The next day at break Drake caught up with Arnold.

“Follow me. I’ve got something to tell you.” Drake and Arnold went behind the cafeteria.

“Alright, what do you want to tell me? Wait … Call of Duty Black Ops 3. I already know about it. I’ve pre-ordered it,” Arnold said proudly.

“What? No it’s even better – I kissed Jenny,” Drake said.

Arnold couldn’t believe it. “For real?”

“I’m totally serious dude. It was the best moment of my life,” Drake said and looked up at the sky. “Her lips are so tender and her tongue is warm. Time felt like it had stopped for eternity while we kissed.”

But Sandy said that Jenny thinks that Drake is a dork, Arnold thought. It didn’t add up.

But, “Yeah and to think that Carlton tried to bribe her by buying her flowers,” Arnold said.

“Man, money can’t buy you everything,” Drake said.

Later that day Jenny told Sandy about the kiss: “It felt like time had slowed down. Seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours.”

“Wow. You’re really caught up with this guy, right?” Sandy said.

“Maybe yes … Maybe no,” Jenny replied with a smile.

Alice won’t be happy to hear this, thought Sandy. She still likes Drake even though she won’t admit it. And she’s the kind of girl who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

And it was true: Alice wasn’t happy at all when Sandy and her friends shared the news with her. But she refused to let them see just how upset she really was.

Meanwhile, “How can a wimp like Drake get Jenny? He doesn’t have the money to satisfy her, like I do,” Carlton said to Nolan at break, under the mango tree.

“All the Grade 11s are talking about it, man,” Nolan said.

“Are you sure that it’s not a rumour?”

“Dude, I just said all the Grade 11s are talking about it. How the fuck can that be a rumour?”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Carlton said.

“Damn. The rumour is walking behind you now,” Nolan said with a grin.

“What?” Carlton asked, spinning around – to see Jenny and Drake walking together, holding hands.

Carlton stood a while, looking at Nolan. Then, “I have a plan,” he said. “Tell all the senior grades that I’m throwing a party in my mansion next week Friday, and that they’re all cordially invited.”

“Now you’re talking,” Nolan said, the grin on his face widening.

For the whole week there was a buzz among the seniors as they talked about Carlton’s party on his Facebook page; he received an incredible 872 posts.

Dis is gna b a party 2 rememba

Yoh, ive bin in carltons partys n tot lyk I was in a club

Cnt wait 4 Friday

Drake was sick of reading about the party and so when he got a text from Jenny his heart dropped.

Lets go 2 de party

Jx

The party was bad news for Drake. Jenny would see Carlton’s mansion and everything he, Drake, couldn’t give her.

No. We cnt go, i’ll b buzy

Dx

Long break came and Carlton walked over to Drake’s class.

“Drake,” Carlton said.

Drake lifted his head up, and raised his left eyebrow. “Carlton.”

“Congratulations by the way,” Carlton said casually.

“On what?”

“On Jenny. She’s cool,” Carlton said.

“Thanks … I guess,” Drake responded, confused by Carlton’s sudden friendliness. He didn’t trust him one bit.

Carlton walked back to his matric class. His plan was working; he felt sure that Drake would be coming to the party now.

Jenny wasn’t happy about missing the party, and she told Drake so when they met up.

“Please, let’s not go to the party,” Drake pleaded.

“But why not?” Jenny said.

“I just have a bad feeling about it.”

“OK, it’s fine. We won’t go then,” Jenny said with a sigh. “It’s just that … well I’m new at Tellison and all the girls in my class will be there. This is one way I can make friends with them.”

“OK, we’ll go. I guess I’m just being paranoid,” Drake said. He couldn’t bear to see Jenny so disappointed.

“Yeah. You sure are,” Jenny said, her face now alight with excitement.

But Drake felt that he was about to go to war armed with only a knife when Carlton had all the guns. The more he thought about the party the more he panicked.

*****

Boomshakalaka … party day finally came.

Ey man I won’t b able 2 cum

2 skul 2day nor 2 de party,

I hav a stomach bug.

Arnold had sent Drake the message via WhatsApp.

Drake texted back:

Ok its fyn no prob man.

But now he didn’t have any backup. Things were getting worse by the minute.

And next Carlton had posted on his Facebook profile:

Every1 dats cumin 2 my party text ‘boomshakalaka’

Lol boomshakalaka

M cumin 2 da party

U suppose 2 say boomshaka

Dnt hav data 2 waste

An hour later there were over a hundred ‘boomshakalakas’.

“Only I can get hundreds of people to say ‘boomshakalaka’ within an hour,” Carlton boasted as he lit a Cuban cigar. He was lounging by the mansion pool with Nolan.

“Seems like it’s going to be a full house,” Nolan said, drawing on a Courtleigh cigarette.

“Yeah, all the hard work is done. Now it’s time for the easy part.” Carlton blew a perfect smoke ring.

“But I thought inviting was the easy part,” Nolan said.

“Money makes the hardest things look simple.”

That evening Drake arrived at Carlton’s crib. It was humungous. There was a huge floodlit swimming pool and nicely mown grass. At the entrance there was a white statue of a creature that had water fountains coming out of its nose, mouth and ears.

“Wow, this is a classy house,” Drake thought. Once inside, he saw a couple of his classmates and other fellow seniors. A disco light was flashing different colours around the room. He looked to his right and saw the bar.

