Isla was beyond thrilled that Karabo had been invited to the matric dance. She had been harbouring guilt around the dance, and Karabo not being asked to the dance. Now she could talk endlessly about the dance to Karabo; who was going with whom, and what they were wearing, without feeling guilty that Karabo wouldn’t be there.

‘And, it’s a definite, William asked Tiff yesterday. Urgh, as long as we’re not at their table. They’re like the two most awful people in the whole school!’ stated Isla, rolling her eyes. Karabo nodded in agreement and made a face, but inside she felt sadness creeping into her chest.

When Karabo called her mom and told her she was going to the dance with Buzz, her mom actually squealed. ‘That’s so exciting! I loved my dance!’ she said in a high-pitched voice over the phone.

‘That’s cool Mom, but it’s not MY dance, it’s Buzz’s dance. So, I just need a nice dress, but nothing OTT. Do you think you could send me something from Jozi?’ asked Karabo, emphasising ‘NOTHING OTT’ as she spoke.

‘Of course, my angel. I’m on it. Will courier something tomorrow. Then we have a few weeks if we need to change or anything. And shoes?’

‘Um, ya, I guess shoes too Mom. Or something of yours. I love all your shoes and I’m your size now anyway,’ hinted Karabo.

True to her word, Anathi’s parcel arrived for Karabo the following day. As Karabo picked up her precious brown box from reception and turned around, she bumped into William. ‘Hey Will!’ she said, trying not to seem surprised to see him so close.

Karabo just knew that he had been avoiding her since they had come back to school and, so far, he had succeeded.

‘Hey Karabo, what’s that?’ said William eyeing her parcel. Karabo looked down at her box of clothes ‘Um, it’s some stuff from my mom. She sent me, you know, a dress, for the dance – my mom loves pretty things,’ said Karabo, trying to downplay the fact that she was going to the dance.

William nodded ‘Cool. Guess I’ll see you there then,’ he said, wicked green eyes glinting at her from under his fringe.

‘Ya, guess so,’ said Karabo, as she stepped to the side and walked past him, straight up to her room. Had he known that Buzz was taking her? Did he even care? She sighed. No, probably not. Never mind, she told herself, the scar on her heart was healing and there was no need to open it up and let him crawl back under her skin. Soon, William wouldn’t even be at the school. A few months and she would never have to see him again. Gone from Dayeton College and gone from her life. What a relief.

On the Saturday of the matric dance, Isla’s mother collected Karabo and Isla and took them to a nearby bed and breakfast to drop off their dresses and bags, where they’d return later to get dressed. Mrs Hepworth had also brought a lug box of paraphernalia in order to ensure that the girls would have anything they needed. Then she took them to the beauty salon to have their hair and nails done. The afternoon passed under the heat of dryers, mixed with the smell of nail polish and hair products. Karabo felt giddy and lightheaded by the time they left the salon.

Finally, back at the bed and breakfast, Karabo and Isla thirstily glugged a cup of tea, along with Mrs Hepworth’s homemade butter biscuits, before starting to dress. Karabo’s braids had been piled high upon her head in a tower of twists and turns, allowing her high cheek bones to stand out. Anathi had outdone herself on Karabo’s dress. Instead of sending Karabo a blingy, over-the-top outfit, (as Karabo worried she may have done), she’d sent Karabo a bone-white, fitted dress – strapless and just above    the knees. The dress hugged Karabo’s figure perfectly and her strappy silver high heels took nothing away from its simplicity. As Karabo walked into the lounge, Mrs Hepworth sucked in her breath, placing her hand dramatically on her chest. ‘Karabo! My word you look exquisite! Come here quickly, let me take a photo for your mother, she will be so proud of you!’ exclaimed Mrs Hepworth. Karabo smiled, feeling a mix of emotions wash over her; love for Mrs Hepworth who had made the day so special, deep longing for her own mother, excitement and fear for the dance. A shiver ran up her spine as she walked towards Mrs Hepworth, her stomach in knots.

Once the photo was taken, Karabo looked at the couch. ‘I’d better check that I can sit down in this dress. It’s pretty tight in here,’ she explained as she carefully lowered herself onto the couch. No ear-splitting screech of fabric parting ways. She breathed a sigh of relief. Not too bad. She wouldn’t pop out of the dress at the dance.

‘Tadaaaaaa!!’ called Isla’s voice as she came into the room. Her long hair had been curled into big locks and swooped to her right shoulder in a loose side pony. Her dress was black velvet and modelled on a classic post-war V-design off the shoulders, and tight along her body and thighs, flaring softly at her lower legs. Her gold high-heeled sandals sparkled prettily from under the velvet hem of the dress. She smiled and her eyes twinkled with delight and pure naughtiness.

‘My darling!’ exclaimed Mrs Hepworth and she walked over to Isla, hugging her before stepping back to look her up and down. ‘Perfect,’ she said, placing a gentle kiss on Isla’s forehead and then fetching her phone for more photos. A series of selfies followed, before it was time to return the girls to the school where their dates would be waiting for them. All the official school photos for the dance were to be taken in the school gardens, and both Mzi and Buzz were waiting for the girls, as Mrs Hepworth’s car pulled up to the school reception. Mzi seemed his usual confident self, in a navy suit with a navy velvet cravat. He took Isla’s breath away, and she almost forgot to say goodbye to her mother. Mrs Hepworth rolled her eyes and drove off. Karabo had noticed her looking Mzi up and down with an approving look on her face.

Buzz wore a metal-grey suit, and fidgeted nervously at the cuffs, pulling at his jacket. Karabo smiled broadly at him and, as he looked at her, he seemed to forget his discomfort and smiled back at her, finally at ease. ‘You’re looking handsome Buzz,’ Karabo teased.

‘Well I can’t disagree,’ said Buzz, quickly reverting to his charming, good-natured self. ‘And you are looking amazing Miss Karabo,’ said Buzz in return, raising his eyebrows and looking her up and down, ‘Glad you’re my date. The guys are going to be so jealous,’ he said, as he bent his arm for her to take.