Diako PV
"Bloody hell!" I hiss as the hot liquid makes contact with my skin, through the thin layered shirt I'm wearing.
Nice one Zues!
I quickly unbutton the shirt as I rush to the sink. After I dampen the table cloth, I gently press it to my throbbing chest.
Now I'm officially late for the first time at my new school.
I have been schooling at South Aliwal High for a month and about two weeks now. And today I'll be late for the first time.
Stupid coffee.
I'm fully aware of the school's zero tardiness tolerance policy. So I quickly go to my room to change. I change into another shirt, only this one is long sleeved.
Ugh I hate long sleeved shirts. They just make my arms look too lanky.
But this one will have to do since I have ran out my other short sleeved shirts. And now the other one now has a huge coffee stain on it.
I tuck my shirt in my pleated maroon skirt and grab my bag. I glance at the mirror before rushing out of the house, my maroon blazer in hand.
Sweat drips down my face and my pulse races. My breathing is rapid as my feet pound the pavement leading to the gates of South Aliwal High. I arrive at school three minutes after eight and just like that I get detention.
And for what? Being just three minutes late?
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When lunch comes, I make my way to a spot that has become my favorite area at this school. A secret hideout place I found on my second week here. It's where I escape from all the prying eyes and of course Anathi Mathiso's snide comments about my appearance and height.
I navigate my way through the groups of students in the hallway, and head behind the classes. I sit under the huge beech tree savoring the cool shade it provides. My very own secret hideout spot.
I eat my chicken mustard sandwich, my favorite of all sandwiches, as I read through the worn out pages of "Something blue".
It has been close to three months since I moved back to this town yet it feels as though it's still my first time being here. This is my father's home town, I was born and brought up here. Six years ago, when I was twelve , I left to go live with my mother.
After Gogo (granny in Xhosa) died, she was the only one left to care for me. We lived in a Province, not very far from here.
Now I stay with her little sister; aunt Boity. She works in another town, about an hour and a half drive from here, but she lives here in South Aliwal with me.
Work sometimes requires her to stay there longer and I'm left on my own. It's not like I can't stay on my own, I mean I'm almost eighteen.
I haven't had any luck rekindling friendships or making friends so far. Everybody seems to have forgotten me.
Well it's either that or they have all just decided to ignore my existence. Gosh I'd ignore myself too if I could.
Jenna-Lee and Linda literally just ignore me here at school. Also at the corner shop in my street the other day. They just walked past me, I could see the recognition in their eyes though.
I sure haven't forgotten that we used to hang out together six years ago. We'd host play dates and play dress up games together. They were my best friends.
Now they hang out with Anathi and her puppets. I don't know how that is even possible. I know how they despised her in Middle school. She was a bully back then. Not that she's changed much.
The screeching bell jolts me out of my trance. I get up and make my way to my locker to take my Afrikaans notebook. As I run down the hallway my body collides with something hard. I stumble back landing on my butt.
My bag slips off my shoulder and drops, joining my notebook on the floor.
"Watch where you're going you dork! What the hell is wrong with you, are you fucking retarded? ", a voice booms at me.
I look up to see the biggest bully of all time. The one and only Conway McPherson. His nose flares as his chest moves rapidly. He looks more angry than usual.
The prick hasn't changed one bit. Don't even know why he's head boy when he has such a foul mouth with a temper too.
I don't wish to be his victim once again. I've been avoiding him ever since I saw him here on my first day. So I mutter a sorry and rush to my Afrikaans class.
The classes after lunch go by real quick. Soon the moment I've been dreading arrives.
School out.
The bell rings loudly as everyone scurries out of the class and scatters in the hallway. I'm not keen on detention but I go to the detention classroom anyway.
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