My mom always told me I should behave like a lady because that's what I was. When I asked her what did that exactly mean, she told me to walk straight and shoulders back, speak softly and mix with people of our class with an air of superiority, yet humbleness. Middle class families would never get it but things worked differently at our rung than theirs. There were more rules and regulations, more restrictions and the concept of marriage for business alliance wasn't uncommon. It might sound traditional but to my mom and others, it didn't.

Needless to say, the golden chains were suffocating.

One of her favorite parts of mine was my hair which reached to my waist till end of high school. She used to comb it sometimes and dress it with a variety of clips and bands.

She told me tattoos and piercings weren't worn by people of our stature and those were intended for middle class and lower class people who had lost direction in life and resorted to noise music to let go of pain.

So, I did all those things in order knowing she wouldn't like those.

It was an understatement. She almost fainted the day I visited her after I donned my look and almost didn't speak to me for three months.

Nobody knew that, not even Derek because we weren't too close at that time. I never bothered to tell anyone either. It felt weird to me sharing my problems with anyone.

Why the hell should anyone leave their own problems aside and deal with mine, anyway?

But right now, standing in front of the mirror, all ready to go- I wondered if I did the right thing.

Jake Johnson's words had left a deeper impact than he had intended to in all probability. It had affected me a lot. While he may have said that in regards to Derek, it also applied well to my family.

At the end of the day, even though I had succeeded in making my mom hate me more, I didn't feel much happy. I wasn't too happy now either. I did love my short hair but the forced makeover from an elite girl to a punk girl didn't exactly make me feel on top of the world right now. It was temporary happiness and while I didn't regret my tattoos, I couldn't help wondering what it would be if I went back to my original style. Would mom and dad accept me back?

With Derek and his love for Reina that made me puke, insecurities seemed to grow bigger. People often got scared of me or avoided me altogether. I didn't like that. I loved socialising. I actually disliked being the loner at University. Sure, I opened my mouth at wrong times but I loved making friends. I wondered why I went the other way throughout these years.

I sighed and made a promise I would try. I would try harder to be a gentler and kinder person. Derek had actually softened me a lot from that angry rebel teen I was before but I would be a better person. I didn't like the strict rules at my household but I didn't have to go all opposite to rebel.

I have had enough. I had to take a step back, pause and reflect.

Which is why I had removed all my piercings and instead of the usual hairstyle I adorned that consisted of barely a brush and spikes sticking out of every corner, I had combed it and styled it today. Grooming yourself wasn't bad.

I looked like a less scary girl currently who was actually Nora Wright instead of being my usual sense since past few years. I felt laughing at myself for even thinking like that before.

I was just like any other girl and it wasn't bad. It never was. God, it felt so good to admit that.

"You ready? I am downstairs," Derek shouted from outside, breaking my thoughts.

"I am coming," I said and opened the door.

I just hope neither of us messed it up.

"Jake just called and shouted at me for being late already. I told him-" He paused as I came downstairs.

To make my entry more dramatic, I walked down in slow motion with an airy breeze around me, whipping my now slightly longer hair back. I came down and gave him a full blown grin. I had to be dramatic though. I wouldn't feel like myself otherwise.

Derek had that stupid dumb look again that I had come to found adorable since a year. He gulped as his eyes slowly raked me in from top to bottom, his mouth open in a very undignified way.

"You look different," He whispered almost, forgetting he was wearing his shoes.

"Yup. How do you like it?" I twirled around as my dress danced around me, "I practiced the winged eyeliner last night so many times and I managed to do it after only three tries. How is it?"

"Wonderful. You look great. You took out the piercings," He noted, blinking fast, his voice strained.

"And I brushed my hair for more than two times," I stuck out my tongue. I loved poking my tongue out at grown people or make faces at them.

"Your face looks... different," He blurted out.

"That's because I scrubbed it," I rolled my eyes, "Seriously, how mindblowingly beautiful do I look? Droolworthy enough?" I joked.

"Very much," He agreed before his ears turned pink, "I mean, you look nice amd different," He stood up.

"May I hear any other word other than different from you?"

"I already said wonderful, great and nice."

I snorted at his lack of vocabulary before turning to move past him. Quickly, he grabbed my elbow. I looked up questionably.

He smiled, "You look gorgeous, Nora."

I smiled back, a bit flustered by the sudden move, "Thanks, Dora. Now wait. Let me check you out."

He had put on simple black pants and a collared shirt that had its sleeves rolled upto his elbows. He had also worn that watch of his and combed his hair neatly.

"You look good too. Except change your hairstyle. You are going to a party. Not a meeting," I stood on my tiptoes and ruffled his hair.

"Hey! Don't do that!" He scowled, stepping back.

