Chapter Ten

"Room 12"...

Kuffi :(in bed, in her pajamas her locks tired up messily).......

Tandeo:(in bed too, on her phone)......... (Knock at the door)......

Tandeo :(pretends to sleep).....

Kuffi:(laughs)....I was going to answer it anyway..... (Gets up).....

Tandeo:..... (Wakes up, laughs)...... If you weren't no one was going to.....

Kuffi:exactly..... (Walks to the door, opens it)......

Kameron :(all dressed up still)... Hi.....

Kuffi:(ashamed)...... Uhm... Hey...

Tandeo:... (Listening)......

Kuffi :..... (Walks out and closes the door behind her).....

Tandeo:......

Kameron:...... Let's go to the games downstairs.....

Kuffi:(chuckles)...... You're all dressed up but I'm in my pajamas and I know my locks are a disaster....

Kameron:.... Its night... No one cares.......

Kuffi:...

Kameron:The guys are playing soccer..... Like FIFA..... And I think you can beat Noah... I heard you play...

Kuffi:(laughs)..... FIFA..... You heard?..... I do play but I'll pass, sorry....

Kameron:... Come on, I already bragged about you.....

Kuffi:what?... (Laughs)...... Bragged about me?..... You've never even seen me play.....

Kameron :.... I actually didn't even hear from anyone... I just assumed you did play FIFA .... (Smiles)....

Kuffi:(laughs)....... Wow......

Kameron:... Come on....

Kuffi:... Can I change first?....

Kameron:... No..... The top is a little hideous but the shorts are good.......

Kuffi:(laughs)..... That's why I need to change....

Kameron:(takes his hoodie off)... Just wear this over....... (Handing it to her)....

Kuffi:..... Uhm...... My hair...

Kameron:... It looks good.... Let's just go....

Kuffi:(sighs)... Okay...

Kameron:(smiles).....

Kuffi:(gets the hoodie)......

"Entertainment center "

Kuffi:(sitting on the table, her legs crossed, playing against Noah).......

Noah:(standing, playing against Kuffi)......

Guys :(cheering Kuffi on).....

Noah:.... You all know she won't beat me right?......

Kuffi:..... (Laughs)...... You must be the only one who can't see the five to nil we all are..... (Focused on the game)....

Guys :(laughing).....

Jhene :(watching at a distance with Marques, both at the refreshment centre)...... Kuffi will beat him..... I don't even know why he deliberately chose to embarrass himself.....

Marques:... She's that good?....

Jhene:.... Yeah she is...... She simply loves soccer.....

Marques:.. Well shit...... Let's go over there....

Jhene:... I hate your friends so no thank you.....

Marques:..... So where do we go? ......

Jhene::(gets off the stool)... I will go sleep..... You go to them...

Marques:....

Jhene:.. Go have fun. (Leaves)....

Marques :(watches her leave)....

"A game later"

Asani:(arms around J'hream).....

Guys:(in jubilation)....

J'hream :(to Kuffi)... How are you so good?.....

Kuffi :(smiles).... I don't know...

Kameron:(helps Kuffi off the table)..... See I told you....

Noah:..... I was a goal away..... Hold yourselves together......

Guys:(laughing mocking Noah)....

Noah:(irritated).....

Kuffi:... (Smiles at Kameron)....

Asani:(to Kameron).... Is there something we need to know?....

Martin:... Another fallen soldier......... I'm still standing strong......

Kameron :.. There's nothing to know.....

Kuffi:........

Sahari:.... Isn't that your hoodie bro?.....

Guys:(making things awkward).....

Kuffi:(looking down)....

Kameron :... Cut it out. It's chilly.....

Asani :.... Oh isn't it?.....

J'hream :... Babe, let them be....

Asani :.. I was just agreeing......

Martin:(in salute)..... Kameron..... Soldier have you fallen...

Guys :(laughing at Martin).....

J'hream:... Stop that...

Kuffi:....... (Shy)...

Kameron:... (Laughing).... This clown...

J'hream :.... (To Kuffi).... He's a clown.....

Kuffi:(smiles nervously).... I can see...... (Taps Kameron).... Can we go?....

Kameron :yeah sure..... (Both going)......

Asani:... See you made them leave.....

Martin:... I JUST WANT LOVE!....

guys :(laughing)......

Martin:... No tell me...... Am I ugly....... Short?......... Why doesn't anyone want me?....

J'hream :... Reservation..... You are practically the class clown.... No girl wants everyone laughing at her guy.....

Asani:.... (Leads J'hream away).....

Guys :(remain laughing at Martin)......

Martin:(joins them)...

"Hallway"....

(Walk to room 12).....

Kameron :.... (Still excited).....

Kuffi :.. I don't get why you're still excited.....

Kameron:.. Who wouldn't be....

