Twelfth graders

"Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity."

-Bo Bennett.

"To look back all the time is boring. Excitement lies in tomorrow."

-Natalia Makarova.

"To find yourself jilted is a blow to your pride. Do your best to forget it and if you don't succeed, at least pretend to."

-Moliere.

Hello beautiful people, so Wattpad officially stopped working on my phone, meaning no more updating and writing for me.

But all thanks to God and loved ones, I got a brand new phone yesterday evening, so congratulations to myself.

I will be dedicating this chapter to the following people for being huge motivations to me.

Wattpad ieeshalee1 Diana_Simpson Lucid_dreamer_girl grace_chanbee Matris_Oedipus_Rex AJmoonlight01

A huge shout out to these wonderful people for helping in one way or the other, you can check out their books.

The song suggestion for this chapter is "Don't start now," by Dua Lipa. I'm kind of in love and addicted to this song and I can hear my head still singing the lyrics.

Here goes an update for today, let's dig in guys.

Please don't forget to vote and comment and I will see ya in the next chappie chapter.

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The academic term was finally coming to an end. For twelfth graders, it meant graduation from high school and moving on to college.

Most people have started submitting applications to apply to various prestigious colleges. While some wanted to explore the world by schooling in Africa, Europe and Antarctica.

It feels stupifying when you remember freshman year. The good old time where you are new and trying to blend in.

Then sophomore year, when you are getting used to the school system. Then junior year, and finally senior year.

In less than one week, I will be graduating with my sets. I already submitted my application to the University of Chicago. Even though my parents weren't too happy with the fact that I will be moving to another state to study pharmacology.

Jess on the other hand put in for the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor here in America.

The suspension weeks has finally elapsed even though Dad got really crossed with me for fighting in school. But he understood and we used the weeks to have quality family time. Mom took up a course on cooking because she wanted to be a better wife and mother.

The first meal she made to swoon us over since she had been bragging about how good the food samples that she made for her chef whom always had a mouthful of the food and smiled very weirdly while giving a thumbs up since he hardly talks with food in his mouth. He then later runs off taking excuses that he needed to pee.

On a good Saturday morning, she made what she called pot-luck macaroni and cheese, whose luck was really good at making the feeder purge with stomach-churning continuously for three days. I will say dad was the lucky one to be over blessed from the luck.

In the evening she came with Broccoli chicken casserole, the food was so soggy with a bland taste. As we smiled awkwardly praising her cooking while I and dad gave ourselves the look of 'we were finally done for.'

She ordered us to eat up and tell her our reviews. While dad screamed delicious and fist-pumped the air even without tasting it. I screamed superb punching the air with the glass of lemonade I was previously drinking while staring at the food with tears in my eyes. My poor stomach is going to suffer again.

She finally sat to eat excitedly after ensuring we both took three mouthfuls. She took a spoon excitedly and tasted it. Her smile vanished faster than a heartbeat, as a defeated look took over. She held her nose to swallow the food but choked hard. Well, we all assumed that was the end of her catering classes but boy! We were so wrong because she came in excitedly three days later that we should try a portion of food she tagged happily ever after chicken pot pie.

A food that went from happily ever after to a recipe for disaster but if I'm being more accurate and precise, I will say the food had a bad ending since mother herself started feeling queazy and suffered from constipation for days before she finally gave up on cooking. Good news right? It's the best news ever.

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"I can't believe we are finally graduating next week. It feels like yesterday when I started freshman year," Jess squealed excitedly as we walked together down the hallway with an ocean of people around, her curls bounced happily as they reflected her mood.

"I also can't believe I won't be around the four corners of this school from next week," I affirmed excitedly as her happy vibe was really contagious.

I feel so enthusiastic and kind of sad to leave where I spent years of my life studying, socializing with my friends, lunching at the cafeteria, playing sports during P.E and even the bleachers will be thoroughly missed, everything except bullying from Nate and her minions, of course, will be missed. I feel nostalgia tugging around my stomach and I feel a little wincy bit of terror for the fear of unknown.

Questions like, what will happen to me in college since I won't be with my friends? How will college accept me? Will I be the next bullied victim in college? How prepared am I to move to the next stage of my life? Questions like the afro-mentioned banged repeatedly in my head and heightened my fright.

