This one goes out to two unlikliest of souls in my personal life whom I've become such close to in last couple years when there was a time I never would've imagined it sharing half my secrets with you two. Thank you for being you & helping me in figuring out who I am <3

♔Aarav♔

          Annie was sitting comfortably on the bed under the covers when I return from the washroom. There's a movie on pause on the screen. While I towel-dry my hair, she informs. "Got one of those pay-on-demand movies. Used your card."

I don't mind her using my card. She's done it a few times before, so I don't comment on it but I do walk over to the bed and take the glass of wine away from her having noticed ¼ of the bottle was empty. "Pace yourself."

She rolls her eyes and though she comments, she doesn't reach for the glass that I place on the side table. "Don't worry, our fight sobered me up."

My hair was as dry as they were going to be with the help of this towel. I spread it on the rack for it to dry before returning to the room. I'm not a fan of damp towels. Just one of my pet-peeves. "Move."

She pulls the covers to her chest, insisting. "I like this side."

I lift the covers and scold, "Annie, don't be difficult right now." I know well that she doesn't keep a preference for sides. In fact, she mostly sleeps in the middle and moves here and there during the course of the night as per her will.

She mutters under her breath in a complain while shifting to make room for me, "Can't even let the birthday girl have her way."

I counter, "Let you pick the movie, didn't I?"

She chuckles, "Darling, you always let me pick the movie. No special treatment there."

Smiling myself, I nod towards the screen, "Going to play it or not?"

"Waiting on room service."

I give her a judging look. Wasn't she complaining earlier this hotel was too rich for her taste?

She laughs in a defense, "What? Have you seen their menu?! They were just asking for it. Besides, I need to eat if I am to wake up tomorrow without a hangover."

I narrow my eyes grimly, "You didn't have dinner?"

"Might have forgotten in all the celebration?"

"You're unbelievable." I mutter knowing it would be futile to scold her and reach for the hotel phone to call and ask how long it would take for them to deliver food.

She instructs figuring out what I was about to do, "Don't rush them. The kitchen was already closed but given the call had been from your room, they're already making an exception."

I sigh and put down the receiver. "You know, just because you turned 18 today does not mean you have the license to get careless."

"You are responsible enough for both of us." She counters not caring to take my words seriously. Realizing my phone was close to dying, I get out of bed to grab my charger from my suitcase. "Did you really not get me a gift?"

"No. I know what I wanted to get you but I really didn't have the time. Sorry?" She nods silently and I ask after plugging the phone in, "Are you upset?"

She smiles looking sideways at me, "No. You're here. Can't complain." She sits up with twinkling eyes that I knew meant mischief, "Could I atleast get a hug though? In all that fighting, we didn't even properly greet each other."

I walk back to the bed and she waddles over to the edge on her knees. My arm goes around her shoulders and she hugs my torso before sneakily, she tickles. I try to pull back but she doesn't let go and I fall over the bed, on top of her. She continues to tickle me and I move away to have my back against the mattress and try to grab her wrists to stop her assault.

She laughs leaning against my side when I finally succeed. She sits up with her arm over my chest keeping me pinned to the bed. "Consider that your punishment for not getting me a gift."

I breathe heavily glancing at the ceiling to bring my breathing back to normal. "You're a cruel, cruel, person."

She proudly accepts, "That's me. But, you're stuck with me your entire life."

I glance back at her and the laughter in her eyes sober. She's leaning over me and one of my hand had been innocently on her back, I hadn't even noticed. I keep my eyes to hers, "Well then, if I am to be stuck with you, hello best friend."

She smiles back and goes with the light flow I attempted to turn the moment in, "Hi you."

I can't decipher the look in her eyes. I blink away when there are knocks on the door before the announcement, "Room service."

My hand on her back moves to her side to nudge her and she leans away, sitting back. I stand up and answer the door.

The female employee is about to roll the cart it when I took over, "I got it, thanks."

She nods and leaves. Pulling the cart inside, I lock the door behind me.

Annie jumps down the bed and starts uncovering the lid, inhaling deeply with her eyes close to relish the smell. She proceeds to open the smaller one next while commenting, "I only ordered one dish."

