Nicole's P.O.V.

I'm watching carefully at Austin's face and he's busy in sipping his coffee, ignoring my curiosity totally. I sighed but stayed quiet.

"Will you speak something?", I broke the silence after two minutes of silence.

"Where should I start from?", He asked.

"From the starting!!", I answered.

"What if I would lie to you?", He asked and I just rolled my eyes.

"I've my sources to find out the truth then", I replied not willing to let him win and he chukled.

"You're really something different girl. Fine, listen then", he said and sipped his last sip of the coffee and placed it back on the table whilst I still had half cup to go.

"We all were school time buddies. Me, Nial, Ashley, Rian, Max, Mike and Ellie was our junior. There was a girl named Kate Perish in our group also", he said.

Yes, I know her!! I thought.

Because you stalked her, my mind replied.

Go away!!

"We all were friends to die for, we trusted each other blindly and our group was the best anyone could have", his eyes were twinkling with happiness as if remembering the good memories and I just smiled inwardly.

"But then life happened and we grow up. Change is a part of growing up and this change divided us. Mine and Nial's thoughts changed and conflicts started taking place between us", he said and I nodded.

"What was the reason of your fights?", I asked.

"Difference of thoughts. You know how our group works, we used to bully students and no one dared to mess with us. Rian, was the good boy of our group and later Nial too joined him but the difference was that he started pointing us and interfered in our plans. He didn't liked our idea of pranks, although they're harmless still, and these small fights later on took a larger transformation", Austin said and I was able to picture everything in my mind. I agree they still prank on innocent people, they are bad boys afterall!!

Nial is a good boy!! Sighs.

"He left our group and joined another one. But, the time he left the group, he and Ellie were dating so he was still somewhere in contact with us because he was Ellie's boyfriend", he said and gave me a sympathetic look which I didn't liked a bit. I averted my gaze to the ground.

"I was dating Kate at that time. Our group boycott him and Rian asked Ellie to leave him but she loved him so much that she stood against us for him. He started manipulating Kate's mind also which I couldn't bear and our fights turned into hatred. Ellie broke up with him because we heard that he had bet on Kate", Austin said with a slight pain in his eyes.

"I ignored the rumours but because I thought that I knew Nial and he couldn't stoop so low. But one day, we found out Nial and Kate in an inappropriate position. They're sleeping together, they cheated on me and Ellie", he said the last part with anger. I could sense him raging and it was enough to scare me. I remained quiet but.

"Ellie broke down that day, Kate and Nial both said that they're innocent and I for once thought to trust them but when I found out that they're still meeting at my back, I couldn't bear it and I .. They ruined my life and I could never forgive them for that", he said gritting his teeth. I remained silent for sometime but then decided to speak.

"I'm sorry for whatever happened in the past and I couldn't do anything but you've to move on Austin. You all judged Nial on basis of whatever you see but maybe there's something which you guys are missing. Nial is not that boy who would do such thing. I trust him, and you should also trust him. Don't you want to find out the truth?", I said and he laughed sarcastically.

"You're saying this because you too like him way too much just like Ellie and he would surely break your trust one day. I've moved on and I'm being civil to him but I can't forgive him ever", he said angrily.

"Austin, there may be chances that-", I tried to speak but he stopped me.

"I don't want to listen your speech Nicole, about how good Nial is!! Every girl who loves her, takes her side. You think whatever you want to think, but this is the truth and it won't change. I'm getting late, I've to go. Take care", he said irritatedly  and left without glancing back at me again.

Hey, why is he so rude? What did I say? Only, this that Nial is innocent. Oh, he is such a stupid and idiot boy ever. I don't know why girl even like this Austin boy? He's so damn stubborn.

But, now what? I am still clueless of what to do! I've to fix things. I've to help Nial to get his love back. Yes, he doesn't love me but he loves Ellie and if he's happy to be with her then I'll do that.

My crush over him can wait but he's my friend and I care for him and now proving him innocent is important for me. Like Austin, Nial too have the right to be respected. He also have suffered a lot, Austin had friends in his dark phase but Nial was all alone. They don't have any right to blame Nial like this. They can't boycott him.

I'll do something for sure!!

✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍

"You're ready?", Rian asked me and I nodded. He opened the door for me and I sat on the passenger seat.

After Austin left, I decided to stay at home and I didn't picked up anyone's call. I switched off my mobile and opened it just one hour before the dinner date timing in case if Rian called me.

We're going to somewhere, I don't know exactly. I, all the time kept stalking everyone at social media. The one thing which caught my attention was Kate Perish profile.

She had added a lots of pictures on facebook and Instagram with Nial tagging him as 'bae', I mean who said their friend who is a boy as bae, unless and until he's your boyfriend.

If Nial had not anything serious with Kate then why would she post her all pictures with Nial and why isn't Nial saying anything to her? Didn't he knew that it can give anyone a wrong assumption and so do to Ellie? What's wrong with Nial?

