Ella's POV.

I spent my evening with my dad as he promised. We strolled down the garden, talked about dad's trip, my school, and I also played piano for him. The time we spent together reminded me of the old memories. Although my dad being a busy man - having no time to pick me up from school or to see me off as I would stroll down the school gates - still, he would always try his best to spend as much of his free time with me. Like all loving fathers, he would give me horseback rides, the things, the toys and all the sweets to spoil me along with his unconditional love. I was his precious gem, his life, but with this much love, came a sense of danger. He was afraid of his enemies, of his sins that might come back hunting for revenge. Me being the closest thing to his heart also made me his weakness, and he had tried his best to keep this weakness of his hidden at any cost.

At night we had a family dinner along with Uncle John. Both dad and uncle went to his office after dinner whilst I spent some time with my mother. She told me about their vacation, her eyes beaming with love for my father and a shimmer of excitement could be seen in them. Although their marriage wasn't a love marriage but my mom found love, and my dad - whose heart was like a stone - he learned to love. 

After spending some time with my mum, I headed towards my room and those questions again popped up in my mind. Tomorrow would be another day. In usual normal days, it would never be a big deal for me, but now knowing that there was a boy who was making me feel strange and weird things and just by the smile of his, made me think of the normal school days as some risky life-threatening quest. Ugh!!! How was I going to avoid him? What if he tried to talk to me again? How was I going to avoid him especially during music class? What if he again sat beside me?

These thoughts were making me go insane. I was afraid of the possibilities and the results of this situation that I was in, unknowingly. What if uncle found out? And what if dad?

No! That should not happen.

Shaking the horrific thought away along with those threatening possibilities, I laid on my bed. When I was with my dad and my mom, my mind was busy and it didn't have the time to think about that boy named Xaiden but, now when I was surrounded by the silence of my room, my mind was thinking about him all over again. I needed sleep to stop thinking about him. 

I buried my head in my pillow and closed my eyes hoping for the sleep to come. Time passed while I tossed on my bed hoping to sleep a wink but, to no avail. I groaned in frustration and decided to do the most boring thing. I started counting sheep. One sheep, two sheep, three sheep ... thirty sheep, and thanks to it being an award-winning sleeping method, my eyes dozed to sleep, not thinking about him anymore.

********

I headed towards my locker to get my books for my first class. Taking out my biology notes, I went towards my class. I was a few minutes late and the bell had already rung. I didn't get the chance to meet Jess or Sara in the morning and I was a bit glad about that too. I knew I shouldn't be but I was, because I was sure the first thing that they would ask about, would be that boy. The boy, whose name should not be said from my tongue, whom I should stay away as far as possible, whom I would avoid during my whole high-school life.

I entered the class, glad that the teacher wasn't there. I sat at the back of my class with my notes. The teacher came the next moment, and the class started. As promised by our teacher, a pop quiz was held. I marked pretty well in it as I had revised all my lessons and important points.

The half of the day went on like this, like normal - which was one thing I hadn't hoped - I was hoping that I would surely be encountering that boy today, but I was surprised that I didn't meet him even once, or I was too good in avoiding him. My rest of the classes went pretty well. When I would walk through the corridors, I would have my head hung low trying my best to not get noticed by him.

Now, I was sitting at our usual table in the cafeteria during our lunch hours. Jessica and Sara as always gossiping about their crushes and about their favourite bands.

"So what you say, Ella? Sounds good. Right?" Jessica questioned whilst Sara was smiling and I stared at them, confused. Damn it! I did that again, now twice in a row on two consecutive days. I had no idea what they were talking about. I didn't know what was wrong with me these days. I was zoning out a lot. I was, once again, completely lost in my mind during that whole time. Yesterday, I was smart enough to survive by my wise words but today those words couldn't be used again unless I took a risk and blew my cover.

"You've been listening to us. Right?" This time Sara interrogated making me chuckle nervously.

"Uh! Yeah?" It came out much like a question, opposite to what I had expected.

"Damn it, Ella! We have spent twenty minutes planning it and you... You haven't heard a thing!" Jessica complained throwing her hands in the air and glared at me.

"Look, guys! I'm sorry. I... I really am... Sorry." I apologized to them. I knew it was my fault for not listening to them but, it was not entirely mine. It was his fault. Why he had to come to this school out of all schools in the whole America and why he had to talk to me out of all people?

