"Hi." Ellen greeted when she entered the chemistry lab. Henry had been waiting for her for two whole hours, and decided to pass the time by mixing chemicals together for their practical exam. "Hey." He greeted back. "Have you been here for long?" Ellen asked, putting on her lab coat. She knew the place Henry spoke about in his letter was the chemistry lab, because they mostly met here on their free periods. They both had the same free periods on Fridays. She was late because she was explaining some math to some of her classmates. "No, I just got here some time ago. I was beginning to think you wouldn't come. Thanks for coming." Henry replied, with a smile. Ellen smiled back and took a beaker, an eerie silence covering them. "I got your letter. And your gifts, they created problems for me though. I couldn't get whether you were apologizing or not, because you managed to turn it into a showoff." "Show off?" Henry asked in disbelief. "Well yes. Even Clara couldn't believe it. You are the only one who brags even when apologizing." Ellen replied with a smile. "Well, I don't really apologize and much less in a letter. But if you couldn't get it, how about I tell you now? I'm sorry I treated you like any other girl, Eleanora. Clearly you are not, and I realize that now, which makes you so special, because there are few of you in my life." Henry explained and apologized again, taking her hand. Blood rushed to her cheeks as she stared into his eyes, she missed those cute eyes. "I forgive you, only because you are being sincere. But this will be the last time you punish me, or my friends unfairly, because someone punished us. Deal?" She said and asked. "Deal. Now can I get a hug?" He said and opened his arms. Ellen hugged him with a broad smile, Henry tightening the hug. "Clara told me about the issue with Sandra and Esther. I had no idea Sandra was your school mother." Henry said after the hug. "I had no idea she was your ex. Who haven't you dated in this school?" Ellen replied and asked. Henry smirked before answering, "A lot actually. I haven't dated any boy, the teachers, except one TA who was doing her service here, (Ellen widened her eyes and he laughed) and wouldn't stop making advances towards me, so I gave in to her. That was last year though, I was in form two then. I haven't dated Clara or any of the juniors, yet." He looked at her with a wink after his last statement and she rolled her eyes, hiding the excitement in them. "I don't think any junior will date you. The seniors would kill them." She spoke. "Them? I didn't know you were a senior." He replied with his hand on his chin and Ellen laughed. "I'm saying them because they are already on my case, and that letter situation just made it worse." She replied. "Does that mean you'd date me then?" Henry asked with interest, and her answer shocked him. "Who said anything about dating you? I'm fourteen Henry, that is the least of my plans right now. You and I are just friends. Besides, there are a lot of people I'm sure you can be with." Ellen explained with a serious face. "Wow, I see. At least we're friends, and I'm cool with that." He replied, after recovering from the shock. Ellen nodded. They spent the rest of the day studying, and talking about everything, except her family. They were parting ways for the night, when Ellen asked, "why did your father come to school the other day?", after remembering it. She had wanted to know, but was too upset to find out. "Um, he came to talk to the headmistress about Amanda's incident. The school called to report me to him during the vacation, so he came to apologize, and declare handling her case, and bills as compensation." Henry explained with sarcasm. "I see. Henry, did you really push her off the stairs?" She asked finally. "What do you think?" He asked instead of giving a direct answer, and left with a wink.
***
"Hey girl. How was your meeting with Henry?" Kelly asked the moment they united for prep. She didn't go for dining because Henry took her to the cafeteria for dinner. "Um it was good. We talked and had a nice time catching up." She replied. "Did you tell him about your family status?" Abby asked in hushed tones. Ellen shook her head. "WHY?" They both asked in unison, startling the class. "Will you girls keep it down? We're studying here." An annoyed Mercy demanded. The girls turned to their books after telling Ellen the conversation was not over with their eyes. Meanwhile, Henry had yet to leave for prep with Eric, who he was filling in on what happened this afternoon with Ellen. "I can't believe she said that. Are you serious? Hahaha." Eric teased in bewilderment. "Tell me about it. She looked me straight in the eye, and told me she doesn't want to date me. I was shocked. Is there even someone who can resist my charms?" Henry added. "Well, I told you she was the priceless jewel. That girl is just untouchable. If you can't get her, no one can." Eric commented, as they left for class. "Of all the things you just said, one thing was right. If I can't get her, no one can. Ellen might be hard to get, but she is still a girl." Henry said with a smirk, Eric bursting into laughter.
