"So this was the Andrew and Lily you were talking about this morning?"

My eyes went wide as what Danish whispered took me aback. 

Hell yes, he was in the theater class, in the dark corner while me and Zinnia were talking about Andrew and Lily. It wasn't like we talked shit about him but still... 

What if Danish tells Andrew about our conversation?

Anyone would be surprised and anxious as me if they were in my shoes. I turned my head towards Danish who was looking down at me. It looked more like a tall tree giving shade to a 5'1 girl when he stood next to me, covering the sunlight that was hitting my face. 

And of course, he had a smirk playing on his lips.

"Yeah, so?" I asked him, burying my stunned face and putting up a poker one.

Danish tilted his head and looked at me for a few seconds. 

"What?" I whisper shouted. 

"Nothing." He shook his head and took steps back. 

"Let's go," Lily said, looking at me.

"Yeah," I said and went towards my car.

While opening the driver seat door, I took a glance at Andrew and Danish who were walking the opposite direction, talking and laughing and hopping on their feet. I shook my head slightly and got in the car.

»»---------------------►

But I can't do this alone
Sometimes I just need a light
If I call you on the phone
Need you on the other side

So when your tears roll down your pillow like a river
I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
When you're screaming, but they only hear you whisper
I'll be loud for you
But you gotta be there for me too

Me and Zinnia were singing along to Troye Sivan's 'There For You' playing from my bluetooth speaker while Amy was clapping her hands and swaying on her chair. Lily was making dinner by joining us at intervals. I sat on the table and Zinnia was sitting next to Amy.

"Oh God, I love this song," I said as the song was still playing in the background. 

"Yeah, same. It's just so connected to me," Zinnia said, placing her hand on her chest. "So Amy, which is your favourite song?"

"I like Veda Gail's songs," Amy replied. 

"Veda Gail? Never heard of her. Are her songs good?" Zinnia asked.

"Yeah, there are songs like You and Me, Falling Too and Patterns. They are really calm and beautiful but she's underrated, I guess. Elka is the one who introduced her to me," Amy said, pointing at me.

Zinnia looked at me and I gave her an eyebrow flash.

"Oh, yes! Elka listens to the underrated songs. Songs that no human have ever heard. But I have to say, her music taste is something," Zinnia praised me.

"Oh, tell me something I don't know," I said, flattering myself.

"You're a bitch," Zinnia said like a shot. 

"Oh, I knew that way before you realized you are an asshole, baby," I said, lauding. 

"Hey, what's going on, girls?" Lily walked into the dining hall, taking off her apron. 

"Lily, tell me something Elka doesn't know about her," Zinnia said.

"Huh? Umm.." Lily trailed off, thinking deeply for an answer. She clasped her hands and said,"She doesn't know how to flirt!"

"Oh, fucking yes! Why didn't that come across my mind?" Zinnia said, pouting.

Lily and Amy chuckled at Zinnia's reaction whilst I just rolled my eyes and took my phone to change the song.

"Talking about flirting, how do you know Danish before me," Lily asked me, pulling a chair to sit.

"Not just me, even Zinnia knew him before you," I said without taking my eyes from the phone.

"Yeah, we met that prick together this morning. We both bunked French and went to theater class and he was there," Zinnia said and Lily nodded her head looking at her. 

"Why do you ask that when you mentioned about flirting?" I asked Lily.

"I saw that guy flirting with you," Lily said, wriggling her eyebrows.

"No, he wasn't," I refuted. 

"I have eyes, Elka. I have got both my eyes on you whenever a guy is near you," Lily enunciated every word.

"So?" I retaliated. 

"So I saw he was kinda flirty with you. And I know as a matter of fact that he's into you," Lily said, crossing her arms and leaning back on the chair.

"To be honest, even I sensed something," Zinnia said, joining Lily.

I snapped my head towards Zinnia and slightly shook my head.

"Seriously? You? Zin?" I asked with revulsion creeping my face.

Zinnia shrugged and mouthed a sorry for which I gave her the bird. I looked back at Lily with my mouth slightly apart and eyes narrowed. 

"Don't give me that look, love. I know you know that I am the only one among us who knows boys well," Lily said with her head held up high and pointing at me, Zinnia and herself when she said 'us'.

"Yeah ok. But that doesn't mean you get to talk bullshit," I scorned her.

"Say I'm bullshitting but you will know afterwards," Lily said, standing up.

I shook my head as I was out of words. This wasn't something new. Whenever a guy approached and flirted with me, it never went unnoticed by Lily and I usually just brushed it off when Lily teased about it later. But I didn't know why I got a bit annoyed when she brought up Danish's name. I looked at Amy and saw her sitting there and smiling at me.

"It's not something new anyways," she said. 

I signed and rolled my eyes at her to which she let out a small chuckle.

