I woke up early, and I crawled out of bed my whole body ached from last night, I went to the bathroom to do my business and brushed my teeth after I took a long warm bath.

I exited the bathroom, cleaned my room and I wore a leggings and an over sized shirt,I applied make up to hide any bruise left on my face, I wore my worn canvas grabbed my backpack and head to the kitchen.

I made my stepfather's usual breakfast then I remembered that I have fruits in my bag, I took them out and threw them into the trash can because they had gone bad, I made a Nutella sand which and quickly exited the house.

I knew the way to school by now so I did not need to ask for directions, I trekked for twenty minutes before I reached the parking lot where I saw Alero and her friends waiting for me I guess.

Why would they be waiting for me? Oh god I forgot to take my pain killer, this people will only add to my problems. Right as I was about to turn to the other side in other to avoid them but Alero quickly rushed to my side and gave me a tight warm hug.

I was tempted to hug her back but I could not,it would give her hope that we can be friends.

We can not ever be friends thanks to my father and what they did to me two days ago,I thought bitterly.

"Good morning." They all greeted me.

"Morning." I answered them back.

"Dinela?! I recall you saying you guys will not even breathe in my Direction talk less of speaking to me so what is this?"

"Azyma I did not mean any of the things I said, I just lashed out like that because you kept insulting and blaming us."

"You did not allow us to speak you did not want to hear us out that was why I lashed out at you."

"I am really sorry." Said Dinela.

"How could I have been right when I know nothing about you? I will only know if you tell me, but you did not speak about yourself, you were being self conscious we did not want to make you uncomfortable."

"I stopped Alero and Austin from coming to your aid yesterday because I was scared that if we come help you then, we will also become Debby gold's target and we will not be able to live it through again."

"You told me you and Austin showed her her place when she messed with you."

"I lied! Austin and I did not do anything, my older sister was in this school, she was the one that stopped Debby gold from picking on me."

"After that day she stopped noticing me, she would not see me even if I was there, if we fought for you the same will happen to you, and I did not want that, I am sorry, I am truly sorry."

"You have the reason to be upset and all the reasons too, but you do not have any reason to be angry at Alero and Austin, will you please be there friend."

I gave her a hug and she hugged me back,I could not help myself.

"It was really brave of you to own up to your mistake." I told her sincerely, "but why do you guys want to be my friend so badly?"

"Because you seem really nice and you are also very mysterious, we just want to be your friend and to be honest we do not have any valid reason why,we only want to be your friend because you are new and you are our kind of person, there are no strings attached, we just want to be friends with you." Said Alero.

"I forgive you and I would be honoured and delighted to be your friend but.."

"But what?" Asked Dinela.

"We can never be friends."

"Why?", Alero asked "She just apologized."

"It is not because of that. You see, my stepfather is a very conservative man, he does not like me to have friends, he tells me that I do not need them, that is why I can not be your friend that is the reason why we can never be friends,I am really sorry."

I went ahead and gave Alero a hug and also gave Dinela a hug too,what is wrong with me? I should not let my emotions get the better of me, I quickly pulled away.

"I will be off to class now, the bell will be rung any moment from now, excuse me."

I walked away and did not look back, I entered the school, I went to my locker and i took out my books for first period just then the bell rang for first period, and I walked into my first class of the day.

I entered the class and took my sit, seconds later I watched the students enter the class one by one, and then I saw the last person I want to see, Austin I did not know that he and I have this class together, why is destiny always against me?"

Everyone was seated waiting for the teacher to arrive, I used that time to gather my thoughts together. I tried to explain to them properly,I hope I was not rude.
        I just wished we could be friends and live normally but my step father will not allow me to have a peaceful life and stress free life. I wonder what I did to Debby gold that made her hate me so much.

"Good morning class, I am Mr Imran Gudu, A substitute teacher Mr William had an injury and he will not be able to take you so, henceforth I will be taking you agricultural science, I hope you guys behave well and give me the respect I deserve."

I heard someone snicker at what he said,but it went unheard by Mr William.

