3. The "Unsocial" Butterfly

It was time for the dreaded assembly!

Anita, Amina and Ifechi trotted down to the assembly hall that was on the ground floor but not without people throwing stares their way..well mostly because of Ifechi and no one could blame them

It was weird seeing a new student in SS3.

When they reached the assembly line everyone started looking at Ifechi both boys and girls while murmuring amidst themselves

"Na who be that girl?" They heard one guy ask

"I don't know o, is she seriously in our class?" Another replied

"I don't think so, this school no dey admit new students for exam classes na..." The first replied

"Maybe them don change their style o" a third person chipped in

"Aah, this school after they go dey form strong standard strong standard" the first boy replied in pure pidgin.

"Anyhow...the girl fine sha" he said again. Anita stretched her neck to see who it was and wasn't surprised when she made out Samuels face from the back. The two other guys and a girl from the other arm were talking about the new girl and constantly throwing glances their way, when he saw Anita looking at them, they all turned and faced front pretending to be talking about something else.

"Wow...is this how everyone reacts when there's a new student" Ifechi asked, Anita turned to her

"No...not really..."..."they're just not used to seeing a new student in ss3" she replied her stressing the ss3 part.

"Oh.." was all she said before laughing slightly.. "Mr Powers told me that, he also did tell me that my classmates would be surprised at my arrival" she spoke fluently, Anita envied her intonation. Not that she had any accent attached but the way she spoke English made her seem like she founded the language herself and being fair didn't make it any better, she just gave off the "Americana" vibes...but without the accent

Oh so she even knows Mr Powers  Anita thought to herself. That explained a lot but as if reading her mind Ifechi said slowly

"I don't know the principal personally though, it seems like that is what I may have insinuated by saying that" she said "I'm actually here to take the international exam.." she finished off

Amina thought for a while "which international exam?" 

"Oh the one they do here every year na...SAT and Cambridge" She said 

"Oh..." They said in unison at the realization "that one? ....is it what your calling international?" Anita mocked slightly. SAT was quite common in D champions. They made every SS3 student write it unless their parents wanted otherwise but they always advised on it. It was now so common that at least fifty percent of the final year students took the exam like any normal exam except those who didn't write.

Amina and Anita didn't plan on writing the exam because they already knew they would schooling in Nigeria but seeing the way Ifechi spoke about it made them sure she was excited about it. 

She even called it international exam...not that its a lie but it just made it seem so weird!

They continued to talk about school stuff with Amina face glued to her paper then it hit her...she had literally forgotten about it since the arrival of Ifeoma

Prefects were going to be announced today!

...

To say Anita was filled with goosebumps would be an understatement and the worse part was that it wasn't even for her..

But for Amina, her friend.

She was scared on her behalf. Like explained earlier, the chances of Amina getting the social prefect she wanted was the same as passing a straw through a needle hole.

Yep... impossible

But in order not to look like a bad friend she started giving her some pet talk while praying silently in her mind that a miracle would happen or at least that Amina wouldn't be so heartbroken when she didn't get the post. 

Amina on her part didn't look too worried. Infact, from the time they did our praise and worship to singing the national anthem and the school anthem, she hasn't stopped blushing. Anita could see from her face that she was anticipating the news and it was as if she was impatiently waiting for her name to be called.

Like she was sure she would get the post

She even adjusted her skirt!

...

"Good morning great champions" Principal Powers addressed the students. He was a dark man of average height in his late forties. His name really described his personality. He always spoke with flair and authority and it was hard to not notice him anywhere he was even though he wasn't that tall. He had that aura

"Good morning Principal Powers" they all responded with his name on their lips. The administrator liked when people called his name and insisted that they addressed him with it instead of the usual 'sir' most men were addressed with.

"Welcome back to another school session. As usual you know the drill...work hard, be responsible and obey the rules and regulations and all your authorities..." He said

Speaking of authorities....everyone was silent waiting for him to announce what they had all been waiting for. Even he could tell because he cleared his throat and spoke again.

"I know what most of you are waiting for so without wasting any of your time..." He started taking the piece of A4 paper all the final year student's eyes had been fixed on since assembly started..

"If you hear your name, please come to the stage..." He said adjusting his glasses.

