"So, how is Yale? How is your life now? Not your studies, but your life in general," Reina asked me, popping a chicken nugget.

"Its good. Very good, in fact. I am really happy there," I nodded truthfully.

Reina smiled, "That's good to hear. I have never been to Connecticut. It must be really beautiful."

I noticed the dimple on her cheek and looked away, avoiding her glance. That dimple still looked so cute to me. I was a fan of dimples. I couldn't help it.

"It is. It is beautiful. And you both?" I asked, wanting to take my mind off the dimples, "How are you both doing?"

Axel and Reina gave each other a glance, "We are doing good," Axel nodded, smiling, "Its been almost one year we moved in and I couldn't have asked for more."

"Of course you can't. She is my sister afterall," Jake mumbled low enough for me to hear. I gave him a subtle look, shaking my head. Jake gave a smirk and rolled his eyes.

"How long you are here for? You guys will be visiting our place anytime soon?" Reina asked, unconsiously interwining her fingers with Axel's. Axel gave me a brief glance before he looked away, but nevertheless wrapped his fingers around hers.

Something happened when Reina touched him and it wasn't jealousy. Not even anger. I couldn't exactly pinpoint it out.

"Nora will be staying here for five weeks and then she has to leave for some workshop she is participating in for the rest of her vacations. I will stay longer than that," I said, frowning to myself.

I couldn't understand what I was feeling. I wasn't jealous, but I wasn't dancing with joy either. It was a weird feeling that was happening right now.

I had expected a massive bomb and a hit of old feelings. But it was more like a toy gun going off.

"Cool. I will show all the good stuff that has happened in this town after you left," Jake grinned, "They have actually made a gaming section in that pathetic mall of ours. We-"

"Jacob, Derek has come here to enjoy and spend time with his family. Not to play video games. I am pretty sure he does that with his roommate. Kyle, isn't it?" Olivia asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, we play sometimes. He is a good gamer."

Jake snorted, "He is not me. That's the difference. Kyle is not Jacob Johnson," He said, every word dripping with utmost arrogance.

I saw Nora scowling at Jake and rolling her eyes before she concentrated on her plate, poking her food.

"You won't be showing Nora the town?" Axel asked looking between Nora and me.

"Yes, actually. I have been planning to do that," I nodded, taking a nugget, "I am showing her some places tomorrow. Maybe the picnic garden and the zoo."

"Thats not even big enough to call a zoo," Jake snorted, "We don't even have a tiger. Few deers and monkeys prancing around."

Damn, I admit I was still looking at Reina and not Axel but my heart wasn't bubbling with joy. I was getting confused now. If I weren't jealous or happy, what was I feeling? Had I moved on finally?

I was feeling odd. I wasn't understanding what I was feeling right now. That was unsettling. I wanted to have a good grasp on my emotions but it seemed as if they were in no mood to be under my control.

"We will go with you too then," Jake chimed in.

"But you have to go visit your grandma with Reina," Olivia noted.

Jake smacked his head, "Fuck it, I forgot. Banshee, can you go alone?" He asked Reina.

She smirked, "You really think I will go alone and face all the mocking? You are so sweet."

"But-"

"Thats all right, people. I think I still remember the roads and lanes. I can show Nora around by myself," I interrupted before the siblings broke each other's neck again.

"I can come," Olivia said.

"No, it's fine. I will manage. Guys, have faith in me," I raised my hand.

"I loathe you," Jake growled at Reina, "I am hungry. Liv, can we please have dinner?"

~¤~

I had expected a lot when I came face to face with all of them, specially Reina.

Jake had grown more muscular and started keeping an irritating stubble that didn't make him look cool at all, Olivia had started dressing up more fashionably and I noticed she put on a little makeup, Axel was also working out, it seemed. Plus, he was wearing glasses now that suited him.

And then there was Reina.

Her hair was longer than before and that was the only thing that changed. She still had that smile that once made me go weak in my knees and that sparkle in her eyes that had made me fall for her. Her baby face was still... well, baby face.

Yet, when I saw her, I didn't feel like I would collapse, neither did I want to kiss her.

I felt a rush of emotions nevertheless. She was afterall my first love and you just don't forget your first love, but it was more of the excitement of seeing her rather than the urge to kiss her. She had grown more beautiful with time and I still blushed and felt myself smiling when she smiled.

Yet, I didn't feel a pang of hurt when she and Axel held their hands or whispered into each others' ears at the middle of dinner.

And I knew at that moment that those realizations I had were nothing but the assurance that I didn't love Reina anymore. Maybe she was still there and I would think about her sometimes, but I didn't love her anymore. I had told the wrong thing to Nora. I didn't love Reina like that anymore.

