EMMA•POV

While Golden and I were heading to our classroom, looking happy, I stated.

"Wow! I can't believe Jerry will be training me. I mean my crush!"

I had been crushing on Jerry since grade 10 but he didn't notice it, he didn't use to talk that much with me nor have my time even at least if not for anything but for being the most beautiful girl and the best student in our set.

I knew Isabella, his best friend whom it seemed Jerry was attracted to was the one behind it but now, he would be training me privately and finally, we would be having time together. I was more happy that I came up with the idea with my best friend Golden and it worked.

"I'm happy for you girl!" Golden replied me, both of us grinning.

"So he and I will be having time together."

"Exactly and most importantly, that silly girl, Isabella won't be there with you guys."

"Of course!" I said.

"But what if he is dating Isabella?" Golden asked.

Jerry and Isabella were in a kind of friendship we didn't understand, we would see them dancing together in a party, always seeing them together, helping and defending themselves and sometimes arguing and fighting but the two dudes would also come out to people who thought they were dating that they were not.

"Jerry is just my craziest best friend and nothing more." Isabella would say.

"Bella is the only one who seems to understand me more! We are just friends." Jerry also would say when those who were confused asked them.

I laughed at Golden's response and I replied her."I don't think so my dear!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, even if he is dating Bella, he will still choose me over her after spending some time together." I answered. "I mean I am more beautiful than her, more intelligent than her, more smarter than her. Bella is not my type and I'm sure Jerry knows that, everyone knows that. So what else do guys want?"

"Of course, you are right." Golden responded. "Jerry will definitely choose you over her."

"Now you are talking." I said and we both laughed.

ISABELLA•POV

After Mr Cole, our strict Biology teacher stepped out of the class, Emma made an announcement in front of the class.

"Hey guys, as we are done with the biology class, the principal will be waiting for us in the hall. So let's move into the hall."

While some indistinct conversations began among us, everyone started packing their stuff in their bags and they were heading to the school hall.

I stretched my hands, happy that Mr Cole's class had ended, he always had a boring class which he had now started in this new session.

I then turned around and stared at Mary who had buried her head on her desk. What is wrong with her? I muttered to myself. Mr Cole asked her to see him after school hours before he stepped out of the class, that should be reason why she buried her face on her desk. I then got up from my seat and went to meet her.

"Hey girlfriend." I started. "Just tell me that you feel exhausted or sad because you have to see Cole today after school hours."

Mary raised her head, with a sad expression on her face, she replied me. "What could have be worse than that?"

Intently to turn a chair neared Mary's seat, I was interrupted by the owner as I lay my hand on the chair.

"Hey, don't even try to turn or shift that chair." Grace growled and walked out of the class.

I rolled my eyes and sat on Mary's desk, facing Mary.

"And why would he ask you to see him?" I asked Mary, looking confused.

"Bella, remember my last grades. I failed biology."

I let out a sigh in weakness and Mary continued. "I wouldn't have cared if not that my dad want me to be a doctor and biology is important."

She was right, she didn't need any science subject if she wanted to study music but her dad wanted her to be a doctor. How I wished her dad allowed her to chase her dream, she liked music so much and loved to play instruments. She had written and composed some songs, she did play for us(Jerry, Dennis, and I) whenever we felt sad and once we listened to her sweet voice, that sad mood of ours would change.

"Maybe you should talk to your mum about it, she might convince your dad." I suggested and Mary chuckled.

"You don't know how strict my dad is. My mum? She is supporting him even though she doesn't agree with parents choosing career for children."

"I don't even know what to say but trust me, your dad will soon understand you."

"You think so?"

"Of course, I'm sure about that. Just cheer up and I hope Cole will help you by giving you more homework to improve your grade." I assured her and looked around the class. "Come on! We are the only one here, let's go to the hall."

Mary confirmed it, she quickly packed her bag and we left the classroom, heading to the school hall.

Dashing to the hall, Mary and I couldn't believe the meeting hadn't started. We were happy as we made our way to the vacant seats.

JERRY•POV

Staring at Bella and Mary as they dashed into the hall, I said to Dennis who sat beside me.

"Why are your girlfriends late?"

"I don't know." Dennis answered. "Maybe they have issue with Cole."

