It was 5 am I could barely open my eyes and there was someone outside my house knocking on the door with a fucking hammer, that thrashed straight to my head.

"Neel, go hook up somewhere else man" Lucas groaned shutting his ears with the pillow. I threw another pillow at his annoying sleeping face with his mouth hung open like a corpse.

I narrowly missed a beer bottle what a mess my living room had turned into, last night we got drunk senselessly.

My family went to some lame family function and they stayed there for the night. I was home alone and what better way to spend it than getting drunk with my equally loser friends

I yanked the door open, the person particularly some girl her hand stopped in the mid of banging the door.

There were a lot of some damn girls dropping at my doorstep lately with cards, chocolates, and whatnot..... Now it was turning so fucking agonizing!

5 in the morning. Even the early birds don't get up at this time

Give it a rest

I cursed and shut the door she held it with her foot with a yelp, "Good morning to you too asshole roll"

I narrowed my eyes at her, giving a once over

••••

The girl was Silver's best friend or whatever I couldn't care less, she was here to give me the piece of mind must have heard about the kiss and the drama it entailed. I would have given thought to hospitality if not for the bad timing of this meeting. So we stick to the porch of my house. Me trying to keep my eyes open with my hands shoved in the pockets of the sweatpants.

She studied me from up to down with wavering eyes, heart shaped face morphed to a disapproval she shook her head, "What a let down"

I cocked my head, Silver's best friend how I had the image of some other flashy pretty airhead, not a petite bob hair cut tomboy with a bunny print t-shirt.
"I can't say the same instead, I am shocked did she pay you or something-

"Hahaha so funny," she said deadpan.
"You are a mess. You stink of beer, your clothes have no color just like your personality. I put my money that you'd be cause of your ruin eventually and very soon" a remorseful sigh," shit... I came for nothing"

"And I care about it....?" I regarded her with bored eyes.
"This is a waste of time for both of us let's get back to our business I need some sleep" I was going to close the door she stopped it again she was annoying like Silver, "Not so fast, I can't make my friend see what a hopeless person you have become Dhruv but I can have your promise you will stay away from her"

I folded my arms bemused, "Funny to hear that when it's her who's tailing around me"

"Right, were you possessed when you kissed her? Otherwise, how would you lose control of your lips?"

Yeah, in a way possessed to have her lips on mine. To draw her closer, there hadn't been a moment like that when I was that out of control.

I cleared my throat, "you can't blame a boy when a girl continuously throws herself at him"

"Spoke like a legit fuck boy. And then you call her a disgrace? Got some audacity there "

I clenched my jaw. I did feel a nagging feeling in my chest all the way home after the incident. I shouldn't have reacted in that manner. But, that pink sultry mouth infuriated me so much. I can't help but lash out at her
"You thought of becoming a lawyer Silver's friend?"

" My name is Tashfe and you are Derailing, distracting you are guilty Dhruv! And the answer to your question is No, I haven't, I will only defend Silver Bells where I feel she needs to be, I will call her wrong where she is wrong like going after you when you aren't the same childhood friend of hers anymore ...not even close, She is also mean, entitled and believes she can have everything -

"I see you are her best friend"

She continued paying no heed
"Yet you have no right to judge her. She is one of the strongest people I know she has it hard with her family. Never knew what it's like to have parents who love and care.
Do not ever call her a disgrace, and do not ever pull her self-esteem down this way when you don't know anything about her. She needs guidance she's starving for affection if you can't offer that then don't you go trampling on her strength"

"What a speech" I said

I didn't like to be put in a bad light when Silver was very much responsible for it, still, I had nothing to say against it. The feeling inside had me frowning all-day

" Nice meeting you Dhruv, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Like every person deserves to have one ......and can you ask that friend of yours to give me a ride, can't get the metro now "

"He's all yours I am already kicking him out" I kicked Lucas out who was listening to our conversation.

√√√√

"I am sorry " I grumbled.

Mom's eyes averted from the cooking pan on the gas,
"What?"

I frowned hard at the chopped vegetables on the board discarding the knife
"I need to apologize to someone"

I can't focus, I feel in a shitty mood after putting Silver in a tight spot realizing now she would be trolled and harassed knowing the nature of how high school works. I behaved worse than her, I know she is so damn annoying, know she is such a goddamn bother, know she makes me mad with desire to kiss her senselessly and..... after getting the taste of that mouth I can't stop myself thinking of doing it again. Strawberries, she tasted like strawberries.

I never liked strawberries. Why didn't I like strawberries? Anyways, the one in my refrigerator tasted bland. I threw them away, fraud

My mom didn't hide her shock she knew me better
"Apologise to them do not keep it in your heart it will only poison the both of you," my mom said analyzing me with a concerned look she must be thinking it was my older brother, with whom I had a row in the morning on my frequent hangover.

"How?" I asked.

She turned around hand on her hip, "who are we talking about?"

"Just anyone" I shrugged acting cool

"If it's a girl" she narrowed her eyes at me the habit I got from her, "gift her something. Your father would make sure to bring a gift for me when apologizing, making it hard for me to be angry at him"

She turned back to cooking, "And if it's about a boy, then you won't bother"

"Point" I agreed.

Can't believe that there would come a day when I would be buying a gift for Silver

√√√√√

"If you want to give it to me give it properly not just dump it off on my face like trash!"

"What do you want me to do? Lay down a red carpet put up a stage call you up and honor you with it?" I mocked.

