Isla and her friend, Titi strolled with playful chatters to the locker room to get the textbooks they will need for the next class without any idea of what was going on in the canteen. Checking her wrist watch, she noticed that they had only few minutes left. She crinkled her nose in disgust. “We better hurry Titi before Mrs. Peterson gets to the class before us. I don't want to be in her bad book.” They sauntered towards their locker. Titi and Isla has been friends since childhood and to this effect, she knows almost everybody in the Rockson family except the fact about Phidelia being a twin. Getting to the locker, both turned their respective doors opened.
“Oh,” Titi paused, suddenly remembering something. “Just saw Phildelia earlier on in the hallway, did she get transfered here?” she glanced into her locker, scanning through her neatly packed books for her Calculus textbook. “Hm.” Isla mumbled sharply with a nod, searching through her textbooks. “She did. Mum didn't want her to be alone in her formal school so she transfered her here to join me.”
“Oh I see..” Titi mumbled, tilting her head thoughtfully. “It’s great then.”
They were still chatting and going through their lockers when Freda ran up to them; making then jolt up, startled. Freda was a neighbor who lived few blocks away from the Rocksons. They stared with wide eyes at Freda who was trying hard to catch on her breath. “You startled us Freda.” Titi exuded.
“Sorry.” she hastily answered, panting. “You...you guys should hurry to the canteen. Phidelia is picking up a fight with Tina.” she announced with heavy breathe.
“What?” Isla exclaimed and without another word, slammed her locker door closed and raced towards the canteen, followed by Titi and Freda.
******
The entire student body in the canteen had their attention fixed on Phidelia and Tina with little whispers and murmurs among themselves as nobody ever dared got themselves entangled in Tina’s business. Not even for once and now, there is this new girl standing up to her.
“Does she want to die?” one of the student murmured to her friend.
“Is she crazy? Why look for Tina’s trouble? This is really bad.” another whispered.
After glaring at Phidelia with a dark look for for those few minutes, her lips suddenly parted with those her wolfish grins; suggesting she’ve got something under her sleeves. “Just look at that look on her face Bella, I’m totally freaking out just with a glance.” she uttered wryly, making both Bella and Roxy chuckle with a calculating expression.
Phidelia was by no doubt shaken to the core but still had to hold her cool in order to save a friend. “What did she do that you are treating her like that?” she queried, her expression was hard.
“Why?” Tina chuckled, folding her arms around her chest. “Do you want to take her place?”
“If that's what it takes to make you leave her alone.” she hastily replied without a second thought. “Hey, Delia.” Rowan interrupted, slightly pulling her back. “What the hell are you doing?” he whispered, making Phidelia realize what she had just done but it was too late to change anything.
“O–kay, if that's what you want. Then....” she was interrupted by a voice from behind. They all turned their gaze to direction of the voice to see Isla.
“What do you think you're doing Phidelia?” Isla questioned, approaching her. When she got to where she stood, she held her hand. “Come with me.” she dragged her along out of the canteen.
Tina stared at them with a satisfactory smile as they rounded the corner to the hallway and glanced back at her friends.
“Let’s go girls.” she took the lead, followed by her friends. “This feels so– good.” she stretched with a grin on her face as they staggered out of the canteen. With everything over, the students dispersed to their tables. Some took their empty trays and left whiles others sat to finished their meals. Rowan sighed in relief and check his wrist watch. There was only 10mins more to go before the bell rangs for the next lesson but then, he had to pass by Mr. Jacobs office for their last test sheets before heading to class. He glanced back at their table and seeing that Phidelia hadn't left anything, he hurried off.
When Isla and Phidelia got to the hallway which was quiet empty with no or less students passing by, she let go off her; turning to face her, etched.
“Such a show you put up there Phidelia.” she roared, “Did you even know what you have done?”
“But she....”
“But she what? Why don't you learn not to bat your nose into people's business? What you just did,” she paused, drawing a bit closer to her as she mildly hit a finger on her chest. “You, just, bought, yourself, an enemy.” she seized her and stormed off. “You should be thinking more about your health Phidelia not looking for trouble.” she shouted over her shoulders. “This is so tiring, I don't understand why mum even brought her here.” she heard Isla say as she rounded the corner, taking up the corridors to her Calculus class.
With a doleful look, Phidelia sighed, looking down at her feet with lots of thoughts running through her mind. “Why have I always been a burden to my family?” she leaned on the wall, staring up into space. “Isla is right, I shouldn't have involved myself.” she sighed, “I miss you so much Phidel.” She sniffed the near tears away. She was still in deep thoughts when the bell ranged, bringing her back to reality. She checked her watch and rushed off.
She hurried up through the corridors of the classrooms hoping to get to her class before the teacher walks in. The hearty and playful chatters from the class as she neared it made her relaxed a bit. She slowly pushed the door opened, stepping in. Only to see Tina sitting on the opposite desk next to hers. She flustered a little, walking in slow paces as she stared quizzically at Rowan who just shrugged.
She glanced at Tina once again as she neared her desk before stepping in. She was about to take her seat when someone pushed her chair, making her fall heavily on her ass. “Delia–” Rowan panicked.
She winched from the impart, “I’m okay.” she assured Rowan, glancing at Tina who shrugged with a mischievous smile on her face. “How did it feel?” she growled. At that instant, the teacher walked in. Tina turned her attention to the teacher whiles Phidelia dusted her hands and shrugged up from the floor; lifted the chair and took her seat.
“Are you sure you are okay?” whispered Rowan with a concerned look.
“Hmm..” she involuntarily closed her eyes with a nod.
“Open to page 19.” The teacher started, drawing everybody's attention to her. The lesson continued for the next hour or two and soon, the bell rang for closing. “See you all tomorrow.” she announced and sauntered out of the class.
The students also wasted no time making their way out of the class. “See you tomorrow Delia.” Rowan bid his farewell as Phidelia hurried off through the other side of the corridors to meet up with Isla.
“Bye..” she shouted over her shoulders.
*****
It was around 4:30pm when Isla and Phidelia got home. They are mostly the first to get home after school as Jade was usually picked up from school by their father. Isla slowly pushed the door opened, walking in with a fixed look, followed by Phidelia who looked kind of dull. Emma hearing the door creek opened from the terrace behind the kitchen, glided into the main house to see Isla and Phidelia stepping in. She was quiet surprised to see Isla in that look as she had never seen her returned from school like that.
“Hey, what's that look? What happened?” she queried as she approached them.
“You should ask Phidelia.” she exuded and rushed off to her room with heavy feet which needed no one to say how angry she was. They both stared as she glided up the stairs and Phidelia sighed.