Christian's POV

“I see, it's awfully quiet in here,” Austin commented while making eye contact with me in the mirror.

I let it go with a shrug. The rest of the ride which was nonetheless of five to ten minutes, was awfully quiet. We reached home in no time. We sat on the sofa, sipping our sodas while Blaire was lost in some profound thoughts.

“What are you thinking, hun?” Melody asked her.

“Umhmm...not thinking, just dreaming," she took as sip and continued,“ about how life will be NYC, mom."

She rolled her eyes with a smile on her lips and stood up. Climbing up the stairs, she said, “ I just can't wait for September to come."

“Wait, what is this about?” I interrupted.

“Oh, I have almost forgotten...”

“ No, no,no, don't tell me she got into NYU,” I cut Melody off.

I was literally jumping hither and thither within my heart.

“She did,” she nodded with a smile spreaded across her face.

“Are you kidding me? God, I can't believe this,” I blurted out in happiness.

“I should have guessed this. If I got in then she must have,”

“ I'm tagging along, I guess,” Austin chirped in.

“That's great, brother,” I said patting him on the back.

“I just can't believe, life gave me a second chance like this,” I yelped in joy.

“Alright, I have got tons of work at hand," I said and left running.

Hoping it was not too late, I sat Infront of my laptop.

“Hey,” Julia called in.

“Julia, you won't believe, we both are going to NYU,”

“We?” she asked.

“Me and Blaire,” I elaborated.

“ Now that's a great news. I'm really happy for you, brother,” she paused and then continued,“ I'm happy that atleast she's alive and you two met. I just hope for the best.”

“What are you doing by the way ?” she asked.

“Uh... it's nothing. Just mailing the housing facilities at NYU and changing my preferences to gender neutral and also adding a preference. I just hope it gets granted,” I said with doubt.

“It will, trust me,” she reassured.

“ Anyways, I guess you've got something to say,” I asked her indirectly.

“ Yeah. Actually, I'm leaving,”

For a moment, I stopped working and looked up at her.

“ Isn't it too soon?” I asked.

“ No, it's time Chris. I have a lot to manage there too,” she replied.

”Yeah, I understand,” I said.

“Sorry, uh...I came here and then got caught up with Blaire and stuff . I gave you my word that I would show you around and all but it didn't turn out that way. I'm sorry for that,”

“ It's alright, my dear cousin. It's absolutely okay,” she smiled.

“and,”

“Thanks, for being there with me. Thanks for being in touch over the year and visiting me in person over the break,” I said with a touch of gratitude.

“Well, you should be grateful,” she said with a laugh.

“Now, if you're done with your melodrama, my plane is due tomorrow noon. So get your ass up, we are leaving for San Diego right now,” she ordered.

“ What? You can just take my car. Drive yourself," I said, a little annoyed.

“ Seriously, Christian? You're not gonna come to bid me farewell atleast? Blaire is everything and I'm nothing. You can't even come to drop me off,”

“Alright, no emotional blackmail,” I put my hands up.

“Sure, gotta see you in an hour, in the car,” she said as she put on her cheeky smile.

▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️

That was a long, long drive accompanied by some beautiful songs. The road trip back to San Diego felt long as I just wanted to run back to Blaire.

“ Meet me tomorrow, infront of St. Madison's and get your bags ready. We are leaving for a week,” I texted Sophia and Duncan as soon as I got back home.

“I hope to see you soon, Julia,” I said while bidding her goodbye the next afternoon.

She gave me a last hug and said, “ Come over, sometime. I'll surely show you around, unlike you.”

I smiled, nodding my head. She disappeared inside the airport as she blended in the crowd. I left towards our school.

“Get in,” I said to Duncan and Sophia, once I reached there.

“Where are we going?” Sophia asked as she got inside the car.

“LA, at my home,” I replied.

“Why all of a sudden?” Duncan asked once he hoped onto the passenger seat.

