C3 CHAPTER THREE

Dani walked through the hallway, her outfit naturally attracting attention. Dani ignored the stares her way as she continued scrolling through her phone and stopped when a girl blocked her way.

“Hello” the girl said and Dani nodded.

“Hello, how may I help you?” Dani asked and the girl pursed her lips. The girl had a short bob with a choker on her neck. Dani had to admit that the girl was really pretty.

“I’m a first year student like you and I just wanted to be friends. No need to use such a cold tone on me” the girl said and Dani managed a smile.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to talk that way. I must get to the teacher’s office to get my schedule first so please do excuse me” Dani said as she made to move away again but got blocked again. Dani looked at her with raised eyebrows.

“Don’t you need help finding the teacher’s office?” the girl asked and Dani raised her phone.

“I’m doing just fine with the GPS” Dani replied and the girl blinked her beautiful eyes.

“Ohh” she said slowly.

“If you may excuse me” Dani said as she walked away scrolling on her phone. The girl who had stopped Dani stared at Dani’s back as she walked away.

“She’s so fluent and straightforward” she said with a smile as a guy walked up to her.

“Lisa, who was that?” he asked and Lisa turned to him.

“Some new student” Lisa replied and the guy looked at the corner where Dani had turned and pursed his lips.

“Okay” he said.

Dani located the Guidance and Counselling office and got her schedule. She scanned through it and raised her eyebrow. For her first class in high school, she had Ethnics.

“What a nice way to start high school” Dani murmured.

“You are Arianna Mahmata’s younger sister?” the woman asked with a smile and Dani slowly nodded.

“Yes” Dani replied and the woman smiled.

“You two look very different” the woman started and Dani chuckled.

“We are sisters, so it’s a given that we are different. Even if we were twins, we would still be different” Dani said and the woman looked at her surprised.

“I wasn’t comparing you two together” the woman said and Dani looked at her without saying a word.

“You can’t be her; she can’t be you. I hope you find your path Daniella, welcome to Bells High” the woman said as she turned to attend to another student.

Dani sighed as she started walking towards her said class. She slipped her hands into her pockets as she walked into the class silencing the slightly noisy class. Without checking who was on her right or left; she sat down and dropped her bag.

“We meet again” Dani heard a familiar voice said and saw the girl who had stopped her earlier seating beside her. Dani managed and a small smile and nodded.

“Lisa Hail is the name” Lisa said stretching her hand for a handshake.

Dani looked at Lisa’s outstretched hand and looked at the still smiling girl. She chuckled to herself before taking her handshake.

“Daniella Mahmata” Dani said as they exchanged handshakes.

“Mahmata? Indian?” Lisa asked surprised and Dani nodded.

“You caught that quite easily” she said and Lisa smiled.

“It’s a unique name” Lisa said and Dani smiled.

“Mom is Indian, Dad’s American but allowed us to take Mom’s surname” Dani said and Lisa placed her hand on her locker.

“That’s so cool. Five stars to your dad” Lisa said and Dani laughed.

“Thanks but he’s dead” Dani replied and Lisa’s smile froze. It cracked and she tried to wear a smaller one.

“I’m really sorry about that” Lisa said a smaller voice and Dani smiled at her reaction.

“It’s okay Lisa. He died when I was four. It’s been almost eleven years” Dani said and Lisa smiled a little.

“Doesn’t matter” Lisa said and Dani nodded.

“Yeah” Dani said as a guy walked up to Lisa.

“Did you keep a seat for me?” he asked and Lisa pointed to the seat beside her as she removed her bag.

“Here” Lisa replied and Dani watched the exchange without a word.

“Ohh, Dani with the e, meet Theodore, you can call him Theo though. We went to the same middle school” Lisa introduced and Theo gave Dani a small smile.

Dani nodded at Theo and gave him a small smile. Theo’s hair was combed backwards neatly revealing his bare forehead. His eyes darted here and there as he looked around. He looked really cool as he looked around and his eyes rested on Dani’s.

“What did you call me when you were telling him my name?” Dani asked and Lisa wore a small smile.

“Dani with the e. it’s a nickname I formulated for you. I’ll only call you that” Lisa said and Dani laughed heartily.

“So I should call Liz with the a?” Dani asked and Lisa burst into laughter.

“The with the o” Lisa said and she and Dani burst into laughter.

Theo wore a serious face as he tried not to laugh “No. Don’t call me that” Theo said and Dani laughed more at his expression.

“What’s funny?” Theo asked and Dani placed her hand on her mouth trying not to laugh.

“Your expression looked really funny just now. You needed to see your face when you were telling Lisa not to call you The with the o” Dani said and Theo looked at Dani with a deadpanned expression.

“I just told you not to call me that” Theo said and Dani burst into laughter and Theo stared at her dazed at her laughter.

“You have a beautiful face; you even laugh beautifully. I’m so jealous” Lisa said and Dani stopped laughing and sighed as she looked outside the class and a small smile rested on her lips.