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•Moments•

The roof was quite windy and I struggled to keep my flowing strands arranged, tucking them behind my ears.

"I am too sober for this." I mumbled not sure if he heard.

He stood leaning back on the wall with one of his legs crossed against the other and eyes, watching the light of the thousand stars above.


I stood unsure if I should make a way to him or stand there drinking in the serenity of his presence around because God knew for how long I would keep craving it for the rest of this life. I glanced upon him through the corner of my eyes and he stood same except there was a long cigarette burning between his long slender fingers. The front buttons of his shirt staying open gave exposure to his toned chest glistening under the moonlight and I found his heart rising up and down at a peaceful rhythm.



He had changed starting from his style of dressing to body language to way of speaking to presentability with the only thing remaining constant was that dreamy pair of eyes. Luke Evans changed and became a whole new package, impossible for anyone to recognise but then.... those two captivating orbs stayed as similar as when he used to be a college rockstar and I couldn't help but stare because honestly, I wanted no other place to look at.



I recalled how I had thought about him in my solitude nights and when in all those loneliness, I kept thinking to myself if it was wrong to love him as much as I wouldn't be able to offer somebody else. Even if it was wrong, my heart wouldn't let me be right anyway. But suddenly I realised that I was falling harder for him.



"You teach here?" I froze hearing the little cry coming out of my gut, I eyed him. He appeared nonchalant smoking in and puffing out the smoke.



Scared if the words would ditch me, I feebly nodded fiddling with fingers whilst he exhaled a thick smoke forming circles in the air which I noticed to be vanishing soon.



"For how long?" And with his each question, the mask of my confidence was slipping away.



"Th-three years" I answered.


"Wow..." he breathed out a thick smoke looking at the crystalline shining ball in the sky.



And soon as he finished, his eyes met mine and I felt my world move. I wanted to be brave and keep staring but the torture on my heart was growing destructive.



"......and I live here too." Okay, I knew this was such a stupid thing to say but I just didn't want the conversation to die.


"Like in the music school?" He enquired.


"No no no. I meant.. in this city only." I bit my inner cheeks for being an official halfwit. He stared at me for a good whole moment figuring out if I was being serious.


"I don't like to have normal conversations with people." I bite my tongue accepting my lack of social interactions. "I...I speak no mind. Ignore me." He might have wondered if a teacher speaks that way. The answer is no.


"Let's sit down and introduce me to your mind, then." He blinked with a shine of thousand stars. I looked at him and I knew very clearly that I will die. That, I loved him more than anything I had ever seen or imagined on earth.


"You seem quite emotionless." He remarked seeing me look at him like a robot.


"When you are left out in the cold you tend to freeze." I smiled, faintly. This moment is surreal. This doesn't happen. Not with a common girl like me. Not with a rockstar like him.


"Huh? Was it supposed to sound this deep?..." he spoke while cool breeze was messing up hairs on his forehead.



It had hit me hard. I didn't know what to answer because without him, there remained nothing but hollowness but here this man was asking me about my thoughts, only if he knew he played the protagonist in each of my thoughts in my consciousness and subconsciousness.



"So deep that the ocean would be jealous. I myself drown in it sometimes" I tittered awkwardly predicting he would stop asking.



"I can be your lifeguard." he uttered and wholeheartedly, I choked on the air I was inhaling. He said something I was sure he wasn't aware of.



I inhaled deeply closing my eyes whilst all he did was patiently wait as if he understood that sooner or later I would open up.



"I'm not sure if you'll will find it stupid. You can.. of course you can cringe your nose when you find it awkward." I stated not looking up at him.


"Try me." He looked focused.



"Okay, so it's like until I met you..."



"Just a little interruption, lady." Did his mind change? Did he have to leave? Did he already find me boring? "I mean, what you're going to say seems quite enthralling so, I was thinking if we could arrange for something warm, you know? Like some brandy?" He rubbed his palms together and clutched his biceps gesturing me the drop in the temperature. Sure I felt the frosty breeze too but I was used to it.



Had it been some other man, I would've escaped the conversation but with Luke, I wanted to live it.



"Yea..sure." I muttered.



"We can go downstairs and grab something?" He suggested.



"Maybe not?" I continued "there's this room at the corner where the students keep their booze stashed." I pointed my finger towards a dark corner room and his eyes followed.