"I will use this class to explain my rules and how you must behave, during my class, then from next class we can start this term's topic.

*You will all address me by my name nothing else.

*You must never be late to my class if you are you will get four hours of detention after school.

*No whispering or side talks in my class, that award three hours of detention if not obeyed.

*No fighting or heated argument in my class it awards three days suspension if declined.

*Anyone who fails to respect me or speak to me like he would to his classmates, will go to the principals office.

*All assignments and projects must be submitted on the said date it awards seventy push ups in the gym every morning if declined or not adhered to.

   I heard so many gasps as he called out his rules, even I gasped at some point, some had terrified looks on there faces, while some where worried, the rest had straight long face, masking there expression.

Just then the bell rang signaling the end of the period with students practically running out of the class.
I think that they just found their worst class.
I noticed that Austin did not even glance my way or even try to talk to me, I just hope they are not upset with me.

Dinela's POV

"I do not understand I apologized to her so why did she not agree to be our friend?"

"Dinela do not beat your self up about it,she told you that her dad is a conservative man that he does not want her to have friends." Said Austin.

"No!"

"What are you saying? You just heard her say that."

"Yes but."

"But what?" Asked Austin.

"She said her step father will not allow her to have friends so, it means that she is living with her step father. I mean what about her mom, she only mentioned her stepfather, she did not say, her parents are very conservative people, she only said her step father does not want her to have friends."

"Well I think you are thinking too much Dinela, just accept it, it is not your fault."

"Yes I guess you are right."

"It is okay, you apologized so sweetly to her, you even told her that she can stay mad at you but not Austin and I."

"Alero is right you did your best, you did all you could so let this matter die please."

"Okay, but if we cannot be friends at least we should all just hang out together as classmates instead of friends." I suggested.

"Yes I totally agree with you said Dinela, if we explain to her that way she will just have to agree that is if she is not still mad at you." Said Austin.

"How could she be mad at you?,
I mean she gave you a tight hug, that is more than enough confirmation that she is no longer upset?"

"But she quickly pulled away from me when she hugged me, like... she regretted it."

"You are just over thinking all this." Said Alero.

"Alero might be right Dinela we should head to class now, we do not want to be late." Said Austin.

"Austin?"

"Yeah."

"You are having the same class with her first period?" Asked Alero.

"Yeah."

"Please will you explain it to Azyma that way after the class, maybe she will agree."

"Okay I will."

We entered the school and head to our locker and took our books for the first period.

"I am having Government right now, bye ladies see you later."

"Austin make sure she agrees and ask her to come sit with us on our table in the cafeteria during lunch."

"Okay sure, I will."

    Austin went to class and Alero and I also were on our way to first period, I still could not get a single thought out of my head "my step father is a very conservative man he does not want me to have any friends."
I just could not wrap my head around it and understand what she was trying to say, but I decided that I will ask her about it if Austin manages to convince her.
End of POV.
         
I went to my locker immediately after agricultural science class, I was getting ready for second period when Austin came to me.

"Hey." He said.

"Hi."

"Do you mind if I talk to you for a second."

"No,I do not, go on I am listening."

"Well you told us that your step dad does not want you to have friends right."

"Yes I did."

I wonder where this conversation is going, did they manage to figure out that...

"Azyma?"

"Yeah sorry I am listening."

"Okay so we thought that we could know each other not as friends but as classmates you know as colleagues in school."

I released a sign of relief, thank God they did not manage to figure it out.

"So can we all hang out just as classmates and if your step  dad asks you can just tell him we are your classmates." just then the bell for second period rang.

"I have to go now if you agree that we could hang out as classmates then come join us on our table in the cafeteria during lunch time and really prove to us that you have forgiven us."

"I really have forgiven you guys."

"Prove it to us by showing up at our table during lunch time."

"Excuse me I have to go to class." After he left I went to my next class, Biology.

This chapter is 1,988 words I hope you like it please do not forget to drop your comments,vote and and like my chapters thank you
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