Sincerely, The girl who left words Unsaid

24. She is always a woman to me_Billy Joel

Shane and Rachel were best friends. And unlike any other best friend's relation, it wasn't just friendship for at least one of them. The thing about friendships that no one talks about is that down the line someone always dares to take the high road. Why wouldn't you? You know each other very well. You talk daily without making sense for hours about things that particularly weren't very important. You share secrets and you confide in each other. You treat each other with coffee, remember the names of all their other friends. You spend most of the time together. Then what is wrong with feeling a bit more?  Maybe, everything.

This would be one of the most important scenes, if that's what it can be called, that had changed the story for everyone

It was earlier than usual for Shane. He was waiting at the station from which came in between the route to their college. Their college coincidentally was twenty walking steps away from each other. He had a lecture at noon while she had 7:30 that particular day. In all the three years of their college, it was the only time her class was before his and yet again he was waiting for her at the station.  He had asked her to meet early because he couldn't wait to be the first one to surprise her. 

It usually took forty-five mins commute time to reach their destination so, they decided to meet fifteen mins earlier in the morning and thought that would be more than enough. He was standing there on the platform waiting for her and it wasn't a strange feeling at all. He had got used to it over the last three years. Their college timings were such that his college would be done by 10:30 am every day while hers did by 1:30 pm and he always waited for her so that they could travel back together in the empty compartment of the railway and spend 45 mins of their time talking about anything they would wish to share. Their day, their life, or just sit. 

This sounds very weird and unnecessary considering the fact they have known each other for a decade or so years, he had lost the count. But they had known each other for a decade, their friendship was just four years old and maybe their bond was just as good as new. 

Rachel and Shane were in the same class for five years but barely spoke. The reason was two folds. Firstly, she dated his friend and second of all, she was Rachel. The first reason meant he shouldn't try to bridge the gap and the second reason meant he was too afraid to approach her.

It was only when he knew that she wasn't seeing anyone he tried to talk to her. 

When she came, she was in a damn jolly good mood. She was always the happiest on her birthday. She wore a dual top red and black in color, black jeans, and purple sport shoes. He realized she doesn't know her favorite color but it was purple. Purple phone cover which she had broken the edges of because of her fidgeting habit, purple shoes, and purple bag. 

"Happy birthday", he screamed.

"Thank you", she screamed.

That's it. They were awkward. I think most of the awkwardness that was created between them was because of Shane's habit based on his idea of what would impress her which was too late now for him to change. He never touched her without her permission so they never hugged each other, he wouldn't let her pay, he wouldn't let her open doors, and few other typical chivalry tips that are offered on google for naive men to search. He thought these things would make a massive difference to what Rachel felt for him.  Rachel wasn't an ordinary girl. These things were but obviously needed for the application of Rachel's partner post. But, he didn't know that Rachel looked for a triple C combination -  Comfort, complete, and content. If she didn't feel this then there was no point discussing further.

They sat on a bench talking about how her midnight brownie cutting ceremony was. She loved dessert and coffee. Her favorite dessert was brownie sizzlers with ice cream and chocolate sauce. 

Just before 5 minutes for her next train to arrive. Shane asked her to walk downstairs to the subway. He knew it wouldn't be very crowded because he wanted to have a moment with her and not make it a public affair where neither of them could react the way they would want to.

 She agreed to his surprise. They started walking. Shane had insanely long skinny legs and walked very fast. She was the only one who cribbed about walking with him but somehow did manage his pace. They hadn't had a walk in a long time. 

They stopped just far from the platform, just in case they had to rush when the train arrived. He took out the necklace from his pocket and showed her, she didn't see that coming. She smiled, she said it looked beautiful. She almost turned around but stopped. They heard the whistle blow. The train was early. Apart from that day, never in Shane's life, the train was ever early. It was always ten-fifteen minutes late. She took the necklace in her hand and she left.

He went back home and smoked midway just to realize he had to go back to the same station, cross that same subway in the next few hours. He really tried remembering her expression on receiving the necklace. He can't remember. 

He resumed his day like it was nothing. Went to college at noon and did whatever that was required to be done. He was excited for apparently a get-together where all her college mates and he was invited at four in the evening but reached by five.

He got late for the gathering because the train was late. Now, the train was late. He kept muttering to himself the famous dialogue of Captain Archibald Haddock, from Herge's Tintin "Billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles!"

She wore a red sheath dress. And he was so grateful that he didn't get that as a gift.  She looked amazing.  It was one of those days where she decided to dress, match her earrings with her dress and get her eyeliner to be on point.

He drank beer and she and her friends ate pizza. They walked around and clicked photos

Till that moment happened which was the catalyst of the events that followed.

One of her friends took out a box and kept it on the table. It was a handmade craft colorful box with ribbons. Everyone knew that this dude couldn't have made this so the question which Shane wondered was who made it while others thought what was inside it.

Rachel's eyes were lit with excitement. Her heartbeat was racing because she never liked surprises. All eyes were on the present and Shane's eyes were set on her. She opened it. It was a ring that Aviance had sent her with a hand-made note.

She blushed and she smiled harder. She got up from the table and didn't care to be a great host. She called him immediately. Her voice was somehow low for anyone to hear, but her body language spoke enough for them to hear. She almost tripped jumping.

Shane should have watched Titanic more than Tintin. After all, even Rose DeWitt Bukater Dawson Calvert threw the heart of the ocean away in the end. 

He didn't react then. He smiled and stayed for the entire party too. He wished her with politeness and no taunting statements. When they bid farewell, he decided to first do what should have been done the moments those paper confetti popped out. He had a smoke. 

He knew what he had to do, he tightened his belt and in the process broke his button. But he had to run all the way back to a friend's place. The only person who could have known what he felt and what he thought probably better than Shane. 

Apollo, the person who introduced Shane to friendship.