Scarlett Ngcobo

Chapter 52

Tribeca, Manhattan

One year later...

“Scarlett, if you're not up in the next five seconds, I'm leaving you behind!”

I furiously got out of bed and unlocked the door. “Really Annabelle? I'm up.”
“Stop complaining, just go and get dressed.” Annabelle, said standing by the door.
“Good morning family!” Lucille shouted.
“I just can't with you two, I can't!” I went to the bathroom to freshen up.
After freshening up, we left for work.

Me and Annabelle, work at Aunt Nomvula’s boutique in Brooklyn. I met her and Lucille at a dance school in Brooklyn. We all instantly clicked and decided to all move in together.
Aunt Nomvula, pays my tuition fees at Brooklyn school of Dance, and she also pays my rent. The rape made me realise how I have not achieved my goals. Life is too short and one needs to live. One morning I woke up, booked a flight to New York with no plan. I knew I could live with my aunt until I figured everything out.
My parents were not really thrilled about me coming here, but they knew that I needed this.
I still have my therapy sessions via Skype with Dr Puoentle. She knew me well and my story, I didn't want to start over with someone else. The first month was lukewarm. At some point, I almost booked a flight back to South Africa but there was a little voice in my head, that convinced me otherwise.
After I got accepted at the college, I knew this is where I should be. Meeting Annabelle and Lucille was a bonus.
I still kept in touch with the gang. They're now qualified financial advisors. I missed everyone but I had to do this.

“So, Scarlett, what are you wearing for your date tonight?”
We were unpacking the new stock that had arrived. “Date with who?”
“Zandré? Ring a bell?” Bella
“Oh, him.. we going out to dinner, not a date.”
“Whatever, so what are you going to wear?”
“I don't know.”
“I have a sexy red dress, it will suit you.”
“I'm not wearing any red dress Annabelle. Cover for me I need to call someone.”
I disappeared to the chill room, to call ‘Him’.
“Hello?”
“Hey stranger.”
“It's been a while. How are you?”
“I'm okay and you?”
“I'm good. I miss you..” Him
I heaved a sigh. “Don't.. please don't start.”
“When are you coming back?”
“I don't know. I just wanted to say happy birthday.. you will get your gift later today.”
“I wish you were here instead. Can I video call later?”
“Listen, I have to go now before they notice I'm not at work.”

During our lunch break, Annabelle and Lucille took me dress shopping for a nonexistent date. Zandré is a cool guy, but he is not my type. He has been pestering me about going out with him and I have finally decided to give him a chance.
“Try this dress on, Scarlett.” Lucille.
“No.”
“Why not?” Annabelle.
“He might get the wrong impression. I'm not planning on sleeping with him.”
“The world we live in. Why is it when a woman dresses nicely, it's for a guy? I hate the world we live in.” Lucille said, putting the dress back.
“Are you okay, love?”
Lucille just nodded.
“This one is perfect honey.” Annabelle, held a off shoulder military green satin dress.

After our dress shopping, me and Annabelle went back to work.

“Babe, can I ask you something?”

I raised a brow and looked at Annabelle. “Yeah.”

“Do you think Lucille will ever be okay? I know she said she's okay when you asked her at the boutique but I don't think she's okay.” Annabelle.

Me and Lucille, shared something similar. Her decision to come to New York, was because she was raped at her home town, back in Italy. Unlike me, she didn't get justice. She couldn't stand seeing her perpetrator every day.
“Healing is never easy. Today you're okay, tomorrow.. tomorrow you feel like the world is against you. As long as she keeps on attending therapy, she will learn to live with the pain.”
“I really hope so. She's like a little sister. I don't want to lose her.”
I gave her a hug. “I'll talk to her later don't stress.”

I went upstairs where I was working today. Working here can test your patience, especially with rich people. They will boss you around while asking for champagne.

We were part time students at the college and thank God we didn't have any classes today. Now I have an hour before “my date” with Zandré. I freshened up and did my makeup then wore my dress. I had on a Bob weave and wore my black block heels.
The girls were sitting in the lounge waiting to see the final product.
“How do I look ladies?”
Annabelle was the gangster, she stood up and whistled. “If I was into girls, I would rip that dress off!”
“I have to agree with Bella, that dress was made for you. Zandré is going to faint seeing you in that dress.”
We heard the door bell.
“That's my que to leave ladies.”
Opening the door, there stood Zandré in his dusty pink shirt and maroon suit pants.

We drove to a restaurant called La Zenith. A five star French restaurant. It was really fancy, I loved how the ceiling was made of glass. The lighting from the moon and stars made the restaurant look even brighter.
“This place looks gorgeous.”
“A friend recommended it, I'm glad you like it.”
Silence.
How I hate awkward silence.
“How has your week been?”
He poured us some wine. “Work has been hectic. We have new authors who need to have their work published.”

Zandré’s parents had a publishing company. They were doing good for themselves. We had their lobster and onion soup for starters...

“How has juggling school and work been?” Zandré

“At first it was difficult but now.. now I have everything under control.” I noticed how he would slyly look at me, when he thinks I'm not looking at him. “How come you're single Zandré? Or am I jumping the gun?”
He smiled. “I am single. I just got out of a messy relationship. It was better to end things before we hurt each other any further.”
“I see.”
“What are you running away from, Scarlett?”
I slowly sipped my wine, whilst looking at him. “I'm not running away from anything. I just needed a fresh start.”

My phone vibrated on the table. It was a message from Annabelle;

Please hurry to the hospital. Lucille slit her wrists...

I felt my body go cold. Someone was shaking me..
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Uhm.. uhm, can you drop me off at the hospital?”
“What's wrong?”
“Lucille. Something happened to her.”

He rushed me to the hospital and I saw Bella, at the waiting area. Her clothes were full of blood.
“Babe, what's wrong? What happened?”
“I.. I.. uhm, I don't know. We.. she...” I could not hear what she was trying to say.
“Calm down. What happened?”
“We were watching a movie, next thing she said she is tired and she went to sleep. After some time I went to check her and she.. she.. blood everywhere.”
“Shh... Shh, calm down. She's going to be okay.”

An hour later...

“Family of Lucille Santos?”
Me and Annabelle stood up. “How is she doctor?” we both asked.
“It's late right now, and she's sleeping now. We will discharge her tomorrow...”