MY STRANGE ADDICTION

CHAPTER TWO

The door creaked. Mom must be home already. I dashed across my room and slammed the door. I locked it instantly with the key. I wasn't in the mood for any kind of conversation. "Stacy, are you home" mom called. Her footsteps grew louder as she ascended the stairs. I flipped through the pages of my literature textbook. "Stacy" she knocked softly on the door. "I'm fine" I said loud enough for her to hear. She let out a long sigh. "Would you mind opening the door, I wanna talk to you" she requested. I groaned within me. I'm not in the mood to talk right now.

I dragged my feet to the door and unlocked it. "Evening mom" I said casually. She strolled into my room. "Stacy, is it ok if my daughter stays here with us?" she asked. I know she has a daughter and her daughter stays with her mom. I don't understand why she has to stay with us. "why?" I asked. She drew in a deep breathe. "Grandma is sick so....... " she trailed off. "oh! ok" I agreed though I don't think it'll be a good idea. "I'll go pick her up now" she walked out of my room. I laid flat on my bed. My phone beeped but I laid still with my eyes closed.

Why the hell is my phone so loud? I opened my eyes slowly. Gosh! How long did I sleep? I rubbed my eyes sleepily with my left hand while I picked up my phone, which was lying on the bed beside me. I swiped to receive the call. "Hey Candy what's up" I said. "You sound like you're frowning your face again" she laughed hard. "Ah ah ah, funny" I rolled my eyes. "Why did you call?" I asked. "Just felt like" she giggled.

"Stacy, dinner is ready" Mom called loudly. "Gotta go, bye" I hung up. The breeze blew my curtain up and I got a glimpse of the darkness that has engulfed the sky. Oh shit! I've not even completed my assignment let alone read and it's already late.

"Stacy" mom called again. I sprang up to my feet. "Coming" I shouted. I descended the stairs sluggishly. I stopped abruptly when I sighted an unfamiliar face. Ok, so mom finally brought her daughter home. I studied the girl for a while. She was dark skinned. Her short black hair was braided into two, she has pink lips, and she should be around 13 years old.

"Where's dad?" I asked mom, pulling out a chair to sit. "He's not coming, he has a very important matter to attend to in the office" She dished out the food. Well, that's a relieve anyways. Mom introduced her daughter to me. Her name is Winnie and like I guessed, she's 13. She seemed like a quiet girl.

After dinner, I went back to my room. I slumped on the chair and flipped through the pages of my notebook.

NEXT MORNING

"Come on girls" mom urged. I quickly grabbed my backpack and raced down the stairs. I stuffed some chocolates into my mouth. "I'm ok with this" I said to mom who was holding a lunch box filled with pancakes. "Are you sure?" she asked giving me a surprised look. "I'll take it" I changed my mind and collected the lunch box from her. Winnie and I got into the backseat. I brought out a book from my bag. "You like reading a lot, don't you?" Winne said. I was taken aback by her question. She smiled and said, "Mom told me you love reading". "I guess I do" I smiled. "Reading sucks" she scoffed. "I find it fun" I said sincerely. "we're different" she said. Yeah, that's true. We're different. Mom stepped on the brake and the car came to a halt. Winnie got off and waved at us. "Bye Stacy, see Yah later". My mouth curved into a smile. I think I like Winnie. She's cool.

After mom dropped me off, my expression changed again. My forehead creased. I can't just help but frown. It has become part of me. Candy greeted me with a sweet smile. "Smile, smile" she pulled my cheek. I shrugged her hands off. "Let me be candy" I faked a smile. I opened the book I was reading earlier in the car. "Don't you ever get tired of reading?" Kachi snatched the book from me. I glared at him and he slowly dropped the book on my table. "You're proud" he stated before walking away. Damn! I'm not proud, I'm not proud one bit. I just find it difficult relating with boys because of the experience I have at home. I always distance myself from boys but no matter how I hate them or try to avoid them, I always have to deal with them. Our school is a mixed school. It would have been better if I was attending a school for girls only or maybe if I were to be home schooled.

"Niyi!" some girls screamed and I raised my head automatically. Wow! So he came to school today. Naturally, apart from my hatred for boys, I just dislike Niyi. He always miss school without a good excuse and worse of all, he is sitting directy in front of me. I'm so glad he dislikes me just like I dislike him. I watched him disgustingly as he took his seat.

Mrs Rowland walked into the class. Her eyes darted around the classroom like she was searching for something. Her forehead creased as she sighted Niyi. "Niyi, stand up" Mrs Rowland instructed. He reluctantly stood up, his chair made a slight noise. "Why were you not in school yesterday?" she asked. "I was sick" he answered. "Sick indeed! He doesn't even look like someone who could have fallen sick" I said unconsciously. Niyi turned back abruptly. "What did you say?"  he asked staring at me, his jaw clenched. Oh sh**t, I should not have said that loudly but I did and I wasn't ready to back out. "You don't look like someone that is sick" I maintained. The furrow on his forehead tightened as he clenched his fist. "That's none of your business. And who the hell are you to interfere in what I say?" he said with gritted teeth. I scoffed. "I need to interfere because I know you're lying" I snapped. "Keep quiet" he yelled. "I'm right, you're lying" I maintained. "Keep quiet you two!" Mrs Rowland instructed. "Out of my class! You have detention for two hours" Mrs Rowland sterned. Oh no! I hate detention. This is all because of him. Mrs Rowland gave me a hard look and I tagged right behind Niyi out of the class. I sat down angrily and groaned as I caressed my butt.

Niyi sat at the other end of the classroom. "This is your fault" I hissed. He turned to me angrily. "Learn to mind your business" he bellowed.  I rolled my eyes. So annoying!

I walked out of the detention class after two hours. Niyi almost knocked me off my feet. "You're such an asshole!" I spat as he ran off. I met Candy in the hallway. "Hey, let's talk" she pulled me to a secluded place. "What?" I raised an eyebrow. "Don't give me that look Stacy, what you did was wrong" she said sounding pissed. I rolled my eyes. "You ought to apologize to him" She sterned. "Why should I apologize? I didn't do anything wrong" I stated. She sighed. "Look, I don't know why you always act like this honestly, it's getting too much. Kachi complained about you and now, Niyi" she said. "Whatever it is that is making you act like this towards boys, I don't care but you really need to stop, it sucks" she continued. "I've know you for five good years and I know that you don't act like this towards girls. It's only the boys. It's not fair. All of them think the worst of you now. They all think you're proud and arrogant. Please Stacy, change!" She said and walked away.

Tears flooded my eyes and I slowly rested my back on the wall. She's right but it's just so difficult. The memory of my dad beating my mom flashed through my head again and I held my head tightly. I groaned continuously. Would I really be able to change? Would I be able to relate freely with the opposite sex?

I decided to change. I'll only relate with them on friendship level. Love, going into a romantic relationship with them, I'll try to keep away from it. "Mom, I won't make the same mistake you made" I sobbed silently.