"Then what are we waiting for unless you plan to kill me with hypothermia." I pressed my lips suppressing my amusement finding him chatter his teeth in cold. Why was it being so easy with him now when it hadn't been all those years before?



"Will be back in a jiffy." I scurried towards the dark room which stayed halfway out of sight of Mr. Rockstar.



Unfastening the bolt, I stepped into the room badly praying to find some brandy there as I needed to be back beside him quickly. My eyes hunted the entire place in a split second with panic growing inside each second. I sighed in relief discovering an entire collection of different beverages hidden and I couldn't be thankful anymore. I didn't care if that made me an obnoxious teacher who steals liquor from her students but but but there stood no chance they're going to find out since there were so many.



Thank you Gabrielle for the information about this secret place although I planned on disintegrating each bottle into pieces, the moment you told me.



I could figure out that on the walls some students had imprinted funny names of the teachers mocking their bodily appearances. Sweet was the Lord that I was spared. Shuddering thinking of Luke, I felt my cheeks burn red with a sheepish smile that was impossible to hide. The more I tried suppressing it, the more adamant it grew. Thinking of his poor cold state, I grabbed a blanket lying nearby.



Soon as I stood in visible periphery, I watched him stride to and fro rubbing his arms above the elbow and blow air into his palms to radiate the heat.



"Here" I brought his attention to me passing him the blanket and moving the bottles in the air.



"Took you forever" he paced towards me but quickly composed himself probably trying hard to not ruin his masculine image.



He took the bottles from my grip much to show his chivalry, I treasured. He looked around on the ground presumably finding a place to rest our cold bodies.



"There?" He eyed me the open edge of the roof.



"Comes across okay" I smiled and he marched ahead possibly just dying to get a nod from me.



He sat down first hanging his legs down the edge of the twentieth floor. I thought like a child he'd quickly hide himself in the blanket but he proved me wrong when turning towards me, he extended his hand to hold mine. In the next second, my hand was in his and truly, I was loving the newfound confidence in me wondering what wonders these bottles could do thereafter. All those times when I died to know how feel that touch were coming flashing before my eyes like a silent movie. Carefully, he helped me sit down beside making sure I don't panic. At the outset, it did bring me cold sweat the moment I looked down but I couldn't afford portraying myself as a flustered freak.


"The city looks great from here. As if it added a new dimension..as if I'm seeing the roads for the very first time in spite of seeing them day and night." I smiled. He popped the cap of the bottles and took a sip of the raw drink. I giggled seeing his cringed expression as the raw solution was going down his throat.


"Does it make me an awful teacher since I stole my students' liquor and now savouring them?" I curled up my lower lip.


"Honestly, yes." He stated seriously.


"Hey?" I frowned.


"Don't worry, the damage is already done to your reputation. Let's not waste time thinking about it. Come on!" He chuckled seeing me cringe at the bitter taste.


"It's okay. Give it some time." He suggested "And please no, I'm not trying to hint at anything specific. It's just a supposition. And ah you were saying something earlier?" He kept taking sips.



"I don't know.. I mean all my life I've never been opinionated maybe because I didn't get to choose anything. I was always served on the plate by people who care for me stuffing the dishes that they thought to be right for me. I was taught all my life what is correct and what is not and never actually given a chance to fall back, learn and get up." I paused to glance at him and he kept blinking at me sipping on his drink as if signalling me to continue; I sighed. "When I was three, my career was selected by my grandfather. When I was five, my brother chose my friends. Years passed and I kept growing dependant on people around me; scared of taking a decision. I was sent to hostel and those have been the worst years of my life... I..." I felt warm waters rolling down my cheeks as I was placing the deepest bruises before someone who costed me my oxygen. I got amazed how easily I was putting forward my hurts before him but then I put the entire blame on the alcohol.



Like it happens in novels, he played contrary not wrapping his arms around me although he scooted slightly closer and I could feel his hand inches away from mine, yet not touching me. He kept the bottle aside possibly to make it appear that I had his undivided attention. Quietly as he kept looking at me from time to time, there was silence all around, a serene one. He didn't say a word to comfort but gave ample time to fine-tune my heart which substantially helped.



I took a deep inhale and looked up trying with every ounce of my being to not cry and ruin my impression. There was a war inside me pondering over if I should tell him this but right at that moment, it kind of just felt the right thing to do. I gulped quite a good portion of the alcohol letting the burning shape my mind but it was of little help.



