Till now, what I had gathered from the get together was this:

Olivia had excessive cleaning desires and we agreed on many things when it came to politics, economy or national affairs. I was already loving her and she made me feel welcomed more than anything. She loved doing sums like me and was quite impressed when I said I knew all the countries' capitals. She showed me her medals and trophies and I was really taken aback by the number. The whole room was only covered with Olivia's academics merits and Jake's sports trophies.

She was also a bit hesitant about touching other people but she had hugged me twice already. She also loved Coldplay with dubious passion and was planning to run for member of the Town Committee by next few years.

She called Jake by his full name and hated anything too mushy or romantic. If she wasn't shouting or smiling, she always had this blank expression on her face that refused to reveal what was going on inside her head.

Her boyfriend was not as complicated as her. Jake was horribly blunt and rude, I thought. He criticised me saying I was too weird for Derek which earned him a slap from Olivia and glare from Derek.

He told me my fascination for hair dye colors were horrible and he might suffer from color blindness if I ever came in front of him with violet dyed hair. He was okay looking but the charm wore away as soon as he opened his mouth.

I hated him already. Without a doubt.

Olivia and Jake were so comfortable with each other and trusted each other that I felt a bit jealous. I too wanted a relationship like that but not with a guy like Jake.

Maybe Derek.

So, in conclusion, I liked Olivia way more than Jake. He was too much loud and rude for me.

"Thanks for the webcam, dude. I loved it. I needed a new one," Jake examined the gift Derek bought for him.

"Yeah, thanks for the dress. Its lovely," Olivia smiled, having finally showered and changed into a dress not covered in flour.

"I was a bit confused. I knew I wanted to bring gifts for you all but didn't know what. So, I came up with the only things I could find. Olivia has too many books and I didn't know which book she hadn't read already," Derek rubbed the nape of his neck and smiled sweetly.

"So, tell me something," Jake kept the gift aside and looked at us, "You guys aren't dating?" He asked curiously, looking between us.

"No. We are not," Derek said smoothly, sipping on his soda as he had refused to have any beer.

I didn't mind. I love drinking and was not ashamed of it. But I had decided that I wouldn't get drunk this vacation.

Soon, I would break that resolve. Twice. But lets not delve into that now.

"But you both..." Jake trailed off frowning.

"Leave it, Jacob. If Derek is saying they are not dating, they aren't," Olivia said, trying to avoid any awkward conversations.

"Friends with benefits?" Jake asked and then burst out laughing, "I'm sorry. I couldn't say that with a straight face. Derek and casual fling is just too much," He hollered with laughter.

I frowned. Why not? Dora could also be in a casual relationship. What was so bad about him? If he wanted, he could get a girl with his shy and quiet nature. Jake didn't have to downtrod him like that.

Olivia sighed, "Sorry about him, he just decided one day to stop growing mentally."

"I can vouch for that," Derek still had that smile, not looking insulted at all, "What about you both? Shifted in, huh? Liking it so far?"

"Loving it," Jake leaned back on the couch, stretching his arms with a satisfied smile, "I can have sex whenever I want, wherever I want-" He stopped as Olivia gave him a look.

"So, did you meet anyone else then?" Olivia asked Derek, brushing Jake off.

I resisted the urge to snort. He behaved like a hermit on campus. Celibacy was second nature to him. I admit he could get any girl and it was Yale afterall but Derek was too much into his books and own world to notice someone.

I doubt he ever kissed a girl besides on the cheek. I knew he had two girlfriends but he told me they kissed on the cheeks and that's it. He was still a lip virgin, I guess.

And people called me a nerd.

"Nah, I am too focused on getting my assignments done and passing my exams with satisfactory results," Derek snickered, "I plan on starting an internship after summer break. So, I am going to be busy."

"You both seriously don't feel like banging each other?" Jake asked, not listening to him and looking seriously concerned for Derek.

"Jake!"

"Jacob!"

"Not again!"

"Geez, sorry people," He rolled his eyes, "I just can't believe Derek didn't even look at any other girl for two years."

"I told you before when we spoke, Jake," Derek sighed, "Now, drop it and speak about something else other than my non existent love life."

