Chapter five
1128 Words
I woke up the next morning (which was a Monday) and I was in such a good mood. I mean I was going to school which meant I was going to see Ay, whom I hadn't spoken to since Friday. And I was also looking forward to seeing Mike.
As I was showering that morning I realised that my mom didn't wake me up in the morning. That wasn't a good thing because my mother was my alarm. After showering I got dressed then I checked the time. My watch said it was 8:00 which was impossible because the school gates opened at 6:30 and anything after 7:45 was considered as late.
My parents weren't negligent. They always did what they were supposed to do when they were supposed to do it. So them not waking me up was a pretty big deal. It's like if the Sun doesn't shine one day you will panic. Okay except on rainy days or even cloudy days. Or if you live in the north or south pole then it's acceptable. Okay that might not have been the best example but you get the point. Right?
I switched on my phone to check if I had any messages. And I did. My mom sent me a message yesterday.
Mom: Morning honey. Your dad and I will not be in the house when you wake up. Something happened and we had to fly to Cape Town. We will be boarding on the plane around the time you go to school. So just take a bus or go with Ay.
Oh my gosh! Why were they going to Cape Town. My dad's side of the family lives there. I'm half coloured and half black. My mother is Zulu. Born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal. I used to go there a lot when I was younger but my parents seem to have gotten comfortable where we live now which is Johannesburg.
Okay back to the situation at hand. I was already late for school and I needed to get there fast. The bus was my only option and I hated using the bus. It was always slow and took the long route to get to wherever.
I took my bag as I left the house and started walking towards the nearest bus stop. I think the nearest bus stop was like six houses away. The walk wasn't long. What was long was the wait for the bus. I think I waited for about fifteen minutes before the bus finally showed up.
♧
I had just found out from the principal's assistant that it was already second period. She also marked my name down for being late. I was anxiously standing in front of the door to Mrs Dreyer's classroom. She unfortunately teaches my favourite subject: english. Can I put it on the table that she wasn't my favourite teacher and I was wasn't her favourite student.
"Come in." She said after I had knocked on her door.
"Hello ma'am. I'm so sorry I'm late. I caught the bus late and then I obviously got to school late and before that there was the whole dilemma at whole and it..."
"Miss Dlamini. I did not ask why you were late. All I said was come in." She said rudely interrupting me. The children in the class softly laughed.
"Oh." Those were the words that my lips could form at that moment.
"You can go sit now or do you need someone to take you to your seat?" She said receiving a louder round of laughter.
"No need ma'am. I think I'll manage." I said with an exaggerated smile.
I was so embarrassed but I didn't want anyone to know that. In Mrs Dreyers class I sit next to a girl called Kaymu (pronounced kay•moo). We havent really spoken so I was shocked when she spoke to me that day.
"Hey." She said once the fifty minute period was over.
"Hi. Kaymu right?"
"Yes and you are Brenda."
"Yup but please call me Bree." I said.
"Why Bree?" She questioned.
"Why Kaymu?" I questioned back with an eyebrow raised. She laughed at this.
"Yeah. I get it." After a few seconds added, "I like you."
"Me too." I said smiling at her. "I mean I like you too not me too. Well I like me too But that's not what I mean."
"No I got it." She said through giggles.
"Did I miss any important announcements this morning?" I asked.
I loved the morning announcements so I was bummed out that I missed them. And no I'm not weird. They were so cool and fun. Sometimes there would be a performance from some of the drama kids or someone would recite a poem. I just loved it.
We were walking down the corridor towards our next classroom. We happened to be in most classes together.
"No not really. It's just this thing the school is doing." She said and I gave her a ''how am I supposed to know what the school is doing' look. She smiled at me and then carried on. "Theres a new competition. Last year it was the dance off. And the year before that was the cook off. I think the only reason why there is a rap off is because a lot of people requested for one."
"Wow. So they do this every year!" I asked excitedly.
"Yeah pretty much. Okay for as I've been here they've been doing it." We stopped by her locker."I'm just getting my drama books." She said revealing an organised locker.
"Ok." I said leaning on the locker next to hers.
"Speaking of drama. I overheard Zee's group yesterday talking about you."
"Oh." I said not bothered. "They were probably talking about me being at school for the first time at sixteen."
"Nope. It's not that. I think that conversation died last week."
"Okay. Then why would they even talk about me. I think I met them like once when Mike was introducing me to everyone." I said. I won't lie. I was a little bothered if they were talking about me and it wasn't on the fact of me being the 'new girl'.
"Yes exactly. Mike. That's the problem."
"Mike is the problem? Wait how does this have anything to do with me?" I ask.
"Unless you are willing to fight for a boy I'd say keep a fair distance away from him."
"But he is my buddy. We're kinda forced to be together!" I exclaimed. And if I was being honest with myself I didn't want to put space between us.
"Okay yeah. All I'm saying is be careful." She said closing her locker door.
"Thanks." I guess.
- Writer
