"The following students have to come for their letters." The protocol prefect announced during dining time for the juniors. Since Ellen walked out on Henry, they had not spoken to each other for close to a month. They were all busy with studies, especially the seniors who had little time left for WASSCE. Quiz preparation was underway as well, but they never crossed paths. Abby, and Kelly had to admit they missed Henry and Ellen being together sometimes, since it was through their friendship that they got close to the seniors. They had finally made it to the team, but Ellen wasn't as vibrant as she used to be anymore. She had turned into a bookworm who only focused on books and God, sometimes even without them. They could tell she was still sad from what had happened. "Do you think Henry and Ellen will ever be friends again? I don't really like this new aloof Elle." Kelly asked with complain. "I don't know Kell, but I know Elle really liked Henry. She just allowed sister Esther's words to get to her. Probably reminded her of ours too. I mean we did warn her about Henry, right? I just grew to like the prefects, and I actually shipped them, but he crossed the line with her. That punishment was so uncalled for. He never apologized, or explained his reason at least." Abby replied. They were talking under the tree they used to sit under, Ellen nowhere to be found. They knew Henry deserved this, but it was affecting Ellen too. It was a good thing they weren't together for long, that would have been a disaster. "I feel if he apologizes to Elle, she'll forgive him. I mean they need to start working together for the quiz. They looked like strangers being forced to sit together during the regionals. It's a good thing they won at least." Kelly said. "Yes, they did. People noticed it too, but I saw Henry steal glances at her whenever she answered a question…" Abby commented, and "I did too! He wanted to commend her, but she wouldn't look at him. You know, I'd really hate to be on her bad side." Kelly interrupted. They were still talking about a recent regional quiz between their school and other schools, which they won, when Ellen got there. They all left for the dining hall in silence, each in her own world. "Eleanora Wilson, Kingsley house." The protocol prefect called her name after calling others for their letters. The girls were surprised and wondered who had sent Ellen a letter. Ellen, however, was dumbfounded, because she had no friends outside school, and no one outside knew her details as well. Not only had she received a letter, but she also got a parcel as well. "Who is it from?" A curious Kelly asked. "Um I don't know. There isn't an address here." Ellen replied, racking her brain for any possible clue. "What do you feel in the envelope?" Abby asked. "It feels fluffy, like a teddy bear." Ellen replied to the curious and inquisitive stares of her friends and table members. "A teddy bear? Who'd gift you that?" Mercy asked with interest. "I don't know." She replied again, still thinking. "Well, open it. Let's see." Another table member said, and they all nodded. Ellen sighed, and opened the cutely wrapped envelop to reveal a beautiful little teddy with a 'FRIENDS' inscription on a heart in its hand. The bear was white, and the heart was red. "Awn, that's so cute. Someone wants to be your friend. Who do you think it is?" Mercy said in awe. "Wait Elle, there's something else here." Kelly said after picking up the envelope. It was a small rectangular box. She opened it and gasped. "Wow!" She shrieked. "What is inside?" Abby asked when they turned to her. She removed it, and they saw a beautiful golden necklace with 'ELEANORA' written cutely in a heart at the bottom. Ellen had to close and open her eyes to look at it well as it shone. "Ellen, who is spoiling you like this. Have you gotten a boyfriend?" Mercy quizzed. "Yeah. Either that or you have a secret admirer trying his best to get close to you." Naomi, from their table chimed in. Ellen took the necklace and stared at it carefully, as if the person behind this show would come out of it. "Guys if you want to know, shouldn't we read the letter?" Abby advised and they nodded, waiting for Ellen to open it. She finally got the sweet-scented perfumed paper out and they gasped for the nth time when she opened it. The handwriting was gorgeous, as if printed, and it was beautifully decorated with an 'I'M SORRY' in the middle. She cleared her throat and begun reading to the eager faces and ears around her.
"Eleanora,
I gotta admit I'm as shocked as you are because this is not me. Writing a letter? I don't even write to my mom or sister, but this is a special situation that requires special attention. Before you reported back to school, I had been wondering how it will be to see you again. First, I was mad at you for still not reaching out, but I missed you more than I was upset with you, and I couldn't wait to see you again. I was told you showed up in class expecting to see me, but I didn't want you lecturing me about dust anymore, so I slept instead. That was your punishment, for making me wait for so long, before coming back. There's so much I wanted to tell you, but I found out Esther punished you, and you didn't tell your sister or me. I was pissed so I punished you three for allowing Esther to get away with it, after telling you to report to me if she touched you again. That's why I said you were insubordinate. The long and short of this is, I'M SORRY. I overstepped and caused you pain. Not to brag, but you really surprise me each time with your personality. I'm sorry I made you feel like every other girl, because you are clearly not, if you can look pass my charms, and position to ignore me or react to my touch that way. I really want us to be friends again and avoid that stranger situation we had during regionals competition. We've got nationals coming on, and I want us to go as friends and support each other. Please accept my little friendship gifts, and meet me at our spot. I'll be waiting. Signed… you know who."