The conversation soon drifted to college stories, pressure of more studies and career plans before the bell rang suddenly.

"Oh, by the way," Olivia paused.

"What?"

"Reina and Axel are coming too," Olivia said cautiously, "She called me and found out you were coming, both of them wanted to meet you."

I immediately looked at Derek and to my disappointment, saw his face falling. His smiling expression vanished as he bit his lip, "Really? Oh."

Oh? Just an oh? How about oh crap or holy fuck! My little friend is gonna wake up from its slumber!

I wanted to protect him from this sadness. I wanted to take this marshmallow of a boy and defend him against every wrong. I felt a sudden tug in my heart and a wave of possessiveness wash over me.

"I am sorry if you are uncomfortable. They heard it and invited themselves. Its kind of forceful and if you want, I can kick them out. I don't mind," Jake's face turned tensed for the first time since I saw him.

"It's gonna be okay, Derek. I am here," I provided, wishing Reina and Axel wouldn't come tonight. We were having a lovely evening and Derek seemed so happy and cheerful, unlike anytime I had seen him at Yale. I didn't want his relaxed nature to disappear so soon.

Everyone's eyes flickered to me, "Derek told you about Reina?" Jake asked, raising his eyebrows.

I nodded, "Everything more or less."

"I am fine. Its gonna be okay. I will be alright," Derek smiled again but it was a fake one, I could make out.

I could feel him going bonkers at the mention of Reina and for the first time, I felt like I actually wanted to see Reina out of curiosity despite not wanting to see her at the same time.

Never before, inspite of hearing stories about her, had I ever wanted to meet her. I wasn't curious so I had never seen any of her pictures deliberately despite the opportunities. I was glad she was gone as she had hurt Derek a lot, albeit unintentionally. I knew Derek was a bit skeptical and didn't seem too keen on relationships.

To be honest, I never liked Reina from what I heard from Derek. She was gorgeous according to him and her smile could apparently lit up the darkest room. Derek could never point out any flaw in her and that made her seem superficial and fake to me. She had the biggest heart, most beautiful smile and her beauty was enough for a man to go gaga.

B. U. L. L. S. H. I. T.

She was not Helen of Troy. She was a bloody princess who had had everything going in for her and was at the top of social circle where everyone worshipped her on her diamond throne.

And her boyfriend Axel was the male version of her but only with buckets of insecurity and too much selflessness for a normal human being.

He still seemed more natural to me than this Reina chick.

Whatever it was, I wanted to meet Reina. I wanted to see the girl who made Derek act like a pussy and reduced him to a blubbering mess with no brains. She couldn't be that pretty, could she?

As I said, bullshit.

Was I jealous? Hell yes. Did I sound bitter? You got that right. A big yes.

Olivia looked serious as there were some more knocks, "You sure again, Derek? You can tell us and we will speak to them."

Derek got up with a determined expression, "Come on, Olivia. I am not a child. I am ready. I have to meet them someday, right? So better do it now."

I got up too and stood next to him. He was already sweating as he rubbed his palms together, "I am ready," He repeated, moving his head and rolling his shoulders like he was about to go to a war.

"Deep breaths, Dora," I said quietly, putting my hand in his, "She is just a girl at the end of the day, not a goddess or angel."

"That's the problem, Nora. She was never just a girl to me," Derek whispered back, "But this time, I will have control, I promise," He squeezed my hand and gave a smile at me.

This boy was seriously gonna love her forever? Like seriously? How? How? How could anyone love another person this much? Even I didn't love Derek despite having a massive crush on him. What kind of sorcery was this? When was the blindfold ever going to come off?

Jake was watching us instead. He stared at me scowling, like trying to decipher something. I raised an eyebrow at him. He shook his head and looked at the door.

Olivia went and opened the door, "Hi!"

"Hey, where is our hotshot city boy, Derek?" A girl's voice came in. It was unlike what I had imagined. I thought it would be shrill and high. It had a heavy, deep and soothing baritone with layers of depth in it.

Oh no.

"Hi guys," Jake called out. Olivia moved from my vision and I saw Reina and Axel for the first time.

The first person I saw was the guy. And oh boy, was he a sight for the sore eyes. I felt my mouth opening as I took him in.

