London

A young man with dirty blond hair, baby blue eyes and chiseled face was sitting in his luxurious comfortable bed looking at a picture of female in his mobile phone. He missed her very much and he never was able to understand as to why suddenly his best friend had decided to severe every tie he had with her. He still clearly remembers the last day of his high school when he informed her that his dad wants him to go to London to pursue the further studies. But he was adamant to stay with her and help her after his douche of father left her to defend her own. But he was left perplexed when his best friend asked him to move forward in his life without worrying about the past, which meant without worrying about her. He never wanted to hear the reply he got that day.

"I am very proud of you Ethan. You deserve happiness in your life. But I know my friendship will cause hindrance in your progress. I don't want to be the baggage in your life. What happened with me was and is my problem from now onwards. I don't want you to worry about me anymore. Be the man that your parents want you to be, that you are supposed to be. You will always be the best part of my life"

He was stunned after listening to what she said. He was frozen to his spot and did not know how and what to say and by the time he gained his senses back she was going away from him like some distant memory. She never wait to listen to his reply, he tried to stop her, wanted to help her but she never looked back. That day he wanted to say to her that he still wanted to be an integral part of her life but she never allowed him to. After that day she never attended his calls, never met him and when he went to her home to meet her, it was locked.

He closed his eyes and sighed "Hopefully when I return to US I will find a way to contact you again. I miss my best friend very much. I will never forget your laugh and that mischievous glint in your eyes and unfortunately I will never forget how I saw that eyes getting dull. I don't understand Harper why did you suddenly cut me off from your life like I meant nothing! Why did you punish me for something that others did? You never gave me the chance to help you. You never gave our friendship a chance. You were never a baggage."

The knock on his door forced him to tear his eyes from that picture towards his door. A young man poked his head in his room and said. "Sorry to disturb you Mr. Wright but Mr. Preston is here to see you. If your highness has got the time for his friends."

"You jerk! What the hell are you doing here Max? And what's with sarcasm?" He said laughing and gesturing him to enter and sit.

"Well acting like a true Englishman I am giving the respect that the heir of Wright industries needs because from over a week he is acting more like a royal ass than as a friend."

Ethan nodded in understanding. "I know, I was little bit preoccupied."

"Who is she? And is she the reason for your constant absence." Max asked when he saw the display of Ethan's phone.

"Someone very important and the answer to your second question is yes."

"Girlfriend?"

"Best friend"

"What is the matter?"

Ethan sighed and picked his phone up and looked intently to the screen "She is my best friend, we were inseparable since junior school, but everything changed when her father left her and her family. She kind of disconnected me from her family and I got to know that they don't live in St. Helena anymore, they sold every property there and shifted to San Francisco. I am keeping a tab on her without her knowledge. I was searching for her with the name Harper Ellington but she has changed it to Daniels. I was angry at her for throwing me out of her life and never asking me what I wanted. I tried to forget her but I can't. I thought three years will be enough but that nagging feeling never left. You know she is not on any social networking site. No one from our high school knows about her. But I can't keep pretending that I don't care because I do and so I asked my dad's security team to find about her and the things I found are not pleasant, she is working double shifts attending university and living with two guys and they are not even gays." He said the last part bitterly. I don't want to impose myself on her but she can ask for help from me. I am her best friend after all. She can contact me."

"That is where you are wrong my friend. I think she is a proud women and cares deeply for you. I think she cut all ties so that you don't spoil your future by staying with her. If she is so much important to you then do some tangible efforts to be in her life again. And the way you are talking about her I think you are jealous that she is coping in her life perfectly without your help and you are envious that she is living with two males" Max replied with a smirk. "And speaking of relationships what are you going to do about Stella? You know she fancies you and she is still waiting for you even after you rejected her rather harshly if I must add."

"I did not reject her harshly Max, you know I don't want a relationship. Casual flings are welcome but serious relationships are not my cup of tea. And Stella is a nice girl, I can't afford to break her heart and reject her again with just two months left for graduation. Just Two months and I am flying to America to ask Harper some serious questions about her choices. She can't play the baggage card anymore." Ethan replied.

" So the girl has a name" Max said in understanding "By the way you coming to Jon's tonight for a drink with the rest of us?"

"Sure man, I won't miss it for anything" Ethan replied.

*******

"You are looking very pretty Stella" Ethan complimented her.

Ethan and Max were sitting in a bar along with some of their friends. It was Saturday night and they had gotten together for a night out to drink and dance. With just two months left for their graduation and with upcoming pressure of exams everyone was trying their level best to enjoy the last few days with their friends of 3 years.

Ethan enjoyed his university days to the fullest but there was this void in his heart that only Harper can fill, he has never dared to call anyone his best friend not even Max who was with him in every thick and thin. He missed being carefree and heedless with Harper. He misses America.

"Ethan" Stella called for his attention bringing him out of his reverie. "You were smiling without any cause." She pointed.

Ethan looked bewildered towards Stella. Was he really smiling unknowingly thinking about Harper?

"Yea I was thinking about home." He lied to avoid any further interrogation.

"I hope you can invite me someday to your home to meet your family as more than just friend."

"Stella I have to start training under my father after the graduation. I don't want to be the heir of Wright industries because I was born one, I want it to get it completely based on my merits and for that I need to work hard under my father's guidance. That's why I am not ready for any sort of serious relationship. I don't want any kind of distractions."

Stella sighed dejected "But I can wait for you"

"I won't ask you to. Besides we will be on different continent, in different countries. I don't want you to act merely on heart, listen to your brain. You are a wonderful girl and I am sure you will find someone who will return your feelings with equal zealous but that person is not me. I see you just as friend nothing more nothing less."

"The heart wants what is wants Ethan. Someday you will understand this. Not today but someday. And I hope to be that lucky girl. Just as you can't make yourself to like me, same way I can't make myself to fall out of this attraction. Maybe someday I will move on but that day is not today" Saying that Stella left Ethan alone to ponder.
Max was looking at him knowingly but Ethan just shrugged his shoulders and mouthed I tired.