"Yeah maybe." I responded. "Lest I forget, you won't believe Emma want to start a private training class and she wants me to be training her."

"Really?" Dennis exclaimed.

"Yeah. I think she likes me."

"Dude, I said it, now you see that yourself." Dennis said with a smile.

Dennis had told me many times that Emma had crush on me, I didn't agree, but wanting me now to be her private fit trainer had convinced me that she liked me.

Dennis stared at me and asked. "Do you feel the same way?"

"Uhmmm, I think so." I answered and Dennis laughed.

"Funny?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

"Nah." Dennis shrugged. "But what about Bella, I thought you said......" Dennis intently didn't want to finish it, he knew I got what he was trying to say.

"Of course I love Bella, but Bella has made it clear to me that she doesn't want us to date. She is serious about it and I don't want to hurt her. I just have to let go." I explained.

I liked Isabella and I had tried to express my feelings to her, but she wouldn't agree. Maybe she didn't feel the same, I didn't know "Look Jerry, we can't date, we can't." She would say whenever I came up with the conversation.

Then why? I would shrug.

"No explanation, we can't just..." She would respond and walked out of me or better still changed the conversation.

But now, I had to let go and moved on since she didn't want us to date. But no matter what she would always be my best friend and I would never hurt her, I had promised myself.

"You are right, I just wanna confirm it. You have to let go and I think Emma is good." Dennis said.

"Yeah, but I don't just like Emma's attitude towards Bella and Mary."

"I understand, but trust me, I don't think she is like that."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, she thinks you and Bella are dating and you know girl's stuff. Jealousy!" Dennis stated. "Just give it a try."

"Well, let's see how it works but I have to get to know her well." I responded.

"Sure bro! " Dennis said and gave me a punch on the shoulder while Mr Frank, our school Principal with two other teachers walked in.

Then the long awaited meeting started.

"Good day guys." Mr Frank greeted the students.

"Good day sir!" We the students chorused and he began.

"I'm very happy to see you guys starting a new session today. I'm sure you guys know you need to work hard in this semester for good grades, some even have to catch up especially the seniors. For the seniors you may think we just wanna discipline you more than before, more books, more assignments, more projects, more activities but trust me, it's going to help you because we wanna make you well prepared for your final exams.

You know we always have the best students with best results every year and I'm sure, your set also will make us proud.

With the so called discipline, your senior year is still gonna be fun for you guys by introducing some interesting things to you, trust me...."

At this point, we seniors let out a whoops of delight and round of applause and Mr Frank smiled.

"I knew you guys will be happy about my last comment." He stated and everyone laughed.

"Thank you. The main reason why I'm having this meeting with you guys is about Elizabeth Malone."

Elizabeth Malone was one of the last set scholarship students, she couldn't write her final exam because she was expelled for violating the school policy.

Everyone was silent and tried their very best to listen attentively to what the principal wanted to say about her and the main reason she was expelled.

"I'm sure you guys knew she didn't graduate for violating the school law but you didn't know what she actually did." He said.

Miss Golden?" He then called out and Golden answered him from the back.

"Yes sir!"

"Would you please give me the article I told you to print."

"Yes Sir!" Golden replied and walked up to meet the principal in the front of the hall.

She handed it to the principal and he read it out.

"Elizabeth Malone defamed Mr Cole and the school by giving a report to the school that Mr Cole threatened to have sex with her or she loses her scholarship which was not true."

We students were astonished about the readout and indistinct conversations began among us.

"Silence!" One of the teachers who came with the principal ordered.

"Hear me out." Mr Frank added. Everyone was silent and he continued.

"There is no way you can defame, libel or slander any teacher who is being strict to you guys in this school. We will never tolerate that because we believe we have well trained staff both teaching and non teaching here. They are all qualified to be working in this school.

We will never tolerate that from you guys.

Elizabeth's case should serve as warning to you students, especially the seniors.

Making news about any staff in this school is prohibited.

And Golden..." He turned to Golden.

"You are the president of the press club, no news about any staff should be made by the press or else you bear the consequence, okay?"

"Absolutely sir!" Golden answered and he continued.

"Anyone who violates any of the school rules will face the punishment. You can go to your next class, thank you." The principal finished his speech and he and the teachers left the hall while we students were making argument on the case.