1.

Meet James, Caleb and the

Misconception!
Lying in my bedroom trying not to perceive the
percussions caused by Tanya’s drums, it tormented me so
much that it was utterly destroying me. And as time
passed it felt like I was pulverized completely if I had to
exaggerate. To divert my attention I started staring at
myself in the mirror but somehow it felt like I was staring
at a completely different person at least it felt like that.
The moment broke as soon as my cell phone started
ringing and my luck as soon as I reached my drawer it
stopped ringing.
“Kayla!” I heard my mum shouting.
“Yes, mum coming.”
I tied my hair in a rough bun and marched downstairs. I
saw my mum through the pane standing with another
man. The surge of emotions did not force me to smile but
I had to. One more jerk to face! I thought to myself.
“Hey guys,” I said politely, trying to hide the rage.
“Hey Kayla, darling, where is Tanya? I wanted you both
to meet James”.
As mum said that I could hear Tanya march downstairs,
she was at the foot of the stairs when mum introduced us.
“Tanya and Kayla, meet James – my colleague”
“Oh, it's nice to meet you, Mr. James.” Tanya said
implying her asking his full name.
“It’s Anderson, James Anderson,” James intoned.
I was merely watching the exchange. “Would you like to
have cognac or coffee or –”
“Coffee would be fine,” Tanya escorted James into the
living room.
It felt like for once she liked someone mum brought
home. Everyone got seated and started talking randomly.
James had got us gifts. I took hold of my gift. The
wrapping was exquisite. Mine had a royal blue surface
with silver 8 pointed stars. I opened it and found a black
velvet rectangular box and there lied down a perfect piece
of art. It was in round crescent shape and inside it had
metal carvings in a shape of Maltese and right in between
there laid a perfect stone. The stone looked like sapphire;
it was an amazingly beautiful pendant.
Tanya had the same pendant but with a different stone – it
was black topaz. We said our thanks and took our leave.
Tanya took off for her drum practice. I went up to my
room, contended thinking about my mum and how our
lives had changed when dad passed away. I was twelve
and Tanya was ten. Six years had passed. Mum had
started dating a year back which was odd at first but then
we got used to it. I was just worried about the fact that it
might leave a bad impact on Tanya. I just wanted mum to
be happy and I hoped James was her way to happiness. I
was cogitating that James wasn’t that bad.
Suddenly I remembered I had to go shopping with Janette
– my best friend. I got up, got ready and said my farewell
and took off for the mall. I had about five minutes to
spare or Janette would surely kill me. It was Derek’s
birthday today a.k.a Janette’s boyfriend. And I had to get
a perfect dress for myself. I was thinking of getting a
Galliano dress with Christian Louboutins. I smiled as I
saw Janette standing outside the mall waiting for me.
I got out and hugged Janette, she was a little pissed off as
I hadn’t received her call but all was forgotten as we
started discussing what we were going wear. Janette had
been my best friend since kindergarten and I just loved
her. She had progidous looks with bleach blonde hair,
honey colored eyes and stark white skin. As for me, I
thought of myself as an ordinary girl with ordinary looks.
The fact that I had pale white skin with sleek, black,
straight hair and gray eyes did not wow me that much.
That was all for my acumen.
I bought a white Galliano dress with metallic Christian
louboutins and Derek a Skywalker perfume. Janette
reminded me to call my mum that I had a sleepover at
Janette’s after the club birthday party.
“So mum has a new boyfriend, nah actually it’s her
colleague but whatever,” I told Janette rolling my eyes.
Janette was standing in front of the mirror admiring her
reflection. “Oh c’mon Kayla, it’s not like it’s the first time
she’s dating. Let her live. Just enjoy the party tonight.”
I was sprawled on Janette’s bed and thought of listening
to Janette’s advice for the night.
“So what did you get Derek?” my eyes mischievous.
“I thought you would never ask, ha-ha, nothing
embarrassing I promise.” She dodged the question.
“C’mon what’s there to hide from me? U can tell me.”
“Yeah I know, I was just teasing you, I didn’t know what
to get, and so I just got him tickets to the next Dave
Mathews Band.”
“Yeah not a bad idea. Yo, you promised me a ticket to the
metric concert, remember?”
“Guess what, Caleb’s coming tonight.” Janette said while
showing me her olive green Dior dress.
“With his girlfriend?” was my skeptic reply.
“He broke up with her,”
“When did that happen?” I asked feeling hopeful
Caleb was Derek’s best friend.