Rachael no doubt feels more confident with finding out about who Emma is. Apart from being observant, which was one of her beautiful qualities, she somehow felt the urge to know who she was.
She noticed how gracious she was since the beginning of their 12th grade, but her facial expressions show the opposite of what she was.
She never wanted to tell anyone about her observations, since there was not enough evidence to back up her thoughts. She was the type that always acts on her gut feelings. Most of the time, these feelings are true.
One could think Rachael was the type that was nosy or headstrong, but that was just her personality. She noticed something about Emma and feel she should be investigated. If found guilty, she is not to be mocked, but to be corrected and helped. For some reason, Rachael felt she needed help.
- AFTER SCHOOL HOURS
Rachael held onto her stomach as she was beginning to feel pain and menstrual cramps. The bell had been rung for closing, but this pain kept hitting her.
Joy helped her to the restroom as she washed her face, the cold water easing the little tension in her body.
"I have always told you to use the herbs your mum gives you, but you wouldn't listen. Now, menstrual cramps are eating you up," Joy complained as they seemed to be the only ones in the restroom.
"You know how much I detest that ginger taste, as well as that of turmeric," Rachael made a face as she rested on the door.
"Try forcing yourself to drink ginger tea. Research shows it contains compounds which help to reduce the production of prostaglandins which are responsible for menstrual pain," Joy explained, which made Rachael dumbstruck at how detailed her friend's explanation was.
"Wow, wow, wow, I never knew my friend was a nerd", Rachael teased giving Joy a look.
"I am not a nerd. You are the kind that likes giving yourself problems, reading, and reading. Please, I will pass," Joy raised her hand refuting Rachael's words immediately.
Rachael smiled as she made her hand into her backpack. She brought out the ginger tea her mum gives her at least three times a week. Most of the time, Joy ends up drinking it, as she claims it helps reduce menstrual pain.
Taking a minute amount into her mouth, she felt like puking.
"Just calm down okay. It is just ginger tea," Joy looked at her and said.
Handing over a sweet to her friend, Rachael began licking to relieve the sour taste she was having.
*****
The four looked as a Jeep came to pick up Emma. She said her curtsy goodbye to Maya as she gently got into the back of the car. Maya went the other way as she was still waiting for her dad.
Joy and Rachael got into the car as Joy ordered her driver to follow their directions. One way or the other, Kevin was able to place a tracker in Emma's backpack. When asked to reveal how he managed to get to Emma, Kevin decided to not let the cat out of the bag. The remaining three stopped pestering him as they focused on their goal.
It feels stupid to Joy to try and find out about someone like Emma. What if she was from a rich family? What if they were caught and reported? Principal Mullins would not take it lightly with them.
Joy tried to reason as they followed the blue car Emma was in. On second thought, what if she lives a fake life and needs help in changing her lifestyle.
In the end, Joy decided to watch the drama unfold. If truly Rachael's gut feeling was real, Emma would surely face the consequences. That is if she wanted to come clean. But if she continued with her lifestyle even while they offered to change her thinking, then they would leave her. After all, what comes around goes around.
It was not up to 20 minutes when they drove into a residential suite specially reserved for the rich elites in the states. They followed Emma's car gently, as they informed the driver not to make it obvious they were trailing her.
It was a good thing Andrew made a tracker as they can easily track her even if they drive slowly, as long as she is with her backpack. Andrew is a genius", Joy could not help but compliment him inwardly.
The tracker came to a stop as Joy's driver parked by the roadside, a little bit far from the blue Jeep Emma was in. They watched as Emma jumped out of the car, and waved to the driver.
Rachael and Joy peeked as Emma made an entrance into a big mansion. The tracker was still reading as it seems she left her backpack in the Blue Jeep.
"Isn't it crystal clear enough that she is from a rich background?" Joy was beginning to lose her patience.
Apart from the time-wasting, her parents, especially her mum would question her about her whereabouts.
"Joy, just calm down. I just acted on my gut feelings. Somehow, I still feel something is fishy. Let us wait for some minutes," Rachael said, as Joy rested her head on her palms.
Kevin's phone started ringing as Rachael placed it on the loudspeaker.
"The tracker is still moving but you guys are not", Andrew questioned through the phone.
"It just happened that we ended up in a wealthy residential and Emma walked into a big mansion. A simple proof that she is from a rich family," Joy explained, her voice sarcastic.
"Oh! Maybe you guys should wait for a while. We never can tell if she works there. After some confirmation, I realized that few people investigated her but they could not find any loopholes. But after the little encounter between us, I could not help but support Rachael's gut feeling," Kevin explained over the phone.
Kevin and Andrew are together. Kevin's phone was given to Rachael for easy communication.
"I know you will side with her, lover boy. We will just support her," Rachael hit her friend slightly, her face reddening a bit.
Kevin's expression changed as a smile crept to his lips.
"Ahem, so let us wait for 1 to 2 hours. Joy, I have covered up for you at home, and Kevin has also done the same for Rachael. So be rest assured that you will not be grounded," Andrew reassured.
"Thank you, Andrew," Joy voiced out, thankful, finally realizing why her phone was not filled with missed calls from her mum.
The phone conversation dropped as Kevin's phone screen came to light, revealing Rachael in a blue floral gown, her hair packed sideways.
"Kevin likes you a lot," Joy said as she looked at the picture on Kevin's phone
"Yeah. Sometimes I feel guilty not knowing how he had cared for me all these years. I wish that one day, I would be able to reciprocate the feelings he has for me. When I pass my bloom of youth and the feelings are mutual, we can start dating," Rachael explained as she looked at Joy.
"I hope you fulfill your promise, and what is the bloom of youth. I am not a nerd," Rachael stiffened her laughter as she started at Joy.
"Bloom of youth is simply the stage where sexual desires are very high. Most of the time, it occurs in teenagers, which results in developing crushes, infatuation, and attraction. Not until one passes the bloom of youth, one cannot experience true love," Rachael explained.
"Wow, that is great Miss Rachael. I feel I have passed my bloom of youth recently, "Joy said in a rather funny tone.
"You wish. It depends on tho. While some tend to leave that stage faster, some might not get past it not until they are in their mid or late 20's," Joy nodded at her friend's explanation.
It was great having a friend like Rachael.
"So tell me who do you have a crush on. I promise not to tell anyone," Rachael felt her heartbeat increase again as she rested on the window, before turning to face Joy with a calm expression.
"I am not telling you, Joy Smith. You would not have known all this while, if not that you got hold of my diary. But trust me when I say this, even if you search my whole room, you won't see it", Rachael let out her tongue at Joy who wore a fake frown.
They have already left Joy's driver to look at the big mansion.
"That is not fair. I told you mine.", Joy complained as Rachael snickered.
"Crushes are distractions to me, telling you will only aggravate it, as you would keep saying the person's name to my hearing. This, however, will continue arousing my feelings for him. The best thing for me is to get rid of any kind of feelings for the opposite sex. School plus social life plus feelings are more like a total failure," Rachael explained as Joy kept looking at her in amazement.
It seems she is not dating anytime soon.
"Isn't that the girl you are looking for," the driver called their attention as they slowly peeked to see Emma coming out of the gate in rather simple clothing. This time, she was looking left and right, as if she was suspicious.
"Please follow her," Joy said to the driver.
"No, following her with the car will not help. I have another plan," Rachael voiced out.
It seems Rachael has a better plan', Joy thought.