Violet's dislike for Alex slowly started to fade away with passing time. Alex, who was already famous, had become a celebrity by now. But Violet didn't talk to him because she wanted everyone to know that she was friends with the Alex. Now that she had watched the match, she genuinely thought of him as a nice person. The way he catered to John when everybody faced away from the revolting sight. The bond that he had with Edward, Yes! they did break rules, that is for sure. But she respected Alex for the person that he was. She admired the fact that he played so selflessly yesterday and didn't try even once to put up a one-man-show.

Of course he was handsome. But for Violet, that was just a plus point. What really mattered was spiritual beauty. That is created by one's own self. While physical beauty was involuntary. Nobody wanted to look ugly, and in her eyes, nobody really was. For her, it was unfair to judge people on traits that they involuntarily had to possess. But she hated people who weighed others in the balance of physical beauty and stayed away from that notion herself. Besides, once you actually liked a person, he or she automatically looked attractive to you.

A day had passed since the match and Alex and Violet were now sitting in class. It was Ms. Wajeeha, the English literature teacher, who had initiated their interaction. She had that unique trait of gripping a class's attention and she was always in a lookout for ways to make her class more interactive. She always had a scarf pinned over her head which matched with her dress. Violet wondered the amount of scarfs that Miss Wajeeha would have in her wardrobe.

"Ms. Brown!" she had called out her name.

"Yes miss." She replied in her mesmerizing tone.

Ms. Wajeeha was forming pairs for the students to brainstorm regarding a story and then put it on paper.

"I want you to pair up with..."

Her heart began to beat faster as the thought struck her mind. Her throat clenched and she realized she had suddenly become thirsty.

"Alex dear! Come and sit with Ms. Brown. And remember, I want to see your creativity in it as well."

Alex came and sat with Violet. They had a safe distance in between, and Violet hoped to maintain it as time progressed. She just wanted to be his friend, nothing more, and definitely nothing less.

But as soon as Alex swiftly swung his black backpack from his broad shoulders onto the table. She felt vibes coming from his body. These weren't alpha, beta or gamma radiations. No, not at all. Violet called them positive or negative radiations. And in this case, Violet seemed to receive the former.

She wanted to talk to him. There was so much that she wanted to say, yet she didn't have the courage to. In the background, Ms. Wajeeha spoke in a blur voice. Or maybe she was devoting all of her attention towards Alex and everything else had just faded into the background. She decided finally to begin the conversation. She cleared her throat.

"Okay so do you have an idea for the story?" She asked.

"I am sure I will, once Ms. Wajeeha explains what we actually need to write on." He replied.

She felt so stupid. What was she doing.

Just be natural

It took her some time to realize that what Alex had said, was by no means intended as a taunt. He wasn't being sarcastic. He had said that in a a very friendly tone. And that made Violet feel at ease with him. Finally someone who doesn't highlight your mistakes.

Alex was looking forward at Ms. Wajeeha with the index finger and thumb of his right hand cupping his chin. His index finger moved lazily from one end of his chin to the other. Slowly and smoothly. It was like the pendulum used by illusionists to make people fall asleep. And slowly Violet committed herself to the magic that Alex possessed.

Once Ms. Wajeeha finished explaining the class, Alex turned his face towards Violet and caught her looking at him.

"Something wrong?" A little was smile playing on his lips.

"Uh nothing! I was just thinking." She stuttered.

"Okay!"

He extended his hand towards his bag and opened the zipper. He looked for something inside but seemed unable to find it. Finally he gave up.

"What's the matter?" Violet asked.

"I can't find my pouch. Edward must have taken it with him."

"Oh. That's not a problem. You can use my pen. Here. I have got lots of them."

She handed a green pen to Alex. He hesitated for once, but the temptation was unbearable. He held it and began to scribble. On the top he wrote "Story of the decade." and then in a small bracket below, "By Alex-Speare and"

He stopped and looked at her with a smile.

"Who's your favorite writer?" He asked playfully.

Violet giggled.

"Okay let me think. There are so many."

"Looks like you read a lot." He said, trying to carry the conversation forward.

