Sardius waved at the crowd who were cheering him on. He smiled when he noticed Chrysolite amid the crowd waving back at him frantically. She was no longer ten, she had grown into a lovely pretty teen. Sardius was taller, far taller than Michael. Who would have thought? He had even grown finer features. The girls were particularly screaming their lungs out while he participated in the swimming contest against the next school which had brought their contestants to their school. Michael sat at the other side of Chrysolite enjoying the show, he never understood how Sardius suddswimming-dropping for swimming for swimming-dropping football. It had annoyed him when Sardius told the rest of his friends he was going into swimming. No one knew why, except Sardius of Couron. Jasmine sat at the other side of Michael, she no longer concealed her feelings for him. She looked more of a model as she had grown far more prettier than ever before. She even thought her beauty might convince Michael to look her path. But she was wrong.
Ashley was pretty in her sassy look. She wore more curls than ever before, her petite shape made her look smart and lovely. But no one could doubt the beauty of Chrysolite. She was the most beautiful girl of them all though the boys wouldn't dare to admit it to pique their friends. They had come to cheer Sardius who was participating in the school's monthly contest. Sardius had grown famous for his astounding looks which could heal a scar. They cheered more when Sardius won.
After sport, fans crowded Sardius, they were mostly girls. Chand rysolite smiled and then turned to Michael who was standing close to her. "I believe swimming has more contests than football." She said to him.
"I don't think so so." He replied her. His hair was blacker than ever before has his own share of handsomeness.
"You know I wish I could swim, but I can't." Chrysolite said.
"You can do as you please. I'll protect you." Michael grinned as he winked at her.
"I'm glad to hear that but Jasmine would need the protection." She said looking over at Jasmine.
Jasmine nodded putting her hand around Michael's neck. "Oh, let me go. You're hurting me." He feigned going through some pain to which Jasmine laughed and the others joined in.
They all knew Jasmine liked Michael but Michael liked Chrysolite. Jasmine was only happy that Chrysolite felt nothing for him.
********
During the sun, Mary resumed classes with them at High School High School. Chrysolite, Ashley, Jasmine including Mary-Jane were in the humanities department. While Michael and Sardius were in the science department. Mary was so fat that when she stood before the class, she found it difficult to stand for long. She acted like she didn't recognize her former elementary classmates.
"This is our last year in Green Hills, what is she doing here?" Ashley whispered to her seatmates.
Mary-Jane glanced at Asand Hley and then at Chrysolite. It was as if their lives interchanged, Mary-Jane who was once fat was now thin while Mary who was thin was now fat. Thingsally changed for the frenemies. Mary made friends in no time, she was big in a way that she could command respect from her other classmates who were small in stature.
*********
Chrysolite touched her neck which was on a blessed necklace around it. Her mother had given it to her further advising her never to take it off. It had sounded weird in such a way that Chrysolite had to threaten to tell her dad if her mum didn't tell her what the necklace was for. Her mum had laughed saying it was an ancestral that protected her from any harm, it was passed down from her grandma. Coral Marble had to confirm it only to play along. Only Sardius knew the exact reason why a necklace like that was suddenly round her neck.
Michael was playing football on the field while the rest of the girls sat on the pews watching him. Chrysolite suddenly stood up and lied to her friends who had forgotten the object and that lass, she would join them soon. Her friends nodded, they didn't think that she would return to the After all, it's been so long since such a thing happened. Chrysolite left her and Riends then walked down to the swimming hall which was far bigger than the one they once had in junior school. At the entry of the swimming hall, she met Mary who blocked her from entering the swimming hall.
"You weren't too pleased to see me in your class." Mary started eyeing Chrysolite in such a funny way.
"Why will you transfer to our school at this point which isn't far from graduation."
Mary snorted. "I can see you are doing rather well here."
"I am." Replied Chrysolite then turned the other way to pass by Mary who stepped over again blocking her path.
"I'll certainly remember that. It'll only make your last days at Green Hills memorable. Remember, we were once best friends?" Mary gave a dry laugh eyeing her once upon a time best friend.
"You think you can?" Chrysolite smirked.
"It's a free world." Mary raised both of her hands upwards. "Let's watch and see."
"You will do me no harm," Chrysolite assured Mary confidently.
Mary laughed again. "Sardius got me surprised. He was a nobody now he's somebody. Pulling hearts and making girls go gaga just at the sight of him. Although I'm pained, he has his eyes somewhere else." Mary scoffed and rolled her eyes before walking away.
Chrysolite didn't understand what Mary was trying about Sardius. She was confused as well as curious. "What are you talking about?" Chrysolite called out to Mary to explain.
"Oh, you didn't know. Sardius got himself some girl, some girl."
Something bit Chrysolite's heart sharply. She suddenly wanted to know who Mary was talking about. "What girl?" Chrysolite asked.
"You'll know soon. You'll know." Mary answered and walked down the path that led to the other block intersecting with the classroom.
Chrysolite swore under her breath, turning around as she walked into the hall. She glanced around but she saw no one there until she got to the edge of the pool. Sardius sat there wet from his head to his toe, his feet were dangling in the pool. He was staring into space his back to Chrysolite. He didn't even notice that Chrysolite was in the hall. Chrysolite was surprised to see him there. She hadn't expected that he'd be in the swimming hall although he wasn't with Michael.
"Sardius," she called.
His head rotated, and he smiled when he saw her. She wondered why he always smiled at her whenever she called out to him. He had recently become so protective of her that she thought it odd. She came beside him, pulling off her socks and shoes to sit beside him.
"What are you doing!" He asked as both of his hands suddenly tried to stop her.
"Can't I sit again?" She asked back.
"But you're allergic to the pool." He said.
"Allergic? My feet are the ones touching the pool, not my whole body." She demonstrated.
"I still don't agree."
"Sardius, what's wrong with you?" She pushed both of his hands away and sat down beside him. Her feet dipped into the pool making a "Pooh" sound. Sardius only watched her restraining himself from doing the needful. Nothing was going to happen. If it were, he was sure that the necklace would protect her.
Chrysolite watched him closely. Did he perhaps overhear her conversation with Mary? She'll know if she gets to ask. "Was Mary here?" Chrysolite brushed back a strand of hair.
"No, I didn't see her here. Why do you ask?"
"I'm just asking. I met her while I was coming here. She's not the Mary I used to know."
"Yeah. Life happens, and people change."
Sardius recalls how close Mary and Chrysolite were once friends.
"I still think of her though. She was my best friend."
"Do you miss her?"
"Why? I don't even know." Chrysolite chipped in a laugh.
"Why are you here Chrysolite? Did you inform your friends where you were going?"
Chrysolite scratched her head and laughed again. "I just wanted to clear my head. I'll be fine, I don't have to tell them all the time. Why did you quit football for swimming?" Chrysolite threw in diverting the change of topic.
"Have you forgotten?" Sardius smiled. "Your father was the best during his time. He taught me swimming while he was on vacation."
The memory was still fresh, while her dad taught Sardius how to swim, Chrysolite wasn't in the least interested. How she felt at peace by the pool amazed her.
"Mary said something about a girl you like," Chrysolite said quickly.
"What girl?" Sardius felt uneasy hearing that.
"Who's she? Some girl I might know?"
Chrysolite ployed further ignoring how uneasy it made Sardius feel.