AMIDST

Chapter 9

NIALL'S POV:

I resume my practice on "Peace"- my drumset. She is standing outside listening to me. I know this because I heard no footsteps leaving. She likes drummers, she said. She talks so softly. She had the courtesy to say thank you even when it was me who landed her in this problem. She is so gentle, yet so confident and holds so much self respect. But if she did not send me a request who did? As I am recapturing all our talk, the door opens again. I hope its 'her' again but no, its Alice.

"I just saw Mayra go. What were you talking about for so long? She left the room like ages ago," she says confirming my thought that she was outside listening.

"Ohh! Nothing. Just that thank you thing."

"Niall, you are not telling me what you talked to a girl," she starts blackmailing. Sisters are like the biggest blackmailers.

"Hmm," I try to toss the question.

"Niall, me, you will not tell me, your sweet little sister. I mean I was there for you always. We tell each other everything and you choose a 1 hour old friend over your 18 year old sister."

My heart leaps at the word 'friend'. Are we friends? None of us have confirmed it.

"She is not my friend," I try to toss her again.

"Then tell me?"

"By the way you know she did not send me a Facebook request but it reached me somehow."

"Ummm.... " She starts looking here and there.

"Alice, it was you right?" I am not that easy to be fooled.

"Do you mind if it was?"

Of course I don't. It was a stepping stone in my friendship with her. I have liked her since the first day when she fell down because she is the only girl whose face I could see without the memory of Lily. I somehow know, she is a distraction from Lily.

"Do you?" she repeats.

"Why did you send me a request from her account and how?"

"Because you talk about her a lot and I thought she can distract you from Lily. And her account is always logged in, in her laptop so I did it."

"Hmm."

"Dude, why were you so worried about her being fine last night? So many calls and texts in this regard. Are you really my Niall?" she giggles.

"Obviously, Alice. It was just because it was me who caused that trouble." I reply as innocently as I could.

"Really?" she raises her eyebrow at me.

"Yeah!" I confirm.

"Okay! But it is really shocking that you saved a girl from a guy."

"I would not have if she would have been in her senses. I don't know Alice why I saved her. I just know that I did."

Alice smiles at me knowingly.

"Niall, I have to go. Take care. Bye." she hugs me and leaves.

MAYRA'S POV:

Alice is not in the room. I check my phone. 3 texts and 10 missed calls. They are all Zain.

* What happened last night?*

*I heard Niall saved you. Abhay returned with a black eye and a broken arm.*

*Please reply Mayra. I am worried.*

I call him. He answers on the second ring.

"Thank you for calling. You fine?"

"Yeah! Niall saved me last night."