Flashback

"I don't want to hide I want to play with you if not I am going home"

She stopped me, "No don't go please.. I promise when they leave we will play all day .. you are my secret best friend chubby roll," she said squeezing my cheeks and trying to make me smile I swatted her hands away sulking going to the tree to hide.

" Don't be like that" she tailed behind me, "I will get you the milky bar like the biggest one"

"Biggest one?" I narrowed my eyes at her.

"But no comparison with you" she grinned.

I glared.

She laughed, "It's a compliment! You stay here I will call you soon," she said ruffling my hair I tugged her long ponytail when she turned around, she made an angry face but a smile broke onto her beautiful face, and giggling she went away.

I liked the sound of it.

"Wait!" I called

Her head whipped to me hair flying back the sunflower pin couldn't hold them back, soft smile was gracing her small doll face. Even she appeared like one in that white dress.

I clutched my jeans pocket where I had the Silver bow I got for her, tomorrow was her birthday and I wanted to give it to her today just to see her reaction.

She loved gifts, shiny gifts especially, she would jump in delight and hug me.... when last time I only gave her the gold-wrapped chocolate coin.

She thought it was real

I still laugh thinking about it.

"What?" She asked grinning

"Umm .. nothing," I said scratching my head and looking away with a red face.

I peeped from the tree where I hid, she was running to our classmates who disliked me.

I sighed heavily.

She acted like she didn't like me in front of them otherwise they will hate her too. They will say bad things about her or make fun of her, I didn't want that.

Still, it hurts it looks real I feel stupid and worthless to be friends with her only when no one was around

"Hi, Fatso" I turned to see Shaurya in front of me. He was some distant relative of Silver.

He came for vacation. Everybody liked him cause he knows how to skate even Silver says he's cool.

He was a show-off

"Why are you peeping like a creep?" He asked, he had blue eyes Silver says she likes blue eyes. My least fav color now

"Sh- ee's my friend" I stuttered. I was scared of him, he pushes and hits me around for no reason

"Who? Silver? I don't believe it" he snorted, "one doesn't hide their friends behind a tree unless they are embarrassed by you fatso"

"No, she's not...." I sounded uncertain

"Really? Looks like you are stupid too, if she keeps you around it's only for her entertainment as a side joker, stupid... Hey Silver!"

Silver and other kids came toward us running

"Fatso here says Silver is his secret friend.....funny I know"

Silver glanced at me with a nasty look no signs of friendliness "Don't joke like that why will I play with that dumbo? God ...he's such a loser to think that"

the other kids snickered adding more mean things about me.

I knew she didn't mean it but
I held back my tears and punched Shaurya's laughing face it looked so annoying at the moment.

I couldn't believe that... I'd never hit anyone. I stared at my red knuckles

His nose was bleeding

"Hey, why did you hit him?" A boy pushed me.

" let's teach him a lesson you want to fight? Fatso" another said, they started coming after me. I didn't avoid their hits and punches my eyes were on Silver on how she was holding her handkerchief to Shaurya's bleeding nose and he gave me a sly look then made it to a painful one when Silver looked at him

"Are you embarrassed by me!" I asked out loud ignoring him,

Silver was leaving.

"Yes" she left like he was her best friend

She was really embarrassed by me

She would never choose me among others

She was never my friend

√√√√

"Now I want one of these, particularly the one that comes with you," Silver said getting off the bike, she stumbled on her heels due to adrenaline, and I held her arm until she got hold of herself.

She removed the helmet shaking her head her hair got open chestnut wave fell reaching to her hip. I watched with a speeding heart. She pushed the strands back from her cheeks flustered, "sheesh I am such a mess now"

The flicks again reached her eyes she groaned, I tug them back behind her ear involuntarily, and she stopped fussing over and faced up at me.

Her cheeks were red, she glowed like the time I kissed her.

Her beauty was undeniable but it was most appealing when she was unaware and candid about it.

