“Latoya and I…” Amanda hesitates. “We’re really…  The thing is… we’re actually…”

“Ye-es?” Refilwe sighs and rolls her eyes.

As Amanda ums and ahs, I don’t exactly know what I’m hoping for. Should she tell everyone that we’re sisters? We’ve never really talked about why we’re keeping it a secret. I know why I am, and I have a pretty good idea why she is, but we haven’t said it out loud yet.

You see, if we tell everyone that we’re related, the whole story will come out about how Amanda’s dad had a fling with my mom while Amanda’s mom was pregnant. So my mom will come out looking like a slag and our dad will look like a playa.

And they’re both really not the same people any more.

It would be fine if I went to a township school like my cousins. Loads of kids haven’t got a mom and a dad living together under the same roof. But these old Model C schools – they’re way different.  There’s still this huge big emphasis on family. It’s not easy being the kid who doesn’t fit neatly into the mould.

But on the other hand, it feels like we’re living a lie when we don’t tell people we’re sisters. I really don’t know what to do.

“We’re… much better friends than we used to be,” Amanda finishes at last.

I let out a little sigh of relief. Okay, I’m definitely not ready for the secret to come out yet.

“Well, duh, you must be if you still believe she has a thing with Jayden,” Refilwe says snippily. “She had her turn and she blew it. You don’t get a second chance with a guy like that.”

I sink deeper into my seat. I did blow it, didn’t I? I had him and I threw him away. And I have no one to thank but myself.