Unexpected Love [Completed]

Chapter 26: Mutual

I was nervous for the first time I'd see Avi again since we'd texted. Face to face. Usually it's awkward. We might not even say anything to each other. That's how it was with James.

And I thought I was right. I saw him two times. The first time he looked like he wanted to say something to me. But his friend was talking to him so he stopped himself from acknowledging me. The second time we just passed each other. He glanced but didn't say anything. Why?

That day I was by my aunt so I had the liberty to do as I pleased. My friends and Shona forced me to text him. All I said was hi yet I freaked out. I couldn't breathe.

Oh my god, what if he thinks I'm being clingy? or weird? What if he doesn't want to talk to me? Oh my god why did I text him? Oh my god he responded!

A- what's up?

M- too much hw n failing English

A- u should be studying not texting

M- firstly shut up. secondly shut up

He was so nice. I've always made up scenarios about talking to a guy etc but they've never actually happened. I make up what I think would be the personalities of my crushes. But to actually find out what they're really like. To be able to talk to them.. this is surreal.

A- saw u w Nandini? everything good?

M- yea she hasn't annoyed me that much recently. still u see us save me

A- u don't say hi so...

M- yes I do. u don't say hi to me

A- not my point. u say hi

M- I do

A- I need to finish my work. gtg

M- okayyyy byeee

He acts like my boyfriend. He remembered my complaints about Nandini. I'd told him how she would say things that pissed me off sometimes. Especially her negative views on life and love. She complained how Omar didn't talk to her and didn't want her. She put herself in that situation. she waited too late to talk to him. She should've told him she liked him from the start or at least gone for it. She should've explained what she felt to him when he liked her. But even Avi told me to just let it be.

The next day I saw Avi but we didn't get to talk because he was with his friends. He did look at me a few times. On the way back from gym however, Omar was with him. Nandini and I were walking into the building with them close behind us and Nandini's sleeve got caught in the door. I thought her water that was in that same hand was going to spill on me. We both screamed. But I got her unstuck without spilling.

The security guard, a very funny lady, told us to behave. I told her, " I always behave."

"No she doesn't," Avi said.

I turned and hit his shoulder which though I didn't show it, hurt my hand. I said, "Shut up."

Nandini turned and said, "See even he says you don't behave."

I rolled my eyes and we all went our separate ways. I texted him and said

M- I do talk to you.

A- nah I talked first

M- bro I did u were talking to the security guard

A- you weren't even looking

M- yes I was

The next time I saw him that day I made sure to say hi to him. I told him, "See I do say hi to you." He nodded and went to class. He was so surprised that moment I almost wanted to laugh.

That night I texted him. I wanted him to help me with an essay. He said he believed in me that I could do it on my own. I told him I didn't like him. Then my mom took my phone!

I hoped and prayed that he wouldn't say anything inappropriate. She sat and scrolled. I think she was reading my messages. My heart pounded. All she told me was, "Don't text Avi too much. You guys can be friends but I don't need to hear any gossip about you."

"Ok. I need my phone for homework."

"No."

"But I can't finish without it." I wasn't lying. The Spanish homework pages were on my phone. I didn't write it down.

"fine. No texting though."

Avi had responded that he doesn't text people who don't like him. He said bye. I asked him if he wasn't going to talk to me and he didn't respond. He was probably doing homework. Dammit. I shouldn't have said what I did. Now I couldn't back down but I still wanted to talk to him. Now what would I do?

I was going to wait until my parents went to sleep and then text him. Today had been so good. We had been doing good. Let it continue to be so please!

He texted me back finally!

A- im not gonna talk to u I don't talk to people I don't like

M- I dont either

A- good we're on the same page then. I only needed your number for the thank you. I'll just delete it now

M- ur so mean

A- who is this?

M- ur best friend

A- niha?!

I bit my lip to swallow my smile so my mom wouldn't see. He knew I hated Niha. For some reason, this wasn't pissing me off. This didn't make me feel bad. Because I knew deep down, he loved this as much as I did. He wanted to play this game so I'd play along. Normally, my insecurities would affect everything. I'd wonder if he liked me etc. But for some reason it didn't matter. I wanted to talk to him one way or another. And this game seemed fun.

I was so confident in our mutual feelings. I just hoped I wasn't wrong. What Omar had said two weeks ago came into mind. "He doesn't like you."

And deep down, I knew it had to be a lie.

I needed a way to stop myself from laughing as we texted so I pulled up my diary entries about James and his leaving. And when I read how I thought I was in love with him, I thought to myself, I don't even remember feeling for him. The memories are there, but the feelings aren't. And I wrote some things in my most emotional moments. But none seem to compare to what I feel now. It can't compare to the whirlwind I feel with Avi.

He's just stuck in my soul, in my heart and mind. He makes me stop and take deep breaths to catch up with life because we seem to be in a world of our own. There's this unnameable connection between us that I've never felt before. I don't care what people say. I don't care what even his best friend seems to say. I care about what we do. Just me and him. These interactions are so different from anything I've ever experienced.

I buried my face in my hands. Why am I so ashamed to be thinking these things? Why am I blushing so much? Meera, deep breath girly.

I keep doing this. Why does he stick in my heart? Why can't I get him out of my head?

And for some reason the word soulmate seems to keep resonating in my heart. It resonates through every part of my being, and maybe just maybe I've found the one.