"Grriinngg!". the bell rang. it's close time in Optimum High School, New York. Greg McPherson pulled open his locker to pack a couple of his things just before Andre Lucas, his best friend jumped at him. Andre and Greg had been friends since first grade when Andre stood for him during the period Greg used to be bullied by thomas. "yo bro. what's wrong?" Andre asked, noticing the pale dark look in Greg's face. "it's Mr Patterson" Greg replied, not looking up. "again??" Andre asked, in a rather high pitched tone. "keep it down, dre. I don't want no trouble with nobody today. I've had enough already". It wasn't the first or second nor third time mr Patterson would do this to Greg. every time after a test, Greg always had a B or C even when its obvious he passed. the plain truth was the fact that five months ago, Greg once beat Mr Patterson in an open community science fair debate and ever since, its been hell for Greg in physics classes for Greg. the hardest part to understand Is the fact that Greg was formerly his most favorite student due to his great response to study.
"can't you report to principal Sammy?" Andre asked, with utter confusion to the whole matter. "I'm doing nothing, dre" Greg replied, zipping his backpack "let's just go home. I've got a project to finish up. mind helping out?" he added, putting on a visibly fake smile. "alright. I'll come by around past seven so maybe I'll sleep over" Andre answered just before Chloe Bennett, walked past them. "what?" Greg asked, this time smiling broadly. "you can't continue keeping this to yourself, bro. its been three years. three solid years, bro. just go to her and tell her" Andre said, just as they got to the staircase. Greg had liked Chloe since when they had a summer camp three years back. What always kept him off her was the kind of boyfriend she has, Josh steward, a grade higher than both chloe and Greg and also the best basketball player in their school.
"she's got a boyfriend, dude. afterall, who wants to date a person like me?" he shrugged, crossing his arms as though they were cold. "c'mon man. who wouldn't like you? you're tall, muscular, smart, you've got a long dark hair, you play basketball, you're a white kid from a wealthy home, who wouldn't wanna be with someone like you?" Andre asked, grinning broadly. "So? you're just the same but a black kid with coiled hair and a different crush. we should attract girls but here we both are, Single and crushing on girls that we probably might never get a chance to be with" Greg answered, as he crossed his arms around Andre. "well, I forgot to tell you, Dawn has been dating Chris. it's a secret relationship but Diego told me about it today at lunchbreak. quite hard tho but I've got no choices left. Chris is far more dope than me" Andre said, looking pale all of a sudden. "You're sure of this? cause Diego isn't a secret person. he would've told the whole school by now and no one knows yet. where did he get the information from? was he talking to you alone?" Greg questioned. everyone knows Diego is a talkative and never talks to only one person especially whenever he has "breaking news" about someone talkless or a relationship. "too many questions, man, calm down a little. he talked to Me alone. it was weird but I believed he wouldn't lie" Andre answered. "I don't believe by the way. we'll ask others too cause I'm perplexed to be honest" Greg said, in a quite calm tone.
They walked the remaining journey home in silence, thinking wildly. Andre's mind soaked in thoughts about dawn And Chris but Greg's mind and heart already home, thinking on how his little science discovery to which he calls The Shorf, would look like. "yo bro" Andre finally said, breaking the silence as they reached his house. "don't forget to come. it's important to me honestly" Greg said, moving along. "ai'ight then. till seven" Andre replied, jogging into his compound.
* * * * * * * * * *
Just as Greg got inside his room, he dropped his bag carelessly on the wooden floor ."break the floors if you really want to. you're free!" Mrs Joan McPherson, Greg's mother, yelled out from downstairs. She raised Greg alone ever since her husband, Mr curry McPherson died of brain siezure fourteen years back when Greg was barely five, leaving a whole mass of Fortune and possessions for Her and Greg.
"sorry mom" greg shouted back, jumping unto the king sized bed. The thought of the Shorf got to his mind again. The Shorf, a tiny machine, looking like a really big ring glued to the top of a bell. He found it two weeks back in his House's basement. once before he had asked his mom about the item but she just said it may be one of his dad's old stuff. He actually believed her until four days back when I changed color from brown to grey. "only God knows what that thing is" Greg thought out loud. Then his phone rang. "Yo bro" Andre said, at the other end of the line
"dre, what's up?"
"About tonight, where are we gonna meet anyways?"
"The old garage. mom would be out and I have the time to come out"
"alright then. just wanted to know. how's she though?"
"You mean, my mom?"
"Yeah"
"she's good. just bring some stuffs along when coming"
"ai'ight" .
Just as the call ended, Greg looked up to his bedroom clock and it was just almost six. He quickly took a bath and changed, then gathering all he needs for his practical. He then brought the shorf from under his bed where he had hid it and once again, its color had changed. this time, to almost black. after bout some minutes of staring at it in shock,be stuffed it in his loaded backpack just before his mom called him.
"Greg, I'll be on my way now. come down" she called. Greg went down the stairwell with a puzzling face, to which his mom noticed, but was not ready to talk about right now. "I'll be off for a few days. just till maybe Sunday. here's some money for the while I'm gone. and yeah, do not go out" Mrs McPherson warned, giving a straight face to show how serious she was. "alright" Greg replied, as they both walked outside.
