"Olorun, have any of you seen the down of my sportswear?" Telemi questioned as she tossed the clothes on her bed around, half clothed in only a yellow tracksuit top.

I looked towards my roommate and shrugged, going back to trying my hair up with the green bandana. "It's the shorts this time, abi? The next thing is to go and collect new one from Bookshop."

"Abi," she spread her arms. "I don't like all these stress, oh."

I smiled.

This was the story every two years and honestly, I wasn't surprised.

Today was the official start of the Biennial Interhouse sports competition and my only mission was to make sure I was well hidden until it was over.

I hated sports. The sweat, the stress, and most importantly the physical activity involved.

I knew I would get called the moment I was spotted - because for some reason Coach always picks on me to participate - so once I was done with my hair I put on the beautiful necklace I got only yesterday and grabbed the laundry hamper.

"If you need me, I'll be doing the laundry."

"And definitely not running away from sports," Kenny added from her bed.

"Right? I don't know why you do this every time when you're going to give in when Coach eventually finds you. Eh ehn, help me wash this my nightwear," Telemi threw a pink garment into the basket in my hand.

She and I were on better terms now after I had given her four whole cupcakes yesterday.

"I'm not running away from anything," I scoffed.

"Yup, you are definitely not lying," it was Grace's turn to chip in.

"She might not be oh," Kenny sat up. "She might just be sneaking off to see a certain fine someone." The glint in Kenny's eyes showed she was ready to cause trouble.

"Oh-la-la," Grace sat up. "Do tell. It isn't who I think it is, right?"

I tuned all of them out and collected all the dirty clothes.

"Did you see the necklace he gave her?"

I heard Grace gasp. "He didn't."

"You know, seeing as how I do most of the work around here the least you guys could do is have the courtesy to gossip about me behind my back," I told them as I slipped on my slippers.

"Shut up and show Grace the necklace," was Kenny's impatient reply.

Thankfully Telemi had seen the necklace and was more concerned with rummaging about her box to acknowledge me or I'd have had to deal with her too.

"Later, I have to leave before . . ."

I wasn't even done with my sentence when our door opened and the tall, slightly-heavy form of Sandra walked in and I knew I was screwed.

She was the female Sports Prefect and if she was here she wanted only one of two things: to borrow Telemi's moisturizing face mask or to get me into the field.

As soon as she opened her mouth it was obvious she wasn't here for skincare products.

"Shebi it's run you're about to run abi?" she gestured to the basket under my arm and didn't wait for a reply. "God have catch you. Coach wants you downstairs ASAP and trust me she is not in a good mood."

I groaned.

"And the rest of you too," Sandra continued. "She said no one should be found upstairs unless they have a death wish. I've said my own. Amarachi change, I'm waiting for you outside."

Left with no other choice I let out a frustrated groan and put on my sports clothes.

Knowing how slippery I was Sandra escorted me to the field where all the students were gathering.

"You know this is unnecessary, right?" I asked her.

"If it were anyone else, yes, but I know you, if I look away for more than a second you'll take off running. And that would be ok, I guess, if Coach wouldn't give me an earful for letting you out of my sight."

"You've been Sports Prefect for what? Five minutes? You don't have to take your position so seriously."

"Don't even think about doing anything funny, I have my eyes on you," was the last thing she said before she walked off to coordinate some Juniors who had been playing rough.

The sun wasn't yet at its peak in the sky but I was already feeling the heat.

I was about to find a shaded spot to sit and put on my running shoes when I heard my name amongst the hullabaloo around me.

Following the sound to its source, I found Sylvanus and Daniel with the latter sitting on the concrete separating the field from the basketball court, a book on his lap.

Sylvanus was waving his arms above his head like he was insane.

"What is wrong with you?" I had to ask.

"You know you're blind, was just making sure you see us."

"Hilarious. What's going on here?" I pointed to both of them.

"The meeting of the Antisocial Social Club. Welcome," Daniel smirked.

Sylvanus chuckled. "You know when Sandra went out I just knew she was going to go find you."

"I hate this. I fucking hate this. Whoever came up with the concept of sports should be garrotted and forced to spend eternity in hell," I muttered as I plopped beside Daniel and took off my slippers. I put my running shoes on and started to lace them up.

"Oh come on, Mara, it's not that bad and that's just a tad bit graphic, even for you," Daniel commented.

"It's not that . . . Tell him how many times in the ten years you've known me I've willingly come down to one of these," I directed at Sylvanus.