Kuffi:.. He managed to elevate himself to three goals..... If there was more time he would have beat me.....

Kameron :but he didn't.... That's the point...... You won the game like I said...

Kuffi:....

Kameron:.. And I'm glad you did..... Noah has this ego...... He has this pride and I'm happy you humbled him a bit tonight.....

Kuffi:really?... I thought you two were friends.....

Kameron:... On the field yeah....... But he's a bitch.....

Kuffi:(chuckles)... Okay.....

Kameron:...... His the one that made Hakeem say the things he did about you.....

Kuffi:(shocked)...............

Kameron:.... I was there in the locker room at the time.....

Kuffi:.... Oh so I was in discussion.......... That's how you knew me.......

Kameron:... (Confused).....

Kuffi :... Is that why you're talking to me? ...... To see the damage..... Or to see if I'm what he claims I am......

Kameron:..... Chill no..... What? (Confused).......

Kuffi:.... What you're feeling sorry for me?.... (They both stop)....

Kameron:... No... No that's not why I started talking to you....

Kuffi:....

Kameron:... Yeah the discussion made me look around for you more at school but....... I'm not talking to you because of pity...........

Kuffi:.....

Kameron:... After I heard about you its like.... I saw you more than ever and I got to know what I do now.....

Kuffi:......

Kameron:.. I learnt that you're loud...... Out there.... Emotional though...

Kuffi:(chuckles, rolls her eyes)......

Kameron:... I honestly thought I made it so obvious......... From our first conversation........... I talked to you because I liked you.............. I like you.........

Kuffi:..... (Blushing)....... Well shit.....

Kameron:(laughs)..........

Kuffi:........

Kameron:.... (Looking down at her)......

Kuffi:..... (Looking up at him)....

Kameron:(leans in and kisses her).....

"03:34 am "

(Room 7,bathroom).......

Zara:..... (In the glass walled shower)......... (Letting water run down her body).......

Kross:..... (Slowly waking up)............................. (Sits up yawning)................. (Hears the shower water, gets his phone..... Checks the time)........

Zara:........... (Still under the hot shower, hugging herself)........

Kross :..... (Steps in the shower..... Hugs Zara from behind).....

Zara:(frightened a bit, turns rapidly).... Oh my God....

Kross:(chuckles)..... Who else would it be?.....

Zara:....... I know..... I just......

Kross:...... (Changing the topic).... Its only 3 ........

Zara:..... I know........ I lost my sleep so.....

Kross:..... (Grabs her by her hands and leads her to put her arms around him).........

Zara:(her arms over his shoulders)......

Kross:..... (His hands on her lower waist)...... Why didn't you wake me up?......

Zara:(smiles)...... I didn't want to disturb you......

Kross :.... (His hand going down to grip her ass).... Its never disturbing if it means I get to be in the shower with you.....

Zara:.... (Breathing)........

Kross:.......... So wake me up each time okay?...... (The other hand going between her legs )........

Zara:........ (Nods her head..... Gives a slight moan).....

Kross:(smiles)...........

Zara:(her eyes closed)......

Kross:(kissing on her neck)....... (Pulls away)..... Let's stay in....

Zara:(looking at him)..... Are you crazy...... If we get caught that will be a problem......

Kross:.. Mrs Style won't notice two people out of 60.....

Zara:......

Kross :.. Come on...

Zara:... What will we remain here doing?.....

Kross:... Watching Netflix..... Cuddling...... You know the rest...

Zara:........ We can do that afterwards.....

Kross:..... Please.....

Zara:... Please don't beg me.... Its wrong and its worth nothing to stay.......

Kross:........ (A little sad)..... Okay.

Zara:(on her toes, pecks his lips twice)...... Sorry, but its for the best.....

Kross:.... (Smiles).... I'm not done trying to convince you.....

Zara:(laughs)..... You won't trust me....

Kross :challenge accepted.....

Zara:....... (Laughs)....

"That next day"

(3:45pm, Room 12)......

Zara:(on the couch cuddling with with Kross)...... (Her phone ringing with notifications).....

Kross :......

Zara:(gets her phone, reading the messages)......

Kross :........

Zara :(sits up suddenly in terror).....

Kross:(worried)..... Are you good?......

Zara:..... Oh my God....

Kross:what?........

Zara:... Kross we're not the only ones who stayed in....

Kross :are you serious?.....

Zara :........ We're sixteen...... (Upset)........

Kross :... Where are you seeing this?... Class page?.....

Zara:..... (Rolls her eyes)...... We're being punished and you're worried about where I'm seeing this.......

Kross:.....

Zara:... (Reading)...... "Sixteen students absconded the visit to Mandela's house"...... "These include..... Zara"...... My names even first....

Kross :... So what?....

Zara:..... (Looks at him drained)..... This is on the PTA group Kross......

Kross:(shocked)... For real....

