Two.

My geography class was the only thing I looked forward to when I wake up every morning. Some would even say that it is the reason I wake up every morning. A chance to see the one and only Troy Black.

OAHS,was like the only school in town where rich people went. This is because their method is different. For example,ice cream among other things were served for lunch and this is one of the things I look forward to. Also,seniors and juniors had some classes together hence the reason Troy and I had a geography class together.

As I explained earlier,I always got to the class five minutes earlier so I could sit at the back and day dream about Troy all day. It always helped matters when Troy was sitting close to me.  He didn't ever notice me anyways.

I walked into the class with my head down,praying to God that I would be the first to enter the class. It was always better that way because no one could notice me when my head was down on my table. My prayer was answered because only Mrs Love was in the class with a blank look on her face.

"Hi,"I greeted her softly and she half smiled at me whispering a " hello" back.

"How is the baby?"I gestured to her stomach,trying to get more than a hello from her.

"He keeps kicking nowadays. He's ready to come to this world."She rubbed her stomach in a circular way with a sad smile on her face.

I smiled too and went to my usual sit at the back waiting for students to enter.

Later,the class already full and Mrs Love was struggling to be on her feet.

May snickered and shouted"What's wrong Mrs Love?That bastard giving you trouble?"

Mrs Love glared at May,her eyes spitting fire"Detention for two weeks!"

The rest of the class got quiet immediately and the pregnant teacher had a triumphant smile on her face.

"So students,as you can see I am getting more tired everyday so I won't be able to teach you."

The whole class,except me of course,started clapping and making noises of joy until Mrs Love said"But I'll still give you a project."

They grumbled again saying words like"bitch" and "fat" but I think the poor woman was already used to it because she didn't even mind them.

"When you're done with being stupid,"She continued"Let me tell you that this project will be in group of two's. I'll call the names now."

My heart hammered in my chest at the thought of getting paired with May or any of her other friends. But it raced the more at the possibility of getting paired with Troy.

"Barry Gallagher and Faithful Godchild....May Darker and Harry Stu...."

My heart bled for poor Harry. The poor boy would be miserable with May.

"Ingrid Dunlop and Troy Black.."

She called some more names but I didn't listen. I  couldn't listen. I was paired with the Troy Black. The boy of every girls' dreams. The boy of my dreams!I had a chance to get him to notice me. I grew happy at the thought but my happiness was cut short when he said"Ingrid?Who's that?Is it Mrs Love's cat?"

My happy mood dimmed immediately. He thought I was a cat! Idiot!Handsome idiot!

Maybe I didn't have a chance after all.

***

The next morning,i woke up with a powerful headache. I had spent the previous night watching scary movies and crying myself to sleep over the fact that Troy would never be mine. Then my dreams had been filled with May and Troy kissing,those long French kisses. It was a nightmare,I thought as I started brushing my teeth and preparing to take my bathe. Few minutes later,I had already taken a shower and I walked into my room in just a towel.

"Ingrid"My mom shouted from downstairs"Dinner in five minutes."

"Ingrid,dinner in five minutes"My brothers mimicked my mother loudly.

When I say brothers,I actually meant stepbrothers. David and Maxwell. Six and seven years old respectively. And big shocker,they were white. The reason being this:

My mother had remarried a white man after my Father's death. 

How did my father die,you may ask. Well,he died in prison beaten to death. Why was he in prison?He was seen trying to rescue a white child from a swamp. The police saw him there and they claimed that he was trying to kidnap the child. Why did all this happen?Because my father was a black man from Nigeria living in the United states,where he had met my mother and where I was currently living.

I quickly dressed up and put on my head warmer and huge glasses and hurried downstairs.

"Good Morning"I greeted everyone seated on the dining table.

"Hey Ingrid."My brothers answered me and I looked for my stepfather.

"Where's Gerald?"I asked my brothers, who were busy playing with their food.

"He went to watch a football match next-door."David answered softly.

"Why?"I mused out loud and Maxwell replied rudely"Why don't you ask him when he comes back? For now please just shut up!"

"Maxwell!"My mom snapped from the kitchen"Be nice to your sister."

"Half sister."he countered back"You don't see my skin colour looking like that,do you?"

I ignored his comment and sat down on the table and I tried to blink back my tears. My mom finally came to room and she sat down across from me. Her eyes skimmed my face and she sighed loudly.

What did I do now?

"Ingrid"she said,disappointed "what did I say about the head warmer and glasses?"

Oh.

"Mom"I said with the same tone"I need this. It's my trademark look"

"I don't care about that. I don't know why you're so hell bent on hiding your beauty. Give them to me."

"Mum please."I tried one more time bit my mom would hear nothing so I went to school without my head warmer and glasses.