"Ready?" asked Biko knocking on my door.
"Yup," I said coming out but added "What's there to get ready for, it's just Youths Night."
"You're right. It is very casual," he said smiling. His smile was the thing that aggravated me the most. It looked so… genuine. But how could it? This was Biko, the one who stood by and let my mom burn my purse and did nothing to stop it. "We can take the motorbike because it's not so far."
"Listen, Biko. I just wanted to say, I'm sorry for not being as nice as I should have… I haven't exactly been the best house guest. So, sorry…"
"It is alright. All is forgotten. Well, here is my motorbike! It's not the latest model but it was when my dad was our age." I smiled. Maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad, maybe I wouldn't need to act so much, maybe. Biko handed me a helmet. "Hold on," he said. I put my hands around his waist. He smelt like fresh cinnamon, if that was possible. I smiled and the wind whipped across my face.
When we got to the church I was considerably better mood. A few people came to greet us; black and white people. "Hey Biko! Who's your new friend?" asked a black guy.
"This is Kelsey-"
"Hellllloooo Kelsey. The names George, George Pinolta," he took my hand and was about to kiss it when Biko stepped in.
"You don't need to know him." Biko smiled.
"No?" I asked and smiled back.
"Come, I'll introduce you to some more civilized people." He took my hand away from George's.
"Okay Biko! Be selfish! Keep her all to yourself if you want to!" George yelled after us.
We went in and I met the youth leader, his name was Steve. The people here didn't seem to care about color. They all acted as if it wasn't a big thing at all that Biko had invited a white girl. It was all strange and new to me. It wasn't that I was racist or something. I had black friends and boyfriends in Canada. This was new though. They didn't look like all those thugs back home. Maybe I just didn't like being the different one, the only speck of white in a sea of darkness. Even though I had the feeling I was the speck of black in a sea of pureness.
We played a few games and then Steve got up to say the message. Everyone listened to him and respected him. It wasn't as bad as I thought I would be. Although I didn't want to admit to anyone I had a better time than I had had in years. Steve was actually funny. He was a Christian, I knew that, but he could also crack a joke. It really made me think, but not too much. I had to remember that this was all just a role I was playing until I could go home.
True to my mother's word, Biko introduced me to all of his friends. There was George who was obviously the ladies man, Lucky, Johnson, his sister Selena, and Arielle (I think she had a crush on Biko… I still didn't know why that made me nervous. Biko and I were still enemies in my mind.). They all seemed really nice and by the end of the evening I was laughing and talking with everyone. Right in the midst of all the chattering George said to Biko, "You were right Biko; she is as pretty as you said." He blushed.
"He did?" I asked, surprised that Biko would say something so nice about me to his friends when I was being so mean. What else had he said? I was curious as to what everyone else thought of me, but not too curious.
"Oh yeah! He came to church one day and started bragging about this gorgeous girl who came to live at his house. Except she was a-" started George.
Biko, who was obviously embarrassed, said "What George? I don't know what you're talking about. We should go, Kelsey. Your mom will be expecting us soon… Bye everyone!" I got up to leave and I heard Arielle shriek "Goodbye Biko!"
"Be good, Biko!" yelled Lucky. Biko had turned a tomato red by then and it was obvious that he wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. He turned back and glared at all of them, they smiled back.
"Like I said, don't listen to them." Biko told me when we got on the motorcycle.
"Don't worry about it," I replied but couldn't help bragging. "I get that from loads of guys."
When we got back, mom was at the kitchen table. "How was it kids?"
I had rehearsed what I would say to her all the way here. "It wasn't too bad, I guess… Biko's friends are nice," then I added "I mean of course their nice, there Christians, after all…"Biko followed me.
"Kelsey?"
"What?" I sighed and turned around. I didn't want to have to associate with him longer than I had to.
"Never mind…" he said awkwardly.
I didn't feel like pressing the matter so I just went to bed.