Avi

never break a girl's heart, treat it like it's glass, fragile and beautiful.

That's what my mother taught me when I was a kid. Until she died and left me, and with her left my first girlfriend, breaking up with me like my heart was one made of glass and hers of stone.

Quite brutal if you ask me. Now you can't blame me for the things I resorted to while having a broken heart. Everyone has a coping mechanism no?

Some drink, some smoke, and some blast sad songs in their bedrooms. Me? Well.

I resorted to a dating spree. Changing girls every month, officially getting titled as the playboy of my school. My reputation was shit, to say the least.

The Avi who was a shy innocent guy during his freshman year of high school had become a full-fledged heartbreaker by his senior year.

At that point, even I had no hope for myself. People were tired, girls were exhausted, and my father was done with the amount of times he was being called into the school office.

But you know, everyone was that one Bollywood in their life.

Woh hi wali? Ladki dekhte hi pair ke niche se dharati fisaal gyi wali moment.

Mere sath bhi hui. Senior year ke last semester me.

Now trust me when I say that I had no intentions of changing anything about myself whatsoever. Which obviously is not a good thing. Not until I saw this tiny girl peek her tiny head into my classroom, asking for a board eraser.

A board eraser. Sounds so dumb for the start of a love story but, That's how it was.

It took me a few days to ask around and actually know who this gorgeous angel was. And imagine my surprise when I got to know it was a friend of my favourite senior's little sister.

Kyra Rajvanshi was the senior to know during your high school years. She wasn't only one to help u trick every teacher and butter them, but also one who stayed in contact even after her school days. It didn't take me long to call in a favour with Kyra and ask her about Rooh.

Rooh Ranawat, my junior, short-haired, short heighten Dora looking angel. Best friends with Kaynaaz Rajvanshi, who's none other than my favourite senior's younger sister.

My friends tried everything, on my behalf, to bring me and Rooh closer. From changed her class schedule by threatening the teachers to stealing her bus card so she wouldn't have a ride back home.

But of course, fate is never one that is on my side. She would find one or the other way out of these situations, avoiding my presence like a plague. Sometimes it seemed intentional, as if she'd die if she accidentally made eye contact with me. But then again, it's not like she actually took notice of my presence.

The only time mine and her beautiful dark brown chocolate eyes ever made contact was during my performance at the end-of-the-year annual event. I still remember the bright smile on her face while she danced to the music I and my band was playing.

School ended faster that year. And I left without any success in achieving my dream girl, I had to leave her behind in my dreams themselves.

My heart ached. It actually did. A lot.

More than it had before. And at that point, only Rooh in my arms could've fixed that ache. And well, if not in my arms, fate at least put her in my university.

The fate was none other than Kyra Rajvanshi herself.

I can never forget the amount of Oreo packets I had to present to Her Highness for her to convince Rooh to consider this university. But all that effort was worth it, now that I get to see my girl's angel-like face ever morning as she steps down from Kaynaaz's car.

Although I'd very much appreciate it if it were my car rather than hers.

Baby steps Avi, baby steps.

Avi took small, hesitant steps forward, as if afraid to startle the figure in front of him. His heart raced with nerves and anticipation.

After that intense night at the party, I was worried I had scared her away for good. But when she found out I was the one who had kidnapped her in the haunted hallway, her body language spoke volumes. The way her posture relaxed and her eyes softened, Rooh Ranawat was everything but scared.

"Isn't that Rooh?" a voice squeaks from beside me and my head jerks up towards the football ground. My eyes frantically search for the said girl, scanning the field for her familiar figure.

A few laughs go beside me and I roll my eyes before jabbing Nyesha's stomach with my elbow. She lets out a small grunt of pain before dramatically falling back into the arms of her girlfriend, Flavia. I can't help but shake my head at their playful antics.

Nyesha shoots me a hurt look as she rubs her now sore stomach, her girlfriend gently soothing her with a hand on her back.

"What the hell was that for?" She barks out at me, a mix of annoyance and amusement in her tone. Flavia stifles a giggle as she watches our banter unfold.

