Chapter Eleven

I hate lying ... But this isn't a lie. She was Bella and she was a Goldfish. I roll my shoulders back. The wave of guilt washes away.
Zoe leads the conversation. I just make sure to hmm and uh-huh in all the right places. She pushes the cafeteria doors and I suck in a huge breath and let it out slowly.
Oh shit.
Zoe introduces me to a couple of her friends, whose names I forget the second she mentions them. I'm the focus of all eyes. Since, I bagged the bakantwa girls who considered me a nerd, a weirdo come up to the table to compliment me on something, from my hair do to my plain face and nails. Boys who I bet never knew I existed, now find an excuse to be near me at the table. Some of them flirt with the most ridiculous pickup lines. Others are too scared of Kaseke sitting across me to do anything besides wink at me.
Our table is surrounded by wannabes, all veying for my attention. They stare longingly at me, and I realize, I am the object of not just interest but of envy too. I feel one of the girl's eyes linger at the fake Bakantwa I now have displayed on the table. I was tired of taking it out every time someone new came to the table and asked to see it.
A group of five girls walks up to our table.
"Hi, Imani," one of the girls says shyly.
"Your sword looks amazing."
Another laughs nervously. "And so does your hair."
"Thanks, girls." I say, and bestow them with my best smile ever. My cheeks hurt. "You have the selfless sword. I'd have loved to have it."
The girls squeal and walk away, constantly turning to look at the sword. As soon as they're out of earshot, a girl Zoe introduced as Thando turns to us and rolls her eyes. "That is a useless gift," she says. "Who'd want to be helping people each second, everyday."
They rest of the girls laugh. I tune them out. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to be in the moment. My mind keeps wandering.
I can't help but notice that D'ziko's table is empty. He wasn't in self-defense class today. I haven't heard some girl lie about him winking at her. Maybe he's not in school. Ugh. Why am I even noticing.
"Hey, Imani...?" Zoe says, shaking me. "Your food is getting cold. Who are you searching for anyway?"
When I look down, sure enough there's a tray full of animal food. I frown at the green beans, the carrots, the broccoli and mashed potatoes. What am I supposed to do with them? Go feed rabbits and horses? Or she wants to kill me, when has she ever seen a Noddon survive on leaves and rabbit foods?
My plate is the same as hers. No wonder her body is so perfect.
Kaseke laughs beside me and pushes his trey so it's between us. He leans over and whispers, "now you see why I won't marry her?"
We laugh and the whole cafeteria stops to stare. Idiots.
I close my eyes and eat a huge spoonful of rice, baked beans and top it off with a huge bite of pork ribs. My toes curl. These ribs are perfectly done. I take another huge bite.
When I open my eyes, everyone is looking at me and they've gone silent. I laugh nervously and wipe my face, least I don't have food on my cheeks. I look at Thanda sitting across me to ask her what she's looking at but notice she's actually staring past me, at something behind me.
I turn too. Curious. It's the same time that a tall figure comes to stop behind me. I sit up so fast that I accidentally knock Kaseke's food to the floor. D'ziko puts his hands on my shoulders. His hands are warm and slightly moist. If I didn't know better I'd think he is nervous.
My eyes find his and a thousand bottled emotions explode inside me.
Calm down, it's only D'ziko.
"Hey, Imani," he says. "I heard that you were looking for me."
I don't want to go there. "You know, I liked you better with the cloak off."
He looks down at me and smiles.
I hear gasps.
He nods at the rest of the table, who can't seem to do much else except stare at him.
He points at my neck and frowns. "Doesn't it hurt? Your head's done a complete 180."
He's teasing me. And I like it. He smirks. I keep my face straight and blurt out the truth.
"I couldn't help myself."
The smirk disappears and he stares at me. The moment lasts so long that my heart gets stuck on my throat. I swallow.
"Come with me," he says, extending a hand. "Please."
