HIDDEN

Chapter 5

All eyes were on her. Mia became nervous. She looked at the ground to avoid eye contact.
"Listen up! We have a new student in our midst. Her name is-", Mrs. Okafor motioned to Mia to introduce herself. "Oh, umm- Mia, Mia Parker."

"She'll be joining us starting today. She's resuming a little later than the rest of you so try to help her catch up on lectures and notes she's missed."

Mrs. Okafor then looked at her and said, "You can go to the available seat there", she pointed at a seat on the second row beside the wall facing outside.

"Oh no no no! Why!" Mia panicked as she saw the seat was directly in front of the guy that helped her.

She shook her head at the teacher in disapproval but Mrs. Okafor kept a stern face indicating that she should go sit down.

As she went to her seat, she saw the guy look at her briefly with a straight face then looked back down at the book in front of him.

"Hey, I dont wanna sit near you either", she said to herself annoyed. She finally sat down and brought out her books because class had started.

"Pssst, hey."
Mia heard a voice then turned to see it was the girl sitting next to her that called her.

The girl was brown skinned, had dark brown eyes and medium length curly hair that was packed up in an afro. She also wore glasses.

"Mia right", she asked.
"Yeah?", Mia replied.
"Oh, it's so good to have another black person here", she said this because Mia is black but light-skinned.
"Uh-yeah, kindof", Mia responded.

The teacher looked back to see where the noise was coming from but everywhere was quiet. She then turned back to the board.

"You must be from around here right", the girl continued.
"Well, yes and no. My mum is Egyptian while my dad is American", Mia pointed out.
"Seriously, you're from Africa. I'm also from Africa, well, from Nigeria to be specific.... I'm Chimamanda by the way but you can call me Amanda."
"Chi-ma- (sigh) You're name is as hard to pronounce as the teacher."
"Oh, that's because she's my mum. My name is Chimamanda Okafor. I'm actually also new here but I resumed at the day of resumption. You could borrow my notes if you'd like."
"Really? Thanks, I appreciate it."
"No problem."

"Chimamanda! Is there anything you'd like to discuss with the class", said Mrs. Okafor sternly.
"N-No ma'am", Chimamanda stammered.
Mrs. Okafor overlooked it and went back to what she was teaching. She was their Mathematics teacher.

The two of them giggled and paid attention to the class.

   ~■~
Classes went on until it was lunch time. Students began heading to the cafeteria.

"Hey Amanda, could you refrain from talking to me during classes?" Mia asked.
"Why?" Amanda asked confused as she packed her bag.
"Oh, its nothing. It's just that I- really don't want to get in trouble especially on my first day", she said timidly.
"Oh so you're a stifler for the rules huh?"
"Ummm-"
"Don't worry, I'm just joking. Whatever you say, I dont mind.... Oh and you can take this", Amanda said giving Mia some of her notes.
"Thanks once again",Mia said as she took it from her.

Just then, the guy that helped Mia stood up and left the class.

"Wanna sit with me at lunch?" asked Amanda.
"Yeah ok. I'll meet you there. I just have to take care of something first", Mia said looking at the guy as he left the class.
"What's she looking at?" Amanda thought.

Mia carried her bag and went after him.

"Hey, wait up!" she said as she tried struggling through the crowd. She was about to reach him. "I didn't catch your- OOF!"
She bumped into someone which made her fall to the ground.

"Are you alright?" she heard a girl say. As she looked up she saw three people in front of her, one of which was the guy that helped her.

The girl stretched out her hand to help her up.

She was really pretty with long blonde hair and brown eyes. Her blue shirt was long-sleeved which meant she was a senior.
The guy beside her was also good-looking with slightly long black hair and black eyes with a curious but smug look on his face. He was also wearing a long-sleeved shirt.

Three of them together looked like models.

"I'm so sorry for bumping into you", Mia apologized as she took the girls hand to stand up.

"Its ok. You don't have to apologize. You're the one that fell", the girl said smiling. She then looked towards the guy that helped Mia  and asked her, "I see you were calling for my brother?"

"BROTHER?!....