I closed my eyes letting few drops flow down shamelessly "I was bullied, Luke. Badly. And, I don't know why am I saying this all of a sudden but I am. My dad being active in military and was deployed for most of my younger years. We moved about every 2-3 years so making friends was more and more difficult and people seemed to think the new kid was an easy target to pick on. So from 3rd grade on I was...bullied for any and every reason. I was small, quiet, skinny, had big glasses, carried a military style backpack. Life was an awful thing to love everyday...and there were so many times I wanted to quit. Just end it all. I cried everyday trying to do anything I could, just to fit in. I tried laying low, I tried hiding...but nothing helped." I gulped down the lump inside with some more alcohol and all I earned as response was silence from him.



"They bullied me in classes and extra classes meant extra torture. Tuitions and my hostel were nightmares. Then one day, it all got worse when they fixed hidden cameras in my room and suddenly I was the talk of the entire school. I cried everyday not understanding what did I do so wrong to deserve this. The next week, seeing me so broken the warden informed the principal who called upon my parents and they took me back home. I was so...so coward to get those morons punished. Years passed but the scars remained afresh every night I trying sleeping. They haunted me everywhere. Peace was an alien thing because of my father's transferable job. I kept changing cities as if trying to pick up a new shell, each time. Everyone has a rock bottom and when I hit mine, no matter how strong I used to feel about myself I still believed people when they said I was useless. I feared getting connected to people but there was this very nice girl, Catherine, who I found to have faced similar fate as me and we instantly clicked. I remember in my early Winchester days at Redwood Academy....."



"Wait a minute. You're from Winchester? And from Redwood too?" That was the first time he interrupted me. I nodded.



"I stayed there for a span of three months only." And loved you endlessly.



"God! We're from the same college!" He said in utter amusement.



"I was a year junior to you." I chuckled with my moist eyes. Alcohol helped soothing the night.



"No freaking way! Why haven't you told me till now? You know, it's always so good to talk to someone so so close in a foreign land. It feels homely." Picking up the bottle, he swallowed.



"That'd hardly make any difference because you didn't even know me back then. You were so popular and talented and everything I was not. Useless, rather." I said smiling to myself remembering how naive and pure those days were.



"Small world!" He mumbled grabbing the blanket from the back. "But I've never heard that a useless girl can make it to NYC living on her own earning her own bread and butter unless she's got a potential."



He offered me a side of the blanket and I politely declined. Nonchalantly, he wrapped the blanket around him looking down at the city beneath us. It was tranquil that way where we were sandwiched between the lights of uncountable stars and lights of uncountable streets.



"Does it still hurt you?" His words broke my little reverie and I looked at him.



"Hurt is such a negative word. It surely does affect me, but I've learnt to live with it." I stated.



"You know if you really can't let that 'effect' stop affecting you then all your life you'll be stuck with it and end up hurting no one but yourself. Those people might not even remember this..the ones who did so wrong, then why are you going to carry the baggage all your life?" He was about to rest his hand on mine but skeptically drew it back.



"But you know Luke what is unfair? It is that I've told you a very grave thing about my life having no plan to do so whereas here you're sitting quiet. I mean, you should also share something." I asked thoughtfully.



"But do you know what more is unfair?" He raised his brows and I shook my head exhausted enough to keep guessing.



"That till now I didn't get your name." He smiled.



"Mrs. Williams introduced this morning, remember?" I pursed my lips. He scratched his forehead for a little looking at the design of the bottle but ended up shaking his head sorrowfully.


"It's Audrey." I voiced dangling my legs at a speed.



"Right. Audrey." My eyes broadened hearing my name from his mouth for the first time. Music. Absolute music.



"So... it's your turn now." I asked hopefully.



"Well, I don't have anything much to share as deep as you did. I'm more or less a contented person." He twinkled his eyes.



"Something must be there. C'mon a little bit of any story you'd like to share in this small world with someone you discovered years later?" I insisted.



"Umm..." he kept deeply thinking resting his weight on his hands behind "You know Audrey, I was raised alone by my mother alone because my father abandoned us for some other woman. It was not at all easy for her to fight every evil eye of the society each day... each nasty hands that tried touching her taking advantage of being without a man but she's a fighter and deep rooted such fighter spirits in me as well. In such a situation, people usually would want their children to just get done with studies the soonest and find a job to support family but my mother supported me at every step when I expressed that I wanted to be a singer. I just love her so much." No stain of sadness was visible on his face. He surely was strong.



