I seem to be in a very good mood, cause DOUBLE UPDATE!!  ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

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'You look extra chirpy today', said Neena.

'What makes you say that?', I asked hoping not to get caught because I sucked at lying.

'Since when do you smile before having your cup coffee?', she asked pointing to the one I was brewing and I mentally face palmed myself.

'Must be the sunlight I caught on my crystals in the morning', I shrugged but I could tell that she was not buying it.

'What did you do last night?', she asked narrowing her eyes.

'I-um-I watched a movie'

'Which one?'

'Peter Pan' and she rolled her eyes knowing how Disney movies always lifted my mood. Her eyes then fell on my wrist,

'You had an arts and crafts session as well?', she inquired with a raised eyebrow.

Ethan's doodle, crap.

'Yeah, I got bored and had a pen in my hands so–' 'Omi, if you used the vibrator I got you for your birthday just say it', and I almost scalded myself.

'NEENA!', I exclaimed and she shrugged.

'Honestly there's no shame in wanting to give yourself some pleasure! That's why I bought one for you! Explore and find out–' 'NEENA! I do not want to talk about pleasure in the morning', I hissed.

'It's a form of self love!', she exclaimed but I pretended not to hear her as I escaped into my room,

'LOVE YOURSELF OMI!!', she exclaimed and I groaned as I clicked the door shut.

Clearly the people in my life were obsessed with teaching me how to love myself except their methods were extremely different. Why did she even have to bring up the vibrator? I'd shoved it in the bathroom cabinet the second I– hold up.

*flashback to last night*

'Salome?'

'Yeah?'

'Do you have any more soap? This bottle is empty', said Ethan. Apparently he got splashed with mud on his way and wanted to clean himself up as well.

'Yeah, there should be a new bottle in the cabinet'

'Oh okay, thanks'

Ethan had opened the bathroom cabinet when he couldn't locate the body wash.

Oh no.

As I made my way to class, all I could think about was how I would face him without turning into a tomato, which was impossible with my complexion but in the current situation it was looking quite possible.

'Why do you look like a deer in the headlights?', asked Neena as she walked beside me oblivious of the trouble that her gift had caused. As much as I wanted to give her an earful, it would only backfire at me because I had broken the number one rule; no boys allowed in the bedroom.

'Nothing, I'm just thinking about Ethan's fan club', which wasn't actually a lie because it concered me as well. 'Did he even apologize to you, yet', she asked and just when I was about to lie, I saw Ethan walking towards us with a smile on his face.

OH COME ON!

'You guys made up? When?'

'No we didn't'

'Then why is he smiling?'

'He's probably smiling at you?'

'You know you suck at lying right?'

'Good morning ladies', said Ethan and I tried to signal him to shut up but I sucked in that category as well.

'You look happy for someone who isnt on speaking terms with their friend', smirked Neena. She knew something was up, I just hoped Ethan was smart enough to catch on.

'What?'

Wonderful. Someone kill me NOW.

'Did you guys make up?', asked Neena and Ethan looked at me confused. I did not dare to even flinch knowing very well that she had her eyes on me.

'Oh, um we talked briefly after the race', he said quickly.

'Weren't you in the infirmary after the race?', she questioned.

'Salome was kind enough to visit me'

'I thought you said you went straight home', she said looking at me.

'I-uh...thought it would be good to check on him', I replied with a dry laugh.

'Weren't you the one who said he deserved it?' and Ethan looked at me like I had stabbed him.

God save me now.

'You know that I rarely mean stuff like that, right?', I laughed nervously.

'You seemed pretty serious', she mumbled and Ethan looked as if he were about to cry.

'Oh would you look at the time, we're late for class! Bye Neena!', I exclaimed grabbing his hand and dragged him away before she could figure it out.

Once we reached class, I let out a sigh of relief.

'Did you really say I deserved it?', he frowned and I groaned.

'In my defense, I was angry'

'You've hurt this poor lad's heart', he pouted and I rolled my eyes at him.

'You still have the drawing', and I looked at him confused, it was only then that I noticed that my hand held his and he was looking at the constellation drawing he'd made last night.

Last night! I quickly remembered the vibrator and cursed under my breath.

'Hmm?', he asked looking up at me.

'Listen about what was in the cabinet–' 'Gee, I see you've reached the hand holding stage!', cut in Aravind's excited voice and I immediately tried to let go but Ethan's grip was tight.

