"It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life." ~Elizabeth Kenny

                               • • •

It's been a few days since my date with Abel and I'm still feeling giddy about it all. The bracelet hasn't left my wrist except for when I shower and I can't help but fiddle with the little charms and smile.

Abel put so much thought into it and it just makes me like him even more for it.

I haven't been able to see him since then though because my parents-especially my mum- have demanded to spend some 'quality' time together. That simply consisted of multiple board games, movies and snacks. Although mum wanted us all to bond more, it honestly just led to me and Marcel arguing more. He's a sore loser and I'm pretty stubborn but what can you do? I argued a lot less with Omari and Nolan but they're still annoying.

Marcel's only a year older than me which means he's heading off to university next year. He's applied to mostly nearby universities like the University of Bath, Bristol university and Gloucester. He has applied to some in London too but I know he's not sure about that.

Anyway, it's currently New Year's Eve and I'm sad to say that I have zero plans. Zilch. Nada. None.

It's pretty sad, I know but it's not my fault. Blame everyone else for not planning something for me to go too. Even Marcel has plans, but then again, he always does. He's annoyingly popular and is constantly surrounded by people at school which is probably why I rarely see him. Not that I mind, I see him enough at home.

I'm currently lying on my sofa with Nolan and Omari while watching The Lion King; yes, I'm watching it again. Like I said, it's my favourite Disney movie.

Nolan's lying on top of me with his head on my chest while eating from the bowl of salted popcorn I made for myself despite my protests. Omari's sitting at the end of the sofa with my legs propped on his lap while texting on his phone.

"You're supposed to be watching the movie Omari." Nolan Says.

Omari ignores him and continues typing away.

"Who are you talking to anyway?" I question.

"Just Zane." He mumbles.

A smile spreads across my face at the thought of him having at least one good friend he can rely on. Like I said before, Omari can be shy around new people meaning he doesn't make friends easily so this is a good sign.

"So, you two are best friends now, then right?" I look at Omari eagerly waiting for his reply.

"He's cool." Is all he responds with. Great conversation.

Deciding to stop hounding him so much, I pick up my own phone to see if I have any messages to find some notifications from the big group chat.

"Now you're on your phone too!" Explains Nolan. "You're both supposed to be watching the movie with me! And it's your favourite Kez!"

Nolan starts to reach for my phone but I expertly move it out of his way, "I know that but people are texting me so just keep watching. I'm still here." I respond softly.

Nolan actually listens to me this time and goes back to watching the film.

I click on the group chat allowing all the messages to show up on my screen
.

Raph: I've decided to have a party tonight. You can all come.

Rolo: Oh gee Raph, I'm so glad you've given us permission as your friends to attend.

Raph: I can easily disinvite you if that's what you want.

Rolo: Please don't, I think I might cry.

And I'm the dramatic one? Really?

Rani: So about this party..

Raph: Starts at 9.

Ana: I'll definitely be there.

Raph: I know that babe, I'm on the phone to you.

Ana: Well I just thought everyone should know.

Evelyn: Your consideration is greatly appreciated.

Israel: Me and Evelyn will be there.

Rani: Is there a theme?

Raph: It's a New Year's Eve party. The theme Is New Years.

Rani: Geez I was just asking. Ana smack your boy for being rude please.

Ana: And I'm supposed to reach through the phone and do that how?

Rani: Figure it out.

Abel: Why are you guys always arguing? Make love not war.

Rolo: We all know that's what you want to be doing with Keziah.

Rani: Especially since you just brought it up.

Abel: What?! No!

Rolo: So you don't want to have sex with Keziah?

Rani: Not feeling the horizontal tango?

Ana: No wham-bam thank you ma'am?

Evelyn: Dancing in the sheets?

Raph: No dipping the wick?

That one made me laugh.

Israel: Don't feel like going balls deep?

Abel: Stop! You disgust me.

Rani: The thought of doing the hanky panky with Kez makes you sick? She's going to be so upset when she reads this.

Abel: I give up.

Me: Really guys?

Rolo: Keziah! We were just talking about you!

Me: Yes I know. And don't worry Abel, I'm not offended. I know how much you crave me.