Speaking of Nate, she has been away from school since the fight incident and most people just assumed she came up with a fever or a curable disease.

We shoved and pushed till we finally reached the rowdy cafeteria where the boys sat on our regular table waiting for us. We waved at them and went to join the ridiculously long queue that wanted to purchase foods. I ended up purchasing fresh hotly made Tacos and yoghurt while Jess bought chicken teriyaki with a milkshake and a bottle of water.

We settled on our usual seats. Ian devoured hamburger with sprite. Mike has on his table shrimp alfredo with a bottle of water. Eric was the only one who left his food untouched as a lunch of peanut butter with a jelly sandwich and luna laid in front of him.

"Men, this seems improbable, so we are finally graduating and moving on with our lives?" Eric started, his piercing gaze urged to say something as he finally took his first bite of his sandwich.

"I know right! I submitted my applications to Columbia University to study medicine," Ian started excitedly with a proud cute smile adorning his Asian face.

"Awn! I will miss you huh? Now everyone is going far away from one another," I chipped in totally enthraled while everyone agreed.

"I will miss you more my best tomboy," Ian divulged, as he stretched his hands to ruffle my hair. Which I slapped away and returned with a glare.

"You know I'm not a puppy or pet that you can ruffle their hair anytime you like," I chided, faking anger.

"You might not be a puppy but you will remain a pet forever in my heart bestie." Ian finished off as I jumped on his legs and gave him a tight hug. A hug that I might not be chanced to give him again because we are all leaving school. Who knows how many years we will be separated before we finally meet one another.

Am I going to meet everyone when they are finally married?

Or are we going to be meeting during business proposals?

Are we even going to see in this world again? what if pride and ego comes in making things complicated and we don't get to see one another again Questions like this tugged and ran through my mind as the fear and panic of the unknown set in.

"It kinda sucks that after years of sticking together as a team, band, gang, group of friends. College is gonna split us up. It's so unfair," Eric gurgled sadly as his head hung limply on his shoulder.

"It's fine Eric, we have to move on someday, right? We can't live as twelfth graders till eternity. Time changes every day so even the time has a highschooler shall pass. So let us all cheer up and enjoy the seconds, minutes, hours and days we have together. We gotta make memories from it. Memories that will stick to our brain for evergreen," Lia said while walking towards our table with her tray of food.

"Hey, Lia." We all chorused.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late. I had some things to take care of." She cracked her knuckles and shifted her glances between us.

"So where were we?" Mike opened his bottle of water and gulped it.

"Some motivational talk about making memories." Ian nuzzled closer to Lia and stole her cookies.

"How dare yo--" Lia frowned at Ian but was interrupted by an unexpected kiss.

Jess cleared her throat loudly and got our attention. "We must remember the good old days so we can tell our kids a story about us," Jess stated as everyone instantly cheered up and began eating again

"So guys, my uncle, Larry, who has a sight issue and had been visiting the optician for years to correct his sight had this crazy conversation with his doctor," Eric started, trying to lighten up the mood while everyone smiled looking anxious and ready for it.

"Uncle Larry told the doctor he was doing good mentally and emotionally and that the lord has been so good to him and has finally fixed his problems. He said whenever he wakes up in the middle of the night to pee. That poof! The light goes on and when he's done, poof! The light goes off." Eric continued.

"Really, that is incredulous!?" Jess and Mike squealed, pitying the poor uncle Larry.

"Indeed, I agree too," I chipped in.

"So, a little later in the day, the doctor calls his wife, Bonnie, to congratulate her that her husband is doing quite well."

"Bonnie," he says, "Larry is doing fine! But I had to call you because I'm in awe of his relationship with God. Is it true that he gets up during the night to pee with lights magically turning on and off?" The doctor asked.

Eric tried to mimic a woman voice and sounded really squeaky and low "Oh no!" She exclaimed. "He is peeing in the refrigerator again," he continued while a bolt of loud laughter erupted from our table and echoed around the cafe. The students glared at us but guess what? We didn't care. We were to busy with making memories and fun of the time we have left.

