Ella's POV.

I turned and tossed on my bed for the fifth time, in the darkness of this mid-night. I shifted to one side, then another, and then again to another. I wanted to find a comfortable position to sleep but couldn't do so. I have been trying to find sleep for the past three hours but nothing was of use. I tried studying, drank some hot milk, tried counting sheep too, but my mind won't just stop. My mind was continuously playing the images of him, his facial expressions when he sat in front of me in the cafeteria, and then the one when I acted rudely. My brain not enabling me to relax for a single minute.

I even tried to find him after that, but it felt like he just vanished. I searched for five minutes, but then my class started and I came back.

A part of my conscience telling me that what I did was wrong, whilst a part of me giving me the slightest courage that I took the right decision. My mind was agreeing with the latter one but my heart taking the side of the first one. This was frustrating and agonizing at the same time. I hated this state of mine and the most hateful thing was, I was starting to take the side of my heart too.

I knew I was rude to him though he had only been good to me from the very first day but it was his fault too, all of his fault. He should have never talked to me, should have never followed me. I was different and my existence was a danger. All he could ever get from me would be hurt and pain, more and more of pain. The expression on his face when I acted rudely - that pain, that hurt - I could only give him that.

But still, I wanted to say sorry one last time and then leave. I wanted to apologize one last time before ending this whatever thing that had started between us, unknowingly. I would make everything clear and then put an end to this unknown feeling, once and for all.

I hit my head in my pillow, feeling like an idiot. I groaned, huffed and then growled in my pillow. What was going on with me? I acted rudely on my own accord and now, I wanted to apologize on my own accord too. This boy was making me lose my sense. He was turning me into a psychotic person. I was losing my mind day by day, and this was not good.

A sudden knock came and I opened my eyes. I turned around and looked at the clock placed on the bedside. My eyes widened on seeing the time. It was already five in the morning and I wasn't able to sleep even a blink. This was his fault too. Everything was his fault. I hated him!

"Ella?" I heard dad's voice. I knew why he was calling me.

Training.

I inwardly cried and replied with a coming. Now, I had to train!!! Urgh!!!! I haven't even slept well and now my eyes were going to be puffy. My mind was already tired and exhausted by thinking about him and now my body was going to ache too. I wanted to cry.

I let out a groan and with heavy feet, and a tiresome expression, I headed towards the hell.

*****
As I entered the school I went straight to my locker to get my things. There were still ten minutes left until the first class starts. I spotted Sara and Jessica as they were heading towards their classes. I bit my lower lip debating whether to call them or not. I wanted to call them because, for me, they were still my friends.

"Sara! Jess!" I called for them, I called their names but they didn't even glance back. They went straight to the class without even responding. I felt my heart shattering to pieces as loneliness, hurt and despair engulfed me in dark clouds. They were treating me like a stranger as if I had never known them. Sara and Jess were already friends before I came in their lives and now, they were back to being themselves, leaving me all behind, trapping me once again in my own cage of loneliness. It felt like I never existed in their lives.

The bell rang breaking me out of my trance. I gulped the huge lump of tears down my throat and tried to compose myself. The class started and along with it, the normal routine of school started. One class after another. The same usual day for others but for me, a usual day of hurt and pain.

As the break started, I decided to search for Xaiden. I wanted to lift off this burden that I was feeling. I was already in so much pain and I wasn't strong enough to hold another burden on my shoulders.

I looked through the cafeteria but no sign of him. I passed by the gym, by the lab and searched through the library but he wasn't there as well. I passed the basketball court in search of him but no progress. As I crossed the court, my eyes did meet with Mike's and the way he smirked and winked in my way... It just enraged a fire of hatred in me. I clenched my fists and my jaw tightened. The anger and rage filling my body. That guy had gotten on my nerve. I never liked him but now, I disdain him.

I turned back towards the cafeteria still in a foul mood. I had searched all the school premises, and still, no sign of Xaiden. Maybe he didn't come today. I guess, he was on leave.

I let out a sigh of frustration and then turned my face towards the white sky above me. The weather today wasn't a sunny one. The white clouds were covering the light blue sky hiding the shining sun behind them. I inhaled a breath and then let it out. I calmed myself and decided to head in. As I was passing by the school grounds, I spotted someone familiar. He was turning around the corner and going into the main hall of the school.

"Xaiden! Wait!" I shouted and hurriedly ran towards the direction he was going.