"None," he divulged. "Two years ago we had to spin an elaborate plot involving some very poorly written prose to get her on the track. Don't ask, we do not talk about it. Amarachi hates sports. Like hates it." He finished and stuck his hands in his tracksuit bottoms streaked outside with a red line.

"But I don't get it, if she hates it so much why don't y'all just leave her alone?"

"Why?" Sylvanus looked at Daniel like he had somehow been transformed into a quadratic equation. "Dude, forget she's low-key lazy, Amarachi can run. She's the fastest girl in this entire school."

"Thanks," my tone was dry.

"That's not . . . No," Daniel turned to me with disbelief in his scorching dark brown eyes.

"Yes," I replied Daniel's shocked look. "What I lack in social skills and good mental health I more than make up for in sports and academics." I threw the boys a saccharine smile.

"Do you want to know how we found out?" Sylvanus started.

"No, don't tell him that!" I shook my head.

"Ok, now I'm interested," Daniel's curly head bobbed.

Before either of us could say any more a sharp call of "Amarachi!" sounded out and soon Coach was walking towards us, a seething Teni trailing her. I knew what this conversation was going to be about and I did not like it.

Sylvanus was wrong, of course. He was right about being fast but wrong about being the fastest in school. Unfortunately, I had to share that title with none other than Teniola Bucknor, which irked me to no end.

Adding to my frustration was the fact that we were on the same team, in the same house and I had to work with her if we had any hope of winning.

Being in the same class since JS 1 I was used to competing against her - in fact, half of my accomplishments in school were to show her that I was superior. Except during Interhouse sports.

For some unfathomable reason we were put in the same house during the first selection and since you couldn't switch houses, we were stuck with each other. A fact that made my blood boil.

That was why I hid during sports, I honestly did not want to see, let alone talk to her. Of course that was hard to do since Coach knew about my skill and was insistent on putting me on track. Every. Damn. Time

"Morning, Coach," it was Sylvanus that was brave enough to speak up. "How was . . ."

"Zip it, Skinny Legs!" was her sharp reply before she turned to me with her signature scowl. "You missed the opening speech, but I'm going to let it slide. I'm here for a different matter, one I wish I didn't have to do."

I internally rolled my eyes because I knew if I tried it I was sure Coach would unlace one of her sneakers and lob it at my head.

Coach Martha was a hulking mass of a woman. She was Brazilian, wore her brown hair cropped around her face and there were rumours that she was once an Olympic weightlifter. What she was doing teaching a bunch of bored teenagers was beyond me.

Everything about her was sharp. The bones of her face, her piercing brown eyes, and the tone with which she delivered everything she said.

"This is another InterHouse sports and I know you know you're going to be doing track and relay for your house and I also know you know you're not going to be doing it alone. I'm just here to make sure both of you know you're not allowed to kill each other."

Teni stepped out from behind Coach and folded her arms. She was dressed similar to me. A green shirt with the school's emblem on the chest, a pair of black shorts with a green trim, and white runners. Hers had green laces while mine was white.

"I know Coach, and I'm sure Amarachi knows too because it's in the Ten Commandments and I think she wrote them. Tell me, Amara dear, what number did God talk about murder again?"

I ground my teeth and tried to temper my growing anger. "I don't know hon, but I'm surprised you can talk about what's written in the Bible without catching fire, even more surprised that you can manage big words like Commandments, can you even spell it?"

Teni's fair face turned beet red and I could hear the boys try to stifle their laughter.

"See this is exactly what I'm talking about. You two will suspend this animosity right here, right now, because as soon as you both enter my field there will be nothing but friendly competition and camaraderie, have I made myself clear?"

I glared at Teni, hoping that by some divine miracle her head would pop off like a cork in a wine bottle and her blood would spill everywhere. But nothing like that happened, much to my displeasure.

"Have I made myself clear?" Coach repeated, her annoyance showing in every syllable.

"Crystal," I replied.

"Whatever," Teni threw her hand up, her expression morphing to one of boredom. "Let's get this over with," she pivoted on her heels and went back the way she had come, not caring that she hadn't been dismissed.

"New kid, you're with me," Coach turned to leave.

"Wait, me?" Daniel pointed to himself.

"No, the idiot pointing to himself," Coach threw behind her shoulder before continuing to walk.

Daniel shrugged at me and followed her, not before handing me his novel.

