As Maya got the text, she smiled like a giddy person. Today would be the day. The day where Ved would confess his feelings for Maya out in the open. Maya had to dress up for the occasion!

She looked through her closet and found the white sweater dress that she had bought ages back with Priyanka. She had been a lot more chubby then but now, she was at a reasonable weight. She slipped the sweater dress on, which hugged her body at all the right places. She pulled on a red scarf over it and wore black knee high boots to finish the outfit. Some girls dressed like this to school everyday but Maya believed in simplicity. Then she headed over to the mirror to touch up her concealer and kajal, the minimal makeup she wore everyday. Her cheeks had a natural flush from the excitement that she had in herself so she went a little daring and decided to wear a thin layer of red lipstick, that she had never used. When she was done, she let her curly hair from its ponytail and let it settle on her shoulders.

Perfect! She thought. She took her phone and walked out in the snowy weather. She was freezing but if Ved had called her outside, then it had to be important, right? She walked into the woods and into the small creek that was frozen at the moment. Ved was standing there, next to the bench that was placed for runners who needed a little break from their running. He looked at her, his eyes dancing in excitement.

"Maya." he said in a whisper, his mouth giving out a puff of cool air.

"Ved, why have you called me here?" she asked. He got on his knees. This was it. This was the moment.

"Maya, will you do the honor of becoming my girlfriend?" Ved asked her, holding out a red rose. Maya sighed in happiness.

"Yes, I will." she said accepting the rose. Then someone began to clap from behind. Maya turned around abruptly. Who was ruining their moment?

She saw Aryan, the Indian bully of the school. Behind him stood Caleb, Nicholas and Wong, the members of his gang.

"Well done Ved, well done. You have proven yourself to become a part of our group." Aryan said, clapping.

"Ved? What is going on?" Maya asked Ved. His usual smiling face was now ashen, and set in stone. He looked remorseful for a second but then it passed.

"Oh, poor Maya, did you actually think Ved liked you?" Caleb asked with a snigger.

"What amazing acting! Why have you never tried out for the school play?" Wong asked with a snort.

"Ved, what are they saying?" Maya asked, a bad feeling growing from the pit of her stomach. Suddenly, she saw Ved's face change into one of a sneer. His usual smile vanished and he looked...

He looked like one of them.

He faced her, with a smirk as he stood next to Aryan. Aryan put a hand around Ved's shoulder, to show the closeness of the gang.

"Who said I wanted to be with you Maya? I can't believe you fell for that." Ved said.

"Ved, wha- what are you saying?" Maya asked. She could feel the familiar feeling of betrayal seep through her skin in the biting cold.

"I am saying that you are the most boring person I have ever met. Look at you! You wear sweatshirts and leggings like some homeless person, you don't speak to anyone and most important of all, you are the most ugliest person I have seen. Why are you even here? Get lost freak." Ved said, as he spat out. Maya turned around and dropped the rose. As she dropped it, one of the thorns pricked her deeply and she ran, her curls bouncing after her and leaving red droplets of blood behind on the snow.

~

Maya Srinivasan was your typical anti-social person. Her Friday nights were spent in solitude, watching a movie or reading a book. She was a kind person, but people often misunderstood her for her quiet nature. But all of that changed when she met Ved Shastri, an always-happy person who crashed Maya's peaceful world with his presence. Maya didn't like to be around guys but Ved changed all of that and became someone who Maya could trust. Maya, being the innocent naïve person she was, fell in love with Ved. But when Ved broke Maya's heart, Maya decided that she would have to change herself.

Not all popular people want to be popular. Sometimes, you don't have a choice.

A/N: And that is a wrap! How was the starting? I hope you give this book a chance! Cover Credits go to @Krazy_Kiran who outdid herself this time as usual!