ONE LAST TIME

For better or for worse

A/N
Just play the song .
You will know when to
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"Will you freaking stay still?"
I smack Arya's hand for the fifth time in five minutes.
I hate straightening people's hair.
I have naturally wavy and kind of straight hair.
Hers is another whole level.
"Juve,when the fuck do you plan on getting ready? The party is tonight only!"
I give a sidelong glance at Riya and mutter," I will if this idiot's hair gets done"
Arya scowls as I do the last strand.
"Can't help we dont come with a beauty package like you do"
I laugh as I set the straightner down.
Time to go from 15 to 21.
*********************************
Okay..Juve calm down.
Don't freak out. Nothing is going to happen.
Wel ladies and gentlemen I am in the bathroom right now having a major heart to heart with myself because I am freaking out.
The last party I went to drove me into a shell for two months.
I built a wall around myself so high that it took me everything to break it down.
Ryan.
I fell for him faster than anything.
He was simply all I ever dreamed of.
Tall,handsome,charming,mysterious guy who makes you laugh. Whom people love in an instant.
And he played me like his trump card.
I was his rebound.
Should have seen it coming but no.
I kept forgiving him again and again.
Tore myself and broke myself but I kept picking up the pieces and giving it to him.
Till that night.
Finally I learned to let him go.
But not without losing a piece of myself.
A huge gaping hole.
And now here I am. Another party. For better or for worse.
"Juve,the guys are here. You gotta hurry up"
I can her Riya and Arya coming in.
I wipe my tears and muster up a voice.
"Yeah! You guys go. I will be out right now"
A tap comes on the door and I can hear Arya whisper.
"Hey,you alright?!"
I sniffle a bit and reply,"Yeah,don't worry. I'll be out soon!"
I can sense their confusion.
Everyone knows why I am inside.
"Go guys!" I whiper a bit more forcefully.
Their footsteps resound as they walk away. I can do this. I mean Ethan won't hurt me.
The past week with him has been a happy blur.
Simple and constant. The way he easily makes me laugh, it is almost like we have known each other since childhood.
The easy conversations,long comfortable silence. I know I am heading down the wrong road but I was falling in love with him.
Not crushing.
Not loving the online version of him.
But falling for the real one. The one with me.
I pull back the latch and step out taking a deep breath.
The dorm is silent and empty.
I can hear gasps and laughter downstairs.
I smile to myself.
My dorm is the talk of school right now.
We all have the foreign students as our dates.
Talk about social skills.
I gingerly step out of the dorm.
They are all outside and can't see me.
The stairlight is dim and I can feel myself fidgeting.
What if I look like a deer caught in a headlight next to Ethan.
Ugh. He and his looks.
I reach the ground floor and they still haven't seen me.
The whole house is outside chatting in groups.
More like stalking at the boys and my dormies.
Sigh.
This is going to be a long night.
I hold the door and step out.
Just then Arya turns and her eyes widen.
"Oh my god Juve" she gushes as she comes and hugs me.
I smile a little bit immediately sensing everyone's eyes on me.
And by everyone ,I mean every fucking person within 20 metres radius of me.
Arya didn't even gush quietly. She squealed.
I mumble,"Geez!"
She laughes as she takes me in.
I look up to see Ethan staring at me open mouthed.
HE..Well,he looked freaking good.
He was wearing a black tuxedo and a black bow tie and cummerbund (or low-cut vest). Let's leave the face to God.
I could see Nate nudging him as he snaps out of whatever trance he was in.
I had done up my hair in a messy bun with few loose strands falling around my face.
I was wearing a strapless appliqued deep blue A-line long chiffon evening dress with black heels and I had applied minimal makeup.
Ethan grins at me as he takes my hand and leads me away from the door.
Immediately I can feel myself blushing.
Control Juve.
"I am trying to come up with something to compliment you," Ethan whispers softly and then runs his hand through his perfectly gelled hair.
"But then my mind is blank save for your face."
I look up trying not to blush as he turns and snakes his arm around my waist making me flinch at the sudden contact.
He pulls back a little worried.
'I am sor..sorry"
I shake my head.
"No..it is just that I am nervous."
He leans it closer making me catch my breath.
"Don't be. You are beautiful"
I blush and look up only to find myself staring into his chocolate brown eyes.
I smile and as he chuckles quietly while brushing his lips across my cheek,
It finally becomes clear to me.
I am in love for the second time.
************************************
"So why do you keep pursing your lips?"
Ethan asks looking at me.
He is holding my hand as we walk near the fountain.
Our school must have slogged their ass off for this dance.
It was a beautiful set up.
The fountain lights are on today.
I smile slightly as I answer," Well,my last party wasn't exactly nice."
He glances at me and I know he is thinking whether to probe me further or not.
His eyes are conflicted.
Then curiosity gets the better of him.
"Why?"
I glance around as reach the fountain.
Should I tell him?
Am I ready to go through the pain again? Strangely I want him to know.
More like I want to cut myself open and show all the hidden pain to Ethan.
Maybe he can heal me.
"I broke up."
Simple three words.
He stops and turns his eyes searing into mine.
"I didn't know..Juve I didn't me-'
I silence him pressing my finger to his lips surprising both of us.
Flushing I take my finger off as he catches it and entwines his fingers around mine.
I shut my eyes and whisper,"
He told me I was his rebound in front of the whole school.. right here. "
"I never loved you Juve' He sneered as he snakes his arm around Jenny.
I stare at him, my eyes tearing up.
The whole school was silent.
Then he leaned in and kissed her breaking whatever was left of me.
He dated me to make her jealous. I was nothing to him. Never was never will be.
I can sense Ethan staring at me.
"He used me. And all this time for freaking 9 months, I gave all I had to him."
I am crying now. These traitor tears.
Everyone is staring at me, if not openly at least from the corner of their eyes.
"Hey", Ethan whisperered as he brushed away my tears and just like that no question asked, nothing.
Our lips touched.
He pulled me closer with one arm and lifted my chin up.
Starry nights, fairy lights, shooting stars. No I didn't see any of it.
Just felt his soft lips crash into me laced with something I can't place my fingers on.
Guilt? For what? But then it is there. However stronger was all the comforting words that I wanted to hear from his. They were all there.
His fingers were brushing my strands away as he pulled me in closer.
Breaking down whatever little of the wall I had built was left. He tasted of mint and and I could feel the warmth spreading around me.
I didn't wish for it to end but eventually we have to breath.
I pull away as he rests his forehead on mine and open his eyes hypnotizing me.
There is a soft smile playing on his lips.
"You are torturing me Juve"
I smile lightly,oh ever so lightly.
"I have known you for 7 days and I seem to be falling hard"
My heart halts.
He is whispering,his eyes dark and warm at the same time.
I can't speak.
There is nothing coming out of my mouth.
Suddey he frowns and looks at me sadly.
'I shouldn't have done it.. right?"
He steps back making me cry silently for the coldness that hit me.
"I am sorry. I should have known better."
He is running his hands through his hair now and I could feel the apology radiating from him.
Suddenly I grab his hand and pull him closer.
His eyes are wide.
I can fell everyone holding their breath.
"Ethan! I don't regret it and thank you," I blush ever so lightly,"for giving me the best first kiss."
His face breaks into a smile bright enough to light up the whole city as he leans in and kisses me again amidst cheering and whoopings and citylights.
This time he tasted of home and all the things I needed.
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