Life above all episode 10 &11

LIFE, ABOVE ALL

Episode 10

***
“So when the devil wants to dance with you, you better say never because the dance with the devil might last you forever.”

TIYA

I grabbed my bag and blew kisses to Thoko.
‘I will see you on Sunday my darling, take care of yourself,’ I said
‘Take care of yourself too, I love you.’
‘And I love you even more,’ I said before I walked out of the room.
Then i walked down the passage to my brother’s room I knocked softly at his door.
‘Come in,’ he called out.
I pushed the door open and walked in Ganizani was lying on his bed.
‘I am leaving,’ I said
He sat upright and looked at me then he took a deep breath,’ Finally,’ he said
‘Yes.’
‘I am still not comfortable about this,’ he said
I sighed, ‘come on, it’s just a sleep over and nothing else.’
‘I don’t even know why dad agreed to this, I have a bad feeling about all this.’
I shot him a deadly stare, ‘Don’t start please.’
‘Fine, have a great weekend and please take good care of yourself.’
I smiled, ‘I will. See you on Sunday.’
‘Sure,’ he said.
I walked out of his room and closed the door behind my back.
Celine was lying on the couch in the living room typing on her phone. Without one word passed between us, I made my way out of the house.
Harry’s car was parked in front of our gate.
Kennedy yanked open the car door, ‘Get in,’ he said
I slid into my seat and closed the door.
‘Hey you,’ Harry and Ivy said in unison
‘Hey,’ I responded.
Harry started the engine and drove off.
Ken reached over and held my hand, ‘You look beautiful,’ he said
‘Thank you,’ I responded.
I don’t even know what he meant by beautiful because I wasn’t wearing anything fancy.
‘How was school?’ he asked
‘School was okay.’
‘Studying hard for your exams?’
‘Yep.’
He didn’t ask me any more questions after that, we drove in silence. A half an hour later we pulled up in front of Harry’s house.
We all stepped out of the car and walked into the house. This time around, the house was clean and neat.
‘Feel at home girl,’ Ivy said
‘Thank you,’ I sat down and removed my phone from my pocket.
Ivy and Ken disappeared into the kitchen and came back a few minutes later with some bottles of beer which they placed on the table.
‘Girl come and help me carry the glasses,’ Ivy said
I placed my phone on the table and followed her. Once in the kitchen she pulled me to her.
‘Ken likes you,’ she whispered
‘What?’
‘He thinks you are cute.’
I gave her a questioning look, ‘Meaning?’
‘He would like to you better.’
‘But…,
She cut me short, ‘Ken is a nice guy do you know how many girls droll over him?’
I kept quiet.
‘Grab this chance with both hands.’
‘I don’t know a thing about relationships,’ I said
She smiled,’ don’t worry about that, you will learn as time goes by. Just be open and ask where you are not clear.’
‘Cool.’
‘That’s my girl.’
We grabbed the glasses and walked back into the living room. Ivy uncapped the bottle and poured in all the cups.
Harry grabbed a glass and downed it in a gulp then he replaced his glass on the table so Ivy could refill it.
Ken grabbed his glass and after taking a sip he looked at me.
‘That’s yours,’ he said pointing at the glass on the table.