Zara:(gets back to reading).....

"Jada, Samiel, Kross, Sahari, Kameron, Lebana, Kuffi"...... Oh wow... She didn't go either....

Kross:.. Neither did Kameron..... I heard they're happening, he probably told her to stay in like I did with you.....

Zara:... And she fell for the dumb trap just like I did... (Sighs).....

Kross:................ (Looking at her in shock)....

Zara:... "Martin, Noah.... Marques, Jhene"...... (Sighs).... "Samantha, Angelique.... Asani, Kamil......... J'hream. ".....

Kross:... So you hated staying in with me right?.....

Zara:........ (On her phone)......

Kross:.. Wow okay.....

Zara:(calling Kuffi, gets up, walks away to the bathroom)....

Kross:(a little hurt)....

"Ahli house".....

(Kitchen)

Rose:I WILL NOT LET YOU DISRESPECT ME!......

Emani :..... (In an apron, behind the counter with baking material)....... I'M NOT EVEN BEING DISRESPECTFUL!......

Rose:WATCH YOUR TONE LITTLE GIRL!........

Emani:.... WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE SO THAT I CAN DO WHAT I HAVE TO....... YOU CAN DO WHATEVER ELSE THEN....

Rose:.. I WANT TO BAKE FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I WANT TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW!.....

Emani:.. YOU FOUND ME HERE!...... AND THESE ARE FOR SCHOOL... I HAVE TO DO THEM NOW AND I ALREADY STARTED!......

Rose:... I DON'T CARE WHEN YOU STARTED!......... THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S HOUSE!....... GET OUT OF THIS KITCHEN NOW !...

Emani:(screams in irritation).....

London:(walks in)..... Whats going on in here?..... (Folds her arms)......

Rose :..... THIS CHILD DISRESPECTED ME!...... SHE CALLED ME A DOG!......

Emani:... Mum....... (Shocked)....

London:(looks at Emani in shock, a little excitement and disappointment)..... Why would you call her that Emani?...

Emani:....... I didn't... (Tears up).....

Rose :.... THIS CHILD IS A HORROR! ............ LINDA SURELY FORESAW THIS!..... SHE MUST BE THE LUCKIEST PERSON TO HAVE ESCAPED THIS FOOLISHNESS!.....

Emani:..... (Tears run down her face)....

London:.. MUM!.......

Rose :.......

Emani:...... (Rushes off).......

London :... Mum pack your bag now....

Rose:... (Shocked)....

London:... I mean that..... (Walks away).......

Rose:......

"Prison"

(Vising room, filled with visitors and prisoners).....

Ermias:(sitting opposite Jennifer at a round table)......

Jennifer :(face swollen from several beatings)..... I just want to see my daughter.....

Ermias :..... You're not Jennifer....

Jennifer:(tears roll down her face)..... I just want to see my daughter....

Ermias:.... Which daughter?.... The one you purposely laid your hands on?..... (Angry)....

Jennifer:......

Ermias:... What kind of a monster are you?.....

Jennifer:..... I never did in my normal state.... torture her.....

Ermias:(holding back his anger)..... The doctor proved otherwise Jennifer...

Jennifer:(crying)..... I want my daughter.....

Ermias :.... Why would you do all this?.... Pleasure? ....... Money?......

Jennifer:.......

Ermias:.... I really wish you had a mental disorder you know.......... It would have been far better.......

Jennifer:...... I took therapy.... It didn't work......... I took medicine... It didn't work....

Ermias :.... You took pain killers Jennifer......

Jennifer:(confused)...... (Shaking her head in a weird way).....

Ermias :........

Jennifer:..... Doctor....... Doctor....... No pain killers....

Ermias:... You are an attempted murderer and I'm having you tried again in court...

Jennifer:.....

Ermias :.... Sixteen years is nothing for a women who purposely tried to kill my daughter..........

Jennifer:(shaking her head crying)........ Not guilty...

Ermias:.... Stop talking like you're crazy.....

Jennifer:....I JUST WANT MY DAUGHTER!.....

everyone:(attention caught on the two).....

Officer:.... Mr Ahli?....

Ermias :.. I'm fine.....

Everyone:(minding their own business).....

Ermias:.... you will never see her you hear me.... Never...

Jennifer:..... (Screaming)..... ZARA!...... ZARA!.... (falls off her chair as though in a fit).....

Officers:(rush in)...

Ermias :(looking at her confused)........

Jennifer:..... DIDN'T DO THIS!.... DIDN'T DO THIS!.......

Ermias:...... (Stands up)....

Everyone:(looking at the scene)..........

"Scene mutes"....

Jennifer:(screaming in her struggle)....

Officers:(holding her still, taking her away)......

Ermias:...... (Watching them take her).......

Everyone:.... (Looking at Ermias)......

Ermias:(breaths out).....