Finally, we were getting graduated. I was happy yet sad. Happy about the fact that finally high school was over & sad because we were adults now. Monty, Niylah & I, we've been roommates since high school & in a short span of two years, we became inseparable. I've always been drawn to Monty but I would always shrug it off. And see where it got me, today Niylah & Monty are a couple. Sometimes I feel jealous about the fact that they're dating but sometimes I feel happy for her that at least she got the love of her life. She had the guts to. I lacked that. I've always been a badass but when it comes to expressing my feelings, I'm a dumbass.

Pushing myself off of the bed, I went inside the bathroom & stripped into the warmth of my shower. After a few minuted I wrapped a towel around my body & went inside my wardrobe. I came home, a week before graduation & right now I'm standing in my home's wardrobe. I missed this place to be honest.

Picking a casual outfit, I put it on & dried my hair with a hairdryer & put it in a ponytail. I put on mascara & a light shade of lipgloss on my lips. Finally satisfied with how I looked, I put on my graduation gown & placed the cap over my head. I took a deep breath. It's finally here. The moment of truth, the stepping stone to the real world. Through the good, bad, idiotic, fun and change. It was finally time. Time to step out into that bright light, shake the hand of an administrator and grab the ticket to freedom. All I had to do was sit in this uncomfortable robe and wait for my name to be called.

"Emerald, we're getting late" My dad can be impatient sometimes but when I looked at my wrist watch, we were getting late. Tying the laces of my sneakers, I checked myself in the large mirror of my room one last time & rushed outside. My dad's been waiting in the car for me.

Closing the door of car, I took a deep breath & looked at my dad who's been looking at me, excitedly.

"Let's get it over with" He smiled at me & I nodded. My dad's always been a happy person. My mother died giving birth to me. But my dad never let grief got in the way & moved on. I admire him a lot. He's the strongest person I've ever known & he's my ideal! The whole drive was quiet & I knew exactly why.

"We're here" I got out of the car & waved a goodbye to my dad. I watched him leave. I was upset about the fact that he wasn't attending my graduation since he had a really important meeting to attend. Not even Cara was here. She had to attend the lecture. I was lost in my thoughts when a pair of hands covered my eyes & I knew exactly who it was. Monty. Placing my hands on his, I turned out happily but was left disappointed & hurt to see who it was. It wasn't Monty, it was Niylah.

I thought it would be Monty since he does that everytime when I'm unaware of his presence. Monty & I, we've been besties since first year of high school. Niylah came 6 months after & became our roomate. Monty & I, we've always been closer & more open to each other than we were to Niylah. I knew everything about him & he knew everything about me. I used to have a crush on him but never confessed since I was scared not to lose him. I've been noticing him for a month now, he has started to act differently around me like he don't know me. I bet he's the only one who knows me inside out. Maybe it's because he has started to date Niylah.

Niylah was always jealous of our friendship but we thought she was being childish & laughed it off. It was true as well, she would pout whenever Monty & I would have secret talks. She's not the one I'm bothered by, what bothers me is the changing behavior of Monty. He never was like this. We've been drifting apart. Whenever I try to have a conversation with him like we used to, he just ignores me. We used to talk over phone all the time whenever one of us was away, but that has changed too.

Waving her hand in front me, she brought me back from my mental conflicts. "Back to earth, Em" She laughed like crazy & jumped on to Monty, snaking her arms around his neck & kissing him. That got me sick to the stomach. I know I'm being jealous but I can fight it. I've always been more controlling over my feelings. I laughed & high fived with the both of them since it's the way how we say HI to each other.

"I AM on earth, Niylah" I said, sticking my tongue out at her.

"I know you were expecting Monty to be the one covering your eyes since he always does that" There she was again, trying to provoke me but I won't let her win just like always. She knew from the very beginning that I had a crush on him but she took him away a month ago & Niylah & I, we agreed on being normal with no hard feelings but she's always trying to do something stupid "But I thought" she trailed off looking at Monty & then towards me, she came forward & clung on to my right hand "I'll do that from now on" She said cheerfully & Monty smiled at her childish behavior. I felt a burning sensatiom in my chest. If I had the guts to confess, it would've been me, making him smile.

"Of course! Whatever you want" was all I said & the three of us made our way to the chairs which were for the students.

"Hello Mrs. Rhodes. How have you been?" Sofia Blake Rhodes is the Mother of Niylah. Niylah's father died before she became our roomate & Mrs. Rhodes has been miserable after her husband's death.

"I've been just fine. But I miss John sometimes & it hurts" and there she was again, crying her heart out. I hugged her & patted her on her back trying to calm her down while Monty & Niylah were busy kissing, sitting among the other students.

"Where's Cupcake?" I asked Mrs. Rhodes about Niylah's little sister Ayla. She's a cutiepie & mature unlike Niylah. Sometimes I feel like Ayla's older than Niylah.