I take it and my cheeks flame when the murmurs finally break through the whole cafeteria. I finally let put a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Sure."
I'm really glad Kaseke's friends won't hear me embarrass myself anymore.
"I know it's short notice but since you'd already agreed," he says as he leads me away from the table. "I thought we'd have lunch together."
Kaseke is following us. He's even brings a tray of food with him.
We stop and turn around. He stops too.
"What are you doing?" I ask my brother.
Kaseke rolls his eyes. Hard. "You don't think I'd let you have lunch with him, unsupervised, do you?"
"No. Kaseke. Not happening."
"Imani--"
"I said no."
"Are you sure this D'ziko is a nice guy?" he whisperes. "I want to make sure he's not some serial killer or worse, the essence thief."
Oh Leza. Could this get anymore embarrassing? D'ziko is standing right here.
I glare at my brother. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Ridiculous? Really?" Kaseke looks shocked. "No one knows for certain what this boy looks like. Nobody but you."
I sigh and keep walking. D'ziko follows. I'm already half way to his table.
"Be careful, Steel," Kaseke shouts after me.
"So sorry about my brother," I say.
He just shrugs.
When we get to his table he pulls a chair for me. I think hard, acutely aware everyone within a five meter radius is straining to hear our conversation. Does he really think I'm going to sit with all these people watching our every move. Can't we go outside or something?
He looks up at me and then at room and sighs.
“You could sit down with me and have cow tribe in creamy white wine sauce, your favorite, or you could cause a scene and draw more attention to us than there already is,” he says.
I hesitate.
The food is just too damn inviting. Too delicious looking for me to pass up.
I sit.
D'ziko's an idoit. He's brought alcoholic merryz, I’m at school, and he brought wine.
He's set the table with a navy table cloth. How'd he know my favourite colour?
He smiles at me as he dishes up. I can't help but wonder what exactly is hidden behind his dark silver eyes, behind his beautiful smile. An aura of mystery surrounds him.
I feel him staring as I eat.
"It's very rude to stare," I say, scowling at him. "Didn't anyone ever tell you that?"
"Mother might've mentioned that once," he says, his mouth twisting up into a smile. "Probably twice."
He glances over his shoulder at Kaseke. My brother looks ready to kill someone. Of course he's listening. D'ziko sighs. And turns to look at me.
D'ziko stares. He's quiet, and I feel a sudden, compulsive need to feel the moment with speech. "You're doing it again."
"Hmm...?" he says, looking as though I've just pulled him out of his reverie.
I feel his questioning gaze on me, smell his scent, and I suddenly become more aware of him. I focus on getting my breathing back to normal.
"Staring," I say stupidly. "You're staring at me. Again."
He blinks. "I'm sorry. It's just..." Then he looks at me for so long that I start to shiver, half nerves and half something else. "I'm trying to figure you out."
I frown. By looking at me?
"I don't get why you're with me now, in this moment. You figured a way to steal my sword when so many have tried. And for whatever reason, you failed to recognize me at your shop. I just... what are thinking, Imani?"
"Right now?"
He nods. "You're frowning as though you can't fathom what on earth I'm on about."
He's right. I still don't get why he might be interested in anything about me or anything I have to say.
I smile at him. "I'm thinking if we don't eat this food it will get cold."
He smiles back. "Right."
"And how'd you expect me to recognize you, it was the first time seeing your face. You always wore a mask."
He picks up a piece of homemade bread from my plate and takes a bite. There's bread in his plate too.
"This one tastes much better," he says.
The light catches and holds on his features, I can't stop looking. He looks wonderful -- tall, handsome, bronzed. What more could a girl ask for in a black man?
He clears his throat, uncomfortable. "Surely my eyes would've given you a clue."
"You covered those too, remember?" I say, struggling to think with D'ziko so close to me. "Always wearing sunglasses."
"You noticed?" he says so softly that I have to strain to hear him.
My cheeks flame.