Deep Connections: Shanakay's Story

Chapter 3

The final days of sixth form were winding down and soon Shanakay would have to take up the mantle of finding a job since university was out of the question. She worked hard at her CAPE and made sure she was active in clubs at her school. Despite her quiet behavior she had managed to become both the Secretary and Vice President of the Chess and Scrabble Club. The club often kept her busy most evenings and she often went home late. Today she was too tired to stay the entire time so she left her post to walk home. She lived near the school and near to Khadeen on the weekends when she went to visit her dad. It was the custody agreement that she spend weekends with her dad but she mostly lived with her mom. She felt overwhelmed after another day of succumbing to her studies and duties at the club. She needed to breathe, especially after her short showdown with the other Vice President of the club, Gavin Sinclair. He was an absolute menace in her mind and she often thought of punching him in the face but she wouldn't give into her anger. He had taunted her all week and had even made a song with his sidekick in a bid to make her embarrassed. She was very embarrassed though because it was English class and she was in a group with them. She had put in the work to make the labels for the products, made the drinks and even the jingle but all that effort went out the window when Gavin and his sidekick made a song that embarrassed her in front of everyone. She vowed never to give him the chance to embarrass her again. She laughed at his weak attempts to upset her this evening which annoyed him and eventually he just left her alone. She walked out the school with her hand in her pocket and then pulled her blouse of out her skirt. To Shanakay as soon as she walked through those gates she no longer had to play the role of the Prefect all the lower schoolers loved. She became immersed in her thoughts as she walked home not even thinking of anything in particular and maybe if she was she would have noticed the black Tesla that was driving slowly behind her. It pulled up to her and as the window started rolling down Shanakay realized and decided to take away herself from the equation. She especially didn't want to become a kidnapped victim that no one would ever find. She was the only child of her father so she couldn't risk it. She heard the car door open and the person spoke in a familiar voice that touched her core. She tried to figure out where she had heard this voice before so she stopped and turned to find David Francis, her ex boyfriend and crush. It was as if her heart had stopped when she saw him and she held her chest in surprise. The feelings that were once there for him did not come back but she still felt a little flustered at the sight of him. He was so handsome she thought, well chiseled jawline, hair cut low and he was wearing a white Polo shirt with grey pants and Chelsea boots. The top buttons were opened showing off a part of his chest that had a gold chain showing through it and she smiled at the sight of him. He looked good. Forgetting where she was and their awkwardness of their past, she ran and hugged him. She snuggled into his embrace and inhaled his strong cologne and moaned a little, he even smelled good. She always had a thing for guys older than her and it didn't matter that he was five years older than her. What mattered to her was that he was here and in her arms despite everything they had been through.

David smiles down at her, she had changed so much but it didn't show at the same time. He couldn't tell for sure about her body because Shanakay always wore her uniform big but his hands found their way around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He mentally sighed knowing what he was going to do would dampen their friendship but he still didn't care. It was now obvious to him that this was were his heart truly lay and it was high time he stopped denying it.
"David, where have you been?" she asked.

"I've been around. How have you been?"

"I've been okay just gearing up to leave this school finally."

"Well if I know anything about Glenmuir is that after 3rd form it's like they're practically begging you to leave."
He brushed a stray hair from her face and smiled at her,
"Shanakay you remember when we were younger and you were obsessed with me?"
"Obsessed is a strong word but yeah I remember my crazy fantasies about us."
"Well what would you say if I told you I wanted to date you again? But this time I want us to be serious with no jokes." He asked her seriously as he leant on his car.
Shanakay looked at him strangely,
"David I don't think that's a good idea. I'm over you and honestly it hurts to think about how much I just wanted you to want me as much as I wanted you yet you threw my feelings in my face time and time again. I don't want that. It was nice seeing you anyways but I have a curfew I need to meet." She turned and walked away.
He grabbed her hand pulling her towards him and she crashed into him. He looked into her brown eyes and she looked at him in a daze. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She closed her eyes and let him lead the kisses because she was still shocked that they were kissing. She had kissed him on the cheek once but that was as close as she had ever been. This kiss was different however, it held passion. She struggled to breathe as David explored her mouth with his tongue before stopping and kissing the side of her lips.
Her guard was down and David took the opportunity to put his plan into motion. When he stopped kissing her he placed a cloth soaked with chloroform covering her lips and nose then she went out cold.

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Melissa came home from school and put down her stuff then made a sandwich before proceeding to eat. She remembered Shanakay, who she had only heard from once all weekend, heck she didn't not even show up at their regular lunch spot. She figured she was busy so she didn't bother to call.
She came back down a hour later and saw a text on her phone from Khadeen, it read,

"Have you heard from Shanakay? I've been trying her cell and I went over her house and her dad said she wasn't home yet. I'm worried."

Melissa quickly replied,

"No I haven't heard from her but I'm sure she will turn up don't worry."

She put down the phone but she was perplexed, where was Shanakay? This wasn't like her to not come home early as she was so organized. She didn't want to think anything bad because Shanakay was her best friend and the thought of something going wrong with her, she'd just die. She walked around her room frustrated and eventually decided to go for a walk. She pulled on a sweater and a boy shorts, pushed her feet into her Nike slippers, closed up the house and left. At first she didn't know where she was going all she knew was that she had to get out of the house or she would go crazy. After roaming around for thirty minutes her feet carried her to Khadeen's house.
Khadeen was home pacing up and down and lost in absolute thought; she kept asking herself over and over as to where Shanakay could be. Tears filled her eyes and suddenly Melissa walked in and said,

"Have you heard from her dad as yet?"

"I'm too worried to call."

Melissa looked at Khadeen's worried face and thought to herself, typical of Khadeen to get worried right away. Melissa wanted to wait before concluding anything and if she ever found the person that was keeping her friend, he or she will be sorry. However there was an itching fear that was present but she decided to be strong regardless because she was able to choke down her feelings. Just then Khadeen's phone started to ring. She looked at the caller ID that showed it was Shanakay's mom and she quickly answered.

"Have any of you heard from my baby?"

They could hear her voice breaking, who could blame her; Shanakay was always prone to sickness since she was born, she barely survived birth then almost died once again when she was twelve due to an unknown sickness and Shanakay's father had to take her to the hospital again when she was sixteen where she spent two weeks. Khadeen didn't know how to answer so Melissa grabbed the phone,
"Don't worry, I'll get to the bottom of this. We haven't seen her but I'm sure she will show up."
She hung up the phone and hugged her best friend. Khadeen sobbed into her shoulder and shook. Melissa knew her anxiety was acting up so she stayed with her until Khadeen's dad came and she filled him in on the situation. Her dad gave her some tea and she eventually fell asleep. Melissa then curled up beside her and slept.