Chapter 2 A means of revenge

Mira walked alongside Melissa as they toured the school.

“Over there is the computer laboratory, and directly opposite it is the science lab,” Mira said, pointing to each lab’s direction.

“And then lastly for our tour,” she said with a deep sigh, “Over there is the school’s cafeteria.

“ Yeah," Melissa said as her countenance fell. “ I guess I’m familiar with that place.”

Mira’s brow furrowed. “Hey, you don't have to feel bad for what happened to you okay?”

Melissa looked up.

“Nicole has always been a dick and everyone in Jasonville knows that” she continued.

“Thank you Mira” Melissa said, almost tearing up.

“It’s fine,” Mira replied in a whisper. “You'd better wipe those tears before the boogey man gets to see them.

Melissa laughed.

“Thank you for helping me regain my smile,” she said, smiling.

Mira rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. We'd better start heading back to the class before it gets too late. Believe me, Mr. Carter’s class is the last thing you'd ever want to miss.”

Melissa raised an eyebrow. “Are we really in the same class?”

“Tsk,”

A beat of silence then,

“I hate to break it to you but that's exactly what it is.”

Melissa jumped on Mira and hugged her tightly. “This has been the best news I've received today.”

“That's enough, can we start heading back to class now?” Mira said, freeing herself from Melissa’s grip.

On their way to class, Melissa asked. “How did you find out we are in the same class?”

“The principal told me.”

“That isn’t baaad,” Melissa said. “But he was supposed to take permission from me before announcing my class to anyone.”

“Well, I guess those are some of the privileges that come with being a student ambassador.”

The two girls laughed.

As they hurried down the hallway to the class, Melissa mistakenly bumped into someone, scattering her books all over the place.

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry, I didn't mean to do that” she said, crouching to the floor and picking up the books she had scattered.

She handed them over to the student who snatched the book from her hands.

“The next time a shadow of yours comes in contact with my skin, consider yourself dead meat in this school.”

The student walked past them before Melissa had even had a chance to reply.

“Alexa,” Mira whispered into Melissa’s ear.

“Melisaa looked confused. “Why the whisper?”

“That’s because she's the most popular in this school and the most revered. You're so lucky for her skin to have rubbed against yours.”

“But that's never an achievement,” Melissa countered.

“Definitely it is,” Mira said amidst smiles.

The lessons had already begun when the girls got to class.

During the lesson, Nicole kept whispering jokes to the students around him, causing bursts of laughter throughout the classroom.

Mr. Carter, who was writing on the board, turned around and the class fell silent.

“I won't tolerate anyone disturbing my class. Any culprit found will be used as an example,” he said, turning back to the board.

But the moment he turned around, the giggles and whispering continued.

A wave of resentment crossed Mr. Carter’s face. “That’s it.!! I’ve had enough.”

The class fell silent immediately seeing how outraged he was.

“Julian Parker, get out of my class,” Mr. Carter barked, his eyes filled with rage.

“What?!,” Julian screamed in shock. I barely even spoke today.”

“If you do not leave now, you will get banned from this class for the session.”

Julian quietly walked out of the class while staring at Nicole.

Nicole mouthed “I’m sorry” from across his seat.

Julian was Nicole’s best friend and the two were accomplices in crimes.

So Mr. Carter had concluded Julian was responsible for the noise.

After Julian was sent out, a sharp silence cut through the classroom with no student, daring to interrupt the class.

A few minutes into the lesson, Mr. Carter turned to the class with the marker still in his hands. “So who can help me solve this puzzle?”

For a moment, the class fell quiet a second time.

“Is anyone willing to try?, Anyone at all. Mr.Carter’s voice echoed through the class.

But the students sat still.

Mr.Carter’s eyes narrowed down to Nicole.

“Not me please,” Nicole muttered to himself.

“ Nicole Caldwell, do you mind assisting us?” Mr. Carter said with a smirk.

All eyes turned to him.

Melissa was shocked when she heard his name. She turned around to see if he was truly the one.

Her jaw dropped.

She turned to Mira who was sitting next to her and said in a whisper. “ Are my eyes deceiving me?”

