SHE'S ALONE

School was finally over,Laura and Alixes strolled out of their class, chuckling. Naomi quickly joined them when they got to her class.

"Hey, girlfriends, what's up?why are you so cheerful, is tomorrow a holiday? ", she stated with   a smile.

They glanced at her, laughing so hard. She chuckled along, quite lost with their unknown cheerful attitude.

"Oh, Naomi, it's nothing special. I was just telling Laura here how we almost wet our pants back there at the Canteen when she decided to poke her nose in those deadly viruses' business."

They all roared with laughter. Naomi drapped her hands around their neck as they trod to the main gate of the school in wait of their ride home.

" But seriously, Laura, I didn't expect that slap from your end; gosh!! that was so damn hot and humiliating for them. You were like an angry tigress devouring its pry", said Naomi, making them laugh their heart out.

"Their faces was so dumb",she ended with a chuckle.

Laura nodded, smiling.

"Thanks, girlfriend, I'll take that as a compliment",she replied as their back faded away.

Ben and his friends stood at the hallway, staring at them from a distance. Soon, Naomi's car arrived; Laura and Alixes greeted the driver, Mr. Godwin Adams, Naomi's chauffeur who had been driving her to school from infancy till now. He was employed by her parents mainly to take care of her rides because of their busy schedules.

He responded and watched the girls bid their friend farewell.

" Thanks, besties, I'll call you guys in the evening, okay", said Naomi, settling at the back seat.

Laura and Alixes nodded and waved her while the car drove off. In no time, Alixes' ride also arrived to pick her up. She was always picked up by her parents. They waved each other and the car sped off.

Laura was now the only person left behind to be picked. She kept glancing at her watch and the road expectantly.

"What's keeping him", she mumbled, quite frustrated from waiting. Laura gazed around for a while and finally spotted an empty bench under a tree adjacent the school premises. She hived a sigh and crossed over to the bench. After settling in, she rummaged through her bag and brought out a novel, "MY REFLECTION" by Otu Harriet. She was a fun of novels and Harriet was one of her favourite authors. She started reading with rapt attention.

Ben smiled, wearing a mischievous look. Patrick and Fred glanced at him, wondering what he was thinking of.

"Come on guys, let's go",he said.

"Where to?", asked Patrick.

Ben paused in her steps, turning back to his friends, " To execute our plan.", he replied.

"Can't you see? Laura is alone now and it's quite easy to get her like this", he added.

" Are you serious, Ben?", Fred queried, astonished.

"Yeah, why that look on your face"

"Because you seem not to be thinking correctly now. How can you execute such a plan now without strategically putting every step right to prevent any failure ", Patrick stated.

Fred drew closer to him and rested his hand on his shoulder, " Don't be so obsessed with anger and revenge now,Ben. Let her enjoy her time for now while we calmly wait for the accurate time to strike,okay?",he said.

Ben hesitated for awhile but finally agreed and dashed off. Fred and Patrick glanced at each other and sighed, slightly shaking their head.

"Ain't you guys coming?", he called after walking some meters away without them.

"We are", they chorused and sped after him.

                       ***************

After an hour, Laura's car pulled over in front of her without her notice due to her immersed attention in the novel she was reading. Mr Van blew the horn drawing her attention. She greeted with a smile and settled at the back seat, dropping her back beside her.

"Sorry for keeping you, Miss Laura", he apologized.

Without looking up from her book, she calmly replied,"It's okay, Mr Van".

"Thanks; so how was school today", he queried and he drove off.

"Fine, sir", she replied and buried her head back in the novel. The rest of the journey continued in silence while she kept reading.

      THE ROBERTS' MANSION

 Mrs. Amy was already at home preparing supper for the family. She usually comes home early after picking up Kelvin to make sure all is set at home before the others get home.

Mrs. Amy Roberts is into real-estate development and a very busy person as well but manages well to get home on time to make sure the house chores are done. She loved her family so much that she never saw it as a burden, combining household duties with her work.

Mya usually helps her when at home but not today due to her busy schedule at their family company.

Mrs.Amy was busy cooking when Laura trod in.

"Hi, mum, good afternoon ", she greeted, wrapping her arms around her mother's waist with a smile.

Amy kissed her daughter's forehead, cheerful.

"Hey, you're finally home. Missed you so much",she said.

" How was school and what kept you guys late today"

"Um, school was great and Mr. Van had to attend to an emergency which he returned a little late", Laura explained as she sat on a chair closer to the door. Suddenly, she was hit by the absence of Kelvin around the hall and the kitchen. This meant trouble for Laura.

"Where's Kelvin ", she added in a swift.

Mrs. Amy who hasn't yet noticed his absence, scanned around expectant; then it dawn on her.

"Oh, probably, he'll..."

"Gosh, mum, don't tell me.....upstairs", Laura cried, pointing to the stairs with a blank look.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, young lady but yes", she ended with a soft smile.

"Oh, no, mum!!! ", Laura exclaimed and sped off towards the stairs.

"I forgot to lock my door in the morning because I was late. Damn!! I'm sure he's done messing it up now", she shouted, fading away.

Amy chuckled and turned back to her chores.

"Kelvin!!  Kelvin!!!  Kelvin Roberts!!!, goodness, you're so dead if I get there. Only heavens knows what I'll do to you when I find my room in a mess"

she heard Laura's voice echo upstairs.

"Hey, take your time with him, Laura, no killing up there", she shouted with a smile.