Scales and Scars

Maris's pov

Rush hour in School was always a bitch and hurrying to the bus stand to be able to find a tricycle or shuttle bus to take me to my faculty was nerve wracking. I made it to school in the next fifteen minutes which was better than usual. it'll get worse once it was noon so I might trek to my faculty because there's no available bus to the faculty of arts.

Vibrant yellow and red dressed the tree limbs lining the main paved sidewalk along the brown bricks padding the faculty building walls as I paced along after giving the tricycle driver the money for my ride.. Crisp air and earthy leaves filled me to my core with each breath and my handbag and note book clinged to my side as I finally focused on my smart phone to send a reply to Jude's last text.

"Hi how was your night?"

"Was fine and yours?"

A voice called behind me out of the blue as I hit send "Maris"

i Stopped and turned.

Cleopatra ;my classmate from secondary school.

"How far"

"I'm good, you?" I replied as I touched her braids in admiration. "Wow I like your hair"

"Thank you"

"Do you have lectures this morning" I asked her

"Yes, lexicology and you?"

"I have Chinese anyways I'll see you later" I said with a nod

Ping

My phone beeped as I walked away from Cleopatra. i glanced at my screen a smile stretching from my lip as I read each word

"Fine. Anyways let me know when you are less busy so that we can hangout. Talk to you later"

"Have a nice day then. Can't wait to see you" I replied.

Upon entering the building, hiking the hallways and reaching the lecture room, I swung open the door and I saw no one. I found my way to a sit and sat down. I waited for thirty minutes and decided to check the class group on Whatsapp, I did and I realized the class was cancelled.

"Fuuuccckkk!!"

Here we go again. I've wasted another money for transport when there's no class.

I grabbed my notebook and headed to the lecturer's office to submit my assignment. As I approached my lecturer's dark walnut frame and veered into the room. The deep stain formed towards the vaulted ceiling forming square beams amongst the flawless white drywall. Textured grass coated the row of windows lining the wall ahead but failed at blocking the golden hour rays from penetrating their panes.

"Good morning, Mr Luke's"

His mahogany irises peeled from his stalk of papers as I handed my assignment across the timber of his desk. He looked at it and dropped it on his desk as I stood there.

I exited his office and headed outside the faculty to my lodge to rummage my closet in search of a nice outfit to wear later in the day to see Jude.

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Jude's pov

I'm in love with my best friend and to this day she has no idea. I keep hiding it from her because I have a lot of things going on in my life and I want to figure myself out before I lead her in.

Even now I can't shake the incessant fluttering in the pit of my stomach while reading Maris's text agreeing to hangout with me later in the day.

Mondays has always been my day off in school because I barely have lectures to attend. So I spent most of my time alone in my lodge. Thankfully my roommate Nate isn't home to keep me company. Despite his absence, his voice still swirls through out my head "Make a move or cut her loose,man. you are torturing yourself"

When I met Maris in my first year. My roommate always knew I liked her. Sometimes he would bank on the idea that she would be the girl I end up with. Although she and I weren't together in the way o want us to be. I'm still happy she's in my life as my best friend at least. Well I can't wait to see her so that I can spend time with her.

We hadn't had a movie night in a long time and I miss her cooking. She always picks horror movies but I never care as long as I get to be next to her.

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Maris's pov

Grrrrrrrrrrr

My phone rang as I woke up from my siesta as I picked up my phone from my side table and saw Jude's name on the screen.

"Hello" I said as I picked up and placed my phone on my ear

"Maris where are you I'm close to your lodge"

"What" I screamed

"Yes Aren't you ready"

"I I I am" I stuttered as I sprang up from my bed and headed to to my bathroom.

"Ok you'll see me soon"

"Yh"I said as I hung up the call