"I used to pray the god who made me meet you.
Now whom shall I hold responsible for the deception done by YOU,
The god or my destiny!"

I timidly walked inside the school and was fearing of facing him. As I was walking, two girls whom I rearly talked stopped me. I was having no idea like what they wanted to talk with me. I suddenly recognized one of the girls face. She was the one with whom I shared the class in pre-school. After that day we never met. But today I don't know what had descended into her that she had a sudden urge of talking to me. Seeing her face made me remind of the messages flooding my cellphone. One of the message was from her only.
"Congratulations Sophie!"said one of them.

"Heartiest congratulations!"added the other.
I was trying to figure out the whole situation but before I could have analysed anything, the other one added, "You and Alex looked perfect together that night. A perfect couple."
I narrowed my eyes towards her as soon as she uttered those words . Looking at my expressions, she immediately corrected herself, "I mean perfect dancing partners. "
I didn't want to be rude to her and simply said her a thanks.

Moving ahead , I was stopped by two boys and a girl, congratulating me for my victory of winning the competition. I thanked all of them with a small smile, hiding my pain.

If nothing of that sort would have happened, today I would have been on top of the sky by hearing such compliments and learning about my victory. But on the contrary, I don't want to even hear about this. I took the short cut to my class so that I don't have to face many people around.

Upon reaching the class, I was
surrounded by my girl gang. Eliza gave me a tight hug and congratulated for our first prize in the dance competition.
"You and Alex were looking sizzling together. Your chemistry was firing. It made me jealous. I also want a boyfriend who looks at me the way Alex looks at you. You are so lucky Sophie. "

I was expecting something of that sort from Navy. But what she said made me loose my temper. I hate this boy and at that moment I was infuriated by his comment.
"Navy, he is just my friend (pretending though). You are taking it all wrong," I firmly said.

"By the way, why did you leave without hearing the results? Alex was also not there! " questioned Siri.

Before I could speak anything, Alex had entered in the class and Eliza along with Kara had already surrounded him with their never ending questions. They pulled him and brought him near me.
The guy whose face I don't want to see is standing just beside me and I can't even go away as everyone is there.

"Congratulations to both of you for the victory!!" said four of them in unison and the rest of the class also joined them.

I could clearly see his face. He was overjoyed on our victory but didn't express. I don't know why but I was continuously looking at him, evaluating his expressions and suddenly our eyes met. I suddenly removed my eyes from his contact to express my anger. But within few seconds of the eye contact, I could see in his eyes a sorry, a urge to talk to me, a regret; may be!

But I can't make myself weak. I am never going to talk to him and it is final.

"Is something going on between both of you? "questioned one of the girls in our class.
I just don't understand why some people have the habbit of peeping in others life. If she would have been my friend, still it would have been fine. But, she was just an acquaintance.
The girl with her further added, "Obviously, is this even something to ask. It is quiet obvious."
And they both began to laugh, enjoying their private joke.
Their laughter, my embarrassment!
I was hell embarrassed by their remark. But, Alex was blushing. His face was red. His pink cheeks were complementing his fair skin tone.

"We are just friends Lilly. Nothing like that," said Alex.

Phew! Thank god he managed the situation. The two girls although still not satisfied with the answer went away and an awkward silence filled the atmosphere. He was just going to speak to me but thankfully our not so good teacher entered the class.

"Students, get down to the hall. We are having a small session there. Be quick. And it is not going to be a lecture, so no one should bunk. Just a five minute thing," said she.

I hate going to the hall. As most of the time, everyone met there for a long-boring speech-cum-lecture by our Principal. But today, as our teacher had said, it wasn't going to be a long one which made me a little relieved.
-----------------
We are standing in the hall, waiting for the Principal. While, Eliza is busy in continuously back bitching about our Principal and Navy enjoying it, Siri and Kara are busy betting on what is the lecture/speech/assembly about.

