Broken Hearts and Strange Girls || Shivika AU FF

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Shivaay flopped down on the bed, the back of his head resting on his hands. "I'm telling you, Madhav. I felt nothing." 

Madhav scrunched his face up, pausing his video game to turn to Shivaay. "You're 100% sure? Not even a smidge of jealousy? A pang of pain?" 

"Nothing," Shivaay said, closing his eyes. "Damn. I guess you're finally over her, dude. Congrats, my man!" Madhav smiled. "Hey, what about that guest staying over? What was her name? Ankita, Anita—" 

"Annika?" Shivaay propped himself up on his elbows at the mention of his friend. Madhav took notice of the small smile that crawled up Shivaay's face, feeling an ingenious plan cook up in his brain. "Yeah! Didn't you say she was from Italy? She must be smoking hot, right?" 

Shivaay's face turned stoic. "Do not hit on Annika, Madhav," he said in a dangerous tone. "Why? Did you already call dibs?" Madhav chuckled, pouring a cup of coffee for himself. "No, what the hell, dude? Annika's...Annika. She's off-limits," Shivaay said, sitting up straight.

"But, give me one reason why." 

"I can give you three. She's going back to Italy in two months, she works as a photographer, and she believes in true love," Shivaay counted on his fingers. "She doesn't have time for your games."

"I can do long-distance!" Madhav defended his honor. Shivaay cocked an eyebrow. 

"Without cheating on her?" he inquired. Madhav thought for a second. He shook his head. "I can give her love." 

"Would it be pure? Unfiltered?" 

Madhav looked at Shivaay for a moment before chuckling softly. "Since when does Shivaay Singh Oberoi get protective over some girl?" 

"She's not some girl, and I'm not trying to be protective of her. I just don't want you, or any of your stupid friends, to try breaking her. Just, stay away from her." Shivaay grabbed a knife and apple from the nearby fruit basket. He waved the knife at Madhav. "Warn your idiots, too. If I see Daksh or Vikram try to get even six feet within her radius, I'll break their jaws—and yours, too, but that just goes without saying." 

Madhav lifted his hands up in surrender. "Okay, man. Whatever you say." Shivaay nodded, slicing his apple into two and chunking out a huge bite from one slice. "Another question?" 

"What now?" Shivaay asked, mouthful.  

"Since when did you start eating apples?" 

Shivaay stopped chewing, looked down at the red fruit in his hands, and then back at Madhav. Seeing the small smirk tugging at his friend's lips, Shivaay rolled his eyes and threw the nearest pillow at him, not bothering himself about Madhav's later remark—"Perfect marksman, Shivaay Singh Oberoi, misses his target–a handsome, single, young man named Madhav Pednekar– by half-a-foot. What is this WonderWoman from Italy doing to him?"—and proceeding to munch on his new favorite fruit, the widest grin refusing to leave his face.

"The next time I see that Alex, I swear I'll murder him," Luna Frazier complained to her best friend. Annika simply hummed in response, her eyes on the Rubix cube, and her mind lost in memories. Her mood had been off since the mention of her father. "Ann? You're okay, right?" 

Annika looked over at the laptop screen, snapping out of her little wonderland. "Yeah? Yeah! No, I'm just a little...distracted." 

Luna smirked. "I can tell. Is that gorgeous man bothering you?" she asked slyly. Ever since Annika had sent a picture of her with Aishwarya, the background of which displayed Shivaay calling someone, Luna had turned into a total simp. Since then, she had been shipping Annika and Shivaay, and she'd been doing so quite vocally, as well.

Annika rolled her eyes at Luna's question. "Don't get me started on that man." 

"Why? You're that sure you'll start blushing?" Luna teased. "Luna!" Annika's eyes widened, her smile speaking volumes. 

Luna laughed. "Tell me!" 

Annika leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "He's stupidly confusing. I mean, he'd be easier to deal with if he had one or two emotions, but no, the man is equipped with an entire spectrum!" 

"I think all humans are," Luna muttered, but Annika didn't hear her. 

"He's nice and normal one day, and the next day he's in this big slump, being all morose and gloomy. I mean, he's a walking, talking mood swing." 

"So, what you're saying is, he's sending mixed signals?" Luna asked. 

"Yes! Wait—" Annika met Luna's mischievous expression and groaned. "Lu, I'm being serious!" 

"So am I! Ann, you'll figure it out."

"I hope so."

"Oh, do it soon, too! Karaoke nights without you are a total bore." 

"I miss them too! Rick's throaty, tuneless voice! Val's whistle notes! Mari's slightly inappropriate dances! Just wait for another month. Once I'm back, we'll have karaoke nights every Saturday!" 

"I'll hold you accountable to that statement!" Luna laughed, and Annika giggled along, forgetting all her family drama. Friends really are the best.