Ivan's P.O.V.

She pulled away soon and I felt like I could breathe again. Looking up at me, she smiled. I could see she meant this smile of appreciation she had for me on her lips for the very first time. Her smile is gorgeous. My hands reached out to her face and I wiped away the last shred of tears from the corner of her beautiful eyes. When did she become this beautiful?

"Are you ok?", I found myself talking.

"I'm because of you", she said and I felt good. Her words kinda soothe me. They healed my wounded ego like magic. I forgot that I'm mad at her because she slapped me yesterday.

"I'm there for you always", I said and she nodded. She looked she would cry again. Her chin puckered and she took a deep breath. I saw her cheeks having handprints. I touched them but she flinched in pain.

"Does that bastard hit you?", I asked closing my fist. I felt angry all of a sudden. She didn't respond.

She turned away from me with her back facing me. I felt this strong need to hug her again but I couldn't.

"Sorry, I'm all around the place right now. Give me some alone time to get my shit together", she said. Her voice was muffled.

"You can cry if you want to", I said.

"I don't want to cry in front of you", she said giving me a half view of her.

"Why?", I asked.

Why can't you be normal with me but anyone else? Why can't you be as free with me as you're with Parker?, I wanted to ask but I lack RIGHTS.

"Because we're not close", saying so, she walked away. I stood there dumbfoundedly. She made me realise about our current situation in the click of a finger. I walked back to the college with a messed up head.

Hazel and I are not close. She's so damn right. Who is she to me? Friends? No. Strangers? No. I know her more than enough to remove the tag of strangers. Am I just sympathetic towards her? Why do I feel good when she's around me?

'Do I have a crush on Hazel?', I heard a faint voice inside my body.

"What the heck? That's not possible. It's not gonna happen. Nope. Never", I yelled out loudly to make sure I hear it.

Taking my coffee as I planned earlier from the canteen, I took a vacant seat. I sipped my coffee with only one girl passing through my mind. Vena Aniston. Her smile, her eyes, her tears, her badass self, her every single statement and the small moments we share till now is fresh and clear in my mind. I remember her every single word and our first meeting. Did I think about her so much? Did she ever leave my mind?

Why am I thinking about her? She doesn't even give a damn about me. All she cared for is Joe, Parker, Emma, Aiden, Her revenge from Ron and I'm sure she will even care about the stranger she will talk today but I don't exist for her even. She rejects me like anything and here I'm. Always wondering about her like a complete idiot.

And what's funnier is the fact that I never ever thought about Joe this much ever. The time I had developed feelings for Joe, they're intense. I wanted her, I needed her. I wanted so badly to make her mine. And for Hazel, I have no such emotions in my heart. So, it can't be a crush. I want to help her. I feel good to see her smile. Maybe I'm accepting her as a friend.

It'd be good if you consider her Just A Friend Only, my mind said.

I do, ok. Shut-up, I replied.

**********************

One hour passed away and I spend my time watching videos on YouTube. A pat over my shoulder caught my attention. I looked up and saw Joe standing there smiling at me. I smiled back as I removed the headphones from my ears. She sat next to me keeping her books on the table.

"Hey", she said kissing my cheeks.

"Hey love", I replied stealing a kiss from her lips and she just smiled at me. This is the smile I like. She's my crush. My heartfelt at ease when I see Joe. How can I even think anyone can make me feel this comfortable other than Joe? No one can make me happy other than my Joe.

Hazel effects you too, my inner self commented.

Yes as a friend, I replied back.

"Why are you not in your class?", She enquired.

"The teacher threw me out of the class. I got detention", I said with a sigh.

"Aww poor you", she said with a pout.

"I'm used to of that", I said and she shook her head.

"What about you?", I asked.

"I've a free period. You should leave for your next class", she said looking at her wristwatch.

"Later", I replied.

"You will be late if you don't leave now", she said again looking at me with her green eyes. They have a hint of yellow in them. Joe and Hazel have almost the same colour of eyes but I still like Hazel's eyes more.

"I'm staying with you", I replied with a smirk and she rolled her eyes. I saw blush over her cheeks and it made me happy.

"I'm hungry", she said pouting.

How badly I want to kiss her right now?, I wish I could show her. But I'm more than ok in taking things between us slowly.

"Do you want to go out?", I offered.

"Ok", she smiled cheerfully and I smiled back. We both got up only when I saw Parker walking towards us. He had a firm expression on his face. He looked pissed and if Joe wouldn't be here, he would have cursed me badly.

He doesn't curse in front of girls. Such a good guy he's (Note the sarcasm).

"What happened to Vena?", He almost said in an accusing tone. I raised my eyebrows at him. Is he for real?

"Go ask her. Why are you asking me? I'm not her Personal Assistant", I replied and he rolled his eyes.

"She's not telling me anything. Did you do anything to her, Ivan?", he asked and I looked at him in disbelief.

"Why will I do anything to her? I saved her. You should be thanking me for protecting your friend. Instead of saying Thank you, you're blaming me uselessly", I replied and Parker just clenched his jaw.

What's his problem?

"What's going on here?", Joe asked with a frown marring her forehead. She looked at me and then at Parker.

"Ask your boyfriend", Parker replied holding straps of his bag over his shoulder tightly.

Jerk!!

"Let's talk whilst eating something", I said and we three walked out of the college and drove to a nearby Dominoes in Parker's car. The tension in the car was real. I could literally cut it with a knife and feed it to Ron, the Jerk Husband of Hazel.

Why are you thinking about her again?, My mind commented.

I said Ron. Didn't you hear that? Do your job properly, I replied back.