"May I have your attention students. Good morning everyone," greeted our Principal.

"Good morning" replied all the students, monotony being clearly reflected in their voice.

"So, you must all be wondering about why we all are assembled here. Without taking much of your time, I would like to move straight towards the reason. As you all know, we had a dance competition a day before...."

Shit! In the whole universe, she got only this topic to talk about. Behind me, I could clearly see Siri winning the bet from Kara.

And she continued,
"And, the two students who won it, as all of you very well know, they are Sophie and Alex. "

Before she could further speak a word, the whole hall was filled with hooting and claps.

"May I have your attention back!? "

It was now silence.

"Their dance was fantabulous and magical. Our jury couldn't even spot a single mistake. Their confidence, dance moves, their coordination , costume, everything was perfect. No one could have beaten them, neither were near their score. Though we were supposed to facilitate their talent with trophies on the same day as of the event, but at the time of the price distribution ceremony, we couldn't find both of them. So we decided to honour them today. I would request Sophie Watt and Alex Gray to come on the stage. Give a big round of applause for both of them."

I was still. I had to share the stage with that cheater. That bastard! Freaking hell. I was not ready to move until Eliza gave me a tight push and I had to move. While I was moving towards the stage, I could listen the claps going on. Suddenly, I heard the sound of two continuous whistles and as I turned back to see who he/she was, I found it to be none other than Eliza!! As I turned my head, I also saw Alex following me. And as I had paused, now Alex was parallel to me. The stairs to the stage were narrow, allowing only one person to step at a time, he allowed me to step first. His soft gesture at this time was also not pleasing me.

Our Principal took the trophie and handed it to both of us. We were both holding the trophie together and our hands touching eachother's. I quickly moved my hands aside. This gesture of mine showed him my annoyance. His facial expression also changed. We both thanked our Principal and were going to step down but,

"Where are you both going. Wait. I would like you both to please say a few words, addressing everyone here and inspire them. "

Double shit!!
I was having not a single word to speak, except a heart full of misery and regret of trusting the wrong person and losing my heart on him.
I moved my eyes to his, his eyes were already struggling to meet mine. I don't know how, but he got to know that I was not ready to speak anything. He moved forward and took the mic and moved towards the podium. And I moved beside him as otherwise it would have looked very odd.

"Hello friends. Thanks for such an appreciation from our side, Sophie and mine. I would just like to say that I was not at all a good dancer. I had just danced once or twice but I had a great interest in dance. It was Sophie who made me dance like the way you saw the day before. She is flawless in her ways and dancing with her was my pleasure. Thanks Sophie, for it."

I took the mic from him and spoke, " It was even my pleasure to dance with you. I would just like to say that have confidence in you and dance will come your way. Thank you. "

And there were claps again. Again, I could hear whistles, this time both Eliza and Richard were whistling and Alex was smiling seeing them. Although I wasn't ready to speak anything, but to stop Alex I had to take the mic because his speech was going in a completely different direction.

On the way to our class, I was surrounded by many, congratulating us for our victory while the rest had got a new topic to gossip upon. In the mid, Richard stopped me and he was with Eliza and Alex.
"Hi Sophie! A big congratulations to both of you. "

"Thanks Richard," said I. And he shaked the hands with me. While he was shaking hands with me, I could see Alex's expressions changing. Seeing them, even Richard released the handshake!
"Even the Principal could see the chemistry between you. Though she stated it as coordination in decent words but even she could easily guess. We are your friends. You can at least tell me and Eliza if something is going on between you. Attraction, liking, or lov........ "

Before Richard could complete, I interrupted," Just friends! "

With a laugh Richard continued, "It is okay if you don't want to tell us but I won't believe what you just said. "
And he and Eliza began to laugh like mad!!
------------------------
In the class, I ignored him in the best possible ways and I even changed my seat, avoiding him. It was recess now. I was moving to the locker room and as soon as I opened my locker, I saw.....