All Chapters of Beneath The Surface (A Nigerian Teen Fiction)✔: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Zaria's POV.  The girls and I were in the class. The teachers were having a meeting with the Principal and Board of Governors so that gave room for an automatic free period. Most of my classmates had dispersed to God knows where. Some guys have gone to play ball on the field. Ada was also trying to convince us to go to the field to watch the boys, but I knew very well that she just wanted to cheer Joel up. Speaking of Joel, he's being trying to impress me all week and though I hated to admit it, my resolve is breaking gradually. So I decided to avoid him at all cost. "Guys na! Please let's go to the field. Lyla, you can cheer Kelvin up." Ada's whiny voice broke through my mind trip. "Don't use Kelvin to blackmail me, abeg. I'm n

Joel's POVExams would be starting in two weeks time and everyone was getting ready, well, the serious ones I guess because some people are still playing at this crucial time. Though everyone is different. People prefer to read a night to the starting of the exams. Everyone around the school, juniors and my mates, came to meet me for lessons and all. The Principal even asked me to start tutoring the junior classes because this two weeks were lecture free. Though I really didn't like the idea of me being the only student tutoring because there are a lot of smart and brilliant SS2 students. Final year students were busy preparing for upcoming exams and all so everything was kept in the hands of the SS2 students. It was lunch break. My friends and I were all seated at love garden taking snacks and talking. Zaria was seat

Zaria's POVIt's a week to the exams and we have stopped tutoring the juniors to at least get time for ourselves to read. Suddenly the school grew from very noisy to very quiet. Even people that we didn't expect to be reading were reading like no man's business. We were having study groups and class discussions to help everyone. Exam was not the only thing on my mind. I still couldn't get my mind off what happened last week between Joel and I in the hall. It felt so intense and to be honest I love the feeling of having him close to me. I have never felt that way towards any guy. Since we became friends, we haven't exactly hugged and that was the closest I have ever gotten to him. What would now happen if we hug... Or do something more? What the hell are you thinking, Zaria?! I scolded myself. I faced

Joel's POVAs Zaria's uncle, Sam slammed the gate shut, I smirked and turned to start walking home. I heard voices from the house but couldn't make out what they were saying and I know better than to eavesdrop though it was obvious they were talking about me. On my way home, I began to think of what Zaria said. She was putting in a good word for Ada. That's what friends do anyway. I didn't like Ada that way. It's safe to say that she's overbearing. But if Zaria says I should give her a chance, maybe I will. Maybe she won't turn out to be so bad after all. I got home soon after and went in. Mum and Dad were already seated, waiting for me so we could have dinner together as a family. "Where did you go to?" Dad asked. I pulled out a chair from the table and sat down. Mum began to serve the meal. The maid called in sick and Mum gave her the we

Zaria's POVInter-house sport was a week away and it's already the day for the heat. Everyone was under the coloured canopy indicating each person's house. Limes Light sport gears are the best. Everyone gets a pair of track suits and full set of Jersey depending on your house and customized spikes for athletes and sport converse for everyone as you get admitted into the school because no one would change their house till they leave. I have been in red house since JSS1.After the warming up and all, we began with all the activities. I was representing my house for 2×100 meters and 8×100 meters race and also in long jump. I was also representing for 100 meters but we won't run that until the D-day. All athletes in my house sat down at the side of the bleachers designated for just our house as coach fired us up. "See guys. We have

Joel's POVDuring the inter-house sport, Red house was the first runner up, again. It was nice though. In my old school, everything was always dry. Zaria collected a trophy for MVA (most valuable athlete). Though we were the second, we were proud of it. I also aced my first term results. Well, except for chemistry. I had a B but it was okay. I would do better next term. Gradually, I was loving the school every single minute. Everything was way different from my old school or my old friends...or Tiana. My mind wandered back to Tiana. I wouldn't exactly say she was my first love, I haven't exactly falling in love before, but I really liked her. She was my very first girlfriend. I trusted her and cared about her but she just had to cheat on me with my ex-best friend. Before I started to date her, Ansa, a friend, told me that she's not a girl

Zaria's POVI brought out the outfit I picked out last night for the hangout with the girl. It was a blue crop top under a denim jacket and black jeans with baby pink designer convase. Aisha is very good at picking cloths and shoes for me whenever we go shopping. I stood in front of the mirror as I styled my hair into a back bun and gelled my edges into curls. I made up my face a little bit and took my phone and my purse from the bed and made my way down stairs. Unfortunately for me everyone was at home. I got to the sitting room and saw Father, Mother, Sam and Aisha watching the popular comedy series the Johnsons  on African Magic Urban. The maids were going around the house with their duties. I went to Aisha and kissed her cheek. "Hey sis." I smiled at her. She smiled right back at me.

Zaria's POVI dug my phone into my back pocket and connected my AirPods to the Bluetooth. It began to play some music. I descended the stairs and raced out of the house before anyone could wake up. I was going for a run, to clear my head. Christmas had come and gone and we were moving closer to new year. Christmas in my house was like every other day, except for the dinner party my parents throw with their politician friends. I don't engage myself in such so, I stayed up in my room behind closed doors, watching The Originals and stuffing my face with junks. My friends were doing different things with their families. Ada and her parents had travelled out of the country. Lyla and her parents were in Ogun state with her grandparents. Joel wasn't online only to text me that it was a family tradition to keep their phones off during Christmas.

Joel's POVDuring lunch, looking at Zaria, it was very obvious she wasn't okay. I asked her severally if she was and her words were "I'll be fine" . Lyla came to stay with her in class sometime in the morning but left later because of a class or two that held. Now we were all seated in the cafeteria eating snacks.She was withdrawn. When we tried to make her speak, she say few words and go back to trying to eat. Out of three galas she bought, she has only take half of one. She loosened her bun and her long hair fell freely over her face and down her shoulder and I had the urge to run my fingers through her locks. We were still talking when she suddenly covered her mouth. "Are you alright?" I asked her. She didn't reply as she dashed off the table and ran out. It didn't take me a secon

Joel's POV"I called you all here because the Annual Lagos State interschool decathlon competition is approaching and we need to start getting ready to drill you guys." The Science HOD, Mr Patrick stated and I felt my lips stretch into a smile. Well, it's about damn time. Since the day I came into this school, I've been craving for this kind of competition and now it's finally here. The Principal had called some SS2 students' name, including mine, Zaria, Lyla, Charles and Ada's names on the assembly this morning and she asked us to wait behind while everyone went to class. Now, the Science Teachers Head of Department was addressing us. "What has got you so excited?" Zaria whispered beside me and I looked at her. "I love interschool competitions. I used to represent my school back in Ab