The following day I was excited to go to school and tell everything that happened and I did, I told my friends everything from A-Z. I told them how Jennifer didn’t want me to perform the solo routine, that Kevin defended me and said that I was a better dancer than her, miss said I dance with a lot of emotion and that she was glad to have me on her team, class and part of her family and finish it I told them that Natalie and I walked home together. It was nice to keep repeating the story over and over again. During school I kept thinking that who I was going to perform the couple routine with and what song were we going to dance to. “ you dance with so much emotion ” that line that miss J said never got out of my head it was the other thing that kept rushing through my mind . The year just started and here we go with so many projects I mean seriously cant them just give us a break we just started school it was totally unfair and come to think of it I have a lot to balance now. My studies, dancing, projects and athletics. My year couldn’t be more hectic. Today our principal announced that during the last 2 periods we will have our first house meetings regarding this year’s sports meet and the sports meet will be held on the 7th of February. In a few seconds I knew my head was going to flip, I wouldn’t have time for myself at all for the work I have. “Deep breaths alie, deep breaths” I had to be strong. I wasn’t going to give up. When it came to the last 2 periods everyone rushed to their respective places and the house meetings began. You could see all 5 houses working and praying so hard to win the cup this year. When the meetings were over I gave my events to our captains and went back to the class. We really didn’t have work because school was already over and it was time for the final prayer. After school I walked to the bus stand and I was waiting for my best friend from royal institute. He usually goes home with me in the bus. The crazy thing is we were born on the same day just different years and we live next door to each other. Our families are close so are we. His name is mattew but I call him matta. He’s like a big brother, very protective but either way we take care of each other no matter how old we are. Both of us went home together. Today I had to stay over at his place since no one was at home. I left my books and clothes there. His mom makes the most delicious food ever not better than my mom’s but from all my friends parents his moms the best. Whenever I go to her place I always tell her to make buriyani rice for me and she does. once I went to matta’s place the first thing I said was “aunty please tell me its buriyani for lunch otherwise I’m not eating” Liza matta’s sister started laughing “don’t worry sweetie mama will always make buriyani for you” when I turned and looked at matta I could see the way he was laughing so much he was tearing as well. At times he can be such a annoying a big brother. After I was done eating I quickly did my homework where as matta helped me. At 4.30 I got ready “shall I drop you” was matta said. Ok now he really did sound like a typical big brother. I mean come on it was close by I’m not a little kid I can take care of myself “do I look like I’m 7 years old to you?”Liza was laughing and matta’s mom just kept telling both of us to cut it out, it didn’t work actually. “Should I really answer that?” I mean seriously matta I don’t look like a seven year old. I said thank you to Liza and aunty , hugged matta and told him thank you as well for helping me with my home work and left for class . On my way for class I met Natalie near her place and the both of us walked to class together. While we were walking both of us agreed that every day we would walk to class together and go back home together as well. “Who do you think your partner will be? Natalie questioned me. I didn’t know “I don’t know. I’m new to the class right so and the guys doesn’t seem that friendly. I guess fate will decide in a while. To my surprise Natalie told me that they were pretty nice once you get to know them and the class would be boring he the guys weren’t there Natalie kept on talking about them. Even by experience she’s right, when Kevin gets late and gives some crazy and silly excuse which makes no sense it’s actually funny. When we went in we said hi to almost everyone there. In class there was a girl with brunette hair and green eyes. She came up to me “sorry I couldn’t introduce myself any sooner. You see I have this thing to get to know people by their actions. So yeah hi I’m Rachel. I’m 20 and Kevin’s my brother” “it’s nice to meet you. Yeah you kind of look alike” our conversation went on and on. As usual we started the class we sun salutations. Out of curiosity I searched for Kevin and he wasn’t to be seen. I whispered to Rachel “where is your brother? He is not to be seen. ” out of nowhere Rachel replied with an ‘I don’t know ’. All of a sudden I could see miss J staring at the back of the class with her hands on her hips and a lil annoyed I could guess by her look that Kevin’s late again. Rachel, Natalie and I couldn’t stop laughing. I did feel sorry for him though. “Kevin when will you take anything seriously. Punctuality is important in life” miss j was becoming so red and I was kind of worried “it’s not his fault when I was coming home in the bus I saw his school van had broken down”everyone just turned at started staring at me including Kevin. “ if I take anything seriously this class will suck more so sorry miss and yes my van had broken down I promise I won’t get late again ” Kevin replied with a lot of sarcasm . I finally so a smile on miss J’s face “you two love defending each other don’t you?” she questioned Kevin and I. Both of us just smiled at each other. Miss J instructed Kevin to warm up quickly and the rest of us were told to write our names on a piece of paper and put it into one of the bowls that were on the table. One was for the girls and the other was for the boys. After we put our names in Rachel, Natalie and I sat in a corner and started talking till miss told us who was dancing with whom. While we were talking Kevin came up to me and told me he wanted to talk to