"She is strong." I asked.



"Very." He smiled looking at those stars.


"Did I make you sad?" I had to ask this.


"No, teacher. Not that my sadness is going to change anything or so. So rather I should be concentrating on things that bring me happiness." He breathed.



"Wow. You're an example. Hey, pardon me for being so nosy but everyone back in college knew that you come from a very well-to-do family. Forgive me for not placing this in a proper way." I gazed into his eyes which were looking straight at the Brooklyn bridge glamourised with lights and cars crossing its chest.



"My mother's paternal house was of great support." He exhaled not sparing me a glance. I wondered if I went a little too far.



"Are you cold?" He questioned seeing me rub my bare arms.



"I ran out of my drink." I smiled foolishly turning the bottle upside down.



"Now that I've got your name and also shared something with you, would you still mind sharing the blanket with me?" His words hitched my breath.



Sharing the same warmth with him in a same piece of blanket seemed too dreamy to be true.



He cleared his voice snapping me out of my thoughts and before I could scold and command myself, I found my body to be scooting closer to him as he gladly spread the blanket taking me in the shelter. The moment my skin brushed with his, I knew the whole zoo inside my stomach was alive and maybe the adrenaline rush was slightly on the risky side induced by the raw alcohol that entered my system. Had someone told me years back that one starry night I'd be sharing the same blanket with Luke, either, I would've cried my eyes out or would've simply laughed it off.



"Do you feel better?" He lowered his voice which turned extremely husky landing on my ears which was little away from his mouth. Hidden feelings came alive.



"What'd happen if any paparazzi finds you this way?" I asked living the moment with all my soul wishing there to be no end.



"There would be another sensational article coming up that 'Rockstar Luke Evans has been spotted spending quality time with his supposed love interest on a cold night alone on a roof, all wrapped together in a same blanket. Who is this mystery lady? Send us your opinions to the given site below'." I laughed seeing him speak exactly like those typical news reporters.



"Oh yeah and some of them would add some spice to it saying they'd seen us stealing kisses or making out." I chuckled widening my eyes.



"Poor you. And, that will be all okay with you?" The night was a dream.



"So long it is okay with you." He smiled and that smile was like a fresh wind that tears the dried leaves off the trees.



"Recently, I read this article about Rebecca and you...?" I teased the topic. I hope he didn't ask 'nosy much?'



"Ahhh.. you read about me, I see." He teased.



"Nooo. It just showed up on my timeline and I was basically having no important work, thus decided to click on and read." I lied.



"You know what Audrey, you think you're just extremely brilliant at twisting things but trust me it's not helping." He chuckled making me turn crimson.



"But hey it's the truth only." I squeaked watching him roll his eyes.



"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Mood.



"Anyway, my answer?" He shook his head at me.



"Rebecca and I met during a commercial shoot. We clicked well, messed around a little and that was all." I bobbed.



He looked down at my eyes with his nose brushing the side of my forehead and my heartbeat quickened like a mad horse galloped. I simply froze.



"There's nothing serious at all" he whispered but I couldn't register anything he said because I was still shook by the feel of his lips on my ear.



I gulped stupidly.



"Whoa! What that is?" Luke asked excitedly and I derailed my train of thoughts to hear a fine tune of melody being played on a violin nearby.



"It's Mr. Parker. He plays violin exactly at 12:30 in the night." I smiled feebly looking at the tiny yellow light shining in the nearest twenty fifth floored apartment.



"To promote sleep or anything?" He asked cluelessly although deeply appreciating the tune.



"Actually, five years back, he lost his wife in an accident and the time of her death was, well, it was 12:30, so Mr. Parker plays the same tune every night in memory of his wife exactly at the time he lost her to the hands of death." I pursed my lips.



"That's...heartbreaking. Must be difficult for people to live without love." Ask me about it.



"It's more heartbreaking having your love before you and not being able to do anything." I mumbled.



We sat there in silence drowning in the pure melody that filled the air. The sound of the basses of the party going downstairs lessened which welcomed more peace for the two of us. The blanket slipped away from my shoulder but before I could do anything, Luke was quick enough to fix it carefully back on my shoulder and to prevent any further slip, just calmly and weightlessly rested his hand there. It was no longer awkward to me when he was humming to the tune with that soulful voice of his.



And the more time I spent with him, it seemed less.

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