here my lovelies, is the latest chapter of my story: unexpected love. I am so thankful for all of you. I really cannot say often enough how happy you guys make me. I feel so motivated by you and the many reads. I feel also very inspired and love to give you a daily update. I really want to say a big big big thank you to all of you for reading and commenting / voting on my story.

What do you think about this chapter? I am excited to find out what you think :)

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Attraction is beyond our will or ideas sometimes. -Juliette Binoche

Shawn's POV:

Once I arrived at school, I was, again greeted with the rumor that my best friend helped my history partner again. To my utter surprise, I was not as mad or angry as I assumed. I wondered why this did not make so cross at my best friend. Before I could think something more; Nathalie stormed angrily in my direction and whined into my shoulders:
"Shawn, your best friend acted again out of line. He played again the hero who helped Jasmeet. I have to tell you that my patience is over. He again humiliated me publicly and I can no longer accept this behaviour. It will not be possible for me to spare him from my wrath!"
I stared at her dumbfound but then I realized what she meant. Her words made me cringe in anger and I spat out furiously:
" So you will attack my best friend? My best friend?? If you dare to do this, we are through and I will not spare you any more glance. Enzo is off limits, in case you do not want to loose me; you will not do anything to hurt him! The moment you try anything, which hurts him, we are done forever!"
Nathalie stared at me eyes wide open and stuttered: "But darling, we had just an amazing time; you enjoyed it right? This has nothing to do with you. I will not do something to you; only to Enzo, this idiot. You should have told your so-called-best friend that he would better not humiliate again. I will not spare anyone who make me look bad. Should you also start to piss me off, then I will also come after you; no matter what we did in the past together"

Her words made me perplex, she was really a dumb girl; and she reeked of a non-existing self-confidence. I would not even look in her direction again after today. She threated me; me the boy who everyone loved. I wiggled my head in disbelief and went in the direction of my first class, ignoring her and her angry screams. It was clear to me that I was one-step closer to earn a place on her hit list.

At my locker, I saw immediately Enzo who had a worried glance on his face. I assumed that he thought probably that I would be mad with him for standing up for Jasmeet or for catching her from hitting the floor. I greeted him with our usual man hug and asked him casually:"Is the rumor for once again true? "
He looked at me alarmed and I reassured him calming him down: "It's okay, but do not think that I am pleased about the course of this semester. But another thing: I cannot believe that I fell for Nathalie's beautiful face. She will go after you, man. This time she really went too far. You are my best friend; so I will make sure that she does not do anything to you. In addition, she told me if I made one-step out of line, she would not hesitate to embarrass me! I was blind when I met with her; but now this is over!"
My best friend stared at me with wide eye and wanted to know, his voice showing his disbelief: "Really, she did that? You should totally finish all ties with her. She is really a witch! I cannot believe that I put up with her dumb face for so long!" I agreed with him and we laughed together walking to class.

I was bored during my lectures; the teachers were exceptionally annoying today and gave us much homework, which was due on the next day. I groaned and thought to myself: When is this year finally over? Can the summer come any quicker? Now it was October and the end of the year seemed so far away. I really wanted to start university and hoped that the day of the graduation came faster. While I was walking to my next period, I asked Enzo the thing I was dying to know:"Mate, I really want to know something?" He raised his eyebrow and replied: "What is that you want to find out? If I have feelings for Jasmeet? Come on, I see the question painted across your face! It is kind of obvious!" I chuckled at his response and wiggled my head in approval to show him that he was indeed correct concerning this matter. He began to speak, trying to soothe me:
"Shawn, do not be mad. However, I think that there might be something between us. Altough she just blew me off by telling me that she will not risk my good reputation and will keep her distance. Therefore, you do not have to worry about anything happening between us. I just hope this year will pass fast and then I will not see her again. She will go to Oxford and I will attend the University of Surrey for sure!"

