Playing For Keeps

Part One

It was back in high school, I was the only Afakasi who spent her lunch times in the library working on assignments and reading books. Though my vocab wasn't fancy and all that jazz I was defs a hopeless romantic. Books were my only escape. Like every other outsider there's always that one group of guys who'd catch your eye. It didn't matter if you didn't exist in their world. Just simply having them around, even if it was from a far was all that mattered. Now I know youse are thinking that this isn't the Hulk youse know lol. Well it's gotta come from somewhere right? See the thing was in that particular group of guys there was one who had caught my attention. And I couldn't help but admire him from a far through the Library window. The way he'd run his hand through his soft luscious hair, and that carefree laugh, followed by the secret dimple creepin its way onto his cheek. Such little things visible to the naked eye makes it worth all the while lol. Not paying attention to the way my jaw casually hung, eyes glued to the only good looking thing on the other side of this window, I watched in awe, casually just dreaming away until someone decided to purposely bump into my table making me jump out of my chair and topple over. Hearing that witches cackle my body tensed realising who that annoyingly ugly laugh belonged too. I didn't have to look up to know who it was..

"Get out of my way!" She hissed towering over me. I could hear whispers coming from behind her, her crew.

"Giiirl looks like she's been checking out your man" nodding towards the window I was staring out only moments ago.

Grudgingly trying to pick up my assignments that had been scattered on the floor she decided to stomp on my hand making me wince. But I tried not to let her see the pain she was causing. Smirking at me she closed the distance between us and whispered

"You're no match for me..he doesn't even know you exist" putting more pressure on my hand before one of the librarians called out.

"YOU'RE EITHER IN HERE STUDYING OR YOU'RE OUT THE DOOR!" Pulling back Lauina called out

"Sorry Miss. We were just leaving" giving me one of her fake smiles before walking out the door, one of her girls deciding that's her que to walk all over my assignments. Not without ripping one on her way out..

I didn't realise at the time but my body was shaking. I was so mad and I could just feel the adrenaline pumping. I needed to get out of here and stat. Shoving what's left of my assignment in my backpack I slung one strap over my shoulder and power walked to the exit. As soon as I was out I let my feet take over, leading me straight to the field where He was once standing, but now Lauina and her crew occupied..

Ok I'm full digressing so let me sum up my high school life. Everywhere I looked, even without realizing it, Tavita was there. Shlaaaartbagz thought I was staring at him. If I was in the library studying on my free period that nikka was in there and bang! Lauina would get the wrong idea thinking I was those quiet book nerds yet secretly trying to cut her grass. Pffffft! Nikka please! Homie don't play like that! Yes I'll admit I had a crush on Tavita but hellurrr.. So did every white, black, yellow and brown skin girl at school. It's like a common ritual throughout every generation where there's that one guy at school you crush on so badly he becomes the reason you wake up so early and want to attend school every day, LMAO! Don't lie and say youse have never done the same thing, even if he was yours only in your head.. Well that little infatuation lasted 6 months. The torture I got from Lauina lasted til the end of Year 12. Gosh I hated that biiiiiish. Every time I was tempted to retaliate I always recalled my Dad's voice in my head.

"Kaylana, study hard and don't let temptation take over you. Me and your mum are very proud of you daughter".

Well I take his temptation comment includes don't get into punch ups so I would hold back all my anger and cop her ish sweet on the chin. If only she knew every time I used my dad's punching bag he had hanging on the garage ceiling I was picturing her fugly face every night. <-----and that sums up the reason amongst other things of why I hated her so much. After high school I applied for University to get my Bachelor Degree in Business and Law, which I got in with flying colors, as my Dad would brag in his freshie accent "I am very SMARK, cause of my Samoan blood". He and my mum would always debate who I got my intellectual gene from, her being adamant it's because of my Tahitian blood. I never was interested in boys when I hit Uni. My sole focus was studying because assignments and essays took up so much of my spare time. When I had holidays I spent it working at the pub which I still currently do now simply out of loyalty and because I formed a great bond with the owner and Manager and staff. During one of my school holidays I decided to let my hair out and go on a girls night out with my cousins who are the craziest/loudest/have no shame bunch of alcoholics out. I went out that week and bought a new outfit and heels that I knew I could only dance in for 10 minutes before I knew I'd spend the rest of the night sitting down to recover from the torture of wearing such footwear. (Beauty is pain!). My hair would get done at the hairdresser (my bedroom with a straightener) and shazam I was ready to hit the club. Next stop...Roxy hotel in Parramatta (before it became Levelz).