Chapter Thirteen

"The next day"

(Durban, team qualifications)......

Kross :(sitting by himself on the bench by the pool leaning forward his arms on his knees, in his swimming gear.....)

Press:(taking record of the activities at the site, interviewing most of the participants).......

Nicole:(also in her swimming gear, walks up to Kross and sits down).....

Random girl:(videoing).....

Kross:......

Nicole:... Hi.....

Kross:.... (Looks at her).... Hi...

Nicole:.... I'm really sorry about the last time we talked.....

Kross :...... Its all good....

Nicole:.... You must really love your girlfriend....

Kross:.... I'm getting there....

Nicole:.... I hope I find a guy like you........ Guys nowadays are never that in love to control themselves in rough situations.....

Kross:..... (Repeating)... Rough situations....

Nicole:...... Yeah.

Kross :....... Are you ready for your race?...

Nicole:.... I don't know..... I didn't think they'd be news reporters....

Kross:... No one was given a heads up....

Nicole:... Its a whole new pressure you know. Everyone is watching us...... So if we lose it will be international.....

Kross:(sighs deeply)...... All we can do is our best and hope for the best.....

Nicole:.... You look ready.... (Looking at his chest)....

Kross:(sits up)..... I'm not trust me......... I hate losing and now if I do it will be caught on camera for people to replay over and over again.....

Nicole:... We got this....

Kross :........ Yeah, I guess...

Nicole:(hugs him)..... All the best....

Kross:(hesitantly hugs her back)..... All the best.....

Nicole:(rushes off).....

"Waterford"

(Entertainment room, students watching the news)......

Nicole :(on TV)..... I'm really nervous actually....

Tandeo:(to the girls)..... That's Lebana's cousin..... Nicole......

Zara:..... Now that you've said it I can see a little hint of Lebana in her....

J'hream :... Nicole is worse trust me.....

Jhene :.... She really is...

Kuffi:..... Eish....... Worse than Lebana..... I don't even want to know about her.....

"Durban, after an hour"

Kross:(upset, on the bench).....

Coach :(taps Kross)....runners up is fine Kross....... You still made it to the team.....

Kross:.....

Coach;..... Your friends don't even watch TV you can just tell them you made it, they don't need to know what position you were....

Kross :......

Girls:(getting ready for their races)......

Press :(shooting everything).....

"Waterford"

Students :(still watching on the big screen).....

Jhene:.... Someone will be crushed forever....

Tandeo:.... Right..... Kross doesn't taking losing lightly.....

Zara:... He's not a sore loser....

Jhene:.... (Takes a sip of her juice box, covering her laugh).....

Zara:(rolls her eyes).......

Kuffi:(laughs)..... Okay.

"A while later"....

Press:(interviewing the swimmers).....

Nicole:(being interviewed, excited).......

"Waterford "

Students:(listening)......

Nicole:....(on the TV).... I didn't think I could win....

Reporter:... Why not, your race was pretty impressive I mean that gap was unbelievable....

Nicole :.... (Chuckles).... Everyone was like.... Taller and older..... I had a lot of doubts.....

Reporter :... Height doesn't matter..... Neither does age and you proved it...

Nicole:... It seems like it doesn't....and yeah I kinda did... (Smiles)....

Lebana:.... I hope she's doing her job.....

Martin:... (Confused).... What job...

Lebana :........

Martin:....

Reporter :... Okay... Thank you Nicole....

Nicole:.. You're welcome..... (Rushes off)....

Kross :(standing at a distance on his phone).....

Nicole:(running excitedly to him).....

Random girl:(taking a video)......

Reporter:... She sure is excited..... So are all the qualifiers representing cape town and Pretoria..... (Camera positions to Nicole hugging Kross)........

Zara:.......

Kuffi:.........

Jhene:.......

J'hream :........

Tandeo :............

Students :(talking among themselves)......

Lebana :... (Smiles)..... She always makes me proud....

Martin:(still confused)......

"Later that day"....

Zara:(walking with her sisters)....

