Nyasha had just finished her chocolate ice cream when she felt somebody was staring at her.

She turned around and was surprised to see Marcus, who was seated at a table opposite, looking directly at her. His gaze made her feel uncomfortable. She noticed his three friends were not sitting with him. They were at another table with a gaggle of giggling teenagers who were lapping up every word they said.

“I think I’ll have another Coke,” Nyasha said. As she stood up to go and order her drink, she bumped straight into Marcus, now right near their table.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured.

“No harm done. I was just about to ask if I could join you ladies,” he said in a charming voice.

Nyasha didn’t want him to join their table, but at the same time she didn’t want to sound churlish and say no.

“Why do you want to sit with us?” Rose asked, before Nyasha had a chance to say anything. “There’s a roomful of girls eyeing you out and we’re not really your type.”

“How do you know what ‘my type’ is, Rose? You hardly know me.”

“I’ve heard enough about you – and it’s not all good.” Rose wasn’t going to back down. “And in case you’ve forgotten, all three of us girls were once a good friend of yours. Of course, we’re not good enough anymore.”

“Well don’t believe everything you hear,” he said. “Maybe I’ve turned over a new leaf.”

“A leopard doesn’t change his spots,” Rose said, but the fight seemed to have gone out of her.

Everybody laughed and so the tension was broken. Soon the four of them were chatting as if they had known each other forever, which in a way they had. Marcus ordered another round of cold drinks for them.

“Well it’s time I was off,” Rose said, about two hours later.

“Me too,” Olivia said as she stood up. “My parents have some friends calling around tonight. I promised I’d be there to help Mama with the food.”

“Well, I better get home as well,” Nyasha said. She could feel Marcus’s eyes were watching her the whole time. He was beginning to make her uncomfortable all over again. What did he want from her?

***

Tell us: What do you think is going on with Marcus?