THIRTEEN*
"True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable."
-David Tyson.
"If you can not do great things, do small things in great ways."
-Napoleon Hill.
"The way you make an omelette reveals your character."
-Anthony Bourdain.
_____
After getting home and freshening up. I massaged my aching feet. How girls cope wearing high pointed heels is a mystery. Something vibrated on my butt. I jumped in fright and saw it was just my phone ringing plus it has lots of missed calls.
"Hey Jess," I said the moment my phone touched my cheeks while I continued massaging my ankles and wincing in pain.
"Where the hell the you keep your phone, Anna banana. I have been trying to reach you." She shouted into my ears while I cringe at the noise and moved the phone a bit from my eardrums.
"I'm so sorry I missed your calls. I went on a business date with mom and dad you know."
"Oh! I see, how was it? How did it go? Did you meet any hot dude?" She queried all at a time like she was being rushed to disconnect the call.
"Hm! Let me guess, yes. I met a new guy. His name is Luke," I informed. She screamed again. Only this time with excitement as I cringe and moved the phone farther from my ear.
"Tell me all about him this second. Is he hot? Black? Muscular? Tell me about him already." She demanded again amidst laughter while I chuckled along because her laughter is contagious.
"Well, he is white, cute, and kinda muscular if you ask me." I supplied and cracked my neck to both sides with my hand.
"Omg! Do you like him? Is he hotter than Ralph?" She perused while I sighed and yawned in tiredness.
"I think I like him. But I can't tell if he is better than Ralph or not."
"Hmm! Someone is falling." She sings aloud in that horrible voice and begins to cough terribly.
"Serves you right. I'm falling for no one. And detention went well, thanks for asking." I supplied and yawned once again.
"Fine! I'm sorry. That witch of a teacher told me she will give me week detention if I checked up on you." Jess blurted out in a soft voice.
"Apology accepted. I need my bed right now and you should do the same." I announced yawning again.
"Fine, sleep tight and dream of me eating your breakfast." She reported before disconnecting the call.
"Oh, not the poor innocent breakfast Jess."
"Why not? Isn't that what best friends do?"
"I don't think so. Anyways I need to sleep."
"Goodnight Anna banana."
I yawned for the last time, lay my pillow well before resting on it. The day wasn't bad after all.
___
All morning, I just couldn't stop thinking of how the school will be with me going in another different appearance. I mean, the gold hair.
No one is picking me up for school today, so I'm basically on my own this morning which further worsen the dread that was beginning to pile up in my stomach.
I wore a purple tank top, denim jeans trouser and jacket and a black boot. I finger-combed my hair till it was tangled free, spray my cologne, and head to the kitchen for breakfast.
"Morning everyone," I said the moment I stepped into the kitchen.
"Good morning miss," everyone chorused as usual and went with their daily activities.
"What would you like to eat this morning, Anna dearest?" Mrs Bailey asked with a bright smile. One good reason I love her is that she is ever cheerful. She just too good for this world.
"Um! What is available?" I perused and cocked my head to a side for gesticulation before settling on a kitchen stool next to the crate of apples.
"There are bagel, muffins with cheese, cereals, yoghurt with fruits or nuts, eggs, french toast, waffles, pancakes-"
"Okay, pancakes, eggs, coffee and syrup will be fine. Thank you." I said interrupting the maid that kept going on and on about food.
I munched on my food hungrily and hurriedly till I was filled to the brim before picking my car key and heading to my 2020 land rover defender.
The drive to school was a swift and easy one since there wasn't traffic on the way. I parked next to Jess' car. And began to take a deep breath before exiting the car.
"Oh my goodness, you look like the latest Rihana in town. Look at you, so stunning." Jess said excitedly the moment she saw me, as she twirled me around for a better view.
"So, you like it?" I scrutinized with a slight frown.
"Are you seriously asking me that?" She fired back with an eyebrow raised.
"C'mon, let move out asses we have got classes to attend." She said and looped my arm with hers as she led me forward taking sweet nonsense nonstop.