Derek wasn't wrong at all. He was the hottest guy I had ever seen in my twenty one years of life. None of the guys at our campus or in the parties of my parents even came close to him.

If Derek was the cute guy a girl wanted to take home, this guy was the hot, panty dropping good looking guy whom every girl wanted to bang and take him home.

It felt surreal. It felt like he just came out of a film. He couldn't be this good looking and still be in this town, working somewhere. He had to be an undercover model.

This guy didn't even dress up fashionably. He just had a loose shirt and jeans on, for gods sake. His hair was not even gelled and combed hastily. It just fell upon his forehead as he smiled and...

Oh god, his smile.

This guy was what we called- effortlessly beautiful. Or handsome. Just put any adjective. He wasn't even that muscular like Vin Diesel or freakishly tall like Derek. He was just gorgeous. Dark hair, high cheekbones, light brown eyes, sharp nose and chin, a light stubble and perfect eyebrows. He had these black rimmed round geek glasses that added to his extreme hotness and I swear I was drooling and eating him up in my mind.

There were some scars, however, ruining the otherwise smooth skin but anyone would avoid that. There was one from his left ear running down the side of his neck, a small one on his forehead, one on the top of his left eyebrow. If anything, it just added to the charm.

When girls meant they loved guys in glasses, they obviously meant this person.

Heck, I didn't even feel like this when I met Derek.

I wanted to eat this guy up and what not to do with him. Maybe get some chocolate and then-

"Fuck," I whispered, shaking my head to get rid of those impure and forbidden thoughts.

Derek chuckled, "Told you he was not bad looking, though the scars are recent addition, I am guessing."

"Bad looking? He is going to be the source of my wet dreams from now on. Just get me one of him," I almost whimpered, "Fish, can't I just take him home with me? Can't I order one on Ebay?"

Derek laughed, "Statement of every girl who has met him."

I swallowed and looked at Reina finally.

Instantly, I understood why Derek liked her. I had expected her to be completely different in my mind. The girl in front of me wasn't what I had perceived her to be.

She didn't have botox or surgeries. She wore a white top with black pants and had hair flowing down till her back. She didn't even bother with the makeup or heels, wearing a pair of old sneakers. Her eyes were very large but somehow seemed to fit her extremely round face as she smiled a devastatingly dazzling smile. She had a slim and toned body with a blessed height and I felt like a dwarf next to her.

She wasn't exactly what I would term a sexy femme fatale. She was more on the sweeter, prettier and innocent version of beauty.

Everyone was taller than me. Pfft.

There goes my theories of Reina Johnson down the drain. It pricked me how genuine she looked. If she looked and acted louder and faker, I would have good reasons to hate her.

I felt like Shawn Mendes singing "Mercy." These two human beings should be awarded "The Most Beautiful Couple".

They had to be models. They couldn't be simple, working people in this town that had serious mosquito problems. They were simply breathtaking. If I could take these two to my university, none of the students would be attending classes and everyone in a relationship would breakup.

And yet...

Yet, I still liked Dora. More than Axel (even though I knew I would see this guy in my dreams from tonight as I established before.) Maybe its because they were too gorgeous. Derek wasn't. He was moderately cute and simple.

Simple. For a complicated girl like me. Maybe that's why I liked him so much. If I ever went into a relationship with Axel, lets be honest, I would be insecure for the entire time. Only a girl like Reina could afford a guy like Axel. It seemed good genes were their best friends.

Everything Derek told me about the Johnson siblings, Olivia and Axel came ringing back to me. Most of the times, I felt Derek used to exaggerate but now, unfortunately, I had to admit he was right. (Except Jake, he just had the looks but dog poop for brain.)

"They are both so sexy," I sighed softly, shaking my head, "They look like a celebrity couple who have awesome bed looks. Are you sure they are not models or actors?"

"Reina? Axel?" Derek finally said, not hearing what I said thankfully. His eyes were transfixed on the two guests.

Reina's eyes flitted to his. There was a brief pause as both of them breathed quietly, not moving their gazes off each other, "Derek," She smiled finally.

Derek quickly left my hand and walked over to her, "Hi, Reina."

I felt empty all over as I clenched and unclenched my hand once before putting both of them behind my back, looking down and obviously awkward.