“Drake,” a voice called.

Drake turned to see Jenny standing with Sandy. She was wearing a tight, bright pink top and grey jeans. She looked breath-taking.

“Hey Jenny, you look so beautiful,” Drake said.

“Thanks. You look handsome, as always,” Jenny said.

“Hey Sandy,” Drake greeted.

“Yeah Drake,” Sandy responded and rolled her eyes.

Eh, what’s up with her attitude towards me? Ag … who cares, Drake thought, as Sandy sauntered away from them towards the bar.

“So, where’s your friend?” Jenny asked.

“Oh, Arnold? He’s sick. He won’t be able to make it.”

“What’s wrong?”

But before Drake could answer Carlton raised his champagne glass and to get everyone’s attention he clinked a fork against the crystal: Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!

“Ladies and Gentleman,” Carlton said, his voice booming. “The party is officially fucking on!”

Everyone cheered as the music started to pump.

“Let’s go to the bar and get a drink,” Jenny said.

Carlton saw Jenny walk with Drake to the bar. After you get intoxicated you’re mine, he thought.

A few hours later, like everyone else, Drake was drunk, and so was Jenny. The DJ was playing a romantic song and the partners were dancing together. Drake and Jenny hugged each other as they moved to the slow beat of the music.

Then the DJ went back to House music and it was very loud. Jenny heard nothing, but felt her cellphone vibrate in her pocket.

I nid 2 tok 2 u nw, its important

Carlton

“I’ll be back in a second,” Jenny told Drake.

“Where are you going?”

“Uhm … to Sandy,” Jenny lied. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back in a minute. When I return we’ll go to one of the private bedrooms for some fun.” She kissed Drake on the lips, removing the jealous doubt that he had begun to feel.

Drake went to get another drink. As he stood by the bar he felt someone push up close behind him and turned to see Alice. She was wearing a black top and a short purple skirt, which revealed her soft-skinned thighs.

“Hey, Drake,” she whispered leaning even closer to him.

“What do you want?” Drake asked suspiciously.

“I just wanted to let you know that Jenny is two-timing you,” Alice said.

“What? That won’t work on me. I’m not stupid. I can see what you’re trying to do,” Drake said. But he felt sick in his stomach.

“Look over there if you think I’m lying to you,” Alice said.

When Drake looked to where Alice was pointing he saw Carlton talking to Jenny. He watched as Carlton tilted Jenny’s head up and ran a finger along her cheek. Carlton whispered in Jenny’s ear and then kissed her on the lips.

That’s all Drake needed to see.

I am a fool! Arnold told me that dreams usually mean something and I didn’t believe him. Now the dream has come true, Drake thought as he turned back to Alice.

“I’m pretty sure that you’re delighted with all of this,” he said as he gritted his teeth in anger.

“Why would I be? It saddens me that Jenny has done this to you, especially since you’re such a nice guy.” Alice placed her arms around Drake’s shoulders.

“I really wanted you badly last year, but you played with my feelings,” Drake said softly.

“No, I was with Carlton at the time. I couldn’t cheat on him. It wouldn’t have been fair,” Alice said. “After I stopped dating him I thought you’d come back … but you never did,” she added softly.

Drake could feel her warm body pressed hard up against his. He looked over at Jenny. He wouldn’t be hurt again, he thought. If she could play this game so could he.

His head was spinning from the drink as he tilted Alice’s chin and kissed her. Drake felt a wave of euphoria when Alice kissed him back. Perhaps the reason why I’m feeling so intimate with her is because I’m drunk … or maybe it’s because those old feelings that I had for her have returned, Drake thought as he placed his hands on Alice’s hips.

Across the room Jenny was staring into Carlton’s eyes.

“I can’t believe you just kissed me,” Jenny said.

“I’m sorry. You just look so irresistible,” Carlton said, and Jenny couldn’t help but smile.

She’s so drunk she can’t think straight, Carlton thought as he saw Jenny’s facial expression. He could see that she was charmed by his words, his mansion and his wealth.

Beep…beep…beep.

Jenny felt her cellphone vibrate. She picked it up and saw a text message. It was from Sandy.

I just saw Drake go 2 de

bedrooms wit Alice

When Jenny read that text she came to her senses. So everything that Carlton has just whispered to me is true! Drake does like Alice, Jenny thought in dismay.

“I have to go,” she said to Carlton.

“Alright. Cool.” Everything was falling into place. You had to love a strategy that was coming together, Carlton thought with a grin.

Jenny went up the stairs with Sandy. “Which bedroom did you see him go into?” she asked angrily.

“That one,” Sandy said, pointing to a room at the far end of the passage.

As Jenny came near the door she heard moaning sounds. When she pushed the door open she saw Alice on top of Drake, a blanket covering them.

Alice turned and flashed her a victorious, evil smile.

“Drake! How could you?” Jenny cried out and burst into tears.

Drake jerked up. “How could I? I just saw Carlton kissing you – and you ask me how could I?”

“Ssshhh,” Alice said, and placed a long pink nail on Drake’s lips. “Drake is mine.” She looked at Jenny. “He doesn’t have time to waste on little girls like you. Now… close the door on your way out.”

“I’ll get you for this!” Jenny retorted, flashing a hot look at Alice. She left the room, slamming the door behind her.

***

Tell us what you think: Alice says Jenny is a ‘little girl’. Is what Alice is doing ‘grown up’?