After seeing what it was, her head snapped up in surprise. Cheesecake on a plate while in liquid chocolate, the words 'happy birthday Angel' were written on the plate. I confirm, "I did when I went to the bar. I was about to get a proper cake when I figured it wasn't the best idea to let you have that much sugar at night time."

She laughs in response walking around the cart to hug me, "Thanks, Aarav."

I answer resting my hand on her back in a quick hug, "After not getting you a gift, it's the least I could do." Parting, I smile back and leaning around her, I pick up the plate and a spoon to feed her a bite.

Before I can spoon a bite, she stops me, fingers wrapping around my wrist. "Wait." She closes her eyes and wishes even though there is no candle.

Reopening her eyes, she moves her hand back and I resume my earlier action. "Happy birthday." I wish as she accepts the morsel.

"Thank you," she answers after swallowing and I hand over the plate to her for her to finish the rest. "I would share but..."

I nod back in understanding, "I know." With my diabetes, best not to.

"Can I eat in bed?"

I give her a sideway glance for she already knows the answer to that. I always say eating in bed is for the sick.

She chuckles for she knows how I feel about it, "A girl can hope." She sits on the sitting area at the side of the room taking her dinner there and saving the rest of the cheesecake for later.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

"I'm curious, you know, about..."

I interrupt her before she can go on as unlike all those years ago, I was paying attention to the movie this time. "Stop right there."

She reprimands, "Hey, I was prepared to give up my virginity to a random stranger. Least you can do as my best friend is listen."

I speak more to myself, "Why do I even try?"

"Well, aren't you though?"

"Annie, I might have been an impulsive teenager but I'm not 14 anymore." I say to get her to give up on this topic.

She challenges, "Do you think Jhanvi even remembers?"

I stick to my perspective, "It doesn't matter, Annie. If it comes to that and I am to marry her..."

"But, Aarav, you are wasting your youth away for someone you might never see again. What good is keeping that promise? Doesn't it bother you that you're keeping yourself to this promise, one she doesn't even know about while she is probably out there living her life."

She always tries to understand my perspective but growing up, she always told me that I am not living my life like any normal teenager would. So, I may not be pursuing girls, dating, exploring, but it does not bother me.

"What kind of a person will I be if I don't keep my promises?"

She doesn't argue then and I am slightly relieved. At the end of the day, whether Jhanvi knows or not, is it not about who I grow up to be? My parents have raised me better than to be a spoiled rich, entitled kid.

Though her silence is saying something so I ask. "What?"

"I'm thinking... how lucky she is and she doesn't even know it. I'm thinking how it would feel to have someone like you."

I say unable to understand her, "You do have me."

She shakes her head and clarifies, "Yes, but no. I mean someone who was just mine. The way you've dedicated yourself to being just hers. Someone who'd love me... the way you love her even though you don't know if she even remembers you, even though you haven't seen each other since you were kids."

I drape an arm around her and shift closer to her side. All her drinking is coming down on her and turning her emotionally vulnerable. The way she gets almost always only once a year, on her birthday and because of it, I always do my best to be there for her so she won't feel lonely.

"You're only 18, Angel. You've got a lifetime in front of you."

She blinks up innocently as if transforming into a child. "Promise?"

I smile down at her and bring her head to my chest, "You will find someone who is just yours. Until that day, you have me. You have my family. You're not alone, Angel. You'll never be."

She questions 'until that day', "Only till that day?"

I laugh, "No, silly. Even after you find someone. What makes you think he won't first have to pass my test? He's going to have to earn my approval before he gets to you."

She groans though playfully comments, "Then I'm going to be alone till the day I die." When I laugh again and she feels the rumble on my chest, she adds. "Really. Your overprotectiveness is going to do it for me one day."

As if. I tug her closer in a tight grip just to annoy her. She swats my arm to get me to release her. Smiling along, I drop a kiss to the top of her head before tucking my chin over it, "You're stuck with me and my overprotectiveness."

She rolls her eyes as I repeat her words to her and picks up the remote to resume the movie. "Aarav?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks for tonight."

"Don't be cute now." I playfully chide her.

