16

CHARLONDRA

My phone vibrates against my left thigh alerting me of a message. I was going to ignore it until it buzzes again. I tap my screen and read-

S.O.S

MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

They're messages from Soleil who I'd almost forgotten about seeing how well I was getting along with Gale. She's cool. I'm considering exchanging contacts. We have mutual interests we can discuss at length as we've been doing most of the night.

I step away from the group near the pool and move closer to the garden bushes and the pathway leading back inside before I reply.

911, what's your emergency?

Making out with Brice when Hailey and Mark walk in 🙈

I'm shook.

For once I don't have a slick reply to my friend's melodrama. So instead I search for the appropriate meme - Zuma will do. Got it. Send.

Where are you?

Outside about to head out with Brice

👀

Head out where?

Are you seriously leaving me here with these people? 😑

Sorry Char 😪

I have to tell him the truth...

About the stupid wish and that book 💀

What a mess🤦

Soleil's a smart girl but that doesn't mean she's excused from doing dumb shit. And it sounds like she's about to do the dumbest. I wrote in that book as well and my wish hasn't come true. Well, I guess time will tell. This whole thing with Brice is just a coincidence.

Don't.

You're going to sound crazy.

He's acting crazy!!

He said some crazy things even you wouldn't believe.

Like what?

Cant text. Will tell you when I see you.

Have you considered that maybe you're the crazy one with this silly infatuation? 🤨

Maybe... gotta go. TTYL X

I stare at my phone wondering whether I should go look for Soleil or wait until I see her dumbass again to actually give me details. And I need details. I'm more confused now than ever.

I thought she was done with Brice. She wasn't trying to answer any of my earlier questions regarding him. I mean we came here with Mark who clearly likes her, unless I'm reading the situation wrong. I tend to be off in reading people. They are just so... complex and irrational. Take Soleil's crush on Brice-

It started back at a Grade 8 camp we went to in Durban. Sol just had to be one of those adventurous black people that wondered too far into the water and he rescued her. People develop crushes on their heroes all the time. I guess that's why women find firefighters and servicemen attractive. That I can get.

But he peed on her leg!

Granted, she'd been stung by blue bottles. But damn, that was gross. He gave me the ick and I can't un-ick myself. Everytime she moons over him, I just have that scene etched into my mind of his 8th grade pecker spraying golden showers on her leg. Come to think of it, she may need professional help to get over all of that.

I feel a light hand on my back and before I can guess who it is, I'm met with Jessica's red hair and svelte frame. I stare at her chest momentarily wondering how those seashells remain firmly on her tits. It's a pretty neat trick unless her boobs are just small. I stare down at mine for a quick comparison.

"I like your outfit," she says.

"Thanks. Yours is..." I cock my head to the side searching for the appropriate description because I'd be lying if I said I liked it. "Interesting," I conclude.

"Hmm," she muses in thought. "I find you rather interesting."

She draws closer and runs her fingers down my sternum and along the harness. Is she looking at the detail? She's so close I feel her breath fan against my cheeks.

"Ah thanks, I guess?" I say, sidestepping her.

She's in my personal space and I don't know what she wants. Jessica Andrews has a resting bitch face – cold and unapproachable. She's also Hailey's bestie and those two are always talking about other people. We share a dorm. I should know. It's why I don't even bother eavesdropping anymore. I just end up hearing things I wish I hadn't or know better than to repeat.

"Is she your girlfriend?"

"What?" I ask completely thrown by the question. I must look like a cartoon with the way my eyes are bugging.

"You know... the other girl in the Dora Milaje outfit."

First of all props for knowing which force of the Wakanda army I'm representing but second of all pause. Do people think I'm a lesbian now? Last I heard I was Asexual.

"Uhm no," I state emphatically. "We just met tonight. She's a friend of Mark's."

"Oh I see." She moves back into my space and leans closer to whisper in my ear, "I was gonna tell you, you could do so much better."

She pulls back to regard me with a look. Our noses are so close they are almost touching. I search her powder blue eyes trying to find meaning in this exchange. My exchanges with Andrews have always been odd. I get the sense she's trying to communicate something but I don't know what.

Is now a good time to tell her to be direct because I don't do very well reading social cues. Soleil thinks I'm somewhere on the spectrum. I just think I have particular tastes I rarely deviate from. Like damn, why do I have to spend my spare time pre-occupied with boys and shopping and socialising. Can't I just enjoy my comics and numbers and the people I do actually get along with on Discord.

Why do we have to label and categorise people? Why can't we just live life and figure things out as we go? Why can't we have conversations and get to know people instead of jumping to conclusions about them? Where's my person? Where's her person?

"Where's Hailey?"

"What?"

"Soleil said she was with Brice, Hailey, and Mark." I wave my phone as a sort of explanation. "So, where are they?"

Jessica leans back and her face shifts to annoyance. I can definitely read annoyance in her features.

She rolls her eyes and throws her hands up. "Probably inside, come on."

She leads the way and I can't help but focus on the sway of her hips and how it's in rhythm to the sway of her hair. Her gait is quite feminine and alluring. My mom always tells me to pick up my feet and stop stomping. I try mimic Andrews sway but I can't see the heels or balls of her feet past the long, sequined, green skirt.

I stumble over my feet doing a quick two-step before I right myself. As we enter the kitchen I see Mark and go to him. He's talking to Hidde and he looks pissed based on the way he's jaw is ticking. Luckily I don't have to ask what's up because Soleil gave me the gist of it.

"Hey Mark, have you seen Soleil?" I ask as casually as possible.

"No, I haven't. But if you find Brice, you'll find her," he says, tossing back his drink and leaving without a backward glance.

I'm now alone with Hidde. I give our head boy an awkward smile which I'm sure comes across as a grimace considering how we left off at the entrance with those defiant shots.

"You wouldn't happen to know where your cousin is?" I ask, tossing my spear from one hand to the other out of sheer nerves.

He leans back and crosses his arms while I envision wringing Soleil's neck. Tonight is going to be a long night and she is nowhere to be found.

WC 1295

11/11/2022

In the process of setting up a Patreon for early access.  Just wrestling with the schedule atm :/

Charlondra is one of my favs tbh LOL.

Any other character's who's POV you want to see in future updates?