I wasted my time on this nonsense and she was showing an attitude

"Yes," She said holding her little chin up and those grey eyes burned with indignation igniting the spark in me.

My nose flared.

I marched to where she was, and her eyes widened.

I was on the verge of killing her or kissing her.

I held myself back, the morning incident made me believe everyone in school...like I thought were giving her a hard time. I beat those suckers who were harassing her until my knuckles bled and made them sign their expulsion by dragging them to the office.

I picked the diary from the ground and dusted it all the while looking at her hard. She watched back coolly playing with her pony, tapping her pink heels.

"You are enjoying this"

"Way too much," she said trying to act disinterested when her lips were fighting a barely contained smile.

Funny, how she thinks she can hide her emotions when I was starting to read her like an open book

I warned"Don't test me" before holding out the diary.

She moved her hand to take it then looked up to me with a pondering expression. I huffed in impatience, there goes her antics.

She just won't make anything easy.

"I want an apology" she demanded folding her arms back. My eyes followed the movement the white top underneath the blazer had a deep neck making her cleavage visible as daylight. I averted my eyes at once with a sharp breath.

"Apology" she reminded haughtily

"I don't apologize " I stated.

I would have if not for her telling me to do it. I hated people telling me what to do

I realized late what a mistake I'd done there saying it loud. Her eyes sparkled at that finding a new bait.

"Now I want it more"

"Take this that's all you are getting from me" I tossed the diary in the air she caught it quickly as if not allowing it to fall for the second time. She stared at it with big eyes like a child grinning she clutched it to her chest like some trophy.

I glared at the diary

"so it's a nonverbal apology oh my that's even better! Though I trust I could teach you how to spell out the five letter word say after me - I am So-"

"Bug off" I tsked, turning around although my chest felt a bit lighter now that she was back to being annoying and smiling. Suddenly she grabbed my wrist to halt me before I could retreat to my bike.

My instant reaction was to shrug it off always in attack mode I got so prone to pushing everyone away that it was becoming my second nature. Her soft fragile hand tightened around my wrist as if sensing my predicament.

"your opinion should not mean much to me Dhruv, cause you have made it very clear how much you hate me still I want to ask you why you think I am a disgrace. It's because of the way I dress? The way I talk? The way I look-

"You are not a disgrace," I said, slowly turning my hand up and taking her hand in mine callous ones. Don't know why I did that, just couldn't bear the uncertainty in her voice.

"I don't know you better to say that" I admitted. I don't know what kinda person she was outside the school. Or behind those sensuous smiles and makeup face?

I was curious and damned for being interested

"Why can't we change that?" Her finger grazed lightly on my palm it tingled by her touch. I felt a surge of blood rushing through my veins. I left her hand immediately.

"I don't want to" I moved taking hurried steps before I got swayed by my impulse.

I hated her but my body betrayed me demanding to be near her whenever she teased it. And, now that I got the taste of it kissing her, I can't help but want more.

"You are such a liar" She came behind me and she took the helmet that I was going to put on. She wore it strapping with no help.

"What are you doing?" I asked knowing her intentions very well.

"I am coming with you"

"Why?"

"Why what?" Her head swayed back, the helmet was too big for her head I held it between my palms before it fell tumbling out. Her small face nestled in it looked funny and cute... I stepped back.

"I want to be with you you want to be with me you won't admit it but I have a proof on my face on my lips" she pouted showing her lips. The whole sight was so ridiculous yet my fingers twitched badly to get my camera. I needed to capture it.. under my helmet pouting that pink mouth with a fake red mark. Such a trickster she was.

I dragged my gaze away with struggle and shut the visor of the helmet harshly.
"It would look like a scribble when I give you the real one"

"Don't threaten me with a good time" she smirked behind the helmet.

I hopped on my bike, she was unbelievable and why was I smiling now instead of shooing her away

"Okay, how is it done? I have never sat on a bike and that is about to change I need pics I need to upload this on insta.... my God!! I am about to ride the bad boy's infamous bike let's see what our chubby roll has to say about it?"

She turned the camera to me after recording the bike from all angles

I narrowed my eyes at her, "Get on before I leave your arse behind"

"Rude so rude typical bad boy trait you know and we swoon," she said to the camera doing a swoon almost falling I held her arm shooting a weird look she grinned back, " it's a moment!"

"Stop recording it"

"First say Hi to my followers oh wait they are haters now" she gave a sheepish look

I glared at the camera threatening them, before pressing the stop button

"Hey, I wasn't done!'

I started the bike

"Alright here we go" She placed her hand on my shoulder for support then climbed back giggling, "God this looks so fun"

"You won't be able to handle it". Remembering Ms. Newton wasn't a fan of bike rides.

"If I can handle you I can handle anything," she said and without any hesitation she wrapped her arms around my waist I almost lost the balance. My grip tightened on the handle to keep me grounded, her front was flushed against my back completely her thighs on either side of my body her pink skirt rode up she was wearing those white stockings that played with my imagination. I needed a moment to calm down.

She laid her head on my back to worsen it, "Go! I am feeling so excited now"

Yeah me too.

"Can you not hold me so tight I need to breathe"

"Can help you with that "

I shook my head turned the accelerator and sped off the wind thrashing in my face even that couldn't cool off my body heat. I felt alive like always whenever I rode my bike but this time it had something to do with some mean girl behind me wrapped around me laughing and teasing me to go faster.