She slaps my hand off her shoulder and moves away. "All you had to do was say 'your welcome'."

I pull her back, "How about I do one better?" She squints at me believing I can't. I prove her wrong, "I love you too."

She fights the smile on her lips but as I keep looking at her, it eventually breaks out. "I hate you too." She mutters and refocuses on the movie.

I don't realize when my thumb starts drawing small circles on her shoulder absentmindedly as we watch the movie, but my mind is miles away.

A few moments later, she swats my hand. "Whatever is on your mind, either say it or stop that."

"Sorry," I mumble commanding my hand to stay still. When I don't say anything else, she looks up at me and questions silently what I am thinking about. I shake my head, deciding to ask her tomorrow.

She looks at me a second longer, squinting her eyes at me, knowing me well enough to know something was certainly the matter. Still, I stick to my decision. Tonight has been emotional enough.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

I wake up in the morning when the room brightens up and turn to my side while stretching to find Annie sleeping there. My eyes clear the blur as I realize I fell asleep during the movie and probably seeing how tired I was, she must have not woken me up to drop her to her place and decided to stay the night.

Turning to rest on my back, I breathe out feeling fresh. After the most hectic week, I seem to have gotten the best sleep tonight. Sometimes, I wish I could be a kid again so I wouldn't have responsibilities on my head. Even though at just 20, life seems full of it. What happens in a few years when I am expected to take over the fashion house?

If I didn't already know dad's reason for expanding, I'd wish we were still that one branch business. That was a lot more manageable to think about. But now, decades later, it's an empire in itself and sometimes the pressure of keeping that steady growth gets to me.

Reaching for my phone on the bedside table, I press the button for time. 6:43 am. It was still early enough. I'd wake up, but what would be the point? I'd still have to wait atleast 2 hours before Annie would wake up - and if I woke her up before her so-called beauty sleep, she would chop me into pieces for breakfast.

I look at Annie when she switches sides to face my direction. I smile at the soft smile which seems to be playing on her lips as if she's having a good dream. Sometimes, I really don't understand how our friendship has turned out. I remember how we'd butt heads at first. I wouldn't have admitted it then but I do admit it now.

I used to be jealous.

Arnav and Khushi both loved her. They still do. I'd tell her to stop stealing my family from me. As we know, I can be possessive about them. I didn't entertain the thought of sharing my dad with her.

But now... I don't know how it all turned out the way it did but I know I wouldn't have it any other way. Last night, I did mean it when I said my family was hers too. She feels an extended part of me the way she understands me like none other... and how could I ever have a problem with sharing my family with what's mine?

I push myself up on my elbow, looking over her. No one could say the girl looking so peaceful in sleep right now was the one who calls me out on my shit, guides me, bickers with me, but most of all, handles me. It takes a special kind of courage to pull me out of my dark places and she can do it with just that tiny smile on her face.

Whenever I feel too pressured or I doubt myself or I worry I might not be able to keep my promises and be the person my family looks at me to be, I just have to think of her.

Whenever I find my soul being threatened, she comes like a wave of fresh air and pieces it back together.

Always there but never expecting anything in return. As if she knows... I have nothing to give her.

What she does for me, I can never match up to her nor can I repay her for it.

In my weakest moments when I question my resolve, she comes to me as my strength. My courage. My light and like a bee to its honey, I'd be drawn to it.

I will hold on to it with my everything and pull myself on the path I am supposed to walk on, do everything I am expected to.

In words, I can never express to her what she means for me. I don't think I know myself yet. All I know is that she has been a constant in my life and that is how I wish for it to always stay. How I wish for us to always be. By each other's side. There for each other in a blink of an eye.

Maybe because I can't say it that I always end up using my actions, hoping she'd be able to read them. Most of the times, she does.

Even now, I lift my hand to her face and tuck her hair behind her shoulder having an unobstructed view of her. I shouldn't but since she is sleeping, I tell myself.

Just once.

I lean over and reach for her hand aimlessly resting over her stomach. Bringing it to my lips, I lightly press them over her fingers, deep down wishing our fates weren't already written as I brush the pad of my thumb over her soft skin where my lips just had been.

