Alexia's POV -

(A/N - Surprise!!!)

I wake up with the annoying voice of my alarm. I quickly hit the snooze button but then I remember something and what do I do?

I scream very loud, like the Opera loud.

"What happened?" my mother, father and even Ray ask as they hurridely enter my room.

"I just remembered that the second season of 13 Reasons Why has already started!"

They all shower me with a glare while my mom shakes her head in disbelief.

Really? I missed an important screening of one of my favorite shows and instead of consoling me they do that?

If Jazz was here, I think I would have probably been smacked by now. According to her, I am way too emotional and dramatic. I completely disagree with her.

Okay, yes I cried for straight two days after watching Stefan die. I mean how could he die, even Enzo died. I am so attached with TVD that I was a complete emotional wreck.

Nonetheless at first my mom and dad did think that Jayden broke up with me when they saw me crying my eyes out. However, Jayden quickly cleared up the misunderstanding and being the awesome boyfriend he even stayed with me and wiped my tears. At one time, he became really jealous and angry at Stefan for making me cry.

But seriously, I am lucky to have him and Jazz and my family. Jayden is both my best friend and boyfriend. I never had friends in reality. I know I am rich, but unfortunately people forget that money can't buy everything, especially happiness and friendship.

When I used to be a kid, I thought everyone was my friend. Little did I know that they flocked around me for my money, surname and not for me, to be my friend. I have had my share of flatterers and backbiters. But, now that I think, I guess it was all worth it.

If they hadn't treated me that way, I wouldn't have found Jazz. We wouldn't have become best friends. Yes, she loves coffee and Oreos sometimes more than humans, but she is humorous and straight forward. She kind of keeps my emotions in check whenever they go overboard.

Now that I think, where is that girl?

She should have been the first one to be here and console me.

"Rayyyy!" I scream out for my brother.

"Now what?" he says, obviously irritated by his cute little sister.

"Where's Jazz?"

"Mom had said that Disney Freak went for her daily morning jog."

"You asked mom for Jazz?"

"No," he replies too quickly.

"I mean, obviously I did, the house seemed so peaceful and I was wondering how could peace and Jasmine be on the same place," Ryan replied while smirking.

Jasmine's POV -

I look at my phone and realize it's already past seven. Time to go back. I have been jogging for the past two hours around the colony and right now I am in the residential park.

What can I say about myself? I have a natural alarm clock in my mind that wakes me up at five daily.

Liar, Liar, pants on fire.

Shut up!

Lying to yourself won't bring you any good Jazz. We both know Mrinali called and woke you up.

I hate to agree, but my inner voice is right. My sister - Mrinali Arora called me today from India. She is five years younger to me and is currently in grade twelve.

You sound like you are reading her snapchat profile.

When did she join Snapchat? She didn't even follow me!

Welcome to reality, Jazz.

I mentally roll my eyes at myself and think about the five a.m. call.

Okay, if anyone else from India had called me at five in the morning, I would have understood they might have not realized the difference in time between San Diego and India.
It's a whooping difference of twelve and a half hours.

But, Mrinali, she is well aware of the time difference and just loves to wake me up at odd times.

So, my sister dearest called me today to ask if she should wear her blue colored dress or violet colored dress to a relative's wedding.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen and fellow coffee sippers, that's my sister for you, who calls her sister that lives in another continent at five in the morning just to discuss her outfit for the wedding.

Sighing I sit down on a bench and take out a packet of Oreos.

They are another reason for me to wake up so early. When Mrinali woke me up, I suddenly started craving for Oreos. Looks like the half bit last night, didn't sit well with me.

Hey, that rhymed!

"Oreo," I cried out happily as I took out the first biscuit from the packet.

Just then a big white husky mix kind of dog came out of nowhere and sat down beside my foot, looking at my Oreos with his chocolate brown eyes.

(A/N - The cute dog's pic.)

"Aww, who are you little boy?" I ask the dog while gently patting his head and ruffling his hair.

"Do you want to have some Oreo?" I ask him while picking an Oreo biscuit. He snifs the biscuit at first and then quickly grabs it and we both munch on our respective Oreos.

Wow, you just found your mate. He likes Oreo. Wait, how do you know the dog's a HE?

I don't know, I just guessed?

Shame on you! How can you have such a stereotypical thinking?

But, it's a dog.

How dare you berate a dog?

Before I could reply to my lovely, self-depriciating inner voice, the cute dog jumps and sits besides me on the bench and starts licking my face. Seems like we are going to be Oreo buddies!

He is soooooooo cute and yet you berated him. Poor dog, he doesn't deserve you.

You say I am being stereotypical when you are the one referring to the cute dog as 'he'.

Not my fault. The brain had already feeded the dog's gender as a male before I could correct you.

I shut my inner voice as the cute dog stops licking my face. I laugh and wonder where's the owner of this cute dog. I really love dogs.

What about our fish? Turtles and Mr. Fluffy Pants?

Okay, I love all animals in general and so do my parents. We have all the above mentioned animals at my home in India. By the way, Mr. Fluffy Pants is our pet rabbit.

I snap out of my thoughts and realize the cute dog's munching on another Oreo while looking at me.

Awww, isn't he the cutest thing?

