Kate turns red and glares at me whiles the crowd laughed.
"I did let the cat out of the bag"Kate says and the whole place goes quiet.
" Congratulations then! "I say with fake enthusiasm.
Kate groans.
" She's joking around! She knows all that I said was true! Don't listen to her"she yells to the crowd.
"Oh Kate Kate Kate! Just chill okay? Why are you working yourself up right now? We haven't been through half of the day and you're like this? I bet when you get to that half you're going to collapse" I say with a snort and the crowd laughs making Kate snort.
"You are pathetic! You think you can win them over with your stupid jokes?" Kate yells.
"Miss Sanders what is going on! I could hear your voice from up there" the principal says and Kate smiles sheepishly.
The students disperse and I exhale heavily walking away. Alec walks up to me.
"Hey Nikki" he said casually
He looked cute in a yellow t shirt, dark jeans and simple sneakers. His light brown hair was gelled and his amber irises shone.
"Hey Alec" I reply with my voice breaking.
"Is it true? All that Sanders said?" He asks.
I look at his face. I couldn't decipher his expression but I nod nevertheless.
"Oh ummm.....sorry! No one would wish for that" he says apologetically
I nod and wipe a tear.
"Its okay! I can manage" I reply.
Alec hugs me and I hide my face in his shoulder as he rubs my back to console me.
"Err hem" someone coughs and we look up to see Jake. I was hoping my friends would be here! But I guess they are upset.
"Hey Jake" I say but he has his gaze fixed on Alec.
"Hey Nikki! Who is he?" He asks.
"Hey man! I'm Alec Russell. The school's star soccer player" Alec introduces and stretches his hand.
Jake shakes it.
"I'm Jake Winters! The newbie" Jake replies with annoyance in the edge of his voice.
Was he jealous of Alec? Or he didn't like him.
"Oh yeah! You were the one who played the judge at that dancing competition" Alec says and chuckles a bit.
"Yeah" Jake says.
"Nice to meet you" Alec says sweetly.
"I'll see you later Nikki" Alec says with a wink and walks away confidently.
Jake looks at me pointedly.
"What?!" I deadpan.
He sighs and softens.
"I heard all that Kate said and I know its true" he spits.
I nod.
"Oh Nikki! I saw this coming" Jake says concerned
"It has arrived" I state miserably.
Jake sighs.
"Right now, you need to be extra cautious" he says and I nod.
"Which class do you have first?" Jake asks.
"Calculus" I reply.
"I also have the same class! Let's go" he says with a small smile and we walk to class together.
We enter the class and I spot Alec and Aaron talking. Troy was behind them with Kimberly. As for Danny, he was at at home cos he got suspended.
Alec gives me a reassuring smile when he sees me and I return it. He was really nice. Aaron was still surprised with what happened and Troy just gave me a small wave. I took a deep breath and sat down. Jake sat beside me.
"Okay, welcome to class students! Its a brand new week which means brand new life and topic" our calculus teacher announces.
"So let's get started" he adds and the class begins.
I try as much as possible to pay attention.
He asks a few questions and I answer some. Alec got most of them right and he earned a glare from Jake. He is the Doctor of calculus! Everyone knows that but I think Jake thinks he's showing off.
"Okay so can someone solve this question on the board for me?" Our teacher asks.
We all look at it and it scares the hell out of me. Especially with some symbols! I was familiar with them but I didn't like them.
"Anyone?" Our teacher repeats.
"Sir" Alec says and everyone snickers.
"Oh yeah! Here" our teacher says and hands him a black marker.
Alec walks up to the board confidently. He was always our saviour.
We all watch him solve the dreaded question in less than ten minutes. He gives the marker back to the teacher and takes his seat. Everyone gapes at him. Even the nerds and geeks did not go to solve it.
"Okay let's check if the solution is correct"
We all look at it. It was so long.
"Excellent Alec! Its correct"
Alec smiles proudly as we applaud him and I could swear that I heard Jake huff beside me. If he were a girl, he would have rolled his eyes.
"Next question" our teacher says and writes it on the board.
"Who will give it a shot?" He adds.
Jake raises his hand. What the?
"Jake yes!" The teacher says and he gets up. I look at the question. This one looks much more difficult than Alec's own! What's he doing? Its not like I'm underestimating him or anything but the question itself is scary.
He walks to the board. I have a feeling he was doing it to prove to Alec that he wasn't the only one who was a genius! And a calculus freak.
