After wandering aimlessly for what felt like forever, I stopped abruptly in the hallway. I was lost and frustrated.
Angrily, I stomped my foot on the floor.
This was all his fault. If only he had apologized, I would have made it to class; or at least found someone heading to the same place as me.
Suddenly, I saw a girl walking toward me. She was stunning, the kind of girl that made you instantly self-aware. If I were even half as good-looking, I'd probably be proud.
She stopped when she reached me. "Hi, you're that girl, right? I'm Kylie Simpson." she smiled and offered her hand. "Nice to meet you."
I stared at her blankly.
That girl? What could that possibly mean?
Clearing my throat, I said, "My name is Selena Williams, not 'that girl," I said with my arms folded across my chest.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way," she said. Continuing, she added "You were brave back there. No one has ever spoken to Nicholas Carson that way."
So that jerk has a name?
"Who is he?" I asked, as I arched a brow. "Some kind of celebrity?"
She stared at me in disbelief, as if I had said something abominable.
I didn't understand why she acted like it was a crime to not know that jerk.
"What? You don't know Nicholas ? Who are you and where are you from?" she asked staring deep into my soul, so much so that I feared her eyeballs would pop out.
"Like I said earlier, my name is Selena Williams. I'm American-Nigerian. Mom's from the southeastern part of Nigeria, and my supposed Dad's from Florida. Anything else you'd like to know, Kylie?" I asked, sarcastically, while I rolled my eyes. I did that often, sometimes I feared my eyes might get stuck that way.
"Well, Selena," she began, exhaling softly, she continued "Nicholas Carson is one of the most popular guys here in College. His parents are one of the wealthiest people in this state.
They've made huge donations to the college, and even to the state. Who doesn't know the Carsons here? You're the only one, girlie." She said, patting my back gently.
"How does that relate to me? So what if he's some rich kid? He was rude, and I taught him a lesson, end of story. You're just another girl swooning over that jerk." I said finally, in an attempt to get away from her. I refused to give her the chance to refute what I had said about her, I wasn't in the wrong.
So what if he was rich? What if he was handsome and had girls around him? That didn't give him the right to speak to people whichever way he liked. He had better not cross paths with me again. My hands still tingled from where I'd slapped him. He deserved it.
"Selena, wait!" I heard Kylie say, as she ran toward me. "I didn't mean it the way you understood, I liked your bravery. I admire you, and actually wanted to be your friend. That's the reason why I had approached you earlier, I hope you forgive my inability to make this known to you from the start." She said, trying to catch her breath like she had run a thousand miles.
"I don't mind being friends with you, just don't speak highly of that jerk." I said, while forcing a smile, I was still upset at how she spoke of him like some demi-god
"Sure, sure." She replied, nodding her head in assurance that she wouldn't repeat same mistake again.
"Oh, right. I didn't know where my class is, or where my department was situated at. Do you have any idea? I'm a freshman, so you know_" I said, staring at her with hope in my heart that she'd give an answer in the affirmative.
With a warm smile, she held my hands, "Sure. I'm also a freshman, but I do know places here because I have an older brother studying here too. What department do you belong to? mine is English Language and Literature."
Wait a minute, did she just say English Language and Literature? I stared at her with disbelief, or was she kidding?
"Are you serious? I also belong to same department. What a coincidence!" I said, smiling, grinning from ear to ear.
And, trust me, this was a sincere smile! I had walked for what seemed like ages, and now just like that I found a 'human map' to show me around. Amazing.
"Oh, my goodness Selena. That's wonderful! We could head down to the cafeteria together, as the next class is scheduled for 3:00pm. We still have three hours. Want to get something to eat?" she asked, her eyes smiling at me, hoping I said 'yes'.
"Is that even a question? After wasting all my energy on Nicholas Carson, I definitely need food." I said, nudging her to lead the way. Kylie kept giggling like a high school girl, she's cute.
I liked her already. We could make this friendship work, right?
I watched as Kylie filled up her plate with so much food.
Trust me, I wasn't judging her. No, I was excited to find someone who values food as much as I did
My eyes scanned the dishes available, I wanted something worth eating, and only Nigerian food does the job.
My eyes lit up when I spotted a steaming pot of my favourite, smokey Nigerian Jollof rice. Sweet Jesus, I most definitely needed that.
"I would take some of that," I said to Kylie, as I pointed in the direction of the dish I had my eyes on.
"What's that? It does look appealing, but I have no idea what it is." she asked, with sheer curiosity. It was my turn to stare at her in disbelief.
What? Who doesn't know smokey Nigerian Jollof rice?