me. He asked me “why did you do that?” I felt nervous around him.” I did that because you did that for me and I don’t need your permission to help anyone” Kevin was surprised to see me reply like that but he replied with a “wow ok” all he wanted was to say thank you and he did while I gave him a gentle smile. Miss J called all of us to come and sit in the front. Obviously she was going to tell who we were going to pair up with. “Here is what you have to do first. I’ll read the names first and once I read your name and who your partner is the guy should go and sit next to the girl. let’s start ” she took out a paper from one of each bowls the 1st couple was Jennifer and Liam , Rachel and zac , Helen and Daniel , Natalie and shehan and Alison and Kevin . “ I read all six couples some of you didn’t want to participate that was your wish. Ok guys go and sit next to the given girl. ” I didn’t know whether it was a coincidence but it was really funny. As soon as Kevin sat next to me the first thing both of us did after greeting each other in a formal way I was laugh our asses out. Miss J explained what we had to do next “ok together with your partner decide on a song write it on a paper and bring it to me. I’ll give you five minutes. Hurry up now. The two of us just sat their quietly without deciding on a song. “What is the song we are going to dance to” both of said it at the same time. Miss J interrupted not just us everyone. “Write the song name and your names under it” I asked Kevin If it was ok with him if we chose coconut tree and he didn’t mind. Time ran out for us to even think for another one so we quickly wrote the song name and our names under it. As soon as we were done I went and put it to the bowl next to Miss J. Since miss J told to give her 2 minutes Kevin and I had a small conversation. He told me he was 17, born in America, half American and half Sri Lankan. Clearly I wasn’t surprised he had green eyes like his sister, he’s tan and a really stranger boy. “If you don’t mind why you do get late for class and why is Rachel here before you?”He looked at me in a very upsetting face. I knew I shouldn’t have asked him that “umm I’m sorry its none of my business you don’t have to answer that forget I asked” he quickly smiled at me and told its fine and that he doesn’t share this with anyone but for me he will “I go to the rajigiriya cemetery to visit my father’s grave and then only come to class. Rachel is at home looking after my mom so she can come early” tears were pouring down his face. I saw the pain and sorrow in his eyes. I just wanted to wipe the tears off his face but instead I held his hand “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked you that and I’m sorry about your dad”. There’s one thing I love about him, no matter what the situation is he would always smile. He has the cutest smile with dimples on either side. “Ok everyone settle down now. I’m going to call the girl of every couple to come and pick a piece of paper from the bowl and the song you pick will be the song each couple will dance to”. Miss J sat on the table with the bowl in her hands. I looked at Kevin in a very worried manner. That wasn’t how I planned it. Even Kevin was confused we are going to end up dancing to a song that another couple chose but I was really looking forward to dance to coconut tree. “Ok Natalie you’re up” miss j said. Natalie’s face was red she got ai se tu pego suggested by shehani and Ryan. Rachel got coconut tree suggested by Kevin and me. She didn’t look that bad when she got to know it was that song. Jennifer got danza kuduro by Rachel and zac. Helen got dessert rain by Jennifer and Liam. Shehani got it will rain by Natalie and shehan. I got moment for life by Helen and Daniel. I was really confused. How were we going to dance for that and we only had one week to prepare. I have sports meet practice etc. I really didn’t know how I was going to keep up. Miss J gave us further instructions. Kevin asked me where and when we are going to practice. Well he suggested whether I could come to his place after school and practice. “I’ll go home and give you call and tell you”. When class ended I said bye to everyone except Kevin, Natalie and Rachel. The 3 of us walked home together. We dropped Kevin and Rachel and after that I dropped Natalie. Before I dropped her I asked for hers and Rachel’s number. Once I went home I told my mom the plan and she agreed. I took a wash, got on to the bed and called Rachel.
Alison: am I speaking to Rachel?
Rachel: yes you are! May I know is speaking please?
Alison: it’s me Alison.
Rachel: hey! What’s up?
Alison: nothing really I just need to talk to your brother about the assignment. Is he around? If so could I talk to him?
Rachel: yeah sure. Give me a second.
(Rachel left the call and Kevin came in)
Kevin: hey alie what’s up?
Alison: nothing exactly I just wanted to tell you that I will be coming to your place tomorrow. Is your mom ok with me coming?
Kevin: oh yeah she’s cool with it. She’ll like you don’t worry. So we’ll meet up at my place at 3.00 and btw what’s your school?
Alison: holy family convent. Why?
Kevin: no my friend mattew talks about his younger sister from your school. I know he doesn’t have a younger sis but I just want to know who she is and mattew calls her ‘pissi’.
(I was silent for a while that’s the nickname matta calls me)
Alison: umm Kevin, that’s my nickname
Kevin: can’t be. Do you have a best friend called Mattew?
Alison: yeah. He’s 17, goes to royal institute. He’s like my big brother. I call him matta and he calls me pissi.
Kevin: I go to royal institute as well and mattew is my best friend.
Alison: you’re joking right?
Kevin: no I’m not. Doesn’t he tell you about his friends?
Alison: not really. I don’t ask him
Kevin: oh I see. So you go home with him right?
Alison: yeah I do. Hey I need to go I’ll see you at 3 tomorrow bye take care god bless you
Kevin: ok see ya! Bye take care god bless you good night!
After I kept the line I kept thinking why matta never tell me about his friends. I didn’t take it personally. Obviously who was I to ask him about his personal stuff? If he wants to tell me anything he can. I quickly had dinner and went to sleep.
