I walk alone to the bus stand and wait for the bus. Everyone seems to be with their friends chatting excitedly. I'm the only one standing alone. Thankfully, the bus comes fast and I quickly go sit at the far end of the bus. I'm aware of Nancy sitting in the front seats chatting with a group of girls all dressed smartly in short skirts. Nancy says something and they all burst out laughing.

Nancy looks a lot like them, I realize. She's always smartly dressed and has that confidence that nobody can shatter. Nancy suddenly becomes aware of me watching her and mouths a sorry. I smile back and then look out of the window. I know it's a small thing and I shouldn't be overreacting but why does Nancy have to do this to me? I have no other friend except for her and she knows that!  I open the ticket to the fest that Miss Honey gave me and hold it close to my heart. This is the only good thing that happened the entire day and of course meeting Luke. I flip the sheet to see Luke's number at the back. It feels so unreal! I actually got his number! I'm going to call him as soon as I get home!

The bus stops and I quickly hop out, not making eye contact with Nancy. I come home and see mom talking on the phone. Her brow is furrowed, sweat is trickling down her face and she's waving her arms frantically in the air. What wrong? I've never seen mom look so panicked!

"Mom....." I say placing my hand on her shoulder.

Mom looks at me and keeps the phone down instantly. She smiles and gives an over pleasant laugh.

"Elsa, I didn't realize you had come home!" she says smiling .

"Mom is everything all right?" I ask with concern.

" Oh! Yes my dear! Just some work stress!" says mom.

"Ok....." I say softly.

"How was your day in school?" asks mom.

"Miss Honey asked me to participate in a  fest!" I say my voice jumping with excitement.

"Oh! That's great Elsa!" says mom her face brightening.

"This is the form I have to fill," I say giving mom the sheet Miss Honey had given me.

"This is a quite a big fest!" says mom reading the details in the form.

"I know!" I say happily going to the kitchen and filling a glass of water.

"Elsa who's number is this at the back?" asks mom after a minute or two.

I freeze, the glass of water falling from my hands. How could I forget Luke had written his number on that sheet? Am I mad? Now what will I tell mom?

"Elsa?" mom looks at me questioningly.

"Just a friend's!" I say turning red.

"Really?" asks mom her mouth twitching.

"Yes mom!" I say taking the sheet from her and hiding it in my bag.

"I've never heard of this friend!" says mom looking at me in the eye.

"Um........" I say looking away.

"Is it a boy?" says mom her eyes shining with excitement.

"Yes......"  I say blushing slightly.

"My daughter has a crush!" says mom laughing loudly.

"Mom!" I say crossly, "Don't tease me!"

"What's his name?" asks mom with curiosity.

"Luke," I say softly.

"Is he handsome?" asks mom.

"Yes very handsome mom!" I close my eyes, "He has sea blue eyes and dark black hair. He has the most dashing and charming smile. He's sweet, kind and and...." I'm suddenly aware of mom staring at me desperately trying to control her laughter.

Oh God! What's wrong with me?

"Anyways he's only a friend!" I say with embarrassment.

"Yes, I believe that!" says mom hugging me.

"Mom!" I say hugging her too.

"Shall we eat dinner?" asks mom after a while.

"Ok......" I say.

Usually my sister would come home by now. 

"Where's Catherine?" I ask with surprise.

"She'll come!" says mom over brightly.

"Mom what's wrong?" I ask.

"Nothing's wrong!" says mom, "Guess what I made for dinner?"

"What?" I ask.

"Egg and ham rolls!" says mom placing them on the table.

"Yum!" I say taking two rolls quickly.

We eat dinner very quietly. I guess both of us are too busy in our food. Suddenly I remember, I haven't told mom about Nancy today. I'm about to tell her when the door swings open and my sister comes in. Weirdly she doesn't look as good as she usually does. She's wearing a wrinkled, formal suit with normal flats, her hair is all messy, her eyes are blood red and tears are trickling down her cheek.  She silently goes and sits on the chair. Behind her is my dad. He looks really stressed. When he sees me he gives me a small smile while my sister doesn't even notice me!

"Elsa go to your room!" says mom her voice suddenly filled with panic.

"Ok...... " I say quickly going upstairs.

I can hear my sister crying softly while my parents are trying to make her feel better. I wonder what's wrong? I've never seen Catherine like this! She might have broken up with her boyfriend again but she never takes that so seriously! What if it's something serious? I remember mom talking on the phone today. What if she was talking to my sister?

I take out my phone only to see that it has zero battery. I'll call Luke tomorrow. Anyways I'm too panicked and drained out! Hopefully my sister will be fine tomorrow and nothing big has happened! 

I get up in the morning and go downstairs. The house is weirdly quiet. There doesn't seen to be anyone at home. I see a letter lying at the corner of the table. I open it and realize its mom's letter informing me that an important work came up and sandwiches are kept in the microwave. What important work would have come early in the morning? What is my family hiding from me?

