Judge by the Cover: High School, Drama & Deadly Vices (Hafu Sans Halo Book 1)

by Melissa Abigail

  "Catherine! Don't forget the dishes in the sink."

  Interrupted by yet another reminder.

  Relief didn't come until 11 PM.

  Haruna collapsed onto her bed and wrapped the covers around herself like a caterpillar weaving a cocoon. Between homework, church, tutoring, afterschool clubs, prefect duties, and responsibilities around the house, it never felt like there was a minute to spare, even on the weekends.

  Fridays were the most difficult.

  Seeing her friends outside of school was rare. Tracy had private tutoring to keep her grades up. Her real talent was in performance arts. Between tutoring, she was busy with school plays and the Drama club. Angelique often volunteered when she wasn't working a part-time job she didn’t need, but her parents insisted she have; and Gabrielle, Haruna's oldest, closest friend, was into dressage so she was often in competitions for horseback riding.

  Besides her friends, there was something Haruna looked forward to the most: being able to see Mani. They had dated for several months, though she had known him since the fifth grade as they attended the same church. In fact, Mani's grandmother and hers were regulars who had become close friends. While he was known to all others formally as Emmanuel, he was Haruna’s first and only boyfriend. She took joys in knowing she had been the one to give him the nickname, "Mani."

  Still, in spite of this, her own grandmother was strict. It was suffocating, maddening at times. Haruna fretted what would have happened if the old woman had caught the two of them actually kissing.

  Haruna allowed her thoughts to wander, imagining Mani's gleaming white grin with cheeks that dimpled when he smiled—really smiled. Between that chiselled jaw, athletic build, and head of dark curls, he resembled the carefully sculpted statues of Athenian gods. He wasn’t just charismatic. He had the charm of a French gentleman.

  Not a faulty assessment.

  He was, in the end, a seamless, perfect mixture of both.

  Haruna shared two cultures just like he did, but she envied him. Mani was fluent in French because of his francophone maman, mother. He was an expert on Greek culture, courtesy of his Greek-Canadian baba, father. But Haruna knew nothing of her Japanese side. She couldn’t even correctly hold a pair of chopsticks, let alone eat with them.

  And that wasn't the half of it.

  Though Haruna’s grandmother was a retired lawyer who still managed Irving-Smith LLP, the powerful firm she had founded with Haruna's late grandfather Greg; Mani’s father, Ioudas Vangelis, happened to be a cut-throat tycoon. He inherited the family business, later expanded through takeovers."Successful" didn't even begin to describe the man, having decades ago made Forbes Canadian Top 30 Under 30. Now he was a city councillor.

  Mani was in the twelfth grade at Glasgow Prep, an old, all-boys private school just on the cusp of the city's borders. She was in the twelfth grade of Shady Glenn Academy… a newer, passable alternative.

  Like Haruna, Mani had been selected as the head prefect, Head Boy. Once graduated, he’d be well on his way to becoming a behavioural psychologist and inheriting the family fortune.

  And Haruna…

  Well, Haruna hadn’t quite worked out what she would do. She figured she’d become a lawyer or something. Like her grandparents.

  She didn’t want to think about it too much.

  Yet, Mani was always surpassing her in every way possible. Even the future was something he had mapped out, where she still hadn’t. The strange thing was that she was always good at planning everything else.

  Haruna shut her eyes, trying with all her might to focus on sleep. The week was over and a new one was set to begin.

  Between piles of homework, the never-ending reports to write, and a dozen back-to-back rehearsals of Christmas carols on the godforsaken piano, the weekend was a blur ended too quickly to recall. For Haruna, the return to school after the two-day hiatus felt, ironically, like a breath of fresh air. But a new week meant new priorities, so she barrelled through the halls, ready to get started.

  “Haruna! What the hell?”

  Or not.

  She turned sharply.

  “Oh, Tracy, hey…” Haruna said, her voice trailing but sounding sweet to mask her impatience.

  “Why are you in such a hurry?” Tracy's face was set in a scowl. It was clear that she was out of breath from chasing her down the hall. "Didn't you see me waving?"

