"How was lunch?" Ma asked as we arrived home the next day from Jake's mom's place.

"It was good. Aunt Emilia fed me extra, so I don't think I can have dinner today," I said, feeling stuffed and about to burst as usual.

I don't know what was with our mothers to feed us to death. It seemed they couldn't feed us to optimum level, they always had to cross that level so we started panting for breath.

"Oh, please. It wasn't that much. I can have dinner, Ms. Callingham," Nora quipped.

I gave her a horrorstruck look, "Are you mad?! Do you have any idea how much you have eaten? You barely eat half of the amount you had today at university."

"Derek! If Nora wants to have dinner, she will have it. Don't defy her," Ma scolded.

As if she always let me defy her, I snorted.

"I like your mom better than you," Nora informed.

I rolled my eyes, "Your stomach will burst."

"No, it won't," She argued, "I once ate three bowls of noodles, two bowls of rice, one entire chicken roast and two bowls of ice cream over a day," She declared, "That's not much, is it? I used to do lots of physical activities back then so I got hungry. The bowls were small though."

"That's it. I declare you unstable," I raised my hands, "Ma, Nora is unstable!"

"Welcome to the world of Nora Wright," She flashed her signature smile as my mom laughed from the kitchen.

~°~

"Ma, I think I need some mints. My stomach will burst. I need to clear the smell of meat out my mouth. I brushed but it's still nauseating," I groaned, standing at the foot of the stairs, rubbing my stomach.

Nora and Ma were chatting and having dinner. Ma glanced up, "Oh sure, honey. Go bring some for us too," She said.

Nora giggled and winked at me, "Don't get lost, Derek."

I glared at her, "You think this is funny, huh? That I am about to explode?"

"Very," Both of them started laughing at me.

"Hate the female species," Muttering, I walked out grabbing the car keys.

~¤~

"Orange, mango, strawberry... original," I grabbed the two packets and walked over to the cashier.

"Thanks," I smiled after I gave the money and walked out, feeling relieved at the cool air.

I popped one mint in my mouth and relaxed as the cool flavor spread in my mouth. I chewed slowly and looked at the surroundings.

The walls had been re-colored and someone had done graffiti in front of the shop. Some of the trees had been cut down and a new construction had started in the vacant land next to the shop. I observed the changes whilst I had been away. They were less but still noticable.

"Derek?" Someone called out.

No, not someone. Her.

"Reina," I stated and looked to my left to see she was carrying two bags and standing on the sidewalk.

"Hi, shopping again? Just like old times, huh?" She smiled and I couldn't help but notice those dimples again.

"Nah, just some mints. I went over to meet your mom today for lunch. Jake was there too," I said, feeling weird that nobody was here with us.

It had been long since it was just the two of us meeting. I again expected a full rush of feelings but felt a calm aura around me. I could feel myself not shying away, blushing or having any other romantic feelings towards her. I felt happy around her, no doubt because her presence still made my mood lift up but it didn't feel necessary anymore. I could be happy on my own too without depending on anyone now.

"Oh yeah, I couldn't come but she did a half day. Work was calling. She again stuffed you too well, huh? I remember we met each other like this. You looked like you would die that day," She gave a pity laugh.

"Sort of," I ran my hand through my hair wondering of a good topic to talk about, "You seem to be shopping a lot more than me."

"Yeah, grocery shopping. Axel won't come till ten. He has started doing extra hours, his workload is increasing day by day. The day you met us was the one of the few days he got off," She nodded.

"Oh. I see."

"Alright then, see you. Nice to meet you again. You should come visit us sometime at our place along with Nora. She is a lovely girl," She smiled.

"Wait, you haven't got your car?" I asked.

"Oh no. My apartment is just few blocks away. I will manage," She said, shrugging it off.

"With those bags? Come on. I will give you a lift. I have my car. Actually, it's my friend's but you get the idea," I said, moving forward.

"Its fine-"

"Come on, Reina. I won't eat you up," I snorted and cringed immediately.

"I-I am sorry. I didn't mean it that way," I stammered, fidgeting.

Get a grip. You were doing well. You can still do it. I imagined Nora standing beside me, laughing at my awkwardness. Oh no, she wasn't getting another chance to poke fun at me. I straightened, shaking off any kind of nervousness. Take that, Wright.

"It's alright," Reina snickered, "Just the same old Derek," She said, laughing.

