Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

chapter 12:'To whom much is given'

“You were once friends with them?”
I stared at Victoria.
“That explains everything!”
Victoria nodded slowly.
“We were really close. Moyo and I were the leaders of the group. We were best friends, actually.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You and Moyo?”
“Yes.” She sighed. “I know. Hard to believe, right?”
Very.
“But one day, she just changed. She stopped giving me attention and started acting like I didn't exist. I wouldn't call myself selfish, jealous, or clingy, but I could tell she was losing interest in the friendship. You get what I mean?”
“Yeah, I do.”
She continued.
“The rest of the girls didn't help either. They were so nonchalant about everything. Nobody seemed to care that things were falling apart.”
I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Victoria had once belonged to that petty little group.
That meant she had once been like them.
I'd always found it difficult to believe that people could genuinely change, but Victoria was slowly proving me wrong.
“But do you have any idea why she started acting that way?” I asked.
Victoria bit her lip.
“Hmm. I think it was because of a boy.”
“A boy?”
“Yeah. That's one thing that can ruin friendships between girls.”
I gave her a doubtful look.
“I'm serious!” she insisted. “Back then, we told each other practically everything. We knew everything that was happening in each other's lives. But suddenly, she started acting strange. She became secretive.”
“About the boy?”
“I wasn't even sure there was a boy at first. But I started noticing things. Sometimes, she'd sneak out of the hostel during siesta. Other times, she'd disappear during prep breaks when we were supposed to be together.”
“Did you ever find out who she was meeting?”
“Nope.”
“So what did you do?”
“I confronted her.”
“And?”
“She denied everything.”
I nodded slowly.
“Of course.”
“Exactly!” Victoria laughed. “But I knew she was lying. I just didn't know what she was hiding or why she was so desperate to keep it from us.”
“So what happened after that?”
“I told her I couldn't keep pretending everything was fine. I said if she wanted us to remain friends, she needed to make things right.”
“And she agreed?”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“She told me to leave if I wanted to.”
My mouth fell open.
“She actually said that?”
“Yep.”
“Wow.”
“Very blindsided.”
I couldn't help but think about my own experience.
At my previous school, I'd lost my best friend because of a boy. She'd convinced herself that I liked the same boy she liked, even though I didn't.
We fought constantly. I tried everything to prove that I wasn't interested in him, but somehow, things only got worse.
Eventually, that whole situation led to a series of messy encounters that would haunt me for a long time.
“So what happened after you left?” I asked.
“She eventually came back to apologise.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I'm guessing she got dumped.”
I laughed.
“You forgave her?”
“I did. But I told her I didn't want to go back to the group.”
“Why?”
“Because, honestly, I was tired. They were petty. All they did was intimidate people, gossip and bully new students. I didn't want to be part of that anymore.”
“That was actually very brave of you.”
Victoria shrugged.
“Yeah, I guess. But it wasn't easy. They made my life miserable for a long time. Even now.”
She paused.
“And honestly, I think they're after you because you're the first friend I've made since I left them.”
She looked genuinely sorry.
“I'm really sorry you have to deal with all this because of me.”
“I don't think it's entirely because of you,” I said. “You might be part of the reason, but there's definitely something else going on.”
“Whatever it is, just don't let Moyo get to you. She's honestly all bark and no bite.”
I sighed.
“I hope so.”

