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"Take care, Eleanor," Gran smiled at me.

"I'll miss you, Gran," I told her, feeling sad. "Wish you'd stay a few more days with us."

"I miss my small town. Been away for long. Need to go back now," she said as the cool morning breeze swept past our faces, "but I'll drop by soon."

"Are you...are you mad at me, Gran?" I asked, looking at her anxiously.

"Of course not! I can never be mad at my honeycake," she smiled broadly.

"I love you, Gran," I hugged her tight, feeling incredibly happy.

"Love you too, sugar," she said fondly. "I just want the best for you always."

Outside the gates, Katherine was helping Papa load Gran's bags in the cab.

"What do you think of her?" I asked Gran, looking over at Katherine. "I mean you were rather unusual when she arrived."

"Nothing like that, cupcake. Just didn't expect Eron to bring a woman home," she responded.

"Hey, mom! You're all set for a happy journey!" Papa called out.

I walked out of the gates with Gran. Papa gave her a warm hug. Katherine and she shared an awkward side hug.

"Call us when you reach home." Papa told Gran as she climbed on to the backseat of the cab. She waved at the three of us from the window and we watched the cab zoom out of sight.

"Gotta go. Have a press conference," Papa told Katherine and me. "Eleanor...." his voice was a soft silent whisper as he looked at me with remorse in his eyes. He was very upset about last night.

I stepped towards him, placed my head on his chest and hugged him. I can never see my father hurt. It pained me a lot. I felt him breath in relief as he would his arms lovingly around me.

After he left for work, I started to walk back indoors to get ready for school.

"Eleanor, please listen," Katherine called out from behind. I stopped but I didn't look back at her.

I wanted to apologize for yesterday," she said, walking upto me. "I'm sorry that Eron couldn't spend time with you because of me. I'm really sorry..."

"Not just about yesterday," I said in a low voice. "You forgot to apologize for keeping my father away for so many months altogether."

***

I saw Devon sitting under a tree in the school campus and reading a book. And I also saw how so many girls around were openly checking him out. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Is it so fucking difficult to understand that Devon is my boyfriend?

But I was mad at him.

Ever since last night, he didn't call or message me even once. Like he made absolutely no attempts to get back to me. Like I wasn't important enough for him. If he doesn't care a damn, I don't either.

Just then, he looked up from the book and his exotic eyes met mine. I felt weak in the heart and I was staring at him mesmerized. But Devon looked down at the book again as though he didn't see anyone significant.

That irked me completely.

Attitude, huh? Who does he think he is? I will show him I'm least bothered about his existence.

I stomped my foot and walked off.

Devon ignored me in all the classes we shared that day. He did not even for once look in my direction. Not even during lunch break. That got me very restless and agitated.

Where did so much of ego come into him? Couldn't he just come up and apologize to me for being too callous last night? If I'd been at fault, I'd have surely done that.

Just three days back he was telling me how I meant everything to him. And now he was behaving as though he just couldn't possibly miss me

"What the fuck? You want me to act friendly with Parker and get him to tell me if he is missing somebody very special?"

Josh gaped at me wide eyed as though as I'd ask him to chop off his testicles.

"Uh huh," I responded as we walked along the corridors after the Social Sciences class.

"Dude, no! He once called me a douche bag five times! I don't wanna get cussed again with a different word, thank you very much," mumbled Josh shivering slightly.

"Josh, please?"

"Er...I remember now! I've to grow an extra pair of abs. Bye."

"Josh!" I blocked his path. "Best friends bail each other out!"

"Fine," he muttered in defeat.

We walked into the Lockers Room and saw Devon at a distance. I pulled myself behind the wall just in time so as to avoid being seen by him.

To my dismay, Josh copied my actions.

"Where are you hiding with me? You said you would talk to him, didn't you?" I asked.

"I'm scared of your boyfriend," mumbled Josh, "He slays with his words like nobody else. He will surely make some smartass remark and I like a fool won't be able to give it back to him."

"Don't worry, he will be very polite to you." I felt like laughing at my words.

"Why aren't you asking him instead? Won't that be a lot better?" he asked incredulously.

"If I could, I would. Please Josh, please?"

"Alright," he murmured.

Josh braced himself up as though he were going for the Hogwarts Battle and walked over to Devon. They weren't within my hearing range but it wasn't in the least difficult to make out how Josh was faring which was poorly. He was trying to act friendly, Devon looked at him suspiciously, His bottom lip curled indicating he must have said something sassy, Josh was stuttering like an idiot confused as to what to say in return and suddenly, Devon turned his head and looked in my direction.

Shit.

I quickly got myself behind the wall but there was no point, Devon had seen me already. Moments later through the corner of my eye I saw him come over to me.

I pretended that I didn't see him. Way to go, Eleanor!

"What are you doing?" he asked, narrowing his eyes on me.

"Nothing. Just Standing."

"No. That's called Hiding."

"Hiding Behind The Wall? No. I was just Standing. I'm standing now too. See?" Okay I acted smart ass but somewhere deep down, I knew that was foolish.

Devon continued giving me the look. He looked so hot.

"Josh was asking me whether I'm missing somebody very special," he stated, "I wonder who was his inspiration."

"Ha Ha Ha," I laughed clumsily, "If you're worrying he wants to get into your pants then don't. He is not gay."

I laughed again. Devon narrowed his eyes into slits at me.

"You must learn how to talk to people as early as possible," he remarked before walking off.

My mouth opened in a large O. Look who is talking!!

***

Attempt Number Two.

If I couldn't get to know if Devon was missing me or not, I could surely get him to know I was. So I wrote down the words 'I miss you –Eleanor' on a piece of paper, folded it neatly and shoved it into one of his books when he wasn't looking. During class, when he was referring to the same book, I was waiting for him to come across the note and unfold it out of curiosity.

Devon did come across the note but he rolled his eyes in annoyance and discarded the note without reading it.

It was then realization struck me hard.

Devon always got crazy love notes from girls on a daily basis in school which irritated him to no ends so much so that he no more read the notes addressed to him and tossed it away.

So why would Devon read my note if he thought it was one of those crap notes?

I sighed and dropped my face flat on the book that I had been pretending to read all this while.

And any which ways, I had tried in whatever way I could. If he didn't want to patch things up, then why should I? I was hurt but I didn't care.

As I exited my last class for the day, something unexpected happened.

"Eleanor!"

My heart missed a beat hearing Devon call out to me from behind. I turned around and saw him looking longingly at me. I crossed my hands and glanced sideways acting as though I didn't give a damn.

I saw him approach me through the corner of my eye. He tugged me by the elbow causing me to face him. Devon cupped my face and the very next moment, his lips crash onto mine like thunder. His sweltering tongue delved into my throbbing mouth tearing my senses apart. I clutched his shoulders tight as my knees wobbled at the intensity of the searing kiss. Devon held me by my waist as he continued to wildly explore my mouth driving me breathless.

In that heat of the moment, I suddenly remembered how he was speaking for Katherine over the phone and made me feel abandoned....It roused a sharp pain in my heart.

I pulled away from him abruptly which caught him completely off guard.

"I-I need to go," I stuttered, averting my gazes. And I walked away from there with hurried steps.