"One large double cheese pizza with onions, capsicum and jalapeno topping please", Joe said giving the order. She was sitting next to me and Parker was sitting in front of us.

She looked at us and said, "What do you guys want to eat?". I raised my eyebrows at her.

"Will you manage to eat a large pizza all by yourself?", I asked and she scoffed.

"Don't challenge me", she said narrowing her eyes at me and I just sighed.

"Same for me", I said looking at the waiter. He nodded and glanced at Parker.

"Just coke", Parker said.

"Oh add coke in my order too", Joe said and I also added one for mine. With a smile on his lips, the waiter left after taking the order.

"Start talking now", Parker said. I gave him a glare but he seems unaffected.

Perks of being my friend!!

"She had a scene with Nick", I started talking. I decided to keep it short and simple. I added, "He misbehaved with her. I helped her out by beating the shit out of him".

"Oh my god", Joe gasped. She placed her hands over her mouth.

My girl is dramatic!!

"What did he do exactly?", Parker asked clenching his jaws.

"I'm not giving you the details. What do you think am I? Media reporter? Ask your friend", I replied getting annoyed. He's just getting under my nerves.

"I need to talk to Vena", Joe said as she took out her mobile from her jeans.

"Excuse me", she said and walked out to get some privacy. I diverted my attention back to Parker. He needs to answer my questions too.

"We need to talk. Why are you so mad at me?", I asked looking right into his eyes. He scoffed.

"As if you remember nothing", he said.

"Stop beating around the bush. Cut me some slack and tell me what did I do?", I asked losing my cool.

"You're a jerk yesterday night", he said.

"I agree I am but what did I do to you?", I asked.

"You accused Vena and me to be fooling around. You blamed her for using me. You even kept the audacity to say I want to sleep with her. How could you, di**head?", Parker said and I just listen to him. Damn. Did I tell out my thoughts out loud to him?

"Oh. Did I say so?", I replied and he just gave me his sharp look.

"Fine. My mistake but I do feel that you've a soft corner for her. Don't you like her?", I asked.

"Yes but as a sister", he said and I was flabbergasted.

"What? As a sister? Did you say, sister? What did you say?", I asked so many questions in a row.

"Do you still have a hangover?", Parker asked looking at me like I've grown two heads.

"I can't process what did you just say? When did we start treating girls as sisters?", I asked.

"Since I met Vena. She's the best person I've ever met. All I feel for her is concern and the need to protect her. She's like my sister. I don't have one so I have accepted Vena as my sister", he said and I couldn't respond.

"Why are you smiling? Did I crack a joke?", He asked and my hand went to my lips. Am I smiling? Am I happy hearing his confession? Why?

"I am not smiling. This sounds funny to me", I said but deep down, I was wondering why am I feeling relaxed?

"Because you're a moron", he said and I rolled my eyes.

"Why do you behave like a moody girlfriend?", I asked. "I did a mistake and I'm sorry", I added.

"Ptff, first of all, you Mr. Ivan Green need to stop acting like a jealous boyfriend of mine. It's you who is possessive of me talking to Vena", Parker said with a smirk. I glared at him.

Why do he know me so well?

"I'm not jealous. She's my friend too", I said and he chuckled.

"She doesn't consider you as her friend", he said and it hits me. I frowned.

"How can you be so sure?", I asked.

"I asked her if you guys are friends. She denied. She doesn't want to be friends with the Bad Boy", he said and my mood ruined totally. I felt as if I've been slapped again indirectly by Hazel again. I feel rejected.

"And you're not a bad guy at all. Isn't she being partial?", I asked.

"I don't know about that. All I know is that she considers me as her family and I don't want you to mess with her. You're my friend and she's important to me too. So, I'm already advising you to keep a cordial relationship with her", he said.

"Yeah. Fine. I'm not interested in talking to such a judgmental girl even", I said and our order arrived. With a hot head, I picked up my cold drink bottle and gulped down the emotions of insult down my throat.

"Sorry, I'm late. Vena is coming", Joe said as soon as she came and sat down next to me. She kept her mobile on the side table.

Ask her not to come, I thought!!

I don't wanna see her face at all!!

"Is she fine now?", Parker asked.

"Well yes. She's on her way to the house so I forced her to join me", Joe said and then she looked behind Parker.

"There she's", she said and I looked up from her face to the front. The cafe's door was opened and Hazel was entering. Her hair were open and it was flowing slightly with the wind of the fan on the ceiling.

She looked in our direction, our eyes met and I couldn't look away. She looked away and made her way to our seat but I couldn't stop staring at her. Her sad eyes, weak smile and miserable look made something melt inside me. She pulled out the seat and sat next to Parker. I had this strong urge to ask her if she's ok but she doesn't consider me as her friend.

"Finally you came", Joe sighed.

"You begged me to come", Hazel said with a smile. I smiled back looking her fine.

"Hey", She said looking at Parker.

"Hey", he replied as he side hugged her. I noticed those two smiling whilst looking at each other. She looked at menu after that. She didn't wish me, nor smiled at me. She freakin hugged me thirty minutes before but now I'm sitting here and she's not even appreciating my presence. Why is she so weird?

Why am I feeling left out at all?

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

Hey Cupcakes. How are you guys?

So Finally My Birthday Gift To All Of You For Being So Supportive And Lovable To Me. I'm Currently On A Break From Wattpad So There Will No More Update From Now On.

When Will I Come Back? I've No Idea. So, I Hope You Enjoy This Update. Thank You Again For Your Support.

You Can Follow Me On Instagram; musicalsoul01.

Or You can Follow Me On wattpad. I'll be Grateful To Know You.

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