"Now who's ready for some creamy three-cheese spaghetti?" Lily asked us.

"Me!" Zinnia raised her hand. "And also Amy," said Zinnia, holding Amy's hands high.

"What about you, Elka?" Lily asked me.

I looked at her and asked, "Do you really need to ask?" 

"Yeah, I know your love for my spaghetti," Lily said, ruffling my hair and went to the kitchen. 

»»---------------------►

We ate our dinner, keeping aside Danish and flirting and all. We four were enjoying our time together and I was relieved to see Amy smiling and laughing wholeheartedly after today's morning talk about Ash the trash. Zinnia stealing glances at Amy frequently didn't go glossed over by me.

We finished our dinner and me and Zinnia were clearing and wiping the table while Lily was doing the dishes. Amy was at the backyard with a glass of juice and enjoying the tranquil atmosphere, the chilling breeze brushing her face and hair. She always liked our backyard as it made her mind soothe. I stretched my neck to take a look at Amy. When I saw her standing alone, an idea popped inside my head.

"Hey, Zin, I'll take care of this. You go and keep Amy company."

I held her hand and grabbed the table cloth from her. At first, she was a bit addled as the laziest ass was giving her a hand but seeing my smirk, she knew what my intention was. She grinned and said, "Ok. If you say so."

She looked at Amy and then at me and turned her heels to the backyard. 

I chuckled at her actions. I turned my head to the side as I felt a stare on me. Lily was staring at me with a puzzled look on her face and a platter on her hands. I flashed her a smile and went back to my work. 

"Is there something I need to know?" Lily's voice was heard after a few minutes making my head turn towards her. 

"What?" I asked her.

"Are you both hiding something from me?" Lily asked as she leaned on the counter with her arms crossed. And that look was intimidating as fuck. 

"Umm..yeah. There is something you have to know. It's about Zinnia," I said.

"What is it?"

"You have to know it from her. She is gonna tell you anyway. She will tell after Amy's gone."

"Ok, then. I can wait. But not too long."

"Yeah, yeah. She will tell you."

After cleaning, wiping and doing the dishes, me and Lily were in the living room talking about random things. After ten minutes, Amy and Zinnia walked inside, laughing. Their loud laughter took our attention, making our heads dart to their direction. Seeing Amy laughing made my heart warm. I had never seen Ash making her laugh like this and I was glad that Zinnia was able to do that, to make Amy feel she was worth loving. 

They came to a halt when they saw us sitting on the couch. 

"Hey, I think it's time for me to go. My mom just texted me," said Amy, still smiling. 

"Ok, sure. Zinnia, why don't you drop her off?" I asked. 

Lily gave me a puzzled look that can be counted as the hundredth time for the day.

"Yeah, of course," Zinnia said.

"No, no. It's fine. And also, it's not the first time I'm going home alone from here, right? I'll take the bus." Amy refused.

"Ok, then," I said standing up to give Amy a hug.

"Thanks, Elka. I really needed this," she said, hugging me back. 

I pulled back from the hug. "Your wish is my command."

Amy laughed and pecked my cheeks.

"Thanks for the dinner, Lily. The spaghetti was amazing," she said, looking at Lily. 

"Oh, come on. Are you going to thank me everytime you come here?" Lily asked, smiling. 

"I know. It's just I can't thank you people enough," Amy said shyly.

"It's fine Amy. This is your home too," Lily said.

Amy gave her a smile and turned towards Zinnia.

"Thank you," Amy said, looking at Zinnia. 

"Always," Zinnia said, grinning. 

"Ok, I'll get going. Bye. Will see you tomorrow."

Amy waved at us and left our house. After sending her off, Zinnia plopped down on the couch beside me.

"Zin, may I know what is going on between you and Amy?" Lily asked as she was losing her patience. 

"Nothing is going on between me and Amy." Zinnia said straightforwardly. 

"Yeah, it's just one side," I said, simpering. 

"One side?" Lily asked with her chin poking out. 

Zinnia took a deep breath before spilling everything about Amy to Lily. Lily's eyes went wider and wider with every word that was rolling off from Zinnia's mouth. She couldn't believe her ears. She was as astounded as me.

When Zinnia stopped talking, I told them what made Amy visit our house today. I told them about the whole Amy and Ash problem. 

After hearing the whole thing, Lily apologized at least ten or twelve times to Zinnia as the thought of her going through a pickle on her own was running through Lily's mind. She was feeling awful for not being there for Zinnia. After a lot of sorrys, motivation, hugs and kisses from Lily to Zinnia, we said bon nuit and went to our rooms.

Boy, I'm holding on to something
Won't let go of you for nothing
I'm running, running just to keep my hands on you
There was a time that I was so blue
What I got to do to show you?
I'm running, running just to keep my hands on you