“No it's not,” Mira said, scribbling notes into her notebook.

Melissa became agitated. “What the fuck is he doing here?”

“He’s fucking attending classes babe.”

“Why didn't you tell me I was in the same class with that scumbag?”

Mira had barely replied Melissa when Mr. Carter’s voice cut through the class a second time, disrupting their conversation.

“Yes?, Mr.Caldwell. We are still waiting for you.”

Nicole shrugged his shoulders. “I really do not have any idea.”

“Well, I thought as much too,” Mr. Carter said, raising an eyebrow.

The class broke into laughter.

Mr. Carter smirked. “He’s never had any idea since he came into this grade. His brain always goes blank when it comes to academics.”

The whole class erupted into laughter a second time, leaving Nicole red-faced.

When Melissa saw the humiliation written on his face, she smiled. “That serves him right.” she thought to herself.

“Will anyone here be kind enough to help with the puzzle?” Mr.Carter said, pointing to the board.

Melissa turned to the board and looked at Nicole.

What Mr.Carter wanted them to solve was just a piece of cake and she could easily do it with the snap of her fingers.

But she didn't want to solve it earlier since it was her first day at school. She preferred to stay hidden rather than draw attention to herself.

But now that Nicole was involved, she didn't mind going to any extent just to vent her anger on him for what he did to her earlier.

“May I?” she said with a smile as she walked to the board.

Mr.Carter stepped back and opened his palm towards her.

Whispers rippled through the class once more, breaking the silence.

“Silence!!” Mr.Carter shouted.

Melissa solved the puzzle accurately, her confidence unshaken as she handed the marker in her hand to Mr.Carter.

“Are you done?” he asked in astonishment.”

“Most definitely Sir, " she replied, heading back to her seat.

Mr. Carter stared at the board for a while, stunned with surprise.

Tension filled the air like a heavyweight as each eye in the classroom turned towards Mr. Carter.

They all wanted to hear the outcome of the new student’s performance.

“She’s absolutely right!!” Mr. Carter shouted as a soft smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The whole class erupted into applause for Melissa.

But not Nicole who was still finding it difficult to believe that the girl who was responsible for the punishment melted on him by the principal was in the same class as he was.

He turned to look at her and their eyes met, locked onto each other for a while.

Melissa gave a slight smirk before looking away which made Nicole’s heart beat faster than he wanted it to.

His blood simmered. “This was definitely an intentional act. She did this to get back at me,” he whispered to himself.

“I guess you're new,” Mr.Carter said, breaking into Nicole’s thoughts.

“Yes Sir,” Melissa replied with a smile.

“And you are?”

“Melissa Whitmore,”

“Melissa Whitmore, you're welcome to Jasonville. And it was a pleasure having you in my class,” Mr.Carter said before walking out of the class.

Mira giggled excitedly. “You nailed it, girl!!”

Melissa rolled her eyes. “Thank you”

“I think I've just gotten myself a reading partner.”

Melissa smiled. “You’re welcome.”

“Who do we have here if it's not the girl from the cafeteria?” Nicole teased, walking towards Melissa’s seat.

The whole class burst into laughter.

Melissa glared at Nicole, her heart racing fast.

Nicole scowled at her “ Do you feel satisfied now?”

Melissa looked down, trying to avoid eye contact with him. “I do not know what you're talking about.”

Nicole flared up in anger. “Oh, are you going to pretend now?”

Melissa said nothing.

“You tried to humiliate me during Mr.Carter’s class didn't you?”

The silence that came from Melissa hit Nicole harder than any words could.

He snapped. “You give me a reply when I’m talking to you.”

Still, Melissa said nothing.

Mira stood up, pushing Nicole slightly away. “That's enough.”

Nicole scowled. “What are you now?,  a mouthpiece?”

Mira flinched. “If you do not step back now, I’ll report you to the principal.”

Julian, who returned to the class immediately after Mr.Carter left, walked up to Nicole and tugged at his sleeves.

“Come on man, let it slide.”

“Do not fucking touch me!!” Nicole yelled, yanking his hand off and walking away.