Goosebumps washed over the campaigners and the hall fell silent. Anita looked around and caught some eyes of her fellow classmates, everyone were just as excited or anxious as she was except those who probably didn't run for any post and of course Ifechi who was new and had no business whatsoever.

She sighted Dami, her other best friend from where she stood who saw her and waved a little with a smile. She smiled back and turned to the principal who started talking

"We will start from the top, with the senior prefect and assistant of both genders" he said and she could swear she saw Toluwani adjusting his tie. Everyone knew Toluwani would get head boy reasons being that No1. He was the most qualified for the job no2. No one else struggled it with him except Jude who was more like an accomplice than competitor. The two were close buddies, some even suspected that Jude only ran for assistant because his friend was going for main.

"Ok..." Principal Powers breathed out adjusting the microphone before standing still and looking around the hall. Everywhere was dead silent, so quiet that you could hear a feather drop, Mr Powers looked around before his lips turned into a smirk and he adjusted his blue tie on his neck. 

So na because of post this hall dey quiet like this? He mused to himself. Being the principal of a secondary school was not a small job as children especially teenagers weren't easy to control.

Usually, teachers had a tough time trying to organise the students during their assembly because of thier noisemaking especially those in the senior classes but today everywhere was as silent as a graveyard because of the tension in the air.

"This man should be doing fast na" a petite girl muttered from behind Anita in the line interrupting the little silence .

"Urr urrm" he started, clearing his throat as he shifted the mic closer to his mouth on the small stand on top of the pulpit

"Toluwani Adedeji.." Mr Powers called out. Almost immediately Toluwani jumped up and fist bumped some of his classmates briefly before running towards the stage. Everyone cheered for him even the junior students. Toluwani was a likeable guy, he was cool, neat and always minded his business.

Just the type everyone liked. 

Anita even found herself cheering loudly as Ifechi nudged her laughing. "Seems like you like this guy" she said, Anita just smiled " everyone does.." was all she said. Everyone watched as Toluwani was handed his golden badge (which is fake gold btw) and he shook hands with the principal before moving to the side waiting for his partners.

"Jude Okafor"  the principal called out next, another round of applause came but not as loud as the first as Jude went to receive his own badge. Again, Anita joined her palms together for the brown skinned boy who jogged to the stage, head boy and assistant. Not bad she thought, they had predicted it.

"Angel Williams, Head girl"  they heard a squeak before Angel a skinny tall girl in the other arm ran out as if she had just won a lottery. Many people laughed at her drama including the three girls. 

"Obikpe Chinemerem" principal Powers called out. Another tall girl but a little robust came out. She was also in the other arm. Anita could hear mumurs of complaints coming from her fellow arm mates and she knew why they were probably sulking. 

They didn't have any head girl from their class

But at least the two head boy were. She thought grinning to herself...

The next post to be called out was social prefect and Anita turned to Amina whose eyes were just looking straight ahead with no emotion, sighing softly she said a small prayer before listening to the names

"Solomon Obuchere" Mr Powers called out.  A tall light skinned guy ran to the podium. He was in the other arm and true to his post he was a social butterfly...

"Josh Anderson" they called out next. Amina mentally rolled my eyes. Of course they had to give him the post. Josh Anderson is Grace's boyfriend. The mean Grace, the one whose character didn't reflect her name in the slightest way. They all watched as he bounced to the stage to collect his badge. Anita scoffed.

"He no fit run abi" she said to Amina who just smiled a little and continued looking at the principal. After receiving his badge he bowed slightly causing everyone to chuckle at his little drama

Everyone but her!

"And now for the ladies" Mr Power said gleefully

"Grace Chukwunonyere" he called out. This time she rolled her eyes outwardly unintentionally letting out a scoff to which her friend turned to her

"And it seems like you don't like this one" Ifechi said smiling

Why is she always smiling Anita thought  

"At all" she replied rolling her eyes again. All the while Grace sashayed to the podium in quick steps and collected her badge before doing a dramatic courtesy and sauntering to the side with the other 6 prefects

Like boyfriend like girlfriend 

"Amina Muhammadu" Mr Powers said and her heart almost stopped beating... she pinched herself blinking twice but the principals voice boomed through the hall again

"Assistant social prefect female, Amina Muhammadu" 

Wait what!?