A loud roar echoed through the hall. Most of the students were all throwing themselves at me. Some of the big girls who felt they were too big to come near me stayed right behind to watch. The guys carried me high,throwing me up like I was a sack of potatoes and I cannot stop grinning from ear to ear. I don't know if I should be happy or scared. The fact that I don't have the money yet or the fact that I had managed to humiliate the one person scares the shit out of me. I stared at Sandra who was seated at the corner of the grand hall. Her hand clasped between her two laps and she couldn't stop staring at me. Maybe frightened? Or wondering where the hell I had gotten that huge amount of money from. I smiled sheepishly looking at Layla and then Cassie. The two women who I had believed were the right choice for me. Philip's voice ran through again. “ Can you please come? We need you to please pay the money for this and the key is yours.” The auditorium fell into a deafen

Funny when you think you are alone and boom, somebody shows how to save the day. I was still in shock. That moment when you think you are down, no helper, no girlfriend, nothing but there is something in your life giving you joy. Sandra was not my girlfriend. At least, not yet. Cassie and Layla had taught me the hard way. I can't fall for a lady even if I want to. It was best for us to benefit ourselves. You scratch my back and I scratch yours. I know a lady like Sandra wanted more. Attention, cravings and most importantly being truthful. I stared at the card in my hand and smiled. I was like that before. I was truthful to Layla and even Cassie but they used it against me. I was not going to make that same mistake again. I tucked the card into my pocket with the key I had just won dangling between my neck. For some weird reason, most of the kids wanted to be my friends. It was quite funny, most of them laughed at me and even talked behind my back. But everything change

I was happy that she was standing at the door just when I needed her but at the same time, I cannot dare to bring myself as to why she was at my door. “ Who is that?” My mother shouted from the living room. I didn't reply, I just stared at her face wondering what she was doing at my door step. “ Are you going to invite me in or are you just going to keep staring at my face like you have seen a ghost?” “ My bad. Sorry. Come in.” I moved slightly away from the door brushing my messy hair backwards. My heart thumped with a lot of thoughts crossing my mind. Has she been following me? Or was she here for some pay back? Well, on the bright side, I didn't do anything to make her want to hate me or kick my ass. I knew I was a jerk but it was in a romantic way. “ You have a lovely house, Pontius.” she smiled, looking back to catch my nervous face. “ You live here alone?” “ No, he doesn't. He stays with his mom.” My mother's voice cut her shut. “ Oh, I am sorry. My name is

The system might be on my side and give me whatever money I wanted but I know I was still vulnerable. I need to learn how to throw a few punches or hire some of the kids who can do them for me. I was scared but trying to run was just going to make it more difficult. Jeremiah loves a good sport and I was not going to give him that satisfaction. Cassie’s grip on my thigh went rigid, then she pulled her hand away quickly as though my skin had turned to fire. “Shit,” she whispered, panic flashing in her eyes. “I didn’t know he was here—” I snapped my head toward her, narrowing my eyes. “Didn’t know or didn’t care? Weren't you going to show me one or two? Why were you really here if you are going to bounce the moment you see him?” Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Her silence was louder than any excuse she could have thrown at me. Jeremiah stopped a few feet away, his presence suffocating the air around us. His jaw was locked tight, and the veins on his neck pulsed like the

Martha tried to wipe her tears before they reached me, but she was too late. I had known that touch my entire life. She always cried silently. She has always pretended like she was strong while she had bottled it all up. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry." I forced out a smile. "You shouldn't be apologizing mum. You did nothing wrong." "You were supposed to graduate soon," she murmured. "You were supposed to make fun of me for still treating you like a child." She laughed through her tears. "And now..." She couldn't finish. I squeezed her trembling fingers. "I'm still here, Mom." "Are you?" The question slipped out before she could stop herself. The room went into uncomfortable silence. For the first time since I woke up, I realized she wasn't just mourning my eyes. She was terrified of losing me. The door opened again. Three different footsteps entered. One was the doctor. The other two sounded heavier. "Mrs. Martha Pontius?" "Yes." "I'm