Nope. Not anymore. That Derek is long gone.

"Here, let me help you," I grabbed the two bags and led her to the car.

"So, you both are fine, huh?" I asked, as I started the car.

She nodded, "Yeah, though Axel tends to return home late nowadays, it's still good. We are both drowning in work. Plus, cleaning and cooking are not easy tasks. Axel helps me sometimes but its stressful," She rambled, stifling a yawn, "We decided to hire someone but figured let's save our money now. Mom offered help but it's actually cool, having your own financial independence and investing. Once we have enough money someday, I'll buy my own house and a dog."

I could relate. I couldn't wait to make my own money. I did do a part time job back in freshman year but stopped after studies started piling up and I was lagging. I looked over at Reina briefly.
She did look tired and exhausted. Her job must be killing her. She looked like she was barely getting any sleep as dark rings covered under her eyes and a general drowsy feeling seemed to hug her.

"How is working with Aunt Emilia?"

"Good. I don't get to meet her often at the building. She is mostly busy touring the cities for work and in her own cabin. I operate from here though I might get some assignments in Boston soon."

I nodded, "That's great. You seem to be loving it."

"Definitely. How about your studies? How is Yale?"

"Big and grand, specially our libraries. My favorite is the Beinecke where the rare books are kept. But honestly, I cannot say I am the best student there."

"Really? Derek Callingham not being the best? Dear God," Her eyes grew wide.

"You'd be surprised how average I am there compared to others. I do hope I score a good internship this year once junior year rolls in. I spoke to some seniors and got advice from Professors. Let's see what happens."

"You've grown. New Haven suits you," I could feel her smiling.

I should say something too in response.

"Your hair has grown longer," I blurted out.

Shit. She will kill me now, but she snickered instead to my relief, "Yeah, I have to cut it, if only I could manage some time. I need few days just to sleep and get a spa day."

"You should call Nora. She has good cutting skills, both hair and other stuff," I gave a small snicker.

"Really?" She smiled, "What other things is she good at? Tell me more about her. I didn't get a chance to speak to her much that day."

"If I start telling you about Nora Wright, it will never end," I said truthfully, "I can write a thousand or a million books on her."

Funny how two years ago, I said the same thing about Reina. Now, I could just say it in a page or two maybe compared to Nora.

And Nora thinks I haven't moved on. Stupid girl.

"Tell me in one sentence then," She said.

I paused, "One sentence? Let me think..."

"Don't think so much, just say whatever the first thing that comes to your mind."

"I don't think I have met a crazier person than her in the literal sense of the term," I said, thinking. That was the best I could come up with.

"That's your feeling. Not a description of her," She laughed.

"Well, imagine Jake, multiply his behavior and antics by ten times and then you might just reach her level," I chuckled, "I thoroughly love it. Don't tell her I admitted it. She won't let me live that down."

"Really?" She asked, wide eyed.

I nodded, "She says studies are too mediocre for her. You won't ever see her studying like a normal human being. She will get up at four in the morning and start studying just because she felt like it or skip an entire day of studying. If everyone is busy celebrating Christmas, she is busy with studying snow and doing a research on it. Who researches on snow anyway unless you are a scientist? If others cry over a fallen ice cream, she cries over an ant getting accidentally squashed by her. If others are busy stressing over exams, she is busy studying the various kinds of flowers in the campus and sketching them," I explained hurriedly, "There are a variety of people like her in Yale, I know but she is the only one of my acquaintance who has actually made me question a lot of stuff."

"So, she sounds adorable," She concluded, seeming to egg me on.

"You can put it that way. Once, the professor told her that the red dye in her looked ridiculous. The next day she painted it fluorescent orange with highlights of red just to spite him off," We both started laughing.

"Really?" She laughed, "My god."

"Personally, I feel she gets away with it a lot because of her father but then again, who am I to judge? She really makes me laugh a lot. I don't think I have ever laughed so much with another person," I snickered, shaking my head.

"She can be Jake's sister instead of me," Reina seemed to be brimming with joy which was a bit weird, if you asked me.

She looked like she had received the moon. Why did my telling about Nora excite her so much? I decided to ignore it and continue.