I'm so lost in my thoughts I don't realize that the bus has already arrived. I quickly rush out of the house before it gets too late. I enter the bus and see Nancy sitting again in the front row with all the other smart girls. I look at her hurt written all over my face. Nancy gives me a desperate look and I try to hide how bad I feel. I quickly go and sit at the corner of the bus. Nancy had said she would sit with them only for a day, then why is she sitting with them even today? Why is Nancy even doing this to me?

I'm looking out of the window when someone taps my shoulder. I turn around to see a pale, thin girl with blonde hair.  She's wearing a simple T-shirt with black track pants. She looks really frightened for some reason. 

"May I please sit here?" she whispers, pointing to the seat next to mine.

"Sure!" I say smiling at her warmly.

"Thanks!" she says with relief.

"Hi, I'm Aya." she says as soon as she sits.

"Hi, I'm Elsa," I say.

"Are you new to college?" I inquire.

"Yes!" she says.

I realize her hands are trembling a little and sweat is trickling down her face. 

"Are you an introvert too?" I ask with curiosity.

"I like meeting people and talking on the stage it's only that they don't like me!" she says her voice filled with sadness.

"Why?" I ask.

"I had an accident last year and due to which I walk with a limp," she says, "So people tease me. Nobody wants to really be my friend!"

I feel an instant anger towards the people who treat Aya like this. So what if she limps? Who are they to judge her?

"Those people are losers!" I say with anger, "Would you like to be my friend?" I ask.

"Sure!" says Aya her face brightening.

"Great!" I say shaking her hand.

"How are the teachers in the college?" asks Aya with curiosity.

"Really nice!" I say instantly thinking about Miss Honey.

"That's a relief!" says Aya smiling.

We talk for a while and then the bus comes to a sudden halt and I realize we have reached. Aya looks extremely scared as she looks outside and it reminds me of my first day at college. It seems a million years away right now.

"Don't worry, it will be fine," I say placing my hand on Aya's shoulder.

"Thanks!" she says nervously.

I enter class searching for Aya and realize she's not there. I wish she would have been in my class! I go sit in my usual place and surprisingly Nancy comes and sits in the seat next to mine.

"Why are you not sitting with them?" I ask angrily.

"Elsa I'm so sorry, they forced me!" she says guilt written all over her face.

"Fine!" I say trying to calm down.

"Elsa it won't happen again! I'm sorry!" says Nancy.

"No problem!" I say calming down.

"Anyway do you want to come to my house for a sleepover tomorrow?" asks Nancy.

"Sure!" I say with excitement. I really love sleepovers! The last time Nancy had come we had so much of fun!

"Except no horror movies!" I joke.

"Pinky promise!" says Nancy laughing.

"Ok let's start the class!" says Miss Honey entering the class.

The class goes normally. Miss Honey explains the chapter while we all write notes. I am focused but my mind keeps on going back to what happened at home yesterday. What was my sister and parents hiding from me? 

"Elsa?" asks Miss Honey.

I look up to see the class has been dismissed and I'm the only one sitting there.

"Oh! Sorry ma'am!" I say getting up.

"No problem!" says Miss Honey, "Elsa we have a meeting today, so I'll have to leave right now."

"Ok ma'am.....thank you!" I say.

"We'll definitely have the singing class tomorrow!" says Miss Honey smiling warmly at me.

I come out and see Nancy waiting for me outside.

"Elsa we need to go for practice!" says Nancy.

"I completely forgot!" I exclaim.

We both rush down the corridor and thankfully we reach right on time!

"Nancy here are all your dialogues, go practice them now on the stage!" Miss Dimple says to Nancy.

"Elsa here is the script of the entire play, you will have to be a prompter. Read the script and wait for us in the music room." Miss Dimple instructs me.

"Ok ma'am!" I say.

I'm reading the script when I see Aya walking alone down the corridor. 

"Aya!" I say waving.

She stops and looks at me with surprise.

"Elsa what are you doing here?" she asks.

"I was  working on the play," I say. "Oh!" says Aya her eyes fall on the piano placed at the corner of the room and her eyes fill with excitement.

"Can I play the piano?" she asks.

"Sure!" I say surprised that she knows how to play.

She sits beside the piano and starts playing and I'm shocked! She plays it so well!!! 

"Aya your so good at it!" I say.

"Oh! It's nothing!" says Aya turning red.

"I'm reading the script. While I sing will you play the piano?" I ask.

"Sure!" says Aya.

I start singing while Aya plays the piano. It just sounds so beautiful. Her music and my voice  sounds so good together and I can't help but sway as I'm singing. After it gets over I look at Aya and she has a satisfied smile on her face.

"That was......" says Aya lost for words.

"Magical!" I say giving her my warmest smile.

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Author's Note:

Hi Everyone! First of all, I'm so sorry for the very late update! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. The last gif is of Aya. 

Aya is named after my really good friends  KaidoHakerman. They both are amazing friends and they write amazing stories. Thank you so much for always motivating me by your wonderful comments. I love you so much!!!!!!!!!!

There will be many more new characters introduced in the coming chapters. If you all want I can name them after you.

If you liked this chapter, please do vote and comment as this chapter was definitely the toughest chapter to write! Thank you so so much! Love you all! Take care!

Love,

Vanshika.