Ellen had started reading out loud but stopped when she got to the third sentence, making everyone wonder why. She had tears in her eyes when, "Well, why did you stop? What is it Elle?" Kelly quizzed. Ellen stared at both her friends, gathered the gifts, and left with both of them in tow. They understood the stare meant they should follow her. "I can't believe she just did that to us. Why will she build our curiosity, only to go silent like that? I wonder what is in that letter." Mercy said in annoyance.
***
"You know, part of me thought of him when you brought out that necklace. He's the only one who calls her by her full name." Kelly said after reading the letter. She passed it to Abby who went to comfort her friend. They were sitting on Ellen's bed after they left for her house. "I have to say that guy knows how to make gestures. He is not cliché at all. Elle, are you going to meet him?" Kelly continued. "I don't know. Do you think he's being sincere?" She replied with a question. "I don't know too, but girl, have you heard anyone say they received an apology letter from the almighty Henry?" Abby replied. "You received an apology letter from Henry?" Sandra, Ellen's school mother asked. Sandra was a minister's daughter who thought too highly of herself. She didn't really bother about Ellen and was barely around to know what was going on with her, especially concerning Esther. She was also one of Henry's many escapades. His attention for Ellen made her not like her even more and was one of the people who bet he would dump her like he did every other girl. The girls had not seen her come in as she was barely in the room. "Um no please sister. We were just wondering about it." Kelly was fast to reply, but Sandra squinted her eye at them. It was then, that she spotted the things on Ellen's bed. "What are these?" She asked, pointing to the teddy, and the box with a piece of paper by it. Before they could answer, she grabbed the paper and opened it with wide eyes in shock. "OH MY GOD! Esther!!!" She called out. Ellen begun trembling, and hurriedly packed the gifts in her trunk. Esther rushed to where her name was called, and asked, "what's wrong? Why are you shouting my name?" "You won't believe this. Take a look at this." Sandra said, shoving the paper into Esther's hand before Ellen could grab it. Esther turned the other way while Sandra blocked the girls. Esther had the same reaction as Sandra, and murmured "he's really serious about her?", under her breath, but loud enough for Ellen and friends to catch it. "I'm shocked as well. This little homeless thing managed to get Henry, and he ignored us?" Sandra said with disdain. "Sister Sandra please, I'm not homeless…" Ellen defended. "Shut up there. What do you have besides your name, that he would go for you and leave me? Don't you know who I am?" Sandra retorted angrily. "She has brains, you don't. And we all know you are the daughter of a man, who makes his money ripping of the government." A voice answered behind them, and they turned. "What the hell? How dare you talk about my father that way?" Sandra asked, fury in her eyes. "Sue me. It's prep time, why is the dormitory not locked by this time? Everyone get down now!" Clara said nonchalantly and commanded, turning fearsome in a second. She paved the way for them to leave one after the other. Ellen was so grateful Clara had arrived when she did, those two seniors might have pulverized her if she hadn't. Esther threw the paper to Ellen after crumpling it, and left with Sandra who was still fuming. Abby picked it up, and folded it back nicely. Everyone was almost out, leaving few seniors and Ellen with her friends. "What was going on here? Why are you three always the center of trouble?" Clara asked when she got near them. "They were upset about a letter Elle got from Henry." Kelly explained. "You got a letter from Henry?" Clara asked with disbelief. But of course, it always traced back to Henry. This friend of hers would be the end of someone one day. "Let me see the letter." She demanded. They handed it over to her and she read through, shaking her head. That head shake did not sit well with Ellen.
"Sister Clara, do you think it's real?" Abby asked the question on their minds. "What gifts are those?" Clara asked instead. Ellen brought out the teddy bear and the necklace, making Clara smile. "Why? You think it's fake? Let me show you something." Clara replied and brought something out of her pocket. It was a similar necklace to the one Ellen just got, but with 'CLARA' written in the heart instead. The girls looked at it with awe. "I got this from Henry, back in junior high school. I have a teddy bear like this as well, but mine has 'I'M SORRY' written on it instead. I didn't get a letter though. That's why I'm shocked, but this is definitely his handwriting. Elle, I don't know how, but I think you spark something in Henry. I've known that guy since we were in diapers, and the only special women in his life are four; me, his mom, his sister, and a friend of ours abroad. I think you just got added to the club. Not in a million years, would that arrogant guy sit to write a letter to a girl he's not even dating. I think he really regrets what he did, and I can say for a fact, that he really was upset, when we were told Esther punished you, and you said nothing about it. I also told him your eyes were swollen the morning we met; he had been wanting to meet you, but we've been busy with science practicals. Please consider this and forgive him, this is a grand gesture on his part. These are his peace-making gifts, because even his mom has some, and you are the only girl in this school he's done this for." Clara spoke a lot. Abby and Kelly nodded their approval and smiled. He was being real, if Clara was saying so. They knew Clara loved Ellen and wouldn't allow Henry to play her; that's one of the reasons why they stopped having reservations about their friendship. And now, this just proves that Henry is serious about her too. Ellen placed the things back in her trunk as they made their way out of the house, so that Hilary could lock it. "Why would you let Sandra and Esther know about this?" Clara asked on their way to class. "We didn't sister, they heard us talking about it." Abby replied. "I see. You girls have a nice prep and report them if they try anything." Clara said and left for her block after they nodded.