I wake up exhausted. Last night I stayed awake until I was 100% sure that mom was asleep, then I stood at my window for an hour trying to summon up the courage to shimmy down the drainpipe. But in the end I just couldn’t. I kept imagining what would happen if I lost my grip in the dark. I might need to install a rope ladder sometime soon.

Anyway, once I had gotten into bed and fallen asleep I spent the whole night dreaming about falling backwards into the night. Horrible.

My school day passes in a challenge of trying not to fall asleep at my desk. And I drag myself to do our afternoon stint of street art painting. Our design is coming along slowly, but it’s so big that it’s really taking a lot of time.

“Whazzup Hope?” says Panther, as he climbs up to my level of scaffolding. “Is all this painting tiring you out?”

“Oh no, I’m cool,” I say, stifling a yawn.

“Well if you’re not too knackered we are having a little get together this evening down at Durban Surf. It’s going to be such a beautiful evening and I’ve invited a whole bunch of people. It should be super chilled. Come and join us if you feel like it.”

“Oh thanks Panther,” I say. “I’d love to. Let me just see how I go with this today – it’s taking me a lot longer than I planned.”

“You’ve got to give yourself some time to just chill too Ms. L’Amour – it’s good for your creativity. Anyway, Deevya and Nomusa are both coming. And if you want to bring anyone else along you’re welcome to. And if you don’t make it, I won’t hold it against you.”

As the afternoon goes on I get a second wind. It could also be because Nomusa and Deevya are both in such amazingly good moods – and it’s contagious!

“You must come Hope,” urges Deevya. “We haven’t had a fun night out together for a while. You’ve got to take these chances to dress up and go out. You can catch up on your sleep when there isn’t something exciting on. And bring Zack – I’d love to see him.”

I’m won over. I check in with my mom to see if she’s ok to give me lifts. And then I call Zack to ask him if he wants to come along.

As it turns out I end up running late. Deevya and Nomusa finish their work for the day before I do. I stay behind for a while to work on some fine detail. I suddenly look at the time and realise I’m way behind schedule.

I call Deevya and explain and arrange for her folks to pick up Zack on their way to pick up Nomusa close by. So now they can all get a lift to the party together. I call Zack to tell him the new plan and he’s cool with that. And then I make arrangements with my mom to take me down to the party by myself a little bit later.

By the time I get to the party down on the beachfront it’s in full swing. There are loads of people. And though its not that late there’s a DJ on the decks and a bunch of groovers getting down on the dance floor. 

I walk outside on the balcony and spot Deevya chatting to Panther and a bunch of his friends. I stroll over to say hi. 

Panther’s just finished introducing me to everyone when out of the corner of my eye I spot Lindi on the other side of the balcony. Uh oh. I’d better give Nomusa a head’s up – this is unexpected. 

“I’ll be back soon,” I say to Deevya, “I’m just going to look for Nomusa and Zack.”

I cruise inside, searching the darker indoors with my eyes. Eventually I spot Nomusa. But hang on! Surprise! She’s in the arms of a man and it looks quite intimate. I look around for Lindi and see her flinch as she spots Nomusa. Shame, there are unresolved feelings there. I knew it! 

I look around for Zack. I could really do with some back up here. And then Nomusa and her boy end their long, sensual hug and as they step apart I realise that that boy is Zack.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Ok, this is a BIG surprise! What do you think is going on? How would you react if you were Hope?