"Too late. Already did. Now, let's go," I slapped his back.

"You messed up my hair," He complained, adjusting whatever could be adjusted.

"I gave it a more cool look than the uncle look you had going on," I said.

"But-"

"La la la la. I can't hear you," I put my fingers in my ears, singing tunelessly.

"You are delusional."

"Thank you, Uncle Callingham. Now let's go, otherwise Grandpa Johnson is going to be very angry at us."

"Why did you take out the piercings?" He asked curiously as we walked to the car.

"I just wanted to. Do you miss them?"

He shrugged, "Doesn't really matter. As long as nobody is forcing you to remove them. Did Ma or Jake-?"

"No! Nobody said anything. I did it because-," I paused, "I have missed my old self."

"Really?"

I nodded before hesitating a bit. Then deciding whatever the hell would happen, I opened my purse and took out an old photo of mine before tapping his shoulder to stop the car.

"What? Don't tell me you want to give the second kiss here," He tsked without taking his eyes off the road.

"No idiot. I have something to show."

Confused, he parked the car to the side and took the photo I held out. His eyebrows shot up as he took the photo in, surprised but not shocked.

"How old were you?"

"Fifteen."

"You were so cute," He grinned, examining the photo like a scientist with a microscope. Quickly, he took out his phone and took a snap.

"Hey! Don't do that!" I grabbed the photo, tucking it firmly away.

"Well, I needed a high school Nora photo. I'll show you mine," He took out his phone and excitedly scrolled.

"You save your high school photos in your phone?" I scoffed, "I cannot even look at myself back then."

"Weren't you the popular kid though?"

"The infamous rich heiress, more likely. I changed boarding schools a lot. But I still can't look at my pubescent photos," I shuddered as Derek handed his phone to me.

Derek stood next to Jake, both of them donning identical grins. Jake's was wider while Derek's looked more calm and peaceful. I could feel the difference in the energy of their postures and their expressions. Derek's hair was straighter back then compared to his wavy perm now. His cheeks were rounder and fuller but he still stood taller for his age.

"I was fourteen here. My first year in Greywall. Jake and I had been friends for few months already. I didn't have many permanent friends before coming here."

"Cute. Even my fourteen years self would have a huge crush on you."

He gave a deep bellied laugh that reverberated through the car, "Get your eyes checked. If you knew Jake from the same time, it's inevitable you would've liked him."

"Hey Dora, you're exactly like a pimple sometimes."

"Red and round?" He asked as he took his phone back and started the car.

"No, always erupting at the wrong time."

~°~

"You know, at least you can pretend to keep your hormones under check. You are practically eye banging him," Jake Johnson's voice rang out.

"So?" I turned to face him, "I have got nothing better to do. I don't know anyone else here besides you people and you all will be busy. That's why I am drinking and checking out Derek, two of my favorite past times," I snorted.

He grimaced, "That's disgusting to hear. Why don't you hang out with Axel?" He motioned to him standing at a corner.

"He is speaking to Reina. Derek is speaking to another friend of his. Olivia is chatting with her bestie and you are here. Why?" I asked him.

"To get myself a drink. You are near the booze table. I can introduce you to some of my friends if you want," He shrugged.

"No thanks. I am quite content here," I held up my glass as an evidence.

"Suit yourself. Continue speaking like a snobbish bitch and Derek will marry you this weekend," He said coolly, making himself a drink.

Shit. What was wrong with me? You just took a step back.

"I am sorry for being rude," I murmured, sighing, "Its just that-"

"I get it," He interrupted, "I am not asking you to date any of the guys here. Just speak to some of them," He replied.

"Like who?" I asked.

"Why not Penn himself? The guy who is speaking to Derek. We are all high school friends," He replied.

"I am-"

"Oi! Dumbass!" Jake shouted across the room through the ear shattering music.

Derek turned to face him, "What?"

"You won't introduce your friend to Penn?" He shouted back.

Derek nodded before he said something to the other guy and both of them walked towards us.

"Penn, this is Nora, the girl I was talking about. Nora, meet Penn," Derek smiled.

"Hello, there. I have never seen you before," The guy, Penn smiled at me, extending his hand.

"That's because I have never visited here before," I said as a matter of fact, shaking his hand.

"Derek told me you are here for the vacations," He said politely, ignoring my jab.

"Obviously. What else would I be doing here at this time?" I said seriously.

"I am gonna take off. Good luck handling her," Jake snickered and walked away. I was glad we were back to our usual banter camaraderie.

"Nora," Derek warned, "You are again drinking."

"I am not getting drunk," I retorted.

"So, what do you study?" Penn asked, still ignoring my less than polite attitude.

"Derek's head," I said absentmindedly, looking around the room.

