(At the pub)

We reached the pub. Anna ordered two Margaritas and a pizza. I got it, she was really in a mood for fun.

I said, "Jessie and Sam's not here. Otherwise, it would have been double the fun."

She gave a sharp smile, and said, "Ain't we two enough for the insanity...". Before even getting drunk, she kissed me on my cheek fervently, held her goblet of Margarita, gave me mine, banged the two lightly, saying "Cheers!!!", gulped up whatever was there in he glass, and made me gobble up mine.

Everything was going so fast... that's what it seemed. Not that I enjoyed it a lot, but I didn't stop her too.

I thought she went drunk, but she was still sane. She said in a confused tone, "I don't remember everything properly.... You know...whatever happened, when we were young."

I knew. She wanted me to continue, from where I stopped, at home. I said, "I got her number, from a girl...acquaintance mostly. I found her in WhatsApp. Our first chats were like:

******

Me: Hi, well...ummm... Guess who I am.

Her: hmm...An asshole?

Me: Wow, how did you know?

Her(shocked): Well.....You better say who you are... or I'll break your hands next time you text me.

Me: Easy-peasy... I'm'The Joker'.

Your DP's cool. You're looking like Catastrophe

Her: 'The Joker'...Can't recall. Catastrophe?... Bad Blood?... Thanx. Taylor Swift's my fav.

You seem to be cool. Well, please brother, don't give my number to anyone. Well.... how do I know u r a good guy or not? If u r, meet me at the canteen tomorrow, and wave at me... and don't forget to say 'Hi'.

******

First of all... when I chat with someone for the first time, I act like an ass... inborn "interacting-with-girls-like-dumbo" quality... and secondly....'BROTHER'. It pinched me a little. But it was okay. I got to know her at least. And she got to know me too.

Next day, I went to the school. During the Recess time, at the canteen, I met her. She looked at me. I was with her kinda brother,Nick (who really helped me a lot in our introduction). I looked at her. But she couldn't figure out that the boy was me. I was too nervous to wave. The school bell rang. Everyone had to run towards their classes. She ran away too.

I thought, she might think I'm bad, 'cause I didn't meet her. So before she reached her class, I called her out, by her name, 'Chlöe...I'm sorry,.... GRACE'. She turned at me. In nervousness, I just said her, 'I'm a boy...", instead of saying "I'm the boy". She gave a heavenly giggle. And I realized a single "a" can screw you up. You clutched her hand and pulled her towards the class without any delay, before she could react anymore somehow, to what I said. But I was relieved.

We talked a lot, the next few weeks, mostly scrotchtalk, about our favorite music, about our favorite movies, about our hobbies, about what we do in leisure time, when she wakes up, how much time does she utilise in sleeping, and all these. But I could at least talk to her, so I was happy with that.

Then came that day, when I got a glimpse of her past life...which included a boy, named Zayn. I got the news from the same girl who gave me her number."

I grew loud. I grew wild. 'Cause that name itched me a lot. "Zayn...ZAYN... that ZAYN... didn't even think once, what she would've been through."

"She turned sentimental, every time someone even spelt his name", Anna said, getting reminded of past memories.

I grew louder. I grew wilder. "And every time anyone spotted her sobbing in the topic, she would defend herself, saying 'Cryin'? Who, me? Are you mad? Who has time and a mind to cry, and mourn for that son of a b*tch'.

That f*cker!!! HOW COULD HE BE SO RUTHLESS? COULDN'T HE AT LEAST THINK HOW SHE WOULD FEEL!!! Shit !!! I Couldn't Kill him... that blood..dd..dy Z...ZA...ZAYN !!! ", I couldn't be any much louder, I was ridiculously stammering. People wete eagerly listening... I didn't know when the spotlight fell on me...

Thinking 'bout that son of a b*tch, I crushed the goblet in my hand... the Margarita in it went red... so did the table cloth... So did Anna's mind. People around looked at us...staring at us the whole time...with eyes that were eager to know more.

Anna made a gesture of trouble...she started panicking. "Oh heck! Someone... can anyone help here... Shit!!! Somebody !!! Please... I beg for help!!". She removed the broken glass pieces around. She held my hand softly. She tried to pull out the glass piece that stabbed my palm. I said, "Anna....leave it. It's okay!!! It's nothing". But I saw something. The glass stabbed in my hand...I bled... but a tear was in her eye. The waiters came running for first-aid. I said them I didn't need it.

I smiled, seeing her illusive actions. Anna looked at me in wonder, "Why the hell are you giggling? Ain't you damn hurt? Have you gone effing crazy? ". I said nothing, just, "I saw something.... something precious!" Anna didn't get it, what I was taking about... she didn't know I was talking about her... though she didn't ask about it. She was too panicked about my wound... but who would peek into my real depths and see the wound in my heart... that can't be healed anyhow... not anymore!

Anna saw people around, staring at us, and gossiping. She felt uncomfortable. She left money on the table, clutched my hand and dragged me out of that pub (as if I was a small baby).

The streets were still. No dogs barking... No cars honking...No people on the pavements... Just she, and me.

"She really l*ved this song...", I said to Anna.

Anna asked, "Who...Grace? Which song?"

I didn't say...I hummed

"Hmmmmmm....Aren't you somethin' to admire?
'Cause your shine is somethin' like a mirror
And I can't help but notice
You reflect in this heart of mine
.......If you ever feel alone and
The glare makes me hard to find
Just know that I'm always parallel on the other side....."

Anna knew the song. So, she sung -

"Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul
I can tell you there's no place we couldn't go
Just put your hand on the glass
I'll be tryin' to pull you through
You just gotta be strong......"

And then we both sung in our OWN emotions...

"Cause I don't wanna lose you now.....I'm lookin' right at the other half of me
The vacancy that sat in my heart......Is a space that now you hold
Show me how to fight for now.....And I'll tell you, baby, it was easy
Comin' back here to you once I figured it out
You were right here all along.....

It's like you're my mirror......My mirror staring back at me
I couldn't get any bigger......With anyone else beside of me
And now it's clear as this promise......That we're making two reflections into one"

And the next thing we heard...... the residents of the houses nearby, yelling at us to stop our midnight-music. Yup...it was late...too late.

Anna felt sleepy...her eyes said that. We rushed to my apartment without any delay. But as soon as I reached home, I started feeling dizzy, 'cause it was too much Margarita...it was too much talks 'bout her, after a really long time. My eyes started diminishing...my sight started fading, couldn't track out things 'round me...I was going to have a blackout.

Last thing I saw was Anna's face, that urged to know more.

She wanted me to talk more......

She wanted me to.....