Far away from reality.

Maira

I bite on the straw and scroll on my phone to check Kunal's timeline on his social media handle, filled with condolences. It still has the same image that was clicked a month ago at one of Aagnay's house parties. He seems so happy in the picture, carefree and sexy with me, tucked in his arm beside him. We had so much fun that night—all of us. Ranveer had made some joke on some random guy and all of us cracked. I sigh to the memory and wait for the girls to join me in the bar.

I'd be lying if I don't admit how hard it's been without Kunal. He was always around, sneaking up on me or running into me. It was easy and really good and now...it's just me and I have never felt lonelier than this.

Paradise by Coldplay begins to loom in the air and I check the tagged posts on Kunal's wall. It's a picture of Aagnay and Kunal behind the campus in the alley. Someone must have clicked it in a hurry because the picture is sort of blurred around the edges. I stare at the image where Aagnay seems furious while holding Kunal by the collar of his polo. It's posted by one of the peers I don't know the name of but Kunal seems angry and horrified at the same time. I check the comments only to find people laughing and shading Kunal, all in the glory of Aagnay Bhasin.

You must have done something to piss him off fucker. Stay away from him. One comment reads.

Thank God someone finally is teaching this guy some lesson. He is weird af. Read another comment.

# TeamAagnay always. It's better if he just leaves everyone alone. And the list goes on.

So many hate comments on him and why isn't anyone talking about this? So Ranveer wasn't lying when he said Aagnay had something going on with Kunal. I scroll through other posts and find another picture of them together. Kunal's arm around Aagnay's shoulder as though they are the inseparable buddies everyone worships. Why doesn't any of it add up? If Kunal and Aagnay were indeed tight then why was Aagnay mad at him?

Shit! If these girls don't sort out their fucking issues then I'll never find a lead on Kunal's murder...am I really believing it to be a murder now? Was he really...no wait, of course, he was.

"Oh sweetie you look lonely and sad." Ella's voice makes me jump to my feet and I shut my phone off. "What are you looking at?" she asks nonchalantly and I stare at her flawless face.

"Nothing, just browsing online, it's nothing important." I flick my wrist lightly and she nods. "What's up?"

"Oh you know, it's the same every day," she says as though she is exhausted already. "Wake up, rule over the world, sleep, repeat!"

"Oh, nice," I scoff, and we both laugh. "Anyway, I asked both of them to join us too."

"No!" She removes her jacket to reveal her dove blue crop top. "Seriously now?" she asks and I nod. "But why M? You know Vaanya will pull some stunt and I'm not at all in the mood to deal with her druggie crap."

"Okay you need to stop," I snap and she looks at me challengingly. I've had enough of her nonsense. Her 'druggie crap' is growing a tad old and it's really fucking with my nerves. "Ranveer is the son of the Deputy Inspector. Do you want me to explain to you how that works in your elitist system because you seem to have forgotten that his father is too tight with your father and his business."

She purses her lips and glares at me but I don't stop. "Everyone is powerful in their own way Ella. You have no right to look down on him just because he does substance. Half of this nation is into that. Not everybody wants to be like your so-called perfect boyfriend."

She smirks. "What is it M? You seem to have noticed him in a different light. Did Vaanya finally manage to wipe him off? She always does that, doesn't she?"

She doesn't get it and it's genuinely driving me nuts. I pull my phone out and thrust it on her face. "No you need to explain this," I demand harshly as she stares at the picture on my phone. "I thought I'd wait for the girls to show up but this is okay too."

"So what this picture has been taken last week. Can't you read how many people hated your dead boyfriend Maira? It isn't my fault that—"

"Just shut up!" I bite out and she purses her lips again. "Just fucking defend your jackass boyfriend okay? Explain to me why he's doing this. Why was he so aggressive?"

She releases her pent-up breaths. "I don't know okay? If I did, I'd have told you."

I know she is lying, I can just smell it. She always looks away when she lies. "Fine. You don't want to tell me then don't. But I will find it out, Ella. I'll dig so deep that your shitty boyfriend will have no other option but to come clean."

Vaanya clears her throat. "Um, guys?" She looks back and forth between us and Sambhavna takes her seat beside me. "Is everything okay?"

Ella glares at me chillingly. "No, Maira has suddenly grown a heart." She leans closer to the table as she looks me into my eyes. She thinks I'm actually scared of her. What a drama queen! I roll my eyes. "The Maira Anthony who wrote a book on harmless fun."

"You mean picking on people and bullying them until they leave or die, whichever comes first," Sambhavna says and I scoff.

"I'm a little offended M." Ella clicks her tongue and takes her seat. "When did that happen?"

