"I am not sure if this is the address," I looked at the message Jake had sent as I stared at the alleyway, "He says take a right and walk five steps before you will see a building browner than your shit. Oh god Jake," I rolled my eyes.

"Wow. I mean I get the love between you two, but he even knows the color of your shit? That's taking love to a whole new level," Nora laughed out.

"You know-" I turned towards her, "You have spoken a lot since yesterday. Yet, you haven't opened the cloth tied around your head. Why don't you open it?" I said curiously, "I haven't seen you without this since today morning."

"I wanna keep it," Nora shrugged, "I dyed it just before coming."

"Come on, open it. You couldn't have dyed it any color we haven't seen you without it," I urged, "Open the bandana."

"Okay fine but you have to promise you won't freak out," She gave a mysterious smile, raising her hands to undo the knot on the bandana.

"Of course I won't. I have seen every color left for you to dye, Nora. Even a yellow and onyx color," I snorted.

"Not every color. Not my original one," She gave a tug and the material came off as she shook her head a little to make her hair appear more ruffled.

I felt my eyes widening and surprise reeling in as I took in her hair that was now a simple honey blonde. She turned around and with full force threw the cloth away and it flew away with the breeze. She didn't seem to mind as she shook her head again, running her fingers through her hair.

I realized I was gawking at her like a moron as she managed her short (now growing into medium length) hair, patting it down. It looked so weird seeing her like this. I had never seen her original hair color and it was very nice and refreshing, seeing her like this.

"Stop staring like that, Dora or I might just take advantage of those lips," She stated, looking up with a smirk.

I shut up and nodded, my neck flaming.

"It looks good. Your natural color," I said genuinely, scratching my neck to get rid of the warmth.

"Thanks Dora," She combed her hair with her fingers.

"You look good with blonde hair. I've never seen your natural colored hair," I mumbled.

"Do I look sexy enough?" She gave a dramatic pose, pouting.

"You do," I laughed, "You look good. Why did you dye it your original color?"

"Just don't want them to get a thought that I am crazier than what I already am. You know, I have to make a good first impression," She shrugged.

"You don't have to make an impression on them. They will like you as you are," I reassured her.

"Didn't feel like so when I got to know they don't know about me," She snorted.

Guilt punched me in the gut, "I said I am sorry-"

"Great! Let's move, shall we? Your friends must be waiting," She gave a toothy smile.

"How come your hair doesn't fall off with all the dyes you use?" I wondered.

"I take good care of it. I use lot of Korean products, they are good. Plus, it's just been two years I started dyeing and I keep it short."

"You didn't dye in high school?"

"Never, mom would kill me. It was always properly groomed."

"Well, it really looks good. It suits you."

Shut up and stop making an ass of yourself. It's just Nora, for gods sake.

"Why are you blushing so much?"

"I am not!"

"Huh," She remarked, clearly not believing me, "I seriously don't understand you sometimes."

Neither do I. Hell, I was acting like a newly wed bride. Geez. What's wrong with me?

"Nevermind, let's go."

~¤~

"Yes, this is it," I climbed the stairs and stood in front of apartment 2B, Jake and Olivia's new apartment.

"Here we are," I could feel the grin breaking on my face. I was meeting Jake and Olivia almost after two years and I swear meeting them was making me feel giddy with joy.

Jake was the same, I knew. From the way he spoke, moving in with Olivia was tough but he was managing. The boy was growing up afterall.

Olivia was probably the same too. Last time I spoke with her, she was studying for some test and was speaking in the language of half sums and half english. So, I wished her the best and ended the call. She always went crazy before any exam and I was smart enough not to tease her about it if I didn't want a black eye.

When I got no response, I turned around but saw no one.

"Nora?" I looked around to find she was standing at the foot of the stairs, looking queer.

"What are you doing down there?" I asked.

She was clenching and unclenching her fists and mumbling all the capitals of the countries again. Her eyes were running back and forth from left to right as she blinked fast.

"Hey, you alright?" I skipped down the stairs and stood in front of her.

