"Merlen?"
"What J?"
She said sulking.

"Why do you kill my joy?"
I asked annoying her more.

"I don't like repeating myself. But I'll do it for the last time- stop calling my name so often!"
She said irritated.

I knew she was not irritated. She was just being melodramatic to get on my ass. Infact she loved the way I was crazy for her name and all of her.

"I was wondering what your name means."
I asked her.

"What do you think it means?"
She asked curiously interested for my answer.

"Merlen... Hmmmm.. A bird...?"
"Bingo! You guessed it right!"
She smiled genuinely and I felt proud to make her happy. Also I felt devilish because I didn't really guess it. Thanks to ass Neil.

"It suits you so well. Just those feathers are missing. Oh wait. There must be a few in your hair. Come here, I'll take them out."
I said as I got my hands close to her head.

"Don't you dare touch my hair!"
She slapped my hand and I heard a snicker at some distance.

Bitch Neil!

"Won't you let me touch your hair when I wake you up in the morning?"
I used my sweetest smile.

She looked at me more pissed.
"I'll kick you if you do that."

"What? Why?!"
"You wake up at 4 in the morning. Dare you even flinch next to me and wake me up."
She ordered me.

I laughed so loudly others looked at me.
Merlen looked at me annoyed for a few moments. Then she laughed at her own joke.

"By the way, thanks for saving my ass from the mightiest warrior of all times!"
I teased her and Norman in one go.

"The ass you thought I hated? It's not that pretty, trust me. But you're welcome."
She got back at me.
Sassy.

As she dwell in her lemonade, I turned to my side and looked at the man who laughed at me a few moments ago.

I slit my eyes thin in anger and showed my displeasure.
He nodded and lifted his hands apologising.
Better.

My eyes moved from him to the fragile woman sitting next to him. My fake anger was immediately replaced by happiness.

Neil and Lauret had gotten along well.
He didn't try to run away after I knocked some sense into his head that day at the bar. Following that, he always looked forward to mine and Merlen's meetings because that's when he'd get to meet Lauret. And she never refused Merlen when she asked for her company to come meet me.

Though my girl is a queen - she never needed anyone else to go wherever she wanted. She is bold and confident enough to face people and she knew how to throw a solid punch - I am of the opinion that she can break jaws and I'm fucking proud of her. I need to appreciate Norman here, it sucks to do that, but he deserves it.

Still she asked Lauret to hang along often because she knew that Lauret liked Neil a lot.
And being so shy she'd never make the first move.

Even a ten year old kid could say that those two were really into each other.
But both of them were impossible!

Neil was just being a total jerk and Lauret.. well she wouldn't say boo to a goose.
It was a perfect combination of feeble low-key and an unbending knucklehead.

"Any chance Lauret is going to confront Neil?"
I asked my girl with the same smile Lauret gave me.

"No chance. She's too shy to tell him about her feelings. And she knows that Neil loves her. But she doesn't mind that he hasn't confronted her either. 'He must have his own reasons just like I have' is all I get when I try to push her."
Merlen said matching my expectations.

"They're going to regret it."
I sighed.
These kids!

"No doubt about it. Neil is like her mind reader. He just looks at her and understands what's going on in her mind. And she doesn't speak much either. She knows that he'll understand."
Merlen was so impressed.

"Now isn't that funny? Though Neil does it with everyone - the mind reading thing. But I guess it's the emotions that she radiates which he feels better than others."

"I swear they're cute! I always think about how cute their babies will be!"
Merlen said excited and I laughed.

"For that, they have to say the words to each other. And considering their upbringing, they have to marry. And then, if my dear friend grows balls to ask Lauret to give him babies, may be there's a chance."
I whispered very low. I didn't want Neil to kick my ass right then and there.

Each word of mine crackled Merlen up.
"So damn true!"
She said continuing to laugh.

"Let's go join them now."
I said looking at Neil and Lauret.

"Let them have some fun you meanie."
She poked my shoulder with her finger.

"The way they both are sitting like a stone, I don't think there's any fun going on."
I said as I noticed that Neil's face was no more cheerful. He looked like he had been punched hard and told to get up and Fuck off. Lauret was looking at the table like she's trying to find answer to a horrible question.

"Damn. Something is wrong."
My girl said. We both got up and walked to their table.

"How about an ice-cream before we meet again tomorrow?"
I asked casually as we joined them.

Neil looked at me pissed.
I raised my eyebrows at him asking what crawled up his ass. Instead he looked at Lauret in pain.

"Hey Laura... all okay?"
Merlen asked her.

"We won't be meeting tomorrow."
She replied meekly.

I laughed loudly. That's what was bothering them?
Stupids.

"That's okay. Day after tomorrow will do just fine, too."
Merlen said laughing along.

Neil still looked unimpressed so I knew something was terribly wrong.

"What is it?"
I asked when Lauret continued to look down.

"She's leaving the town tomorrow."
Neil answered on her behalf.

"No! No way!"
Merlen exclaimed heartbroken.

"Where? Why?"
I asked her the reason why she was hurting him and even herself.

"For her further studies. Won't be back for next three years."
Again Neil spoke in her defence.

He sounded partly complaining and partly convincing.
I could see him torn between different emotions - sad, angry, guilty, helpless, understanding - all at once.

"You said you'll work at this hospital for few years..?"
Merlen was almost in tears.
She was her best friend. No wonder she was feeling so bad.

Lauret grabbed her arm and hugged it tight sobbing.
"It will only waste my time, Mer. I have a lot to do in my life and I can't stay stuck here for long. I've got one chance and I don't want to miss it."

She must have given a similar answer to Neil. That's why he was not even trying to stop her.

"In that case, I'm on your side. Leave."
I spoke firmly and Neil and Merlen looked at me angrily.

"Go chase your dreams and turn them into reality. Take the hard step that's stopping you. It will be easier after that. You have a goal so run for it."
I said and the two angry eyes looked down, feeling bad for being selfish.

"Thank you, James. It was so difficult to tell you all this."
She looked at Merlen and Neil as if she owed an apology to both of them.

"Oh Laura... I'm going to miss you so much!" Merlen hugged her back.
Neil just gave her a forced smile of support.

While I felt happy to know that Lauret was stronger than what I used to think, I felt terribly bad for Neil.
He'd be all alone now.
She had started to have a special place in his daily life.

"I'm sorry.."
She said with a shaking voice, unable to hide her tears.

Merlen kept hugging her tight and Neil just continued to look at her sadly.

************************************

Now who's crying?
For sure I am.

THEY JUST GOT ALONG!

************************************

Also, apologies in advance - the next update will take some time (may be a month). So please hold on.

Meanwhile, vote and COMMENT your views. Also, head to Instagram where I'll be actively putting up polls and questionnaires. (My id is JustDream431 and trust me it's fun there!)