"Men! that was a good one. Uncle Larry really does share a great bond with God," Ian added, making us all chuckle louder.

The bell finally rang signifying break's over as everyone trashed their remains and headed to their respective classes.

"Come to think about it, how come I haven't seen your boyfriend around since you both are always lovey-dovey all the time," Jess probed as we settled down in our maths class.

A bold simple interest in a blue marker smiled at us from across the whiteboard while we rolled our eyes.

"I will go check up on him, I haven't seen him today either. He must be somewhere with the boys," I affirmed.

The teacher started the topic on angles and loan as Jess grumbled under her breath. Math is Jess least favourite subject even though this particular topic is a simple one in calculus.

"Why couldn't the angle get a loan?" Jess pouted, looking up to me for an answer while I wrote away on my book.

"Probably because it parents refused to co-sine," I stated, shrugging my shoulders while she chuckled loudly which earned her a glare from the teacher and students.

"Miss Walker, could you please tell the class what's so funny?" The teacher questioned, folding her arms around her.

"I'm sorry ma'am, it won't happen again," Jess finished up giving her an innocent smile.

"Fine, have a sit," she declared.

"You evil witch, you caused that!" Jess snarled angrily but lowly at me.

"I'm sorry you couldn't hold a laugh," I whispered and continued writing.

"I can swear I saw a piece of graph in her hand, I wonder what that for?" Jess queried again.

"She is probably plotting something evil," I stated while Jess burst out laughing. The whole class turned to her and only then did she realize what she had done. She tried to mumble an apology.

"Jessica, detention!" The teacher pronounced as Jess gave me another glare when she realized what I had done.

_____

I walked towards the back of the school hoping to catch a glimpse of my boyfriend. Ralph and the guys since I have searched the whole school in and out without finding them. The back of the school is the only place I haven't searched and I just hope to find them there.

I soon heard loud voices of guys at the back of the school and said a quick thanks to the big guy up there for helping me find them.

They all sat around a table playing card as Ralph sat in the opposite direction that shielded him from seeing anyone coming.

"Ralph the man, you were dared and you went through your dare in less than three months," Zion hailed him while the guys laughed heartily.

I began to wonder what kind of dare they were talking about because Ralph never told me he was on a dare to do anything. I could hear my heart pumping fast as adrenaline pumped into my blood. I hid behind the school walls away from the guys trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. Now, I know it wrong to Listen on people's conversation but I couldn't help but wonder what kind of dare my boyfriend had been keeping from me all this while even though we recently just started dating.

"Thank you guys, I told you I'm the Lord here. The king over everything. And anything I set my mind on, I get it no matter the hurdles. I'm a goal-getter and winning is inevitable to me," Ralph said cockingly, taking a sip from his cup of coffee spiked with gin while the guys cheered on.

"You truly are and you won the game. Sissy chicken-hearted Brady didn't do his task," Marcus teased as Brady gave him a slap over the head while he yelled out an "Ow."

"Poor tomboy doesn't know all of it was just a game as she let her guard and walls extraordinarily down," zion commented. While I felt my breath seize as immense anger took over.

"Anna is a good girl though and doesn't deserve what you did to her." Brady pointed out before taking a long swig from his coffee.

At this point, I couldn't hold it any longer. I couldn't believe how stupid I was to let my guards down and not see this coming. I blame myself for falling for the bad boy tricks. I blame myself for getting entangled with him in the first place.

Anger shook my entire body as goosebumps crawled up my exposed arms as my heartfelt completely shattered.

I let the bad boy play me and I still let him beat me at his own game.

I came out of my hiding place and stood in front of the boys. All of them could see me except Ralph because he was facing the opposite direction as he backed me.

"I thought she was strong and thick-headed but didn't know she will be so gullible at first, I truly am the player and the goal-getter," Ralph spilt as he chuckled darkly but stopped when the others didn't laugh or spare him a glance. And soon he turned to face the centre of their attention. Me.

"More like the goal loser, Smith," I started as his face turned pale at my sight.

"So tell me, what is it you gained from the stupid game?" I questioned, giving him a cold fake smile as I walked towards him staring into his face while my sneakers wedge made a tapping sound to the ground.

