the mistake

It was one beautiful morning of a splendid day and schools had just opened. Evelyn Wellington, a seventeen year old lower six student at Nashville high school was sitting next to her boyfriend, Damien Torpedo, talking as any teenage couple would do when Ms Thompson, their literature teacher came in. The couple separated, they never sat together in tutorials. Lyn sat in front with a girl she always thought was weird, but both of them had short sight so this was the perfect spot for both of them. The girl was way too quiet, reserved, clumsy and her hygiene was poor. She would have helped her pertaining her hygiene but didn't know where to start from since she knew the girl as Stephanie Livingston, a girl who didn't tolerate anyone in her space. Miss Wellington was trying to settle down when a knock was heard from the door. Her heart raced instantly. She looked at her boyfriend who sat at the back of the class with his friends, stared at him for a few seconds then her eyes back to the door. Ms Thompson shouted "come in!" A young man who had deep brown eyes, short combed black hair, well ironed new school uniform was walking in as if he was about to steal something. His eyes were roving around in search of an empty seat. He spotted one just behind Lyn then paced towards the seat. " Where are your manners? Am I invisible? How can you come after me in my class and just sit without excusing yourself? Who are you and where do you come from?" Ms Thompson hissed. The young man froze upon being fired a thousand questions at once. "I am sorry ma'am," he cleared his throat and continues, "I thought I shouldn't disturb since I assumed you've already started teaching, I wanted to talk to you at the end of the lesson," then he bowed his head. "Firstly, don't assume, secondly I don't tolerate students who 'thought' and please answer all my questions!" "Liam is my name. I am a new student coming from Chaplin High school. No you're not invisible ma'am. I am a well mannered young man but in this case I failed to do the right thing and I am sorry ma'am." Liam humbled himself. Liam looked so innocent. His eyes were truthful and sincere at this moment he spake to Ms Thompson. "Liam, you failed to appreciate my presence in this class, get out!" the teacher hissed. "This school is full of weirdness, how come a student is treated this way on their first day of school?" Ms Thompson's eyes flew wide open. The students thought she was going to jump on him and devour him but she yelled, "Get out and never return!" One after the other, Liam's legs followed each other heading for the door. 'BANG!' this sound followed after Liam's body passed the door frame. The sound was deafening. The students got their eyes on Ms Thompson who was panting in anger. "Chaplin doesn't teach their students manners. What was that?" Ms Thompson asked but none of the students responded. Evelyn caught up with Muriel, her roommate and hostel friend just after her boyfriend left for his hostel. "Friend how was your day?" Evelyn asked. Muriel answered, "the day was amazing, even the lessons were fantastic. I love summer." Lyn joined in, "It's only perfect when your boyfriend is around" The two girls laughed. They got along well. "We have 35 minutes to freshen up before supper," Muriel reminded Lyn who was throwing herself on the bed. Grabbing her toiletries Lyn opened her mouth, "a new boy came in our class this morning, as he stepped his foot in class my heart started beating fast and I felt so uneasy my dear" "Did you talk to him?" "No, he was rude to Ms Thompson so she chased him out" "Something might be wrong with him, who does that on their first day at school? I don't think he's normal." "Ms Thompson is mean and strict, he stood his ground. I understand him. It's just that it's odd for a new person to talk back to a teacher," Evelyn defended Liam. "That makes him abnormal." "You're judging someone you do not know." Lyn tried to explain to Muriel. "And you're also justifying improper deeds." Muriel was getting offended. The siren went. They walked out with Muriel changing the subject. The dining hall was half empty when Muriel and Evelyn got there. Lyn spotted Damien and blinked at him. They smile at each other. "You never get enough of each other even after 2 years, I envy you two," Muriel commented. "It's called love my friend," said Evelyn as she got juice. Liam got in the dining hall as Lyn and Murry were taking their seats on their table. Lyn's heart raced and when she looked up, she spotted Liam. She caught her breathe then showed Murry the new guy they were talking about. Muriel blurted out, "I don't like him" "Why?" Lyn was concerned "He's full of himself, look at his shoulders and chest. He's a proud fellow, basing on what you told me!" "The food is getting cold Muriel let's eat!" Liam arrived at the serving point, collected his food then went to sit at the end of the table where other