  “Oh gosh, I’m sorry,” Haruna giggled, placing a hand on her chest as the two continued through the hall together, “I’m supposed to meet with student council before first period."

  "You sure are busy," Tracy said, shaking her head. "You rushed out on Friday, too."

  "Well, there was church stuff. Also, Mani and I…”

  “Oh right. Of course. Mani, again.”

  Haruna frowned. “You know we only ever get to see each other on the weekends.”

  “Yeah, but ever since you got the boyfriend you’ve barely had time for the rest of us. I mean, I get it—Mani is the perfect guy and everything, but what about your friends?”

  Haruna gave an oblique gaze.

  “Is that jealousy I hear?”

  Tracy’s lips hinted at a grin.

  “Of course, I’m jealous. Perfect boyfriend and grades. I don’t know how you even do it. And speaking of which—how about that homework over the weekend? I think Dreyer is actually trying to kill us."

  They turned a corner at the water fountain, at last coming to their lockers. Haruna gave a slight shrug as she fumbled with her lock.

  “Ms. Dreyer is a good teacher. It’s her job to make things challenging. Wouldn’t be work if it were easy, right?”

  Tracy groaned loudly, opening her locker door with so much force it clanged against the neighbouring one.

  “Ugh, spoken like a true teacher’s pet. I bet you’ll be the only one who gets so much as a B minus in that class, Haruna. Just watch.”

  “Haruna never gets less than an 'A,'” chimed a girl, her North Face book bag slung over one shoulder as she approached the pair with casual footsteps.

  “Geli!” Tracy greeted, hastening towards the girl and throwing her short arms around her. “You know you shouldn’t talk. You’re just as bad.”

  Angelique, nicknamed “Geli” among their circle of friends. She and Tracy were a stark contrast. Even looks-wise, Angelique had springy hair often pulled back into a low poof while Tracy’s jet-black hair was cropped into a spiked pixie-cut. It didn’t help that next to Angelique, Tracy resembled a twelve-year old. This was not because Angelique was tall, but because Tracy was so short. Angelique gave an affectionate pat to Tracy’s head, and her eyes set on Haruna.

  “Well, it’s not like I’m on honour-roll for everything. Pretty much just math. That English test we came out of on Friday ruined me, I think. Of course, Head Girl Haruna is a different case altogether.”

  “Oh my gosh, but Gels, your boyfriend is gorgeous too!” Tracy whined.

  Angelique lifted a brow. “Huh? Is this conversation about boyfriends or school?”

  “Ugh, both!” Tracy moaned. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for Elle still being single I’d be a major third-wheel here.”

  "Seventh, actually," Angelique corrected before looking about, her eyes searching. "Where is Elle, anyway? Didn't she say something about…"

  Haruna tuned out of their conversation, busying herself with unloading textbooks into her locker. She didn’t have time to chat. There was so much she had to do. Too much.

  “Sorry, I’ll catch up with you guys later. If you see Elle, let her know I said ‘hi.'”

  Before they could respond, Haruna was speeding away once again.

  By midday, the cafeteria was packed, and Haruna was relieved to slip through and beat the long line for the last of the Daily Special. She then scanned over the many rows of tables for a certain someone. Her face lit up, spotting a familiar head of strawberry-blonde. Haruna walked over and squeezed into the narrow gap at her friend's sid
e.

  Gabrielle looked up, and her face broke into a grin.

  “There you are!”

  “Hi, Elle,” Haruna said breathlessly. “Thanks for saving us a seat.”

  “It wasn’t easy, trust me.” Gabrielle craned her neck, searching over several heads. “Oh! Here they come!”

  Angelique and Tracy moved to sit on the other side, putting aside the book bag Gabrielle had used to secure their spots. That day, they had opted out of the school lunches in favour of bringing their own.

  “That looks so good,” Angelique sighed, watching as Tracy uncovered a container filled with a colourful mix of stews and a flatbread on the side.

  Tracy winked. “Yep, and as you know, Mom makes the best naan in all the Lower Mainland.”

  Angelique sighed. “Seems amazing compared to this boring sandwich I just threw together this morning. But, hey. It’s Monday.”

  Haruna peered over at Angelique’s sandwich, a rye bread with questionable contents.