"Cut the crap," I bite out bitterly and Vaanya gapes at me. "You have a thing to accomplish."

"I have zero points to prove," Ella snaps back. "Aagnay's business isn't mine. So grow a pair of balls yourself and ask him instead, will you?"

Perfect. Just fucking perfect! This was an epic failure. Guess, I'll have to do it myself after all.

"Look V, I'm sorry for the other day," Sam says and I sip my drink lightly. "I guess it got too much for me and I lost it. If you trust Ranveer then we don't have a reason not to."

Vaanya's eyes glimmer with so much triumph and love. "It's okay, I forgive you and thanks for apologizing," she says sweetly. "I wish everyone was half as sensible as you are." She rolls her eyes at Ella and that makes me chuckle.

"Okay you guys just sort it already," I say and Ella is still mad at us. That just makes me want to laugh more. "Or you'll have to deal with my wrath," I fake some aggression, and Vaanya chuckles.

"Doing what exactly? Shoving cupcakes down my throat like you did last time?" Ella shoots and I toss my bob hair back nonchalantly.

"No, I'll go to your room and dump your Versace into the pool." She looks so offended like I just told her to nuke her property.

"And I'll follow," Vaanya says and winks at me. Ella rolls her eyes and Sam chuckles.

Ella sighs and looks at Vaanya. "Okay, fine, I'm sorry for acting like a bitch V."

Vaanya blinks at her innocently. "You are a bitch Ella. Don't apologize for that!" We all burst into laughter and Ella tosses a cherry tomato on her.

"Hey, that's my food!" I grumble and we continue to laugh and talk.

"GUYS I THINK I have it real bad for Mayank," Sam says as I finish placing my order for a refill for something stronger.

"Tell me something I already don't know," Ella snorts and I let out a chuckle.

"No, we had a little chat at this café near the campus, and he told me all these nice things I didn't even know I needed to hear," she says and that piques all our interests.

"Go on," I urge her as I lean a close ear to her and feel her cheeks flush.

She scoots closer to us in the seat and leans to the table. "Did you guys know that he has this confidentiality clause? Like whatever we say doesn't leave him. It came out as a total surprise to me."

"Oh that's cool," Vaanya says and I agree.

"I'm not sure about you guys but I don't need him," Ella announces snidely and I roll my eyes.

Sam looks at us and then sighs. "I don't know, I just feel like it's safe to talk to him about everything you know? I can tell him how I feel about this gossip column and my family, maybe he can help us. I want to give him a chance."

"Wow you're totally head over heels in love with this dude that you're actually making excuses now," Ella remarks but I don't agree. I don't think it's a bad idea to talk to him about our feelings if there's a confidentiality clause involved. It's safe and who knows? He might actually help.

"When you put it like that, it doesn't sound all bad," Vaanya says and Ella scrunches her nose in disgust. "Maybe he will know who is behind this column since he must be talking to all of the students and maybe he can actually help us." Vaanya looks at me and I nod silently.

"I'm sure as hell going all in," Sam says and I grin at her. "Who knows we might actually hit it off?"

"You go girl," I encourage her and raise my glass for a toast.

"Yeah Sam. Good for you!" Vaanya does the same.

"Fine, just don't do anything stupid and we'll survive," Ella says and we clink our glasses together.

*

Ella

I can't bear to be in this house for another minute!

I slip into a pair of palazzo pants and a knotted t-shirt after I bind my hair into a bun, and stroll through the front lawn that stretches far towards the iron gates. I need some fresh air and stay out all night. Maybe I should call the girls and plan on something.

I check up on them only to find them busy tonight. Bullshit! Maybe I should just head upstairs and lock myself in my room for the rest of the night reading some magazine or something. I halt in my tracks as the gates open and the headlights cast on me.

Aagnay parks his car in the lot. He flashes his brilliant smile as he slides out of his vehicle and wraps his arms around me. "Hey, baby." He kisses my forehead and relief surges through me like a parachute. Thank God I have plans now.

"Hey." I snuggle into his chest for comfort and breathe in his spicy scent. "I didn't know you were visiting."

"A few of my friends are heading to the lake with their girls and they invited me," he says and smiles boyishly as he strokes my chin. "I thought I'd ask you if you'd like to join me."

"Yes!" I squeal and he chuckles. "Yes totally. I'd love to come. Let's go." I back away from him to get to his car and he catches my hand.

He eyes my hair and gives me a once-over. "Are you going out wearing that?" he asks and my gaze travels to my comfortable clothes.

"Yeah, it's just the lake so..."

"So what?" he asks softly and looks at me. "My friends will be there. Go back and wear something better okay?"