Yes, definitely.

"Handshake, buddy?" I ask the cute dog and to my shock, he responds to it by lifting up his paw to touch my palm.

Aww, he's cuter than Mrinali.

You just compared my sister with a cute little dog?

My thoughts are interrupted by a very tall, muscular person standing in front of me in a black hoodie.

He screams HOT!!

I am definitely blaming my hormonal behaviour on lack of coffee. It's a side effect of OCD!

"Oh, I am so sorry. Did my friend trouble you, Mis-Jasmine?" the hoodie man asks me as he removes his hood to show his face.

First, Coffee Stealer now the Hoodie Man? Your naming ability amazes me.

Instead of replying to my inner voice, I focus on the man in front of me.

"Xander?" I ask as the familiar face smiles at me.

Just then the cute dog jumps from the bench and tackles Xander down and starts to lick his face.

"Okay, okay, buddy. I am happy to meet you back, too. But why did you run so suddenly?" Xander asks the cute dog as he gets up from the ground while the cute dog barks happily.

"Wow, it's such a coincidence to meet you here, Jasmine."

"Actually, I am staying at my best friend's house this trimester break. So, I live in this colony."

"My house's near too. By the way Jasmine meet my friend Oreo," Xander says while I look around for more Oreo.

"Oreo?" I ask, looking around while the cute dog barks.

"Yes, Oreo," Xander says and the dog barks again.

"Wait, you mean your dog is named Oreo?" I ask, giving him an incredulous look.

"Yes and I am used to that reaction. My cousin sister named him Oreo."

"Wow, he is named after my second most favourite thing. I already love him, " I say, dramatically as I bend down to ruffle his white fluffy hair.

"Coincidentally, Oreo loves Oreo a lot. I mean, eating Oreos. Maybe that's why he came to you. You are eating Oreos."

"Ahh, so that's why this little one came to me," I say as I get up from the ground.

"So, I am going home, wanna come along? Maybe our houses fall on each other's way?" Xander suggests as Oreo and me munch more Oreos.

"Shue," I reply with my mouth stuffed with Oreos.

"I meant sure," I quickly correct myself.

Xander laughs before continuing, "So, you come here daily?"

"Yeah, I jog daily and after strolling for a while around the colony, I come to the park. What about you?" I ask Xander as we exit the park with Oreo walking beside me.

You are so damn lucky! You have a cute dog and a hot guy with you! Now we just need money to rain down. My life will be perfect.

"Me too. I don't necessarily jog, but I come around this time for Oreo's morning walk," Xander replies as we both turn left while cutting off my inner voice.

It's just the first left, maybe he lives near Al's house?

But, then again we together turn right and then another right.

"You sure you are not a crazy stalker, Xander?" I ask, jokingly.

"You do know a stalker won't be walking besides you with his dog lovingly following you around?" he replies with a smirk.

"So, what would a stalker do?"

"He'd stay at least ten steps away from you and well stalk you."

I laugh at his answer and soon he also joins in. In between somewhere our hands touch each other and I experience something weird and different. Must be due to the lack of coffee.

All of us stop before a black and blue painted house. It seems almost as beautiful and big as Al's house and then I realize something.

"You live four house away from my best friend's place! Look, that's my best friend's house," I say as I point to Al's house.

"So, we are literally neighbours?" he says while cracking a smile.

"Yes, I better get going, before Al - my best friend calls 911."

Trust me, one time I was out for a school project and wasn't able to attend her calls or texts. She literally called 911 thinking I had been nabbed. It was weird coming back to my dorm and asking the police who they were looking for.

What was funnier was that the police inspector even answered me, telling me they were looking for a twenty one year old young Indian woman with black hair and brown eyes. Her name is Jasmine Arora and blah blah. Only for me to say 'Hey, that sounds an awful lot like me'.

Nevertheless, Al did freak out everyone. But, it makes a great memory. Shaking my head, I look at Oreo and Xander.

"I am going to miss you a lot, Oreo," I say to Oreo as I bend down and ruffle his hair and then I notice his brown collar has his name 'Oreo' inscribed on it.

"You know you can come at my house anytime to meet Oreo. My doors are--"

"Woof-woof."

"Our doors are always open for you," Xander replies, flashing me his million dollar smile.

"Thank you so much Xander. I'll meet you both later."

"See you around," Xander says as he enters his house along with Oreo while I make my way towards Al's house.

Before I could even take a step inside, I am cornered by my best friend. With her height and serious look, it looked kind of funny for her to intimidate me.

"Were you just now talking to our very hot new neighbour? And I wasn't even invited."

"Yes. Actually, he is the new barista, I told you about the other day," I explain to Al while laughing at her shocked expression.

"Jasmine Arora, you have a lot of explaining to do and details to spill!" my best friend screams while dragging me upstairs.
______________________________________________________________________________

Hey Guys!
So, how's everyone?

I am updating regularly, weirdly. Let's hope I don't break the chain, lmao. 😅😅

Back to the story, what did you all think about Alexia's POV? Xander and Jasmine's meeting?

Most importantly our very new character 'Oreo'?

This chapter is dedicated to a really good friend of mine - flowerofpomona. Thank YOU so so so so very much for everything Maggie❤️😘❤️