Ndasi:.... (Calls out)... Zara..... Zara....

Zara:(turns)....

Ndasi:(reaches the trio)....... Hey....

Zara:... Hi...

Ndasi:(to Vanessa and Emani).... Hi.....

Vanessa:(politely)..... Hi....

Emani:......

Zara :..... (To Emani and Vanessa)...... I'll find you by the bench.....

Emani:(goes).....

Vanessa:(follows).....

Ndasi:... How are you?...

Zara:....... Uhm, I'm okay....... Hope you are too...

Ndasi:.. I am..... So, you're happy for your boy?.....

Zara:.... Uhm, yeah....... I am..... Why?

Ndasi:... I bet you saw the hug...

Zara:... And?.....

Ndasi:... It just looked a little wrong....... I know Kross, he's good but he tends to get distracted....

Zara:..... (Irritated)..... So you stopped me to throw shade.....

Ndasi:.. No. No.... I was just checking on you.... We don't really talk anymore.....

Zara:..... Yeah we don't..... After the trip I saw no need to because you came at me and Kross...... You clearly have some beef with him and I don't think you're happy that I'm with him.....

Ndasi:... I came at you because yeah I'm not happy....... He's not your type and he's going to disappoint you.....

Zara:... That's high school..... You get disappointed a lot and that builds you.....

Ndasi:..... I noticed that you don't use the phone cover I got you...

Zara:.. (Shrugs)......

Ndasi:... Did you throw the chocolate away too? ......

Zara :... No.... Look... I don't know why you stopped me for this but I have to go.......

Ndasi:... He told you not to use it right?.....

Zara:......... (Sighs)......

Ndasi:..... I already know..... As I said, I know Kross....

Zara:....... Can I go?.......

Ndasi:.... You deserve the world....

Zara:(chuckles)...... Yeah. I have it don't worry...... (Walks away)...

Ndasi:.....

"Ice cream corner"....

Emani :(waiting for her cones)....

Sahari:(also waiting with his sister).... Both of you will get cavities...... Or rather the three of you.....

Emani :(chuckles).... We brush out teeth....

Ayanda:... Yeah.... And we don't even buy ice cream that much....

Sahari :.... You do. Everyday........... Uhm. Where are Vanessa and Zara?.....

Ayanda:(smiles at him)..... Why?....

Emani :(also smiling).....

Sahari :... No no no no..... Don't get like that........ They're usually here with you.....

Ayanda :... Oh so that's why you brought me here...so that you can see your crush.....

Emani :(making sounds in mockery)....

Sahari:..... Are you two crazy?...... I don't have a crush on her...... She has a boyfriend...... Emani you know that....

Emani :...... Yeah..... But they can always break up....

Sahari:(laughs).....

Ayanda :.... I know you like her....

Sahari:.... (His hand on his forehead)..... Oh my God....(to the ice cream man)..... Are they done?....

Ice cream man:(gives them their cones one after the other).....

Emani :(holding two cones).... Thank you.....

Ayanda:.... (Holding her cone)...... You should come for a sleep over...

Emani :.... (Smiles).... I'll ask my dad....

Ayanda :(smiles).... You should bring Zara along....

Sahari :.... (Drained).... Oh my God....

Emani :... Definitely.......... (Giggles with Ayanda)....... See you

Ayanda:... Bye...

Emani:(turns to leave). ........................................................................... (Car shrieks... Following a loud bang)............

Ayanda:... (Screams)..... VANESSA!........

Emani:(numb, the cones fall out her hands)..................(scene mutes a piano tune).....

Sahari:(in panic).…..

Ice cream man:(freaking out)..... (Grabs his phone).....

Vanessa:(on the ground life less... Her head bleeding from a cut)...

Driver :(comes out of the car in panic making a call).....

Crowd:(gathered in fear and terror)....

Zara:(rushes to the scene)........ (Knees by Vanessa side, on a call crying holding Vanessa's hand).....

Sahari:..... (Rushes to the scene)....

Emani :(still numb)....

Ayanda:(crying)....