"Look babes, it not what you think, I can explain," He started and stood up to face me but I responded by giving him a hard punch on his face while he scrambled away hurting in pain and cussing.

"What the hell! what was that for, You just bloody broke my nose," He hollered, grabbing a paper to clean his bloody nose while I smirked at the pain he felt as it gave me pleasure.

"Really? I'm sorry I missed my shot because I was planning on breaking your face," I spat as a scowl replaced my smile.

"Tell me, what were you expecting? That I would sit, sulk all day and cry because a certain douche, Nah I meant ass played me?" I scoffed, sweat plastered my hair to my face and I'm sure I look like some horror queen right now.

"Look, I'm sorry let me just explain Anna, please," He pleaded, but my knee connected with where the sun doesn't shine in his body.

He screamed more as the other guys winced in pain but none of them dared to confront me knowing they are all pretended and betrayers.

"Now that is for being a stupid twat, never play with any girl's heart most especially the tomboys they deserve respect," I finished off and shoved him off my front while he wobbled on the floor.

I paused to drop some few comments for the losers so it won't appear like I was pained even though it hurts me so much.

"I thought you took my breath away, but baby, I was just suffocated with your bullshits. And I'm not usually this mean so sorry for the mean, awful, and accurate things I said." I gave a sadistic smile, a smile that shielded my pain and hurt and began walking away.

"Anna, wait, you didn't see things from my view and point. Give me a chance to explain myself," Ralph said as he blocked my front leaving no room for me to pass.

"Get the hell out of my presence Smith," I roared angrily, my eyes, though black as a lump of coal, was also hot as a furnace, glade at him.

"I really can explain," he continued, not minding what I said.

"Right now, I'm standing here looking at you and trying to see things from your point of view but I can't get my head that far up your ass, Smith," I fumed as his face ashen from my harsh word trying to digest the insults.

"Please babe, we can sort this out amicably" he pleaded and tried to grab my hands, his tousled hair fell over his eyes, giving him a cute puppy look. But this isn't the time to admire him, he hurt me so bad and I need to get the hell out of here.

"I need you. I want you. To get out of my face," I slapped his hands away from mine, shoved him off and ran to my car.

The garage was almost empty as only a few cars remained. The school ground was silent as if the walls could hear, feel, and tap from my contagious pain.

I rushed into my car before finally breaking into a sob. A sob that I tried to hold the past few minutes because I didn't want to appear weak and give them the satisfaction that they will get when they knew I was hurting.

Our relationship was built on lies and deceits. It was all a joke to Ralph. It was all a dare to him while I gave my heart out.

Of course, what was I expecting? Happily ever after that only existed in fairy tales. This is reality and the biggest sore is that all the time I was happy to finally experience love, share my first kiss, go on dates and all, it was all a joke. A huge, big, fat- ass joke!

I choked, sobbing again and wallowing in self-pity. I couldn't bear the pain. I only heard and saw heartbreak on the TV without thinking that I will one-day experience it. If this is what heartbreak feels like then it is a terrible feeling. I felt inconsolable, heavy-hearted, despondent, melancholic, anguished, and hangdog.

Speaking of dogs, as I drove past the school heading home. I saw a signboard outside a bungalow that reads "Talking dogs for sale," totally intrigued, I parked my car walked in.

A golden retriever, a popular dog breed especially as a family dog but was originally a hunting dog. Its beautiful colour and puppy doe eye caught my attention as I smiled and walked towards it. Bent low to the dog height to talk to it.

"So, what have you done all you life cutie?" I asked, rubbing its furs.

"I have led a very full life." Replied the dog.

"I lived in the Alps rescuing avalanche victims. Then I saved my country in Iraq and now I spend my days reading to the residents of a retirement home." The dog said proudly shaking its head as it spoke. A movement I found amazing.

I was entirely flabbergasted. Then I proceeded to ask the fat dog owner that question that tugged at my mind.

"Why on earth would you want to get rid of an incredible dog like that?"

The owner replied. "Because he is a liar! He never did any of that."

I found myself amused as I laughed hysterically at the amusing dog, forgetting my broken heart even though it was just a CD playing and acting as the dog.