"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach."

--Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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I tried to vehemently grill my mind, in hope of coming up with a decent form of salutation for my estranged fiancee, but reluctantly gave up, when the raised eyebrow of my companion reminded me just how hesitant I was being to answer the call of the very person I'd declared to be my future husband. Sighing, I swiped my finger on the screen, and was pleasantly surprised to notice that the caller wasn't actually the one I'd expected.

"Hera!", the bouncing form of my darling little girl graced the screen, and I barely resisted the urge to lean forward and kiss the screen, making a complete fool of myself in the process.

"Diana.", I squealed with barely suppressed happiness. "How are you doing, Sweetie ? Shouldn't you be in your class right now? And what are  you doing  with your brother's phone?"

She threw me a dirty look at the last question, all the previous affinity forgotten, and muttered inaudibly under her breath,

"Ikindofstolehisphone."

"You what?", I urged her to repeat.

She rolled her eyes, before answering , "I stole his phone because it'd been so long since you came to see me, and you didn't even call. Do you not miss me?"

"Of course I miss you, sweetheart.", I cooed. "And I was just about you call you, when you beat me to the chase." A snort resounded beside me, calling me out at my white lie, and reminding me that I had company. So, I decided to wrap up this call quickly, and promise one to Diana, later. We talked for a while, before she leaned forward and silently questioned,

"How do I look today, Hera?"

"You always look amazing, Ana. What happened?"

"Nothing. Just asking.", she mumbled, as a blush appeared on her cheeks, and she fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Ah.", I exclaimed, as soon as understanding dawned upon me.

"He's coming today, isn't he?", I grinned.

"Who's coming?"

The commanding inquisition which resonated in the background, reminded us all of a new arrival, and I stilled upon hearing the voice. His voice.

Diana struggled to maintain her grip on her brother's stolen asset, as it shook in her hand, giving us, seconds later, the glorious view of his profile.

I heard Rebecca's breath hitch beside me, as my own lungs refused to cooperate in the vital process, that's respiration.

"Hey.", he whispered as soon as he realized what his sister was up to, and saw my face.

"Hy.", I mumbled back.

"Hello to you too, Miss.", he respectfully greeted Rebecca,  the muscles of whose jaw seemed to have gone slack. I elbowed her as discreetly as I could, and she finally spoke a couple of incomprehensible words. I sighed in annoyance, as the man in front of us stifled a knowing smile.

As if he didn't already have a gigantic ego to begin with.

"Hera. I need to have a word with you, after I escort Diana back to her French class. She seems to have forgotten, she has one."

The child huffed at that.

"You were running on that machine. It's the only time when you don't have your phone in your hand. And I wouldn't have to go behind your back, if you would just let me speak to Hera, or better yet, marry her and bring her home."

Ignoring the entire speech, my fiance directed a smirk in my direction, at the last part, at which I gave him a pointed look.

Sighing, he ruffled his baby sister's hair, and promised that he would do it as soon as I graduated school, before ushering her out of hearing distance. Coming straight to the point, he questioned,

"I hope no one is bothering you at your new school?"

Knowing all too well, the embarrassing protective inquires that would follow, I decided to quickly excuse myself.

"I am fine. I'll call you later though. I was kind of in the middle of something when Ana called. You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course, not.", He quickly replied before giving me an intense farewell, which had more to do with his overly expressive eyes, than his words. "I'll talk to you later, love. Take care of yourself for me."

No sooner had the call cut, when I was tackled by Rebecca.

"He, h-e..", she tried to formulate a sentence, but miserably failed.

"Hot. I know."

More like insanely, inhumanly, incomprehensiblly, captivating, is what I actually wanted to say.

"No, that's not what I meant!", she cried.

I frowned. "You don't find him attractive? That's not what it looked like a few minutes ago."

"Oh, of course he's freaking stunning, Hera. But that's not the point. He's Johnathan-fucking-Knight! "

"You know him?", Now that surprised me.

She gave me a peculiar look, which seemed like she was deliberating upon the best way to drain me off my life.

"Everyone knows him! He's the fucking Duke of Lancaster!"

"Oh.", I said, "You really do know him."

This time, a flat look was thrown in my direction.

Frustrated to the point of tearing at the roots of her hair, she finally cited the reason which actually had her aggravated.

"Everyone knows him, Hera. What I would like to know, though, is how you managed to snag him."

Ouch! I wanted to look offended. I really did. But I kind of understood why she would be this baffled.

"That's none of your business. Get out of my way, and don't bother showing me your face again. Perhaps, then, I'll forgive you for your overbearing and unwanted presence in a private conversation."

"Oh, no, no, no! You aren't going anywhere. I think I made a mistake of underestimating you. Of making an enemy out of you. You would be more useful to me as an ally, than otherwise."

"Yeah, right."

"Stop, Hera. This has got nothing to do with your Duke. I actually came to apologize for what happened earlier today. You were right. I haven't been the best version of myself lately . And if not for you, I wouldn't even have realise I was wrong. So yeah, thanks. And, uh, sorry. "

Now this was surprising. And unsurprisingly, I did not believe her. Not in the least. But she didn't need to know that. Cherishing the rare moment, I gave her my pretend-forgiveness, holding an air of superiority, which I knew for sure, would infuriate her.

"Never mind what happened earlier. We aren't kids to hold grudges. Now, if you would please excuse me, I've got errands to run."

"Yeah, about that. You don't have to go anywhere. I'll tell you what you want to know. I am the only girl without a roommate."

Say, what?

I looked at her in horror, as she grinned maniacally at me.

"No.", I whispered.

"Oh, yes.", she cheered, clapping her hands to give a dramatic effect to the horrifying situation.

"I refuse.", I mumbled, absolutely in denial of having any thing to do with her, much less share the same space she breathed in.

Rolling her eyes, she voiced her thoughts in a relatively sobered tone, "Would you rather stay with my brother, then?"

When I didn't say anything, she sent me a triumphant smile.

"That's what I thought."

Why, Oh why, is my life so fucked up.