That realization made me feel peaceful and I felt myself relax. It was weird, but a nice weird.

It was not just Reina. It was the whole gang. I somehow didn't react or act the same throughout the evening like I used to act two years ago.

I felt more confident and even maintained eye contact with Reina when I spoke to her. I did not stammer once or made a fool out of myself. Going outside and living in the city had made me more confident.

Hell yeah.

Jake was still the goofy one, Olivia was still the serious bookworm, Axel was still polite and humble and Reina was still energetic and beautiful.

Greywall was still the same and so was the people.

It was me who had changed. I was suddenly finding the town small and clustered. I couldn't seem to connect with the people yet. Jake suddenly seemed too loud for me and Olivia too stiff. Axel didn't have any particular contribution and Reina was too sweet.

I was so used to Kyle and Nora now that tonight seemed a bit too much for me. I missed Kyle's quiet yet smart talks and Nora didn't speak much.

I was used to the busy city life that suddenly this town seemed eerily quiet and uncomfortably tiny. These roads looked narrow and dark. These buildings were small. The liveliness and bustling of city life was missing in it and for a second, I felt like going back to Connecticut.

Shocked as it might seem, but I didn't feel the urge to play video games with Jake when he told me about the mall. I was more interested in sitting back and talking about high school days.

But I was here for few weeks and these people were my life and no matter what happened, I was going to take full advantage of every happiness these people gave me. Negativity wasn't associated with Jake and I couldn't associate Greywall or me without Jake.

I indeed stared at Reina for more than a couple of seconds for more than once but I didn't feel like clawing Axel's eyes out when we left and Axel and Reina stood close to each other.

I had moved on finally.

"We have been walking for ten minutes now and you are smiling like a creepy guy who just had his hernia problem solved. What's wrong?" Nora asked, breaking into my reverie.

I glanced at her, "You didn't speak much after Reina and Axel arrived. You just spoke to Olivia once while having dinner and when we left, we bade goodbye. What has happened to the real Nora? Who are you?" I teased, steering the conversation towards her.

She rolled her eyes, "I was observing your friends, Poirot."

"Really? And what was your conclusion?" I asked as she kicked a stone out of her way.

"I liked Olivia the most," She stated, looking at the road, "She is totally like me."

"Yeah, I knew you would like her the best," I grinned.

"I didn't like Jake much," She said, wrinkling her nose.

I stopped walking and looked at her, open mouthed, "What?! You didn't like Jake?"

"Yeah, you overestimate him. I didn't like him much. He is rude and mean to people he thinks below him and I believe Axel is one of them. He was always poking fun at him," She said, "I didn't like him much. He is a mean bully."

"Woah, this is the first time I am hearing someone who doesn't like Jake, besides Olivia who didn't like him initially, I guess," I let out a sound of disbelief, "He is not a bully though. He is very nice, once you get to know him."

"He is also mean to you, why do you bear his mockeries? Learn to answer him back. He might help you a lot but that doesn't mean he always make fun of your lack of boldness," She was frowning.

"Cool down, girl. You will like him soon, don't worry. I admit he is just too much sometimes but you will like him. He is a good guy," I defended.

"Whatever. I liked Axel too. He is hot as fuck. If Reina wasn't dating him, I would love to bang him senseless," She sighed dramatically.

"What?" I chuckled embarassingly, "That's too much."

"Whatever you think. He is every girl's ultimate desire in a boy. He was so soft spoken too! He was really nice to me," She said earnestly.

"And like any other girl, you fell for him too," I smiled.

This guy's effect on girls was never getting old, it seemed. Some things never really changed.

"No. I didn't fall for him. I said I will gladly bang him. Don't bring in feelings and complicate things," She noted, "Feelings of love and sex are completely different."

"And Reina?" I asked hopefully.

She took a second longer to answer, "She is good, Dora. She is really good. I can't deny that," She sounded disappointed.

"You sound sad," I smiled.

"You sound extra happy all of a sudden. You alright?" She retorted.

"I am," I gave a snicker, "Very much. I realized one thing, Nora."

"What?"

"I'm over her. I mean, I guess I don't love her like that anymore," I said, "I don't."

She stopped walking again, "Bullshit. I saw you ogling at her tonight."

"I know, but just because she is my ex crush. That's it," I justified.

"Did you feel something when you saw her?" She asked.

"Um...yeah, but those were-"

"Then you still love her," She concluded, "The day you start feeling indifferent towards her, you will know you don't love her."