"... to have someone like you..."

I can't be that to her but I can be the next best... I can become the person she holds me to be, believes in her heart that I am.

Letting her hand rest over her stomach again, I shift back to my side. Folding my arms under my head, I close my eyes to stay in the moment and not think about my uncertain future.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

I wake up next to a finger poking at my shoulder and creases on my forehead, I open my eyes briefly, hum, and close them again. Next second, they fly open and I look at Annie, sitting next to me with her legs folded under her with only a towel around her.

I sit up at once, scolding rubbing the burn out of my eyes from opening them too quickly to the brightness in the room, "Geez, Annie. Put some clothes on."

She narrows her brows at me, looking at me weirdly and defending herself, "Why are you getting so hyper? I'm just waking you up so you can drive me home. It's all your fault, you know? Falling asleep in the middle of the movie!"

I glare at her slightly but then seeing her bare shoulders, blink away again. Sometimes, she can be innocent as a lamb. Remind me again, what was she about to do last night before I'd found her at the club? God knows how she is capable of doing the silliest things. Sharp tongue and a naïve brain. Some combination.

I reach for my phone to check the time while muttering, "Doesn't explain why you are in that."

She sits up on her knees and then stands up asking nonchalantly, "What, this? A towel? I wasn't going to wear that dress from last night."

I get out of bed, pushing the blanket back and she continues explaining her thought process that makes the least of sense. She had no problem wearing that dress to the club but she has a problem wearing it again now?

"I thought about finding one of your clean shirts but I'd mess up your bag again and you hate that. Besides, your shirt would drown me in. I'd look ridiculous, you know?"

I shake my head at her to express my unsaid thoughts of how I am judging her currently. Not in a hurtful manner, ofcourse, but she brings this on herself.

She rolls her eyes, standing up on the bed. "Whatever. Give me your hand." With a sigh, I forward it and holding it, she jumps down the mattress before turning me quickly and rushing me towards the washroom door. "Now shower. Stat. I want to get back so I can change and then you are going to take me out for brunch."

I very well remembered I promised her we'd celebrate today. So, without much of a fuss, I take a detour to my bag and pull out my clothes. Taking the extra shirt, I call her and throw it in her direction. She makes a face at me and I give her the ultimatum. "It's either this or your dress. Or are you planning to walk out of the room in a towel?"

She frowns, throwing my shirt back.

"Annie."

She quickly says, "Geez, woke up on the wrong side of the bed today or what? Chill, I'll put on my dress."

She walks into the washroom and then returns with her dress. I disappear inside to shower while she chooses to change in the room.

I step inside the cubicle, turning on the tap and closing my eyes with an exasperated sigh.

I do pity the guy who'd have to put up with her in the future.

For now, I decide to focus on my plan for today. Brunch in her favorite bistro before taking her to an electronics shop and buy her that camera she's been going off about for months and how she's been saving to buy it. I'd wanted to get that originally for her birthday gift but hadn't gotten a chance to. Last night itself, when she'd been nagging me about it, I'd decided I would take her to buy it today. Give her a slight push towards photography.

I know how much she loves it but hasn't been pursuing it when she really should. I anticipate she would put up somewhat of a fight on accepting that camera, calling it an expensive birthday gift, but heck - once a year (or twice if I am to count Christmas), I am allowed to spend as much as I want on her and force her into accepting it at the end.

I have atleast that much of a right on her. And when it pushes her towards her dream path, all the more reason to do so.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

∞ author note ∞ 

I must have rewrote this chapter about 5 times.. I still feel something is missing but here it is. If you figure it out, let me know!

Pure co-incidence that second part of Annie's birthday was set to be posted today :P

QOTC: What's your sweetest birthday memory? I'm sure this is Annie's best yet with the things he does for her ;) How do you feel about a bit more insight on Aaravs thoughts on her?

The way  Aarav describes Annie as his light, I hope you too have a person in your life, guy or girl, friend or partner, mentor or parents, brother or sister. Just anyone who guides us when life gets tough (:

Enjoy! Vote/comment per usual too :P I do give dedications to frequent commentators. Shall reply to comments from last chapter tomorrow <3