Unexpected Love [Completed]

Chapter 31: Maybe someday

After that week of crying and pain, I spent three hours at mandir, just me, Avi, Shona. We were waiting on the adults to finish discussing whatever it was they were discussing. Avi and I couldn't be by ourselves because it'd be kind of inappropriate, plus I had no idea what to do or say.

Three hours.

I was supposed to dub him. I wasn't supposed to talk to him anymore to make up for how he has treated me. Shona had been the one to come up with this whole thing, because she was so shocked at the way he'd treated me. even she'd said there was a part of this whole thing that we were missing. And she was right.

We talked about everything and anything. When everyone was around, Avi had barely even glanced my way. But once everyone was gone he turned into someone I'd only seen once. When it was Shona, me and him and his brothers at mandir.

It was like he was a whole other person. He was so much more open and real. It was a side of him he reserved only for those closest to him. And I guess my family were among those.

He'd always been told no girlfriend, so he never really liked anyone before. He didn't know how to even get a girlfriend. And that's when I knew. He had looked at me when he'd said that. He'd chosen his words wisely.

I wasn't crazy. I hadn't imagined that he was feeling what I felt. We had made progress and that's what scared him. He wasn't used to this. And he knew he'd hurt me too.

And the following week he made sure to get up and sit next to me. But for some reason we'd become speechless and shy around each other. We had changed. When we got around to talking to talking it was simple, but to get there in the first place was difficult. Why had we become shy around each other? What had changed? I looked at him as he sat next to me, thinking what do I say? How do I start this conversation? I noticed him drumming his fingers on his lap, one of his nervous habits. I smiled when I turned my face away. I knew he felt this for sure now too.

I'd become so anxious about the future, so hurried to recreate the past, I'd forgotten to see what was right in front of me. He was always there. Always. But I hadn't seen him. I'd hidden those feelings away for so long. But you can try and hide it, but you won't stop feeling. And I never did. I avoided him freshman year because subconsciously I knew. I knew how I felt. I knew what he meant to me. But I couldn't accept it. not yet. No, I needed to grow. I needed to feel real pain. I needed to mature. I needed to feel real heartbreak and find myself first. I had to feel that emptiness. I had to lose myself so that he could remind me of who I really was. This person that I'm becoming...I've never been her before. And he helped me realize this is who I want to be.

he wasn't my type. God, I hated him so much. And I just never understood why. Why did I run? Why did I hide? Why did I still try to talk to him as soon as I had James?

James was so similar to him. Not the cutest at first glance, but handsome when you see their heart. Good genuine people who are there when you need them. Someone who respects you for who you are. But James had always been missing that one thing: He wasn't Avi. he wasn't the person who I connected with on a deeper level.

I can only imagine how far Avi would run if he read any of this. First he'd yell at me for doing this instead of homework. And then he'd say I don't like you that way Meera. I know that. And I'd look at him and smack him really hard and say don't even. You can't try that anymore.

Because I saw. I know. You let me see the real you, Avi. Someday, I promise you, you will tell me of your own free will. Because it's there. I just wish you'd stop avoiding me, stop ignoring me in school. I know in rare moments you're there, but....I need you beside me. Someday...maybe someday.