"Yeah. Reading is life y'know. Can't really imagine my life without it." she paused.

"And you? Do you read?" She asked

"Yeah, a little."

Truth was, that Alex read a lot more than just a little.

"Okay then let me think." She pursed her lips and looked towards the top wall in concentration. Her bushy eyebrows had wrinkled. After a moment she began to speak.

"Nicholas Sparks, J. K. Rowling, Anthony Horrowitz, Dave Fretzman..."

Alex's eyebrows shot up at hearing the last name. 

"What happened?"Violet asked due to his sudden anxiety.

"No nothing. Just amazed at how much you read." He managed a smile.

"Oh. I get that a lot. My friends think it's a stupid hobby. Y'know, To always have your nose in a book."

She suddenly jumped with excitement.

"OH OH OH. You know, I read this really funny quote once that 'It's better to have your nose in a book rather than someone else's business' so yeah." She giggled at her own joke.

She looked really cute when she was bubbly. Alex laughed.

"Okay! So favorite writer?"

"I think I'll go with J. K Rowling."

"Harry Potter fan eh?" Alex said playfully.

"Potterhead for life!" Violet closed her eyes softly and tilted her head upwards, trying to act proud.

Alex completed the phrase in the bracket which ended up to be "By Alex-Speare and Violet Rowling." They both smiled at their idiocy.

"Okay students. Your time is up." Ms. Wajeeha announced.

Never in their history of being taught by Ms. Wajeeha, had they felt this scared of their given time limit coming to an end. Seriously, where did the time go? They had half an hour with them. That should have proved to be ample time to write a short story. But time had just seemed to fly by, without any of them noticing that it did.

"Now I am going to ask all of you to come in front and read out your stories to the class."

Their hearts sank together in harmony. They felt as if their heart had gone for a short visit towards the stomach. Their eyes widened as both stared at each other blankly. And luck, it just had to play its part today, didn't it?

"Let's start with the pair of Ms. Brown."

All their hopes came crashing down. Their feet felt numb as they processed their next move. Violet particularly looked worried. What would Ms. Wajeeha think? Instead of making Alex serious towards his studies, she supposedly became non-serious herself.

Alex stood and picked up his register. Looking at it cautiously as if reading out important points before the presentation. Violet looked at him with curiosity. Alex vaguely gestured with his hand for her to stand up and accompany him.

He didn't move his eyes from the register and kept looking at it with utmost concentration. Violet followed him in a moment of confusion and chaos. Both of them began their journey towards the teacher's desk.

"Walk slowly." Alex whispered, still not tearing his gaze away from the register. He was moving his lips frantically as if memorizing his lines.

And so, they took their own sweet time to reach the desk. Once they reached there, Violet looked towards Alex and he looked back and smiled. Something about that smile made her feel comfortable. She wanted to trust him, and so she did.

"It was a wonderful night. The stars were twinkling high above," Alex began. He was reading out from a blank page.

"a few minutes till dawn, and the sky had turned an exotic shade of purple and blue. From the eastern side, sunshine made it's way through. Capturing parts of the sky. Slowly and steadily. Conquering more territory with passing time."

He looked so serious. Every word that left his lips was magic. He actually felt the beauty of what he was saying and made the listener feel it too.

"Wind blew from the western side as Alex's hair disheveled. He was sitting on the soft, lush-green grass with Violet." He continued.

Violet thought she must have been blushing. Her heart raced as blood rose up to her face. She felt her body heat up at listening to her name from his lips.

"Both of them were looking up at the sky, breathing the fresh morning air. Everything was so full of life. A few minutes had passed and both of them hadn't said anything. Then Violet, while still looking upwards said,

                            'I feel like the sky, you know, willingly submitting myself to the people around me. I feel like I let others paint me with the colors that they want. Not what I want. What I want is not the black of the night, or blue of the day. No, I want this purple. But like this purple of the sky, my life hardly ever stays the way I like it. As soon as I start admiring it, the color changes and then so do I.'

