“Drink! Drink! Drink!”

The crowd of boys cheers as the Ricky-Rick and Frank Casino song, We Want the Whole Thing, bangs out of the speakers. Brian lifts the cup full of liquor to his mouth and downs it in one go.

“Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” the crowd applauds as Brian staggers and falls hard on his bum.

His friend, Jaden, pats him on the shoulder. “Grab some air!” Jaden screams, too close to his face. “You are going again later!”

Brian looks down at the drops of leftover Hennessy Cognac at the bottom of his glass. He stares at it for a while. He is in the depths of his unhappy thoughts.

I’m at a party, so why am I not enjoying it? he wonders. My head is a mess.

“My bru!” says Vuyo. “Are you thinking of writing an obituary at a party? Why are you so down?”

“I’m just thinking, maybe I did Iziyo wrong or maybe–”

“Dude! It’s the alcohol,” Vuyo says, laughing out loud. “But look at that!”

Vuyo holds Brian’s neck and stares at Siphokazi, the hottest girl in Matric. Guys swarm around her like worker bees around the queen bee. One of Siphokazi’s friends walks up to Vuyo and Brian.

“Siphokazi wants to speak to you,” the girl says, and points to Brian.

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Let’s go.” She pulls Brian by the arm.

“Good luck, my bru,” says Vuyo.

“I’m coming back guys. I just need to steal him for a minute,” says Siphokazi as she pulls Brian aside. She leads him to a quieter spot in the backyard of the house.

“So you are Brian, the cute brains of Matric?” says Siphokazi.

“Yes, I must be. I mean, I am. Brian is me,” Brian mumbles.

Siphokazi tilts her head to the side, and she puffs up her chest. “Brian, I have problems in Physics. I don’t know … I just can’t understand anything.” She bats her eyelashes. “I just need someone clever like you to help me. Can you help me?”

Brian is shocked. His throat is suddenly dry. His heart thumps uncontrollably. Siphokazi grabs his hand and caresses his palms with her manicured nails.

“Please,” Siphokazi pleads and bats her eyelids.

Brian tries to speak but words don’t come out. He just nods.

“Thanks. You are such a nice guy, Brian,” says Siphokazi as she kisses him on both cheeks – sealing his fate.

In the weeks leading up to Matric, and during the exams, Brian and Iziyo see each other across the school yard, but they don’t speak. They are wrapped up in their new-found lovers.

And after Matric they go their separate ways.

Tell us: Are many teenagers like Brian – losing out on something because they do not have the confidence and communication skills to honestly discuss what is worrying them?