(Stella’s POV)
I couldn’t stop thinking about the incident that happened at the competition. It became a recent gossip all over the college. When I asked Roman about Harry, he replied Harry didn’t talk anything about it.
The next day I saw Harry at college. He looked at me angrily as if I had stolen something from him. Vickie was with her friends looking sad, probably thinking about the competition. She lost again and Rory was the winner. Our college should celebrate as it got back to back competition winners. Ignoring everyone I reached my classroom and concentrated on my classes.
Every day was the same. The same angry look from him and the same ignorant look of mine. I guess I should be angry with. Whatever! The exams too started and I was not performing well as my mind was loaded up with many things leaving so little space for my studies. Everyone left to their natives even Harry. It’s been two days since he left. Like the last time, I didn’t cry though I felt sad. All the things that happened made me stronger. I was not crying. I was ignoring everyone and everything.
After fighting with my mom in the kitchen over the dish to prepare for lunch, I walked out from there angrily as she won in the argument. I sat on the couch in front of TV and started watching. While I was in a comfortable position that was making me feel relaxed, someone rang the doorbell that made me let out a frustrated sigh.
I strolled to the door and opened it. I stood frozen while my eyes went wide looking at Noah in front of me.
“Hey Stella!” Noah smiled.
“Oh God! Noah?” I smiled brightly.
He was changed a bit. His cool, combed brown hair turned messy and I could see a perfect muscular body beneath his shirt.
“Stella! Who is that?” My mom came to us and she gave a bright smile looking at him.
“Hi Aunt!” Noah smiled.
“Hey Noah! How are you? It’s been a long time. Come in.” My mom gestured him to enter in.
We three sat on the couches and kept talking to eachother. He kept telling a lot of things about his college and his friends. We both kept laughing recalling the moments that happened in our childhood. My mom went to the kitchen to resume her work.
“So you came yesterday and meeting me today? Usually you meet me the day when you enter the town.” I raised my eyebrow.
Noah smiled and said “This time is different. I’m going to spend few days here so I thought there’s no need to meet you in hurry.”
I said laughing “You always have answers for everything.”
Noah nodded his head and his gaze fell on the frames in the shelf. He walked to them smiling. He saw many pictures of them receiving awards for their dance.
“I miss those days.” I stood beside him smiling.
“I miss it more.” He replied.
His gaze then fell on another frame that had picture of mine and Harry. It was the picture from Town’s competition. He noticed my smile faded away from my lips when I saw that.
He said “I know about you and this Harry guy. Rory told me everything.”
I nodded my head saying “I thought to tell you but…”
“It’s okay, Stella. Leave it. How about going out now?” He asked giving his toothy grin.
“Now? My mom will kill both of us if we won’t eat her dishes.” I laughed.
“In that case, we will go out after having our lunch.”
“Sure.” I laughed.
We then started playing games, recreating our past memories. I showed him my drawings and he stared to laugh recalling the days when I used to draw my angry Professor’s face in a weird way while the class was going on.
He then suddenly turned on the music for which we always used to dance in our school days.
“Now it’s time for our best dance.” Saying that he stood from the couch holding my hand. He started swaying his body and I kept laughing looking at him. He dragged me to him making me to dance. At first, I laughed looking at him but I didn’t feel good when I started recalling Harry. He really did something to me. Noah was my dance partner before Harry entered into my life but Harry’s impact on mine was more.
I sat on the couch excusing myself. He turned the music off sitting beside me.
“What happened?” He asked confused.
“It’s… nothing.” I smiled nervously.
My mom called us for lunch and we both had our food. After spending few minutes with my mom, we both walked out. He sat on his bike and asked me to sit at the back.
“Bike? Seriously Noah?” I laughed.
“Yeah! What’s wrong?” he questioned.
“I think it’s better if we walk.” I said.
“Come on Stella! No one thinks bad about us and don’t be shy. Remember you even saw me naked in our school days.” He laughed.
“Shut up, Noah. That was a mistake. Who will expect you naked, without locking the door of your room?” I laughed remembering the moment that happened when were in our seventh class.
“How could I expect you will enter into my room all of a sudden? I was about to wear my clothes.”
“Oh yeah! Your mom said you were in the bedroom. I should’ve come with all other girls.” I laughed out loud.
“I think we are going to spend all day here itself.” He raised his eyebrow.
“Fine.” I sat on his bike though I was a bit uncomfortable.
We then reached an ice cream parlour and sat there talking.
“Can I ask you something?” Noah asked while savouring his cream.
“Like you will stop if I say no.” I laughed.
“Come on Stella. I’m serious.”
“Oh no. Okay tell me. What is it?”
“How did you fall for Harry? I mean… as far as I knew you were so distant from all those things.”
I became quiet for a minute hearing him then I replied “I don’t know. All I knew was I loved him.”
“You love him still?”
I shrugged my shoulders saying “I think I don’t know this too. But I’m trying to move on and I’m succeeding. I want to forget him completely but I guess it’s not possible.” I smiled.
He held my hand saying “You will get through everything, Stella. You will get over him.”
I nodded my head and we spent the day roaming all the town. We met Rory and he talked to him for a while. After sometime he dropped me at my house and left. By the time I reached the house, Anna was there on the couch in the living room.
“Where did you go? I came here to spend my time with you but you were not here.” She shouted.
I held her arm dragging her to my bedroom saying “I went out with Noah.”
“Noah? When did he come?” She asked sitting on the bed.
“Yesterday. I had a great day after a long time with him.” I said smiling.
“Wow! Stella you look happy.” She said excitedly.
“Yes I am. I’m so happy. After many months, I spent much time with him. You know, we recreated the memories and enjoyed.” I said laughing.
Then we spent the time together listening to songs, playing and she left. I kept spending my days with Noah much. I kind of liked it. It felt like we were still in our school. Like we were little without any problems or tensions in our heads.
As usual I went to a cafe with Noah one day while Anna was with Roman. While we were sipping our coffee, a tall idiot, who was none other than Harry, entered in. I was stunned to see him in the town. The holidays were not over even granny was not here. I was in contact with her.
Harry’s gaze fell on mine which seemed he was furious. We both looked at eachother for a moment then I shifted my gaze away.
“Harry?” Noah questioned looking at me.
I simply nodded my head and kept my focus on my coffee. I could feel Harry’s intense gaze on me. I tried to ignore it but I failed in doing that. He was beside our table having his coffee. Noah ignored him and he kept talking few things but I didn’t hear him as I was not at ease.
“Are you alright?” Noah asked worried after noticing me.
“Noah let’s… let’s leave. We’ll come later.” I said.
Noah looked at Harry, who was already staring at us. Noah and Harry looked at eachother as if they both were battling through their eyes.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
We both stood from there and walked out. To my bad luck, we came on bike. After that day when Noah asked me to go out with him on bike, I told him I didn’t want to ride on it again as I didn’t want to hold him so close that create any rumours on us and he accepted. But fate; he said he was not in the mood to walk this morning so I accepted.
Sitting on his bike while Harry was giving me a deadly glare gave me a mini heart attack. But something in me said he never and won’t bother about me so I sat on his bike and we drove off.