CHAPTER TWO
❝ star & freckles ❞

          ESTE was going to murder her sister. she knew that the next day pip was going to take them to their first interview. este didn't think much of it. she was thinking it was just one of andie's close friends or school friends. starting off easy.

"pippa be prepared to actually take your last words." este whispered harshly over to her little sister. pip pushed este in front of her as they walked up the path to the front door.

"that's the haunted house." a kid that was on the sidewalk said pointing to the house that the two sisters were walking to. este had the sudden urge to turn around and tell that that it isn't a haunted house and tell them the kind of people that the singh family are. but pip continued to push este forward.

"i know you and him used to date so it's only responsible for you to be the one to knock. plus, a cute reunion!" pip said walking up the steps but este stayed down the two steps.

"he wasn't my boyfriend. he was my friend." the way it came out of her mouth pip knew that it meant more than what este lead on. pip noticed the way that este's mood would completely change into a more happier mood whenever she was around ravi or sali, or come back from their house. she was jealous that este hung out more with them, even after, but she was glad that her sister found someone. even if they denied it.

"yeah, whatever. it'll be a cute reunion!" pip said pulling her sister by her sleeve. este made the mistake of wearing a hoodie and a pair of shorts. the hoodie was now suffocating her despite it being a large. the shorts were stuck to her thighs and she could hear her heartbeat going as fast as lighten mcqueen.

"oh yeah, definitely because after i say 'hi, long time no see. do you mind if my sister and i ask you some questions about the murder of andie bell and your brother who used to be my friend as well? i brought cookies!' he'll also think it's a cute reunion. seriously pip." este said pitching her voice higher than her normal raspy voice. pip rolled her eyes and shoved the container of cookies to este's chest.

"maybe not like that. but definitely point out the cookies." pip said tapping the container twice before giving este one last shove. este was about to shove pip but the younger girl knocked on the door three times. este accidentally let out a loud huff. pip stood behind her older sister holding her breath and anxiously rocking back and forth on her heels.

it was almost a minute since the knocks and este was about to tell pip that they should go when the sound of locks unlocking — multiple as far as este could hear — and then the door opening up just a bit. estes eyes landed on the almost shadow figure that was covering himself with the door. she would only see his hair spiking out and his eyes looking everyone before landing in her.

"ravi, hi." este breathed out clinging on box of cookies like her life depended on it.

she could faintly see his eyebrows frowning. she was scared that he didn't recognize her. she could feel her heart beat harder and faster when ravi scanned her entire body then locked eyes with her. it shattered her heart as ravi didn't say anything.

"uh, im es—"

"i know who you are este, im just confused." ravi said cutting off este who was going to stupidly introduce herself and her sister. pip smirked to herself. ravi hasn't seen her yet. he was too busy blinking rapidly to make sure that she was actually standing at his front door step with a container to her stomach.

"oh! well, uh, i just-i just wanted to—" pip pushed este away not baring to see or hear her older sister stutter any longer and not getting to the point. ravi's eyes widen as the shorter girl came from behind este. his eyes lingered on este for a bit before shifting to pip.

"hi, ravi, you don't know me. i'm pippa fitz-amobi. i was a couple of years below you at school before you left and you were friends with my sister." pip said giving ravi a warm grin and the pointing over to este who's eyes never left the boy. she couldn't deny how handsome he turned out. he was always a handsome boy, but now, it was different. she also couldn't deny the wha that ravi looked exactly like sal.

"okay..." ravi trailed off still confused.

"i was just wondering if i could borrow a jiffy of your time? well, not a jiffy... did you know that jiffy is an actual measurement of time? it's one one-hundredth of a second, so... can you maybe spare a few sequential jiffy?" pip said rambling on and on about facts that were about what she was talking about but never getting into the point. este snickered finally tearing her eyes from ravi and down to pip who's face turned red out of nervousness and embarrassment.

"is she okay?" ravi asked este. the door opened a bit more during the process of pip's rambling. este was able to see the his face turned into an even more confused look and also concern look at the younger girl.

"eh." este said shrugging her shoulders, "pip get to the point."

"right, sorry, sorry. nevermind," pip said letting out a breathless laugh. none of them laughed with her. "so i'm doing my EPQ at school and—"

"what's EPQ?" ravi asked pip.

"extended project qualification. it's a project you do independently, alongside a levels. you can pick any topic you want." pip explained.

"oh, i never got that far in school." ravi said, "left as soon as i could."

este remembers that day. senior year. ravi complained the entire school year how he hated it but still got a's for all of his classes. este was the one doing bad at school even though she went everyday. when the last day of school skipped ravi and este skipped graduation on accident. they celebrated the day by going out for ice cream on the outskirts of town where hardly anyone knew about them.

not that they were even missed during the ceremony. they didn't even notice that the two were gone completely since the start of the day till ravi and este ran inside of the school and over to the ceremony. they still got their diploma but it was worth it. them skipping it and just celebrating with only him and her.

"oh, well, i was wondering if youd willing to be interviewed for my project." pip said fidgeting with the paper from her journal. it was getting real now. she was here. to the point where she's always wanted to be.

"what's it about?" he asked.

