A novel of salvage high chapter 36
Keisha’s POV (continues from her last scene on the day it snowed.)
Alex’s driver drove me home safely; when I went in, I met home in the living room.
“Mum, why are you still up?” I asked, and she smiled sadly.
“Don’t tell me you went out in the snow?” She said, and I blinked my lashes rapidly.
“Not really, I just went out to make a wish in the snow.” I said. That was the most gullible excuse I could ever think of - making wishes in the snow was the last thing I could ever thought of doing.
“You went to what?” She asked, and I knew that she won’t buy it, so I gotta change the topic.
“Mum, how is your petition going? Are you really not going to jail? I mean, are you gonna win the case?” I asked, and she forced a smile.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll take care of myself.” She said, and I nodded - of course she should take care of herself, having a thing with a married man that his divorce wasn’t finalized was another level of cheating on its own. But who cares, it best I turn the subject around with that, and I went to my room thinking about everything that happened today.
“I did the right thing.” I muttered reassuring mused before I went ti shower.
*
I went downstairs to join others in the dinning room the following day for breakfast, and I controlled myself from asking Stef the reason he left me behind yesterday. No matter what his excuses were, it was still not fright for him to leave me behind.
“Kids, there is something you have to know.” Mum said, and we all looked at her.
“Vera, what are you up to ?” My stepdad asked.
“I can’t do this anymore. I already made up my mind. I’m moving out.” Mum said, and Queen dropped her cutleries careless on the table.
“What?” Queen and I shouted.
“Yes. It’s as you heard it. We are moving out.” She said.
“Vera, I thought we are on same page. Can’t you even think about the kids welfare?” My stepdad said.
“That is exactly what I’m worried about. Queen is still too young to be passing through all these, and Keisha hasn’t even adapted to her new environment yet. I’m tired. She agreed to drop the lawsuit if I move out, so I’ll.” Mum said, and stood up; but my stepdad held her back.
“Vera, you can’t do this. You didn’t even consult me first.” My stepdad said.
“There is nothing to consult, we aren’t legally married. So frankly, there is nothing connecting us.” She blurted.
“Is that it?” Queen shouted, and we all looked at her. “You should have thought about that before having an affair before your marriage to your ex-wife was legally annulled.” She added, and stood up to leave.
“Queen, what did you just say?” My stepdad asked.
“What that woman said was truth, mum had been your mistress all along that’s why you couldn’t wait for your marriage to be annulled before you married her. You fornicated with mum, and she was a wh0re to have an affair with you.” Queen blurted, and I controlled myself from jumping across the table to slap her. Even if it’s the truth, she shouldn’t be the one to say it.
“Where did you heard that, Queen?” My stepdad asked, and I inwardly applaud his patience.
“That woman told me, your legal wife.”
“When? Where did you see her? Answer me now.” He shouted.
“Shout at me all you want, I’m just your illegitimate daughter after all.” Queen blurted, and ran off.
“Keisha, I’ll drop you off at school.” Mum said, and I nodded.
On a normal day, I should have declined because she didn’t give me a ride the last time I requested but considering the tension, I had to give in.
*
The ride was in silence until we almost got to school so I decide to break the silence.
“What you said earlier, is that really your decision?” I asked.
“I’m sorry, Keisha. I know it must be hard on. But I’m trying as much I could so it won’t affect your studies. I’ll secure a temporary place that is close by so you won’t have to transfer school.“
“What about Queen?”
“Leave her to me. I’ll take care of her.”
“Mum you should have thought of all of this before having an affair with a married man. I can condole it because I just moved in anyways, and that man isn’t my father. But what of Queen? She has been with a complete family all her life, and you are going to separate her from her father just like that?” I shouted, and she sniffed in.
“Do you also believed I seduced a married man?” She asked, sadly.
“That’s obviously what it is.” I blurted, and she pulled over at my school.
I let out an angry sigh before alighting from the car, and Alex ran up to me.
“Hi, Keisha.” He waved, and held my hands.
“Can I have my hand back?” I blurted.
“What? I thought we agreed to be friends.”
“Yeah. I’m not just in the mood.”
“Did you had a fight with whoever dropped you off? Your mum perhaps.”
“Something like that.” I replied, and he embraced me. “What?” I shouted, and pushed him away.
“Don’t be too violent, a warm embrace will help you feel better.” He said, and embraced me again. He was right, it indeed helped me feel better.
We walked in together, and everyone pointed fingers at her mumbling words to themselves.
“Wow. You really did it Alex, you two made up.” Gabriel said from behind.
“That was why he ditched us.” Jeremy said, and we chuckled.
“Thanks for taking Alex back Keisha. And kindly hit me for advising him to move on.” Gabriel said, and I slapped him - taking them aback.
“That was quick.” Jeremy said, trying to hide in laughters.
“Wow. I can’t remember the last time someone slapped me.” Gabriel grumbled, and we all chuckled.
“Hi, guys.” We heard Melanie voice from behind, and we and Alex heard my band.
“Keh going.” Gabriel said, and like an order we all obliged until Melanie held me back.
“Keisha, I was the one who broadcasted that yesterday, I’m sorry.” She said, and my eyes widen.
“Why are you apologizing?” I blurted.
“Because I wronged you. I was jealous that you are going to come between my friends and I. But I was wrong, I was the one with the problem. Let’s get along.” She said, and embraced me.