"You know, you and Teni never fail to make Interhouse sports interesting," Sylvanus occupied the space Daniel had left. "Kenny is going to be so sad she missed all this but at the same time I can't help but feel like she's going to be so proud of you for putting Teni in her place."

"Do you have any idea why she hates me?"

I knew that asking that question was like asking if aliens existed but I had known Sylvanus as long as I had known Teni, he could have some insight as to what I did to irritate her.

He shook his head. "No idea, but then again there's one thing we've all hated for no good reason."

• • •

"What in the blazing hell is your problem?" I walked up to Teni, eyes spewing pure, molten ire.

"My problem?" She placed an indignant hand on her chest. She had a spot of mud on her cheek.

"Yes, you horrible human being, I told you I was open and you went and gave the freaking ball away!"

We were playing football against the Yellow House girls and I was free at the corner, a simple flick of my ankle and it would've entered the net, I had hollered to inform Teni who was with the ball but as usual, she didn't listen and continued dribbling the ball. Until she faltered and Remi from the opposing team snatched it from her and made a long shot into the back of our net.

The other team was at the moment celebrating while the rest of the student body that was watching the match cheered them on.

"I had that, ok, you don't have to get all up in my face," Teni came closer.

"Really? Tell me in what universe was giving the ball away 'having that'?" I made air quotes over the words. In my peripheral, I could see our other teammates watching us.

"And who are you to question my football skills?" She eyed me.

"The freaking Captain! When I tell you to do something, you freaking do it!"

Teni gave a laugh that was as humourless as it was fake. "See, don't let that stupid badge and Prefectship be shacking you, oh! There are some people you just don't mess with, no matter how high you get. I could ruin your life just like this," she snapped her fingers, "and there is nothing in this world, no one, not even your precious position or your ability to butter up all these old jokes we call teachers, that can save you. And when I'm done, you'll be even more weak and helpless than you already are." As she was talking she was taking a step closer so by the end I was staring into her cocoa eyes, into the vast pools of hate that were her irises.

Her words hit me like a rain of daggers. Each jab was more agonizing than the last and soon I felt the prick of tears behind my eyes.

A quick look around showed that everyone was looking at us, barely able to control their excitement at witnessing the main course of the games.

Deciding that I wasn't going to let Teni's words be true, I stripped off the Captain's armband and threw it on the grass. "You can't do more than a dead rat," I told her. "And I'm done here. You think you're better than everyone at this game, fine. Play it your damn self."

I bumped her shoulder as I walked out of the field.

I didn't care that all eyes were on me. I used one hand to take off my bandana and with the other I took out the hair tie holding my ponytail up.

"Amarachi, if you leave your team forfeits this match. You all lose," Coach's voice was a bit muffled by the hair that had fallen around my face.

I didn't answer her. I just kept on walking, shaking my head as a way to keep the tears at bay.

I didn't know where I was walking to but as I went further the noise of the students disappeared until it was just the chirping of the birds.

Somehow I had found myself in the Quad and I sank into a sofa and pressed my hand to my ears.

Go away. Go away, please.

But it didn't.

The noise in my ears became a crashing, deafening wave that almost drowned me.

I shut my eyes as tight as I possibly could but the darkness was no help.

My heart started hammering away in my chest and I could do nothing but curl up in a fetal position.

I had had episodes like this before - moments when it was like I was reliving the accident again - but nothing as painful as this. My heart was beating out a steady rhythm that my head followed but I was too far gone to feel anything but a strange cold that went through my spine and to the tips of my fingers.

I didn't know how long I spent tucked in one corner of the couch, rocking back and front and chanting words that did nothing to help but the next thing I felt were fingers curling around my arm.

"Mara?"

It was just one word but it was like balm on a stinging wound. I knew I wasn't alone anymore and with that in mind, I started taking deep breaths and picking up the muddled pieces of the rest of my thoughts.

"Hey, are you alright?" The quiet concern behind the question quietened some of the turmoil. "Talk to me."

My hands were gently pried away from my ears and I winced at how cramped they had become. The next thing to go was my glasses and then warm fingers cupped my face.

When I was confident my breathing was back to normal I opened my eyes.

The sunlight was blinding but after a few blinks, the blurry image of a very concerned Daniel came into view.

"Are you ok?" He asked again, this time moving his thumb across my cheek.

I nodded. "I'm just really cold." My voice came out hoarser than usual and I winced inside.

"Oh," without a second thought he took off his black jacket and draped it around my shoulders, leaving him in just a t-shirt that read 'Just don't'. "All better?"

