Your First Can Never Be Your Always

Chapter 5

Closing day!

It was like re-living Friday. Everyone was so jovial and extremely excited that school was over and about the events that took place at the Social. Tennessee was disciplined so nothing crazy happened except for the guy trending on twitter after he was caught having sex with a girl (not from Tennessee) and was leaked to the Internet. It was beyond the school's authority to consult so it was not involved in the investigations. There was a closing assembly held by the prefects that completely created an exciting mood for the students. But Olivia was in pain.

The previous night had been a rough one on her. Her mother, sober or not, was very strict and violent. This always proved she wanted nothing to do with her. She would say things that hurt Olivia in unimaginable ways. They all concerned her faith, writing and her being the fault for her several broken relationships. Later Olivia learned how to accept the pain and focus only on the remedy. This was the time when she discovered she was really good at writing.

After a while, Mrs. Khohliswa realized that Olivia felt nothing whenever she cast hurtful statements. So she tried a different angle. She beat her mercilessly only on one spot that is Olivia's back. If Olivia never cried out 'stop!' her mother would increase the force and the speed at which she was beating her. Even when she screamed in extreme pain,  her mother would feel nothing and continue whilst dropping sweats and a few spits of saliva onto her. She just loved seeing Olivia powerless and rigid on the bed.

Liberty had told Mrs. Khohliswa that Olivia had been inviting boys over. He claimed to have met the boy leaving the apartment when he had just returned from the store on Friday. Mrs. Khohliswa was furious and made her pay when she arrived from church on Sunday. She brutally beat her for two hours straight just on her back. Now she was sitting on the floor two days later watching prefects perform to their hearts content expecting her to smile in pleasure. The Headmaster made his closing remarks taking his time.

She did not know whether to be excited or sad to be going back home. Her mother was still on leave. After assembly everyone went back to their classroom for the final clean-up. When the bell went some cried in their friend's arms whilst some rejoiced for escaping the little prison whilst making their way to their cars.

Radios reported that traffic congestion was all over the city. I looked at the same terrazzo seat where I first saw the world's beautiful motorbike. I took a seat waiting for one o'clock to strike. She was going to leave once the cars are all out.

''Hey.''

''Hi.''

''I did not see you on the bus today,'' said Laura taking the seat opposite Olivia.

''Yeah, I woke up late. What's your name again?''

''Laura. Nice to meet you,'' handshake, ''I wanted to tell you that I love your work. You are uniquely talented,'' complimented Laura.

''My work?'' asked Olivia confused by the compliment.

''Sorry. I secretly read the first four chapters of that book where you expressed yourself saying 'I feel like an apple,' I loved it.'

She was in so much pain that she was not eager to engage in any conversation. She thanked her and excused herself. With the little money she had,  she decided to catch a taxi home. The taxi was way more expensive than the bus. Upon arriving at home, her mother was sleeping uneasily on the couch with a bottle of beer  on the verge of dropping on the floor in her hand. She seized the opportunity to sleep since it was still day.

{Telephone rings}

''Dude where are you?'' asked her best friend Jayden.

''What? What day is it?''

''Sunday. I'm waiting for you. Everyone's back. All boarders are back!''

''I'm on my way.''

''Wear the black dress'' shrugs ''just helping!'' He cut the line.

Olivia woke up feeling like a complete ass that had done nothing for four days straight. She was still in her uniform and shoes. Something did not seem right when she took a closer look at her room. The things usually kept inside her sports bag were lying uncatered for on the floor. Also, some of her shoes were missing. She ignored it and went to the bathroom after stripping down naked.

The water was cold. She was so grateful that Jayden already picked up an outfit for her or else she would have been late trying to decide exactly what she wanted to wear. She had on her black long-sleeve dress and the same black vans. She took her bible with her on her way to the bus stop. Her mother was not in the apartment. Probably with Liberty.

After an hour she arrived at her church's site that was far from the city. It was in the townships where Jayden resides. The service was long but engaging except for the short distractions she received from Jayden. He was so nervous about meeting Reign (his crush) because he had decided to tell her how he felt today. He would not stop talking about how lovely she looked in her all-red box-pleated dress.

''I'm going to do it today,'' whispered Jayden into my ear.

''Ha- What if it all goes wrong,'' I teased.

We laughed hard until the old lady sitting in front of us instructed us to be quiet.

''I want to do something special for her you know.''

''Just do not overdo it,'' I whispered because of the old lady giving us the eye again.

''What happened to your phone? I called it about a hundred times then this weird guy picked it up.''

''Toby Davis has it.''

Jayden laughed so hard. I pinched him because of the whole church that had been looking at us. Luckily it was time for the closing prayer. So they diverted their eyes back to the preacher.

''You are being serious? I thought it was a joke'' he said after realizing I was not kidding.

''You know him too?'' I asked after the prayer and stood up with everyone else on our way out.

''Dude everyone knows that guy. You've met him?'' he asked with extra interest.

''Yes!''

Jayden seemed elated more than I was. Turns out Toby was Jayden's second favorite basketball player of course after Kobe Bryant. I was in shock.

''Why haven't you asked for your phone back?'' asked Jayden now accompanying me to the bus stop.

''I passed out for four days,'' I confessed with concern for my health.

''At least you caught a break from your insomnia'' he smiles ''You should invite him for movies tomorrow. I think I will tell Reign how I feel then.'' His anxiousness made him even more cute. It made my heart stop pumping for a minute there.

''What!'' they stop ''What will I say, Jay?'' I am not gifted in talking to people of the opposite sex.

Jayden handed his phone over to her.

''Dial your phone number and tell him to bring it tomorrow. Please Liv, I have to get his autograph!''

''Wow just when I thought you cared about my phone!''

{Phone rings}

''Hello Jayden. Again.'' He sighed.

''No, it's Olivia. I want my phone back.''

Toby laughs. Jayden throws the 'be nice' look.

''Please kindly join us for a movie tomorrow. Bring a date and my phone at SK. Jayden will text you the details.''

''Okay,'' he sounded confused.

''Bye.''

Jayden looked at me with delight,

''You're blushing'' he giggled cheesily.

''Oh please. Jay here's the bus. See you tomorrow. Please don't read Shakespeare for tomorrow. I know you!''