'What friends are for.'

Maira

"Hey I received your text and got here as fast as I could," Vaanya pulls out one of the barstools and plops on it. "Your text sounded urgent, is everything okay?"

"I found something from the bloody counselor." I pull out the ruffled paper and hand it to her. A frown mars in between the space of her plucked brows and her jaw drops. "In the cafeteria the other day, after you guys left," I add, circling the sunflower tattoo on my wrist mindlessly.

"Well why didn't you tell me about it any sooner?" she queries, her gaze still fixated on the paper in her hand. "And why would he have this?"

I release my lip ring and lean closer to her. "More importantly Vaanya, how does he have it?"

"Does anyone else know about this?" she asks, folding the paper neatly and I shake my head in denial. "Should we tell Ella?" I raise my hand to call in the bartender and nod in agreement. "And...Sam?"

"Don't," I demand and she hands me back the paper. "She's crazy for that guy and we can't afford another slip." She looks away in silent contemplation, propping her elbow on the refectory table and rubs her thumb against her forefinger.

"And her mother?" she finally asks, sliding her gaze back at me. "She needs to know that her mother is with her lover."

"Rats! This already seems screwed up to me," I mutter and the bartender arrives across the table and I place the orders for Buds. "What if that fucker is screwing her mother?"

"Then I guess she will have to kiss him goodbye," Vaanya says indifferently and we stare at each other for a silent beat and then, we both cackle. "Seriously, this is more complicated than we thought."

"What is?" Ella queries as she grabs her seat beside us on one of the barstools.

"Where have you been angel?" I ask humorously. "You've been missing some action."

"Don't even ask, I've been having one hell of a day," she says, tossing her hair back and binding it into a messy bun. She wouldn't even try and still make heads turn.

"Is Aagnay that mad at you?" Vaanya asks softly and she rolls her eyes.

"He's beyond the point of mad," she asserts and I chuckle. Why doesn't that surprise me? No guy would want such secrets out in the open. "He's a looney bin now." Our heads fall back and we laugh.

"Hey, why do you have blood on your jeans?" Vaanya asks and my attention freezes on her denim. Ella looks away and sighs.

"Bitch lost his shit because I dared to defy him," she huffs and I bite on my lip ring to stifle my laugh. Vaanya's eyes pop and she gawks at me.

"Did he hurt you?" she asks softly and Ella's chest deflates. I instantly feel terrible for her.

"In a lot of ways, he did," she mumbles lowly and Vaanya holds her hand out. "Anyway, enough about him." She places her hand on hers and Vaanya squeezes it gently to assure her. "What was the SOS for?"

"I have something that belongs to you," I assert and she raises her brows as I fetch the paper from the back pocket of my denim.

She arches her brow in my direction and I hand her the paper. "What's this?" she asks confoundedly as she unfolds it and the server places the bottle of Buds on the table. I grab one of the coasters as he uncaps the bottle and sets it on the tabletop. "Are you fucking with me?" she snaps, crushing the paper in her fist and I sip from the bottle. "How do you even have this?"

"You wouldn't believe it if we told you," Vaanya scoffs and Ella peers at me astounded.

"Ah, try me." She folds the paper back and stares at it for a silent beat. I wonder what she is thinking. Damn, it must be appalling to know that the thing is still out there somewhere.

"Saxena Sir had it," Vaanya announces and Ella's gaze darts on her. Vaanya, then fills her in as I sit back and enjoy my cool beverage.

"That son of a whore!" Ella curses under her breath and snatches the bottle from my grip, tipping her head back to flush the drink down her throat and I gape at her. Did she just drink beer? Vaanya and I exchange glances and she passes an I-don't-know-what's-up-with-her look. "No wonder you didn't invite Sam in here."

"But why would he do this to us?" Vaanya inquires before she drinks from her bottle and Ella hands me back mine. "I thought he's on our side."

"Who knows what's on his mind," Ella says and I drink from my bottle. The track changes and Positions by Ariana Grande fume through the boombox. "I never trusted him anyway."

"I mean, it does seem a little convenient how readily he agreed to counsel us," Vaanya says and I hand the bottle back to Ella.

"I was under the impression that the dean assigned him for grief counseling," I fidget with my lip ring mindlessly as Ella drinks from the bottle.

"He was but didn't you notice how curious he was about the column?" Vaanya interjects after sipping from her bottle and Ella hands me back mine. "Plus we can't forget that he is sleeping with Sam's Mom."

"Bitch what?" Ella jerks startled, gaping back and forth between us.

"Yeah, you heard me right," Vaanya mutters to the mouth of the bottle and I tip my head back to drink from mine.

