Chapter 4

Hadaza

"Can you not call me that?"

"Why not?"

"Because that's not my name."

"Well it is now." He casually said slipping a spoon of ice cream in his mouth. "Hey are you gonna finish that?" He pointed to my ice cream. I shake my head and push the bowl towards him. "You know...your always quiet."

"I know."

"Why?"

"You know you ask me a lot of questions." I stated.

"I know." He said grinning at me. We sat there in a peaceful silence as he starred out the window finishing my ice cream. I took the time to notice the little things about him. From his defined jaw to his tiny freckles. From the way he chewed to the way he would push up his glasses every now and then. I then noticed he was deep in thought from the way his brows are farrowed. He was looking at our bikes then he spoke.

"What's your favourite colour?" He asked still starring out the window.

"Yellow." I answered.

"Why?" He looked back at me this time.

"Well, why not?"

"Its just...odd." He looked back at our bikes.

"Why do you say that?" Now I was intrigued to hear what he had to say. People always found it weird to like the colour yellow so I guess that's the reason why I liked it.

"Well, its almost as if its not a normal colour, its not like the rest. Most people would go with the usual like red or green. There should be some reason why you like it?" He looked at me curiously.

"Well I'm not a normal girl and I'm not like the others. I like things that stand out from rest." He kept quiet for awhile then spoke again.

"Your right. You are different and unique just like yellow." He smiled and so did I.

"So whats your favourite colour?"

"Blue."

"Why?" Now it was my turn to ask.

"Well the sky is blue and the ocean is blue. I like both the sky and the ocean, so why not like blue? Its beautiful isn't it?" 

"Yes it is." I slightly chuckle at his reason. We suddenly just stared intensely at each other. My heart raced slightly. Every time he would blink everything felt slower and his gaze became stronger. His green orbs were just beauty dipped in perfection.

"Your eyes are so green and pretty." I blurted and quickly covered my mouth. I shouldn't have said that.

"Thanks Stutter." He chuckled and smiled at me.

I looked away and noticed the sun setting. "I should get going." I quickly grabbed my bag and stood up.

"Right." He said before we made our way home.

•••

Thorn and I stopped at a T junction. "Which way are you going?" I asked holding down my bike.

"Straight up. You?"

"Left." I answered. "Well I had a great time, thanks for the ice cream." I smiled at him.

"Sure thing Daza, oh I mean Stutter." I roled my eyes and began pedaling to my destination.

"Bye Stutter!" I heard him shout from behind me.

•••

I tried running to my room trying to avoid the questions that would be thrown at me. I'm not the type to come home this late considering the fact that I never had friends nor a social life. Before I could reach the top of the stairs my name was called. "Hadaza!" I froze were I was, knowing very well who it was. I slowly turned around to see my mother with her arms crossed liked I had expected.

"Why are you back so late?"

"Mama, its only seven o'clock." I looked at her like she went loco.

"Exactly. You come back before me and I was here three hours ago Hadaza. What is it you were doing?"

"How come when Gambo goes out and comes back 12 o'clock no one says anything? You don't even know where he goes. But when its me I get shouted at. I didn't even come home that late." I could see her trying to calm her nerves. She looked like she was about to burst and suddenly I regretted what I just said.

"Did you just back chat me?!" Her accent boomed.

"No, mama." I looked away.

"So answer my question. What were you doing?" My mother repeated.

"I was with a friend."

"What friend because the last time I remember you don't have any?"

Ouch! Did she really have to go there?

"I was with my friend Thorn."

"Your friend is a white boy?" She looked shocked, but more confused.

I wasn't sure if I should lie or what? "Yes?"

It looked as if she were about to say something but she hesitated and changed the topic. "Go and get ready for dinner." I did as told, not wanting to be around that tension.