BURN

Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

“I’m not sure which one sucks more, the Introduction to Medical Biotechnology class or the lecturer?” Jade complained as we filed out of the ITMB class at 1.30 alongside the other students.

“I think I’ll tell you what sucks more; the fact that everybody has been staring at me and whispering since morning,” I said.

“They think you slept with Malcom on that Friday party. It’s all my fault for dragging you there and thinking that make-up would camouflage you,”

“Well, he has slept with girls before but why are they making it a huge deal when it comes to me? Not that even we got to the make-out stage,” I wondered, my face contorted in confusion.

“Because your brother is the Student President obviously,”

“Of course,” I replied.

Pangs of hunger were biting against the pit of my stomach and the bored look on my face must have shown up.

“What do you think if we dropped by Oxygen? I could really use a cold mango smoothie and some fries right now,” she changed the subject to a topic I would easily relate more to at the moment.

“Sounds perfect. I’m starving and we still have one more class at four,” I agreed.

We were about to change direction when suddenly Danny appeared with three guys, all so muscly and tall.

“Just perfect,” I grumbled under my breath.

“So your class is over, huh?” he said, grinding to a halt in front of us. He didn’t bother offering us greetings. So typical of Danny.

“Yes,” I replied aware of the looks passers-by were throwing us. For all I cared, they could be waiting for some brawl to brew up so they could have something to gossip about.

“The guys and I are headed to Kisumu. Both of you should join us,”

“Sorry Danny. We still have one more class and we would not want to miss it,” Jade answered before I could.

“Oh, hello Jade. I didn’t see you there,” he snapped at Jade.

“I just descended from heaven and now if you are done, Sophie and I need to grab some lunch at Oxygen before getting back to another class,” She replied curtly.

“Of course. My friends Andrew and Sean will accompany you,” he snarled.

“Friends is such an expensive word for your goons,” I watched Danny’s face harden a little at Jade’s words.

“Take care of them and don’t even let them out of your sight even for a second. And Sophie, keep your phone on today, we still need to talk about your little meeting with Malcom yesterday,” Danny patted Sean’s broad shoulder before leaving with the third guy.

I huffed lowly before grabbing Jade’s shoulder, whisking her off to Oxygen, the two guys trailing behind us.

“So now this is what I get for going to Malcom’s place,” I mumbled after we placed our order.

“At least this might put off Malcom for a while…or maybe not,” she paled up, looking somewhere behind me.

“Jade…” I trailed turning around.

The words died on my lips when I found Malcom standing right behind me, his face wearing a perfect blank mask. I glanced a few inches behind him, searching wildly in the small crowd in the Diner. Much to my dismay everyone was now looking at us and I could not see the two goons Danny had made to follow us.

“Looking for Andrew and Sean? They are having some…well…little misunderstanding with my guys. They are going to be away for a while,” he flashed me an amused smirk.

I walked towards an empty table, determined to ignore him. Thankfully the red, plastic, round tables painted with the word Coca-Cola on top were just meant for two people. Much to my utter dismay however, he pulled another empty chair sitting next to me. When I raised my eyes to Jade hoping she could help me out, she was just flirting one shocked look from Malcom to I and then back to Malcom.

“What do you want Malcom?” I guess I was left to deal with my own problems.

“Nothing. Can’t friends just have lunch like normal people?” he pushed a toothpick between his lips, twirling it around his mouth.

“I thought I made it clear that I don’t want to be friends with you,” I grinded my jaw, emphasizing on every single word, hoping he would get my point.

“Come on Munchkin,”

“Stop calling me that Malcom. I’m not Munchkin and neither am I your friend,” I was beginning to sound more aggravated by the second.

“And why can’t we be friends?”

“Because I’m just a first year and you are a third year,” I muttered lamely, almost biting my lower lip at my own words. If only I knew how to come up with a better lie.

“Seriously? When you come up with a reason good enough for not wanting to be friends with me, then I’ll stop calling you Munchkin. In the meantime, you’ll be seeing me in your life a lot hella than you see your own brother,” It did not sound like a threat but more like a promise.

“See you around Munchkin,” he walked away, spring in his gait as if he owned the whole damn world.

When finally I dragged my gaze to Jade she was just looking at me. Our order came but still she did not break her gaze.

“What?”

“Munchkin really?”

“I have no idea why he calls me that,” I shrugged lightly, choosing to focus on the pile of fries on my plate.

“You know your brother is going to flip when he learns of this, right?”

“I know,” I agreed.