“I heard what happened this morning, Camilla!” Beatrice said as we placed our food on the table.
“That Jenny of a girl is a bitch, she’s driving me crazy, She’s going to make me kill her and bury her 10ft into the ground without anyone knowing,” Beatrice seethed and I rolled my eyes with her exaggerating statement.
“Lucas was there to help me,” I murmured pinching my chocolate doughnuts.
“He’s so protective of you, he’s just a psycho most times,” Beatrice said with her mouth full as she munched on her strawberry-filled doughnuts.
“He mentioned someone when he kissed me in the hallway,” I said biting my lips as I blinked at Beatrice who drew her chair closer to me making a screeching noise.
“Can you please stop with that screeching noise each time you draw your chair?” I asked annoyingly, it has always been her habit and I’m not in the mood to listen to anything that will block my eardrums.
“Yeah, sorry, so who did he mention?” She asked keenly making me get amused with the way she behaves when it comes to gossiping or hearing new fascinating things.
“He mentioned Lola, he said I looked like her,” I said.
“Who’s Lola?” Beatrice asked confused staring at me.
“I don’t know too, I thought he would talk about it but he didn’t say anything, I also noticed how sad he was throughout today,” I explained.
“Maybe you should ask him about it,” Beatrice said rubbing her jaw with her fingers like she had beards.
“I don’t want to and I don’t care to know who the person is, What if he is mistaking me for another person?” I asked.
“Well, he’s the only person who has the answers,” Beatrice said sipping her strawberry milkshake.
I nodded and started eating my doughnuts but it felt odd in my mouth, it seems I’ve lost my appetite.
“Hey, are you okay? You look off,” Beatrice tapped my hands as I stared at her preoccupied.
“Yeah, well not really, we’re having an excursion,” I sighed dropping my doughnuts on the tissue paper.
“That sounds great but why are you not happy with it?” Beatrice asked staring at me.
“Well, the money is kinda much and I don’t want mum to get bothered and disturbed about it, you know things are a bit difficult for us,” I sighed sadly while she stared morosely.
“I understand how you feel, Camilla,” Beatrice smiled tightly.
“Yeah,” I smiled wearily as I gazed at my left doughnuts.
“What’s the excursion about?” Beatrice asked.
“Imagine, we’ll be going to the Pacific ocean, this school is just so crazy,” I chuckled softly.
“Wow, Pacific ocean,” Beatrice said surprised too.
“Mr. Kent said it will be fun, there will be snorkeling, scuba diving… Kayaque–”
“Kayaking, ” Beatrice corrected with a smile.
“The excursion will be interesting and thrilling,” She added.
“Whatever,” I said rolling my eyes while she chuckled.
“He mentioned the school authority said it was compulsory for all students in the final science department to attend or else our results will be degraded,” I breathed depressed.
“That’s crazy…” Beatrice said.
“Yeah, but we know how this school is…” I sighed.
“How much are we talking about here and when are you paying it?” Beatrice asked.
“$2, 500 and we have to pay before next week Friday, we’re going the next Saturday,” I explained dejectedly.
“Don’t worry about it, we’ll sort it out,” Beatrice smiled and I stared at her suspiciously.
“What?” She asked when she noticed my scrutinizing gaze on her.
“Don’t tell me you are planning on doing something about it?” I asked.
“I haven’t said anything though,” Beatrice smirked.
“See, you don’t need to–”
“Hey, Camilla,” A babyish voice interrupted what I was about to say as we snapped our head in the direction.
I saw the blonde girl that was bullied this morning by Jenny and her crew.
“Hey!!” I greeted staring at her amused.
“Hi, I’m Jessica but you can call me Jessie,” She said smiling.
“So, Jessie how are you doing?” I asked smiling at her.
“I’m fine, I just wanted to say thank you for being there for me this morning, and I wanted to apologize for what those seniors did to you,” She said gloomily.
“It’s okay dear, everything is in the past now,” I assured her as she smiled faintly at me exposing her gap teeth in the front.
She looks cute.
“Thank you once again, I would get going,” She said.
“Yeah, Bye,” I smiled and she nodded waving her hands as she walked away.
“Who’s that?” Beatrice asked.
“The girl I wanted to save and making me end up in Jenny’s trap,” I explained.
“Ohh!” Beatrice said and sipped her drink.
“Yeah,” I smiled.
“Eat up, Camilla! You barely touched your lunch!” Beatrice said eyeing my doughnuts.
“I don’t feel hungry,” I yawned.
“Then let me eat it,” Beatrice grinned as she wanted to take my doughnuts while I slapped her hands away.
“Ouch! I thought you said you are not eating it,” Beatrice pouted.
“I said I didn’t feel like eating, I didn’t mention I won’t be eating at all,” I smirked while she glared at me playfully.
“Whatever!” She smirked back too as she gazes around the canteen to the place where Lucas, Jenny, and their crews were sitting.
“Looking for Ben?” I asked tauntingly and she jerked.
“No! You stupid,” She chuckled as a tint of pinkish color appeared on her face while she bit her lips.
“Hmmm! seems someone is in love and missing him badly already,” I said purposely earning a glare from Beatrice.
“I will kill you,” Beatrice threatened.
“That’s a lie,” I said sticking out my tongue at her.
I glanced towards Lucas’s table to see if he was there but he wasn’t instead I saw Jenny’s menacing and hurtful gaze staring at me with those eyes that say she would kill me.
*
*
*
It was late at night and everyone has retired to their room, I chatted with mum in the kitchen earlier as we talked about what happened at her workplace.
I noticed her slight coughs but decided not to say anything about it.
Lillian came home a bit late and I saw some hickeys on her neck as she tried to hide it with her hair but was stupid enough not to notice it was showing but mum wasn’t aware of it.
She greeted us casually and went up to her room.
I wanted to tell mum about the excursion as I stirred uncomfortably on my bed.
After several deliberation and arguments in my head, I decided to stand up and go to her room.
I walked downstairs, well her room was down while I and Lillian’s room was up.
I had gotten to the front of her room and was about to knock but stopped myself from doing so.
I thought about how weary and tired she was this evening and I wouldn’t want to add more burdens on her shoulders, so I decided against it.
I rather let my grades be low than let mum suffer and there’s no minimal job that would fetch me $2500 before the week runs out.
I sighed and went back to my room accepting my fate, my dream of becoming the best graduating student was to be crushed by an excursion.
I laid on my bed facing the ceilings with my clasped hands on my stomach as I wondered if life could be anything harder.