"Yes, yes. I see her coming. Thanks again, Jake. Yeah, I will speak to her. Yup, bye," I cut the call and stopped my foot tapping on the porch as I saw her coming down the pavement.

"Nora, I was so worried. Don't leave like that again," I said worriedly as she came nearer.

"Fine," She grumbled and walked past me without sparing a glance.

"Nora, I am sorry-"

"Why don't you make a list, huh? Write down all the sorry's you can manage to say within a span of few weeks and paste it against my forehead," She smiled sweetly, "That way you don't have to tire your mouth. You can just cross off one sorry at a time."

She was really angry. Like mad, fuming, fire-breathing angry.

Then again, I wasn't expecting her to jump up and down in joy. Me and my slip of tongue. I had taken another girl's name and said things which no girl would like. In fact, the same would apply for boys too.

"I didn't realize I was speaking about her and then all the later words came out wrong. I didn't mean to hurt you," I said earnestly.

"You never mean to hurt me. You just do it accidentally," She said loudly, "It's all too fast for you, its all too messy for you, it's all too weird for you, it's all too impossible for you-"

"No, don't say like that," I took a step forward.

"But it's the truth, right?" She asked quietly.

"I..." I stopped because she was not wrong.

"It's not really complicated if you make it complicated, Derek," She said in a raspy voice, "Just give me a final answer and I will understand. You know you can answer in negative too, right? I won't hold it against you."

"Nora, it was just a simple mention of her. I am sorry if you don't like her-"

"It's not that, Derek. I like Reina. She is a lovely girl. It's you who have real issues that need to be sorted right away because I dunno why, I feel you are still stuck in the past and you are too scared to even give yourself an opportunity to even think about someone else. Anyway, I am not in the mood to fight right now. I will speak to you later,"She rubbed her forehead, looking tired.

"Nora..."

"Don't you 'Nora' me in that tone. I am going to bed. Tell your mom I won't be having dinner. I had it at Olivia's," She walked out.

"There is a get together at Jake's place-"

"I am coming! Olivia personally invited me!" She shouted back.

"Okay," I mumbled, feeling low.

~°~

"Everything alright?" Ma asked as we sat down.

I hummed in acknowledgment.

"So when were you going to tell me about the little jail episode you both had?"

I froze, the fork hovering outside my mouth, "W-what?"

"How long did you think you can hide?" She was looking at me with her sharp eyes, "You forget I work at the committee. We have paperwork and Mrs. Shaw saw you both working."

Fucking hell. Could nobody shut the hell up?

"Ma," I gulped, putting the fork down, "I am so sorry. We broke into our school on a holiday because I wanted to show Nora where I had spent some of my best years. I swear I didn't get a criminal record. Chief Officer Warren gave us community service and we did that diligently during the morning and afternoon hours when you went off to work. The fine was managed and I didn't want you to feel ashamed-"

She was laughing softly, "Derek, not saying what you two did was right but its not that that which made me disappointed. The fact that you hid it from me-"

"I know! I know! I am sorry," I buried my head in my hands.

"What did Warren say?"

"Gave a warning and a ten minute lecture. Said I came from a good family and I should strive to maintain my name. He mentioned you, saying I have to take care of you so I can't go around, breaking inside property."

"He speaks in hyperbole but I am sure he catches teenagers and young adults with worse deeds. He was scaring you off. Your father went to jail too and I am pretty sure half of the town has gotten parking tickets. Just don't hide things in the future, okay? I don't want to be that parent who doesn't have a clue what goes on in their child's life. You won't shame me, you've already made me more proud than anyone in our town."

"You already know almost everything," I mumbled, "There's nothing interesting happening in my life that I should hide it from."

"Really? Not even Nora?"

I raised a brow, picking up the fork and mentally thanking I didn't get a hearing from her, "What about her?"

"Is Nora well?

"Yeah, she is a bit tired, that's all," I said quietly, chewing the bland salad.

"She won't have any food? At least the salad-"

"Ma, do you think I am still pining over Reina?" I asked suddenly.

"What? What kind of question is that?" She laughed.

"A simple and direct one."

"How will I know? It's your feeling, not mine," She answered, adjusting her reading glasses.

"Yeah, but do you think that I am still into Reina?" I prodded.

"Let me ask you something different. Do you see yourself with someone else anytime soon?" She asked, leaning forward with a smile on her face.

Maybe.

"If it's a yes, it means you are over her. If not, then it's a no," She said, returning to her food.

"What if I am confused? Like a maybe?" I asked.

"Hmm. That can be confusing. Is the yes more dominant or no?" She asked.

"Yes part," I nodded.

"Then, it's a yes."

I kept quiet, poking the fork at the spring onion. Then, according to my Ma, I had moved on. According to Nora, I haven't.

"I like Nora. I think she is a good girl," She said after a while, "She has a bit too eccentric fashion with her attire, tattoos and piercings but I guess this is what kids nowadays wear, so its fine."

I looked at her to find her again smiling at me. Like a knowing and wise smile.

"Wait, you-"

"I might have work during the day and cooking at night but I am a mom and I can see if my son has something going on in his mind," She said warmly.

"You like Nora?" I asked, then paused, "She is good, isn't she?" I smiled slowly, staring at the plate.

"Very much. What's stopping you?" She questioned.

"The 'no' part of my brain," I replied, "It's me."

"You do remember what happened last time, right?" She asked.

"Vividly,"

"You never told Reina and she went away. Don't repeat that."

"I know, I know."

"A heart can only tolerate so many heartbreaks before it cannot be mended anymore," She nodded, "And don't be in it half heartedly. Neither of you deserve that but don't string her along either."