* * * * *

Ahhh, Monday morning.
A traumatising day for most people, but a refreshing one for me.
Today, I was finally moving my desk into the science department.
My rightful department.
After three excruciating days in Commercial, I was finally leaving.
Honestly, I couldn't understand half of what they'd taught us during those three days. I was beginning to wonder how anyone survived three years of it.
I'd probably have failed everything.
I entered the science classroom and looked around for an empty space.
Eventually, I found one in the second row.
Perfect.
I grabbed the handle of my desk and started dragging it towards the spot.
“You can't put your desk there.”
I froze.
I slowly turned around.
Of course.
Moyo.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because I—”
“Hey, Doyin! You're finally here!”
Michael appeared out of nowhere, cutting her off.
“Yes, indeed I am.”
I gave Moyo a quick look before walking over to him.
“Hey, Moyo,” Michael said casually. “Take a chill pill.”
“You better leave me alone, Michael.”
She folded her arms and walked towards her seat, which, unfortunately, was only one seat away from mine.
She clearly didn't want me anywhere near her.
Classic.
Michael turned back to me.
“You didn't tell me it actually worked out.”
“Well, it did.”
“See? I told you there was nothing to worry about.”
He grinned and gave my head a light pat.
“Thanks.”
I quickly brushed off the strange little rush that went through me when his hand touched my head.
“So, I'm guessing you need a seat?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why are you worrying when I've already prepared one for you?”
I blinked.
He pointed to the seat beside him.
I stared at it.
“Wait. That's for me?”
“Remember the seat I promised you before you got moved to Commercial?”
He smiled.
“That's it.”
I was speechless.
He'd actually remembered.
“You won't have to worry about Moyo's seat anymore.”
I looked at him, genuinely confused.
Why was he always helping me?
“I don't even know how to thank you, Michael.”
“You're welcome, mademoiselle.”
He gave an exaggerated bow.
I laughed.
“You're not serious.”
Moyo scoffed loudly behind us and walked out of the classroom.
Michael and I watched her stomp away.
“Don't mind her jare.”
He turned back to me.
“Since you're finally here, you should probably take a look at the notes we've copied.”
He handed me three notebooks.
“Physics, Biology and Chemistry.”
I opened the first notebook.
Then the second.
Then the third.
My jaw dropped.
“Wait.”
I flipped through the pages again.
“You copied all this in three days?”
“Yep.”
I stared at him in horror.
“You mean to tell me I have to copy all these?”
He shrugged.
“As expected, Doyin. This is the Science Department.”
He walked away.
I stared down at the notebooks.
More than twenty pages.
Wonderful.

* * * * *

By third period, it was time for Chemistry.
The bell rang, and suddenly, everyone started packing their books.
I looked around in confusion.
“Where's everybody going?”
Michael was already standing.
“Chemistry lab.”
“The lab?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
He laughed.
“Because that's where Chemistry is taught.”
“Oh.”
Right.
Obviously.
Minutes later, I was sitting on a wooden stool in the Chemistry laboratory with the rest of my classmates.
Large tables filled the room, covered with glass containers. Some were empty; others contained different chemicals.
I looked around nervously.
Everything seemed unfamiliar.
And the teacher wasn't helping.
He kept throwing around terms I'd never heard before.
Apparently, the class had already had an introductory lesson while I was still in Commercial.
Great.
Mr Adegoke adjusted his glasses and looked around the room.
“I mentioned something about the reagent bottle during our last class. Can anyone remind me what it's used for?”
His eyes scanned the room like he was hunting for prey.
Then they landed on me.
“You.”
I pointed at myself.
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
He repeated the question.
“What is a reagent bottle used for?”
I looked around.
Left.
Right.
Behind me.
Maybe he'd eventually realise I had absolutely no idea what was going on.
He didn't.
“Umm…”
I slowly stood up.
“Actually, sir, I don't know.”
“Sir.”
I looked behind me.
Michael had stood up.
“She’s new, sir. She wasn't here for the last class.”
Mr Adegoke frowned slightly.
“New?”
“Yes, sir. She just moved from Commercial.”
“Oh.”
He nodded.
“Alright. Both of you, sit down.”
I breathed out in relief.
I was about to sit when he stopped me.
“Wait.”
I froze.
“What is your name, young lady?”
“Adejare Adedoyin, sir.”
“Hm.”
He studied me for a moment.
“Doyin, I hope you're prepared for this class.”
A wave of anxiety travelled down my spine.
Was that a warning?
Was he about to tell me I'd made the wrong decision?
“Yes, sir,” I replied.
He nodded.
“It's a bold decision you've made. But if you want to succeed, you'll have to work hard to keep up.”
“Yes, sir.”
Why was I suddenly receiving a motivational speech in front of the entire class?
“I don't expect anything less from you,” he continued. “You know, to whom much is given, much is expected.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Have your seat.”
I sat down.
Mr Adegoke turned back to the board.
“The reagent bottle is used for storing…”
I tried to listen.
But my mind had already wandered.
To whom much is given, much is expected.
I stared at the bottles on the table.
I had a lot of work to do.