‘I don’t drink.’
‘What do you mean you don’t drink?’ He asked
Ivy laughed, ‘It means she has never had alcohol.’
‘Wow!’ he exclaimed, ‘Not even a drop, like even just a little out of curiosity.
‘Nop,’ I shook my head.
‘Such a baby,’ Harry burst out laughing
‘Baby don’t be a bully, Tiya isn’t as exposed as we are,’ Ivy said
‘You wanna try?’ Ken asked
I shook my head.
‘C’mon! Just try one glass and if it doesn’t work for you then let it go.’
‘Ya just one glass,’ Ivy said, ‘You won’t regret it.’
‘Okay.’
I grabbed the glass and smelled the drink first.
Everyone laughed.
I took a sip from the wine, then I instantly started coughing and spluttering as the liquid burned my throat.
‘This burns,’ I said in a dry voice.
‘You will get used to it,’ Ivy said
‘Okay.’
‘We should get her something sweet next time,’ Harry suggested
‘Ya,’ Ken said
‘So what do you guys wanna do?’ Harry asked
‘How about we play some truth or dare?’ Ken suggested
Ivy and Harry squealed with delight.
‘Are you okay with this?’ Ken asked
‘Yes,’ I managed a smile
‘Then let’s do this,’ Ivy screamed.
We all sat down on the floor, i was sitting next to Ken while Ivy and Harry were sitting on the other side across from us.
‘Who wants to start?’ Ken asked
‘Me,’ Ivy said
‘Truth or dare,’ he asked
‘Truth,’ she answered almost immediately.
‘How many guys have you had sex with?’ Ken asked
Ivy stared at him thoughtfully before she opened her mouth and answered, ‘Three.’
Shocked, my eyes widened and my mouth gapped open.
When I got my first period just a few months before mother died, she sat me down with me and said, ‘Tiya, you are now a woman,’ Then she told me all about premarital sex and teenage pregnancy.
‘Earth to Tiya,’ Ivy clicked her fingers in my face. ‘Why did you look like you have seen a ghost?’ she asked
‘Nothing,’ I shook my head.
‘Spit it out,’ Harry said
‘Well I am just surprised that she has been having sex.’
They laughed.
‘Are you a virgin?’ Ken asked
‘Yes.’
They laughed even some more, I felt out of place. They made it look like being a virgin was some sort of a case.
I angrily took another sip from my wine after a few minutes. I felt the liquid down my throat, its warmth spreading out of my stomach.
‘I don’t want to play again,’ I stood up.
‘You can’t be serious.’
‘I am serious,’ I snapped at Harry
He raised his hands up in surrender.
‘Fine.’
‘I will just go outside for some fresh air,’ I said and walked for the door before anyone could respond.
Maybe I made a mistake coming over, I felt like I didn’t belong in this crew because they were all experienced in different stuff.
Ken followed me outside, ‘Hey,’ he whispered wrapping his hands around me.
‘You are done mocking me?’
‘We weren’t mocking you.’
‘I see.’
‘We were all just shocked about your revelation. You are really a virgin?’
‘Yes.’
‘Okay.’
‘You wanna stay out here or we should back inside and do something different?’ he asked
‘Something different like what?’
‘Anything, I could teach you one or two things.’
‘Okay.’
‘You are sure?’
‘Yes.
He looked at me with a grin there was a twinkle in his eyes.
‘Come let’s go,’ he held my hand and we walked back inside.
****

