TANGLED

CHAPTER FOUR

"Girl, are you ready for tonight's party?"

I ask Annette as we are coming from our classes.

"Can't wait for it, you'll lend me one of those short dresses of yours, I need to smell like money today."

"Anything for you girl."

Garissa university was actually turning out to be more fun than I expected. I've been here for only three months and I'm getting used to it, don't get me wrong though, I still hate my bed, and the food is so disgusting, but I always find a way to get food from outside sources. Just to prove my parents wrong, taking me to a deserted school doesn't kill the beast in me, but only unleashes it two times stronger than it was. I can see my mom's face when she realizes I'm actually having more fun than I ever had back in my home city.

"Benjamin I'm so fed up with this daughter of yours."

I would really love to hear her say that. It's Steve's birthday today and we are going to rock the place, he actually booked us a club somewhere outside the school where we can go and have fun.

"See how Luis is looking at you, girl that guy just wants to get into your pants, be very careful with him, but then again I hear he can go all night, I wish Steve could do that for me."

I thought I was the one who never stopped talking, but this girl is worse, apart from the fact that she sleep talks which I hate, she never shuts her mouth during the day. But she is more fun than those other girls in hijabs all over the school.

" I thought Luis has a girlfriend, not that I want him as a boyfriend, but I am not ready for some lady trying to pull out my gorgeous hair in a battle for him."

"Forget 'bout him girl today it's all about that party, he will be there though, so if you want to steal a kiss or rather get him to your bed which I would actually do if I were you, it's none of my business, my guy is having a birthday today and I'll make sure he gets all the fun."

I know all the fun she is talking about is s*x, this girl, she can get it the whole day and night and don't complain about it, she makes me miss Caleb. But that Luis guy I think he's going to be my perfect replacement for Caleb.

"None of these dresses fit me, oh God, why don't I have a booty?"

Annette always complaints about how slim she is, she has been trying on all my dresses the whole time ever since we got back to the room from classes.

"But I like your body don't see anything wrong with it." I try to convince her.

"Yea, you say that because you have a perfect figure, you sure you didn't Nikki Minaj your booty? I really envy it."

"No, I didn't, this is natural, and more so it's nothing close to Nikki Minaj's."

I wish she knew how I didn't like my body, I always felt my hips were too wide, and it's just too stressful to be careful with what I eat because I never want to add a single pound to my weight.

"I envy you." She says with a smile.

"Actually, I think I have the perfect dress for you."

"Really? But I thought these are all the party dresses you have."

"There's one, it's an exception, and I know it will fit you, it's elastic."

I could see the smile on her face as I gave her my favorite black dress. When she put it on, it fitted her perfectly that I was actually jealous.

I couldn't wait for the party, I was going to make sure I have all the fun in the world.

"Yees! Now, this is fun, Annette I swear I have never had such fun my whole life."

The party was just awesome, for the first time I felt like letting go of the resentment I have for life in the university.

"I love you Garissa university!"

"I knew you would eventually love it gal," Annette tells me with a lot of excitement.

We were swaying our hips on the dance floor like two stupid morons, Annette wasn't that bad a dancer as for me,I knew I was good at twerking, and with the dress, I was wearing I knew all eyes were on me.

Steve came to pick Annette for a dance and I was left all bored.

"I'll just refill my drink over there," I tell her as I leave for the bar.

I stood there with my legs crossed, one of my hands on one of the tables, and the other holding my glass of champagne. I knew I looked good so I was enjoying the moment of attention.

"Hey, enjoying the party?"

"Luis!" I was so lost in my fun that I didn't see him come to where I was, I was startled.

"Hey, Yea, I'm having a lot of fun," I tell him.

"Wanna dance?" He holds out his hand for me and I don't hesitate to take it, I mean the night won't be complete if I don't get at the very least a dance from Luis.

"Sure." We head for the dance floor, he holds my waistline and I cross my arms on his shoulder. That dance was so intimate, I could feel how he couldn't keep his hands off my ass. I just hope his b***h Benta isn't seeing this.

"That dress looks amazing on you by the way."

At last, he recognized how I was dressed.

"Thanks."

"You are such a beautiful woman Olivia. I liked you from the first day I saw you, and I know I have a girlfriend and all that but I do want something serious, and Benta, well she is not the perfect person for that. I want you."

Wait, was he just confessing he likes me? Yea, I knew he did but him wanting a serious relationship? This guy must be joking, do I even look anything close to being a girlfriend?

