HIM

CHAPTER 21

School was uneventful. From this class to the next; Maths was annoying, the teacher was always shouting, picking on students. I don't blame her for the 'good' grades I scored in maths.

It was lunch time, I decided to use the washrooms first, letting my four friends go ahead of me to the cafeteria.
On my way back, I was met with a smiling Gabriel.
"Hey, " I smiled back.
"I missed you yesterday, where were you? " He asked.
"I was unwell, " I answered, "but am good now."
"Sorry, am glad you are. I couldn't text you though, I got no texts. Sorry, " he said.
"It's OK, let's get going now, shall we? " I requested making a move.
"Here, I got you this, " he said handing me a brown bag.
"What's in here? " I asked taking a peek into the bag.
"Sandwich, " he replied.
"Oh, thank you. So thoughtful of you, " I said smiling at him.

Another day at a table with him and not the others. I chose to eat up the sandwich first.
"Mmm... This is way too sweet, " I said munching into it.
"Honestly Linn, that was my supposed breakfast, but I was late. So my mom packed it for me," he confessed.
I just laughed at him, "I should have known you couldn't do this. "
"Come on, am not mean Linn, " he defended.
"OK, thank you still. Tell your mum I love her, " I told him.
"Love me first, " he said.
We found ourselves laughing though.
That was a joke.
Well, someone walked to our table few minutes later.
The boys did this shoulder hitting greeting, I don't know if it hurt.
He then came and tickled my sides.
"Jesus, Flen! " I gasped, almost getting off my seat.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were ticklish, " he answered not genuinely I know.
He sat down, we chatted away like we'd known each other for years. I was seriously laughing when someone said behind me, "Go slow girl, you're going to fall. "
I turned to see Bill right behind my chair.
"Hi guys, " he greeted, all of the boys standing and giving him this shoulder greeting.
"Hey Bill, good to see you man, " Gabby replied.
"You know him? " I asked Gabriel.
"Yeah, we practise with him football a lot, " Bill answered instead.
"Besides we're in the same class, "Gabby added.
"Oh, and what does he do? " I asked pointing at Flen.
"Sorry, but I don't know about him. Am Bill by the way, " Bill shrugged.
"Flen, " he said.
"Nice to meet you man. Hey Linn, heard you were sick, sorry about it," he said.
"Thanks, am good now."
"Am glad. Let me go over and greet my girls over there, "Bill said pointing to a direction where I turned to see my team girls. I smiled at them because they were already looking.
"Sure, " I said to him.
Honestly, I didn't want him here.
He nodded and winked secretly at me then left.
Thank goodness.
"So, yours is sitting in class and studying only?" I asked turning to face Flen.
"Who said I don't have a life outside studying? " He asked shooting a glare at me.
"I did, that's why you have small meat to cover your bones, " I chuckled out.
"Linn! You're paying for that now, " he declared, up on his seat.
Maybe I should run, but my timing was wrong.
I wasn't halfway up before he sat me back and started tickling me.
I swear I've never had to laugh that much, I was in tears.
"Please stop, am sorry, " I pleaded.
I couldn't even speak it out properly.
He stabled me on my seat and went back to his.
I wiped the tears away, giving out my last bits of laughter. Gabriel just stared at me laughing. He didn't say anything. All around, all eyes were on our table. Well...

School was over for the day, we were all going home. I was kept company by the two senior boys who loved me so much.
Who told you they did?
May was already ahead with Bill, I couldn't spot the other two; Frances, Miranda and Daisy.
Gabriel left so soon, we weren't for the same direction home, leaving the two of us.
I was looking for a way to ask him about Daisy but I couldn't figure how.
"Seeming to be in thoughts, what's up? He asked.
Go on, ask it!
"Nothing really, I mean I just... It's nothing, " I stumbled for words.
"That's not nothing, just tell me. "
"Uhmm, well, do you have siblings? "
I blurted out.
Fool!
"Is that it? " He asked.
"Yes, sure. I mean, I know so little about you, " I explained.
"Linn, meet me at our usual place at 6," he said.
"If you say so, " I replied.
That sounded like a good idea. In fact, I loved it.

I walked into the house smiling so wildly.
"Who's home? " I heard the voice of grandma from the kitchen.
"Grandma is, " I replied making my way to see what she was doing.
"I knew it had to be this silly girl of mine. How was school my child? "
"School was fine, " I answered just as I got in. She was busy mixing things, a whole table of ingredients lying ahead.
"What's the plan? What are you making? "
"Am baking a fruit cake, it's been long and you all left me alone in this big house, " she answered.
"I see, let me help with that, " I said taking the mixer away from her and doing the work.
"Thank you, " she went about beating the eggs, adding baking powder, then flour; whisked it then poured it into the bowl of butter and sugar I was working on.
After all was done, I let her set it in the oven.
"Actually, I have to go somewhere, " I shot up.
"Where to? " she asked.
"Flen asked me to meet him at 6,so am going to change then leave. "
"Oh, I see. Why don't you just stay and say something came up. Down the interest a bit, " she suggested.
Did I even want to do that?
"Granny! " I pouted.
"I only suggested, " she said.
I walked to my room, changed then:
Me
Something came up, sorry.