The alarm blared at 5 a.m. sharp. I groaned but forced myself up. Morning was my favorite time to study quiet, calm, my brain sharper than any other hour. I'd been like that since I was nine, cramming for my common entrance exams. People called me a nerd, but I wasn't. I just loved learning, and God had blessed me with a memory that stuck like glue.
By 5:15, I was bent over my timetable Maths this morning. Perfect. My favorite subject. I had exactly forty-five minutes before Mum's coffee summons, so I buried myself in equations.
At the bus stop, I spotted Sam waving at me from the back. I started toward her when something slammed into me hard from behind.
"Holy crap! Watch where you're " I began, but before I could finish, the bus jolted over a bump and I fell flat on the floor.
Laughter exploded around me. My cheeks burned hot. Whoever had hit me didn't even bother to help — just laughed along with everyone else.
I pushed myself up and turned. Of course. Kendrick.
Kendrick Onowo, the school's golden bad boy. Rich. Arrogant. Untouchable. He smirked at me like I was dirt under his shoe.
Rage boiled in my chest. I marched forward, my knee aiming straight for his precious jewels
But the bus hit another bump, throwing me off balance. Just before I toppled again, Kendrick caught me. For a moment, I almost thought he was being decent. My breath caught in my throat.
Then, just as quickly, he let me drop.
The bus roared with laughter. Humiliation wrapped around me like fire, and tears stung my eyes. I was so grateful I'd worn the longer skirt today otherwise, I'd never hear the end of it.
My first thought wasn't even about Kendrick. It was about Mum. If she hadn't forced me to ride the bus instead of letting me go with Ashley, none of this would've happened. The thought made my chest ache, and I buried my face in my hands, too ashamed to move.
"Feel smart now, Mr. Sweet Face?"
Sam's voice cut through the laughter. I lifted my head, blinking through tears and gasped. Kendrick sat frozen, drenched in ketchup.
The bus fell silent. No one dared touch him. No one... except my best friend.
I burst into laughter, the sound raw and shaky but so needed.
Kendrick's eyes blazed. This was the boy who once shaved another student's head just for copying his haircut. The boy who dyed a teacher's hair blue for refusing to "gift" him marks. He was dangerous. And now, I'd dragged Sam into his bad books with me.
Still, anger surged through my veins. I marched up to him, spat right on his perfect face, and hissed, "That's for not apologizing."
A slow clap echoed from behind me. Then another. Soon, the whole bus was clapping, cheering even.
Kendrick's glare could have buried me thirty feet underground.
"Great," I muttered to myself. "Now Sam and I are officially dead."
When we reached school, Sam and I headed straight for our lockers without a word. My hands shook as I pulled out my books. I turned to her, guilt swelling in my chest.
"Sam... thank you. For standing up for me. That was the sweetest thing anyone's ever done. I'm sorry though you've had a crush on him forever, and I just"
She cut me off with a hug. "Addy, don't apologize. I should have stood up for you sooner. And don't thank me for pouring ketchup on him I know you would've done worse."
She wasn't wrong.
Sam smiled sadly. "I know why you cried. Because if your mum had let you ride with Ashley, this wouldn't have happened."
I froze. She knew me too well. That was why she was my best friend.
I hugged her tight. "I love you, Sam."
"I love you too," she whispered, just as the bell rang, calling us to class.