Karabo couldn’t be a complete drag just yet, so she smiled at Isla and nodded. Isla accepted Karabo’s fake attempt and immediately started moving her hips, losing herself in the music. Karabo began to shuffle and move her shoulders in an attempt to try and feel like she was having fun. The truth was that she felt the same as Paul and Kaitlyn. They had been at the beach every day for the past week and then every evening at one or more of the festival parties. Karabo was more than ready for a night in to recover — just one night. Isla was adamant that they had to make the most of everything and kept them busy all the time. Karabo knew that Isla liked to keep busy, but this holiday had hyped her energy levels and she knew she’d have to eventually tell her to back off a little.

Karabo felt the sweat dripping down the side of her face and under her hair. She was really thirsty and leant over to Isla to stop her moving.

‘I’m going to get a coke. You want to come?’ shouted Karabo. Isla scrunched up her nose and shook her head, ‘I’ll stay here,’ she said.

Karabo shrugged and started to make her way towards the bar, shoving past other dancers who left their sweat smeared on her arm. Trying not to think about it, she felt in her pocket for her card and was relieved it was still there.

Waiting patiently behind a rowdy group of tequila drinkers, Karabo tried not to catch anyone’s eye. All she wanted was her coke and to get back to Isla and then go home eventually. Luckily, there was an air-conditioner above the bar, and the cool air would occasionally blow into her face as someone in front of her moved. By the time she got to the front of the queue she was a lot cooler and feeling calmer. She didn’t know how she was going to leave the bar and walk back into that insufferable heat.

‘Two cokes please,’ she asked the barman as she caught his eye. He wore a black vest over his muscular torso and his baby face smiled broadly at her.

‘Sure, that all?’ he asked, still silly-grinning at her.

Karabo nodded emphatically. She wanted to get the cokes and go.

He leaned down under the counter and opened the fridges to get the cokes.

‘Two cokes,’ he said disdainfully, as he slapped the cold cans on the counter.

‘Thanks,’ said Karabo handing him her card and waiting for the baby-faced barman to hand it back. Suddenly someone had their hands over her eyes. She froze as her heart jumped into her throat.

‘Guess who?’ whispered a voice into her ear.

The thudding of the music seemed to fade into a distant hum and she could suddenly hear herself breathe. With one hand on the cokes, her other hand went to her eyes and touched his hand. It was him. Gently she drew his hand from her eyes and slowly turned to face William.

He seemed leaner, taller and more tanned. His bright green eyes shone like gemstones in his smiling face.

‘Will,’ she said, barely able to breathe.

He smiled at her as she dropped his hand and gently touched his rough cheek.

‘Will, it’s you. You’re here,’ she said, amazed. He laughed at her, ‘Yes. It’s me. It’s all over.’

Karabo threw her arms around his neck and drew herself into William, breathing in his scent. She never wanted to let go.

‘Here’s your card!’ shouted the boy barman. Karabo let William go to take the card and cokes, before turning back to William.

‘I want to go back to the house. I hate this club,’ said Karabo, overcome by a desperate need to get out of the hot, stinky, sweaty club.

‘Come,’ she said, leading William back to where Isla should have been. She turned to him in a panic, ‘Isla’s supposed to be here. I need to find her so we can go.’

William leaned into Karabo, his clean smell enveloping her. ‘She’s waiting outside with Mzi,’ he explained.

‘What?’ shouted Karabo. ‘I said, she’s waiting out-’

‘I heard you. Why didn’t you say so!’ shouted Karabo at William, the music making her head spin.

‘You didn’t give me a chance,’ said William, looking at Karabo expressionless.

‘Fine,’ shouted Karabo back at him and stormed out the club towards the exit. As she neared the door, Karabo could feel the cool evening air on her arms and smell the faintest hint of ocean.

‘Hey!’ came William’s voice from behind her as he caught up to her and grabbed her arm. Karabo turned and glared at him.

‘I’m sorry, jeez, Karabs. I was going to tell you but the noise in there is insane. I came with Mzi. We asked Paul and what’s-her- face where you guys were, and then we came to look for you. Nothing hectic, I just didn’t want to wait!’

Karabo’s breathing was short as she stared at William. Her mind was spinning. She threw herself into his arms again and buried her face into his t-shirt, drawing herself against him. He was here. Finally, after more than a year, he was here. Alive. She felt his chin rest on her head and then eventually he brought his mouth close to her ear, ‘Please can we get out of here.’

Karabo released him and nodded, and they walked out with their arms wrapped around each other’s bodies.

‘So, where are you guys staying?’ asked Isla. She was sitting next to Karabo, facing Mzi and William. They were at an all-night restaurant that served the best slap chips they had ever tasted. Isla and Karabo had been there most nights over the past week.

William looked at Mzi to explain where they were staying, ‘A friend of my dad’s has a place on Robberg beach. Awesome spot with a view of the entire beach. Anyway, they don’t come down till later in December, so my dad asked if we could stay there and he said yes. So that’s where we’re staying,’ explained Mzi, his cheeks slightly rosy.

‘Why you embarrassed?’ asked Isla, not letting Mzi’s discomfort slip her attention. Mzi shifted in his seat, ‘My dad, with all the money he made, and all the money William made him, still insists on calling a friend instead of booking a hotel. It’s, ya, not great,’ said Mzi looking at William, and trying to explain his discomfort.

William laughed, ‘It’s cool, Mzi. We’re in an amazing spot for free. Don’t overthink it,’ said William, making light of Mzi’s issues.