FAILED HEART

***

"You have gotten what you wanted right?" James asked while he and Fred waited in the detention room.

"What are you talking about, James?"

"You've got people to like and support you"

"I am not interested in a conversation with you"

"Oh well, all they feel is a pity for you. Oh, poor orphan boy"

Fred left the room to avoid the devil as he loitered about the passage. He saw Derek peeping.

"Derek, I can see you. Come out and explain why you did what you did at the assembly ground."

Derek came out, "I felt guilty"

"Oh please, I didn't ask for your guilt. I felt humiliated. I hate being pitied"

Derek looked surprised, "I am sorry I crossed my boundaries. I was only trying to ensure you were not suspended because of me."

"Thanks"

"Wow! That sounded off coming from you"

Fred glared at him. "You are likable, Derek"

Bewildered by the compliments, he said, "I am thankful"

"You know why I like you?"

"I don't know, but I want to"

"Because it is unclear to me why I like you"

Derek laughed and Fred followed. It was a way astonishing sight. "This is the first time I have seen you laugh"

Fred kept a stern face and back into the detention room, he went.

***

The classroom was lousy, but as soon as Fred walked in, silence engulfed them. He went straight to his space but couldn't find either his desk or a chair, he looks around suspicious of everyone, but they all avoided his eyes. Before Fred could ask, Freda spoke. "It wasn't any of us here, it was James"

His jaw dropped in disbelief, he headed for the principal's office immediately.

"Fred" The principal called out the moment he walked into her office. James was beside her.

"Good morning once again, ma"

"I know you came for your desk, not to worry, it's safe," James said with a grin.

"James reported your desk developed a fault, so I sent for another. It should be in your class any moment from now"

"Okay, thank you ma"

Fred took a bow and, on his way, out, James followed.

"Fred"

"What is it this time?"

"I just wanted to know if you would like to practice football with my team, you know we are friends now."

"No, I would hate to be a bother"

"It's nothing"

"I have got a schedule planned up already, man"

"Oh, understandable."

Fred hoped he never saw James again, but how possible can that be? He needed to skip class today and avoid the drama. The library is his only hideout, but he had left his flaws there as well. "I need to work on my attitude" He whispered to himself as he went into the library.

"You are back," The librarian said as soon as she saw him.

Fred acted like he wasn't being talked to.

She came towards him and stood in front of him.

"Look ma, I am sorry about yesterday, but I just have to get a book"

"It's okay" she smiled and gave him that seductive look. Fred frowned at her, he took a book, still glaring at her, and hurried away. "Do not play hard-to-get sugar boy" She called back.

"I can't believe this" Fred said as he walked along the pathway. He saw the supervisor talking to someone right before him, and he turned to escape. Derek was behind him and Derek grinned at him, oh no, he didn't want any noisemaker around him.

"Fred" Derek called out, and it drew the supervisor's attention.

"What are you both doing out during class time?"

"We aren't offering either Yoruba or French" Derek answered. He was the wimp and the savior. "We would be studying in the library"

A wimp again. Fred can't imagine going back to that pervert librarian. "I am not going to the library" Fred whispered.

"Then where would you be?" Derek whispered back.

Fred didn't know where exactly he wanted to go, but he is not going to the library and not to the class. Derek knew that now. "Okay, let's bunk off"

"Excuse me?" Fred had never skied off school.

"I have my ways, follow me"

Fred sneaked away with Derek and ran through a tunnel in the school backyard after much window supervision to ensure no one sees them.

"Where are we going to?" Derek asked in excitement.

"I am going home, you go home"

"What? My mom is going to kill me if she finds me home by this time"

"Then go back to school"

"No way"

Fred left Derek and went off home.

***