"um," pip cleared her throat kicking a fake pebble on the ground. "about what happened five years ago."

este felt an unsettling feeling as ravi's eyebrows hugged closer to his eyes. her eyes feel down to his hand that was on the doorknob. his arm was flexing showing some of his veins popping due to the pressure he was creating on the doorknob. he was angry. who wouldn't be.

"it's not what you think, ravi." este said speaking up for the first time after her small stutter at the start.

"what is it then." ravi said locking eyes with este. he raised his eyebrows as the sisters found their words first before responding to him.

"because i don't think your brother did it," pip said standing straight in her spot. she dropped her arms to the side of her body holding her ground. "and i'm going to try prove it."

༺♡༻

"so, you back for good or just for the summer?" he asked taking one of the baked cookies and shoving it inside of his mouth. "and when you leave again are you going to lose contact again. you know, just so that this time i get a heads up instead of being left on delivered."

the silence was too loud after his last sentence. the guilt trip worked and she couldn't blame him. it's not his fault he doesn't know why she cut everyone off including her family. este brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees.

"your hair." he muttered copying her moves but his knees were spread apart.

"what." este whispered turning her head to the side. the two were outside of his backyard. pip left after ravi agreed to the interview put set it to friday, este left as well. but she came back hours later with the box of cookies and asked him if they could talk.

that's where they are, not talking. the sun was setting and they had the perfect view of the moon rising and saying hi and goodbye to the sun. the sun sadly leaving her soulmate as she drifting into the bliss. este found that sound. how the sun and the moon only had a few hours to see each other before once again leaving. their love isn't enough for the universe to keep them together.

"it's brown." he said. este held in her breath as ravi brought one of his slim fingers up to her now brown hair. he grabbed one of the curled pieces and twirled it around his finger. once his brain processed what he was doing he dropped it but kept his gaze on her.

he ruined my blonde hair. she wanted to say so badly. but she didn't no matter how much it was tempting. she loves that it was like they never stopped being friends. it was back to where they left of. nothings changed. expect, everything has changed.

"needed a change." her lie was smooth and didn't raise any doubt. ravi hummed and looked away from her. his eyes then looked at the moon that was now lonely shining brightly upon them. shinning for the sun. so that the hours can go by quickly to when he'll be able to see the sun again even for a split moment.

"i'm sorry." este said. her finger found their way to her hair and she started tugging on it and twirling it around. she wanted to talk to ravi. really talk to him but words didn't seem to have their way to form inside of her mouth.

"sorry for what." ravi said wanting more than just that. he doesn't care if he's being petty, or unfair. he deserves more from este's.

"look, ravi, i wasn't exactly in the right place okay. even if it's just community college the people, the studies, everything eats you up alive. and i-i didn't want you guys to worry about me so i got distant from everyone." este said shrugging her shoulders. the grip on her hair got even tighter to the point where she was getting a migraine from her own actions.

"what happened?" ravi asked slowly. in an instant ravi knew that there was more than what meets the eye. ravi wouldn't have a second thought to help her murder someone or murder someone for her. if anyone hurts her, he'll lose his mind and do the worst thing possible. anything for este.

"i'm here now. for good. i'm not going to leave or anything. i dropped out and there is no way in going back." este said letting out a laugh despite the sob being stuck on her throat. "you'll see me more often especially since this thing for pip, so try not to murder me with your eyes. or hate me."

ravi stayed quiet. "i can't never hate you." ravi whispered. his voice so low that este almost didn't catch it. ravi then grinned at her for the first time and she never realized how much she had missed his grin. or smile. or his voice. she has missed his voice. "you're stuck with me star."

he then held up his wrist showing the very bad diy bracelet. este groaned but held her own wrist up showing the same bracelet. ravi and este locked eyes before bursting into laughter at the fond memory.

the two were forced to go to a kindergarten classroom and help them with an arts and crafts day. ravi and este were stuck with twins who were on their ass the entire day. este swears she did her workout for the entire year that day as the twins dragged them everyone. from the playground, to the grass, to the hallways, to playing hopscotch, jumprope and handball.

the twins then got tired so they went to the arts and crafts table. ravi and este were coloring together a page of a hello kitty coloring book while the twins sat across from them doing their work. then the end of the day came and the two friends happily said goodbye to the twins and were about to leave.

the twins gave them a "friendship bracelet." one of the twins even said, "make sure to talk about us during your wedding." the bracelet was a very colorful one. the beads were of different colors expect ravi's had a sun and este's had a sun.

"i guess so, freckles."

"you know i don't have freckles." ravi said shaking his head. este didn't answer him. he did have freckles. este could see them whenever she looks at him. there more like shadows but the freckles are there. ravi has told her a millions times after este made the nickname that the freckles aren't there and that she's delusional. she knows what she sees.

este smiled brightly at him and pushed his shoulder. ravi pushed her back gently and a laugh escaped her mouth. ravi let out a chuckle of his own from her contagious smile and laugh. they were good where they are. even if there were secrets hidden at the moment, they're okay with what they have right now.

each other.

▌ c. speaks . . . ˚. 𓄼
not edited!
my routine has been
rereading aggtm and write and listen to music.
nwkdkowdo