[Sharon's POV]

Vaibhavi whispered, "I've done my part. Your turn." I nodded and Vaibhavi left. I looked around to spot Kriya, to find her by the corner of the house, decorating a pillar.

Reaching there, I asked the normal question. "So what are you going to wear?"

Kriya turned to look at me and turned back to look at the piece she was decorating. "I was just going to wear the red dress I wore on V-day."

I grinned, knowing she would say exactly that. Kriya wasn't the type who would go crazy over picking out perfect outfits that can't be worn more than once. "Why am I not surprised?"

"What?"

"What what? You're not going to wear that same dress again!" I exclaimed, not caring I might be going a bit over-dramatic.

Kriya rolled her eyes. "Sharon, you like wearing your outfits only once. I am perfectly fine with that one dress."

"No excuses this time. You're going to get a new dress."

"Yea-yea, we'll see." She went back to decorating, paying least attention to me and taking the matter lightly. Well, she had another thing coming her way.

I pulled her by the hand and away from the corner. "Seriously, sis, this is a competition and the party is going to be covered by the media. Take it atleast a little bit seriously! You're going now. I want to make sure you don't make any excuses last minute such as 'I forgot' 'I was busy' etc. etc."

"Now?" Kriya exclaimed and stopped me from dragging her away further.

"Yes, now. And I won't trust you to pick out the best one. Knowing you, you'd probably take the first one you see and not look more."

Kriya giggled. "That's my sister. I love how you know me so well." She was being cunning in trying to change topics, but I was her sister as well. I knew her tricks.

"Yea whatever. I love that you love that. But nothing sly this time. I know you too well to know."

"And knowing you, I won't take you with me. Or else you'd end up buying gazillion for yourself and completely ignore the actual reason for us shopping." Kriya pointed out.

This time, I repeated her line, "I love how you know me so well." Kriya gave a victory smile, patting herself. I continued, "And that is why, I won't go with you." Just then, Rey passed by.

Perfect timing.

I stopped Rey. "Rey, hey, can you take her shopping? She's being stupid on wearing the same red dress she wore on Valentine's Day. I can't go or I'll buy myself clothes. You know how it goes." I said all too fast and threw her in his direction. She stumbled and crashed into his chest. They looked at each other for a brief second before turning to face me. Kriya glared at me while Rey looked confused, "And take the highway. You'll get there faster. Thanks."

And with that, ladies and gentlemen, I sprinted away, without giving either of them a chance to argue. I disappeared the other way, around the corner and hid where Vaibhavi was to watch the two of them leave. Seeing our plan succeeding so far, we jumped up in excitement. Swayam and Karan came to us from behind.

"Just hope our silly friends will work things out now." Swayam said. Karan nodded along. He seemed to be having more fun with this all than us, for some reason. Though I wanted to know what was going on in that head of his, I knew better than to ask. No one can ever figure him out perfectly. He is that mystery we students could never solve. Oh well, forgetting about him, I put my focus on my sister and that best friend of mine who is head over heels in love with her since years now.

[Rey's POV]

We exited the place in a rush. Why wouldn't we when we just got the chance to be by ourselves? I soon took the highway and pulled the roof of the car back to turn it into sports car. I accelerated, the car running with the wind's direction, making Kriya's hair come all over her face. At first, she was enjoying the open air, but soon she started getting irritated as it kept bothering her hair and disturbing her view.

I chucked for her expression was adorable as a little kid. Then again, I too was a bit mad at the wind for ruining my view. How could I gaze at her when her face was covered with hair running around? I forwarded my hand and gathering her hair, tucked them back for her. She turned her face to look at me as soon as my hands touched her forehead. She smiled. I smiled back. She seemed to be thanking me for his gesture. No matter how old and common this trick was, it brought a small smile on her face. It made her feel loved. I knew that. These things constantly kept on telling her I cared for her; the thing a girl wants the most.

