THE PURSUITS OF SHAIYA FONTAINE

5

I thought about Rashan a lot for the next two days. He had really dampened my mood after our exchange of words in Shaq and Marcel's kitchen. I returned to the garden hurriedly, swiftly followed by Rashan moments later causing Danielle and Jaycee to immediately become alert, curious looks spreading across their faces.

I knew Danielle and Jaycee could see from the sourness in my expression that I was not happy and it wasn't long before we were all exchanging messages between each other in our WhatsApp group chat as the boys continued to converse with one another unwittingly. The other participants of the group chat included Kayla, Stephanie and Riah who were all confused by the messages Danielle was sending at first:

Danielle: What did he say to you?

Riah: Who?

Stephanie: I think you're messaging the wrong chat babe

Kayla: What are you on about?

I smiled at this as I responded with a chunky paragraph that detailed the conversation Rashan and I had in Shaq and Marcel's kitchen.

Riah: Oh so Rashan finally plucked up the courage to speak to you?

Jaycee: Can I talk to him please?

Riah: NO

Stephanie: Hell no

Danielle: No.

Kayla: LOL YES PLEASE AND CAN I BE THERE WHEN YOU DO IT?

I snuck a glance over at Jaycee who had now settled on the outdoor plastic chair Marcel had been sitting on before he received a phone call and went back into the flat through the kitchen. Jaycee's eyes also skidded over to Danielle and me at the same time catching my eye. We shared a smile before I shook my head, my body beginning to bounce up and down in the same rhythm as Danielle's hushed laughter behind me. Jaycee, Danielle and I's phones vibrated simultaneously when Riah's message came through:

Riah: But what would you really say to him JC?

Jaycee: To fix up

I rolled my eyes at this before typing my response: Fix up for what reason? So we can try again?

Jaycee: Yeah

Riah: Are you all right JC?

Danielle: Excuse me?

Stephanie: Jaycee explain yourself please because we are not on the same page right now

I narrowed my eyes at my phone screen before looking over my shoulder at Danielle whose facial expression also showcased her disapproval we then glance over at Jaycee in unison directing our questioning looks on to her but she was staring down at her phone as she typed rapidly with one thumb.

Jaycee: I'm not condoning Rashan's behaviour but at the end of the day he is weak minded, young boys make mistakes, they are easily tempted, they act stupid, they are prideful but he's like a toddler who touched the stove. He knows what it feels like to lose you now, he has a lesson to associate the mistake with and with a little guidance he can do better.

I could hear Danielle reading Jaycee's message under her breath in a rushed, impatience pace, while I reread it not knowing how to feel, I saw that Riah had begun typing.

Riah: Guidance from you?

Jaycee: Yes

Kayla: I think you should hear him out too Shai

I shook my head in disbelief as I started typing on my phone getting ready to remind them in the simplest terms what he did because it seemed like Jaycee and Kayla had forgotten.