"As soon as Stanley left, everyone started whispering and talking softly to each other, surprised by what had just happened. We didn’t know what to make of it. Peter, Sarah, Chris, and I had always been close friends, sharing the same beliefs and ideas. We weren’t sure how we felt about Stanley joining us, especially since we didn’t know him well yet."

Peter, quickly stood up, tapped my back and said, "Let's get out of here guys." We left the room as if embarrassed from what had just happend. We went out to our usual place where we chill while waiting for another lecture.

As soon as we sat down, Sarah remained standing. She began to pace back and forth without a word. She stopped, looked at us, smiled and then in a high-pitched, nervous tone, with her words tumbling out in a rush. "Guys! what had just happened?"

As she asked that question, she was tapping her foot impatiently, with her shoulders tense and hunched. 'Stanley wants to join our group!' She exclaimed. 'What are we going to do? Should we let him in? Is he trying to take us down? Did the other group pay him to destroy us?'

We looked at her in amazement as she seemed restless. Chris, whispered in my ears and said, "Cedric, dont worry. Sarah is always like that. She is fiercely protective not only of her friends, but anyone around her. she is like a mother hen, and that is why she is restless."

I noded my head in response to what Chris had just whispered in my ears. I also whispered back to him, and said with a gentle tone, "I didn't know that side of her."

Chris did not respond, but flashed a quick, covert smile, swiftly covering it up with a more serious expression. Only I could see that. At last I said, "come on guys, I don't think he has been paid to destroy us. He genuinely wants to be part of our group. Do you guys want him in or not? Should we take sometime to think about it or what?"

There was a moment of silence for a few seconds, and then Chris said, "guys let's take some time to consider this. " We both agreed to what Chris said, then Sarah came and sat next to me. I looked at her and realized that her face was pale, with sweat as if she survived from a dangerous dog attack.

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We sat there for a while, thinking if It was wise to take Stanley in, since we didn’t know him quite well. We were also discussing and coming up with strategies on how we can bit our rivals in their own game. Not only that, but also how we can work together to improve on our grades. We wanted to be on top of the class, because our rivals had encouraged a spirit of competitiveness in us.

We knew that we had to work extra hard in order to achieve those goals. Because, all of us were aware that Frank, the leader of our rival group, was smart and intelligent. He was a handsome guy, and the fact that He was rich, made him to be other student's idol.

This guy, not only was he smart, but had a rugged, muscular frame. He had broad shoulders, powerful chest, and you could see that his body is well buit even under his clothes. He also had a commanding presence that drew attention. All these in one person. I think this is the reason why he was full of himself.

I went back home that day thinking about, why on earth did I agree to be in a competition with these guys. Our group was nothing, we were of a poor class, though intelligent, but there was nothing special about us. At last I said, "why bother thinking about this. Let it just be, we are already in the game."

That night, I slept like a log as if I was done with school, but only waiting for the day of my graduation. This was all because, it was weekend. I knew I didn't have a lecture so I slept in and woke up very late.

When I woke up, I did my errands, and within minutes, I was done. Afterwards, I felt like I am stuck in a rut, with no excitement in the sight. Time seemed to have stopped moving, and I kept changing my sitting position, as if I am filled with anxiety. Nevertheless, it wasn't that, but I was bored.

I kept my eyes darting around the room, and then I saw my phone lying on the bed. I quickly picked up my phone, dialed Chris' number and boom, it got through to him. But, he did not pick up the phone. I then dialed Peter's number, and he too did not pick up. I walked around in circles wondering why these guys did not pick up.

Since I had this experience of always being alone, unvalued and unnoticed. I thought, could this be it. Did these guys just dumb me. What is happening. That moment, my heart felt like it has stopped working. I then heard footsteps pacing towards my door, and the person knocked. I walked towards the door with no energy at all, because of what was going through my mind.

As I opened the door. I saw Chris, Peter and Stanley with their hands full. They looked at me and smiled. Then Peter with his deep, cracking voice said, "sorry bro. Our hands are full and you can see, we were bored and so we decided to come to your place. Now that our hands are full, we could not pick up your calls. Please forgive us" He spoke his last words while entering my room.

I took my sit and then with a deep sigh, looked at both of them and with a gentle tone said, "guys!" I was silent for few seconds. Then I continued, "guys I thought, you have dumped me. I thought you don't want anything to do with me."