Steal my Heart.

73

Melissa Speaks.
I've come a long way since my wild days. Right from the start, I've belonged to the crazy, wild group in school. The popular crowd, what you would call it. Not a very pretty place to be in. Differences start to creep in and I soon got fed up of being in bitching sessions, stealing people's boyfriends and just partying every weekend. I was very serious when I said I wanted to have a simple, yet meaningful life. I've done stupid, crazy things, drugs, kissing new boys every weekend, tattoos, red hair, basically everything. But what else can you do when your mom leaves you at 14 and your dad hooks up with his secretary?

Life became untangled when Grace entered. Frustated, I had gone to the library and went for the seat at the last, only to find it occupied by Gracie. Hunched over her textbook, marking out lines and flicking her hair simultaneously, here was a girl who did not wear make up, covered her body and still looked as enthralling as ever. I talked to her. Not once did she judge me, hell, she wouldn't even have known about the most popular girl in school.

Slowly, I grew close to her. Our conversations revolved about ideas, lives, family, books and things as random as movies and daily news. We slowly talked more and all the stories of  my troubled past spilled out. Not once did she judge or pry into more information than I was willing to let out. There was no bitching and no fakeness, and that hit me like a whip of fresh air.

Life changed the day she introduced me to Albert. I would have laughed my red head off had someone told me that I'd soon date this nerdy guy. But I did. He was sweet. Caring. Uncomplicated. Smart as fuck. For the entire relationship, I did feel special. I thought it was love. Maybe it was. Or again, maybe it wasn't. But breaking up with him surely introduced me to what grief felt like. Whoever said that opposites attract, said it true. But not all opposites are meant to be. At times, due to dysfunction, the north pole may repel the south pole.

But throughout all of this, there had been a guy lurking around in my life. Who called me beautiful even when I was hogging on alcohol. Who clutched my hand even when my friends turned their backs on me. Who comforted me everytime Albert neglected me. Who became my best friend each time Grace got too busy with Alastair. The one who had been my friend right from the start and still held on, even when I ignored him unintentionally. Roland Anderson.

Can anyone be more sweeter? One month has passed since my break up. From chocolates to hugs, he's given me everything without asking. Made me feel like a princess. Isn't that what each one of us is searching for? Someone to love us when we cease loving ourselves?

For me, Roland has been all that and more. So when this Friday, he asked me out for a coffee date, I said yes, even though I don't drink coffee.

"Mel." He said, all happy and jumping,"Will you come with me for coffee?" He didn't seem nervous at all. Maybe he felt like I wouldn't refuse or he was prepped for rejection also.

I remembered vaguely about kissing him in some rave party long back. It was sweet, not wild and savage like the people in our surroundings.

So as I dress up today, I feel a nagging voice at the back of my head telling me that I'm using Roland. As a rebound. I shouldn't go out with someone as soon as that, right after a break up.

As I smoothen out the creases on my dress, I try to console myself, you're not using him. You're going to him as a friend. Though deep in my heart, I know that we have sizzling, undeniable chemistry.

And then another voice from my head speaks up, you saw Albert flirting today with Dyna. What about that?

Aargh. I shut all the voices in my head and concentrate on my outfit. Just one day won't hurt. You haven't been very careful all your life Mel, why now? Go for it. Roland is waiting for you.

Gracie's Point Of View.
March has set in. Final exams are just round the corner. I've stopped meeting Alastair for now. We've both promised each other to maintain a distance because we can't afford to become a distraction for the other. So yeah, sad days.

Days and nights are passed away studying. Don't think that I don't study okay? If the days are spent yearning for him, the nights are spent buried in books. Having a love for life didn't distract me from my goals and ambitions. In fact, all his dreams were mine now. We just shared our ambitions, didn't compromise on them. I know it sounds cliche, right out of a romantic movie. But if you ever find yourself in love as true as this, your life will be like that. Like a drug addict's. Sometimes so high and sometimes so low. Good times, good life.

Final exams pass away quickly. All were great. I'm sure I'll do really well. I come out of the classroom and run straightaway to Alastair's class. He comes out and I go and hug him tight.
I whisper in the crook of his neck,"How I've missed you."

"I missed you more Hyde." He whispers back in my hair.
"My place today?" I suggest.
"No, my apartment. Okay with you?" He says.
"Yeah. What plans do you have?"
"Just come. I have plans. Definite ones." He says emphasizing.
"Haha okay." I say laughing.

It's April 2 today. Alastair's birthday will be next month. I'm wondering what to do for him so that he feels so very special. I knock on the door and he opens it, dressed in a vest and track pants which hang low on his hips. Damn, I forget how good he looks at times.

"Get your cute butt in Gracie." He hold the door open for me an ushers me in a very gentlemanly way. As I walk in, he hits my butt. I flush as I remember that's what I love about him. How he's such a gentleman but a lustful asshole at the same time.
God, I love this boy.

We walk in to see he has switched off the lights and kept the TV on. He's thrown some blankets together on the floor and also kept some pizzas and pastries together. What a treat! I look lovingly at him.

We get under the blankets and switch on the movie, a comedy. He wraps his arms around me and I snuggle up into the warmth of his embrace.

His phone rings. He reaches up to get it but I groan so he chuckles and let it ring. The phone rings. It goes ignored once more. For the third time, the phone rings and we look worriedly at it. Who is so persistent?

He reaches up and sees who's calling. I mute the movie. It's an unknown number. He picks it up and says,
"Hello."
"Yeah, Alastair Kerr."
"No..."
"Where? How?"
"I'll be there in 5 minutes."

Anxiety is gnawing away at me as I stare at him talking on the phone with so much of tension. The colour on his face pales and he looks like he's seen a ghost.

I hold both his shoulders and say,"Alastair, what's wrong?"
He tears away his horror stricken eyes from the distance and looks at me blankly.

"Stuart had an accident."

___________________________
Vote and comment :)