Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

Chapter 22: competition

She was still at it.

For some reason, I was beginning to feel like there was more to Moyo's hostility than I initially thought. I had assumed our quarrel would be enough to make her stay away from me, but apparently, nature had other plans.

Somehow, I always ended up in her path.

And somehow, she always ended up finding me in her "spot."

"Hey, dummy. You're in my spot... again," she said, resting one hand on the back of my chair.

I admit, I had been timid and painfully insecure at my previous school. But something about this new school had given me what I liked to call guts.

I could actually talk back now.

Well... sort of.

I still needed to work on the trembling in my voice.

"Says who?" I asked.

My voice shook slightly.

Moyo raised an eyebrow.

"Says me. And, apparently, everyone else around here."

She glanced around the room, probably expecting people to nod in agreement. Nobody did. They simply stared at us, clearly entertained by the drama and waiting to see who would win.

"This is my spot," she continued. "So, if you don't mind, could you please find somewhere else to sit?"

I looked around.

Where was my usual hero, Michael, when I needed him?

Had he finally decided to grow a conscience and leave me to fend for myself?

But just when I was about to say something, Michael appeared.

Unfortunately, he didn't come to my rescue.

"Hey, hey. What's going on here?" he asked, stepping between us. "We're already twenty minutes late. Can you two save the argument for later?"

"Well, Moyo said that she—"

"Doyin, just find another seat," he interrupted.

I stared at him.

He continued, almost apologetically, "Moyo's the president of the club. She has a designated seat at the centre, and that's the one you're sitting in."

I blinked.

She was the president?

Michael hadn't mentioned that.

I'm sure he had done that deliberately.

He probably knew I wouldn't have joined the club if I'd known Moyo was going to be there.

Smart move, Michael.

Now that I was already here, though, backing out would make me look like a coward.

"Oh..." I muttered. "I thought..."

I stopped myself.

"You know what? Never mind."

I stood up, giving Michael a death stare.

He immediately looked away.

Moyo gave a satisfied little scoff before taking her seat.

I scanned the room until I spotted an empty chair beside our class representative.

"Is anyone sitting here?" I asked.

"Nope," he replied.

I sat down.

From across the room, I glanced at Moyo's seat.