I retorted "Enzo, if you like her, and truly believe that there is something between you two; then I would advise you not to give up, not just because she thinks she is destroying her reputation. However, this does not mean, that I like her or anything. She is still a weird and annoying girl! And I would like to see everyone except her at your side!" After I said this, my best friend gave me an surprised and perplexed glance. Just then I did not know that I would be really mad at Enzo soon for acting the way he did and that this would be a real examination of our friendship.
At my response, he laughed and we sat down in the maths class.
Today we did not have history, which was a relief for me, as I did not want to see Jasmeet more often than necessary. I dreaded the moment when we would meet for our project. It was clear to me that we would start to fight and not get any work done. "Shawn, but seriously. I will give up. I will not pursue a girl who does not want to be, chased. She made it clear that she has not the slight interest in me!" he argued.
I just shrugged and told him in a sincere manner: "Do as you like. I will not be angry with you for going after her. Just do not expect me to be best friends with her out of sudden! And I want to highlight that it is better not to go after her."
My best friend moved his head showing me he understood my point, and this was the end of our conversation as the teacher also arrived. This day nothing much happened, just one moment I saw Jasmeet in the corridor and I noticed immediately that their eyes met. The girl wore something acceptable and did not seem as weird as always. Her ripped jeans and her casual white T-shirt unexpectively suited her well. Her hair was somehow open as well; and I realized how long it really was.Now back to what was happening beside me: My best friend turned red, Jasmeet as well in the process lowering her glance immediately and turning around to go in the opposite direction where we were headed. I chuckled about this behaviour. I stared at Enzo questioningly and he just shook his shoulders signalling me that he had no idea what just happened. My instinct told me that something was about to happen; although I had no clue what and about the impact it would take on the friendship with my best friend and my whole life.

"So let us start on the project, Kaur!" I urged Jasmeet once she arrived at the library. It was surprising; I arrived before her; normally the know-it-all was always too early. Enzo said goodbye to me before, left to go home and I promised him to call him once I was done with the project. Without any comment or a reply, the girl sat down and took her notebook out of her purse. "Shawn, so I told you about the 1984 conflict in India. Here look at the website and read this article. I already know very much about it; but I think that you should inform yourself. In case you do not like it, let me know!" she showed me a webpage with the headline: 1984 anti Sikh riots. I skimmed fast through the article and realized then that this topic was perfect, as it fulfilled all the criteria mentioned by Mrs. Mendes. Furthermore, it was indeed not very covered by the western media and the people who have been hurt have not been compensated in a appropriate way.

The next two hours passed quickly and I found myself laughing and getting on well with Jasmeet. This really surprised me; as we fought normally always and it seemed really not possible to spend a pleasant hour with her without screaming and fighting. A glance on the clock told me that it was already nearly 16:30 pm and soon time to go home. A few arrogant words slipped out of her mouth; however, I decided to ignore this and we managed to complete a big part of the assignment which left a small proportion for the next day.

"Well, today went unexpectively well. I did not anticipate this at all! Let us meet tomorrow again and then we are nearly done. Afterwards we should just complete the presentation. So have a nice evening, Shawn! Bye!" she told me appreciatively when we reached her car. Unconsciously I took her to her car; which was as well something unsual; and nodded in her direction; she gave me one last look and pulled out of the parking space.

This was really a strange day, I thought once I reached my car; Enzo starting to like Jasmeet and we getting on well and not fighting for the first time. I sincerely hoped that my best friend would listen to me and would keep his distance. Suddenly I realized that I really did not want them to hang out or even talk to each other. He was my best friend and she was still the girl I bullied. Therefore I made up my mind to tell him that I no longer approved of him doing what he wanted.

" Hey Enzo, I have to tell you something!" I told him once he picked up the phone, not giving him a chance to reply I added: "I was wrong earlier. I really do not want that you do anything which brings you closer to Jasmeet. So just let it be and concentrate on getting good marks! In case something happens with her, our friendship will be over!" I knew that my words were very harsh and it was clear to me that I might have hurt him by acting in this way.

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so what do you think now? Do you think Enzo will start pursuing her or will he listen to her and his best friend? What do you think about Shawn now? Do you hate him for telling his best friend that she should stay away or else their friendship is over? I am curious to find out what you think about this chapter.

love

Sarah He.