Isla spotted Karabo and quickly returned her to the dance floor for more fun. Eventually, at midnight, Mr BS walked over to the DJ and tapped his wrist watch. This signalled the end of the evening, and the last slow song was played to end the evening’s official festivities. Buzz had forgotten his earlier awkwardness and deftly swept Karabo onto the dance floor. Karabo was surprised, but happy. She liked Buzz, always had. He was a good guy. She looked down as shyness overcame her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mzi holding Isla very close, his hand sliding down her back to her bum. Clearly, the evening had gone well for them too.

Karabo lifted her head and smiled. ‘What are you smiling at Karabz?’ asked Buzz.

‘You really want to know?’ Buzz nodded.

‘Well, I was smiling because this has been a really cool night. Isla and Mzi have clearly had a great evening, and I have definitely had a great evening too,’ said Karabo, looking down again, unsure if what she was saying would make Buzz close up.

Buzz drew Karabo in closer so he could whisper in her ear. ‘I had an amazing evening with you too Karabo,’ he said. Karabo could feel the heat between her and Buzz. It felt as if there was a fire burning between them. Her heart beat faster, and she felt overcome by something she didn’t understand. He continued to hold her close until the music ended, and slowly they parted, not really wanting to.

‘Want to go to the beach with everyone?’ asked Buzz, gently placing a stray braid back behind her ear.

Karabo looked up at Buzz, confused and slightly star struck. Was this real? Was Buzz more than a friend? He felt so good to be with, so sure and so right. ‘Um, if you want to. I’ll just dump my shoes in my room,’ said Karabo, needing to pace herself. She needed to step away from Buzz for a moment to breathe.

‘Sure’ he said. He was calm, sweet and absolutely perfect. ‘I’ll meet you at reception’. Karabo nodded mutely.

As she walked out the hall, Isla caught up with her. ‘Karabz, where are you going? Is everything OK?’ she asked, concern on her face. Karabo smiled.

‘Yes, very OK actually. I’m going to take my shoes up to the room. Walk with me please, and then we will come back down,’ asked Karabo, her expression hinting at a greater reason for the walk. Isla knew when she was needed. She turned and spotted Mzi and, waving to him, she shouted that she was going to drop her shoes with Karabo and then meet up with him. His broad smile gleamed across the passage and Karabo could tell it was killing Isla to leave Mzi for even a few minutes.

‘Thank you,’ said Karabo, ‘for coming up to the room with me. I really need to ask you something,’ said Karabo. Isla took Karabo’s hand and smiled ‘Tell me then, what’s up?’

‘I think, well, I think Buzz likes me, you know, more than a friend,’ said Karabo, struggling to get the words out because her brain was finding it hard to make sense of what she was feeling. Isla jumped, giving Karabo a fright.

’What!’ shouted Karabo, looking around.

‘I knew it! I knew he liked you. That guy is such a dark horse. Pretending he doesn’t adore you! Hah, just goes to show.

Trust my gut. I should never doubt it!’ said Isla, thrilled at her sleuth work.

Karabo stared at her. ‘Isla, hello. Can  we  get  back  to  me  here, please?’

‘Oh sorry, of course. You do like him, don’t you? I mean Buzz is divine – smart, sporty, witty. All that good stuff. Weird family stuff I reckon, but hey, all good otherwise,’ summarised Isla. She peered at Karabo. ‘Karabz, you do like him, right?’ she asked again.

Karabo loved how she had felt dancing with Buzz. She’d had one of the best evenings of her life. Of course she liked him back. What wasn’t to like? She looked Isla in the eyes. ‘Yes, I like him back’ she spoke slowly and with conviction.

‘Yay!’ squealed Isla as they dropped their shoes in their room and ran downstairs to meet Buzz and Mzi.

Isla threw herself into Mzi’s arms when she saw him, as though she had been away from him for days. Buzz took Karabo’s hand, as though that was how it had always been. Karabo squeezed his hand and smiled at him. It felt good to be next to him.

On the way to the beach,they heard some voices shouting up ahead.

‘Piss off William, Tayla’s my date tonight. Go find Tiff or whoever you brought!’ said a voice loudly across the still midnight air. William came lurching towards them, more drunk than before, his jacket gone and his shirt hanging open. He was in a bad way.

He tried to steady himself against a topiary bush, which responded by leaning away from him as he leaned into it.

‘Well if it isn’t the lovely head boy and his princess,’ slurred William, looking at Mzi and Isla. Mzi’s whole body became rigid and he placed himself between Isla and William, before picking up their pace and walking past him. Karabo felt Buzz’s grip on her hand tighten, and he pushed into her as he tried to walk around William who was swaying into their path.

‘Karabz!’ shouted William. ‘Sheesh you look amazing today. Wish I’d asked you instead of that bitch Tiff. Oh well, looks like good ol’ Buzz here is gonna get lucky!’ said William pointing a finger at Buzz.

Buzz let Karabo’s hand go and walked up to William. She heard him swear at him, turning to see Buzz shove William into a bush. William slumped to the ground like a ragdoll. Buzz shook his head and caught up with Karabo, taking her hand and walking them to the beach. Karabo looked over her shoulder at William. He sat slumped forward, his head hanging. She felt achingly sad for him. Why did he do this to himself?