"What do you mean you don't know what this is? My God, where are you from?" I said laughing, throwing back her words at her.
"Oh, shut up. Tell me what it is," she said laughing.
"Well," I started, placing my hands on her shoulder, I continued "That over there's one of Nigeria's best dishes. Everybody loves smokey Nigerian Jollof rice, and trust me you'd too. Want to have some?" I asked, staring at her.
"Hm, as long as it tastes as heavenly as you made it seem. I don't say no to food, especially not to good food," she replied, while tapping her feet on the floor, as if in confirmation.
I led her to the stand for Nigerian dishes, and asked the head chef to dish out some for us.
We carried our meals as our eyes scanned the place in search of any available seats to occupy.
As I scanned for a free table, Kylie tapped my shoulder gently, "Selena, look over there," she said, whispering into my ear.
I had thought she had spotted a free seat, where we could sit to eat lunch. But instead she wanted me to see the jerk I had earlier had an altercation with, Nicholas Carson.
I watched him, his hands wrapped around a blonde girl, who kept laughing at jokes I was sure weren't funny. They sat at a table, one occupied by six persons, Nicholas, his girl, and four other boys.
"So?" I asked Kylie.
I needed to know why his existence should matter to me.
"Sorry, my bad," she teased, chuckling, as she ran her hands through her hair.
I simply rolled my eyes at her, as I nudged her to move over to the empty seats I had found, which was beside that of Nicholas.
I stared at Nicholas dead in the eye, as Kylie and I walked past. Was he expecting me to scurry past him? I would definitely not do that. He needed to know that I, Selena Williams, was not scared of him.
"Baby, isn't she the girl whom you spoke about?" I heard the blonde girl next to Nicholas ask, I watched as he nodded in confirmation.
Now what? Was she going to come for my head just because I slapped her boyfriend? Well if she did, I'd do worse to her.
I pulled one of the chairs out, as I took my seat. "Jeez Kylie, the meal is getting cold. We had better not waste anymore time. It's best eaten hot." I said, as she stared down at her plates. She looked at it, like a scientist would look at a new discovery.
"C'mon, dig in!" I said, encouraging her as I took a spoonful of the meal into my mouth.
"Mhm. This is so good, Selena. Oh my goodness!" She exclaimed, as she took more spoons of her meal.
"I told you, Nigerian meals can never go wrong." I beamed, proudly. I was indeed proud to be Nigerian, and it didn't matter even if it was my Mom who was from Nigeria, and my Dad from the United States, I still identified as a Nigerian.
I was so invested in my food I didn't notice that the blonde girl had gotten up from her previous seat, to stand in front of me. "Selena..." Kylie started, she did a little gesture with her hands, urging me to look up, and I did.
So this blonde girl really wanted to give me a lecture?
"Yes, you've got a problem? Cat got your tongue?" I asked the blonde girl sarcastically.
"Yes, I do have a problem, brunette. And that problem is you." She said, firmly placing her hands on her hips, ready for a fight.
"I'd be lying if I said I knew you, or cared to know you. Also, I barely understand what you're saying. How can I be a problem to you, when we don't even know each other?" I asked, staring at her, resting my chin on my hand.
"Girl, don't play dumb. Who gave you the right to lift those filthy hands of yours on my boyfriend's face?" She asked, as she lunged towards me.
"Oh, that. So that jerk has a girlfriend? Phew, my condolences in advance, darling." I teased, as I shifted my attention back to my food.
"Don't you dare ignore me. I asked a question, you better start talking." She said, as her breathing increased.
"Girl, get lost. It's not my fault that your boyfriend can't think straight." I said again, hoping she'd really get lost. But no, that definitely didn't work.
"Are you out of your damn mind?" She asked, as she raised her hand.
I smiled to myself, wrong move darling.
As she stepped closer, I slid my foot out. She fell. Hard.
Her white shirt and blue boyfriend jeans were smeared with dirt.
"You, argh!!!" She screamed. " What are you waiting for? Come lift me up!" she yelled at her boyfriend.
I watched as he ran towards her, and lifted her up. He asked her how she was, and she responded "Can't you see the obvious? What sort of question is that?", rolling her eyes, after getting back on her feet, she threw his hands off her, and walked away.
"Go clean your wretched girlfriend up, Mister Perfect." I said to Nicholas, smirking my lips.
"Selena, don't you think that was too much?" Kylie asked, I had completely forgotten she was here.
"No, it wasn't. She came here herself. She searched for trouble and found it. Are you done? Let's go." I said, carrying my plates in my left hand, and pulling her by the hand with my right hand.