something bad happened to you Kayce. Next time would you please text us where you are. You nearly gave us a heart attack." Exclaimed Tom.

"I’m here now so could you two please calm down!" I said. "And why are you so worried about me today. I usually arrive here later than you both."

"Someone saw you having a heated conversation with that new guy in your class and we got worried so we went looking all over the school for you and when we saw the guy he said you took off." Said Tom.

"It took every bit of our self-control to not kill him too. And what were you two talking about that made you lose your cool? You never do nowadays no matter how infuriated you are with Tom and me."

"Wait!" I said raising my hands in mock surrender. "One question at a time. Tom, I went to see Clark. He needed some constructive criticism about a piece he wrote then I came to see you two here, worrying as usual."

"You didn’t answer my question Kayce. What were you and that new guy arguing about?"

"I don’t think this is the right place to talk about that Drew. Get in the car."

The engine of the year old Mazda 3 came to life as Drew turned the key and voice activated the car. Drew and Tom were sitting at the front seat so I was left there at the back pondering about the things that happened today. The three new good-looking students entering the homeroom in the middle of the school year, one irritating me to death because he seems to know things about me, claims to know me, even though as far as I recall I have only met him today, Clark being all weird with me, students constantly staring, and two brothers who are too busy being angry to bother talking to me. What a great day! And I say that with all the sarcasm I could muster.