"I don't think I am ready to meet your friends, Dora. They will find me odd and make fun of you. I don't want that," She looked at me unsure.

Smiling gently, I walked down the stairs and stood in front of her, tilting my head down.

"Nora, deep breaths. You will be alright. It's my duty to make sure you are well settled and comfortable. They are gonna love you the way you are. You don't have to fake anything. Be yourself," I said in an assuring tone.

"I don't know..." She trailed off, "You never told them about me. So, I don't get how..."

I wanted to say the real reason I didn't tell them because she was correct. She was going to get judged. I didn't know about Olivia much but Jake would. Jake definitely would.

No matter how much Jake was a nice guy, he was blunt as hell and could be judgemental too. He would directly insult or point out someone's flaw without hesitating about the other's reaction or feelings. He called a spade a spade. Though it was a good thing, it could turn out to be the source of many ugly spats and crushed self esteems. He didn't always mean to hurt them, he just spoke what he felt which was a source of tension between him and others.

I was more of a diplomatic person, specially if that person was a stranger. Once I got to know the person, I would be comfortable but Jake had no filter in his mouth unfortunately. He was going to point out instantly all of Nora's weird habits and behaviors. Olivia would understand. What if Jake didn't?

Nora, inspite of all the toughness, was sensitive. She knew her behavior weirded other people out and that was why she remained aloof from most people. I always figured she tried hard to fit in and had this image she had deliberately created and cultivated but somehow, I always felt she was sad about the fact she was a social pariah.

That's why it was always a question as to why she chose me of all people. I was, if possible, even worse than her when it came to social contact. If it weren't for Jake, I would be a social outcast at high school.

"Nora," I tucked one finger under her chin and lifted her face up. Her brown eyes looked at me with curiousity.

"I am here with you. Don't forget that. You should trust me," I said softly.

That was enough for her to agree. She nodded, forcing a small smile, "You're right. I am overreacting and this isn't about me. Let's do it."

I clasped her hand in mine, "It's about both of us. I am tensed too. I am meeting them face to face after two years. Seeing them on skype is different but you will love them. I assure you that. Jake might take some time but you will warm up to him by this night."

"I trust you," She gave a small smile. I grinned back at her as we again climbed the stairs and stood in front of the door.

I took a deep breath and rang the bell as her hold on my hand tightened. For some odd reason, even though I wasn't exactly a physical touchy type of person, I didn't mind. Nora felt like home and warmth, just like Jake and Olivia.

"Jacob! Open the door! They are probably here! I am in the kitchen!" Olivia's familiar and authoritative voice rang out.

"I can't! I am still in my underwear! Seeing you in an ugly apron is way better than seeing me without pants and believe me honey, I would only like it if you saw me in that state!" Jake shouted.

What if I had been a mailman? Or his mom? He should really keep his voice low.

"Don't call me honey!" Olivia shrieked, "Do not aggravate the person who cooks the food, you oaf!"

"Fine! Spit in it for all I care. It's not that we haven't exchanged that before, Ellis!"

"Fine! I will!"

Ah, good ol' days. How I missed them suddenly. It seemed so long ago.

Nora giggled, "Oh my god. They are so embarrassing."

"This is only the beginning. With these two, you'll never be bored," I snickered.

"Why did Olivia tell Jake not to call her honey?" Nora whispered.

"She doesn't like people calling her terms of endearment. She finds it cringey," I explained as I heard the lock opening and the door swung open with a wild and dishevelled looking Olivia.

"Derek Callingham! My god! Derek!!" She beamed and before I could say anything, she came and jumped on me literally, hugging me tightly, "Oh, it's been too long!"

"Woah, you are hugging people now? That's a drastic change, Olivia," I grinned, hugging her back equally tightly.

"Yeah, blame it on Jacob," She pulled back and rolled her eyes, "The clown is still in his underwear. I told him to get ready half an hour earlier but the moron he is, he will always leave everything at the last minute and then scamper. I have almost finished cooking. I have been trying to make this pasta and I hope it's good," She rambled off.