“Well, I'd be honoured to give you that surprise but unfortunately I can't, so I'd like to explain it right away,”

“The thing is...uh... Blaire isn't dead," I gripped onto the steering wheel.

“What?” two voices fired up.

“Yes," I said with a nod, meeting their eyes.

“but due to all that has happened, she developed a trauma and is suffering from RA. Due to Post-traumatic Amnesia, she won't recognise you guys. Well, she didn't even recognise me.”

Their eyes met for s split second, exchanging concern and then returned to me.

“Then why are we going there?” Duncan asked.

“ 'Cause destiny wants us to.” I smirked.

“Elaborate,” Sophia ordered.

“ She's going to NYU, just like us,” I said with an enthusiasm.

“But it's going to be hard,” she paused,“You know what I mean.”

“I know but we have to try atleast,” I replied.

“Sure, we have to. Anything for you guys,” she said.

The rest of the way went silent. Maybe, all of us were thinking about the things we were going to face in the coming days. It was the twilight hour when we reached our destination. Without any notice, we walked in through the front door.

“Hey, Mrs. Willy," Sophia greeted Mel as soon as she entered.

She was delighted at our presence, that j could day by her face and offered each of us a seat. With a refreshing summer drink infront of us, we relaxed on the sofa.

“Its been a longtime. I remember last to last Christmas,” Duncan relished in memories as he glanced around.

“ugh, ” I cleared my throat,“no past topics,” I warned as I saw Blaire walking down the stairs.

“So, what calls you for a sudden visit?” Melody asked Sophia.

“Julia left and I was left alone, so I dragged them here to LA, with me,” I shrugged.

“Anyways, we are going to NYU too,” Sophia added as an element of surprise.

“ I'm so glad that Blaire wouldn't be left alone there. You guys will always be there,”

“Sure, we will be,” we said in unison.

“Blaire,” Sophia exclaimed and embraced her in a friendly hug.

While it was getting an old friend back for Sophia, the hug was quite awkward for Blaire.

Hesitantly she said,“ Do I know you?”

“Uh...um...no, I mean you don't but,” Sophia paused,“but I know you for sure.”

“Christisn talked about you for so long that I started feeling attached,” Sophia laughed nervously as she gave the excuse and tucked in a strand of her chestnut brown hair behind her ear.

“Anyways, I'm Sophia. Christian's friend,” they shook hands.

“Hi, I'm Duncan,” Duncan stood up to shake hands.

“Well, I feel like I have met a lot of new people in a few days,” Blaire said.

“Me too,” Austin added in.

“ He's Blaire's cousin, Austin,” I enlightened them.

“ I'm here,” a new voice interrupted our conversation.

“ I'm so glad,” Blaire ran towards her and embraced her.

“ It's been so long,” both of them squealed.

While Blaire was happy, Sophia and Duncan furrowed their eyebrows in confusion and then looked towards me. I was frozen. Same pair of eyes, black hairs with the exact ivory skin tone.

“Illeana," I whispered.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked walking up to her, anger infuriating from my voice.

“Sorry,” she said in a questioning tone.

While I narrowed my eyes at her, she asked, “ do I know you?"

“Have you lost your mind?” I taunted back.

“What is she doing here?” I asked turning to Melody.

“Do you know her Christian?” Melody asked.

“She should know that better, isn't it Ileana?”

Her irritated expression suddenly softened.

“ I'm Sorry but I think you've been mistaken,” she spoke softly.

“ I'm not Ileana, I'm her twin, Isabella,” she paused, “since our parents divorced, we didn't grow up together.”

“FYI, she and my father passed away three years ago in a car accident,” she concluded.

“Shit,” I muttered, “ I'm sorry,” I said almost in a whisper and slouched back on the sofa, supporting my head in my hands.

“Chris, it's okay. We were confused for a moment too,” Duncan patted my shoulder.

“ She's one of my closest friend from middle school. Stay away, stranger,” Blaire fumed at me before dragging her friend upstairs.

I looked up at her retreating figure.

“Stranger,” I whispered to myself and gave an ironical smile.