"What do you say about a sleepover at my place since tomorrow is a Friday?" She asked all of a sudden with wide eyes and stopped walking creating traffic and making other students bump and push us.
"That will be the bomb! I'm so in," I said with half-smile while she squealed and clapped excitedly and we resumed walking.
We both parted ways in the hallway as I tried to manoeuvre my way to physics class while she headed to literature class.
Physics class today is literally, technically and practically boring. I discreetly search for Ralph while copying the notes on the board. Seems like bad boy and his gang is nowhere to be found. I sighed dejectedly and continued writing my notes. Till I heard the shuffling of chairs beside me. The girl sitting beside me jumped in fright and left the chair while Ralph swiftly settled on it. He probably bullied his way in.
"Looking for someone," the familiar musical voice questioned with a smirk while I shook my head negatively in response.
"Why did you have to bully her to sit here Mr big fat ego?" I perused without sparing him glance as I continued scribbling on my notepad.
"I'm not bullying. I only took my rightful position, besides my baby doll." He said and threw a wink my way while my heart reacted funnily.
"If you really wanted to sit beside me. You should have been here earlier, not bullying the poor girl like that." I reprimanded with a scowl on my face.
"Alright, I'm sorry." He whisper yelled and even raised in two hands in surrender.
"Not to me. But to her." I hinted and nudged my head in her direction. She is situated exactly behind us scribbling on her note pad.
"Bad boys don't apologize. But I know a better way to pacify her." He reported nodding his head continuously.
"Apologize Smith." I reprimanded giving him a scowl while he cowered in surprise. Not expecting my harsh reaction.
"I can pacify her with $500. I think she will appreciate that better." He bargained immediately. Shooting the girl an expectant glance.
"Apologize now." I threatened with my best scary face. "You know better than to mess with the tomboy. Don't you?" I added with a glare.
"$700," he added throwing the girl another glance.
"Just apologi-"
"Apology accepted." The girl agreed with a grin that revealed her braces.
"Really?" I probed expressing disbelief.
"Yeah. I like it when bad boys swap seat with me for $700." She disclosed expressing total excitement.
"Phoebe?" The teacher called. "Care to enlighten the class on the cause of your excitement?" The teacher inquired with a stern look and a bored tone.
"Oh! Nothing. It just a movie titled 700 dollars." She disclosed with a chuckle and clapped and fanned herself frantically while the class stared at her weirdly.
"Hmm!" The teacher exclaimed scratching his jaw. "Pretty intriguing title for a movie. Don't you think Phoebe?" The teacher inquired and adjusted his glasses to sit properly on his nose.
"Yeah. Very fascinating." She agreed with a bright smile as she remained giddy.
"Cool. Remain standing till the movie producer changes the movie title to a thousand dollars." The teacher said with a smile and swiftly turned to the board to continue teaching. Phoebe's smile faltered in seconds as a slight frown took over and her shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Told you. I bet she feels more pacified and satisfied than a common sorry." Ralph divulged with a smirk that revealed his dimples and white set of teeth. I think my insides melted at the sight of the beauty.
"And you did get her in real trouble. You are evil." I accused Ralph and continued writing.
"An evil genius." He said with laughter while I shook my head at his sheer stupidity.
"By the way, as much as you look good in your new look. I think your natural jet black hair suits you better." He complimented touching a strand of my hair.
"Thanks. I will remember to keep that in mind Mr big fat ego." I countered with a nod of my head. As I headed out of the class as soon as the bell rang. I have gym next.
He saw me off to the front of the gym where Jess sighted us and gave a wave.
"Tell me everything already. What was he telling you?" Jess questioned the moment I entered the gym with all enthusiasm.
"Nothing. He only said, he likes my hair and prefers the natural black." I spilled and began stretching my body.
"Great. Now he is commenting on your appearance. Interesting." she said with laughter and shoulder bumped mine as we changed for gym.
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