  “Meatless, right?” Haruna stuck out her tongue. Angelique was always claiming she would become a vegetarian, but it was obvious that was never happening.

  Angelique rolled her eyes, readying herself for a bite.

  “No meat, but either way I’m flexitarian now.”

  Gabrielle looked confused.

  “Flexitarian? So that means you still eat meat, but only sometimes?”

  Tracy snickered.

  “I know why. It’s ‘cause her boyfriend’s mom makes only the best jerk chicken—am I right? How can you think of giving up meat when things like that exist in the world?”

  Haruna glimpsed at Gabrielle who glanced back, both sharing further looks of confusion. Tracy smirked at this.

  “Oh, it’s a Jamaican thing. You guys should try it some time. It’s spicy and delicious and wonderful.”

  Haruna started on her sweet potato fritters and spoke between tiny bites, “We’re not as worldly as you are. Also, we’ve never been to his house. Have you, Trace?”

  Angelique swatted a hand.

  “No, Tracy hasn’t been, but I saved some for her last week. She asked me to. She had it in Toronto last year and since then she’s been hooked.”

  Haruna had never been to Toronto and Gabrielle rarely ever went there even though riding competitions took her to Ontario often. Angelique had lived in those parts before moving from out east in Central Canada, just before they had started the eleventh grade. Tracy, on the other hand, had always been a B.C. native, though she visited Toronto to see relatives there. Haruna thought Toronto to be an interesting place from what she had heard; so much about it seemed different from the quiet community she called home in West Campbelton.

  “So, you were telling us before the weekend,” Angelique started, shifting topics. “About this guy?”

  Haruna stopped mid-bite. This must have been a discussion she had missed when she had rushed out to meet Mani on Friday. She noticed Gabrielle had turned bright red, and she was brushing strands of hair behind her ear. She smiled shyly and her voice was a whisper.

  “I think Seth is going to ask me out."

  The four girls fell silent as their eyes searched the cafeteria, then landed on the group of boys who occupied a lunch table in the far corner by a vending machine. Seth sat at the very end of it, his grin on display as though listening in on an amusing joke. Among them was Ryu Debiru. Haruna shuddered, recalling their last interaction with loathing. She turned to gape at her friend.

  “You actually like him?”

  Gabrielle gave a weak nod. She must have seen the cocktail of disbelief and disapproval in Haruna’s face for she averted her eyes to the ceiling and ran a hand through her hair.

  “Well, he’s kinda cute. And he’s pretty funny.”

  Funny-looking, Haruna thought to herself. She searched for a reaction from the others. Angelique seemed deep in thought as she started on a carton of organic almond milk.

  “Hmm. I guess he is kind of cute, in an awkward sort of way. His freckles are cute."

  "What's so special about freckles? I have them. They're kind of annoying," Haruna countered.

  Tracy gave a wry stare. "But even Mani has freckles, doesn't he?"

  "Tall, dark hair, freckles, grey eyes… you and Elle have similar tastes," Angelique said.

  “Please don’t compare Seth to Mani. Mani is a beautiful man,” Haruna scoffed. "He's also taller."

  Tracy shook her head. “Better not speak ill of His Majesty Emmanuel in the presence of his Lady.”

  Haruna scowled, gesturing with her index finger in the air. “It’s E-man-well, not E-man-yoo-el. He’s French. Half, anyway.”

  Tracy gave an indifferent shrug. “Is he really even French if his mother is from Quebec? Even Geli is probably more French than he is.”

  Angelique scoffed.

  “Second-gen Haitian born and raised in Ontario? Hardly. I can barely hold a conversation beyond ‘bonjour.'”

  “Okay, let’s not debate ‘how French people are,'” Haruna said, renewing her focus on Gabrielle. “I’m still in shock over your little announcement over here.”

  Gabrielle’s round face was set in a defiant sulk, her brows upturned.“Seth’s really not that bad!”

  “He’s kind of a jerk sometimes, I think. But he does seem like a nice guy overall,” Angelique agreed.