"She was here just a moment ago. Must've been looking for a toilet since she asked me about where it was but I didn't know where it was so I told her to find you guys & ask you about it. I asked her not to go to the toilet alone. What if something happens to her?" There she was getting all hyped about nothing. She's just so over dramatic but a nice person at heart. Ayla must be the copy of her dad then.

"Calm down, calm down Mrs. Rhodes. She'll be here somewhere. Let me look for her" I calmed her down & left her there to look for Ayla.

There she was, talking to Alex. I knew why she loved our college. Alex's my classmate & a really nice guy. I decided not to go there & disturb them and made my way towards my seat, waiting for my name to be called.

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The ceremony was perfect. Everyone delivered speeches & so did I. Not a speech but few words. I was sitting alone, with my ear phones plugged in my ears when someone cut the left ear phone with a freaking scissor! I snapped my head towards the person who committed this crime & smiled when I saw who it was. Taking my other ear phone out & placing it on the table, I jumped on to him & hugged him so tight that I could feel his bones cracking up.

"Easy there" He laughed & placed me on my feet.

"You've been here the whole time?" I asked him, not angry with him anymore.

"Yes. I got here as soon as your name was called" He pinched my cheek & I cried.

"Stoppp!! Jerk" I slapped him on his arm "Why did you cut my ear phone? Or are you gonna buy me new ones?" I asked him, realizing what he just did a few minutes ago.

"I-I" He opened his mouth to say something but ended up scratching the back of his neck "I've got a gift for you" He said, nervously. Why was he nervous? He's never been nervous around me.

"Come on, Theo. You know I hate surprises" I cried like a child asking for a spoiler or something.

"Uhmm. You'll have to wait for it"

"For how long exactly?"

"When is your birthday?" He said thoughtfully

"Seriously? You forgot my birthday?" I stomped my feet, looking like a child. I'm literally a child in front of him. He's a billionaire, a successful businessman & 8 years older than me. He's just like a brother to me. I don't have a brother but I have Theo.

"Kidding. Jeez. You're such a Child" Was all he said when I saw Monty standing alone for the first time in a month, looking at our direction with an unknown emotion in his eyes but he was quick to cover it & his gaze hardened. I felt hurt by the way he looked at me now. I turned towards Theo and he was already looking where I was looking a few seconds ago.

"Did something happen between you & Monty?" He asked out of the blue.

"Nooo. Why would you think like that?" I said looking anywhere but him. He held my chin to make me look up at him.

"You know you can't lie, right?" He said & let my chin go "You've never lied your whole life, you hate liars. Why lying now when you know I'll caught you right away!" He said making sure I can tell him whatever I want. He hasn't been around for almost half a year & I was happy to see him. I didn't want to ruin that for him.

"Let's go, Theo. Dad will be happy to see you" I said, taking a step forward but he was quick to hold my wrist & he pulled me back. He placed both his hands on my shoulders & since he's 6'0 whereas I'm 5'5, he lowered his head so that he can look me in the eyes.

"What's the matter, Giggles?" Not again!!! Not the nickname please. He knows he can get anything out of me whenever he calls me 'Giggles'. I hate that nickname & he will call me that until I tell him what's wrong.

"Fine" I backed away & looked him dead in the eye.

"Now that's my giggles" He smiled, flashing his perfectly shaped white teeth & ruffled my hair. I had let my hair down since the ponytail was too tight for my liking.

"So?" He waited for me to say something. I looked at him & let out a defeated sigh. I motioned for him to sit down. He knows about how Monty & I used to be inseparable but now we weren't even standing next to each other.

"What do you wanna know, Theo?" I looked at him with my head resting in my palm & my elbow on the table for support.

"Look, I know that Montgomery's your best friend & he would do anything to stick around you. What happened now?" He said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Long story short. He started dating Niylah" was all I could say.

He thought about it for a moment & looked at me as if I've grown horns on my head.

"What?"

"You said he started dating Niylah?"

"Yes. Why?" I asked, confused.

"That shouldn't have affected Montgomery's friendship with you" He said & put me in an endless mental debate "Montgomery isn't the type who would let anything affect his friendship with his best friend only because he started dating Niylah or maybe Niylah's the reason why he's being like this. Who confessed first? And did he ever tell you about his feelings for Niylah?" He asked me all of a sudden.

"Niylah confessed first & no he never told me anything about his feelings for Niylah, in fact he never thought of her like that. But what's that got to do with any of this?" I was quick to give him an answer & also quick to ask him a question.

"That's it. She must've said something against you that made him like you less, I guess?" He said

"But why would she do that?"

"Maybe because she liked him & didn't want to lose him to you" He said, scoffing.

"That doesn't make sense"

"Whatever. Let's go home. I'm tired & hungry. I haven't met your dad either" He got up & I knew I was going home with him.

Deep down inside, I knew Theo was right because Niylah knew I loved Monty. I told her that it's just a crush & I'll move on but she knew all along. Maybe she really did tell him something to turn him against me.

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A/N

So? How was the first chapter? Did you like it or not?
Hope you did.
- Kainat