Abel:Oh yeah? How'd you know that?

Raph: No dirty talk please.

Ana: So are you coming to this party or not Kez?

Me: I'll be there.

Considering it's already 6, I decide to go upstairs to my room and decide on what to wear in order to start getting ready.

Just as I'm getting up, Nolan starts complaining.

"Where are you going?" He sits up on the sofa to look at me. "The movie hasn't finished yet."

"I know but I'm going to a party tonight so I need to get ready." I say.

Nolan stomps his feet on the floor, "You're always going out with your friends especially your boyfriend! You never play with me anymore!" Nolan stands up and runs up the stairs leaving me feeling extremely guilty and sad that I've upset him. Maybe I really haven't been spending enough time with him; I didn't even realise. I'm definitely going to have to change that but not tonight. Tonight, I'll go have fun but speak to him before I leave.

Sighing loudly, I start making my way upstairs.

"Don't worry about him." Omari says while still tapping away on his phone, "He's just having one of his tantrums, he'll get over it."

I think about how Omari could be right but also how young children are bluntly honest. If he said that, then he probably meant it.

Pushing that to the back of my mind, I continue climbing the stairs and walk to my parents' room to ask if I can go.

I knock briefly and wait for them to tell me I can come in before opening up the door.

"What do you want this time Keziah?" My dad continues scrolling through his phone without even looking at me.

Next to him on the bed is mum with her glasses on while reading a book. She's definitely where I got my love of reading from.

"I was wondering if I could go to a party tonight?" I wring my hands together while I wait for a response.

Both my parents look up at me meaning my dad puts his phone down and my mum closes her book.

"Whose party is this?" My mum questions.

"Raphael's. He's one of my friends; you know, the one that's dating Ana." I mean, she probably doesn't know since she's never met him.

"When do you plan on getting home?" My dad asks.

"I'm not sure, maybe 12 or 1?" I suggest to them.

They both look at each other before nodding at me.

"No funny business with Abel as well." My mum gives me a pointed look, "You know the rules."

I roll my eyes and nod at them, "Yes mother. Yes father."

I head out of theirs and into my own which is right at the end of the hallway.

First things first: what am I going to wear.

After racking my brain and destroying my wardrobe for an outfit, I text my friends to see what they're going to wear. Rani claims she's putting on something wild and sensual since it's New Years and for Jaden. Ana has decided on a jumpsuit while Evelyn chose a skirt and tube top. Even after asking them, I'm still no closer to finding something decent. I keep flicking through my wardrobe until I eventually land on a lemon-yellow wrap dress sitting right at the back. I take it out and realise it's the dress I got about a year ago from Nikita as a present; I just never got round to using it and so I guess I forgot. It has a V shaped dip at the front with frills starting at the top and reaching the waist. Around the waist is a thin belt that ties on the side which then leads to more frills that arranged diagonally from the waist to the bottom of the dress. It's a long-sleeved style that is a bit tighter around the upper arms but loosens up halfway down.

Having decided on my outfit I have a quick shower, wrap myself in my grey fluffy robe and take a seat at my table and begin my usual makeup routine. Before I get started, I choose a music playlist and crank up the sound making it loud enough that's it's basically my own pre-party. 

For tonight, I add a smoky eye with a winged eyeliner and even going as far as adding some fake eyelashes to extend my short ones. The things we do.

Instead of using lipstick, I opt for a glossy cherry lip-gloss that make my lips look slightly red. I bet Abel will like the taste of it.

By the time I've put on some jewellery, it's already reached 8 meaning it took me three hours to get ready. That could be mainly because I danced around the room when a song I liked came on, which was often.

Anyway, I told Abel I would just meet him at Raphael's place since he lives pretty close; I didn't think there was any point in him coming all the way over here and then driving all the way back. I'm considerate like that, I know. Instead, Rolo will give me a ride since he lives like 3 houses away.

I slip on a pair of nude wedges and grab a light black denim jacket since I'm going to be inside most of the time.

Remembering how Nolan has acted earlier, I head straight to his room to make sure he's okay.

"Knock knock." I poke my head round Nolan's door allowing him to see that it's me before heading straight in.

