Chapter 8 - None of your business

Golden

“What was that all about?” Amara asks, me when I walk back to them.

“Nothing” I say hoping she’ll let it go.

“That didn’t look like nothing” She says looking at Leo and his friends. She has this disgusted look on her face. She always makes that face when she feels someone is beneath her as if she has the authority that decides who is worthy.

It’s been like this since eighth grade. She would pick on the less fortunate kids because she was born rich. The older we get the older her attitude gets.

Or am I getting old? I’m realizing I have less tolerance for her nasty side with each passing day.

“This is about me and I say it’s nothing. Will you let it go please.” I say looking at her straight in the her eyes so she knows I’m serious.

“Well, I’m just looking out for you. I don’t think Cole would like it if he saw you talking to boys like that.” She says pointing to Zach. I feel myself getting angry all over again why should Cole decide who I talk to? He’s not my keeper.

“Let me worry about Cole, he’s my boyfriend after all.” I say a little too harshly.

She raises raise her arms in defense.

“Okay. I’m just trying to be a good friend. But whatever”   She says turning her back to me. She’s mad at me now, this is her way of showing she’s angry. I sigh, feeling exhausted by this whole situation. This is crazy.  Now I have to apologize.

“Uhm… Do we have to fight over boys, ladies?”  Gina says getting between us, she’s getting into her default setting in the group. Putting out the fires Amara starts. This whole thing didn’t have to get to this point. I was just talking to Zach, it’s not a big deal.

 “We love each other and we have fun together.” She says smiling, trying her hardest to calm the situation down. The bell rings saving me from this misery. We start walking back to class. Amara pouts the whole way there, I ignore her. I don’t have the energy to deal with her right now.

I’ll text her later when I’m less irritable. I know Amara is just looking out for me but I hate that she and Cole feel the need to be rude to Zach. They don’t have to like him but they definitely have no right to be asses to him. Granted I could have delivered that message with a little more delicacy but I’m not in the mood.

Friday

Leo

Today is the first time I’ve taken a day off in years. Mr Brown had to strong arm me into not going to work today. I just see days off as a waste of time. I could be putting in overtime and making extra cash. I’m so used to being busy that I don’t know what to do with myself. I got home from school 3 hours ago; I’ve done all my chores and homework. I even finished my Biology assignment; that’s due next week Friday. 

And now I don’t know what to do. I’m so restless.

I’m so used to having such a small amount of time to do things that now that I have all this time, my mind is going crazy.

I stand in the middle of my apartment and look around. The house is clean, the laundry is done. The kids are fed and they’re taking a nap.

It’s just me and the silence.

 I walk to the bed and look at it. The kids are sleeping peacefully. I should try to nap too. I get into bed and lie down. I toss around for a minute, I feel Jon toss too. If I’m not careful I’ll wake them and I don’t want that do I? I turn onto my back and look up at the ceiling.

My mind starts to drift and of’ course it goes to its favorite subject; Golden.

Her long golden braids, her beautiful smile and her beautiful hands. She has these long slender fingers with perfectly shaped nails. I bet her hands are soft, I close my eyes and try to imagine what it would feel like if she ever touched my face.

Would her palms be warm or cold? What would it feel like to kiss the inside of her palm?

I wake up the sound of my phone ringing. I reach out the small table at the head of the bed. I open my eyes confused, when did I fall asleep?

I look at the caller ID, its Zach. I’ve been avoiding him since Monday. I have been eating my lunches alone and spending my free time in the library studying. I can’t bear the thought that him and Golden have become really friendly over the last few days.

They wink at each other in secret throughout the day. They are careful not to be seen because Golden’s boyfriend doesn’t like it when she’s friendly with anyone outside their friend group. I wish I was oblivious them like the rest of the school but I am so in tune with Golden that I notice even when she sighs.

And the fact that Zach gives me a thumbs up every time him and Golden have a moment doesn’t help.

“Hello” I groan answering the phone. Its 7 pm, I need to make the kids some food. I sit up taking a moment to get my bearings.    

“Wow, you answered your phone. I wasn’t expecting that. ” he says sounding genuinely surprised.

“Yeah, what’s up?” I ask my mind finally clearing of sleep. I stretch feeling good. I haven’t slept like that in a long time.