That was of no use though. The wind would again undo the tucking and bring her hair forward again. She gave a pleading look. I listened and pulled the roof back up. We loved driving with the roof open, but today just seemed to be not our day. Fortunately or unfortunately. Kriya turned the AC on at full speed and directed the fan towards her. I shook his head. She would always do that whenever she sat in cars. As always, I said, "It's not good to have artificial air coming right at you."

She smirked, "Acha? Then give me natural air."

I raised my brow, not understanding what she was saying. She leaned towards me stretching the seatbelt and blew on my face. Reaction: my eyes shut due to shock and the car coming to a screeching halt, making the seatbelt stretch further and her hands on my shoulder to protect herself from bumping.

"What are you doing? Accident ho jayega." I scolded, though I was pleasantly surprised by her action. [English: We'll get into an accident.]

She laughed and then added acting innocent. "Tum samjhe nai toh mai kya karu?" [English: What else could I do when you didn't understand?]

Seeing my expression, she continued laughing and was about to retreat to her seat when I pulled her back, hands firm on her own. She questioned through her eyes. She got her answer when I blew at her face. She closed her eyes as she felt it. It somehow tickled her face and she shied, looking past my shoulder when she reopened her eyes. "Kya hua? [What happened?] This is what you asked for." He replied with the same innocent tone, hiding a smirk.

She lightly hit my chest and pulled back. I started driving again, a grin on his face while a smile crept up on hers. This was going to be an interesting shopping trip; that much I could foretell.

***

[Karan's POV]

"Sharon, chill sweetie. Our plan is full-proof. It will definitely work." Vaibhavi tried calming Sharon as she paced up and fro.

She replied back, "You don't know Kriya. She changes her mind in a second. Anything can happen."

"The worst that can happen is..." I started.

"Don't even say it!" Swayam interrupted. I dispersed the sentence and Swayam moved towards Sharon. "Let's go." He told her.

"Where?"

"If you stay here any longer, you'll keep worrying. Just follow me."

Sharon objected but he pulled her away. Vaibhavi whined, "Now who's going to help me set up?"

I whistled and a flock of kids gathered around out of nowhere. Her eyes were wide with horror as if to say what the...!?

"Don't worry, I know them." I told her and then winked at the kids. They all, like the smart generation they were, started on their work at once. One shouldn't underestimate them when it comes to anything.

***

[Kriya's POV]

While looking around from one rack to another, Rey teased, bringing up the topic out of nowhere. "You know, that red valentines dress looked pretty hot on you."

I gave him a 'shut up' look as he was being purposely loud while around other customers. They were giving us a teasing glance and I was shying away. He laughed at my expression and kept his hand around me, taking me by surprise. The next instant, I relaxed; loving the moment even more. We continued fishing for outfits.

Rey's eyes fell on a dress. He pulled me towards him from the other side and handed it to me. "Go try this on." Rey asked. I looked at it horrified.

"This?!" I exclaimed.

He replied, "Yes, this. Why? What's wrong with it?" He asked then, pretending to be completely innocent.

"Nothing..." I replied very slowly, almost a murmur, and moved towards the trial area. How was I supposed to explain to him that it was too low from the chest area and while I would do anything for him, there were still things I wasn't comfortable with crossing the limits of.

Moreover, it had a bunch of threads which were to be tied, all of which I had no idea where they would tie up to. Even after being flexible, I was sure I wouldn't be able to tie them all by myself. For a second, I cursed Sharon for not coming along and cursed myself as well as I was the one who didn't want to take Sharon with me.

***

[Sharon's POV]

"Swayam! Where are we going?!!" I asked for the umpteenth time. I was sitting in the passenger's seat while Swayam drove without replying back to my previous attempts at trying to find out. He did the same this time.

"You will know when we get there." He gave the mysterious response.

Five minutes later, he stops the car in front of a building I was most familiar with. One all of us were deeply connected with. St. Louis college campus. Being the famous historical dance team we were; we were allowed to visit at any given time at any day.