"Nora!"

"Drama," I rolled my eyes. Seriously, nobody knew how to have any fun anymore.

"I am sorry," I said, "Please continue."

It was tough to practice kindness suddenly after being entitled and spoilt so long. Come on Nora, fix that attitude.

But as the Penn guy kept on talking, it was hard to maintain concentration because the talks were boring and I couldn't lie that I found him to be very interesting either.

What the hell made me fall for a guy like Derek then? The term boring had a synonym which was Derek Callingham. I bet this Penn guy couldn't be more boring than Derek, yet I loved Derek.

Fuck, I mentally laughed. I am so screwed, I laughed harder.

"Why are you laughing?" Penn asked.

"Nothing."

"Okay, as I was saying, I am studying-"

I smiled and nodded but didn't hear what he said because I trailed my eyes across the room and settled on Reina and Axel.

It had been ten minutes we were in and weirdly, Derek hadn't noticed Reina yet. Unfortunately, she looked devilishly beautiful as sin. She had donned a silver dress that accentuated all her figure like a goddess and her hair tumbled down in curls right to her back. She had worn at least four to five inches heels and applied a smoky eye shadow. She was a diva.

Derek would lose his mind if he saw her.

Axel too looked deliciously handsome in a casual wife beater and a blue navy shirt that had few of the buttons undone and his hair looked like he had just ran his fingers through it.

If I wasn't in love with Derek or he wasn't dating Reina, I would literally jump him here right now for a night. I would never date him though, he was too nice for my tastes.

Who am I kidding when it came to nicety, he wasn't Derek, simple.

Somehow, even though they were now speaking with some of their friends, I presume, everyone's attention was towards them.

I was surprised Derek hadn't seen them yet. He was too busy speaking to them. Every guy was lusting over Reina while the girls had dreamy looks plastered on them as they gazed at Axel. No doubt, they looked like the perfect glamorous couple.

Maybe one day Derek and I would be together and people would look at us in jealousy.

"Nora? Nora?" Derek's voice broke my thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"I asked if you were okay. Penn just went away. Where are your thoughts always running away?" He asked.

To you.

"Um... sorry," I shook my head, "Where is your friend?"

"Had to go to the washroom. What are you thinking so much?" He frowned.

"Not thinking, but looking. Didn't you see Reina and Axel? They are here too with their friends. Looks like Jake invited almost the entire youth population of Greywall," I said.

He frowned, "Reina and Axel are here?"

"Yeah, I wonder how you are failing to notice them. Everyone is only looking at them," I motioned to them.

Derek turned around and his eyes landed on Reina. Then to my surprise, he shrugged and looked back at me.

"Guess I missed out on them," He admitted sheepishly, drinking his soda.

Derek missed out on Reina? Even after I pointed it out to him? Was I in some sort of alternate universe?

"What are you thinking so much?" He repeated, "What is going on that devilish head of yours?"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Reina excusing herself before she gave a cold look at Axel and walked out.

"Stop looking at them. Look at me," Derek snapped his fingers in front of my face.

"You didn't stare at Reina," I noted.

"Not Reina, please," He sighed, "We will again fight."

"Well then, did you receive any mails for your internship?" I changed the topic.

"I have applied. They are yet to give me the dates for the interview."

"Cool. I-"

"Dance with me," He interrupted, holding out his hand.

I paused and frowned at him. Geez, he had finally descended into madness, hadn't he? Well, it was good while it lasted. Sane old Derek would be missed.

"You are not funny," He said dryly, making me realize I had wondered it loud.

"You are asking me to dance. In front of other people," I said.

"Yes," He said patiently, still holding out his hand.

"Whereas, just few weeks back you looked like you were about to get thrown off a cliff when I made you dance at the bridge," I raised an eyebrow.

"Do you wanna dance or not? Give an answer before I change my mind," He sighed.

"Where is the original Derek? How much ransom do you need?"

It seemed he finally had had enough as he grabbed my hand and pulled me on the dance floor. My mouth dropped as he slowly walked us up right in the middle.

I saw Olivia raise her glass and giving a smile, nodding. Jake's eyes had widened as saucers as eyes turned to us and I knew this was the first time Derek was dancing in front of others.

"What is wrong with you suddenly?" I felt thunderstruck, "You don't dance, Derek. You don't need to do anything which you don't want to."

"Sometimes, even if you don't want to do things, you should do it for others' sakes. It won't hurt you," He said simply as he put his arms around my waist lightly and we started moving. He looked up, murmured something softly and gazed at me. I could still feel his nervousness as he swayed us with the beat.

I knew this was a big deal for him and I couldn't help but grin finally. My grin split so big it hurt my cheeks as I decided to help him out and let us both tune in.