"But she is my ex crush. I am always gonna feel something for her-"

"When two people who are sort of exes remain friends, that means they still love each other or they never loved each other. You decide which one is yours," She shrugged.

"Thats a load of crap, Nora. You spend too much time on the internet," I rolled my eyes.

"Tell me something Dora, if Axel weren't dating Reina, would you still want to date her?" She asked.

I frowned, "Maybe...yeah...but it's complicated," I shook my head.

"So, how can you say you are over her? Your main problem is not with Axel, because you were pretty civil with him despite all the hatred you said you once harbored for him. The problem is you and your feelings that never seem to end for Reina," She sighed.

"What are you saying? You-"

"You are only backing off because of Axel. If he wasn't here right now, you would again go running back to her. You are too polite to wreck a relationship again. You have learnt from your mistake," She explained.

"You are saying I still like Reina?" I asked, feeling frustrated now.

"The very fact that you are asking me this, is a yes. When you stop loving her, or better, if you stop loving her, the first person to get that jolt of shock will be you," She pointed at me.

I scowled. So much for moving on. She was right. I still might...or not maybe.

"You are thinking too much. Pause right there and let's go home," She laughed.

"Mmm."

"But seriously though, when I saw Axel," She pretended to fan herself, "Wow, Derek. Like seriously, wow. I cannot believe I didn't stalk him on social media before."

"As far as I know, he doesn't use much. Reina's more active."

"I seriously should've visited Greywall sooner. It's unfair to look so good-"

"Oh god, I get it," A brief flicker of irritation passed through me, "I get you find Axel hot. We can stop talking about him now."

She still had that dreamy look on her face, probably reminiscing about him as a shot of envy burst through me. I remembered how she almost blushed when they shook hands and I found myself not really being pleased at it. This was the first time I had seen Nora blush and the fact it was Axel, not to mention he was already committed, felt like I was eating lemon.

As much as I didn't care anymore girls swooning over him, Nora doing the exact same thing felt very out of character for her. She was Nora afterall, the one who never was this obvious for a guy. I always imagined her to be immuned to his charms.

While I realized Jake, Olivia, Reina, Axel had grown closer over the years as a group, Nora and Kyle were my group and Nora fawning over Axel, even though platonic, stung. I didn't understand why it bothered so much but it did.

I was thinking too much. Time for topic change.

"But you didn't answer why were you so quiet after they arrived," I accused.

"You seriously don't know why?"

"No. Tell me," I said, trying to understand what she was hinting at and came up blank.

"Why would you think I would keep quiet as you chatted animatedly with Reina?" She asked, "Come on dude, I am already dropping so many hints."

And then it occured.

"You felt left out from the conversation. It's because you couldn't participate in what we were saying," I smacked my hand against the forehead.

"What? No-"

"Shucks. I am an idiot, I didn't think about it. I am so sorry, Nora. I promised you wouldn't feel left out but I did it. I didn't realize," I said, feeling really bad for her.

How could I be so dumb? I didn't see it. I was always missing out on the signs.

"Dora, you are realizing the wrong things-"

"No. I will rectify it. Tomorrow, I am all yours. I am going to give all my undivided attention to you and show you around Greywall. I promise-"

"Dora, shut up-"

"Nora, I am so sorry again-"

"That's it," She came forward and kissed me on the cheek which immediately shut me up.

She had kissed me on the cheek before few times and every time that shut me up. I remember the first time she kissed me on the cheek, I almost collapsed right there with embarassment.

"Good. Now please shut up," She said, "You talk too much sometimes. It gives me a headache."

"You didn't have to kiss me," I mumbled, keeping my hand on the spot where she had pecked me. It was burning hot now and my ears were scorching in heat.

"And deny myself from the pleasure of kissing Derek Callingham? I don't think so," She smirked, "You look so sexy when you get all flustered."

Nobody had ever called me sexy before. Reina had once called me handsome but not sexy.

And somehow, it was kinda nice when I heard it. It made me feel just a tiny bit more confident about myself. In my old place, I had a friend called Scott who was better looking than me. Jake was also better looking and more popular than me.

And then there was every guy's nightmare - Axel Hills.

I was probably a bright tomato by now. I shook my head to get rid of the intense heat building inside me and looked away, breathing in and out.

"Look at you," Nora pulled my cheek, "All flustered and about to piss his pants off."

"Nora, stop," I was almost seconds away from burying my face in my hands like a girl.

"Here, let me give you another kiss and get you all riled up again," She said and kissed my other cheek.

This girl...

I was burning brick red throughout the entire way back home while she openly laughed at me.

*******

Author's note:-

Do you think Derek has moved on from Reina or is Nora right?