Episode 11

“Never underestimate the influence of the people you have allowed in your life.”
***

Ken held Tiya’s hand and they walked back inside the house. In the living room, Ivy and Harry were making out on the couch.
‘Get a room.’ Ken yelled and they immediately detached from each other.
Ivy felt a blush burst on her cheeks, ‘Sorry we got carried away.’
Tiya rolled her eyes.
‘You are still upset?’ Harry asked
I shook my head.
‘Good.’
He stood up and pulled Ivy to him, ‘Can we be excused?’ he asked
‘Sure.’
‘You guys have fun,’ Ken said
Ivy turned to Ken, ‘Take care of my baby, she said then she looked at Tiya and winked.
With that, they turned around and walked out of the living room.
Tiya sat on one of the chairs she didn’t know what was required of her. She poured herself a glass of wine and hoped it would help calm her nerves.
She took a large sip, the wine went down smoothly now. She loved the flavor of this one it was different from the one she had began with. There was an awkward silence between them and then Ken spoke.
‘What would you like us to do?’ he asked
She cleared her throat, ‘I don’t know,’ she said biting her finger nails.
‘Can we go to my room?’ he asked
Her heart slammed hard against her chest, ’To your room?’ she asked not sure she had heard correctly.
‘Yes, we are just gonna lay down and talk, I won’t do anything you aren’t comfortable with.’
Silence
He stood up and reached for her hand, ‘Come.’
She stood up and he led her to his room. His bedroom was neat except for the bed itself. He quickly spread the bed and asked her to sit. Then he kicked of his shoes and crawled into bed with her, he lay on his back.
‘Movie?’ he asked
‘Yes.’
Ken grabbed a remote and turned on the television then he flipped though the channels until he found a movie.
‘How about this one?’ he asked
‘Sure.’
He put down the remote and focused his eyes on the television. Not long into the movie, she felt his hand running over her back, Tiya flinched.
‘You need to relax,’ he said
She smiled wryly, ‘I am trying too.’
‘You know what I like about you?’ he asked
She shook her head, ‘You are so innocent and pure.’
‘Oh.’
‘Has anyone told you how beautiful you are doll?’
‘Doll?’
‘You are my doll.’
Silence
He moved closer to her and intently stared at her, ‘I like you a lot Tiya.’
Her heart slammed hard against her chest.
He leaned forward and his lips gently pressed to hers.
Tiya turned her head away, ‘What are you doing?’ she asked looking into his eyes.
‘I want to kiss you.’
‘I have never done this before,’ she said
He smiled, ‘I will teach you.’
He moved closer again.
‘Can i?’
Their faces were just inches apart.
She bite her lips in contemplation, she wasn’t sure how she felt about all this. Sure she loved that he treated her like an adult but was she ready to go down this road.
‘Ken is a nice guy, grab this opportunity with both hands,’ Ivy’s words echoed in her mind.
‘Let me teach you,’ he whispered
She was about to say something when he pressed his lips on hers asking for entrance. She was hesitant at first but she eventually opened her mouth.
He kissed her tenderly as one hand caressed her back while the other slid into her hair. She felt butterflies in her stomach.
As he continued to kiss her, she felt warmth, fear and confusion jumbled in one package.
His hands roamed her body- finally he let them rest at the center of her stomach, Tiya felt her stomach tighten. Her heart raced as he slid his hand beneath her dress, his hand caressed her slowly. When she felt his hand moving upwards, she held his hand and pulled back. She was barely breathing.
‘That wasn’t so bad’ he whispered before pressing his lips against her forehead.
She lay back on his bed and faced the other way, her thoughts were running rampant. She had just had her first kiss and it was with an older guy, her father would kill her if he found out.
A knock at the door startled her and pulled her out of her reverie.
‘Come in,’ Ken said
Harry and Ivy walked in, they were both smiling.
‘Are you okay?’ Ivy asked
‘Yep.’
‘We have to go now,’ she said
‘Cool,’ she stood up.
‘Bae is gonna drive us.’
‘Okay.’
She slide her feet into a pair of pumps and they all walked out.
They arrived home an hour later, Harry kissed Harry good bye and Ken did the same with Tiya before they finally left.
They walked into the house and headed straight for Ivy’s room.
‘So how was it?’ Ivy asked
‘How was what?’
‘Your first kiss.’
‘Not bad.’
‘So you finally had your first kiss.’
‘Yes.’
‘Congratulations Babe.’
‘I don’t know how I feel about all this, I am only 13.’
‘You will be 14 soon, you are a big girl.’
‘Ivy!’
‘I am serious, don’t worry about anything, Ken likes you, just let things flow. He will make you really happy.’
‘My father will kill me if he finds out I have a boyfriend.’
‘He doesn’t have to know, everyone your age is doing this.’
She smiled, ‘If you say so.’
***

“Thoko!’ Stella screamed from the top of her lungs.
It was a Saturday afternoon and the girl was taking her afternoon nap.
‘Thoko!”
She snapped her eyes open and sat upright, she was rubbing the sleep off her eyes when the bedroom door burst open and Stella walked in.
‘Didn’t you hear when I called you?’ Stella hollered
‘I was sleeping,’ she responded
‘I was sleeping,’ Stella imitated, pinching her cheeks.
‘Who do you think is going to clean the plates you ate from?’ she shouted, ‘I give you food and you expect me to clean after you? Am I your mummy?’
Thoko felt tears flood her eyes but she blinked them away.
‘You are such a stupid child,’ she grabbed her hair and pulled her down the passage to the kitchen.
‘Clean those plates,’ she hissed
Thoko stood still.
‘Didn’t you hear me? Are you deaf?’ Her voice got louder.
Tears began to stream down Thoko’s eyes.
‘You are such a stupid girl, if you can’t clean these plates I will have to punish you.’
She pulled the girl into the living room and asked her to get down on her knees.
‘Put your hands up straight you bastard, don’t move or I will kill you,’ she yelled
Stella then sat on the couch and turned the television on.
She hated her husband’s children she couldn’t wait for them to move out of the house so she could enjoy his money without the little intruders.
Thoko’s back ached and her limbs hurt, she kept blinking back her tears, Stella had told her not to cry or she would beat her up.
Thirty minutes later, Ganizani walked into the house. His temper flared when he saw his sister kneeling on the floor.
‘What is going on here?’ he yelled, startling both Thoko and his step mother.
***

To be continued