"You look..." I trailed off at her attire. Her apron was dirty and the sleeves of her shirt rolled up. Her hair was tied into a ponytail and strands of hair was falling on her face with flour on her cheeks.

"Horrible, I know. Have you grown taller? Jesus, Derek! How much taller will you get? You are becoming a pole now! I-" She stopped speaking as her eyes landed on Nora, hiding behind my frame all the time.

"Hello. I am Nora, Derek's friend," Nora smiled breathlessly, waiting for Olivia's reaction as she held her hand out.

Before Olivia could say anything, Jake came out pulling up the zip of his pants and spotted me.

"Bro! You are here finally! You dumb asshole! Come here, idiot!" Jake engulfed me in a bear hug, "I could almost kiss you right now," Jake shouted, almost bursting out my eardrums, shaking me.

"Look at you, Jake. Same as ever," My voice was muffled from the hug as he was almost breaking my bones now but I still felt the grin splitting my face.

"Two years, you dog! You couldn't have visited us sooner?! Every summer Olivia and I made a bet you would come and you didn't! I have lost two hundred dollars already," He pulled back and appraised me from head to toe like Ma did with Nora.

"Hey, that went to rent and groceries!" Olivia poked him.

"You look thin. The food is so bad there, huh? Told you not to leave Greywall. Now go and live on brussel sprouts and broccoli," He snorted and his eyes finally went to Nora next who was watching our exchanges curiously.

"It's not bad. It's quite good on the contrary. It's just mountainous stress-"

Before I could complete, Jake stood in front of her, raising an eyebrow with his hands on his hips, "And who are you, weird looking mousie girl?"

Then his eyes popped out of the sockets, "Wait, don't tell me I forgot your name. Shit, I always remember every girl's face I slept with," He walked over to Olivia, "Liv, I swear I don't know this girl. I didn't cheat on you. I have never seen her before-"

"No, observe closely," Olivia pulled his ear.

Jake winced, "Ouch! What are you doing, woman?"

"Look carefully. She is here with Derek. She is the one with whom Derek came. She is the friend. Nora," She pinpointed.

"Yes," I agreed, "Before you start uttering shit, let me do the introductions. Nora, this is Jake and Olivia. This is Nora, my friend," I stressed on the last two words.

Jake's expression blanked as Olivia let go of his ear and he rubbed his ear, "Oh."

"Yes. Oh," Nora nodded, "And even if I knew you before, I wouldn't sleep with you. You are too loud and crass even for me and believe me, I am."

Olivia froze and looked at her, "Oh wow."

"What?" Jake looked offended as he looked at her with disbelief, "So hypothetically, you wouldn't bang this guy with this face?" He pointed at himself.

"Sorry, no," Nora simply shook her head, "I wouldn't bang you even if you gave me thousand dollars because I have enough in my account and have been with my share of extremely good looking guys, some of them even models."

There were few seconds of pause as Olivia and I gave amused looks between Jake and Nora, both challenging each other silently.

"You know what, you are my new best friend," Olivia said, looking at her in a new light, "I feel we are going to be good friends. Very good friends."

"Wait, she is the friend?" Jake looked at me weirdly.

"Obviously. What else would you have expected when you said he is not coming back alone in an excited tone?" Olivia asked as a matter of fact.

"But she is a girl," He frowned.

"Fantastic observational skills, I must say," Nora rolled her eyes.

"Derek is friends with a girl. A girl," Jake chortled suddenly, finding the situation suspiciously funny.

"So? When I called, you were expecting a girl. Why are you looking so surprised now?" I asked, confused.

"I honestly didn't think that far. I was more excited about the possibility of it than the real thing."

"That's it then. Come on in, you both. You will get loads of time to talk after we are done with at least a bottle of wine down," Olivia replied as she ushered us in.

*****
Author's note:-

So, I finished watching "13 Reasons why" and I loved Alex Standall. 😂😂

Miles looked so different and his character was so horribly opposite to the guy I have for my main character.

Like, I imagine him more like Drew from "Parenthood."