Peace the Savage

Chapter 1: The Dare

ROY GOT UP FROM the spot he had been sitting for the past twelve minutes to meet the girl approaching him. You could not mistake the smile that cut across his face as he opened his arms for the girl, the warmth, the love.

"Hey," he said to her as he held her at arm's length and stared deeply into her eyes.

"Hie," the girl replied, rather embarrassed failing to hold eye contact with Roy.

Roy smiled. He gave her his elbow to put her hand on it as they started walking down the road in silence. The girl, Mitchell, was short, slim and light in complexion. She had hazel eyes, thick eyebrows and eyelashes; her hair was braided nicely into a 'twist' hairstyle. She wore a nice navy-blue dress, reaching only a few inches above her knees, and golden sandals, revealing nicely made-up feet.

Roy on the other hand was tall, light in complexion with short hair and was rather handsome. He was dressed nicely in a ripped skin jean, navy blue t-shirt and sneakers.

They walked slowly, Mitchell leaning on to Roy, and from a distance you could tell that the two were so in love.

"So, how's been your day," Roy asked.

"Had been boring but I think now it’s going to be great since I'm now with you," she said smiling up at him.

Roy smiled. He really loved Mitchell and he often wondered if all the girls were as sweet as his girl, or would there be any girl like her?

"Tell me about it," he said smiling.

The next ten minutes were spent talking about Mitchell's day and its events. It was boring indeed. Roy listened to her because he respected her. Had it not been for that, he would have already shut her up as soon as she had started talking.

"Then my mother was like, 'Michy if you ever mention this to your father, I swear Ill rip your tongue off,' and I just frowned." She paused to take a breath. "Boring, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Roy said with a yawn. "Very."

"Now tell me about yours," she requested.

"In a minute," Roy said simply. "Remember what we discussed yesterday?"

"About Peace?" Mitchell asked.

"Yeah."

"Yeah. By the way, you said he's the dark guy in your class, right?"

"Yeah."

"Yoh. His reputation really precedes him," Mitchell said with a chuckle. "So where is he?"

Roy pointed forward. "Over there. Now remember what we discussed and please don't make it sound like it came from me. He won't listen or take it seriously."

"You really want him to change don't you."

"I have a sister," Roy replied. "I wouldn't want anyone treating her like how Peace treats all the girls he gets involved with."

PEACE CAME FROM A middle-class family living a high-density suburb. His parents were both tutors- his father a College English lecturer in South Africa and his mother a high school Science teacher. He had two siblings, both elder sisters, one sister- the eldest- who was now married with children, and the other who was doing Purchasing and Supply in college.

At 19 years old, Peace's life was full of energy and adventures. It was interesting as he could do what he wanted to, go to places, do parties without having to worry about anything. He was that kind of person who loved having fun but also had principles. He always had a good temper but when he lost it, it would take some time to calm him down again. He had a high I.Q. which was also his greatest weapon and charm. He was dark in complexion with average height. He had coffee-colored eyes with thick brows, and kept his hair long at the top and short at the sides. His appearance just won girls attention every time though his character did the rest. He was doing his Alevel at Tinevimbo High school, a school in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe and under Kwekwe district. He was now a form six student, just a few months from his final exams.

Right now, Peace was at the bus-stop near the grocery shops of his home area. As he was about to check his wrist watch for time he noticed Roy emerge with a girl. About time, he thought. Roy had left him thirty minutes ago to go and collect his girl and Peace had been waiting impatiently for him ever since. He smiled at his best friend as Roy approached with his girl.

"I thought you said you’d be back in ten minutes? Brother, it’s been thirty minutes," Peace complained as he fist-bumped his friend.

"Dude, you complain too much," Roy said with a chuckle.

“Seriously, I almost took off.”

“You should have,” Roy answered. He put his hands on Mitchell's shoulders as he introduced her to Peace. "Meet my girl, Mitchell. Michy, this is Peace, the guy I was talking about."

"Nice to finally meet you, Michy," Peace said with a smile, extending his hand towards Mitchell.

"Nice to meet you too," Mitchell replied as she shook Peace’s extended hand.

"You know, my guy is fond of you," Peace said. "He talks about you more often than he says my name. Did you know he never calls me by my name?"

"Really?" Mitchell said with a smile. "How does he call you then?"

