Chapter 5 Nonso Mitchell Effect

ELOISE

Nonso was here at my school.

I couldn't believe it when that junior said his stage name. But I needed to confirm, and to my surprise, it was him. Due to the commotion that accompanied his presence, the principal had to order everyone to their classes except the seniors. We were told to remain in the cafeteria, glued to our seats.

Though the murmuring was still going on, it wasn't as loud as before, and everyone's eyes were glued to the door, patiently waiting for him to walk in.

I couldn't lie. I was also high on my seat, eyes fixed on the door while my feet tapped the floor eagerly. I needed to know why he was here, and I also didn't want him to come in and find all the desperate girls adjusting their uniforms like it was a date-hunt show.

"Did he mention anything to you about why he was here?" Lillian asked beside me, and I shook my head without sparing her a glance. Brian and her both knew everything about everything. I spoke of him so much that they had enough knowledge to write his biography.

"He's probably here to sweep Miss Delusional off her feet." Sometimes I wonder how I became friends with such an idiot. I gave him a nasty glare and he wiped the stupid smile off his face.

The anticipation was over and I held my breath as the door opened. There was complete and total silence, like everyone, including the guys, held their breath too. Mrs Tamara, the principal, was first to walk in, wearing her usual grey pantsuit and scowl. No one seemed to be focused on her; instead everyone's attention was fixed on the person who followed behind her.

Nonso "NSO" Mitchell.

Just like before, the hall broke into another episode of madness, louder than the last. Giggles and whispers.

"I'd let him fuck me on this table if he asked." The wind carried one of the whispers and I looked to search for who said it. "He looks like he goes to the gym a lot."

Yeah, no shit Sherlock.

I eyed Sabrina and her friend Michelle before looking back at Nonso. Why the fuck would he come here of all places? Letting all these horny teenagers look at him in such disgusting manners.

"Quiet seniors." Two words from Mrs Tamara and the whole cafeteria was dead silent. "As you can see we have a guest."

My eyes didn't seem to leave Nonso. He had on a fitted black polo and grey joggers, his hand clasped behind his back while he wore such a smile on his lips. My palms were sweaty from how hot he looked, I rubbed them on my skirt.

"Some of you may have already spotted him by the windows," Mrs Tamara continued, a rare smile tugging her usually stern lips. "This is Nonso Mitchell, current boxing champion at Kensington College, Georgia. And, believe it or not, a former Belmore student himself."

A wave of whispers broke out before she raised a hand to silence it.

"Kensington has partnered with Belmore this semester to offer a boxing scholarship program for interested seniors. Mr Mitchell will be scouting and training students over the next few weeks, and for those selected, this could mean a full ride to Kensington. I expect you to treat this opportunity, and him, with the respect it deserves."

She turned to him with a nod. "Mr Mitchell, the floor is yours."

Nonso stepped forward, his smile easy, hands slipping from behind his back to rest at his sides.

"Thank you, Mrs Tamara." He let his eyes sweep the room, and for a second I swore they lingered on me before moving on. "Good to be back. Belmore was where I threw my first real punch, so this place means a lot to me."

A few chuckles rippled through the cafeteria.

"I see why you're so obsessed with him," Brian whispered. "Dude is breathtaking, he even got Lillian in a chokehold."

My head snapped to Lillian, who scrambled to look away from Nonso, her cheeks flushed. "Really?"

She rubbed her cheeks with her knuckles, avoiding my eyes. "What? I didn't know he looked just like you described."

I wasn't insecure, but I hated the way everyone was staring at him, even the guys. I even caught Mrs Tamara checking him out, and she's married with two kids.

"So here's how this works. I'm running this alongside Kensington's athletics department. They handle the official recruitment side, I'm just the one who gets to scout in person and put a face to it. The scholarship program is open to the senior guys, and over the next few weeks I'll be looking for discipline, work ethic, and dedication. If you make the cut, Kensington covers tuition, full ride."

"What about the girls?" Sabrina called from behind me, and all heads turned to her. She was starving for his attention so badly I could smell it. "Don't we get to train with you." She was twisting a strand of her hair around her finger.

"For the ladies, the scholarship track isn't open, but weekend training sessions are. Consider it an open door, even if it's not the same one."

"Will you be available for the weekend training sessions?" Cassie, another one of my classmates, asked, blinking her puppy eyes at him.

I was shaking from the amount of anger flowing through me. These girls were obviously drooling over him like he was some trophy on display. I wanted to gouge their eyes out so they'd stop looking.

Nonso chuckled and I hoped he could see right past their bullshit. "I'll see about that."

"Great," she squealed, biting her lip and nudging Sabrina with her elbow like she'd just won something.

"The training will take place at the school's gym. Training days and time would be conveyed to students who sign up."

"Where do we fill our names?" My head slowly turned to Brian, who was the least expected person to ask such a question. "What? I need to learn how to bag some bitches," he murmured, and I rubbed my temples in frustration.

"You can fill in your names with Ruby." My head snapped right up to Nonso the moment I heard that name. No fucking way. I tilted my head to the side and blinked at him, hoping I'd heard wrong, but what I heard next proved that he did call me that stupid name in front of the whole class.

"Who the fuck is Ruby?" Sabrina the witch just had to ask.

"Language," Mrs Tamara hissed, and the hall was filled with a ringing the next second.

The sound seemed to be coming from Nonso. He quickly brought out his phone and silenced it. "It was great meeting you all. I hope to see some of you at the gym. Thank you." He was out of the cafeteria faster than a bullet.

I looked at Lillian and Brian, who were trying to cover their mouths to hide their laughter. "Really? That was funny?"

"Who the fuck is Ruby?" Sabrina asked again, right after Mrs Tamara dismissed us and left the cafeteria.

"Shut up, little Miss pick-me bitch," Lillian snapped at her, and everyone burst into laughter. Sabrina got angry and stormed out, Michelle following behind.

"I can't believe he called me that in front of everyone," I murmured, dropping my head into my hands.

"Awwn, Ruby is in shock." Brian pinched my cheek, grinning. "Wait till the whole school starts calling you that instead of Eloise.”

That was the least of my worries, I've been called far worse, but what I couldn't believe was the fact that Nonso was going to be here - at my school. He'd been gone so long, and I really loved the idea of him being so close, and of us finally getting to spend real time together. Maybe he would finally start seeing me as a grown woman, not the little girl he left behind.