I hold my breath as he begins to solve. I try to solve it in my own notebook. I look at Alec and he's already done solving. Aaron was looking at his solution. He smirks at me and I smile.
I look back at Jake who was still struggling in a way. I check the time and it indicates he's spent close to 20minutes on the board and his solution didn't look promising.
"Are you having trouble Mr Winters?" Our teacher enquires.
Jake sighs defeated
"Maybe I can help" Alec says and I curse under my breath. He's going to make Jake much more annoyed at him
"Sure Alec" our teacher answers with a bright smile and I see Jake's jaw clench. He looked jealous. Alec walked up to him with a smile.
Jake gives him a fake smile and hands him the marker. Then he came to sit down and exhaled heavily.
Alec stood in front of the board and the girls giggled and whispered lines like
"He's hot......"
"He's so tall"
"OMG! He's so brilliant"
I chuckled. Girls are so silly. Alec finishes in less than five minutes and hands the marker to the teacher. He gives Jake a wink before taking his seat next to Aaron.
Aaron gives him a high five.
"Good going dude" Aaron told him.
"This is good Alec! Its correct!" The teacher says and the class applauds.
I wonder what his secret was but he could solve the most complicated questions so easily!
"How do you do it Alec? You amaze me all the time" our teacher says proudly.
Alec smiles.
"I just do it! Its the benefit of working hard" Alec simply says and our teacher nods.
"I even like the way you show your solution! So elaborate! Well done kiddo! See me after school" our teacher rattles and Jake deflates.
I kind of feel bad for him. He just embarrassed himself in front of everyone.
Finally calculus came to an end and I heave a sigh of relief. I'm currently walking with Jake in the hall to my locker.
"That Alec guy is so full of himself!" Jake scoffs.
"He's not! He's just confident! That's all" I defend.
Jake curses under his breath.
I grab my English books for the next class. Jake had another class but he walked me to class before leaving to his.
Kate was in my class. I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat and sat at the back. I hope she doesn't come here! Right now, I can't break any rule. Aaron enters.
He comes to sit beside me. I thought he was angry.
"Hey" he said simply.
I nod.
"Alec told me you admitted that what Kate said was true" he drawls
I nod miserably
"Am so sorry Nikki!" He says honestly.
"Actually, we all are" he clarifies.
"Well, I just need to be careful" I reply
"But they would overthrow you soon. Now that they know" Aaron spits.
"You know what? I don't care anymore! I cannot be like Tigress! Its a fact! I give up! I will just go back to being the old vulnerable Nicole again" I say and my voice breaks.
Aaron remains speechless until the class starts. We have a short test and soon the class ends
"I failed everyone! Please tell the rest I'm sorry" I say to him and run out of the class.
I entered the washroom and cried my eyes out. Then I washed my face and fixed myself before going out. It was time for lunch. The moment I enter the cafeteria, everyone has their eyes on me. They were whispering something.
I walked to the food section and took some hotdogs. I then laid them on the tray and went to my friends table. Everyone was watching me.
I sat down.
Kimberley, Troy and Aaron look at me.
"Hey" I say to Kimberly and Troy not so enthused.
"Aaron told us" Troy spits. Okay could everyone stop talking about the stupid agreement I signed!
I nod.
"Its okay Nikki! You'll be alright" Kimberly assures with a small smile.
I smile back but it doesn't reach my eyes.
°~â¢~â¢Â°
Jake enters and a few students file in including Alec. I just concentrate on my food.
Alec comes to our table holding a tray.
"Can I join you guys? I know its a gang table but...." He trails off
"Oh sure Alec! You can" Aaron says and he sits beside me making the whispers in the cafeteria increase.
"How are you Nikki?" Alec asks concerned.
"Not good" I reply.
He sighs and squeezes my hand.
"Be strong! You can fight this" he urges.
"You know Kate is doing all this on purpose! If you prove to be weak she would take advantage of you" Aaron states firmly
"But guys you don't get it! Am tied! I can't break a single rule" I state and they sigh
"You can fight her silently without breaking a rule" Kimberly suggests
"How?" I ask them
Troy smiles widely and the others get it.
"What?!" I snap at them.
"Pranking" Troy spits and I'm disappointed
"Pranking? I could get in trouble for that" I snap.
"You just have to be careful Nikki" Troy urges
"I'll help you" Kimberly follows.
"I think its dangerous" Alec spits
"Remember she shouldn't break a rule"he adds
They all sigh.
" I'll think about it guys"I reply.
"Yeah please do!" Troy urges and I nod.