I pass him a tight smile and step back from him. He smiles again. "And also do something with that pimple on your face. It's hideous." He says all that without meaning to sound rude. "And wear your hair down like you always do. I love you like that."

I head back to my room silently and quickly change into a wrap dress. I do my face exactly the way he likes it and slip into a pair of heels before I head down to him in the parking lot. I didn't bother to invite him in because it's haywire and I ignore it with all my breath.

Aagnay is in his car when I step out of my house and begin to walk to the vehicle. I lock the door and he approves. "Now that's the Ella I fell in love with." He kisses my lips before igniting the engine. The rest of the drive is silent and seems to go on forever.

When we reach the lake, it's already booming with people and I get out of the vehicle. The air is crisp and cool post the rain and I should have at least brought a jacket. I wrap my arms around myself and walk behind Aagnay towards the bank. All heads turn in our direction and I fake a smile as Aagnay reaches for my waist and tugs me closer to him. So picture-perfect as if I'm on the red carpet.

"Yo man, you're late." I think his name is... who cares? I miss what Aagnay says and draw my phone out of my satchel.

"What's wrong with you?" Aagnay asks and I steer my gaze away from my home screen. "You're acting out of your element tonight. What happened to be the life of the party?"

"Well the life of the party is in a bad mood," I mutter and he passes me a cold glare but I ignore him and cast a smile. "I just need to make a call, you continue, okay sweetie?" I kiss his cheek and excuse myself to get away from the crowd.

It's fucking hard to act like shit isn't falling apart. How long do I have to keep up with this façade? I let my tears escape and wipe my eyes quickly before it could ruin my makeup. Maybe my parents are right. I do need someone to talk to. I need to process all these feelings without feeling insane. I was hoping that a lake party would stop me from imploding but who am I kidding? Shit never leaves your side no matter how hard you try.

I suck in deep breaths and decide to play it cool. Play it the way Aagnay would want me to and just get this over with.

"SO THINGS STILL HOT and heavy with the sports coach Ella?" Jordan, a fellow transfer student and one of Aagnay's closest friends, plops on one of the chairs beside me as I finish my drink.

"Why? You're jealous already?" I shoot and he smirks. His green eyes glint under the muted lights and he leans closer to me.

"All I'm saying is that if you're frisky next time, I'm always up for the play," he whispers and I can't help but stare at him for the fucking gall of him. He winks at me and chews on the gum.

"Do you often hit on all of your friend's girlfriends?" At this point, I'm beyond disgusted and...so ashamed.

He looks at my heels and his gaze travels up to my face as he picks on his chewing gum. "No, just the ones I know won't mind sleeping around behind their boyfriend's back. That's pretty naughty, don't you think?"

I flip my middle finger and he laughs as I drink from my bottle. "Hit me up when you need a quickie. We can stare at each other naked and go down and dirty with each other."

"Ew," I snort, and my nose wrinkles. "I'm not interested in you like that. Go find yourself someone who is," I say dismissively and rise to my feet to look for Aagnay. I find him laughing with his friends and sipping beer casually as I saunter to him. His hand lands on my waist as I near him and I smile at the greeting faces. "What did I miss?"

I ignore Jordan's gaze on me and act indulgent with Aagnay's friend for another couple of hours, drinking and simply talking about random things and people.

A little after midnight, I head out to Aagnay's car to fetch his jacket from the trunk. It's cold and drizzling when I begin to walk.

"Hey Ella, wait up!" Why? Why can't he really leave me alone? I ignore Jordan's voice and proceed to the vehicle but he is too fast obviously—he is the winning athlete of our college. "Hey." He catches me by my arm and I glare at him. He releases his grip and steps back to give me space. "I was just kidding okay? You don't have to feel offended about anything," he says softly and I remain silent.

Like that's supposed to fucking make me feel better. I unlock the trunk of his car and fetch out his suit jacket quickly. "I don't care," I mutter and shut the trunk with a loud thud. "Why are you even here?"

"I really like you okay?" Of course, he does. Most of these dudes do, so what? "And I was trying to joke around but clearly that backfired and I offended you."

"You don't speak shit about me or I'll make sure you crawl back to wherever shit hole you came from," I dagger acidly and he grins.

"Damn, I really—really like you." He props his hips against the trunk of his car as I slip into the jacket.

My brows furrow. "Are you tone deaf or something?"

"No, just really in awe of you," he murmurs and catches my hand.

Tell me something I don't know, I want to say but instead, "Does that charm work on all women?"

"Mostly." He nods and looks away thoughtfully. "Yeah." That makes me chuckle and he smiles. "Would you like me to treat you with doughnuts? It's right across the street and it's a quick walk."