"I won't bite you Dora," I smirked, "Relax, you're doing great."

He looked down at our feet, scoffing.

"Yet."

That caused him to go deep shades of red, "You are really dirty minded. Here, I finally thought I had the upper hand."

"It's only with you, you know that," I said softly, "Plus, you just asked me to dance so I am pretty sure you just scored very high on the surprise Nora meter, the highest till now."

"Do you realize my hands are on your waist and you are ticklish?" He smiled mischievously, staring at me.

"Do you realize my hands have trailed around your neck and a normal human being can die by choking?" I smiled.

His smile grew wider, "You are so violent for a shortie."

"That's overused. Find another adjective if you want to sleep without itching powder tonight," I narrowed my eyes.

"You are insane."

"Something original."

"You are Jake's long lost sister."

"Nothing pukeworthy."

"You are perfect enough as it is. Don't compare yourself to anyone," He said.

How non-Nora, typical cheesy type. I felt like yawning.

"I have one for you," I said.

"What?"

"Give me a chance to show how beautiful our babies will sound calling you dad," I winked.

Derek burst out laughing, "Oh Nora, Nora, Nora. Where do you find stuff like this to say?" He shook his head, "What would I do without you?"

Cry an ocean over Reina. Work himself to death. Give competition to the greatest thinkers and philosophers on earth.

"No, seriously. Where were you all my life?" He gave a wide smile that lit up his face.

"At an elite penthouse in Upper East side before I almost ran away to Yale," I shrugged.

"I have never been to your place. Maybe next summer?"

"Sure. We will travel in limos-"

"You have a limousine?"

"My father has. We will go to all these branded stores and parties."

"That's all you did?"

"Yes. Yay, right?" I asked, deadpan.

"I forget how rich you are sometimes."

"I am basically the real life Blair Waldorf, minus the looks and devious scheming mentality."

"You are beautiful," He frowned, "Stop fishing for compliments. I know you aren't that obtuse."

I would've agreed before I came to know Reina.

"Let's not go down that route where I disagree and you continue to boost my self esteem," I sighed, "Besides Axel and the siblings, none of us are particularly lookers if you see properly. We are average and at max, above average."

"Well, beauty is subjective-"

"Etc etc etc. You are always so politically correct. Idiot," I made a face.

His eyes lit up as he had the most amused, chocolate boy look on his face. He had a toothy smile on as he moved us imperfectly. I didn't get how getting called an idiot was supposed to be amusing but to each his own, I guess.

He tightened his grip on my waist suddenly and twirled us around. Then to my utter surprise, he actually came closer and whispered in my ears, "Hold on to me tightly. I am gonna try something new."

"What?" I barely managed to say before he suddenly dipped me down so that my head was almost touching the floor. His eyes were filled with happiness as he grinned widely at me. Few strands of his hair was falling from his face as he held my waist tightly.

I tightened my grip around his neck, "What the fucking shit, Derek?!"

Collective claps and wolf whistles followed as he again lifted me up, the red and violet lights illuminating on his face as he looked younger and boyish suddenly, his face continously sparkling with radiant joy.

Like a child had visited Disneyland for the first time.

My mind had gone into overdrive as my jaws were almost touching the floor, "What the hell-"

"You are not the only one who can stun people. I did that good, huh?" He beamed, again starting to slow dance.

"What have you done to Derek Callingham?" I gulped, reiterating, "No seriously, first that and now a dip. The Derek I know wouldn't do that. What have you done to him?"

"Not done. Doing," He corrected, giving a crooked smile that actually gave me a weird feeling in my stomach. He shook his head and bobbed his head lightly with the rhythm.

Was he buying drugs regularly now? Is that what it had finally arrived at? Damn it, I knew I was a bad influence on him.

"You are dancing. You are speaking stuff that seems foreign to my ears and you just pulled a dip-"

"I am feeling really happy. Is it so hard to believe?" He asked breathlessly, turning me around and again pulling me close.

"I need a drink," I announced, stepping back, "Before my heart stops functioning, I need a drink. I fucking need to cool down. You are doing things suddenly and I am going to have a heart attack if you don't stop."

He rolled his eyes, "No more drinks. I'll get you an orange juice."

"There is none left on the table," I said, still riled up from the stunt he just pulled.

It wasn't much for many boys but it was too much for Derek. This boy would rather pluck his teeth out with pliers than do any kind of stunt that had the public's attention on him in social gatherings.

"Wait. I will get some from the kitchen," He said before unwrapping his arms and moving away to the kitchen skipping.

Is it possible for me to love that guy even more, because he was doing exactly like that.

Derek Callingham was my Reina Johnson. But maybe, he could become my Olivia and Axel someday.

I just had to stay patient, honey.