"College?"

I asked and then cheered up; giving a bright smile as we stepped out. I understood the reason he brought me here. There was only and only ONE thing in this entire world that would give me relief from any worries, be it a small one or a big one.

Dance.

He said, "You go in. I'll be right back."

Saying so, he proceeded to drive back out. I asked. "Where are you going?" Then knowing it was futile to ask him, I continued, "Forget I asked you. See you in a bit."

***

[Kriya's POV]

As predicted, I was struggling to find the correct ends of the strings to tie together. I just couldn't grab the correct ends together! I was getting frustrated to no end when there was a knock on the door.

"Are you still in there?" Rey asked.

"Hmm." I let out to let him know while still struggling in there.

"I thought you fell asleep in there."

"Very funny."

"Kriya, it's been half an hour since you've been in there. What's taking so long?"

"I - uh ..." I started fumbling for words.

He stood straight on his feet. "Either you're coming out or I'm coming in."

I gave a mocking laugh. "Ha-ha. The door is lock from inside Mr. Reyansh Singhania."

"Are you challenging me?" He asked with a tease. I could hear it in his voice.

I decided against it knowing very well that he would prick the lock open if I encouraged him. "No... I'm just saying. Plus, you aren't allowed in ladies trial area. What are you doing here anyway?"

"Kriya." He said sternly.

"Yes?"

"Stop making excuses." And so he knew. I didn't reply back. He got worried a few seconds later. "Kriya? You there?"

"You told me to stop making excuses."

I can just imagine him shaking his head amused. "Do you trust me?"

"Is this a trick question?" I asked, worried when he asked that all of a sudden.

"Do you?" He repeated, insisting an answer.

For few seconds, I didn't reply. Only because I couldn't figure out why he was asking that. I opened the door when I heard him walking away. I couldn't let this happen. He must have head the door open, for he stopped from going away and turned to face me.

Rey turned around to look at the open door. She pulled it back further and dared to move her head up to look at him. Their eyes met and he could only see immense love and trust in her eyes for him. He couldn't have asked for anything more. He took a step back towards the door and stood at its outskirt, a soft smile on his face.

Before taking the step in, he held my hand and brought it to his eyes, covering them. I could only look at him in this moment. How much more sweet can a guy be? It was only after that that he took the step inside the tiny cubicle and I moved a step back. I understood why he asked me to try this dress in the first place. I said I trusted him, but somewhere, he had his doubts. I couldn't blame him, since deep down, I wasn't entirely sure either. He knew I would need help putting on the dress. He asked me if I trusted him enough to help him, and my letting him, I found the answer to my own question while proving it to him as well.

As the door was locked, I moved my hand back. He kept his eyes closed. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"If I didn't trust you enough, I wouldn't let you in at all." I told him. He smiled through the heavy meanings the words held. I asked him to open his eyes. "You can open them."

He asked for my hand, eyes still close. I placed it in his. He brought me a step closer to him and he placed his hand on my back. He then whispered in my ear, "I don't know if I trust myself around you."

He couldn't see it, but I smiled now at his honesty. Putting my other hand on his check, I replied. "Open your eyes."

Reluctantly, he opened his eyes and looked into mines. I replied back with a smile and turned around. I moved my hair to one side, to reveal my bare back to him as I turned my back to him. In the mirror, I saw his hands shake a little, but I told myself I didn't have to shy away. The butterflies were doing the similar effect to me when his hands brushed across my skin. The tingly sensation rubbed over my skin. Slowly and apprehensively, he tied the first string.

Just when I thought he wouldn't lose his control, he did. He looked past me to see me in the mirror. I gave a smile back and my neck came in his view. He just could not hold back. Anxiously, his hand touched my arm as he took a very close step towards me, his chest and my back almost touching. I took a slight gasp at the touch of his warm hands against my cold skin. It sent shivers down my spine. He buried his face in the crook of my neck. An uncontrolled reaction on both our sides. My hand went towards the back of his head. I didn't realize it'd only encourage him, until I already had and then it was too late to pull away. He left a soft kiss on my neck. It took all of my willpower to not let out a moan.

