Patrick and Fred stood next to Ben who wore a calculative expression for the past 20minutes expectantly.
Fred leaned closer to Patrick befuddled," Hey, what's up with him? what do you think he's planning; looking all blank", he queried with a raised eye brow and a quizzical look.
Patrick immediately shoved him off, frustrated by the whole situation," How would I know? does it look like I possess some kind of mind reading or controlling power?", answered Patrick in a sarcastic manner.
Fred glared at him and ignored his provocative attitude, nudging Ben to reality.
" Hey, what's up with you? any plan or idea? You can't just be spacing out; leaving us stranded in this mess without any solution yet",he exclaimed.
Ben, suddenly, with a composed look and a smug leaned on the rails, relaxed.
" Got a perfect plan for our mission, guys. All is sorted now ".
Fred and Patrick immediately gazed at each other and back at Ben, anxious and cheerful.
"Cool, we've waited so long for this, gist us now",they chorused just then, the bell rang for lunch.
Ben smiled and tapped their shoulders," Let's talk at a more private place; walls got ears", he said with a chuckle and trod off towards the Canteen.
Fred and Patrick stared at his back with a mischievous grin and giggled, pacing after him.
" Hey, wait for us ", they shouted.
***********************
Mr. Mark turned towards the class and dropped the marker on the table, "This ends our lesson for today. Work on "Plot" for your assignments. See you tomorrow ", he announced.
"Okay, sir. Thank you", the class chorused. He took their previous assignment and strolled out.
Everyone packed back their books into their bags and trod out in pairs and groups. Laura dropped the last book on her desk into the bag and sighed, turning to Alixes who was busily unwrapping a chocolate.
" Huh, want some?", Alixes queried with a cheerful, teasing smile on noticing Laura's attention on her.
She pushed away her hand,giggling "No, you can have that for now but will get a compensation for it later ", said Laura.
Alixes nodded and they both chuckled.
" Hey, ain't you going to the canteen today?", a voice queried from behind, joining in.
Laura and Alixes immediately turned towards the voice.
"Oh, Naomi, you're already here", they both cried with a smile. She nodded her approval and hugged them.
Naomi Jacobs, Alixes and Laura had been friends from childhood but studied different course from Laura and Alixes when they got admission to college. Her father and Laura's dad had been friends and since share a strong bond in their business partnership. Laura and Alixes studied Theatre Act and Literature while Naomi studied Food science. This brought their separation in classes.
" Shall we go now. I'm famished ", Naomi cried.
Laura and Alixes smiled.
" Yeah, why not. We were actually waiting for you. Come on, let's go before you blame us for murdering you with hunger",Laura teased and pulled her along as she trod off; taking the lead.
Alixes chuckled and followed them.
" Naomi, you can't believe what happened in class today", she called.
"Come on, girlfriend; my ears are itching for it".
Laura chuckled at her two gossiping friends as they exit the class.
" The so called school rulers, Ben and his friends were sent out of class today and you should have seen their faces; gosh! so funny and scary", Alixes exclaimed.
" Really, oh my God, I wish had witnessed that myself", Naomi bursted. They all laughed as their voices faded away.
CANTEEN
The canteen was fully packed with students having their meals and others already done with theirs but chatting and laughing.
Ivy and Lupita got to the entrance and peeped through the door, making sure Ben and his friends were not around.
" Let's get in, Ivy; those bullies are not here. Let's hurry before they come ", said Lupita, leading the way.
Ivy nodded and followed suit with her lunch. They got to an empty table in the middle of the canteen and settled in to have their lunch.
Just when they were about to dig in, they saw a foot next to them.
" This table belongs to my friends and I. Get off now or get ready for what you least expect", a cold voice followed drawing the attention of the rest of the students to them.
Ivy and Lupita flinched and quickly picked up their trays to leave.
" Sorry, Ben, we didn't know", Lupita pleaded with a shaky and nervous tone.
Ben, Fred and Patrick smiled satisfactorily, glancing at each other with a mischievous look. All along, Laura and her friends, Naomi and Alixes stood at the entrance gazing at them. Laura was filled with rage that she felt like squeezing the living hell out of them.
" Gosh, I feel like killing them now. Why can't they leave those girls alone", she exclaimed about to approach them but Naomi and Alixes quickly held her back.
" Hey, girlfriend, calm down. Let's wait for awhile, okay ", Alixes pleaded.
Ben glanced at Fred and Patrick and whispered something to them. They nodded with a chuckle.
" Stop right there", Fred called at Ivy and Lupita who had moved some few steps away from them. They paused in their steps without turning back.
" Get back here and clean our feet with your hairs", Patrick exclaimed.
The whole hall was suddenly filled with whispers and murmuring among the students. Laura stared at them puzzled.
Ivy and Lupita stood in their steps, shocked.
" I mean now!!!! ", Ben roared, sending shivers to Lupita and Ivy who involuntary dropped their trays on the floor.
They strolled back to where Ben and his friends stood about to kneel down.
" They'll do no such thing, Ben Hansel ", a voice shouted from the entrance.
Everyone's attention immediately turned to the door. Ben gave a mischievous smile," who dared interrupt ?", he shouted, turning to the direction of the voice.
Alixes and Naomi stared at Laura, shocked.
"Oh, no, Laura..... ", they exclaimed.