Chapter Thirty

The seven of them sat around a table in the cafeteria for lunch. The cafeteria was so noisy as everyone seems to be talking about the Black face caps.

"Seriously, their fighting skills are so skillful and excellent", one of the students narrated,

"you need to see how those vampires were stopped with power, they couldn't run away",

"I love how they stabbed them",

"the fight was so thrilling",

"I would love to recognize them, especially the ones using powers",

"Exactly",

"same here, but the videos were all taken at night and they all wore face caps", one of them said sadly,

Lissa turned away from the students grinning,

"We are the talk of the students, I can't believe I'm getting popular", she said as she put licked a spoonful of the sundae.

"you are not popular yet cause they don't know we are the one", Max said,

"why then should we still hide our identity?", she said,

"These vampires have a leader, the person controlling them and we don't know who he is, it will be dangerous if he knows who we are first", Veronica replied,

"she's right, we have to know who the masterminded is before we reveal our identity", Collins supported,

" Maybe we should talk about something else", John said, " the mention of the vampires master is suddenly freaking me out",

They laughed,

"yeah let's discuss how important tomorrow is going to be", Vanessa said,

"yesssss", Vero cooed, "tomorrow is the prize-giving day",

"yes, I can't for my mum to come, this will be the first time she'll be coming to my school", Lyndia said excitedly,

"I can't picture how beautiful tomorrow will be", Veronica said,

"and a month later we'll be graduating", Max said looking pleased,

"I can't wait to get out of this school, the schedule is not so good, our exams results were only released recently", Collins said,

"but I'm going to miss everything", Vanessa said,

John saw Tary and smiled, "you guys should excuse me, I have to see my babe", he said and left,

Collins and Vanessa also excused their selves.

"I think I should get myself a boyfriend too", Veronica said and they all laughed.

Collins and Vanessa walked side by side along the hallway to Vanessa's locker. The status of their relationship was unknown to the students, some suspected them to be dating while some just see them as close friends.

"What did you want to do after school? what college did you want to go to?", Vanessa asked,

"about college, I'm still thinking but I want to study medicine or perhaps be a doctor",

"wow, that's cool",

"Sure, and you?",

"a P. R practitioner",

"That's mass communication",

"yep",

"hmmmmm",

"What?",

"you don't fit that",

"huh?",

"you supposed to do poster pasted or...",

"What? is...", she punched his shoulder.

"ouch", he winced and chuckled,

"you are not serious", she said.

"but...",

She turned at him sharply causing him to keep shut and blinked his eyes like a doll. She scoffed and turned towards her locker. Collins smiled and leaned against the locker beside hers,

"but the truth is, you look the best in whatever you do",

She smiled,

"so miss public relations practitioner, mass communication is honored to have you in their midst",

She grinned and looked at him," why did I fall in love with you in the first place", she said for him to hear, smiling.

"Because your heart wouldn't stop beating for me. I love you Vanessa", he said grinning like a love-stricken person, showing off his white set of teeth. Vanessa laughed and turned to her locker, she wanted to prepare for the next lecture which is literature class. The bell rang at the moment signifying the next class time.

"I think I need to go", he said,

"Okay, I have class now also", she said and turned to him about to say bye, but he stood, staring at her admirably.

"what's it?", she asked but received a quick kiss on her lips."hey", she hit him playfully and looks around but he didn't mind at all. He winked at her and left causing her to blush.

*******************

The school was filled with elegantly dressed parents and students. Different kinds of cars kept tripping into the school as it was the price-giving day. This is pre-graduation, and due to the security challenges of the country, they couldn't have all programs done on the same day. Lyndia was very happy when her mom arrived, the same as Lissa. She couldn't stop smiling as they all proceeded to the hall. The parent's seats were not on the same line as the students. Paul sat in the front roll among other parents. Vanessa sat among her friends as the seven of them chose the same line but one seat remains empty. Vanessa looks around like she was looking for someone.

"what's wrong? looking for someone?", Max asked,

"Have you..seen Collins today?",

"Yeah",

"where's he?",

"that I don't know, I don't know where he could be",

"excuse me", she stood up to go find him.

"wants me to come along?",

"no don't worry", she said and went out to look for him.

She passed by some students who were heading toward Mr. Godwin who got busy, talking to Catherine. He was very jovial and carefree, making the students comfortable around him. He smiled as the students got to him, his personality enhance his charm and he always have students flocking around him, especially the female students.

Vanessa searched through the classes but could not find him, she became worried and wondered where he could be. She was about to go check out the laboratory when she remembered there was a favorite spot he loves going to. She went there but still no sign of him, she went ahead to check the science lad, then walked towards the archery ground but on her way, she met a man and a woman looking much like a couple. The woman wore a green v - neck short tight gown reaching above her knee and black kitten heels with a black purse. And the man that have his arms around her waist, a crew cut-haired man wore a grey crease and a light blue shirt with a grey tie and a well-polished loafer.

Vanessa recognized them immediately, she smiled and walked towards them,

"good afternoon sir and ma'am", she greeted politely, bowing her head. They smiled back at her,

"good after pretty lady",

"are...you looking for someone?", she asked, smiling,

"yes, our son, Collins Gaius",

' I knew it ', "okay, I'll go fetch him for you",

"awwwn that's so nice of you",

She left hurriedly and proceeded to check the archery ground, fortunately, she met him there. She saw him throwing stones at the tree, she sighed in relief. He was about to throw the next stone when it suddenly stopped midway in the air. Collins turned in her direction knowing immediately she was there. She walked closer to him,

"hey", he greeted,

"that he doesn't sound well. Why are you here? I've searched everywhere for you, just glad I met you here",

"worried about me?", he asked faking a smile,

"of course yeah, you were nowhere to be found and that's so unusual so yes I was worried",

"c'mon stop frowning, I'm here now", he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist,

"Why are you here all alone in the first place, what's wrong",

He sighed. He angrily locked his mind when he finds out his parents will be very busy that day so he didn't bother to inform them about the ceremony cause he knew they won't be able to make it.

"I just felt like", he replied and kissed her neck, "still angry?",

Vanessa looks away.

He sucks and licks her neck again,

she chuckled, "okay nope I'm not angry anymore",

He grinned, "thanks",

"hm, so let's go in moreover, you have some guests",

"some guests?",

"yes, c'mon let's go", she held his wrist and pulled him away with her, leaving him confused about who the guests are.