***
As much as they were having fun, WASSCE drew nearer than the seniors wanted. Everyone was busy in their own way, trying to either learn or flourish their relationships. "Bro, you won't believe who just came back to school." Henry was studying with Clara and the girls, when Eric came in with an excited mood. "Who did?" Clara asked instead, everyone paying attention to what he had to say. "I think you should come take a look." Eric replied instead, and took the lead, the rest following. It was a bursting joy at Kingsley House with Esther gushing around someone, like a puppy. Ellen and her friends wondered what was going on as Eric led them there. They stopped by the tree while Henry and his friends moved forward after recognizing the new person there. "Amanda Hilman, my God. Welcome back to school baby. How was your vacation?" Henry said when they paved the way for him to get to her, giving her a side hug with a smile. Amanda looked at him with fear in her eyes. She had finally recovered after two months of being in the hospital. She had to use crutches now, as she had just gotten the ability to stand and walk, instead of being in the wheelchair, after too much hard work in physiotherapy. "What are you doing here?" She asked with a shaky voice. "Oh honey, I heard you were back. Thought of giving you a warm welcome back to school. We missed you, right guys?" Henry replied, turning to his friends with a smirk. "Henry Yawson, is it not enough that she's in this situation because of you? What do you want?" Esther charged at him in rage. "Okay, hold your horses madam, we just came to see how she was doing, and welcome her back to school, like Henry said. Amanda, welcome back. Hope we can all have a peaceful semester with no more trouble." Clara defended with a smile to Amanda. Amanda gulped and nodded, when she saw Ellen and her friends. "No trouble at all. I just want to finish school in one piece please." She replied, almost in tears. She had zero plans of involving herself with Henry and Ellen, or their friends. "You people think you are so scary huh. Just wait and watch, now that she is back, we'll open this case again. We'll make sure the truth comes out, and you will be punished." Esther said. "Oh my, I'm shaking. I'm so scared. How about we sort this out once and for all? Amanda, did I push you, baby?" Henry commented and turned serious, holding Amanda by the chin, and looking straight in her eyes, as he asked her a question. "N-no." She replied, and everyone gasped. "Amanda, what are you saying? You don't have to be scared. Your testimony can get him punished." Esther persuaded, not believing her ears. "I said he didn't push me; I tripped and fell, okay! Just drop it!" She yelled her response and turned to her dorm path, leaving Esther dumbfounded and Henry smiling victoriously. "I told you I didn't push her. Now do you believe me?" He said and turned to leave with his friends, not caring about her answer to his question. Ellen had to admit this was too good to be true. "Am I the only one or did it look like she was afraid of Henry?" Abby aired her thoughts out loud. "Don't pay attention to that, she is not scared of me. She's just being timid. Afterall, my father paid her medical bills." Henry replied when he heard Abby's question, looking at Ellen. "Your dad paid her bills, why?" Kelly spoke for the first time since they left. "Because I was the one who made her climb the stairs. Whether she tripped or I pushed her, as long as she climbed because of me, it was my fault. He treated her, and paid the bills for her therapy, that's why she's walking so soon." Henry explained, taking Ellen's hand in his. Everyone just kept quiet, as it looked like those two just entered their own world. Ellen didn't draw back or protest, that was a good sign. "Sounds to me like you are disappointed she's walking too soon." Ellen pointed out, and Clara smiled secretly. "Eleanora, she hurt you. If I had pushed her, even my father's wealth wouldn't have saved her in just two months. She would have missed the WASSCE. Anyone who hurt you deserves to be punished." Henry said with all seriousness, and she blushed. "That means we can punish you, if you hurt her too, right?" Kelly said with a tease, and they all laughed, entering the NSMQ room to continue studying. "Don't worry, I would punish him personally if he pulled any tricks." Clara commented. "Wow I thought you were on my side." Henry lamented with raised brows. "Why? Will you hurt me?" Ellen asked instead. Henry stared into her doe eyes for a brief moment, before saying; "no. I will never hurt you. I can't take her punishments." They burst into laughter, with Clara telling Henry he's not proper.