  Haruna didn’t like the tone of any of this. Angelique hadn’t been at their school as long as the others, so it was expected that she might be casual about such things. But Gabrielle had known Seth since the start of grade seven, just as Haruna did. So, okay, Haruna might have caught them over the years stealing shy glances at each other. She had written it off as a tiny, passing crush and Seth being a weirdo. Turns out, Haruna had it all wrong. Gabrielle didn’t just like Seth. She like-liked Seth. Haruna knew the girl could be naïve, but shouldn’t have been so blind.

  How could Gabrielle be attracted to any of them?

  “A ‘nice guy’?” Haruna began, waving both her hands emphatically. “I’m pretty sure most of the guys he hangs out with have been suspended—at least twice. I've heard he’s always in detention. And just look at him! He’s high. All the time!” She gestured towards their table where Seth was now throwing back his head in a fit of barking laughter. She was certain he was enjoying himself way too much. Nothing could be that funny.

  Angelique shrugged. “I don’t think he’s stupid, anyhow. He’s in my Calculus class. Maybe the way he acts around his friends is just a façade. You know? Groupthink?”

  Gabrielle’s eyes gleamed, and she threw a hand into the air, declaring victory.

  “See! I knew it.” But then as suddenly as she had cried out, Gabrielle’s shoulders slumped, and she dropped her elbows onto the table to rest her face in her palms. “Ugh, I wish he would ask me out already. He’s dropped so many hints.”

  Tracy gave an exasperated sigh. “If he’s dropped hints, what are you waiting for? Why don’t you just do it yourself, then?” She folded her arms, watching the girl with a cynical gaze.

  Gabrielle recoiled, her eyes rounded in terror.

  “Ohmygosh—no way! I couldn’t.”

  Tracy’s eyes twinkled with a mischievous sparkle they had all seen at least once before. It was an omen to what was bound to happen next. She shot onto her feet like a launching missile.

  “Fine! If you won’t do it, I’ll drag him over here.”

  Gabrielle clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her squeal, eyes bulging as she waved, frantic for Tracy to come back. It was to no avail. Tracy, in all her tiny glory, was well on her way, zipping over to the other side of the cafeteria en route to Seth’s table.

  “Oh brother,” Haruna sighed.

  The grins and laughter faded as Tracy approached the group of six, some of the boys nudging some of the others. Tracy tapped Seth on the shoulder, and he turned to her with a blank face. Angelique was soundless, brimming with anticipation like a journalist abou
t to land the story of the year. Gabrielle gawked, her face now resembling a hothouse tomato. Haruna watched helplessly as what looked like an interesting conversation unfolded between Seth and Tracy. The boy crooked his head and looked ambiguously over in their direction. Haruna heard Gabrielle’s shrill squawk as she snapped her head away, avoiding his eyes. She shrunk in her seat as if it were possible to vanish through the floors.

  “He’s coming over,” Angelique gasped, her dark eyes darting between Seth and Gabrielle.

  “He is?” Gabrielle croaked. She brought her hands over her face, quivering, appearing uncertain whether to turn back to look or remain facing away. “What is he doing? Is he—does he look angry?”

  Haruna groaned, having had enough and not wanting to stick around for whatever ridiculous episode of some teen soap opera was about to play out next. This was Shady Glenn Academy—not Degrassi High. She got to her feet and gathered remnants of her lunch to toss out.

  “Where are you going?” Angelique asked, attention diverted.

  “My locker. The bell will ring in fifteen minutes. I’ll see you in fifth period,” Haruna said flatly. She glanced at Gabrielle with a forced smile. “Good luck.”

  Seth was steps away from the table along with Tracy. Haruna swept away, heels clacking as she crossed the cafeteria and left through the double-doors. She strolled by the water fountain, taking a leisurely sip before arriving at her locker. With the halls mostly empty, she took the opportunity to fix everything out of place, her slumped ponytail, her eyeliner. She adjusted the collar of her shirt and straightened her necktie. With that out of the way, she still had eight minutes left until the first bell.

  Well, with this much time, might as well be early.

  Back straight, head high, Haruna grabbed her books, notes, and pencil case and started for the classroom, Period 4. Alexis and Samantha came down the hall, heading in the opposite direction as Haruna turned at the corner.