"I don't eat doughnuts," I say and he steps closer to me. I want to tell him that I avoid calories but he doesn't have to know it. I cross my arms over my chest as he stands right in front of me. A swath of light makes his gaze glimmer and I'll admit it gets my knees weak for a beat. He doesn't look remotely similar to any of us—that's because he is from South Africa.

"I insist you try it with me," he murmurs and I inhale sharply. His hair is chocolate brown and every feature of his face is razor-sharp. I guess that's what you get when you're mixed-race. "You won't regret it."

"You're still talking about the doughnuts right?" I search his face and his lips part as if he's about to say something but he looks down and grins.

"Sure," he says after a hot second. "Yeah." He grins as I smile at him for no reason. It's weird. I stop smiling.

I roll my eyes and kick my feet to the ground. "Fine." Maybe a doughnut won't hurt much.

The streets feel abandoned with muted lights and faint drizzle but I didn't know how much I needed a walk in the rain. It manages to wash all my tension and I just want time to stop. It's quick and a silent walk, and I'm so occupied in reveling in the weather that I almost miss that I'm not alone. It feels great to be normal for a bit. No chasing perfection and not faking smiles.

"Here we are." Jordan's voice slices through my senses and I spot the quaint café tucked away in the street with twinkling string lights around. It's cute. We step inside and are instantly greeted with the aroma of baked delights in the air. Lord it's a feeling by London Grammar swirls into the air as we take our seats and I set my phone on the table. "They serve really great milkshakes here."

"How did you find this place?" I ask as I dart my gaze around and note the details. There are barstools and couches with tables and old mylar wallpapers. It isn't Starbucks but it will do.

"Funny you ask, I actually walked in here randomly one night." He shrugs offhandedly. "I don't know about you but these lake parties can be a tad boring. It's the same booze. The same talk of the town and repeat." His accent rolls out and I'm not sure why I'm grinning at him. His forest green gaze meets mine. "Do you feel the same way?"

"Feel what exactly?" I ask nonchalantly and decide to bind my hair with a hair tie that was around my wrist.

"Out of place sometimes, bored, exhausted with so much crap. Do you feel that way?" he clarifies and I think about that. A lot actually.

"You make it sound really bad," I say instead and he grins. "I think our circle catches up on the latest deets is all."

"But we don't have to do it over again and again." He rolls his eyes. "I can't even drink all that much because of football and all those drinking games and drunken chats seem tiring."

"That's because the point to such things is to drink," I remark and we both laugh. I don't know but he has a certain depth to him I didn't know I was looking for. It's good to talk to someone who isn't always concerned about little things. I tear my gaze away from his and look at the menu card. "So what are we ordering?"

"I'd suggest blueberry doughnuts and Pina Colada smoothie," he says as he glances at the menu card. "Or you're free to try anything you like."

"No, I'll go with that," I say and he places the order for both of us.

"Aren't you concerned Aagnay will come looking for you?" he asks and I pick on my nail mindlessly.

"Well, he is too busy and half wasted to come looking for me," I say and he nods. We talk about random things—things I generally don't talk about. It's deep and I suddenly feel Vaanya—I can picture her talking to people about life, people, and future—not something I do but Jordan can make these subjects seem so interesting to talk about, not that I haven't had multiple conversations like these with Aagnay but he always has a straight answer, everything planned with multiple back up plans and it's a real pressure to think like that.

The doughnut and smoothie are killers!

"I hate myself for not trying this before," I moan as another bite of the blueberry melts in my mouth. Jordan looks at me avidly as I dig in and I almost forgot he is here. Great! Now he must think I'm weird and completely graceless.

"I honestly thought you'd hate it," he admits and I continue to drink. I can't help myself anymore and I'm going to have another pair of doughnuts—I don't care if I break out for another week but my soul needs this delicious thing. I urge him to explain himself silently as I push the fork into my mouth. "You have salads and juices for lunch for crying out loud." He scoffs and I chuckle to the tip of the fork near my mouth.

"I like to regulate my diet," I clarify and he shakes his head before he sips his smoothie.

"Fuck diet, you should be having the time of your life," he says and I gawk at him. It's a little surprising coming out of him.

"Says the one who must be surviving on protein shakes all day," I say and he grins.

"Yes, but I don't ditch good food," he says in a matter-of-factly tone and I squelch the urge to lean in and kiss his cheek. He has been a gentleman mostly, minus the shade he hurled in my direction earlier. "You should know that you can be healthy without torturing yourself all the time."

"Well in that case," I poke the last shred of doughnut in my plate and shift my gaze on him. "I'm gonna have another couple of these."

