Chapter 10 - Star-crossed Lovers.

He arrived home that day with all the goods he had bought. His hands full, his pockets empty, and his heart full of shame, thinking about what had happened and how he could have been so stupid and careless.

He remembered the face he saw on Marie as the Cashier told her everything. She was not just disappointed, she was also embarrassed. 

He made way to his room and crashed on the bed like a meteorite crashing into the depths of an ocean. He could feel the stress at that point in time dissipating out of his body. He had sweat all getting drenched out of him and being soaked by the bed sheet.

One move of his head to the side and he saw the so-called premium card lying just right next to him. His head spun around as he thought about the problem he had gotten into just for forgetting it

He got up, picked it up, stood up from the bed, grabbed his bag and shoved it into one of its many pockets. 

"That would do it,” he said to himself. "I would never let this out of my sight again." He had learnt a lesson that he did not intend to learn again somewhere else.

He looked outside once more to take in the brilliant lights that trailed the city and smiled despite himself. "Atleast, I got to see her again," he said to himself.

His phone rang from the bed where he had kept it. He picked it up knowing who was calling before he even saw the name on the phone. 

"Hey man, where the hell are you?" Denis' voice rang from the other end of the phone. "The party is almost about to begin and I haven't heard from you since Saturday. What's going on?" 

"I'm sorry, I had a little business to attend to." Vincent replied calmly. "How are you though?"

"Oh. I'm okay. Don't worry about me. Is that why you aren't at your home? I'm standing right outside there and I haven't seen you. Your landlord told me you moved out." 

"Yeah, I forgot to tell you that I moved out not too long ago. And don't worry I'll be at school pretty soon."

"You did not tell me that. I'm surprised." 

After a few more words from the both of them, they ended the call and Vincent prepared himself for school, taking one of the clothes he had bought from the boutique. 

Once again he left the house in his bicycle and reached the school in no time. He made a call to Denis to have them meet up right at the gate of the school.

Denis came along wearing clothes that was easy to tell was for the party; a green shirt with an angel designed into it. On his waste down was a black jean that was slightly ripped. On his feet were a pair of Nikes.

"You look good bro," Denis said to him, acknowledging the look he had as well, although moderately, it was an upgrade from his previous wears: a dark hoodie, cargo pants, and an adidas for a pair of shoes. Denis was positively surprised and was now sure more than anything that something totally positive had changed in the life of his friend. He could not articulate it, but he knew something had happened.

His face looked brighter, he was more reserved, and he smelled different too. Different from how he smelled before now.

"Do you know the way to Henri's house?" Asked Vincent with a straight look on his face.

"Yeah I do," Denis said, putting his hands in his pocket, about to bring out money to pay for a taxi to the place. But before he could, Vincent's hand was already raised to the road. A taxi dropped by.

"Don't worry I'll pay for it." Vincent said with a smile drawn across his lips. 

If Denis was suspicious before, he was now sure of it: Vincent was now totally a changed person. 

They both got in the taxi and it took them to Henri's house which was very noticable as right there before it was a swamming mass of students all crowded up waiting.

The taxi alighted Vincent and Denis just right before the students. The sound of the car going prompted the students to look behind them where they saw Vincent and Denis standing.

"Oh look, there they are; the starcrossed lovers," one of the students teased as soon as he saw the two friends staring across to them from the road that they stood.

Henri was inside with Rory by the poolside. He was on nothing but an underwear designed with pictures of flowers. Rory was inhalf inside the pool. Her breasts were couped inside a black bra that held it as she smiled when one of the students; a member of Henri's gang made it to them.

"Guess what, Henri! They are here. The two bastards finally made it to the party," he said. 

Henri smiled, eyeing Rory who smiled back at him in the most mischievous way possible.

"So he's finally here," Henri snarled. "Now I can finally have my revenge."

He had been planning on what exactly he would do to Vincent when he would come, and now he had the chance. He stood up and proceeded to walk towards the gate of his house where he was certain he would see them. Rory followed him. 

"Welcome Vincent," he said as he got there, in a mocking tone at Vincent who looked at him in a manner that showed neither surprise or fear. He just wanted to get things over with. "I can see you're wearing new clothes today, now who did you beg or steal from this time?"

The crowd of students laughed, but with the silence on the part of Vincent, the noise died down as soon as it was born.

"I have no time for this, Henri,” Vincent said, moving along past him with Denis. "Let's just get this fucking over with."