I patted her head awkwardly looking away from her staring

She laughed, "Why are you patting my head? am I a puppy?"

"You look like a golden retriever," I said taking my helmet from her. I got down after parking the bike outside a diner.

I lost the sense of direction in order to scare her off. I rode fast and aimlessly now we were almost out of the town. I stopped at a diner I caught a glimpse of on the way.

"Hmm... I don't eat greasy food" Silver said and people call me a drama queen.

"Don't be extra annoying" I said running my hand through my hair and entering the glass doors I held it open when Silver caught up while tying her hair into a high pony.

I dropped on the last secluded booth stretching my legs out, I pulled out the mobile from my back pocket.

Rose messaged me - so did your friend like the diary? I still think it's too girly for him 🤨

Dhruv- don't fry your brain, hand over the mobile back to your mom before I call her

Rose- No fun 🙃

She helped me pick the diary for my supposed friend sat beside me flipping the pages of the diary and sniffing it her little nose scrunched up she closed the diary tracing a silver butterfly with a giddy smile. She opened a blank page there was sadness flashing over her face now, I observed her curiously.

She turned her head to me catching my eyes on her her face turned pink. She rolled her eyes, "I am disappointed, it's our first date and you brought me here"

"It's not a date"

"Yeah yeah, whatever" She picked the menu reading it with a frown. The server came asking about our order.

"looks like nothing caught my attention on the menu," Silver said to him airily.

He was a boy of our age turned too caught up in her staring hard couldn't process much, "I am sorry?"

Silver waved her hand," Just update the menu please I will take Caesar Salad"

"But we don't have it on the menu ma'am"

"What did I say, dear?" She gave him her full smile that blinding one, I watched begrudgingly.

The Server looked at her interestedly, and leaned towards her

"update the menu," she said twirling her hair, batting her eyelashes

"Right, anything else do you want ma'am?" He asked like a hungry dog, Silver leaned back crossing her legs smiling nicely, "Not right now"

The server in daze went without even taking my order.

I said flatly, "Was that really necessary?"

"Yes"

I rolled my eyes beckoning another server to take my order, irritated.

Meanwhile, Silver can't sit quietly that wasn't just her.

She faced me with her face in her hand elbow placed on the tabletop.

She stared at me.

I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Why did you kiss me?" She asked suddenly.

" There's a misplacement of you and me, why did you kiss me?"

"Ha a joke" she chuckled, "you could have pushed me away you kissed back I have the proofs-

"That's not proof for the hundred time that's your fabricated lie"

"Oh my god Dhruv are you just going to deny that? I thought you were better than that. For Christ's sake, we are both adults 18 years old legit -

"You are 17" I blurted

"Wait-' she paused with suspicion, sliting her eyes in my direction, "were you stalking me?"

I yank the menu up pretending to read it, "Though you act like 15 and look like 12"

"My God!" she pulled the menu with a peal of laughter underlining her voice, I held it tight she didn't give up we ended up ripping it off. I stamped the pieces down, frustrated.

"What?" I snapped

She laughed at it throwing her head back, "You behave like you hate me but then you kiss me, you stalk me, you take me on a date. Do let me know is hating a new normal for liking?"

I glared at her huffing, "Don't be delusional It's not a date!"

"Of course my love no I mean my hate!" She said, closing her mouth immediately seeing my boiling expression then mumbled behind her hand, "he has denial issues"

"I heard that" I warned her

"What" she acted innocent drinking from her milkshake and twirling the straw lazily

I inclined towards her getting into her personal space intimidatingly, in response or no response she remained in the same spot with a small smile playing on her lips. I halted when our faces were inches apart. Her eyes grew big as my gaze traveled all over her face pausing at her parted lips. I brought my lips near then licked the spot above her lips where a milkshake drop glimmered like a pearl. She sucked in a breath.

I drew back with no big deal act getting up, "I am heading to the restrooms"

I thought I rendered her quiet enough

But no!