"Look at you," Reina gushed and they hugged.

I felt a drop of lava flowing inside me as they broke apart, with identical grins on their faces, "Derek, you have grown taller. Is that a stubble you are keeping?" She grabbed his chin and turned his face to check.

How was anyone seeing a beard? This guy didn't have any! And move your hand from his chin, woman! I don't care how sexy and beautiful you are!

"Derek," Axel greeted, "Finally you are here, man."

I knew Derek had hated Axel when they met but this time, they gave a brief, man to man hug and I was happy to see Derek was smiling as he stepped back one step.

"Derek, its been so long. Why didn't you ever come back after leaving?" Reina gave a playful accusing look.

Because of you, genius. I rolled my eyes.

I saw Derek's expression faltering for a second but he came up with a smile, "I am here now, right?"

"You have grown taller or what? Plus, you look-" Axel began but Derek interrupted him.

"Don't say skinny, everyone is saying that," Derek laughed half heartedly.

"Because you have grown thin. Grow thinner anymore and we won't be able to see you next. We will have to breathe you in along with oxygen," Jake snorted.

"No, its just that I don't eat home cooked food anymore. I miss Ma's cooking."

"I still can't believe you are here," Reina said as they came in and she kept her handbag on the couch.

Of course not. Its his cardboard cutout standing and smiling like a buffoon who just won the lottery.

"And you must be his friend?" Axel asked as they looked at me.

"Yes. Nora," I almost squeaked at the guy in front of me.

Take off your shirt. Wiggle your butt. I am yours, honey. I could buy handcuffs and paddles. Oh, the things I could do if he were my boyfriend. I bet this guy was a Dom, he had to be a freak in sheets, doing all sorts of kinky things.

I let out a small laugh at the dirty thoughts spewing in my mind.

With Derek, I never associated the word 'dirty'. With this guy, I could take dirty to hell and heaven and it still wouldn't be enough.

Control Nora.

"I am Axel and this is Reina," He flashed a grin and I resisted myself from growing red as I gave a small smile.

Reina must be banging him every night. She had to. I would never stop ogling at him if I were in her place.

Jesus, I needed Holy Water. What was wrong with me? I never blushed. I was usually so cool and composed around boys. I never behaved like this. I needed to calm down.

"Hello, I am Reina. Its so nice to meet you. I must say Derek never said anything about you-" Reina beamed but was interrupted by Derek.

"She is just my friend. We are just friends, before you assume anything," He clarified.

Normally, I agreed with Derek because I knew we didn't have a future but right now, I wish he hadn't interrupted her. I wanted him to play on the bluff that I could be his girlfriend.

Maybe I was really into Derek and even though Axel said I was a friend and Reina assumed I was a girlfriend, I wanted Reina's prediction to be true.

Shit, what if it wasn't a casual crush? What if it was more?

I felt my eyes widening at the realization. Derek didn't have a clue. He was still always going "Reina, my Reina."

It would take eons or a forever for him to say, "Nora, my Nora."

On top of it, Reina was as beautiful as I could have only seen in my nightmare. She would be the dread of every girl with a boyfriend.

And it didn't help the fact that she had an equally delicious boyfriend. Every person in a relationship along with their partner would be busy gawking at them instead of each other if they came into sight.

There wasn't even a game to begin with. It was a lost game.

But then again, I was a player since birth. And I loved playing tough games. I wasn't losing this one to her.

Maybe till now, I never acted on my feelings because I felt Derek wouldn't be over Reina.

I forgot that some people never understood anything unless you pinpointed it to them and Derek was one of them. He needed a push.

As I stood there with Derek shooting glances at Reina and my jealousy burning at a temperature of 130°C, I took a momentous decision after a momentous realization.

I liked Dora a lot and I was going to give him a push.

*****

Author's note:-

I know many of us will not admit Chace Crawford and Katie Findlay are that good looking, but just put any guy in your mind who gives you the feels as Axel and Reina gave Nora.😋😋😋😋

I just find them really hot (Specially Chace in GG) and they are of course in my list of celebrity crushes which never seem to end. I am always adding and adding.

You can just imagine any good looking people as the couple.