My best stranger

0_o**

Erica's POV

I get up from bed before the alarm clock wakes me up. I walk past Tayo's room to find him still asleep.
I go to the kitchen and begin to bring out ingredients to make Tayo's breakfast and lunch to take to school.
"Tomi?" I hear his voice as he lazily walks to the kitchen
"Go and take your bath so I'll take you to school early"
"I'm kind of feeling sick, I don't think I can go to school" this isn't his first attempt to lie to me about being sick so he can skip school.
"Oh sorry. Go and bathe this boy"
He grumbles and murmurs as he drags his feet back to him room and bangs the door.
I begin to make his lunch and pack it up then make breakfast for the both of us. Once Tayo is out of his room dressed, he sits down to eat breakfast while I go to have my bathe.
I pull out a grey turtle neck, body hugging sweater dress which stops a little above my knee and pair it up with white sneakers.
I braid  my hair in two big cornrows and style my edges.
I get to the kitchen and take my breakfast then Tayo and I head to my car.
"Big sis, I really don't want to go to school today" he whines in the back seat. Whenever he uses big sis to refer to me I hardly refuse and he knows it.
"Why?" I say and glance at him.
"Cause... I don't know. People aren't nice"
"Are they bullying you? Tell me oh"
He doesn't give a response making it a yes.
"Have you reported?"
"It doesn't work that way."
Bullying in American high schools is emotionally exhausting.
"Fine, let's go to school first. Then you'll show me all the boys that bully you"
"And girls.." he mutters under his breathe hoping I won't hear him
"And girls?!! Jesus Tayo are you even trying to fight back?"
"Wait what are you going to do to them"
I realize we haven't even left the front of the house, I put the car on drive and we start heading to Tayo's school.
"Nothing, I just want to see them" I actually had nothing in mind but Liya's voice played in my head like a muffled stereo
"You guys should stay away from Erica, if you don't know she is way better than you are. She's smarter, and nicer and way more fun." Liya used to tell them, they didn't stop talking about me but they stopped saying mean things to my face and a lot more people admired me after that.

We arrive at Tayo's school. I get out of the car and tell tayo to follow me. I make my way to the principals office neglecting the few people that are standing in front of her door.

"Good morning miss. How may I help you?" She asks in sweet tone.
"Did you know that my brother is being bullied by students in your school 'innocent children' they say" I begin to complain as I feel my anger surface, I try to calm my self down.

Mum put me in charge of her only son and last born, I'm not going to let her down

"Isaac is being bullied? He is such a good student"
"Maybe that's why they bully him"
"Isaac who are those people" she turns to him and asks. He is timidly seating on the chair next to me looking at his fingers.
I turn to him and say "you better talk, if you want this to stop"

Erica, calm

He starts mentioning names and she takes note. "I am very sorry miss Coleman, I personally have a liking for Isaac and hearing this disheartens me. I'll find the best way to deal with this problem."
"Thank you. I really hope this works if not I'm taking drastic measures"
I leave the office with Tayo and walk down the hall way. I get a light tap on my shoulder and turn to see who it is.

"Sorry to bother you, I'm Ben. Isaac's class teacher"
"Oh, pls help my brother deal with those kids"
"Of course, of course. I overheard your conversation with the principal and I really admire your outspoken nature"

Oh God

"I was wondering if you might want to get a drink and get to know each other?" He asks with no shame.
"No thank you, I'll like to focus on my college education but pls take care of my brother" I politely decline and roll my eyes at him in my head as I walk away. I know I shouldn't have worn this dress, it's too body hugging and loud. I drag down the hem of the dress hoping for less exposure which really solved nothing.  Tayo is already far ahead. I walk up to him and get down to his height so that we are looking directly at each other
"Okay. I'm not sure if what I've done is enough but I hope it helps. Just know whatever names they are calling you, that's not who you are. They don't get to tell you who you are thats your job"
He responds with a light smile and says "thank you big sis"
I get up and drag my dress down one more time as I walk to the exit. I overhear a kid ask my brother "is that your sister?"
"Ya"
"She's so hot"
"Dude, she's 18"
I let out a laugh as I leave the building and head to my car. I drive over to Roxanne's place to pick her up. She has been saving up for a car but in the mean time she'll rather follow me to school than use public transport or an Uber and I honestly don't mind but she keeps on saying sorry I'm such a burden.

"Sorry for stressing you" she says as she gets in
"Roxy when will you acknowledge that I'm not bothered. I rather have you in my car than drive silently to school everyday. Think of it as you helping me"

We arrive at school and walk over to the lecture hall. We meet up with Frida at the front of the cafe and all three of us walk to class. Dan, Beth and Kevin aren't in the same college as us.
"Hey, you" I hear someone call out from behind us

My mum always thought my that my name isn't 'hey you' so if they don't know your name, their loss.
"You with the pink hair, a loud look by the way" I hear the voice get closer. Frida and Roxy turn around to see who it is.
"Erica, I think she's referring to you"
"Nope I highly doubt it"
I feel a tap on my shoulder and I finally turn around to see a girl with brown wavy hair are forest green eyes. She's quite familiar. I try to remember where I've seen her from then it clicks, Noah's ex.

She has an ashamed and angry look on her face.
"You seriously couldn't stoop any lower"
"I'm Erica" I say and offer my hand for a hand shake, she eyes me
"I presume your Benita. I can't believe Noah dated a bitch like you." I tell her. I hear light gasps and chuckles around me that's when I notice people are looking and I hate dragging attention.
"Your the one that stole him away."
"You should be ashamed, all I did was be a nice person and he already dumped you for me. I wonder how bad you were"
"Uh.. I...I'll get him back, just watch me. He'll come crawling back and you'll be sorry"
"Trust me. I don't think Noah will crawl back to a lying cheat like you. If you'll excuse me, I have a class. It was nice meeting you" I leave her speechless then walk over to class hoping I'm not late for my first lecture.

Author's note.
Uhhh exes are so annoying, am I right or am I right. Pls don't forget to vote and leave your comments. It really helps