I shoot her an annoyed look before pointing towards the field. "Kidhar hai Rooh? Maza aata hai kya aesi harkate karne me?"

This time Flavia lets out a soft giggle, eyeing the small smirk lifting on her girlfriend's lips. Nyesha sat back up in her previous position, before Flavia wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back into her body. They both let out a soft giggle before Nyesha's eyes returned to me.

"Haan, meko bohot maza aata hai, you do realise that you've been drooling in Rooh's thoughts for the past... like 30 minutes?" Her lips curve into a disgusted frown and she shakes her head in disappointment.

Had it really been that long?

My eyes shift from Nyesha and Flavia's gazes, taking in the view of the ground. The sun was still high in the sky but it looked as if it was going to rain. A few bleachers down from us lay Ayush, his eyes closed as his right arm covered his face, protecting him from the sun's rays.

My eyes travel beyond his sleeping figure, towards the open grass football field, a couple of guys toss a ball to each other for fun.

"Hello? Earth to Avi?" This time it's Nyesha who jabs me in the stomach with her foot, calling again for my attention. I shoot an annoyed look before grabbing her foot and pulling off her pink heels.

She lets out a loud whine, ready to pounce on me, but before she can move, I throw her sparkling heel up in the sky. A loud sound blurs around us as the heel lands on the bleacher Ayush sleept on, causing him to jump out of his sleep.

Flavia bursts into a fit full of laughter, her girlfriend immediately jumping out of her hold to look over at Ayush. He sends a glare towards her figure before picking her heel and throwing it further down, towards the ground.

A chuckle bubbles in my chest as I look at the horrid expression on Nyesha's face and she flips me the bird before letting out yet another whine, falling into her girl's body.

Nyesha and Ayush, are the two friends I've had since middle school. They're both twins and eerily resemble each other, which if you ask me, is kind of weird. They're literally each other but in the opposite gender. Only one thing sets them apart, their level of craziness.

Nyesha is a crazed freak. She's quite literally crazy. The only thing — well person — that can calm her down is Flavia. Whereas Ayush is the complete opposite. An extremely quiet nerd, whose mysterious exterior pulls girls to his feet in seconds.

In high school, teachers used to make me and Nyesha sit benches apart because they thought we had something going on. But only if they knew, that Nyesha is the biggest lesbian they'd ever met in their life, and that the girl they used to force her to sit next to is now her girlfriend.

"Are we going to go get lunch or waste away like discarded potatoes here all day?" Ayush's voice breaks through the lazy stillness, his body still sprawled out in a relaxed pose.

I hear some rustling beside me and lift my head to see the girls standing up from their reclined positions. Flavia gracefully descends the bleachers and steps onto the ground, retrieving her girlfriend's lost heel and bringing it back to her. As a reward, she receives a loving kiss, causing Ayush to groan and rouse from his drowsy state.

With a shake of his head, the twin brother leads the way down the long rows of bleachers, his strides confident and determined. I follow in his way, glancing over my shoulder every so often to ensure that the other two are keeping up.

As we enter the bustling cafeteria, a chorus of groans escapes our lips. The room packed with students, their voices rising above the clatter of dishes and silverware as they joke and laugh with one another. My eyes scan the crowded space, searching for an empty table among the chaos. Finally, I spot our group's usual spot at the far corner of the room, surrounded by a lively bunch of friends already settled in.

We stride over quietly as each one pulls out a chair, leaving one last empty chair to be left out.

I feel claws wrap around my bicep, and let out a frustrated groan as I look at the light-skinned hand with long nails digging into my skin.

"Let go, Rishika, your nails are like fucking claws." I pull off her hands from me, making her yelp.

An annoyingly fake pout appears on her face and she leans closer to me before booping my nose with her clawed finger.

"But baby boo, I missed you so much," she whimpers like a little puppy making soft laughter go around me.

Rishika shoots a glare at Nyesha before sitting up straight and crossing her arms around her barely covered chest.

"Is there a problem Lesbo?" she questions, her eyes quirked up like that of a witch's.