"Dude. He addresses me as dude." Peace smiled warmly. "You're special to him. I really wanted to meet the lucky girl, but now it turns out that you are both lucky to have each other."

"Thanks," Mitchell said rather embarrassed. She looked up at Roy. "Now I get what you meant."

Roy eyed his girl. "What did I tell you?"

"Oooh, come on, Roy!" Peace exclaimed with a chuckle. He turned to Mitchell. "What did he tell you?"

"Nothing, just that you're charming," she said laughing.

Peace eyed Roy. "You are a bad person."

***

THEY WAITED FOR TRANSPORTATION for less than twelve minutes then they boarded the car that first arrived. Today it was a busy day as there was an agricultural show in town for the first time in Kwekwe and they were lucky to get transport that quick.

It was only a thirty-five minutes-drive into town. When they arrived, they bought some ice creams as they participated in almost every activity Mitchell wanted. Peace was not a fan of public places and events but Roy had insisted on going. When he had mentioned that his girlfriend would be going with them, Peace had been reluctant to go with them, feeling that it would be awkward, but again, Roy insisted.

After hours of participating in children and girlish events and having to watch and witness silly events taking place as well as musicians performing, Mitchell complained that she was tired and demanded they found a place to rest. They found a place away from the gist of the activities where they relaxed and talked. The mood and atmosphere were light and pleasant, and Roy, like always, talked too much.

“Im hungry,” Peace complained at one point in time, standing up. Where do you prefer to eat? Indoors or out?”

“Out is good,” Mitchell said wrapping her hands around her knees.

“Roy?”

Roy was thoughtful for a moment then he smiled at him. "How about I go to buy the food myself and leave you two to talk." It was a suggestion not a question. He sprang to his feet, stretched his clothes and extended his hand towards Peace. "Right?"

Peace looked up at him with a puzzled look worn on his face, begging Roy not to leave him alone with his girl. Roy noticed his expression and let out a laugh.

"Of course, I can trust you with my girl, right, dude?" He asked still laughing.

"Of course," Peace replied. He reached into his pocket and took some notes and handed the money to Roy. "It’s just that Ive been around you guys the whole day so I thought you must be dying to get some time alone."

"Don't be ridiculous, dude," Roy said. "The reason I asked you to come was because I wanted my best friend and girlfriend to get acquainted."

"Don't worry, P, I won't bite," Mitchell said. She looked up at Roy and smiled warmly. "You can go, dear. And please can you make sure the drink is frozen? I'm burning."

"You got it, babe," said Roy. He turned to Peace. "Anything else you want?"

"Just the usual."

"I'm off then." He started then stopped on step three. "She's mine, man." They laughed and Roy was off immediately.

AFTER ROY BOLTED AWAY, there was a moment of silence. The two people sat staring at the buildings, oblivious of the cars screeching their tyres on the tar, the people walking purposefully or the trees around them.

They barely knew each other and starting a conversation was difficult. This is what usually happens when two strangers are acquainted to one person. The mutual friend is like the medium for all conversations. Once he is gone, there comes awkwardness. Unbearable awkwardness. Peace was trying hard to think on which subject to bring up but couldn't. This was his friend's girl, that was the reason, he realized. If it had been under different circumstances with another girl, it would have been easy- much easier.

"So, I heard you say you needed a drink but you didn't tell Roy which type, does he know?" Peace found his voice and spoke.

"Aah, no. I just drink anything so long it is cool," she smiled embarrassingly.

"And frozen drink?"

"Yeah, its weird right" she replied with a chuckle.

"Where can you find a frozen drink?" Peace asked.

"You can't find that in the stores, so Roy might have to go Kumusika," Mitchell said. "What about you? What's your favorite type of drink?"

And they talked for about five minutes about that, criticizing each one's taste whatsoever. It was funny and all awkwardness disappeared as they seemed to get along just fine.

"So, Peace," Mitchell said the name with earnest and familiarity at one point in time. "Why do you do it?"

Peace started. "Why do I do what?"

"Your behavior and attitude towards girls."

Peace chuckled. "What about my behavior?"

"Don't try me, mister," she said laughingly. "We both know that you are terrible with girls. I know it."

"Did Roy put you up on this?"

"No," Mitchell replied. "He didn't tell me. I just know how you treat girls and it's terrible."

