LIFE AFTER DEATH.

FIRST LEG

Scott’s presence around brought to me a different wave, something I hadn’t experienced before. A combustion of excitement, anticipation, uncertainty, mixed with a significant ounce of tension and fear. I was quick to notice my fall into this foreign domain, but was too caught up in it to either question or stop the fall. The thrill was worth it presently, the surges of surprises, causing my entire substance to quiver, was a dominant and exhilarating feeling.

The car pulled over in front of my residence. I didn’t know why, but my tension tripled. I was a novice but I knew how delicate this situation was, anything could surface at this point. I held in my misplacement, I tried desperately to appear under control and as though I was no way pondered by tension.

As I sat quietly, waiting for Scott to either open the locks and walk me home as they do in the movies, or probably kiss me for the second time. I voted for both, I wanted the kiss to be calmer and more calculated this time around. I wanted to gradually feel the potency and enjoy it.

‘’hope you had a good time?’’ Scott tampered with my breathing once more as he asked, unfastening his seat belt and drifting close to me.

‘’the wings were delicious; I’m definitely going back there.’’

He smiled softly, ‘’so we’re on for Friday?’’

‘’retro park?’’ the skate talk made my legs twitch,

‘’yeah,’’

I nodded, ‘’sure.’’

Scott heavily breathed, ‘’can we go inside?’’

It didn’t come as a shock to me, the western folks had made it a casual thing. Regardless of the fact that, in my country, most parents would find it a taboo, I understood the concept of living here, to a certain extent. I didn’t have to worry about my room, I always tidied it every morning before leaving. What worried me was what could spring out from us, from him.

Nobody was home, I thought. Tom always left early for work and aunt Vivian went to her fashion house. She was a fashion designer. s*x was a possibility in this scenario. I was thinking too far, but it was still beyond reach. I was still a virgin. I liked Scott, but it would be too soon and I wasn’t prepared to have s*x, not yet. I had to prepare, to be on guard. But with the recent behaviour oozing from me, would I be able to refuse contact and stand my ground? I didn’t think so. I had seen myself weakly falling and I feared that if anything came up, I would be too weak to be stoic. My only decision was to keep a safe distance, which I did.

‘’want something to eat?’’ I asked softly, tearing inside the house and further away from Scott.

‘’Peyton...’’ Scott was behind me; I couldn’t tell what he was doing since I didn’t want to maintain eye contact. ‘’we just ate a bowl of hot wings, I’m not hungry. But I could use a glass of water though.’’

I scurried down the hall and went into the kitchen, all the while my heart sang [ a boy came home with me]. As I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. At first instance, I assumed it was Scott, so I grabbed a cup and made my way to him.

I knew that it would mean I gained close contact with him, so I walked briskly and thought of what to do. That was when I overheard Scott’s discussion with my aunt.

‘’I haven’t seen you for a while.’’ That was my aunt’s voice, ‘’how are you holding up?’’

‘’I’m fine ma’am.’’

‘’call me Vivian.’’

I had a nudge to listen from a distance, to not cut off whatever was already brewing.

‘’about Lainie__

‘’Vivian… I would like not to talk about her, it’s in the past.’’

‘’in the past? Scott, she was your friend.’’

I heard footsteps. I couldn’t tell which.

‘’I didn’t say she wasn’t.’’

‘’I know how it must have been for you. I hope that she’s safe. I spoke to Mr Wright last month.’’

‘’me too, there’s nothing new, still old news.’’

‘’she’ll come back, like always.’’

‘’I hope so… I do.’’ Scott’s voice was crooked.

My aunt sighed, ‘’well, I gotta go back to work, don’t do anything funny with my_

That was my cue, ‘’here’s your water Scott.’’ I busted out of my hiding place and handed over the water to Scott.

‘’hey,’’ my aunt said to me, ‘’how was school?’’ she had a big black polythene bag in her hands. I saw pieces of material through the tips. She must have came home to get it.

‘’it was good.’’ My reply was stiff.

‘’what do you want for dinner? I’ll be home by__

‘’I can handle myself, there’s stuff in the kitchen.’’

She dropped the bag on the floor, ‘’Peyton__

‘’I need some money… for toi…’’ I turned around and noticed the boy standing awkwardly behind me, ‘’um… for some stuff.’’

Scott got the memo, plus, the air was getting too tight and uncomfortable for him. ‘’I’ll be leaving,’’ He looked at my aunt first and then at me, ‘’see you on Friday, Peyton.’’

That was a huge letdown to me. I felt a heavy sensation in my chest. I wanted Scott to stay a while longer, certainly didn’t want s*x, but not having him leave so soon.

My aunt took back her bag, ‘’you needed money?’’

‘’for toiletries.’’

She arched a brow, ‘’its not up to two weeks, has the__

‘’I need sanitary pads.’’

‘’Oh’’

I didn’t want her calculating my flow for me, she had a habit of doing that.

‘’I’ll do the transfer later. I’m off to work’’ She staggered out of the house. I could have helped her with the bag but, I was trying to maintain my current relationship with her. I wanted nothing close.

I walked a few meters outside the house, with hopes of maybe catching Curly returning, not that I expected him to, but I needed his help. Instead, I saw his gay step-brother, Parish.

Without hesitating, I turned to leave.

‘’hey neighbour!’’ he yelled from far.

‘’f**k,’’ I hissed under my breath as I paused and turned.

‘’how was your ride?’’ he asked while approaching me, his hands clutching the hand of his blue bag.

‘’hey,’’ I forged a smile.

‘’I saw Scott leaving,’’

‘’yeah, he just left.’’ He stopped next to me.

‘’you two are moving fast… I dunno… where have I seen that before?’’ he posed and patted his lip with his left hand, middle finger, ‘’oh yeah, I remember.’’

I arched a brow, waiting for him to continue but he didn’t. ‘’I have stuff to do,’’ I turned to leave.

‘’be careful where you step, neighbour,’’ Parish let out behind me, it made me stop, ‘’nothing serious, just friendly advice.’’

I turned back to look at him and perhaps hear more of what he would say, but he began to leave, and I didn’t stop him.