Another laugh shakes out of my friend's lips before she nods, pointing a butter knife in Rishika's direction, "Why yes, puppy. there is a problem, the problem being you and your dirty claws,"

I don't fail to see the proud smirk that coats Flavia's lips as she turns her girlfriend's head her way and preps her entire face with kisses.

Rishika lets out a disgusted groan before picking up her tray and moving away from the table. We don't miss the "bitch" that falls out of her lips, but none of us pay any more heed, letting her walk off, yet again unaccomplished at her task.

Rishika is the clingiest bitch to exist out there, like I cannot say it better than that. She's like a leech which sticks to you until she gets what she wants out of you.

what does she want out of me?

a date to the upcoming dance.

This isn't going to happen because I'll be going with my Rooh.

"Hi!" a soft voice resounds around the table and I look up to find Anaya standing along with another short girl right behind her. Anaya looks around the table as she points to the empty chair beside Ayush, dragging to girl along with her.

The short girl hesitates for a moment before looking up, her chocolate eyes staring right into mine. My heart bubbles as I recognise the dark shades of brown in Rooh's eyes, my head suddenly clear of all thoughts and questions.

Her orbs linger over mine for mere seconds before her gaze drops back to the floor, ignoring my presence.

I hear someone clear their throat, before Anaya speaks up, "Would you mind if we sit here with you guys? There's no other empty seat in the cafeteria and we're starving,"

Rooh shuffles behind her friend quietly, waiting for one of us to say something. I pass a look to Ayush, who then nods his head before passing a soft smile to Anaya. He takes her hand in his before placing a gentle peck on the back of Anaya's palm.

"Of course, the pleasure would be ours," his voice comes out deeper than usual, and I pass a look to his sister, who just shakes her head in amusement.

The faint blush on Anaya's cheeks doesn't go unnoticed by us, as she pulls out her chair, and sits down, completely forgetting about the shy girl waiting for someone to invite her.

The atmosphere around the table turns a bit awkward as Rooh stands there, unsure of what to do. She hesitates for a moment her feet repeatedly tapping against the marbled floor.

Flavia turns her head, passing Rooh a gentle smile, which she returns, before speaking up, "Why don't you come join us? The seat next to Avinash is empty."

Rooh's hesitant gaze flickers over to me, unsure of how to approach. She moves slowly around us, her steps cautious and deliberate as she finally reaches my side. I pass her a warm smile, hoping to ease any tension that may be lingering.

Her gaze settles on me and I can see the hint of a smile form on her lips before she quickly looks away, pulling out the chair in front of her with trembling hands.

A soft chuckle escapes my lips at her shy demeanour, and I take a moment to look around the table before my attention is drawn back to Rooh.

Before she can settle down in her place, Rishika shoves Rooh aside and snatches the chair from her hands, plopping down on it with a loud thud. My eyes flare up in anger at the audacity of the woman, seeing the embarrassment and discomfort written all over Rooh's face as she stands there, her gaze fixated on the ground.

"You should know your place, Rooh," Rishika's shrill voice sneers. "And your place is nowhere near this table,"

My hands slam down on the table with a loud thud, causing the entire table to fall silent. My friend Rishika looks at me with a mixture of fear and concern, bracing herself for whatever angry outburst is about to spill from my mouth. But before I can even speak, a small voice breaks through the tension.

"It's okay, I'll eat later. You guys enjoy your meal," Rooh says softly, looking up at me with a gentle smile.

My heart warms at the softness of her words and smile, but I don't miss the slight tremble of her hands and quiver of her lips. Rooh takes a step towards me, her body tense and poised to pass by me and leave the noisy cafeteria.

But, before she can even take another step, I pull her back, causing her to stumble onto my lap. Her delicate frame rests against me, her warm breath brushing against my ear as she tries to regain her balance. The smell of strawberries fills the air around me, causing me to lean in closer to her.

A collective gasp echoes around the table, causing a hush to fall over the room. I feel Rooh's body stiffen in my arms as I pull her tightly against my chest. My arm wraps protectively around her thighs, pressed closely against my own.

Leaning in towards her ear, my voice low and intimate, I utter words meant only for her ears, "You'll eat now, so I can savour you later."