Insert 35

The night was going smoothly, people dancing on the dance floor. Everyone was just having fun and things weren’t as awkward as I thought they would be, everyone was in their lane and we were all civil with each other. Sands and I hardly exchanged any words and I was completely fine with that. Me:” Livia…” Her:” Yes babe?” Me:” Can I talk to you in private?” Her:” Yeah, sure…” Kea:” Why must it be in private?” Honestly, I spoke too soon. Kea is starting to be a nuisance now and I don’t understand why these ladies don’t see past her fake ass. Me:” Because it’s something that’s got to do with her and I and nobody else.” Kea:” Zee come on, we both know that you’re a misfit so why even try?” Me:” Excuse me?” I was shocked. Lindo:” Misfit Kea?” She raised her brow. Busi just chuckled and turned her attention to her date. Kea:” Yeah, like we all know that she’s just a fifth wheel. When are you guys going to tell her the truth?” All of a sudden I was dumb struck as I had no idea what she was talking about. Everyone was just looking at Kea, some of the guys were looking at me. Amo just pretended to take a sip from his wine glass, it was a none-alcoholic bubbly. Me:” What truth?” I eyed everyone except for the guys. Livia:” Not now Kea please, this is not the time.” She stood up. Kea:” I’m just saying that y’all need to tell her the truth, she deserves that much from you guys.” She shrugged her shoulders. Livia:” Come Zee, you say you want to talk right?” Me:” Yeah, uhm… Amo I’ll be right back.” I stood up and we walked to the back of the school hall. Things were very awkward between Livia and I and I needed to fix that. She has always been the calmest amongst the bunch. Livia:” So what do you want to talk about?” Me:” (Clears throat) Question… Have I done anything wrong to you?” Livia:” Wrong? What do you mean?” She raised her brow. Me:” We don’t talk no more, we hardly share anything with each other and it’s like you hate me and want nothing to do with me.” Livia:” Honey, it’s your own fault things are the way they are.” Me:” Me?” Livia:” Yes, you Zee… After you found out about Amo and Busi you pushed all of us away and you never even tried to find out from us why we couldn’t tell you but hey, it is what it is.” Me:” I’m sorry, I was just too hurt. I didn’t think past the hurt.” Livia:” Yeah well we all get hurt but we get over it. We used to be so close but then you chose your path, hence you find yourself so alone.” Me:” I understand. Thank you for your honesty.” I looked down. Livia:” Cool. Is that all?” Me:” Yeah, thanks for your time.” She walked away. Me:” Hey, wait…” She turned and looked at me. Livia:” Yeah…” Me:” Will we ever be good friends like we used to?” She just shrugged her shoulders and disappeared into the darkness. I didn’t think things were this bad with my friends. Losing Busi was never an issue but losing Livia and Lindo now that I don’t think I can handle. We go way back, they are my ride or die bitches and it’s sad to know that we may never be able to patch things up.

“Are you okay? What are you doing out here all alone?” I turned to see who it was, not that I couldn’t recognize the voice but hey I had to make sure. Me:” Sandile what are you doing here?” Him:” I came looking for you. I saw Liv walking in alone so I put two and two together.” Me:” Oh… Okay.” I looked away. Him:” You look beautiful by the way.” Me:” Thank you, you’re not too bad yourself.” Him:” Come on Zee, turn around and look at me.” He was standing behind me and had his hands on my waist. Me:” Don’t touch what’s not yours Sandile.” Him:” I can’t help it and I hate that you’re with that jerk!” I turned around and pushed him away. Me:” That jerk is my friend and his name is Amo.” Him:” Zee I know you want me and I want you too, you can’t deny our chemistry.” He came closer to me and had my back up against the wall. Me:” Please don’t… You have a girlfriend for goodness sake and she’s my friend.” Him:” You see… That’s the problem and we have to solve it.” Me:” What?” Him:” You’re not denying your feelings for me, instead you’re telling me about uLindo which is confirmation enough that you want to be with me but you don’t want to betray your friend because you’re loyal like that right?” Me:” I don’t have to listen to this.” I pushed him and tried to walk away but he grabbed my arm and pulled me in for a kiss. I tried to push him away but he held on to me tightly. “What’s going on here?” Fuck!!! This is not happening, not now please… I knew better than to say anything.