lower sixes were. He did not talk to anyone. He sank his fork into the steak, his triceps and biceps moving in motion of the hand which held the knife cutting the meat. When he tilted his chin opening his mouth to receive the juicy steak, his collar bone was exposed. Lyn looked at him. He had broad shoulders, muscular, dark and tall. He had smooth skin. He looked classic. Muriel noticed Evelyn's glance on the 'arrogant' boy, rolled her eyes then spoke, "Lyn don't forget you have a boyfriend who loves you." "I wasn't expecting to hear that from you," Lyn muttered. "You aren't eating, just starring at him. I'm pretty sure he is pulling that show for attention." "Leave it friend, let's observe table manners." After supper was study time. Lyn did not want to go. She did not want to see Liam then her heart race again. How she wished she was a junior who do not study in the same room with their junior boys! Evelyn faked sickness so she was given pills by the sanatorium nurse and was told to rest. Damien and Evelyn sat near the pool at Rainbow Towers, the hotel which held most of their memories. "Thank you my love for bring me back to this place. It refreshes the memories, I'm overwhelmed with joy!" Lyn expressed gratitude. "Anything for you my Queen, this is exactly what both of us needed after all the drama we've been through. All I want is to see you happy!" Damien responded with his hand in Lyn's afro hair. "I want to go for a swim, please join me Damien." Lyn pleaded. "After you, I need to make a few calls Eve, give me a few minutes and I am right behind you!" Damien assured. Lyn dived into the water, she liked the feel of the cold water on her silky smooth skin as well as the feel of tan of her fifty one kilograms weighing body floating on the still water. Her hips were swaying in motion to her long legs and arms which moved back and forth. The water was fresh, so was the floral scented air above the water. What a beautiful day this was! Lyn wanted to drag Damien into the pool to complete her 'perfect' moment. With her hands on the pool wall, pulling her legs out of the water, a harsh wind full of rage pushed her back into the pool with force. The waves had a strong current which overcame her swimming abilities. In no time her arms and feet were tiring and she could not push anymore. When she opened her mouth to scream 'Damien', water rushed straight to her throat to chock her. Opening her mouth once again to grasp for air, more water was swallowed. Eve could not fight anymore... After a few minutes, the water was still. Lyn opened her eyes to see sand, yes she was standing on sand. Looking around, Lyn noticed veneer of material, biological material, mid-oceanic ridges, hydrothermal vents, mud volcanoes. Evelyn was terrified. She headed towards what looked liked seaweed. She spotted carcasses but could not tell the animal they belonged to. All Eve could tell was the carcasses were of a large animal. She got to seamount then started hearing voices. Two voices were quarrelling. She could not not tell what the rift was about. The language sounded odd. Lyn began picking words or two. Miss Wellington heard a voice calling her just as she moved a leg to make a step heading to people she thought were watchmen or guards of the area. She turned to see where the voice was coming from. The voice was familiar, she knew the voice. Lyn blinked then saw Muriel who was squatting in front of her wearing a worried face. Murry opens her mouth, "Is everything okay ma'am?" Evelyn responds, "What are you doing here and how did you get here?" Patiently Muriel told her roommate where they were and the setup, Lyn came back to her senses, "I had a bad dream Muriel." "I figured. When I came from study, your head was buried in the blankets which is unusual, I removed the blankets then went to the gazebo to warm water for my usual ginger tea to find you breathing heavily. I had to wake you up." Murry explained. Evelyn narrated her dream to Murry who was trying to make sense out of the dream, "Lyn you were not okay when I left for study, It's probably just a dream. Your brain was not settled." "Murry I was never sick, all I wanted was to avoid Liam. I'm uneasy when he is in my sight." "No Lyn, forget about that arrogant boy, you wouldn't imagine how he behaved during the new student prank!" The 'new student prank' was done to every new pupil in school. One student of the same level as of the new student will go call the new student out of study pretending to be sent by a teacher. As soon as he/she gets out the rest of the students in the same level as of the new student claps then one is given way to pour cold water on the new student. The other students continue clapping then they introduce themselves to the new student. He/she goes back to hostel then changes to dry clothes. Muriel continued, "He jumped onto Victor as soon the cold water kissed his body then began beating him. If not for