I can now clearly relate to the fact that why Ellie and Rian hate him so much? No doubt, they're also doubting him. But how am I supposed to reach the truth? This is looking like a thriller movie to me but I'm not any Sherlock Holmes who can find out everything in a blink of eye second.

"Earth to Nicole", Rian shrugged my shoulder bringing me out of my dreamworld.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking something", I said.

"It's okay. We've reached, let's go", he said and I nodded.

We came out and entered the restaurant. Our tables were booked, so Rian and I get seated in our seat. We ordered our food and in mean time, I looked around the beauty of the restaurant. It was magnificent!!

"So, did you like this place?", He asked.

"Yes, it's beautiful", I said and he smiled.

"Thanks for coming", he said.

"No, pleasure is mine", I said and he nodded.

"So, tell me something about you, miss happy girl", he said with a wink and I smiled.

"What should I tell? You knew very much about me", I replied.

"And there is yet more to discover", he said and I nodded.

"You know what, I'm going to miss you now", I said.

"What do you mean?", He chukled.

"I mean, I'm going to miss our letters conversation, those waiting for your reply and thinking about who could be my pen friend was actually fun. I sometimes wish that maybe someone else would be my pen friend, I could've continued talking to him through letters", I said.

"Okie, I'm feeling happy and bad both, he said.

"What? Why did you say that?", I laughed slightly.

"Happy because I've such a nice place in your heart and sad because I'm also gonna miss our secret talks. But hey, it's all your fault, you ruined our sweet bonding", he said.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I was actually curious to know who it can be and now when I get a face to my imagination, I'm feeling that it could've been like the same before", I said.

He laughed and said, "This is human's nature. We don't value what we have and when we lost that, we wish we could go back and fix everything like older days". I just nodded.

Our dinner came and we both started filling our grumbling stomach whilst Rian told me a lot about his life. He didn't asked me much and I'm thankful for that.

I've got to know that he's from a very loving family and his family is big actually. He loves sports and music both. His hobbies are painting and traveling. He's also involved in charity and all and it actually impressed me the most.

After having dinner, Rian and I drove back to my home. I offered him to have coffee with me and he agreed quickly.

I made coffee for both of us and asked Julian to have rest. Rian settled himself on the hall but I asked him to company me in my room because my mom and dad came today and I don't want Rian to see my disorganised family.

He settled on my bed and I passed him his cup.

"Thanks", he said.

"So, what are you doing tomorrow?", I asked.

"Well, we've a college tomorrow, so I'll be attending it", he said and I rolled my eyes.

Should I ask him about Nial and Ellie?

Okie, I guess I should.

"Rian, can I ask you something?", I asked.

"Shoot", he said.

"I, actually wanted to discuss about Ellie and Nial", I asked noticing him incredulously.

His face stiffened first but then he asked me icely,"What did you want to discuss about my sister and that moron?".

"Umm, I talked to Austin today and I got to know that they're dating in old times", I said.

"That was past, there is no need to discuss it now", he said.

"But they like each other now also", I said.

"Are you out of your mind? My sister hates him. He's a cheater Nicole. You're just blind by his good version and couldn't see his real self. Open your blindfold of love", Rian said.

What is with everyone tagging me as a blind lover of Nial? Idiot people.

"I'm.... fine, leave Nial. Can I ask something about Kate?", I asked dropping the Nial subject. There's no use to discuss Nial with them, they don't take me seriously.

"Fine", Rian said with a grimace.

"Did you guys tried to contact with her after that night? I mean if she was innocent then didn't she tried to talk to Austin? Where is she?", I asked.

Ain't you done with stalking her? My mind said.

Shutup!!

"No, she didn't. Austin did tried to talk to her but she said that she's way too guilty that she can't face him. She's innocent but this Nial is a cunning person. He's taking advantage of the poor girl", Rian said and I just sighed.

It's useless to ask them anything. They didn't want to listen and would never agree to consider him innocent.

After sometime, Rian left and I came back to my room after dropping him and lied flat on my back after changing my clothes.

I don't know what had happened actually and why everyone is blaming Nial but can it be possible that Kate isn't innocent? I don't know her but I know Nial and the way he was looking at Ellie and the way he was fighting for her, one thing is clear that he truly love Ellie and I would try my best that he got his love and at least his love story completes!!

I opened my laptop again and went back through Kate's profile again. I really need to find out the truth. Who actually is behind all this? If Nial is innocent then I'll make sure that he got all happiness and if he's lying to me then there is no need to keep such a lier in my life.

I know who can help me in this, now only he can help me to reach the truth. I picked up my mobile and dialled his number.

"Hello", he said.

"Hello Max, I need to talk to you", I said.

Time to prove Nial is innocent!!!

---------------------------

Hey cupcakes!! How's you guys?

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