chapter 1 : continuation
946 Words
---
Ayanda didn’t see him again until second period. She walked into Literature class, her gloss popping, lashes curled, and her denim jacket slung over her shoulder like it was part of the uniform. As usual, every seat near the windows was taken—except the one beside Luca Naidoo.
She’d learned his name in under an hour. The school grapevine worked faster than the internet.
He was flipping through a book, something old-looking and probably boring, when she stopped by his desk. He looked up. Not surprised. Not impressed either.
“You’re in my seat,” she said sweetly.
He didn’t even blink. “Assigned seating?”
“No,” she said, resting her hip against the desk. “But I sit here. Everyone knows that.”
“I didn’t.” He turned a page.
Ayanda stared, stunned by the sheer nerve. “You’re seriously not moving?”
“Nope.” His voice was calm, firm.
Fine. If he wanted a war, she’d give him one.
She plopped down beside him, her perfume flooding his senses. Luca didn’t flinch, didn’t look at her again. She leaned closer, just to see if she could make him crack.
“You’re really brave, you know that?” she murmured.
“Or maybe you’re just used to people being scared of you.”
Ayanda turned to face him fully. “What’s your problem?”
Luca finally looked up. His voice was quiet, but his eyes burned. “I don’t like fake people.”
She gasped. “Excuse me?”
“I said what I said.”
Before she could reply, Ms. Daniels walked in. The class quieted.
Ayanda sat back, stunned, lips pursed. Who did he think he was? Calling her fake? He didn’t know anything about her. But he would. He definitely would.
Luca, for his part, felt the heat of her stare and kept his face buried in his book. He hadn’t meant to be so blunt, but something about her glittering perfection annoyed him. She walked like the world owed her attention. It reminded him too much of everything he’d left behind in Durban.
---
Later That Day
The cafeteria was buzzing. Laughter, metal trays clinking, friends catching up. Ayanda sat with her crew—TJ, Kamo, and Thato—sipping her ice tea with exaggerated calm.
Kamo was mid-story about her cousin's secret boyfriend when Ayanda cut in. “Has anyone noticed how... arrogant the new boy is?”
“You mean Luca?” Thato asked. “Yeah, kinda. But he’s hot.”
“He’s not that hot,” Ayanda snapped.
Everyone stared.
“Oh wow,” TJ said. “He really got under your skin.”
“No, he didn’t. I’m just saying... people need to be humble.”
Kamo smirked. “You mean, they need to worship you.”
“Ugh! Shut up.”
Across the room, Luca sat with one girl—Zoe Pieterse. Tall, pale, with long legs and a loud laugh. She was weird, but kind of cool. Ayanda watched them from the corner of her eye. Luca was smiling. Actually smiling. She hadn’t seen him do that all day.
Why did that bug her?
“You know what,” Ayanda said, standing abruptly. “I’m going to be the bigger person.”
“Oh lawd,” TJ muttered.
She walked across the cafeteria and stood in front of Luca and Zoe’s table. Luca looked up, surprised.
“I’m Ayanda,” she said, extending her hand.
Zoe smiled brightly. “Hi! I’m Zoe. You’re like, really pretty.”
Ayanda smiled. “Thanks. You too.”
Luca looked at Ayanda’s hand for a moment, then shook it slowly. “Luca.”
“Right. So... I just wanted to say welcome. Even though you were a bit rude earlier.”
Luca raised a brow. “You started it.”
Zoe blinked between them. “Ohhh. This is spicy.”
Ayanda smiled tightly. “Anyway. No hard feelings.”
She turned to walk away, feeling oddly victorious—until Luca called out, “You’re not used to people ignoring you, are you?”
She stopped. Turned.
“Excuse me?”
He tilted his head. “Just an observation.”
Ayanda forced a laugh. “Well, don’t get used to it. People around here tend to realize my worth eventually.”
Luca nodded, slow. “Maybe. Or maybe they just like what they see, not who you are.”
Ayanda’s jaw clenched. “Wow. You really think you know me.”
“I don’t. And that’s the point.”
She stared at him, then walked away, heart pounding. Not from anger this time.
From something she couldn’t name.
---
After School
Ayanda walked home with TJ, kicking rocks and mumbling to herself.
“He’s such a... a cockroach,” she fumed.
TJ laughed so hard he wheezed. “Girl. You’re OBSESSED.”
“I am not!”
“You are. He’s in your head.”
Ayanda paused. “Do you think he’s right?”
TJ blinked. “About what?”
“That people don’t really know me. That they just like the image.”
He looked at her, more serious than usual. “I know you.”
She smiled faintly. “You don’t count.”
“Why not?”
“Because... you’ve always been here.”
TJ’s face changed slightly, like he wanted to say something but swallowed it. “Still. That Luca guy? He’s just trying to act cool.”
“Yeah,” Ayanda said. “Well, he’s gonna learn. No one one-ups me.”
TJ grinned. “You’re gonna destroy him, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “Yup. In style.”
---
- Writer