"Go away. I don't want to talk to you."  He pouts and crosses his arms while turning away from him.

"Come on Nolan, don't be difficult." I plead.

"Hmph."

He's really going to make this difficult, isn't he?

"Nolan, I promise to spend more time with you okay? You have to understand that as you get older, you will want to go out with your friends more often and that's what I'm doing. You'll always be my little brother though alright?" I force him into one of my big hugs, smothering him with kisses until he eventually gives in and fills the air with his childish giggles.

"Okay okay!" He finally conceded against my brutal attack removing the pout that covered his face.

Nolan lifts his head up to face me and wraps his little arms around my neck, "I love you Kez." He bats his big eyes at me and smiles sweetly.

"I love you too little man." I give him one last hug before saying goodbye and heading to my parents' room.

"I'm about to leave now. Rolo should be here any minute." I say to them.

"Come in to the room properly Keziah, let me see you." My mum gestures with her hand for me to walk in.

I really wanted to avoid fully showing her my outfit because that will only lead to one thing.

"You look beautiful Keziah! I have to take some pictures!" She exclaims.

Yep, pictures. And she doesn't just take a few, she takes loads.

I groan out loud and internally grumble about how she always does this while my dad just sits there and chuckles.

"It's not that funny dad." I say dryly.

"You should be used to it by now Keziah so I don't see why your complaining." My dad shrugs his shoulders at me in a 'what can you do' manor while I just roll my eyes.

After about a gazillion photos, Rolo finally arrives and whisks me away from my hovering mother. I yell out a quick goodbye to Omari before following Rolo to his car. Marcel has already left since he had plans earlier than me.

I jump into the car and strap myself in before Rolo takes off.

"So did your mum do her usual picture taking routine?" He asks with a smirk.

I snort out loud before responding, "You bet she did. I had no chance of escaping it."

"I don't know why you even tried. You honestly should be used to it by now."

I roll my eyes, "That's exactly what my dad said."

"Well your dad is a wise man which therefore means I'm wise too."

I slap his arm slightly at his comment, "Yeah right, you wish."

"Hey, did you know that Marcel came to pick Tenaya up tonight?" Rolo suddenly asks.

This immediately gets my attention, so I turn to face him, "No way, really? Do you know if they were going on a date?" I question.

"Nope, Tenaya didn't tell me anything about it."

"Neither did Marcel. Can't say I'm surprised though, Marce is completely smitten."

"So is T no matter how much she tries to hide it." He sighs out loud, "Ah, young love."

I give him a blank look, "They're both older than us."

"Semantics." He responds.

Right, okay then.

"Oh, I think Temi and Nolan need to hang out more. He's feeling neglected I think." I think back to the sad face he pulled when I told him I was leaving and an immediate wave of guilt rushes over me. I should spend more time with him I guess, he won't stay young forever. The same with Omari actually, but he generally prefers to keep to himself. Hopefully that will change as he grows closer to Zane.

"You realise I live like three houses away from you. You can easily walk to mine." Unless my mind is playing tricks on me, Rolo sounds almost bitter as he says this.

"Um Rolo, you good?" I ask tentatively.

"Perfectly fine." My eyebrows raise at his tone of voice in surprise.

Rolo shakes his head as if clearing his thoughts before throwing me a smile, "Sorry about that, I'm alright. I'll talk to you about it another day."

Deciding not to push him, I merely nod and face the front once again. I wonder what that was about. I think back to anything I possibly could have done but only pull a blank. I push it to the back of my mind and decide that Rolo will tell me in his own time.

I pull my phone out of my jacket pocket to find a text from Abel.

My Abel: Are you nearly here? I want to see you already.

Just like usual, my lips lift up in a smile whenever Abel texts me.

"I'm guessing that's Abel?" Rolo glances at me and smirks.

"Yes, he's asking if we're nearly here." I reply with a smile still on my face.

"Tell him we're ten minutes away."

Me: Rolo says we're ten minutes away. I'm sure you can hold on a little bit longer to see me.

My Abel: I'll try my best Brown Eyes. I'll be at the back of the house when you get here.

Please like and comment!