Miguel and Deon who pulled of Liam's body on poor Victor, Victor would have landed in hospital tonight. Now I hate Liam!" Miguel was Muriel's twin brother. The young man had broad shoulders and was also a bully, as they say birds of the same feathers flock together, so was Deon but Muriel never noticed her brother's bad behavior or his bad company but she was the first person to notice the bad attitude that Liam had in less than twenty-four hours. "What Liam did was wrong but at the same time he was defending himself. I think it's high time the prank is stopped. Look what Liam did," Lyn defended. "Liam is a psychopath, weird and full of himself and I wouldn't be surprised if told that he's behind your weird dreams," Muriel blurted. "Please switch of the light Murry if you're done with your tea. We have to rest, we have classes tomorrow." Lyn changed the subject. Muriel and Evelyn were heading towards the dining hall when they spotted Liam walking lackadaisically towards school direction. "Is he going to school already? Did he eat something? How can one start the day on an empty stomach?" Lyn threw questions at Murry. "How would I know? Maybe he had a burger or something since he's been on these premises less than twenty-four hours ago. Besides why do you care? No one likes him after yesterday's incident." Muriel hissed. Evelyn kept quiet. She knew what Liam did wasn't right but she understood him. He was at a place where everyone and everything was new so he had himself only but st the same time he did not want to be treated any different to the other kids just because he was new to the system. When they got to their table, Liam was still the subject. Lyn was annoyed. "Can you people stop judging Liam for once! None of you knows him so let him be!" Lyn lectured. "I don't know him but what I know is he's arrogant, stupid and he's also a psychopath!" Martha, their table mate blurted out. Lyn ate her toast quietly avoiding the topic then left the table as soon as she was done. She went back to hostel, brushed her teeth, packed her books and left for school leaving Muriel behind. Evelyn was reading Shakespeare's plays when the thought of Liam struck her. Where was he? She last saw him when Ms Thompson kicked him out of class the previous day. Where does he spend most of the time at then? She came back to reality when Damien and his group of friends came in. The lovebirds hugged then sat. Devotions were conducted meaning the start of the school day. Both Lyn and Damien were free the first two hours of the day so they sat together chatting as they normally did before Damien's friends called him for a heated debate they had. He hastily rushed to where his friends were leaving Lyn by herself. Eve thought of checking up on her old friend, Valeria from Ordinary level who was in the sciences class and also a day scholar. Valeria was playing around with the periodic table when Lyn approached her. They exchanged greetings and started conversing. It had been long since they saw each hence had a lot to talk about. The two were enjoying each other's company; they always do, when Lyn spotted Liam sitting all by himself with earphones on. Lyn's heart raced. Yes, earphones were allowed if you're not in a lesson but Lyn took it to be a way he was using to block people from getting close to him. She wanted to talk to him but she was filled with hesitation. Lyn froze in Liam's direction. "He's new. Liam is his name. He came yesterday and was amazing during Chemistry. It was like he was having a private tutoring with Mr Bones. He was the only one who answered his questions whereas the whole class was blank. I heard he is doing physics and mathematics as well so I believe he's smart." Valeria informed her friend who was in her own world. Lyn informed Val that she was going to have a word with Liam but she warned her, "it's not wise to try talk to him. He doesn't like people around him I think." Lyn had to talk to Liam. Yes she had to. Upon reaching to Liam, Lyn stretched her hand to shake hands with him, stubborn Liam initially ignored until provoked. Annoyed he blurted, "what is this?" With a smile on her face Lyn responded, "Hi Liam, I'm Lyn; Evelyn Wellington." Loosening up and shaking Lyn's hand, "nice to meet you Lyn." "If I may ask Liam, I heard you are doing maths, physics and chemistry, what were you doing in my literature class yesterday." "Maths, physics and chemistry is for my future; literature is for my mother's future but that's a story for another day." "I understand. What were you listening to?" "Binaural beats." "What are those?" "They are beats which manipulate the brain using waves. They vary; some are for studying purposes, some gives you a positive mindset to push and I like them since there are quite a number to choose from depending on the current situation." Siren went, Lyn had to go back to her class for a lesson. She said bye to both Val and Liam then left.