The lunch break.

The three young lads continued their walk, they were discussing about the murder incident at the alleyway. Based on the way they responded to it, it felt like the alleyway murder wasn't the first strange death to had occurred in the town.

 "Another strange death, what's this town turning into?" Brian was the first to raise the issue.

"You're acting as if our town is the only center of strange deaths, of which are stated to be as a result of a wild animal. Same incidents have been reported all over the country, even in the big cities. Based on estimation, at least a hundred people are reported to have died of strange deaths in a year, and 50% of this strange death victims were tore into shreds. The country is becoming more of a death zone than a home. Wealthy businessmen are beginning to move their families out of the country, leaving the poor and average citizens like us, to be buried along the county's crisis." Jordan explained, the rest of them were marveled by his ways of always researching and studying. He noticed the surprises on their faces. "Don't tell me none of you two watch the night news, they broadcast about it every night. What's the use of your mobile phones if you don't do researches!"

"What do you think of us, goats. Of course we do research, just that we don't do your kind of research." Vincent defended. "Well what still puzzles me is, how do wild animals find their way to urban areas?"

"That still remains a mystery!" Jordan exclaimed.

"They just don't know how to lie to the public." Brian responded, and the trio burst into laughter, laughing to the depths of their throats.

"You sure do know how to brighten the room, Brian." Vincent complimented.

 The boys arrived at the front gate of wonder ville academy. The town's very own school, and the only school located in wonder ville. The school was attended by all races, the rich, average and poor. It wasn't a five stars academy, but it was quite popular.

  The school was made up of three building blocks of which were all three storey buildings. The building at the right was the junior high school block, the one on the left was for the senior high school students, and the middle block, was occupied by both junior and senior staffs.

 The trio made their way through the gates, into the school premises. The school compound housed both a football field, a volleyball court and a basketball court. They had couches who emphasize on sports activities.

The school was already half filled, students were either just arriving or exploring the school premises. The lads headed for the senior school block, though the building was only four floors, it's width and length extended to a large range, making it possible for the school to posses all rooms.

 Vincent, Jordan and Brian were first year senior high school students, Brian was in class 1C, while Vincent and Jordan were in class 1A. They arrived at the entrance door to the class 1A classroom, so Vincent and Jordan bids Brian goodbye, as they alighted into their classroom. 

 "Don't go home without me, today." Brian requested, as he kept walking to his class section. 

"We would try." He heard Vincent's reply, it was faint but though it echoed in his ears.

 The duo located their respective desks, Jordan's own was at the second column, first roll, the front benchers. That was the term used in referring to first roll nerds. While Vincent's desk was far from Jordan's own, his seat was located at the last roll. The desks in the classroom were arrayed in six columns, four rolls, which summed that the number of desks in the classroom were twenty-four in total. 

   Vincent's desk was at the first column, fourth roll, the back benchers. He headed straight to his desk to occupy it. The desks in the classroom were almost occupied, only five seats were left unoccupied, and Vincent's desk was amongst them. 

 He finally occupied his desk, leaving only four desks unoccupied.

"Good morning Vincent. How was your night?" A familiar feminine voice erupted in his ears. It took him few seconds to get himself together, in other to reply. His cheeks were already redden in excitement and discomfort. He was experiencing a mixed feeling.

"G…Great!" Vincent stammered, he knew to his bones that he was lying, his night wasn't exciting at all. Given that his crush had attacked him. And she was standing right in front of him, asking about how his night went, with a dazzling smile engraved on her lips. Her beautiful average physique that made any guy dream about having her to themselves, those charming lips of hers that made him want to kiss her that instance. Her sky blue iris that felt like they could glow in the dark, her long blonde hair, packed in a ponytail style, gleaming to the lights radiance. And the smile she wore made him feel as if she was aware of her appearance in his dream.

"My night was great. And yours?" Vincent added, he had somehow found the strength to speak without stammering.

"Oh, that's nice. Mine was fantastic. I dreamt about my crush. And believe me it felt real." She responded. 

 Vincent was puzzled, why would she share such classified information with him, they weren't even close friends. And he thought again. 

 'How is it that we both dreamt about our crushs, the same night? Was she making it up? Did she truly appeared in my dreams on purpose? Then why does her dream have a happy ending?' Vincent questioned himself to heart. He felt denial!

 "That's great news, Sharon. Maybe meeting your crush in reality would help tighten the bond more." Another feminine voice erupted. This one was also very familiar to Vincent. 'Lance Deborah' her desk was close to his, the last roll, but second column. She had a slim physique, with black hair and deep green iris. She too was a beauty, but she prefers not to let her beauty go way too into her head.

 "Now miss Nelson, if you don't mind, whoosh yourself away."

