Fool's Paradise

Chapter Eight

Evening came and students made their way to the main hall. It was movie night. No one needed to be chased out of the dormitories because movie night was more popular than dance night. For many it wasn’t popular for the films shown but for the darkness it accorded. Only the senior ones, a handful of the Senior Twos and the low status students in the school hierarchy actually watched whatever was showing.

For the first half-hour everyone paid attention to the screen, they all enjoyed the music videos but once they were over most people went about their business.

The main hall filled up as students took their places. Boys sat on one side and girls sat on the other. That soon changed when the lights went off. The entertainment begun and most of the prefects went through the motions of monitoring but they too did as the people they were monitoring, discreetly of course.

Kaye Morrison felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Suzanne Aseya smiling down at him. Settling her stool between his legs, she leaned her back against his chest. His hands circled her waist as she snuggled closer and they settled down to watch the movie.

Theo Kamali prowled around the back part of the main hall looking for Danston Mugoya. He found him in the corner by the back door sipping on some bungu from his tea flask.
Morgan Mushega joined them for a few quick sips and was on his way, spraying breath freshener into his mouth and sucking on a mint.

Morgan spotted Aida prowling about and quickly engaged her in conversation as he steered her towards the main door, “One of my boys tells me that kids are sneaking out of the hall, and we need you to man the door…um, pun unintended.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Who would dare try sneak out with you at the door?”
“You’ve got a point there! What will you be doing?”
“Patrolling around the hall; I’ve got more spies than the CIA.”
“I can’t argue with that. Later then.”
“Yeah, later.” And Morgan grinned as Aida walked away and he made a beeline for Connie Mafabi.

Theo chuckled and shook his head, saying, “There goes our Head Boy after a quick drink with the commoners.”
“Aah, but not just any commoners but we, the chief commoners, his friends. The general school population is not aware that he drinks and smokes so that makes it easier for him garner its respect by performing his duties well without being tarnished by his vices.”
“Brother please, pass me a dictionary!”
“Idiot!” Danston grinned.
“No, but seriously, you just made him sound like a politician.”
“Well, basically he is. After all he’s the head of the student government.”

César Kamani was sitting with Alex Dramadri underneath the back window, not far from Theo and Danston. On the screen Destiny’s Child’s “breathless” music video was showing. Alex grumbled how about how there was nothing to get him breathless. “I thought you had chilled byanas,” said César,
“Well, not totally, it’s always nice to have a girl around to flirt with. You know… a little action.” César laughed and told him that the movie they were about to watch was action packed; it would keep him entertained. "That's not the kind of action I was referring to," Alex pointed out. César shrugged his shoulders, “Yeah, whatever.”

For once, César was content to just sit and watch. It was nice not having to pay attention to a girl, putting all his energy in pleasuring her. Although he was a little sad at his loss, it felt good to be free. Actually, if he were more honest with himself he would admit that he was more than just a little sad. He missed Laura a great deal but he was dealing with it.

Alex noticed Imelda Ariko heading in their direction with Juliana Kagimba and he cursed vehemently. César chuckled, “Well you did say that you were looking for some action and here it comes.” Alex glared at him, which amused César even more.

The girls joined them, Imelda sitting as close to Alex as possible. “There’s plenty of space around you know,” Alex informed her.
“Yes, I know, but it’s a little chilly in here don’t you think?” César and Juliana suppressed their laughter; it was like an oven in the hall.

Although Imelda irritated him Alex had to admit that she was looking fine tonight. In addition, her hand on his thigh was doing things to him that he hadn’t expected. He tried to ignore her but her hand was creeping up his thigh. He tried to move his leg but she wasn’t to be deterred. Irritated by his lack of self-control, he brushed her hand from his crotch and crossed his legs. Imelda sulked as she moved away from him, much to his relief.

César chuckled, “It looks like Imelda won’t be getting what she wants tonight.”
“I can understand her frustration, I find myself in the same boat.”
“Juliana, we’ve been over this –”
“Look, I know you’re still hung up on Laura but I’d like to be with you just this once and I promise you that I’ll never bother you again.”
César was silent for a moment, hesitant, and then he found his body taking over from his brain. He pulled her to him, “Just this once.” She nodded the affirmative. “You promise?” An exasperated yes followed and soon they were intent on each other’s bodies.

After a short while César pulled away. “I can’t do this. I know it sounds crazy, César Kamani, the school stud is saying no to sex. Juliana, you’re a fine chick and all but I’m tired of it all. I’d like to be me without all this pressure.” Juliana just looked at him and he continued, “Please don’t be mad. I like you a great deal, but I don’t want to have sex with you.”
“I’m not mad at you. A little frustrated, but I’m not mad. You’ve been expressing your reservations about your lifestyle. I actually respect you trying to do something about it. I’ll stop contributing to your frustrations.”
“Thank you.” Then César laughed and Juliana asked what was funny. “Kaye and Theo will probably never forgive me for turning down an opportunity to have sex.”
“Yeah well, they’re not in your shoes. The decision is yours to make.”

Towards the front of the main hall Anthony whispered into James’ ear, “I’ve got a surprise for you later tonight.”
“Am I going to like it?” James whispered back.
“Oh, yes you are.”
“What is it?”
“It won’t be a surprise then, will it?” James shrugged his shoulders and pretended to be nonchalant. Whenever Anthony had a surprise for him, he usually didn’t like it. He now couldn’t concentrate on the film he had initially set out to enjoy.

On the other side of the hall Cassandra Kamani was seated with Kamal Latif. She pretended to be engrossed in the film on the screen. She was so excited to have him by her side that she didn’t know what to do with herself.

Kamal didn’t know what to do either. Cassandra was a nice girl. She went through a wild phase but she seemed to have settled down. Actually, the story around St Andrew’s was that even during her wildness no boy had come close to bedding her with the exception of that incident with Yona and his crew at Mama Sissy’s.

He had also heard through the grapevine that she was into him. That piece of information had sent him to seventh heaven for he’d had a crush on her for ages but hadn’t done anything about it because he had thought she didn’t look at him in that way; and also the fact that César was known to get violent over his sister. At the thought of him Kamal looked around for César. Cassandra held his hand as if to reassure him. They sat that way for the remainder of the film, none of them able to concentrate on the story.

Meanwhile, not too far away, Connie Mafabi was practically mauling Morgan Mushega, rubbing herself against him, nibbling on his ear and thrusting her tongue down his throat. All this failed to excite him. What was wrong with him? Many guys would kill to be in his current position. He liked Connie and thought that she was attractive, but she just didn’t excite him. Into what had he gotten himself?