I pulled my hands through the sleeves and was immediately comforted by the warm minty garment. "Yeah, thanks. What are you doing here anyways?"

"I could ask you the same thing. I was just coming from dropping some basketballs at the Admin Building when I saw this place open. Imagine my surprise when I found you."

I looked away, a little bit ashamed.

"What happened?" His angelic voice was followed by a hand under my chin that forced me to look at him.

"Nothing. You don't have to worry."

"Nothing? That wasn't nothing, Mara, I thought you were dying. You scared the shit out of me."

"Sometimes it happens, when I get upset. I could be totally fine one minute and the next . . ." I trailed off. I really didn't feel like elaborating and from the look in his gorgeous eyes Daniel understood.

"You don't have to talk about it right now, ok?" He planted a kiss on my forehead. "But I really think you need to see someone, a professional, to talk about these things. In the meantime, what you need is some water and rest, you think you can manage getting up?"

I didn't want to but with Daniel's help, I was able to get up. He handed me my glasses and we stepped out of the Quad.

"I already know the answer to this but I'm going to ask this anyway. I look terrible right?"

He chuckled. "Don't be too hard on yourself, Mara, you've just been through a lot."

I stuffed my hands into the pocket of Daniel's jacket and followed him, not entirely sure where we were going.

Outside the Staffroom, Daniel paused and turned to me. "Just wait here ok, I think I saw some bottles of water in there. Be right back."

I nodded and stood outside the office waiting for him.

I was suddenly bone-crushingly tired.

It seemed like any minute now my legs would give in and I would crumple into a sad, useless pile.

I just wanted Daniel to come out quickly so I could go to my bed and probably die there.

Of course with my luck, it wasn't going to be that easy.

"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in."

The voice belonged to Tobi Kayode. He was in SS3, definitely bad news, and was built like a bear.

His green sportswear was practically screaming out for help and I was sure that one wrong move and he'd be walking around in his birthday suit.

I didn't know where he'd come out from but I was in no mood to deal with this notorious school bully.

"What do you want, Kay, and why are you up here?"

"I came to get juiced up for the basketball game, mamacita," he tried to touch my hair but I slapped his arm away in disgust.

As I studied Kay, he didn't really look like himself and I knew he was on something. His eyes were bloodshot and his pupils were so dilated that the rest of his eyes were almost engulfed by them.

"Look, Kay, I don't want any trouble, ok? Just do and be going."

"Eh ehn? Is that what you were thinking when you deliberately caused us to lose that match?" He tried to touch my face but I again slapped his hand away.

"Since when do you care about a couple of girls playing football?"

"I care since you dunderheads keep making my house look bad," he stepped forward and I had to take a step back to avoid the odour from his mouth. I ended up hitting the railing of the balcony.

"It's not my fault your stupid girlfriend can't take her mind off of herself long enough to join the game," I said, the anger in my voice was more to hide the fact that I was starting to get scared standing all by myself in this empty hallway. One furious push and he would've sent me falling down four flights of stairs.

"What did you say?" He came closer and I found myself wondering what on earth I did today to have my personal space so unjustifiably invaded.

"Please just leave me alone."

I didn't know what he planned on doing as he raised his hand but thankfully whatever it was didn't come to fruition.

"You heard the lady. Now I suggest you back up right the hell now," came the only voice capable of sending thrills up my spine.

Before I knew what was happening Daniel had placed a cool plastic cup in my hand and planted himself between me and Kay, throwing an accusatory finger up at the latter. "She's not going to be dealing with a jerk like you today. You want to talk to her, you're going to have to go through me."

Kay stopped and took in Daniel. "I know you. You're that weird new kid that doesn't know how to mind his fucking business."

"And you're that giant Neanderthal God saw as special enough to gift two holes through which shit comes out of," Daniel replied instantly.

I could see Daniel clenching his fists and I knew at any point he would swing one if I didn't stop them.

"That's enough, you two," I turned to Kay. "Just carry yourself and go. Biko."

With a twitch of a muscle in his temple and a glare at both of us, Kay hissed. "This isn't over, I swear." Then he walked away and Daniel turned to me.

"Are you ok?" His voice was as soft as a bell in the distance.

"Yeah," I held the cup tighter. "But that wasn't very nice of you."

His face broke into a small smile as he proceeded to wrap his arms around me. "I hope so, cos no one is going to hurt you, not while I can help it," he whispered into my hair.