"Deb..!" Vincent was numb, he knew Deborah was trying to defend him, but she was being too harsh to the girl he was having feelings for.

"Oh I do mind. Was it because I permit a low class citizen like you to gaze upon my beautiful presence, you're not half the beauty I am. Vincent, talk to you later, maybe a place where we could have a little privacy." Sharon responded angrily, backing her insults with a faint smile, she walked away majestically to her desk.

 Deborah was frozen, sure the insults hit a vital spot, but she was the type to assume the worst things as a joke. In no seconds she was back being herself.

 "Deb, are you alright?" Vincent asked, feeling sorry for her.

 "Dude, that girl doesn't love you as much as you do to her. She's just using you. That's what rich kids do in wonder ville, they use the poor like rags. I see the homeworks you help her with, I just hope you don't realize it, when it's too late." Deborah inclined, heading to her seat.

 Their homeroom teacher stepped into the class, the students immediately compose their selfs. Vincent made a final thought, 

'Sharon has done nothing but be good to me. She is nothing like the Sharon in my dream, I won't categorize her as amongst the selfish wealthy men and women of this town. She is genuine!'

   Time sped, it was now lunch break, as usual Vincent and his friends were always seen together, except in classes. The lads were having their lunch, Jordan had brought one along with him, from home. While Vincent and Brian had to buy snacks from the school canteen. They occupied one of the seats in the dinning hall, jesting about their experience in their respective classrooms.

  "Am telling you. He totally yelled back at the teacher." Brian said wholeheartedly.

"Who doesn't that? It's clearly written on every word that comes out of your mouth, you're lying!" Jordan being the nerdy type, responded, not believing Brian's tales.

"Am not lying. It's the truth, I went to the staffs office, that's where I witnessed Henry Calvin, talking back at a teacher, and walking out of the teacher. He saw me eavesdropping, and threatened to deal with me." Brian replied, convincing his friends to believe his words.

"You got yourself in trouble, his the biggest bully in school, and because his from a wealthy family, the school let's his offences slide. Now his literally gonna turn you to his errand boy, have you do all his works. He would make life miserable for you in school until you eventually withdraw from school or commit suicide!" Vincent exclaimed, and both him and Jordan started making mockery of Brian.

  

  During their uncontrollable laughter, a group of seven teenage boys walked up to their table. 

 "Hey Brian, mind if I join you?" A masculine voice inquired, one could sense the mockery in his tune. His name was Henry Calvin, wonder ville high school's greatest bully. He is rumoured to bully both junior high and senior high school students. And had occasionally made some students withdraw from school, and move out of the town. His family's wealth had bought the mouths of the authorities, so they let all his offences slide without even questioning him. Every student hated him, and thoes who couldn't keep up with him, joined his company, becoming official bullies themselves.

 "Why not sit somewhere else, this table is occupied." Vincent responded sharply, sizing Henry up.

"Yeah you heard him, head out daddy's boy, you don't wanna get your ass whooped and handed to you in a sliver platter." Jordan backed Vincent up, Brian and Vincent stared at him in awe, it was the first time their saw Jordan ever talked to a person in such manner. It felt awesome.

  "You really don't know how to address your seniors right, nerd. Am gonna teach you and your loser buddies a lesson after school. Be sure to not flee away, or else it would be double." Henry threatened, glaring at them wickedly, and in an instance, his frown died down to a grin.

"Now then, eat well, you would need all the energy you can muster."

  His gang bursted into an uncontrollable laughter, even when what Henry said wasn't funny, they dared not fall in his black list, so laughing was a way of involvement. They were done relaying their threats, so they walked away. 

The dinning hall was quiet for a second, every student present in the hall room were staring at the three friends, they either wore pitiful faces on, or grinned in satisfaction. People feel like they needed other people to go through the same horrors they've been through, so the grins on their faces meant that they were satisfied that the tables had turned.

"Thanks for getting me into a double trouble. Too much for I have friends to back me up, they just probably dug a grave instead." Brian frowned, he was already imagining the horrors and beatings that awaited him after school. He completely regretted ever going to the staffs block, or eavesdropping on a meaningless conversation that had brought him trouble. At that moment he prayed for God's intervention.

"Didn't mean to make matters worse. Now it's literally from the frying pan to the fire. We're dead!" Jordan exclaimed.

"Nothing to be afraid of, I got y'all covered. I will protect my friends till my last breath." Vincent assured. Jordan and Brian felt inspired, their faces brightened, as they wore faint smiles. This was one of Vincent's speciality, he was used to encouraging his friends, leading them even when they walked through hell. He was literally fearless, well he was, except for the dream that made his heart skip.

"Thanks man, really appreciated." Brian found his voice, it was as if the fear had suddenly disappeared.

 The school bells reverberated all through the school premises. The lunch break had come to an end, it was time to continue lessons!