He shifted his head to my other shoulder, holding my arm at a tight grasp. Another kiss. I closed my eyes, both from anticipation and from a little pain because of his tight hold on my arm. I understood h was trying to hold himself back, and wasn't quite realizing that it was my arm he was holding onto so firmly. He stayed that way for a while.

I didn't pull away either. It was bliss. I wanted him close to me just as he did. Eventually, I called him out, "Rey..."

He wasn't in his senses to say anything. He simply made a sound. "Hmm?"

With my opposite hand, I touched his hand, letting him know through this action that he was holding it too lightly. When his eyes traveled down to it, he snapped out and let go of my hand. He looked down at it and saw the red imprints his fingers had left. His eyes reflected guilt right away, and I didn't want him to go through that. "I'm so sorry...." Before he could say anything else, I stopped him.

I held his face and looked into his eyes. All I did was simply shake my head in a 'no'. He calmed down and let out a deep sigh. "I told you I don't trust myself around you." He whispered.

"I do." I replied and moved in to give him a kiss on his cheek, making him feel alive again. I turned my back to him and continued, "We should move out before someone comes in to find you here."

Next, he looked at the one that was by my waist. As he looked down, I could feel his eyes on my waist, due to the open back of the dress. The strings were attached to the first and one has to encircle them to bring them back and tie them there. At first, he didn't know where exactly he tied up to. He moved to the front to figure it out. When he couldn't he moved back again, fumbling with them and turning me around and round as if I was a statue he was experimenting on.

I had to stop myself from laughing, though I did have a grin on my face. When I got a bit dizzy, I gave the stop signal. Taking the strings, I untangled them and left them. They fell by my side. I turned my back to him again and took his hands by his wrist. As I brought them to the string, he held them and I guided his hands to the back.

He gave a 'sorry' face for making her turn so much and tied them up.

***

[Sharon's POV]

Swayam walked in with a picnic bag. I gaped at it pleasantly. "Swayam?"

"Decided we might as well spend the night right. There's no way I'm going to let you go home and worry when we can spend the day in a much better way." He replied with a wink.

He moved to put the things to the side. I couldn't help but gaze attentively at him. Each action of his would make me want to love him even more than before. What did I ever do in my life to deserve such a lovely boyfriend?

After turning the player on, he walked back to me and asked for my hand. For a dance. I kept it in his and he brought me closer to him. The soft, melodious music seeped through the room, touching our hearts and lost us in its rhythm.

Swayam was watching me as I ate. I had to ask him in between bites, "How do you make such delicious food?"

"Try a thing called 'recipe book." He taunted and forced his smile back.

"Ha-Ha." I replied and threw a blanket at him before going back to eating.

Next minute, I was up. "I'm bored here. Let's go out."

He got up and followed me out of the room. We walked the hallways, chatting and laughing, remembering our fights, taunts, dances and all the fun we used to have. We ended up by the old staircase. Unknowingly, a tear escaped my eyes as I remembered the brutal I had treated Swayam back then. I knew he didn't deserve it at all, none of the harsh words I had spat at him in the past, only because I couldn't handle the fact that there could be a person in this world who could so selflessly love me too. I wasn't ready to handle so much love he gave me without ever asking anything in return.

He noticed it and turned me to face him. "I can't see a tear in your eye."

"The way I used to treat you..." My voice quivered away.

"That was past. We'll make a better future." He assured me. I nodded because I wanted to believe him. He bent down to kiss the tear away. My heart played havoc. We started walking again, his hands around my waist as I laid my head on his shoulder.

***

Author's Note:

As promised (: Next update will most likely be Wednesday. I have a major important mid-term on Tuesday so I'll be studying the weekend *sigh* 

Enjoy the weekend! <3