Yes, you do. God, my subconscious can't just keep off.

"This is the part where you are supposed to say something, Olivia."

"Oh, Luis I know you like me, and I like you too like a lot, but I don't want to get in the middle of your relationship with Benta, and I'm not that type that does relationships."

"What?" I know he is astonished by that, but I had to tell him, I don't want him getting everything wrong.

"But, I think I have an idea, come with me before everyone sees."

"What?"

"Okay that's it, stop the whats and just follow me."

I drag him with me and we are out of the club, I know Annette can take care of herself. This is the opportune time for me to get what I want from Luis. I want us to go back to school.

"I know I can walk to school from here but I am not so sure about you."

Of course I can.

Just because I am a rich kid doesn't mean I don't know how to walk, and more so, the school wasn't that far away from where we were.

He holds my hand as we are walking, one minute he is kissing me the other he is carrying me, I hate to admit it but it kinda feels good. We got back to school in about twenty minutes maximum, I managed to convince him to sleep in my room for the night. When we open the door, I feel this nauseating feeling like I would fall anytime. It was so bad I ran to the washrooms and vomited like some stupid dog.

"You okay Olivia?" Luis asks as he pats my back and holds my hair behind me.

"Yea, I think I drank too much, I'll just sleep it off."

I rise to walk but I am too weak I stumbled and he holds me, the next thing, I was being swooped off the floor to my room. He put me to sleep and made me as comfortable as possible.

"I'll stay over just in case you need me."

He was being so sweet, it had been long since I felt this comfortable and so I embraced the opportunity and slept off.

The place was cool, I was enjoying every single moment in it, and he was there Luis, he was being all lovey-dovey with me.

"You know I have always loved you, Olivia, you are that exact person I have been waiting for all my life, and I know you are a strong lady or rather you force it to yourself, but deep down you are broken and I am here to repair that broken piece."

This felt good, for once someone had seen the broken side of me, the other Olivia, the Olivia that cries when alone and is so afraid of heartbreak. I smiled and touched his chin to pull him closer but I couldn't, my hand passed through him, he wasn't there, he was an illusion. I tried to open my mouth to say something but I didn't have a voice then I heard him call me from behind.

"Olivia...Olivia...."

"Olivia...Olivia.. wake up you need to hide."

What the heck? It was a dream but then again Luis was calling me, I quickly open my eyes and see him there, on the floor in a pool of blood, oh no, he has been shot, Luis has been shot! I quickly climb down my bed and sit on the floor next to him, and he is not the only one, Steve and Annette were there both lying in a pool of blood. They were quiet, unconscious, no, they were dead.

"Luis, stay with me, you can't die please."

Tears were falling from my eyes I couldn't hold it someone has killed my friends, we have been attacked, this is impossible.

"Luis please,,please"

"Run!" was the last word that came from his mouth as he closed his eyes and breathed his last.

"Oh, God! Noo! Luis... Luis." But he was dead he was gone I couldn't hold myself I cried in pain this must be a dream, yes it's a dream and when I wake up everything will be fine, everyone will be there, life will be back normal, but no it's not a dream.

I feel a presence in front of me, the murderer, so he is here to complete the job, but I don't want to die, I fear death, I don't want to die, I close my eyes and pray to the heavens to keep me alive, I have a lot to live for.

Then,

I lift my eyes and I'm met with an AK 47 hand rifle pointed at my forehead, I'm so scared to my heels but something tells me to look at my executor at the very least I need to know who's ending my life. I can't actually see him because he is wearing a face mask, but I manage to see his eyes, those unique eyes, they look innocent at one point like he actually wasn't going to end me but at the same time they scare me because he is actually going to kill me, they are light in color and I mean for a black man I think I've only managed to see those eyes in a movie, and that will have to be Michael Ealy my favorite black Hollywood actor, but just to be clear this is not a movie and neither is the person standing in front of me Michael Ealy.

I know the last thing that should be crossing my mind right now is an escape plan, but it crossed my mind, though I know it's impossible because I am covered in a pool of blood, not my blood I hope and dead bodies are lying around me, not just one or two dead bodies, a number of them and these people are my friends and schoolmates. I can hear screams of pain from the other hostels as gunshots are being fired.

This is it, this is my last day to breathe and the last words I hear are, "I'll deal with this one," and as I close my eyes to embrace the darkness and the bullet coming my way, I can't help but think of her, that one special person that is attached to me, all I can manage to say is, "I LOVE YOU BABY." then I feel this strong blow on my head and everything goes dark.

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