(Inside the school hall)

Lindo:” Liv have you seen Sands?” Livia:” Nah… I think he went to the gents.” Lindo:” Okay. Amo come dance with me…” Amo:” (Clears throat) I rather not but thank you.” Lindo:” Don’t be a wuss… Come!” She went up to him and dragged him to the dance floor. He resisted at first but he saw how she was dancing so innocently, he moved along to her moves. Busi:” Funny how Zee gets along with Amo and not me…” Livia:” What do you mean?” Busi:” Like why can’t she hate us equally? We both did the deed.” Livia:” You’re not making sense right now Busi.” Busi:” Never mind. You’ll catch on some other time. Honey, let’s go dance.” She stood up to go dance with her date leaving Livia with her date and Kea’s date.

(At the back of the school hall)

Kea:” I’m waiting…” She was tapping her foot on the floor. Me:” Kea please, it’s not what you think.” Kea:” Oh! Really? Let Lindo be the judge of that.” Sands:” She doesn’t have to know about this. Uzi’ngena ngani wena Kea?” Kea:” Sandile I think it’s best if you shut up or else…” Sands:” Or else what? I’m not going to dance to your tune! Who do you think you are?” Kea:” Kea freaken Thabane, that’s who I am!” Me:” Look wena Kea, I don’t have time for this. Go and tell Lindo about what you saw. I’m not even sure what you saw but ke go ahead I’m already an outcast.” I walked away before she could say anything. I am not about to beg uKea, to think I actually thought we were going to be good friends but she turned on me as soon as I introduced her to my friends so at this point I’m ready for whatever storm comes my way. Kea:” So Mr Hlathi u lokela ho re’ng ho uena?” (What do you have to say for yourself?). Sands:” Bitch you’re sick! Bye…” Kea:” I wouldn’t do that if I were you…” Sands:” The fuck?” Kea took out her phone and played back the video she took of Sands and Zee against the wall. (Video Playback) Zee: Please don’t… You have a girlfriend for goodness sake and she’s my friend. Him: You see… That’s the problem and we have to solve it. Zee: What? Him: You’re not denying your feelings for me, instead you’re telling me about Lindo which is confirmation enough that you want to be with me but you don’t want to betray your friend because you’re loyal like that right? Zee: I don’t have to listen to this.

Kea:” Woo how romantic…” Sands:” You recorded us?” He shouted. Kea:” Please brother lower your voice, I needed to have proof or else she was not going to believe me.” Sands:” What sick game are you playing Kea?” He brought his eyebrows together. Kea:” Hang around and you’ll see…” She winked at him. Sands:” Kea please don’t do this?” He lowered his voice. Kea:” I’m happy that you’re co-operating otherwise we’d all hate to see sweet Lindo hurt, don’t we?” Sands:” Yeah sure, whatever! What do you want?” Kea:” Yes, now that’s the question I wanted to hear.” She pushed Sands against the wall and pressed her body against his. Kea:” This is what I want…” She looked at his lips. Sands:” What are you doing.” Kea:” Don’t be rude…” She kissed him and he kissed her back. He didn’t want to but he had to play along, the last thing he wanted was to hurt the girl he was now falling for. Kea:” Wow! I get what the rave is about anyhow here…” She took out a hotel key and gave it to him. Sands:” And this?” Kea:” Meet me at that hotel, room 224 straight after the Ball. If you don’t come I’m sending the video to Lindo anonymously.” She smirk. Sands:” You’re sicker than I thought.” Kea:” Makes the two of us. See you inside (Wink).” She walked away laughing. Now that for her was progress.