"Exactly which is why I need to make sure I am absolutely positive about Nora. She is a good person with a large heart but I need to love her. I don't love her that much yet, Ma. I can't be so unfair towards her," I said impatiently, "This is not fair to either her or me."

"I do agree but you better not take an eternity, Derek. She will not wait forever for you and she has no liability either," She said.

I didn't make any fake promises this time.

"I am scared, Ma. What if something doesn't work out? I understand your twenties are meant to be fun, hang out and explore but I realized it a long time back, I am not that kind of guy. I want to commit fully, body and soul if I fall in love, again. The feelings I have for her is nascent but its growing and I am honestly scared. The Reina fiasco messed me and I don't think I can tolerate another one leaving due to any reasons."

"Why would she leave if you are both clear on where you stand? Communicate, honey. Communication is the sole key. Bottling up your feelings won't do you any good. And coming to Nora, nobody knows what the future holds but you have to take risks. It's like share market. You won't know unless you invest."

I nodded, exhaling loudly. She made sense but things were always easier said than done.

"Oh, just one thing. Tell her to stop smoking and hide the ashtray behind her back when I come."

~°~

"Nora, speak to me. Please," I knocked on her door.

"Go away, Dora. Go explore something else," She shouted, "Maybe your secret stash of porn."

Thank God she was again calling me Dora. I was beginning to get worried. Even though I wasn't a big fan of the name - nor would I ever be - I didn't want her to stop calling me like that.

Like Olivia called Jake by his full name.

"What can I do to make it upto you?" I asked again, ignoring her taunt.

There was a pause for five seconds.

The door swung open and she came out, wearing pajamas too big for her, "You would do anything if I ask you?"

"Anything," I nodded.

"I am going to take a shower. Wanna join?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

My mouth opened, "W-what?"

"N-nothing. Y-you go b-back to having y-your food. M-Mommy must be w-worried for you," She mimicked me, scoffing, "Two years and you still stutter like we are strangers, idiot. Can't you talk normally with me like you do with everyone else?"

No. She was a special case afterall.

"Don't make fun of me like that, Shortie," I narrowed my eyes.

Her eyes widened, "What? How dare you call me Shortie?! Take that back!"

"Won't," I said calmly, crossing my arms and leaning against the doorjamb, crossing my feet at the ankles.

She came and grabbed my hair, tugging it painfully, "Take. That. Back. You. Imbecile."

"Ow, ow, ow," I groaned, trying to pull her hand away but she had a tight grip.

"Leave," I cried, "Leave the hair!"

"Yeah. Sucks to have longer hair than mine, huh?" She laughed shrilly.

"I don't have longer hair than yours! Your hair is longer now!" I shouted.

"I will cut it soon. Your hair falls on your forehead and almost reaches the nape of your neck. You want to compete with me? I won't let you win," She snorted.

I couldn't help but laugh as I poked her hip. Immediately, she let go and squealed, "Bastard! You dare to use my weakness against mine!"

"That's how you win a fight," I grinned at her, wiggling my fingers at her, "You almost pulled out half of my hair. You deserve at least some punishment."

"Don't. I will bite you and not in a sexual way," She warned, moving back.

Instead of blushing, I laughed even harder, "So good to have you back."

"You are a- don't you dare come near me! I mean it, Derek!" She shrieked as I lunged at her.

She screamed at the top of her voice as I grabbed her wrists in one hand and started tickling her with the other.

But Nora was a surprisingly strong woman for her stature. She started kicking and punching me violently, shouting loudly. I grunted in pain as she elbowed me hardly.

"Shortie. Shortie. Shortie," I still hollered in laughter as I continued tickling her, ignoring the pain from the jabs she was pricking.

"Derek Callingham, you will rot in hell! You fucktard, you-"

Lets just say she said some more colorful words as I continued tickling her mercilessly as she half cried half laughed on the bed. She was gasping for breath as she protested.

"Oh Nora," I laughed as I finally let go and she breathed heavily, "I fucking hate you-"

"Wrong thing. You actually love me-" I stopped at the words I was gonna say next.

She stared at me curiously as I let go fully and stood up before taking few steps back.

"Sorry," I mumbled, looking down, "I crossed the boundary-"

"Please Dora. My boundary is big. You keep on reducing it," She rolled her eyes.

"Thats very bold of you to say-"

"Tell me something."

"What?"

"Is it always gonna be like this?" She half smiled, but it wasn't her usual smile. It looked sad and pitiful.

"This what?" I asked.

"We get one close moment in rare cases and you are always gonna feel guilty about it or ruin it?" She asked gently.

I blinked and looked down, unable to think what to say. What should I say? I swear, I never meant to do the wrong thing. It just happened. Always. I wasn't used to physical proximity with any girl. Wrestling or fighting with them was a whole different area for me.

"Nevermind. We should get ready," She sighed, "I am sorry for ruining your mood."

"No, I can't help. Its a reflex thing. I don't know what happens to me whenever-"

"Its the Reina effect. Like a magic wand. Or a puppet," She rolled her eyes.

"That's not true-"

"Lets not start with that again, okay? Go and dress, Derek."

"Don't let things get sour between us like that. It was going so well few days back. We have spent half of our time here. We can't let the rest of our time be so bitter," I pleaded.

"You are right," She nodded to my surprise, "I won't let things be so sour between us."

"We will get ready in ten minutes?"

"Sure. Sure," She nodded, "Absolutely okay."

It wasn't okay. It wasn't okay at all. But I was going to make things right between us. I wouldn't let things be so bitter and sour.

"Get the hell out of here Callingham. It's too early for you to see me naked."

I had never walked out so fast from a room before.