"What are you doing, Joshua?" Simi hissed under her breath, gripping his arm and pulling him away from the growing crowd. "Stop it. Not everyone in Richmond is like us."
Joshua scoffed, shaking her off. "Relax, Simi. "It's not that serious." His tone was casual, but his eyes gleamed with something else—something reckless.
Across from him, Philip stood with his hands in his pockets, watching silently.
Joshua jerked his chin toward a boy at the edge of the crowd. "That Johnny kid thought he could race me. "I just had to show him he's not fast enough." A smirk tugged at his lips.
Simi let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing her temples.
Then, Joshua's gaze flicked towards me, his expression shifting. His smirk faded into something more calculating. "And who are you?"
"Dara Johnson," I said, meeting Joshua's gaze. "I'm new."
Before he could respond, Simi stepped in. "Just because you're superfast doesn't mean you should be showing off."
Joshua rolled his eyes. "Oh, please, Simi. "I don't need a lecture—especially not from you." His smirk returned. "Heard you got into a fight the other day."
Simi tensed beside me, lips pressing into a thin line.
Before she could respond, a voice called from behind us. "Hey, another round?"
We turned. James stood there, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
Joshua arched a brow, intrigued. But before he could speak, Simi cut in, her voice firm. "No, he doesn't need another round."
Joshua glanced between her and James, then chuckled. "Now, I guess we both know who really needs to stop showing off."
James chuckled.
"Hey, I'm Joshua," he said, extending a hand as he stepped toward James.
James took it, and just like that, the two fell into an easy conversation, their voices blending as they walked away.
I glanced at simi. Whose jaw was already clenched, eyes dark with irritation.
"Simi—" I started, but she had already raised her hand, fingers slicing through the air in a slow, deliberate motion.
Before I could blink, Joshua and James collapsed to the ground.
Simi smirked. "Next time, show some respect," she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder before striding away.
I hurried after her, my pulse quickening. "Simi, that was—"
Then, in a blur, Joshua was suddenly in front of us. His expression was unreadable, but his stance was tense.
"Sorry," I blurted out. "She didn't mean to."
Before he could respond, the low growl of an engine broke the tension.
A sleek black car pulled up near the entrance. The tinted window slid down, revealing sharp eyes and a familiar face—Benji.
Simi's features softened instantly. "Need a ride?" she asked.
I shook my head. "No, my mom should be here any second."
She nodded. "See you tomorrow, then."
With that, she slid into the car, the door closing with a soft click.
The tires crunched against the pavement as the car sped away, leaving me standing between Joshua and James, the weight of the moment still heavy in the air.
"I see you and Simi are friends, huh?" Joshua's question cut through the quiet. His voice carried a teasing edge as he glanced at me.
I nodded. "Yeah."
A smirk played on his lips. "Guess I'll see you around, then. I better get going."
I frowned. "You're walking? Or is your house nearby?"
Joshua chuckled, stretching his arms. "Who needs a car when you have speed?"
And just like that, he was gone—nothing but a blur, the wind rustling in his wake.
I barely had time to process it before the familiar hum of my mom's car pulled up beside me.
"Bye," I murmured to James before slipping inside.
As soon as I closed the car door, Mom's sharp gaze flicked at him immediately. "Who's that?"
"A new student. "He started today," I said, adjusting my bag.
She hummed, watching him through the rearview mirror. "And why is he still here? No one coming for him?"
I hesitated. "I... I don't know."
Without another word, she honked twice. "Go ask if he needs a ride. We can drop him off."
I sighed, pushing the door open. Stepping out, I met James' eyes.
"Do you want a ride?" I asked, my voice softer now.
He hesitated. A flicker of something crossed his face—doubt? Surprise? Then, after a moment, he gave a small nod and stepped toward the car.
The ride was quiet, the hum of the engine filling the silence. James sat still, his gaze fixed on the passing streets, as if lost in thought.
Then, in a low voice, he spoke. "Twelve Andrews Street, ma."
Mom gave a small nod. "Alright."
A few minutes later, she pulled up in front of a modest house with a faded green gate.
"Thanks for the ride, ma," James said as he stepped out, his voice polite but distant.
Mom offered a warm smile. "You're welcome, dear." Have a good evening."
James gave a small nod before shutting the door, his steps unhurried as he made his way toward the house.
As soon as Mom put the car in reverse, she glanced at me. "You said he just started at your school today?"
"Yeah," I replied, adjusting my glasses. "Why?"
She tapped her fingers against the steering wheel. "Nothing… just that he seemed a little troubled."
I shrugged. "Maybe first-day nerves," I said with a laugh, trying to shake off the thought.
Mom chuckled. "First-day nerves, huh? Like the ones you had when we moved to Benin City?"
A groan escaped me as I covered my face with my hands. "Oh, Mom, please."
She laughed, the warmth in her voice filling the car as she drove on.
The next morning, Friday, marked my third day at Richmond College. Mom had an early shift at the hospital, so Dad had to drop me off.
As soon as we pulled into the school compound, my eyes landed on James stepping out of a sleek black car. His dad had dropped him off too. But that wasn't what caught my attention.
It was my father standing by the car, engaged in an easy, familiar conversation with James's dad. They weren't just exchanging polite greetings. They talked like old friends, their laughter mingling in the cool morning air.
A strange feeling curled in my chest. Did they know each other?
James, unaware of my curiosity, was already heading toward the classroom. I hurried after him, weaving through the sea of students.
"Good morning," I said as I caught up to him, my voice light but my mind buzzing with questions.
Hey, he replied.