CHAPTER NINE
            Tokunbo.
         
                                   Saturday had been memorable. Her mother had insisted she visit Betty again and alas Vicky was there.
       
                              At first it had been awkward.  Tokunbo definitely hadn't wanted to spend time with the ice witch, but Betty worked her talking magic and voila! Vicky loosened up.
           
                            I. Actually. Had. Fun.
            
                        Gee, see who's making friends.
                                Her spirits dampened instantly at the jibe.
       
                              It wasn't  like she was getting all buddy buddy with them. She had only hung out with them twice for God's sake!
            
                         Riiiiight. The numerous selfies beg to disagree.
              
                         "They're just pictures" She murmured defensively staring at herself in the full mirror ; A blessing and a curse.
         
                              Of course they are. What about Enoch huh?   Her conscience poked.
         
                               "I've stopped going already."
         
                           Why did you go in the first place?
         
                            "I don't know." She groaned in confusion. "I don't know why. I didn't see a reason why I shouldn't."
           
                             Exactly! You're doing it all over. Falling all over. People break and make you break.
              
                             "I can't help it!" She screamed quietly at herself.
             
                           Of course. You're a weak skinny girl anyways. How can you help yourself?
           
                         "No."
          
                        Right.
              
                       "I am not weak."
         
                      Indeed. Do I need to refresh your memory then?
           
                          "No!"
      
                            But it was too late. She saw herself there  again. Admist it all. Everyone pointing to their phone screens. Laughing in scorn. She saw her  point fingers. Saw them snapped. Blood pooled all over the ground. Screams. Chaos. The sirens were loud. Too loud. They kept chanting. Singing. Too loud.
             
                                   This is why you can't have friends Tokun. This is why you can't get close.
             
                                  And like the weak mess she was, she fell on herknees and cried.
***
                              Unbelievable!  Pathetic! You're pathetic.
  
                              Tokunbo ignored the voice as she walked alongside Betty. They were headed to Vicky's class since theirs ended a few minutes ago.
          
                               Perhaps she was weak after all. Because here she was, making the same mistakes all over again.
       
                             "Here. It's pretty right?" Betty's voice drew her out of the grey clouds. She collected the phone Betty held out, looking at the picture on the screen.
           
                              Betty, her and Vicky had painted each other's face, and had taken a selfie. It looked like she belonged. Like she could actually have friends despite her...issues.
             
                            That I am still me.
       
                           Lies.
       
                            The phone seemed to burn her hands so she dropped it quickly into Betty's palm.
          
                            "You okay?" Betty gave her a weird look.
       
                           "Yeah. Why?"
         
                            She stared for a while. A teeny weeny longer than a while, then shrugged.  "Nothing." a pause then, "you didn't tell Vicky did you?"
           
                            Now it was Tokunbo's  turn to frown.  "What?"
        
                                   Betty shuffled her feet for a while, "About... It."
         
                              "You'll have to be more specific Betty."
       
                               The girl huffed.  "The writing ish."
     
                           Oh that.
Flash back;
                                " She shrugged in response, forcing herself to focus on other things.
         
                            And then she saw it.
     
                            The blue and yellow flyer peeked from beneath the centre table. Without thinking  she reached for it.
             
                          "The All States Writing Competition. "
           
                         "You write?" Tokunbo asked and was rewarded with a loud gasp.
         
                         Betty's mouth hung open and after staring for three second straight, she snatched the flyer out of her grasp.
         
                           "Whoa!"
        
                           "It's nothing. You shouldn't have seen this."
       
                            Tokunbo had never seen anyone look so petrified. "Hey, calm down okay? I just-"
      
                              As if on cue, the disk rack fell out of place and papers flew everywhere. She grabbed a floating one.
         
                           " Knives that drive in deep, water steep,
            Cry me a river, build me bridge and a ridge,.."
         
                           "Give me that!" Betty snatched again, then began to gather the rest.
           
                             "You're applying for the competition? You should."
              
                            "I'm not."
             
                              "Why?"
      
                             The girl stilled. "I can't."
      
                              Tokunbo furrowed her brows. "Why not?"
       
                            Another pause. "I just can't."
       
                             Tokunbo shrugged in response. It really wasn't her business. "Okay then."
         
                          "My dad doesn't want me to." Betty muttered a few minutes later.
       
                         She didn't know what to say so she just said an "Oh."
           
