"Have you read today's paper?"

"No, why?" I asked my best friend who was clearly excited by something that was published on the paper.

"See for yourself."

I wished to drown. It was a picture of me with Ryan. An intimate one, I must say. I could not believe I was the in the center of gossip. Well, maybe not center — there were other people's pictures too (celebrities and such), but mine was also there on one side of the page.

"You with a man so gorgeous. I believe there is a first time for everything. Right?" Emma was practically bouncing.

"Wrong. He simply asked me to dance and I said yes, which I can see was a bad decision. I don't even know if we will meet again."

"Bollocks," she said. "Bad decision or not, it was time you danced with someone other than your father. Or some son of one of your father's acquaintances, who clearly not used to be interested in you."

"As if I was interested in them. I'm not even interested in talking about them. Or," I added, "About Ryan."

"So his name is Ryan?"

"I'm going to class. Bye. See you at lunch. Share your food with me." I smiled at her.

"Of course," I heard her mumble before heading towards my classroom.

***

It was Mrs. Smith's calculus class—she was one of the strictest teachers of our school. Every student would have to pay attention in her class, whether that student understood what she was teaching or not. It was an unsaid rule. Though I usually understood almost everything, that day I felt distracted. Almost everyone, even the ones I had never spoken to had asked me about Ryan. I hated those interrogations, I just wanted to go somewhere alone.

I was trying to focus on a question while a note fell on my copy from over my shoulder. "How did he dance? ;p" was written on it. I looked over my shoulder and Ben Parks winked at me. I had known him since childhood. He was one of my good friends and he was gay, though that information was known only to some .

I scribbled on the back of the paper, "I did not realize dancing with a guy could be this torturous," and passed it over to Ben.

A few seconds later another note fell on my copy saying, "You forgot to mention gorgeous guy, handsome guy etc. ;) ;) ;)" It made me chuckle.

"Ms. Hill, perhaps you would want to share with us the reason you are smiling." I heard Mrs. Smith's voice. Muttering profanity at Ben under my breath, I started thinking about a reasonable excuse.

"I'm not going to wait forever. You can tell us the reason behind your sweet laugh or you can get out of the class."

"Um...it's nothing actually, Mrs. Smith. I...um...I finally understood the method by which this problem I've been trying to solve since morning could be solved. I'm sorry, I got a little excited," I said what came in my mind first.

Narrowing her eyes, Mrs. Smith looked at me for a few seconds. Then, she nodded and went back to teaching. I felt like a block had been uplifted from my chest.

***

"Found solution to a problem? Seriously? I would've taken the opportunity to go out of the class." Ben was at my desk as soon as Mrs. Smith's class ended.

"No you wouldn't have." I needed to find Emma and so I excused myself.

"Wait, Venus. I'm coming too," Ben said. As I gave a confused expression, he explained that we three had not eaten lunch together since forever. That was true, we used to hang out almost every day in middle school.

We found Emma hovering over the school noticeboard with about fifty other students, all from senior class like us. "What's the news?" I asked

"See for yourself," Emma said before stepping away from the bulletin board which read:

Like Every year, this year also, The Riverview High has organized an educational tour of The Cambridge University campus and its departments for the senior class, next week. All the seniors are allowed to visit. The school authority hopes that this tour will help the students to acquire knowledge about the subjects they want to study in college and will also encourage them. Those who want an interview with the Dean, must visit The Principal's office.

Thank you.

"This year they have preponed the visit a month," I noted.

"I believe the nerds will faint out of joy. After all, this is their most anticipated event of the year. No offense, Venus." Emma said offering her chocolate to me.

"Why would I be offended? Nerds are cool." I took a huge bite from Emma's chocolate. "

"Hey! No chocolate for you. Ever."

"Yeah, so you always say."

"Whatever, Venus—" she looked sideways and seemed to notice Ben for the first time. "—I am quite surprised that Parks decided to accompany us, today."

"And I am quite surprised when I saw you reading that notice so carefully," I mentioned.

"Yeah, I decided to see what it offered. My mother's health has again deteriorated, so I wanted to be near, you know." Emma's parents were divorced when she was only twelve, and soon after there were some problems with her mother's kidney.

"I am so proud of you, Emma. You know, everything will be alright." I hugged my best friend.

"I hope so." Emma pulled out of the hug and called out to Ben, "Already abandoned us?"

"No, no— I am sorry...I was just talking to a friend," Ben flashed a goofy smile.

"No excuses. Now show me what you have brought for lunch." Though Emma asked him to show, she did not really wait for him, instead grabbed the lunchbox from him, herself.

***

"You are home early today," I said to my mom after returning from school. She generally came home after six and not as early as three-thirty in the afternoon.

"Yes. Actually, I have to go meet someone at De Freville. How was your school?"

"It was fine. I felt like I was going to be ambushed by over-eager students, courtesy to the picture from the ball." I rolled my eyes.

"Don't be so coy. It's nothing," my mother waved her hand somewhat lazily. "Speaking of which, I am actually going to meet Eleanor today. You may come with me."

"What? Why? No." I was as confused as I sounded. Why would she want to meet Mrs. Waters?

"She plans to open a café. So, she wants to have some insight over the marketing and advertising. She asked me yesterday." Oh.

"But why isn't she meeting you at your office? Isn't that more professional?" Were the fates playing some sick joke on me?

"I suppose it is. But that doesn't give you the right to behave like this, Venus."

"I am sorry, but...."

"No buts. You are going to De Freville with me." Making my mom angry was always a bad idea. But this punishment was way worse than that.

"Fine. But, atleast tell me why did you have to come early for this? "

"Eleanor told that afternoon will be a peaceful and quiet time to discuss the marketing prospects. And I also agree to that."

I went near my mother. "That's true. So... no one else will be present now? Just asking..." I tried to do a casual shrug. I did not want to see Ryan— not again, not ever.

"No. I guess not," she said while adjusting the cushions. "Okay, enough talking. Now, go freshen up." Knowing that Ryan was not going to be there should have eased up my mind but for some reason it did not.

"Sure. I'll be quick," I said to her, though in reality I wanted to delay the visit as much as possible.

____________________________

This is a filler chapter. Wrote it to show some instances in Venus's normal, usual, boring day.

So, she is going to Ryan's house. Who's excited? I can assure you, Venus is not. XD

Vote/ comment/ share if you liked the chapter. ♡♡