He grins like he won a lottery ticket. "Would you like some more smoothie to go with that?"

"Hell yeah!"

A couple of doughnuts and three glasses of milkshake later, we're in the back of the café making out wildly. I don't remember what lead us to this moment but I'm more than sure that it's spontaneous. He traces my collarbone and I don't recognize my moan as it slips out. My fingers are a tangled mess in the hem of his crew-neck and his tongue rolls onto mine deftly with deep licks.

I push my fingers through his hair as his teeth dig into my skin on the edge of my neck, making me moan gracelessly. I thrust my hips to his reflexively and his groan fans on my misted face as I feel his erection in between my legs.

"You're absolutely stunning, you know that?" he rasps, biting my lower lip and his fingers flex on my hips. It gives me the impression that he is impatient and completely out of his control.

The cool air breezes by me, raising goosebumps against my skin, and Rude Boy by Rihanna, my ringtone blares through my phone and I know who's calling me without even checking my phone.

He draws away from the kiss and looks at me. "Ignore it," I demand hoarsely and continue to kiss him.

He backs away and glances at my phone on the table. "Are you sure? That guy is too twisted to be messed with."

My brows knit together in bewilderment. "What do you know about his twisted head?" Does he know something he isn't allowed to? Panic slides through me like a violent shiver and I grip his shoulders tightly to stifle it.

"Come on," he drawls and eyes my little move. "There must be a reason you cheat on him." He smirks and I look at him incredulously. "All that façade of his perfection is so amateur. I guess I just know none of it is true."

My gaze narrows on him sharply. "What do you know about that façade?" I slip my mask on and peer at him impassively. He can't know about the kind of impact he has on me—I'm restless and afraid. "He is the best CSU has, isn't that right?"

His lips curve to a smirk and he averts his gaze on my hand. "There's always a price for perfection. It makes me wonder what's his."

"Hard work—obsessive work," I defend Aagnay immediately and he snorts. "You don't know his struggles or his story. He gives up a lot of things to be the way he is."

"I wasn't born yesterday Ella." He snickers and catches my wrist. "Say that to someone who is too gullible to believe that."

"You're just a jealous bitch," I mutter and begin to slide off his lap but he cages me with his toned arms. I roll my eyes and look at him.

"That I am," he murmurs and leans closer to me. I don't back away because I like the proximity. "I'm jealous that bastard managed to score you when he doesn't even deserve you."

My head falls back as I laugh. "Wow, you're really good with your corny lines." He catches me by my jaw and draws me closer.

His eyes are so deep and piercing. It scares me to look at them. "Is this corny enough?" He seals his lips on mine and a low moan escapes from my throat. Damn it. I'm not supposed to attach any strings with this. It's all harmless fun, isn't it? I kiss him back when his tongue surges past my lips and I push my fingers through his hair restlessly, my fingers flexing with so much need. He pulls away abruptly and smirks. "Let's face it, Ella. Your boyfriend isn't worth it."

"My boyfriend isn't any of your concern," I bite out defensively and he nods slowly after a beat. "I don't know why you hate him so much. You're supposed to his best friend." God. What kind of people does Bhasin surround himself with?

"Right," he mutters and shifts in his place to draw his phone out of his pocket. "You're too far away from reality to see any of that. My bad, your boyfriend is a genius." His tone is more rhetoric now and I look away. What's up with him?

"Why can't you just believe that Aagnay is good?"

"Because he is too good to be true," he snaps back and I remain silent. "So stab me to death if I don't believe in perfection."

"But you're perfect." I decide to make a point because I don't know what would happen if he gets onto Bhasin and figures out shit.

"Is it?" he asks and smirks. "Not as perfect as your boyfriend apparently." He glances at the screen of his phone and I prop my jaw against my fist.

"This isn't a competition," I say and arch my brow. "You're the best athlete and you're seriously bright." Fucker can't get rid of that smirk and it's annoying.

"But of course." He urges me to slide off his lap. "Guess you have a type." We both laugh and he pays the bills. We decide to head back to the party soon after.

Our conversation keeps playing in my head as I stroll towards the lake. Maybe I'm overanalyzing. Jordan can't know—he wasn't even there. I still in my tracks and chills set on my spine. But he was there at Ranveer's boathouse that night. I watch him as he speaks with someone over the call indistinctively and smiles at me. I fake a smile back at him. What did he see?

~~~~

Hello, Darlings!

Things have been growing intense and I promise it will get better...or worse, considering how the plot pans out. Did you like Jordan? Tell me all about it!

With that been said, I truly hope you liked reading the chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please let me know what you think about it? You know I'm always up for your views and thoughts.

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Until next time, x.