It wasn't entirely his fault. He was just being friendly. My brain made a remark to which my conscience agreed. Yeah! I admit. It wasn't his fault. He was just trying to make a wrong person his friend. Right! A wrong person, a person that shouldn't be me.

Now what I worried the most was, what if uncle came to know about it, he would probably be telling dad and then, I don't think I would ever be getting my little freedom.

Ella! Keep away from him! At least till your sixteen birthday. My mind stated, and I agreed with it.

My birthday was coming next month and I think I'd be able to avoid him till that, and after getting free from this school security, then maybe... Just maybe we could be friends.

No, you could not! Your dad will surely find out!

Uh!!! Right! I should just keep him in the forbidden zone. He was a trouble for me and I would be a trouble for him.

"Ella! Damn! You zoned out, again!" I came out of my trance on hearing Jessica's voice.

I did? Damn! I did zone out again. Curse you! Ella! Stop thinking about him!

"I'm sorry. I'm just not feeling well. Uh... I'll just return from the restroom. I'm not feeling quite well." I excused myself from them and headed towards the girl's restroom.

After composing my behaviour, I went towards my music class. My heart beating faster with my every exceeding step and my cheeks warming up. Damn! What was wrong with me? Why the sudden change of heartbeat?

I entered the class and to my surprise. Jessica and Sara were both talking to that Emiliano guy and they were all laughing, and it seemed that they were enjoying themselves. I rolled my eyes. Wow! When you have best friends like them, who needs a foe?

Sara noticed me and motioned me to come there but I ignored them and headed towards the opposite side.

"Hey, Ella! Come here!" This time Jessica shouted. I looked at them to give them a sign to just leave me where I was.

As I looked at them, my eyes met with his. For a moment our eyes locked and then again he smiled. My heart started beating rapidly and I felt my legs becoming weak. I hated it. I hated this. Why the heck he had to smile every single fucking time? And why the hell my heart had to do that whenever he smiles? Was something wrong with my heart? Had I been diagnosed by a heart disease? In a time like this, I wanted the latter situation to be true. I quickly averted my eyes and sat in my seat. 

"Hey! What's the problem? Why were you ignoring us?" My friends approached me. I looked at them and shrugged. "I was just not feeling well."

Jessica placed her hand on my head. "Your body temperature's fine," she said. "You should take some rest. You should go see a doctor," Sara said, concerned.

"Guys! I'm just... I think I'm a little tired, that's all." I gave them an assuring smile and they simply nodded not pushing me further.

The teacher came as they both went back to their seats and the class started. The rest of the class went as usual and I didn't have any kind of encounter with that boy and I was so glad for that. He was sitting on the other side of the class opposite to mine. I didn't even glance at him because I was afraid that he might be looking at me or he might, again, give me those strange smiles of his and I so didn't want that. The class ended and I was the first one to leave the class. I went to my next class and thank god, I didn't meet him for the rest of my day. 

"Ella! Is something bothering you?" Sara questioned making me surprised as we were walking down the hallway and towards the school-gates.

"Yeah! You are not yourself since we have returned from summer vacations," Jessica said.

"No! I don't think so." I chuckled. I was fine. There was nothing wrong with me.

"No! I believe there is something bothering you. You don't smile often like you used too, you always zone out, you seldom make jokes and your mood is always down," Jessica said looking at me, making me wonder. Really? Have I changed that much?

"Yes. Jessica's right! Ella, you can tell us if something's bothering you. We are best friends." Sara hugged me and assured me as I simply smiled. I wished I could tell them the reality of who I was. They were the best friends that one could dream of but I didn't want to lose them. I was afraid that I would lose them once I would tell them about me. I couldn't tell them, I couldn't take the risk.

"No! I'm fine!" I smiled. "And hey! It's been just two days since school has started. My routine's a bit messed up but don't worry, I'll be fine." I made an excuse, assuring them.

"You sure? Because we will be always there for you. If any thing's bothering you. Just name it and we will solve it together." They both hugged me and a new hope sparked up in my heart by their words. Maybe I could tell them. Maybe they wouldn't leave me.

Just maybe...

I hugged them back and assured them that I'd let them know. My heart felt a bit lighter and I could sense a new ray of hope.

Maybe my friends will understand.

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

So guys, what you say?
Don't forget to vote and comment. :)
Love,
Anna.

Sorry for the mistakes. English isn't my first language.