“What does your day look like tomorrow?” he asks

“It looks like work and babysitting.” I say curious what he’s up to.

“How do you feel about hanging out?” He asks, still cryptic.

“I would love to.” I say sarcastically, he laughs already catching my vibe.

“Cool. What time do you have to work tomorrow?” he asks and I sigh.

“What’s going on man?” I ask because I don’t want to play this game anymore.

“I want to hang out. We haven’t done anything fun in a very long time. I’m just trying to figure out what your schedule looks like so we can plan this whole thing.” He says sounding hopeful. I already know that this won’t work but he seems to think it can work.

“You know I can’t hang out. I have work and the kids need me man.” I say stating the obvious.

“I got you man. We take the kids with. They need to have fun too.” He says fully excited.

“What?” I ask confused, is he high?

“Just tell me your schedule man. This is becoming way more complicated than it needs to be.”  He says finally over the game too.

“I have to work from 9pm to 5am tomorrow.” I say exhausted.

“Cool, I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. Say around 9 am, pack your best sun hat.” He says ending the call before I can even say anything.

I stand in place confused by what just happened.      

Next morning

“Where are we going?” Mina asks me for the 50^th time this morning.

“We’re going out” I repeat for the 50^th time.

“But we never go out.” She states and looks at me with her cute round brown eyes.

“I know but there’s a first time for everything.” I say more to myself than to her. I have to admit, I’m nervous. I don’t know how I feel about this whole going out stuff. I like having control especially where the kids are concerned. I like knowing where we’re going, what we’re doing and today I don’t know anything. I just know that Zach has all the control and that has me bent out of shape.  

My phone rings. Speak of the devil.

I answer and he lets me know that he’s waiting for us outside. I gather the kid’s stuff and we head out. We find him waiting for us in the parking lot.

“Zach!” Jon screams when he sees him.

“Hey, my main man” Zach says smiling at Jon. He says hi to Mina and we get in the car. I can feel the kid’s excitement from behind me in the backseat.

“Where are we going?” Mina asks unable to contain her excitement.

“We are going to a magical place a friend of mine told me about.” He says looking at me as if I’m supposed to know what that means.

“Really? Do they have superheroes there?” Jon asks sounding so excited.

“You know what buddy, I can’t confirm or deny that.” Zach says and the kids exclaim in sync.

The rest of the drive is spent with Zach entertaining the kids with stories about fairies, superheroes and wizards. The whole way they didn’t care to hear what I had to say. They just wanted to hear what Zach had to say.

We arrive a while later and the sign declares Bronkhorspruit Dam. We park and off load all the stuff Zach packed. The kids look around excited, they keep pointing out to the jet skies, boats, people wind surfing and the water. I’ll admit. I’m in awe too. This pace is incredible; I’ve never had the chance to go places when I was a kid. This is such a treat.

We find a nice spot to set up and lay out the picnic blanket and sit for a while. Zach brought all kinds of stuff to entertain the kids. Balls, hula hoops and water guns; we make sure the kids are fed first.

Then we start playing, we run around for what feel like hours, I savor the laughter. My siblings finally look and sound like kids again. After an hour I feel like a kid again too. I haven’t had this much fun in… never.

“Thanks for making me do this.” I say to Zach when we finally take a moment to breathe. I watch Mina and Jon play in front of us. They’re having the time of their lives.

“Oh don’t thank me yet.” He says looking at something in the distance. I look in the direction he’s looking but I don’t see anything.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask smiling. And then I see what he’s looking at and my smile disappears.

“I invited her, so please be nice.” He says and stands up walking to Golden. She looks amazing like usual. She’s wearing an all white outfit. They say hi to each and Zach walks away from her to the kids.

My heart is in my throat. I can feel sweat start to form on my body. I want to run. She gets close to me and smiles.

“Hi” she says and sits next to me on the blanket.

“Hi” I say surprised I could put the sentence together.

“I’m Golden” she says and extends her hand out for a hand shake. I look at her hand for a moment.

“I know.” I say and shake her hand.

“I know you know my name but we have never met, officially.” She says looking me straight in my eyes. I look at her mesmerized.

“I’m Leo.” I say and she smiles again.

“Nice to meet you.”  She says looking at the water.