A friend to remember

4: A con artist in trouble.

****

"The principal would like to see you," Miss Mercy said to Denise five minutes after she entered the room. Denise tried to get something from Miss Mercy's expression but nothing, her expression remained blank.

Daniella stared at her, the girl she had fought with. Suspecting why she is still there. This was not the first time Sheila had done something like that, she would find someone that looked remotely close to Daniella or her and claim she was her long-lost daughter. This time it would be no different and when her heart inevitably broke, Daniella would be there to witness it all. She resented her sister, wherever she was. She did not like the cycle they had fallen into, once every two or so years, her mother would find someone that she claimed must be her sister and then she would be let down and be depressed. She did not want to into that cycle again but she knew that was not her long-lost sister sitting here, her long-lost sister probably died when she was taken.

"Are you even listening to me Ella?" Vivian said, bringing her out of her reverie. Daniella sighed and rubbed her temple.

"I am tired, I need a break, let's go get some water." She muttered under her breath.

****

"Have a seat," Electra said, Denise glanced at the woman staring at her, she did not like the way she was looking at her but if this was going to get her out of trouble, then so be it.

She took her seat and folded her arm, she was not going to give up. Her mother would be devasted if she heard that she got into a fight with some snobby rich kid. The school could punish her, hell even expel her! That would truncate her dreams.

"What's your name?" Denise glanced at Miss Mercy, who was looking at her with hopeful eyes. She turned back to the woman behind the desk and accessed her.

"I know you are going to report me to my school, you probably already called them, but her daughter," she pointed at the woman, "was the one who started it all. I am only there for a competition, that is all."

"That is not what I asked you, young lady!" Electra said sternly. Denise blinked and clamped her mouth shut.

"Answer the question!" Electra snapped, impatiently. She did not believe that her result was not one beat. There must be someone that had sent this girl, why? She would find out.

"My name is Denise Eleniyan," she finally let out and looked down. Sheila gasped, she sat upright in her seat.

Electra knew she was right, what were the odds that the same day they hosted a competition, a random girl got into a fight with the daughter of one of the richest families in Nigeria? This tout was also running her mouth with no care in the world about what could happen to her. The fact that her name was Denise too? Are they trying to prey on Sheila's pain?

"Sheila," she said, looking intently at the girl, "can I have a moment alone with Miss Eleniyan?" she gritted out, glaring at the girl. She was going to find out what the girl was playing out.

"But..." Sheila started. "Miss Mercy, take Mrs Arabowale outside, to see her daughter."

"Yes Ma'am," Miss Mercy said and ushered the woman out of the room leaving the principal and Denise.

"Look ma'am, I have not done anything wrong, my mother works very hard to care for us, if you call her she will be heartbroken if she finds out that I got into a fight."

"Drop the act little girl!" Electra said, buzzing security. "do you still think this is about that silly little fight you had with Ella?"

"What are you saying?" Denise blinked, if it was not the fight she was talking about then what else? Why were these people acting so strange?