Ella's gaze fixates on the edge of the table and she tenses, a scowl creasing the space between her brows as she looks at me. "Can you remember the number of times we've seen Kunal with him?"

Vaanya's eyes bug out and she gawks at me as realization dawns on me. "I think I lost the count a long time ago," I whisper incredulously and Ella shakes her head silently.

"You guys does that mean..." Vaanya looks fazed when she turns to Ella. "You don't mean he killed Kunal, do you?"

Ella shrugs nonchalantly. "Just a theory," she says and I hand her back the bottle. "They sure seemed tight back in the day."

"And Kunal didn't need your journal to know all of our secrets," Vaanya says, seemingly frazzled and I call in the bartender for another round of drinks. "It's possible Saxena Sir already knew all of them before he killed Kunal."

"Are you sure that he did it?" I ask somberly and look at them, fidgeting with my lip ring off handedly. 

"Does this seem some kind of coincidence to you?" Ella shoots back and I sigh heavily.

I stifle a laugh. "I'm just wondering how the fucker fits into the night before Kunal's death."

"Maybe I can talk to Ran—" Vaanya's gaze drops to her lap and she sucks in a deep breath. "I'll try speaking with him but I can't promise anything."

"If that fucker is the common connection between the death and the gossip column then he has no idea what's in store for him," Ella says darkly and I couldn't agree more. "I'll have Aagnay look into this."

"And you think that's going to magically solve this issue?" Vaanya's tone is curt. "He could've been behind this for all we know!"

"So can be Ranveer because he's the one with the drugs but you don't hear me tossing accusations onto him," Ella snaps back and I groan exasperatedly.

"I propose keeping a close eye on the counselor for now," I say coolly. "We have no idea who this psycho fucker is and I swear I'll tear that person limb for limb after all I've been through."

Vaanya sighs again before she finishes her bottle and Ella glances at me. "Are you okay?" she asks and Vaanya sets the empty bottle on the coaster.

"Honestly, no," she shrugs gingerly and looks away. "Ranveer broke up with me." Shit. What the actual fuck?

"Are you sure you heard him right?" Ella inquires dubiously and I look at her. No wonder she looks so vague today, with no makeup and all sweats. She's been hurting and I'm a horrible friend.

"Loud and clear," she mumbles and my nape tingles. "Kicked me out of his place right after he screwed me."

"What?" Ella snaps bitterly. "That dude could torch this city for you, Vaanya." It's weird to find Ella take Ranveer's side. I wonder what changed.

"Is there a butterfly where your heart should be right now?" I ask skeptically and Ella rolls her eyes aggressively.

"My heart is always a cactus and you know it," she chuckles and I smirk. "I'm so sorry you had to go through it alone though, you should've called me."

"And do what exactly?" I shoot comically. "Back bitch behind his back?"

"Okay, for starters, it helps," she says defensively and I turn to accept the drinks as the bartender arrives. "Secondly, we'd rather bitchslap him."

"I just want him to finally be over with his temper so we could get back together," Vaanya mumbles softly and I admire her optimism.

Ella exchanges another glance with me and I shrug offhandedly. "You did cheat on him Vaanya, what do you think his response was supposed to be?" I ask and flush some more beer in my system.

"Anything but a breakup." She rubs her temple gently and grabs the bottle of beer.

"Well, then why didn't you just tell him what everyone else is said to believe?" Ella retorts and I hand her the bottle of Bud.

"That the professor forced himself on me?" Vaanya squeaks and I drink some more just to shut my mouth up. "No thanks."

"You afraid he'd kill that dude?" Ella shoots defiantly and Vannya's gaze falters. "Oh, my freaking god?" Her hand travels to her chest in absolute terror and I straighten in my seat.

"Of course not," Vaanya quickly adds. "He'd never do something like that."

"You don't sound very certain when you say that." I narrow my gaze on her and she drinks from her bottle convulsively, so fast I think she'd finish the damn thing in one shot.

"I trust him guys," she finally says and Ella arches a brow at me. "He would never do something so despicable."

"As you say," Ella singsongs and sips from her bottle leisurely. "Although, I wouldn't be surprised if he did." Vaanya glares at her and she throws her arm up in relinquishment. "Just saying, I don't mean to shade him."

Vaanya rolls her eyes. "Sure, nothing like you haven't done before."

"Alright you guys, stop," I demand and look at Vaanya. "How are you doing?"

"Pathetic," she mumbles and drinks again. "Damn, I need something stronger."

"Oh goodie, there's nothing some Jack and coke can't solve," Ella says and raises her hand to call the bartender.

"Really?" I raise my brows with a grain of salt. "The last time I remember, that drink only piled a shit load of mess."