"I know, right! I tell her the exact same thing! You know, she knows every country's capital and also knows how to speak in french, spanish, german, japanese and broken mandarin. One year, she decided she would learn five foreign languages as a new year resolution and she learnt it from the internet and later took online classes. She might not be fluent but she can understand it very well. She is sort of child prodigy, I guess but not in the traditional bookish sense. I don't know how she handles everything. She always has so much things going on that I understand, Greywall is extremely lacking and dull compared to her life," I shook my head, "With her, there is not one moment of ennui. You will just love her."

"That's great!"

"Yes but the best part is, she is not fake at all. She isn't afraid of who she is, you know. She comes from a freaking rich family but she never boasted about it or was arrogant about it. At times, some of her habits might annoy me and she is too bold for me sometimes. She can be perceived as having a superiority complex but she is a very genuine person. She won't sugarcoat her feelings or-" I stopped as I briefly glanced at her.

Reina was looking at me with a hint of smile on her face. I saw it from the corner of my eye and felt consious suddenly. Was there something on my face? Did I say too much? Why was she smiling so creepily?

"W-why are you staring at me like that?" I fidgeted.

"Because you are happy due to Nora," She said, "That's what I wanted."

Ah, classic mistake again.

I could be happier if I would be with her, I thought. Things would have been different. I could still go to Yale, meet Nora and be friends with her while I would have a beautiful girlfriend and awesome friends.

I was self contradicting myself. Just think what you were doing, Derek. Have you or have you not moved on?

"I am happy," I agreed.

I had moved on.

"Did you find someone?" She whispered after she told me to take a right turn.

"No," I said curtly.

Nobody had matched upto her yet. The day I found someone like her, I would find the right girl for me. I doubt I would ever find a girl exactly like her.

"No one? Not even a liking?" She sounded disappointed.

"No, Reina. I didn't," I said, "I couldn't," I added truthfully.

"Please don't tell me that you still-"

"No, I am not going to come in between you both. I have moved on," I said firmly.

"But do you still have feelings-"

"I don't know. Do I wish that you had chosen me? Yes. Do I wish I could have it differently and asked you before he did? Yes. But do I want to wreck your home? No. Not at all," I said genuinely, giving a forced half smile.

She sighed as her face turned gloomy, "Stop in front of the red apartment," She said, in a sulking tone.

"I'm sorry for ruining the mood," I muttered as I stopped in front of her apartment.

"No, I am sorry. I shouldn't have asked those questions. I just want you to be happy, Derek. Enjoy and have a nice time. Its good to have you back," She said and got out. She opened the back seat's door and took out the bags.

Gathering them, she bent her head down in front of the window, "I know why you didn't visit us these two years and I am guilty about that. I feel really bad about it sometimes. I miss our friendship. I miss the time when Jake, you and I hung out. We will probably never have that kind of rapport ever again with all our work commitments and different cities but I have enjoyed every activity we did together back when you were in high school and I was in college."

I looked at her, not saying anything.

"I just wish you would realise I am no Mary Sue. I have my flaws and if you would see that, you would know we always were very incompatible even if were to date someday. I am not a perfect person, I just wish you would stop worshipping me. Maybe then we could have been better friends than we ever were."

I clenched my jaws, "I know you aren't perfect now but sure. I understand."

She paused, "Time doesn't stop for anyone, it moves on. It's high time you start moving too instead of dwelling on what could have happened. It's too late now, otherwise I would have invited you in. You should go home and thanks for the ride."

"Goodnight, Reina."

"And one more thing before I forget. Maybe, if you open your eyes just once, you would see that for most of the time you spoke about Nora and looked so happy, you should've seen your face. You only got serious and brusque when we spoke about us. What does that tell you?"

She straightened and walked in without an answer from me as I watched her go.

I had moved on. I might have feelings for her, not so intense but I wasn't acting on them at all. So, why did everyone assume I was still standing at a fixed point?

I wasn't even trying to come in between her and Axel and not wrecking their relationship. So, what was the problem?

It wasn't necessary that I found a girl to move on. I had other ways of moving on too. Falling in love again was not the only one.

But I had a sinking feeling Reina and Nora were right.

I was a confused bastard. But what did she mean by the last part? I didn't like Nora like that. Friends could also make you happy.

Nora was my friend and she would remain one.

*****

Author's note:-

Who is ready to slap Derek in order to let him see what's happening in front of his eyes?

P.S- Though, I too believe that you don't need a person to move on always. In this story, maybe a guy like Derek needs one but not in all cases.