PAINTED BLACK.

Chapter Six.

Christy looked like she was on the verge of tears. Dami was beside herself with anger.
"Just what does the note mean by "you didn't show up"? You showed up! It's the crazy note writer that didn't!!" She snapped. "And what does the writer mean by "hang-on friends"? This is between you both. Why bring Remi and I into it?!"
Christy gave her an accusing look and raised her brows. Dami got the message and laughed forcibly.
"I...I mean, you're my bestie. I can take any insult for you." She said, with a very fake smile. Remi looked nonchalant.
"I still think it's a prank." He said.

When they got to class, however, Christy got the shock of her life. Neatly written in block letters was a huge note on cardboard paper and pasted on the notice board right in front of the class.

DEAREST AARON,
REMEMBER A PARTICULAR LETTER YOU GOT IN JUNIOR SCHOOL 3 FROM A SUPPOSED SECRET ADMIRER? WELL, LOOK NO FURTHER, FOR I'VE FOUND HER. SHE'S NONE OTHER THAN CHRISTY BENSON! YES...THAT'S RIGHT! CHRISTY BENSON HAS A SECRET CRUSH ON YOU. THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW.
SIGNED: ANON.

Her mouth dropped open. Christy thought she was going to pass out. Her friends looked from her to the cardboard then back at her. Dami suddenly unfrozen and said, quickly,
"Relax, Christy, the class hasn't seen it yet. I'd just go and drag it off the notice board." She started to move towards it, but paused when she heard a snigger from a boy named Timilehin. He turned towards Christy in the doorway, then he shouted, "Look class, Aaron plus Christy!"
By this time, the whole class had noticed the huge note in front of them. They burst out laughing and most of them began chanting "Aaron plus Christy".
Yikes, Christy thought, my life is over. She looked up and saw Aaron winking at her stupidly and she almost barfed. Remi tried to hide the amused look on his face without success.
Dami raced forward and tore the cardboard off. Then she ran to Christy still in the doorway and dragged her forward.
"Come on, to your seat!"

After school hours, Dami and Remi tried to make Christy feel normal. She was a wreck.
"Come on, Christy. It's not all that bad. It won't be long before the whole class forgets it. Things like this are normal. They happen all the time." Dami tried. Christy looked up at her.
"Really? To whom?" She questioned.
Dami felt suddenly blank. "Er...a...a couple of people."
"But, Christy, really?" began Remi. "You secretly admired Aaron since JS3 and you didn't think to tell us...your best friends?"
Christy gave him a look to kill. "Don't be such a giant fool, Remi! Of course you know that's not true!!!" She exploded. "It's Aaron we're talking about here...slimy green Aaron! Why would I ever admire someone like that?!! It's a bloody lie!" She began to sniff.
"I'm just saying, Christy. You should have told us." He insisted. Dami shot him a dirty look. She was about to say something nasty but the sudden defiant look that appeared on her friend's face stopped her. Christy got up suddenly and Remi shrank back in his seat in fear, but she did not even glance at him.
"I'm going to find out who this person is and I'd make sure he or she pays dearly." She suddenly announced.
Dami and Remi gave each other scared looks. Uh-oh.
Christy walked to her wardrobe and brought out her scrapbook. She had already glued the first note in it. She glued the second note and unfolded the cardboard Dami had torn from the wall. Then she spread it out on the bed and stood looking at them.

Five minutes later, they were all absorbed in the notes. Then Christy spoke;
"The first two notes are in my handwriting. Whoever this person is either had to learn my handwriting or just has the same writing as mine."
"True." Dami nodded.
"Therefore, we're going to have to carry out some serious investigations." She pronounced.
"What do you mean, investigations?" Remi asked.
"I mean, tomorrow, which is Friday, we'd check in people's lockers to see who has my kind of handwriting. It'll have to be during break, of course, when they'd all be at the cafe."
Dami stroked her chin. "We'd have to be very careful so we don't get caught by the hall monitors."
"Hold up." Remi said. "Who's this "we" you keep talking about?"
The girls stared at him.
"What's that supposed to mean, Remi?" Christy asked, frostily.
"You've already made me miss lunch once, Christy. Not this time. You'd have to do this one without me." He said, pointedly.
"I really wonder what sort of best friend you claim to be, Remi! Can't you just be helpful, for once?" Dami snapped.
"Say what you like, but I think it's time you listened to some advice. Our getting into this note issue will cost is a lot, because if we do, the next thing we know, we'd start getting notes too, and then our whole lives will be ruined, and we'd be stuck, spending our whole lives sitting on Christy's couch!" He snapped and sat on a couch. Suddenly, he froze and glared accusingly at Christy. "See! It has already begun!" He jumped off the couch and sat at the dining.
Dami stared at him in amazement. A smirk was forming on her lips.
"Remi," she started. "I'm... I'm trying to think up a word below...lame!" She shook her head at Christy. "And they say I'm a drama queen."
She was surprised to see a smile on Christy's face.
"We'll see about that, Remi." She said, casually...too casually.
Dami shrugged and turned to her homework.