Those last words, this is the second time she said those. Even though I don’t have any intention of being friends with her, I can’t push her away either.
We walked to class together, and people won’t stop talking about us. Just yesterday, we were like cat and dogs, and now we looked like jolly friends.
We went to our separate seats, and Chris sent me a message to meet me outside. I let out a sigh wondering what he wants again before I obliged.
“I see you have made up with Alex.” He said, sarcastically.
“I don’t have a choice.” I grumbled.
“What do you mean by that? Is he threatening you?” He asked.
“Not that. He pleaded, and I had to forgive him. Even God forgives us when we sinned, so who am I?” I said, hoping he ends the conversation there.
“Why are you like this, Keisha? Why are you trying to hard to be friends with him despite everything.” He said, and I made a fist.
“Despite what? You know nothing, Chris.”
“I do, and I believe 70% of the students here are also aware.”
“Whatever, Chris. I don’t care about other’s opinion. I know that it’s natural for friends to have misunderstanding, so I’ll let this slide just the way I allowed my misunderstanding with Alex to pass as well.” I said, and intend to leave but he held me back.
“Friends? Is Alex just a friend to you?”
“Yes he is. Do I have to explain to you if we are more than friends?” I shouted.
“I’m sorry, Keisha.”
“The next time you will call me for unnecessary reason like this, consider our friendship over. That’s if you ever thought of me as a friend.” I blurted, before returning to class.
Today is just a day, making up with Alex and faking friendship with Melanie, only to face Chris wrath again. I decide to escape it all for a moment, so when the bell ran for recess, I switched off my phone and went to the rooftop hoping to find some peace.
“You are here again, Ms. Fearless.” I heard Stella’s voice from behind. Just the best person to enlighten my mood.
*
When school dismissed later, I didn’t wait a minute before running out of class, and thankfully I saw Stef at the parking lot like he was trying to leave without me.
Whatever his intentions were, I don’t care at that point, because I need him to drive me home before Alex or anybody stop me.
*
He pulled over at the parking lot at home, and intend to go in but he held me back.
“I did as you advised, Keisha, but it’s still the same.” He muttered, and I looked at him confused.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I still like you, not as a sister or as a friend, and not because you are the only person I talk or listen to.” He said, and my haw dropped - I can’t believe I escaped school to get this at home. Just the best thing to ruin my day completely.
“You can’t be serious, Stef.” I managed to say, because he truly can’t be serious.
“I know I shouldn’t feel this way, I’m aware that you don’t feel the same, so I kept it to myself so you won’t be uncomfortable.”
“Then you shouldn’t have said it, I’m already feeling uncomfortable.” I blurted.
“Keisha, I’m willing to nurture this one-sided feeling till I move on from it, so stop acting rashly. When you got hurt yesterday because of Alex, I couldn’t contain it, only for you to run to him in the snow and hang around with him today. Do you think you are in some drama?” He said, and I agreed with him - everything happened like in dramas, but unlike a movie, it would have taken us almost forever to mend things, but mine was so fast. Exactly, my life has been a drama since I transferred to that school.
“What do you want me to do, Stef?” I found myself saying, because I’m honestly confused.
“Just stay away from troubles, because Alex is trouble.” He said, and left.
He is right, my life has been a drama, and Alex has been the one giving me troubles. But the more I think about it, I can’t stay away from Alex.
•
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📌 Alex POV 📌
•
My friends and I sat in my room, Jeremy insisted that we start our group work but I couldn’t concentrate. I kept complaining about Keisha who avoided is during recess and ran to God knows where, and running off with her brother after school.
“Alex, will you stop thinking about her and focus. We got a d€ad line to meet.” Jeremy said, and I throw a fist.
“I thought you guys made up.” Gabriel said.
“Yes we did. But she insist we should be just friends. It took a lot of effort for me to convince her.”
“Why won’t she give in, when you are willing to stay all day in the snow. She probably said that to help you feel better.” Gabriel blurted, and my bow raised.
“Could it be Melanie? She felt uncomfortable with Melanie around. She might be avoiding us because Melanie is our friend again.” Jeremy said, and I kinda agree with him.
“I don’t think so. She is probably avoiding us because she purely dislikes us.” Gabriel blurted, and Jeremy hits his head. “Hey! I’m out of here.”
He shouted, and went to lie on the bed.
“She left the class to talk to Chris earlier.” Jeremy said.
“That Chris is always a pain the neck, and I’m yet to figure out who he is so I could get him out of the way.” I blurted, we both let out a sigh.
“There is news guys.” Gabriel shouted, running to us.
“What is it?” We chorused.
“The school already elected a new director.” He said, and we both hissed out loud.
“What does that have to do with us?” Jeremy blurted.
“Guess what?” He said.
“Who cares?” I lashed.
“She is the chairman wife.” Gabriel said.
“So?” We both chorused.
“And her son attend our school. I wonder who he is.”
“Probably a junior, because no one goes by Salvage in our level.” Jeremy blurted.
“But whoever he or she is, they must wanna prove themselves.” Gabriel said.
“And that’s big our stress.” I blurted.
“Oh, you are right.” He grumbled, and returned to the bed.
“Seriously, I’m really cutting ties with Gabriel today.” I shouted, and he ran out before I could punch him.