It’s still break time and Arco is seated in class eating her lunch while in dreamland. Brian comes in unnoticed.
BRIAN: You have been sitting here alone for some time now. Get a life!
ARCO: (Shocked and frightened) Dude! Don’t sneak up on me like that, you nearly gave me a heart attack.
BRIAN: Whoa! I’m sorry!
ARCO: No it’s okay. Sorry for shouting at you.
BRIAN: Why are you so edgy?
ARCO: I just have a lot on my plate, that’s all.
BRIAN: And Ayanda being one of the food served?
Arco: And how do you know that?
BRIAN: Come on, I’m sure even the blind can see that. It’s Ayanda, right?
ARCO: But why?
BRIAN: Why?
ARCO: Is she always like that? Does she enjoy hurting…
BRIAN: Whoa calm down. What are you talking about?
ARCO: She came to me earlier on, and she went all savage on me. Dude, you should have seen her.
BRIAN: Don’t let her get to you. I know what she’s like.
ARCO: (Curious) What is she like? Please tell me more about her.
BRIAN: She’s jealous and all. She’s always been like that.
ARCO: But why?
BRIAN: Because she finds pleasure in other people’s misery.
ARCO: Ag man! It’s so annoying and childish.
BRIAN: I know, right!
A bit of silence
BRIAN: I’ve noticed how she ill-treats you ever since you got here.
ARCO: It’s beyond frustrating. I’ve been trying to keep it all together but it gets to me sometimes.
BRIAN: Calm down. What I know is that you are the strongest girl I’ve seen.
Arco blushes.
BRIAN: You know what, let’s stop talking about Ayanda and all her tactics.
ARCO: I suppose you are right.
BRIAN: Because I’m right.
ARCO: (She blushes again) Okay, Mr. Genius.
BRIAN: So tell me, how’s the new environment treating you so far? You’ve been here for almost 2 months now, any friends yet?
Silence.
BRIAN: Oh Sorry, you wouldn’t be here sitting alone if you had friends.
ARCO: I still need to adapt. You know I get nervous when I try to make friends.
BRIAN: Nervous? You don’t strike me as the nervous type.
Arco stares at him, curiously.
BRIAN: Because you are so confident in class. Advising us on many things.
ARCO: (She laughs) That’s different. I do what any one in class would do.
BRIAN: See! That’s what I’m talking about. Arco, the activist.
They both laugh.
Tell us: What do you think will become of Brian and Arco’s friendship?