A cool afternoon breeze swept through the park as Nondumiso and Bridget entered. Woodlands High School was now well behind them, though, not a great distance away. The long walk home was in full swing. The route was simple enough: from the school, cut through the park and the rest of Colorado, reach the New Eisleben Road, walk alongside it to Heinz Park, and go their separate ways (Nondumiso to Philippi, and Bridget to Samora).

A group of girls walked past them, heading in the same direction. “Bye, Nondumiso,” said one of them, waving. “See you tomorrow.”

Nondumiso waved back. “Bye, Tamzyn.”

Bridget looked bemused. “Tamzyn has been at Woodlands for two years and she’s never been like that with me, waving and smiling.”

“It’s really not a big deal. I met her at the principal’s office when I was finishing my registration.”

“I don’t like that bitch. Maybe she knows it.”

Nondumiso could sense the anger in Bridget’s voice. “What did she do? I just thought she was a girl who likes to talk a lot.”

“She dated Selby, for one. But she was also as stupid as he was. He’d post nasty stuff about people on that school Facebook group, and she always liked it.”

Tamzyn and Selby? A school Facebook group? Nondumiso was confused but Bridget didn’t seem like she was ready to answer Nondumiso’s questions. “I think I’m going to avoid Tamzyn from now on.”

Bridget was quiet. She looked like she was working something out in her head, then she continued. “That’s why I wish you hadn’t told them your life story when you were introducing yourself in class.”

“My life story?”

“Yes, when you told them about being at Immaculata last week and then transferring to Woodlands.”

“Oh, that.” Nondumiso sounded deflated. “I didn’t think it was a big deal. Do you think it’s going to end up on the Facebook group?”

Bridget answered without a moment’s pause. “It won’t, if you don’t tell them anything else. If you don’t tell them about your dad losing his job.”

“Mike said the same thing about telling people stuff. But I didn’t know he was talking about a Facebook group.”

“Things have a way of ending up on that Facebook group, twisted and exaggerated. And teachers don’t care.”

The thought both angered and terrified Nondumiso. “Has the school not done anything about the group?”

She shook her head. “Peters had a chance to do something. He could’ve shut it down. I don’t know what needs to happen before they take action.”

“Did someone post something about you?”

Bridget considered the question, before finally answering. “I don’t want to talk about it for now. It still angers me. Let’s talk about something that doesn’t make me want to punch someone.”

The girls walked in silence for a while, both adrift in thoughts about things and people other than Tamzyn, Selby and the Facebook group.

Nondumiso tried to think of something to say that would make Bridget feel better.

But Bridget had clearly already thought of something, because her face finally brightened up again. “Sazi found himself a new friend today.” She was smirking as she said that.

“I was wondering when you were going to bring that up,” replied Nondumiso, laughing.

“I was waiting for the right time. I didn’t get a chance in class.”

“Who’s this friend he found?”

“I don’t think it was just ‘a friend’ he found, actually.” She turned to look at Nondumiso as she said that. “The way he was looking at you. I saw you smile at him when he came over to us.”

Nondumiso said nothing, smiling instead.

“How was it? What did he say after I left you two alone?”

Nondumiso relented. “Since I know you’re not going to stop asking, I’ll tell you.” She gathered her thoughts. “He was great. Honestly. He was confident. He just kept talking, and looking at me like he wanted to kiss me.”

“Really? Sazi?” Bridget’s face brightened in surprise.

Nondumiso couldn’t hold back the laughter. “Why do you sound so surprised? You’ve been his classmate since Grade 8. Has he never been like that in front of you?”

“He’s always had a lot of energy for his books, not really for girls. Maybe you’ve made him a charmer.”

“I do want him to stop being scared of me. But they’ll say I’ve bewitched him if he chases me and stops caring about his books.”

Hearing this made Bridget chuckle. “So, did anything change? Will you give him a chance?”

Nondumiso hesitated. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Hay’bo, Nondumiso! First, you say he’s gotten better than when you first met him. Now you say you don’t know.”

Nondumiso had no immediate answer. Maybe Bridget had a point. Sazi was the nicest guy Nondumiso had met since being with Thabani. Thabani was a fuckboy. A guy who … Her head ached just thinking about it. But he was history now. Maybe this was supposed to be Sazi’s turn. Sazi was also tall, lean, with thick, soft-looking lips, and definitely not ugly.

Bridget continued. “Sazi’s a good guy. I knew that the first time I met him. He just needs to stop letting guys like Selby mess with him, and stop being–”

Nondumiso interrupted Bridget mid-sentence. “I do want to give him a chance. I do like him.”

Bridget clapped her hands in excitement. “You’re about to have a bae!”

Nondumiso just looked at her quietly, amused.

“When’s the wedding day?”

The two girls both laughed irrepressibly.

***

Tell us: What do you think Selby has posted on the Facebook group?