.Rise And Fall.

.Rise and Fall. (70)

|Chapter: 70|

"Sal? What are doing here?", was the first thing that came out of my mouth when I saw him standing outside my door with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"Hello to you too, Ser", he said instead shrugging and I regretted asking. I was only surprised. I opened the door wide enough as I made room for him to come inside.

"Sorry. Please come in." I shook my head. I couldn't believe that he actually came to my house after so many days, I thought he will never do that again. The things between us were not same anymore and I hate it. The way he used to casually walk around my house is changed to now him being careful with his every step he took and it pained me. The guy I've known for the last seven years, spent endless summers with, shared my every single problem, made me laugh even in my bad days has become like nothing but a mere stranger to me. Why did things have to change so much between us?

"I missed the smell of your house", he said smiling to lighten the thick atmosphere that filled the room. I smiled in return.

"Popcorn?", I asked.

He understood our secret code to spent the time binge watching Netflix with popcorn and nodded instantly. That made me really happy because he did remember. I made my way to the kitchen while he put on a series and got everything ready just like the old times.

"Jessica Jones sounds good?", he asked from the living room.

"Cool", I replied. Maybe I can get my bestfriend back, I thought and deep down I wished for all the conflicts between Nick and him to end. Nothing I wanted more than that.

Life don't usually go the way we want instead hit us with hard blows of unexpected things. Not once in my life thought I'd be standing where I am right now and there is no going back from the choices I made. I've fallen hard, so hard for Nick in the way I never imagined even in my wildest dreams.

"I heard the boys are planning something special for your birthday", he said leaning on the doorframe of the kitchen. I was stunned. My birthday? Tomorrow is 12th freaking March? Time surely flies soon and I'll turn eighteen for cake's sake. When I turn to look at Sal waiting for an response, he stood up straight staring at me with a surprised face.

"Don't tell me you forgot your own birthday, Ser?", he asked incredulously like he couldn't believe. In return I smiled at him sheepishly.

"It's not like the world is turning upside down and who wants to remember the day you get old", I said shrugging. Birthdays have never been a big deal to me but to the twins every year. We always go for outing and last year was one of the best one, the trip to amusement park, then at end of the day like every single time we ate dinner at the Pomps and I open the gifts they both give. Simply perfect.

"No one." With that he turn to leave the kitchen so did I as I follow him inside the living room with the bowl of popcorn in my hand.

The only sound that filled the room was of the television and our soft crunches of the popcorn. It wasn't awkward but at the same time it wasn't comfortable too. It was like we had so many things to say but words weren't enough to explain, I could just tell from the way he shifted after every ten seconds.

Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore he started slowly, "Everything has changed... it's funny how we thought we had life span to spent together and suddenly you realise that not all the things we thought will actually turn out to be true one day. It hardly does Ser..."

It hurt me and what hurt me the most was the way he said it. It was all my fault. I did this to us. "I know an apology is not enough to mend the difference we grew into but I really miss you Sal. I miss us", I said studying my hands to avoid his gaze. He laughed a humourless laugh making me look up at him.