"Need any help?" She asked with a teasing but breathless tone.

I glanced back ignoring my wild heartbeats and images conjuring in my mind, "yes"

Now, she was taken aback for real

"Coming?"

"Huh?" she blinked in a real stupor, "I was joking "

She studied my serious intent face

"But I am not, " I told

I turned moving to the men's restroom glad to put her in her place she just like bluffing and it was high time she should stop joking about things that can be taken seriously by anyone.

I heard the clicking of the heels behind me. My head snapped back, Silver coming with a little smirk.

she didn't give up...

It infuriated and....

thrilled me

I raised my brow," after you" I said tilting my head to one of the stalls. Seeing how far she will go with it.

Her smile wavered I watched with interest, yet she squared her shoulder and went inside I facepalmed and pulled her out by her elbow dragging her to the hallway, I pinned her to the wall with my arms caging her body between me, "What is wrong with you?" I asked, angry now

She folded her arms tilting her head to look at me arrogantly, "Don't play games with me I hate losing"

I gave out a sigh, "I am trying to intimidate you can't you see that? The way you behave recklessly with me anyone could take advantage of you"

"You don't intimidate me Dhruv not in the least manner. I trust you" she said hotly looking straight into my eyes.

I stared back intently at her blazed eyes and full mouth and that sinful body. I had been teased enough.

"You are a fool then," I said mitigating the distance between us, and pressed my lips to hers.

She gasped surprised immediately my tongue slipped into her mouth greedy for the strawberry I tasted before on her lips. She gave out a little moan snapping the last thread of my sanity. She drew her hands into my hair tugging my head down to kiss me deeper. A sigh broke out of my throat mingling with our breaths.

Wrapping her leg around my waist she pulled me closer to her into her. My hand caressed down her body they just couldn't stop themselves, her teasing curves while I kissed her mouth hard. Her tricks and her little sly smiles had again lured me back to her. I can't help but let her rock my world, crash it down where I would let my thoughts and desires take control.

My lips traveled down to the slope of her neck like I was seeing my desire play out which kept me restless at night. I nipped lightly on her neck the place where her pulse throbbed. She shivered under me she felt so small but fervent and ardent enough to make my knees weak. Her determined hands moved up and down my back rendering me struggling to hold still.

My hands grazed down her blazer to the white top that barely covered her belly they stopped lightly brushing there up at her ribs below her heaving breasts she held my shoulders tight hissing.

"Do you still trust me?" I asked in a rasped voice, my throat turned dry, I swallowed hard.

She nodded slowly tilting her head back on the wall giving me more access

I growled with rage in her neck withdrawing my hands away from there. She chuckled throatily which got me mad, I bit harder on her collar bone her nails dug deeper into my bicep in response, and her rash breathing echoing in the empty corridor was making me volatile with need.

My hands reached down to her hips I pulled her towards me, more against me, eliminating any space between us and she stiffened feeling it.

"Now, do you?" I inclined back to see her face.

In the dim fluorescent lights from the stalls, I drank her sight face pink blossomed like a flower, sheen of sweat adoring her forehead down to the temples where her shiny brown hair stuck and those driving crazy plumed red lips. It was an enchanting view, a face of temptation no man could resist, but it was the expression on her face that had captured my attention there was an anguished need for something more than bodily pleasure that made me want to run away or protect her at all cost.

"Yes, I trust you," she said and tried to coax me back to kiss her again, I wouldn't want anything more than that but I avoided it. I cursed at myself, this was not wrong, this was a disaster and I took a step back with great effort," it's a shame cuz I can give you nothing but pity" I said, honestly

Her eyes snapped open with rage masking the tears she was holding back. "I don't need your pity" She pushed me away putting a straight posture after adjusting her blazer like nothing happened.

She sauntered out without glancing back, I stayed rubbing my forehead and for the nth time wondering if it was a wrong decision to come to this town?