"Xaiden!" I shouted again and this time thankfully he listened. He turned calmly and stood there as his eyes looked at me surprised. His bag hung on his right shoulder and his hands buried inside his jeans pockets. His nicely combed hair getting slightly messed up by the wind blowing. He looked relaxed as his grey eyes looked like two little moons in a starry night. He looked handsome, standing there, waiting for me.

I felt a bit relieved by seeing him but I was not glad about the thoughts that crossed my mind. He looked so handsome and charming that for a moment, I felt like my heart skipped a beat. I stopped mid-track and then closed my eyes. I shook my head and then opened my eyes again. His eyes looking at me confused. He shrugged and then turned around to leave.

Seeing him leave, I regained my composure and started to run towards him. I took a few steps and suddenly my foot tripped as I was running towards him and my eyes widened. A small shriek left my lips as I landed on the tiled floor of the ground. I groaned in pain as my knees came in contact with the hard floor.

"Ella!" I heard him call my name and I instantly looked up. He hurriedly rushed towards me but before he could offer me a hand, I quickly got up. I came here to apologize and not to receive his more help. I cringed as a wave of pain went through my body. My knees hurting and my whole body cramped in pain. I bit my inner cheek to prevent the groan of pain from escaping my mouth.

"Are you fine?" His voice sounded so concerned as he stood there looking at me. His deep alluring eyes looked at my face as his hands moved forward. His hands moved to my shoulders as if trying to hold me, but then stopped mid-way. He closed his hands and then drew them back, putting them in his pockets again. My heart beating faster and my cheeks warming up. I bit my lower lip to control my hastened breaths. I lowered my gaze from his face and slightly nodded. I didn't want him to see me like this. I felt pathetic.

I placed my hands on my knees and bowed in front of him, "I'm so sorry for yesterday. I... I don't know what came over me. I... I s-shouldn't have talked that rudely. I hope you'll forgive me. Sorry!" I paused. I inhaled a breath and then continued, "Also, I... I think it'll be best if... if we don't cross our paths anymore. Let's never meet again. I'm sorry, it's best for both of us. Thank you and goodbye,"  I quickly said and without waiting for his response, I turned around. I came here to apologize and to end anything before it could start. I didn't come here to hear his response or to talk. My mission was to just say sorry and goodbye and I had completed it.

I grimaced as I took a step forward. My knee was hurting and I was sure it might be bleeding too but I didn't want him to see me. I was already enough embarrassed. I managed to walk straight in front of him. I grimaced with pain with every single step but I didn't show it in front of him. I turned to the right and towards the sitting area. I noticed an empty bench and sat there.

I looked at the wound on my knees. Both knees were badly scraped and blood could be seen on them. It wasn't a deep wound but it sure did hurt like hell. If it weren't for the skirt I wore today, my knees might have not been this bad. Why did I decide to wear this skirt today? If I would have been wearing pants it wouldn't be hurting like hell.

I groaned in pain as I tried to stretch my legs. The wound was dried up by now making my knees to stiff and making my legs hard to straighten. I tried to straighten my legs again but grimaced by the wave of pain that went through my whole body. I stretched my skirt a bit to cover up my scraped knees.

"You're hurt!" I gasped as I heard his voice. I turned my head to see Xaiden looking towards my knees, which were thankfully covered by my skirt.

"Xaiden! No! I... I am fine!" I lied. He looked at me, his eyes looking in mine intently. At once, I felt weak. My legs lose all their strength and I don't know whether it was due to my injury or the way he was looking at me.

"Oh really?" He questioned, his left eyebrow arched up. "Ok then, walk in front of me."

My eyes widened as he said those words. I wasn't even able to move my legs, how could I walk? It was impossible for me. He stood there with the same expression in his eyes. His eyes waiting for me to follow his words and to prove that what he said was right. That I was hurt.

"I... I... I don't want to. I wanna keep sitting here for a while. Y-You can go. I... I am fine." I fake smiled at him, hoping that he would buy my excuse and would go away. I averted my eyes to my lap. My hands gripping the hem of my skirt tightly. My teeth chewing the inner side of my cheek as my all body was nervous by his presence beside me.

I wanted him to leave and never come again. I didn't like the feelings and those shudders he made me feel, and I didn't like how I get nervous around him, and how my heart starts beating faster and faster second by second. I didn't look up at him still hoping that he would leave. Suddenly I felt a presence beside me and with that, my heart stopped beating. It felt like I was being connected to a high voltage battery as the electric sensation engulfed my body, my heart and my mind. He sat beside me - right beside me. Our arms slightly brushed against each other and my breaths stopped. I wasn't able to breathe because with every inhale of breath, I could smell his cologne.