"I'm not quitting Jack just 'cause I woke up to a dead face. Who do you think I am?" she huffs and I bite my lip ring to stifle my chuckle. She glances at me. "No offense intended."

I shake my head. "None taken." My gaze lands on the bartender strolling towards us. "' Kay, let's do this."

*

Ella

I stifle a groan as I saunter past the hallway to the ladies'. Skanks used to idolize me—ugh—I can't believe someone with hideous taste in leather is trying to offend me, not that I could care any less.

"Why weren't you answering your calls?" I halt in my stance and turn to face Aagnay as he catches my arm and the offending glances and muted whispers die down instantly. That's better bitches.

"I didn't realize you're trying to reach out to me sweetie," I say and pry my arm out of his grip before I begin to walk again. "Anyway, what's going on?"

"We have another party to attend tonight," he says and I smile at him before I lace my fingers around the knob of the door.

"Meet me at my place at seven?" I ask and his flash of boyish grin answers me. "Perfect, see you around." I yank the door open and step in. "Hello, ladies."

"You seem to be in an awfully good mood today," Maira beams as I place my satchel on the countertop and prop my hip against the edge of it.

"I guess I woke up on the right side of my bed this morning." I shrug offhandedly and Vaanya giggles.

Sam chuckles. "And did Aagnay wake up to the left?"

I roll my eyes aggressively. "Aagnay can kiss my ass for all I care."

"So it's Jordan," Sam singsongs and I snap my gaze on her. What the fuck? "You know the new transfer jock, hot and all." She grins and looks at the girls gaping back at her in sheer shock. "Better than sports coach, if you ask me."

"Well nobody asked you," I bite out and she laughs. "What do you know about Jordan?" I cross my arms over my chest and Maira scowls at her.

"Met him the other day at the café," she says and I mentally kick myself. "I think he likes you E."

"Wait you're seeing another dude?" Maira inquires astounded and at the same time Vaanya asks, "Does Aagnay know that you're with another person behind his back?"

I grimace silently and kick the floor exasperatedly. "I—"

"You know you can't," Maira snaps and now I'm the one scowling. "Not when this person is watching our every damned move. It's fucking daft to be two-timing right now, don't you think?"

"How stupid can you be Ella?" Vaanya asks, pushing her fingers through the tendrils of her rich hair to set them.

"I love him." The silence plummets through the air and I wince to myself. I—did I just admit that? I look away and heave a sharp intake of breath.

Maira tilts her head confoundedly and narrows her gaze on me. "I'm sorry—did you just—did I hear you right?"

"Whoa!" Sam steps back and holds her arm up in defeat. "That's a lot coming out from you E," she mutters. "Considering you never had something so simple to say about Aagnay." Because I never loved him to begin with. We were always...friends.

Vaanya sighs audibly. "He at least needs to know that Ella," she says and I look at her blankly. "Aagnay can be a jerk but he doesn't deserve to be deceived like that."

"Aren't you the same person who thought he killed Kunal?" I shoot and she pinches the bridge of her nose. Maira tugs on her lip ring and holds her hand out to me.

"I still think something is wrong with him," Vaanya says and I place my hand on Maira's. "But I don't think he should be hurt like that." Talk about moral compass.

"Vaanya's right," Maira says and squeezes my hand gently. "Like I understand you caught feelings but think about the impact when Aagnay runs into this."

"And if he's capable of killing people around, then it's gonna get only worse for Jordan," Sam says and my chest deflates.

Vaanya smiles weakly. "I think you should officially end things with him." Except I can't. My gaze darts around the stalls and I purse my lips to stifle another groan. This is bullshit—I'm not supposed to let my guard down.

I smirk and pick on my nail. "Look at you guys so worked up," I say and Maira's lips quirk to a lopsided smile. She is the only one who sees right through me and as much as it has always been comforting, it's not helping me right now. Her knowing look tells me she knows what I'm doing. "I'm surprised you even believe that I can love someone."

"You're not made of stone Ella." Vaanya's teeth grind as she mutters and my head falls back as I laugh. I love her passion for people. It's admirable. "We understand you like this guy and we want to help."

"That's what friends are for," Sam says sweetly and I haven't felt this horrible in a long time. It's strenuous to feel anything at all. Detaching from emotions is always easier—better of an escape.

"Is this the part where some director screams 'cut' from the background and we stop this drama?" I arch a brow and Maira chuckles, shaking her head.

My grin soon turns to a deep scowl and I freeze to my stance as I hear the sound of the water flush in one of the stalls. Vaanya's face grows ashen and Maira curses under her breath as the door unlocks to reveal Ishani as she steps out.

"Guess now's the time for the director for that 'cut'," Sam mutters and I couldn't agree more—except, this is as real as it gets. 

~~~~

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