Peace chuckled. "We met today. We've never actually talked before, so what makes you think you know things about me?"

"I've been told-"

"Rumours, for real? You can do better than that, dear. You know people. They can say whatever they want about anyone, to anyone. I shouldn't be no exception."

Mitchell swallowed. "I know you are no exception, but these are not rumours I'm talking about. You dated two girls in my class at the same time: Sthokozile and Tashinga. Oh, I know everything, dude," she concluded when she saw his expression change. "Tell me, have you ever dated anyone here officially?"

“You just told me about the girls I dated in your class, so why are you asking me that question?”

“Oh, really?” Mitchell said folding her arms across her chest. “Do you call that official dating when you tell your partner that your relationship should be secret? When you dont even reciprocate when you are told ‘I love you’ by your partner? Do you even know the definition of the word ‘official’?”

Peace could not answer. It was true. He had never actually dated anyone ‘officially’ – whatever that meant. He had never wanted to.

"See what I'm talking about?" Mitchell said.

"I just don't do ‘official’ dating, that's all," he said.

"Why?"

"Well," Peace said. "It comes with a whole lot of responsibilities: caring and staff, falling in love. I don't like that."

"What's wrong with that?"

"I'm still young."

"What?" She asked with narrowed eyebrows.

"Girl, don't tell me you don't know how every love story ends. You fall in deep; you get disappointed at one point. This is how it ends: heartbreaks, hatred, tears, death. Every love story always comes to that. I'm still young for that."

"Not all love stories end up like that. Look at me and Roy," Mitchell said. "We're happy together."

"For now," Peace answered and Mitchell narrowed her eyes. Peace ignored her and continued. "I just don't want to fall deep yet. I just don't trust this thing called love. But that doesn't make me a bad guy. I'm just looking out for myself."

"It doesn't," she agreed softly. "It's the way you treat the girls that makes you bad, P."

“I thought you girls like bad boys, wani?” Peace said with a chuckle and his eyebrows high up on his forehead.

“Peace!”

"Alright, alright. Tell me. How do I treat the girls?"

"Like trash," she replied without hesitation.

Peace gasped. "What?"

"You treat the girls like garbage-”

“Woah, dont you think thats a little harsh and derogative?”

“Thats what you do,” she said. “You charm and manipulate them. You take them for granted and take advantage of their feelings for you. Like, you take from them but you never give back. That's how you treat them."

"You must be kidding me, girl. Its just that I'm confident and people say I'm a player-"

"And that you are."

"What's the problem with being confident? I may be a player, okay, but I don't treat nobody like trash."

"Ok, I may have come up too strong on that point, but you know where Im driving at,” Mitchell said with a hint of guilt on her face. “But I've heard that you always leave girls crying for and over you. And you enjoy it too."

"That's a lie."

"Prove it," Mitchell said as she folded her arms over chest.

Peace looked thoughtful for a moment but could not answer. He looked away in silence. "How do you propose I prove it to you?"

"Show me how you treat them like they are actually people," Mitchell dared. "Look, I know how it feels to be hurt, to have someone you care about treat you like garbage. It's the worst feeling a person can ever experience. And you do that to all your girls. I'm a girl too, and you got to take it from me, it sucks."

Peace fell into a silence that surprised even himself. "Okay, I get you," he said. "So, what do you suggest I do?"

"Change."

"You know that people don't change overnight, right?" He retorted. "I can't just wake up one day and shout, 'I'm changed'. It takes time."

"I know but you have to give yourself time to try. How can you expect to change when you keep on doing the same thing? Look, you are a fine gentleman, and if it wasn't for Roy, I would have fallen for you already. Your coldness, your humor, the way you talk- it's all a girl could ever dream of. And obviously, girls are falling head over heels for you, and I think that's one of the reasons why you are such an ass to them-"

"Thats not true."

"Okay, here is the thing," Mitchell said and leaned forward. She pursed her lips as she stared intently into Peace's eyes. "At least try to settle for one girl at a time and see how it goes."

Peace looked thoughtful for a moment. "One girl? I think I can try that. But I'm not making any promises."

"That's fine with me."

"Good," Peace said with a smile.

"Are you trying to charm me right now, P?"

"No, hell no!" Peace denied. "Oh, Roy is back. Would you look at that."

***