'I've held your hand a lot of times in the past Aravind, why didn't you tell me we were dating?', asked Ethan with a cocky expression causing him to roll his eyes.

'You know, letting go would seem like a good idea right now, considering the amount of eyes we have on us right now', I said nervously. It was true, almost everyone who was passing by was looking at us and even the people inside of the classroom were giving us looks.

'Let them stare', he shrugged and I wriggled my hand out of his.

'Easy for you to say Mr. Popular. I'm the one who has to deal with your fan girls and paparazzi sponsored by your father', I hissed and I watched as his face darkened at the last part.

'You don't have to worry about my Father, okay? I promise you that nothing like that will ever happen again. I'm sorry that it did in the past, but I will make sure your privacy is no longer threatened. As for the 'fans', ignore them. As long as I'm here, no one will do anything to you', he said not breaking eye contact for even a second.

I wanted to believe him but my heart was still recovering from the aftermath of a similar promise that had been broken multiple times.

'Ethan I–' 'Salome, let me show you what keeping a promise looks like. I won't ask you to trust me, but instead I hope that once you see me keeping my word, you'll give me your trust', he said taking my hand into his again.

Why was he being like this? Why the sudden topics of trust and promises?

Ethan what are you up to? Whatever it is, I don't think my heart has what it takes to place itself in anyone's hands.

As class went on, Ethan slipped me a piece of paper and I unfolded it with an amused expression. It felt like I was in school again but my smile replaced itself with an open mouth once I saw what was on it.

It was me.

It was me taking down notes and I could see how he'd spent some time on the side profile of my nose that it made me smile. On the corner was scribbled, 'Attempt 2. Will get better'.

I looked at him and mouthed a thank you which he returned with a smile and then gestured me to turn the paper to the other side where he'd written as well,

'I saw what was in the cabinet ;)', and I let out a sound that made everyone turn casuing me to immediately errupt into a fit of coughing.

'Toys build up confidence', said Ethan under his breath but the smirk on his face was impossible to miss and I narrowed my eyes at him.

'Self care is self love', he added and I pinched him on the thigh causing him to shoot up from his seat.

'Yes, Ethan?', asked the Professor.

'Um, I- I just wanted to say that I didn't understand that last part', and subtly kicked me from beneath the table when he heard me laugh.

'No worries, I understand it's a difficult topic', said the Professor and he motioned for him to sit down.

'You deserved it', I scoffed but before he could respond, the Professor had called on him again to make sure he was keeping up.

'I'll get you for this', he hissed.

'Oh yeah, dream on'

'Those first two words were on the box', and that earned him another pinch and our banter continued throughout the lesson.

When 45 minutes of pinches and kicks were over,  we walked out of the building to part ways and I was stunned to find Neena waiting outside. The second she saw us, her face twisted into a sly expression. OH NO.

'Why does she look like THAT?', asked Ethan.

'This might be the last time you ever get to stand in front of her', I replied and he gave me a bewildered expression.

'You sneaked him into our apartment! Didn't you?!', she exclaimed and everyone who was in range, turned to look at us. Could this day get any more embarrassing?

'Neena, can we go somewhere less crowded?', I begged, hurrying to take her away while Ethan followed us with a wary expression.

'Explain yourself, both of you', she said crossing her arms. Honestly, sometimes I was more afraid of her than I was of my own mother.

'Why does she have to–' 'Not Indian, no opinion', she shot and Ethan immediately stepped back.

'I did not sneak him in, he came to see me', I said purposely omitting the whole Peter Pan style of entry.

'Why?'

'I wanted to apologise', said Ethan and he looked like was ready to take a bullet for me which was not an exaggeration because an angry Neena, was something you didn't want to witness.

'Then why were you covering it up?', she asked me.

'Because I felt bad for lying to you about letting a guy in when you were out', I said feeling guilty but I was taken off guard when she suddenly engulfed me in a hug.

'Omi, I didn't set the rules to keep someone like Ethan out, I did it so you would be safe from people who could take advantage of you or worse hurt you when you're alone', she said and I was stunned as I realised her body was trembling.

'Neena, are you okay?', I asked pulling back from her hug but she kept a poker face.

'I'm glad that you two made up. Just let me know next time', she said and left without another word.

'Is it really a bad thing to have a guy over without her being present?', asked a perplexed Ethan.

'She's just worried about me', I said watching her walk off.

'I think it's more than that', he said but I didn't say anything because I felt the same way.