The rivalry

CHAPTER EIGHT
AVRIL
"I I.. don't understand wh... what you're talking about", I stuttered.
Jumai burst out in a semi-loud approach of laughter.
"You should just wake everyone up with a megaphone", I said angrily.
"I should? That'd be even greater!" Jumai replied excitedly and I smiled weakly although I tried to hide it.
"Go ahead, laugh it out and admit that I am cute and funny", Jumai said tickling me.
I laughed uncontrollably hitting Jumai's hands off. I rolled on the bed and tried so hard to get her off me but she was stronger than I am.
"Fine! You are!!" I finally said so she would stop tickling me. Actually, Jumai was truly cute and funny.
"So about the warewolf stuff, don't think I have forgotten", she said trying to force another stern look. I knew already that she was joking so I decided to act even more strictly than she was pretending to be.
"What warewolf? Or are you one? You probably are!" I said pointing at her face.
She chuckled.
"I was only joking dear, so about the guy that has been making you blush and smile since yesterday tell me, I want to know more".
"You knew?" I asked.
"I noticed" she replied smiling... She brushed my hair gently.
"I mean who wouldn't? You have been happier recently, in the past you'd be so sad because mom and dad are not around". She added still smiling and brushing my hair with her palm.
I told her about Chris, Mr and Mrs Hoffman's heir. I told her everything about him including how he kissed me without asking.
"I can see you are in love with this Chris, although I only saw him once. On the day we had dinner with his family he seems like a nice guy and he's cute".
"You think?" I asked Jumai excitedly.
"Yea, but you have to be very careful you're still very young. You are not an adult yet until you are eighteen", she said and I smiled.
"Thank you so much sis", I hugged Jumai tightly.
"you are welcome my dear", she replied returning the smile.
"You're such a sweet soul, what would I have done without you?" I asked and she smiled even more.
"What would I have done without having you all in my life? You all are blessings to me", she replied and hugged me again.
"I love you so much sis", I mumbled still hugging Jumai tightly.
"Can I sleep in your room?" I asked her and she nodded.
"Thank you", I said.
"Always welcome hun", she replied.
I lay on Jumai's bed facing her and she cuddled me to sleep rubbing my hair and singing a lullaby... It reminded me of when I was still very young.
Whenever I was sad I wouldn't let Shelly my personal maid sing me a lullaby I would always cry and call on Jumai. Most of the time I'd want to sleep in her room or ask her to sleep in mine.
Jumai sang me lullabies to bed even until I was twelve.
~
Things happened so fast and I found myself dating Chris. I wanted to be with him always, I wanted to talk to him all the time, and I wanted to chat with him every time I was online.
I sat on my seat on a cold Wednesday morning working on my assignment that I couldn't finish the previous day when someone dragged my book away forcefully and threw them to the floor.
I stared at my book which lay on the floor now torn, I raised my head and saw Sally staring down at me with so much hatred and anger filled in her eyes.
"Sally, what is wrong with you?" I barked at her surprised at her action.
I wondered why Sally acted that way out of the blue, we've been friends for years and although Sally was playful but not to this extent.
"You are dating Chris right?" Sally asked and I went mute, I wasn't expecting her to ask me that. I was completely taken aback by her question.
"You even kissed him, am I wrong?" She asked again tapping my shoulder.
I lowered my face, fixing my gaze on my new brown pair of shoes. I didn't want Sally to find out about Chris this way, I felt like I betrayed my own friend.
My heart was hurting and I felt the guilty build up in me.
"You are not dumb Avril answer me, all along I've been bugging you about Chris you must have laughed at me because you were dating him behind my back and pretending to hate him. Avril, you stabbed me in the back", Sally said and breathed heavily.
Sally spoke fast but I could hear every word she said. I was used to it already, we have been friends for five years now since our first day in junior high.
"I can explain", I said slowly in a very low tone. I would admit that I was really ashamed of myself now, I couldn't even look my best friend in the face.
"Give me a simple answer Avril are you seeing Chris? Did you kiss him?" She asked angrily.
"Y... Ye..... Yes", I stuttered and she slapped me.
My hair covered my face, my cheek went completely red, and I was hurt.
"You traitor!!" She barked and walked away angrily.
I held my chin in my palm trying so hard to control the tears that were welling up in my eyes. No one has ever hit me before, no one. Not even my parents.
The morning bell rang and I stood up hesitantly, I noticed some students were already in the class and were probably watching from the unset.
I was embarrassed, I felt like the heavens should open and swallow me. I used everything in me to fight back my tears.
I picked up my face towel from the table and wiped my eyes, my eyes failed me as the tears started dropping Frey from my eyes.
I quickly rushed to the restroom to rinse my face off before proceeding to the assembly hall.
I dragged my legs lazily and weakly to the assembly hall.
~
Sally didn't speak to me throughout the day, I also was too scared to approach her.
I felt bored till dismissal, I didn't get to see Chris either. I don't talk to anyone else except Sally, Chris and Ariel. Ariel was busy with his basketball practice that day and Chris was nowhere to be found. I ate lunch alone and did everything alone. It was so lonely without Sally.
Right after school, I walked straight to Jumai's room and fell flat on her bed.
"Hey!! Go freshen up before you lie on my bed like that", she said throwing her pillow at me. She was just coming out of the restroom.
"You didn't even ask how I am doing, how today's school activities went", I replied.
"Where is Ariel?" She asked taking her sit on a stool in front of her mirror.
"Still in school, they're preparing for the upcoming basketball competition".
"Oh! That. He mentioned it to me".
"What's for lunch?" I asked yawning loudly.
"I made soup, go freshen up so you can come downstairs let's eat", Jumai replied.
"Wow!!"
"Yes, once I am through with my exams I'd make more and more delicious meals". She said.
"Jumai you have to open a restaurant and give it something like Chef Jumi or Jamie's delicacies", I teased and we both laughed.
~
My life got more messed up after the bite, I am still unsure whether or not I killed the woman on the night of the full moon.
My hatred for werewolves increased day by day waking up to the reality that I am now a warewolf made me hate them the more. They ruined my life, they made me what I hated the most and trying to keep my identity from everyone wasn't an easy task as I heard things I wasn't listening to. I smell things from afar, I behaved suspiciously in front of everyone. I ran out of the crowd whenever I get angry to avoid transforming into a wolf in front of everyone.
I hated myself. I hated myself for being a wolf, I hated my new life.
"Yes!!" I jumped up excitedly as an idea popped into my head.