I closed my eyes and let my breath out. "Why aren't you going?" I asked.

"I'll just enjoy the view too. It's quite refreshing here."

His voice a mere whisper but it was enough to make my heart race faster. I bit my lower lip, my hands still holding the hem of my skirt. My heart was racing and my whole body was turned on into flames of fire that he had ignited in me, unknowingly. My mind was going wild and my hands were wet from sweat due to his presence beside me. God! Where had I gotten myself into?

The bell rang and Xaiden got up, "Let's go."

"Uh! You go on! I think I want to stay here for a little bit more," I chuckled nervously, deeply praying that he would just go on without me.

"OK!" He replied and I let out a sigh of relief. He went on and  I stayed there seated. After assuring that he has left, I tried to get up by holding the bench but my legs not straightening. I cried in pain as I tried to straighten them and tried to stand, but the wound was fully dried and had gotten stiff, making it painful. I grimaced as I straightened my legs and stood up. My hands still holding the bench as I tried to take a step forward. With each movement, a new wave of pain shot through my whole body. Although, I was able to stand still it was hard to walk. I slumped back on the bench feeling helpless.

"I was right." My head jerked upon hearing his voice. My eyes looking at him shocked. He didn't leave me, he came back. Why did he come back? He shouldn't have.

I quickly grabbed the hem of my skirt and straightened it to cover up my bloody knees from him. He grabbed my hand stopping me as he knelt down. "Why did you lie to me?" He asked with concern as he sat on his one leg, right in front of me, and began to examine my knees. His one hand still holding my hand and my heart was going to fall dead any second now. His touch, his hold was so gentle yet it was doing dangerous things to my heart, my body and to my soul. My heart throbbing in my rib cage. His mere touch sending electrifying shocks throughout my whole body.

"Does it hurt badly?" He looked up and our eyes met. My face was burning and I was sure it was fully red by now. His eyes looking in mine deeply and I felt like I was going to drown in them. His eyes only staring in mine while his lips slightly parted. I didn't know whether his heart was going wild the same way as mines or it was just me with these unexplainable feelings.

I didn't know for how long we both continued staring in each other eyes. His one hand was placed just above my knee and another holding my hand. I was feeling all different shocks and all the strange effects. Damn!

I drew my hand back from his hold and quickly averted my eyes to look in another direction.

"Yeah, a....a a bit..." I mumbled not looking at him.

"We should go see the school's nurse." He stood up and I looked at him on his words.

"A nurse?"

He nodded and stretch out his hand while I looked at him confused. "W-What?" I questioned.

"Stand up."

"It hurts," I bit my inner cheek. Hadn't he noticed? It hurt damn bad. I couldn't stand up easily.

"I know that. So, take my hand," he said so calmly but his words weren't calm for me. They were like a blow of strong wind to my heart. My cheeks still burning and I was feeling hot. It felt like I had a fever or if I had gone near a fire, and this fire was him. I was afraid of him, I was scared of him because he was going to burn me slowly and slowly. I decided to end that whatever thing was starting between us but he was making it all difficult. Why?

"Your hand? No!" I placed my hands on my lap and looked away.

"No?" He chuckled as if amused. "You're an idiot," he said, shooking his head and grabbed my hand. I suck in a deep breath while staring at our holding hands. I looked at him and tried to wriggle my hand free from his hold but his grip tightened around it. He tugged my hand and I gasped. He then tilted his head to the right side and then a slight smirk took a place on his lips. "Now would you take my hand or should I carry you up in my arms?"

My eyes widened and thousand of butterflies invaded my stomach as he stooped down. His hand engulfed around my waist, as he grabbed me. I sucked in a shaky breath. His one hand holding my hand as he took my arm around his neck, whilst his other arm wrapped around my waist. He started taking small steps along me by his side.

"Wha-"

"Then should I carry you bridal style in my arms?" He chuckled as my heart skipped a beat by his simple words. "No," I whispered and vigorously shook my head while he continued to chuckle.

My legs were shaking and my whole body was electrified. Thousand of thunderbolts running through my body and my stomach invaded by a whole damn zoo. He was making everything difficult for me. He was making my breathings, my heartbeats and even my thinking difficult for me. This was not good.... not good at all.

"Also Ella," he said my name and I hated the fact that how good it sounded on his tongue. "I think, I am not ready to say goodbye," he paused and I looked at him bewildered. He was looking at me with a smile on his lips. "And I think, I do want our paths to cross," he continued, "So, I'm not leaving you. Not yet."

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