                        "Yeah. Don't tell anyone okay?"
           
                           "Okay"
                          "No I didn't. If you haven't noticed I'm not exactly buddy buddy with Vics." Tokunbo replied. She couldn't help the tinge of irritation in her voice.
         
                              Isn't it obvious? You're on the wrong path. Again.
         
                              She blocked her whinning conscience and turned her attention to Betty who was asking a question.
           
                           Many questions.
       
                           "...why'd you guys move? And your dad? He's a police man right? I saw him one morning in his uniform. Gosh he is so scary...."
           
                                   You brought this on yourself.
           
                              "....pretty cool having a cop as a father. I bet he uses his cop voice on you guys at home. Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask you about your brother. He keeps a lot to himself doesn't he? Usually see you guys arguing when you're walking back home. You could hitch a ride with us y'know? We're neighbors duh, and-"
           
                            "Betty, Betty you haven't changed I see." A familiar voice tsked and they both turned to look at her.
           
                         Moaning Myrtle.
      
                            The one girl that seemed to have some hold over these people. Betty's face blanched considerably. The same way Enoch's face had.
***
                      Flashback.
                     "Demi" Enoch gasped and his hands, which seemed to burn flew off so fast.
       
                          "Hello Nochie, guess who's back?"  The dark haired girl had a mischievous grin.
                              Tokunbo recognized her instantly. "You! Moaning myrtle sister!"
          
                               Demi shook her head, rolling her eyes.  "Hello to you too Scaredy cat."
        
                             She huffed at the nick name. "Says the girl who ran off. You two know each other?" She fought the urge to face palm. Of course they knew each other. They'd probably been in the school right since kindergarten or something.
         
                                 "Like we know each other's skin. Right Nochie?" she asked sweetly and even Tokunbo knew it was fake. Something was up. Enoch looked like he was in a horror movie.
         
                                 "What are you doing here?" he croaked and Tokunbo frowned. The girl obviously had something over him.
       
                              Or something with him.
       
                          "Oh Enoch sweetie,"  Tokunbo resisted the urge to gag at her sickly sweet voice. "You didn't think I'd stay away forever did you? Of course I'd come back."
                             She gave an evil cackle. "Let's see how it goes from here hmm?" and with that she walked away.
*****
   Enoch
                 She was here.
                 She was around.
                 She was back.
      
                 You've been singing that for a week.
 
                          His heart pounded irregularly in his chest as he threw nervous glances at the clock. Mr Deji rambled on and on about some type of government while his knees shook in symphony.
             
                       What was she doing here? He wondered clasping his hands together.
       
                          Eli wasn't in class; one of the many occasions since the past week. Enoch couldn't believe he joined them. Of course he had suspicions. He hadn't wanted to be proved right however.
         
                      "Mr Fayose, is something bothering you?" Mr Deji asked and everyone stared at him.
       
                    I'm beginning to strongly dislike this man.
            
                       "I'm fine sir" Enoch tried to sound apologetic. Key word tried. It came out more like a snap and he got sent out of class.
         
                       Angrily he stomped towards the trap door. The place he and Tokunbo had gone a week ago. They had followed Elijah because he had strong suspicions. And he had been right. Eli had dared join the Skylars. They used to talk trash about these people. About how they tired with their future. About how lethal they were. And he freaking joined them.
         
                          Fury and disappointment bubbled through him. Enoch had to make him stop. Had to get him out. If only he knew what to do.
            
                        "Waiting out on your bestie aren't you?"
       
                      Of course she'll be here! She's everywhere lately.
             
                         "Don't you have classes Demi?" He sighed refusing to look at her. He knew she was smirking her stupid face of behind him.
           
                      "Nah. It's a free period. And I am not sure you can salvage your friend anymore. He's far too gone." She sounded like she cared. But he knew better.
         
                            Taking deep breaths, He turned to face her. "What are you planning Demi?"  
            
                          "Me?" She had the nerve to look appalled. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
           
                           "I'm not stupid Demi. I know you. Stop all these, please. It's getting too much. Too tiring. I can't live normal anymore Demi."
           
                          "Well my work isn't done yet. I will not stop until I am satisfied. I will make you and those crew of yours suffer. I will make you beg." her voice thick with so much venom.
           
                           So much hate.
         
                        "And if I were you honey, I'd run for my life now." she smiled and suddenly he was enveloped in darkness.