The whole class fell silent at the depth of Alex's words. He was still looking at the page cautiously. Ms. Wajeeha looked stunned. She had taken her glasses off and was staring at them blankly.

And then the bell rang. No, Violet wanted to hear what happens next. She wanted to know if she gets the purple that she wants. She wanted to know the end, but the period had ended and the story had to stop.

As soon as Alex heard the bell ring, he started walking back to his desk and Violet followed him. His plan had worked and he had saved his, as well as Violet's self respect. Half way through Ms. Wajeeha stopped them.

"Ms. Brown?"

She turned around.

"Good job!" She praised her.

"To be honest miss, all of it was Alex's hard work." She was being honest. She couldn't take credit away from him.

"Not even taking credit for your efforts. Nice! You have a bright future ahead of you Ms. Brown." Ms. Wajeeha admired her.

Violet wanted to say more, but Ms. Wajeeha picked up his stuff and walked out. She felt bad. Everything that Alex did was so spontaneous, yet it was simply beautiful.

Alex caught Violet looking down at the floor.

"What's the matter?" Alex asked in a caring tone. She loved it when he showed care for her.

"What you did there...it was amazing. I mean the story was beautiful."

"Thanks." He said with a nervous smile.

Was he blushing? Was he really this shy?

"And listen, I am sorry for being rude earlier on. I think I might have misunderstood you." Violet confessed.

"No worries. It's okay." Alex replied.

"Though I'd love to know the end of this story."

"You know that I just made the whole story up right?"

"Yeah but I mean, you must have something in your mind."

"Our story doesn't end Violet. We are the story. The story ends, when we do." Alex gave a one-sided smile to Violet.

"See you soon." And he began walking out. Suddenly he remembered something. Alex turned around.

"I believe this belongs to you." He was holding her pen in his hand.

"It's okay, you can keep it" Violet smiled.

"So I suppose we're friends now?" Alex flirted with his limits.

"I suppose." Violet replied.

*********************************

It had been one week since they officially met in Ms. Wajeeha's class and since then both of them had become friends. They chatted in the corridors and ate in the cafeteria. Once or twice they had loitered in the school grounds, wearing their backpacks and just strolling.

They were doing the same this day when Edward came out of nowhere.

"So guys. What's up?" He said.

"Nothing. Just walking." Alex replied.

Edward turned his attention towards Violet.

"Oh and I believe we haven't formally met yet. The name's Edward. Alex's best friend, his pal, brother."

"Nice to meet you Edward." She replied. "I am Violet."

"Oh! I know your name alright. Heard it like a thousand times before."

Alex hit his elbow in Edward's ribs and the latter started coughing. Violet began to laugh and all three of them joined. They continued walking in the ground until they reached in one corner near the fountain.

Violet sighed.

"I am tired." She said.

"Then let's sit down." Alex suggested.

The three of them sat on a bench. Just then, Max's younger brother Jess came running towards them.

He fist bumped with Alex and Edward and noticed that Violet was sitting with them.

"Hello." He said, referring to Violet.

"Hi." She replied.

"Have you guys heard?"

"About?" Edward asked.

"We have our school trip next week."

That certainly got everyone's attention.

"Great. Where is it?" Alex asked.

"I don't know. We'll be camping somewhere."

He told them that he saw a printout on the notice board so now all four of them walked to the building. They took the right corridor on the ground floor and saw the square shaped notice board with a glass covering. pinned to the center was an A4 sized white sheet which read.

"SCHOOL TRIP." and the details were given below.

***************************************************

Okay so this chapter is just a little tribute, worth no more than a penny to the greatest teacher, mentor and friend Ms. Wajeeha Bilal who taught me four years ago and I am still learning more from her every day. I remember how big an idiot I used to be. This is dedicated to the person who actually taught me how to write English literature (like literally write. I used to spell it litterature, with a double T like seriously :3 ) I am forever indebted to you :") Hope you are proud! 

-This is a super early update as I am leaving for a three-day vacation IA in one hour or so. So read and enjoy, but I won't be posting again until I am satisfied with the amount of reads and votes on all previous chapters. So read, and ask others to. Spread the word. Let's do this!