Angelina Wylde felt a surge of anxiety as she waited to see the person who had turned her world upside down. The person who had sparked her imagination and helped her write her best-selling book. The person who had shattered her dreams and disappeared without a trace. The person who she had convinced herself for 9 long years that she despised. The person who she had mixed feelings for, even after all this time. The person who she had clashed with, but also collaborated with. The person who had shared her laughter during their prank war, and her sorrow during their big loss in the art contest.
The person who was none other than Ashton Winters, the brown-haired, blue-eyed boy who had been her rival since they were kids. Two years had passed since he left, and she had no idea she liked him. Until she saw an old selfie they had snapped together, and felt a pang in her heart. The person who she hoped to see again, but also feared to face.
While she was lost in her thoughts, her little brother Leo rushed into the room, holding his phone. He looked excited about something, something she wouldn’t dare to ask what.“Sis, it’s for you.”
She glanced at the phone he handed her. The name on the screen made her heart skip a beat. “Jay,” she muttered, recognizing the nickname of her brother’s best friend, Jayden Winters. Memories of his older brother flooded her mind, the one who had left her without a word. She sighed, feeling annoyed. “I just wanted a break…”
She pressed the phone to her ear and said, “Hey, Jayden,”
“Hey, Angie… how are you?” The voice on the phone sounded familiar, but not the one she expected. Before she could answer, he interrupted her. “Also, not Jayden. He’s my brother.”
“Ash? What do you want?” she hissed.
“Nothing, just… wanted to apologize.”
“You have ten seconds…” she muttered. “10,”
She heard him sigh on the other end of the line.
“9,” she continued, impatient.
“Look, Angie, I know I messed up. I shouldn’t have left you like that. I was scared, okay? Scared of what I felt for you, scared of what others would think, scared of losing everything.” He paused, hoping for a sign of forgiveness.
“8,”
“Come on, Angie… don’t do this. Don’t shut me out, like you always did… It was stupid of me to leave, but… I want to give us a chance.”
“7. Old habits die hard. Continue…” she said, her tone softening slightly. She remembered the good times they shared, and felt a pang of guilt. The laughter, the pranks, the art contests.
“6,” she added, fighting back her tears. She hated him for what he had done, but she also missed him terribly. She wondered if he was telling the truth, or if he was just playing with her feelings again. She wanted to believe him, but she also wanted to protect herself.
“Fine, I’ll make this quick.” Ashton muttered, getting slightly triggered by the countdown. “I’m coming back to town this weekend… and… Jayden really wanted to visit Leo.”
“5. How great! Now hand the phone back to him so they can sit and discuss logistics, genius… also, 4.”
“Come on… you know why you sent me the book. You miss me, and… I miss you too. I was stupid to ever reject you when you gave me a chance.”
“I gave you the chance, and you blew it, okay?” Angie snapped, feeling angry and hurt. She remembered how he had rejected her, saying he couldn’t be with her. She remembered how he had left town a few days later, without even saying goodbye. She remembered how she had cried for weeks, feeling betrayed and humiliated. “3,” she added, trying to sound firm.
Angelina took a deep breath, and decided to trust her heart for once. “Okay… I’ll admit… I was wrong. I was young and stupid. I didn’t know what I wanted. I didn’t know how I felt. But I do now. I do know that I love you. More than anything. More than anyone.” she said, her voice sincere and passionate.
“Then why won’t you forgive me?”
She snapped at him, revealing her fear. “You want to know why? Because I’m terrified, that’s why! You probably don’t have any feelings for me anymore, and you’re just calling me because Jayden made you do it.” She paused, and added with a hint of doubt. “Right?”
“Yeah, he did, but…” he said, before being interrupted.
“See?!” she exclaimed, feeling hurt and angry. She was about to hang up on him, when he stopped her.
“Wait, please. Let me finish. Jayden did make me call you, but not for the reason you think. I’d stashed the book away, but he was the one who found it, told me to read it and said I should call you and apologize. He told me that he wanted us to be happy, and that he missed the ‘good old days’ where he’d plot against us.” He explained, hoping to calm her down.
His words left her speechless. She stared at the phone, wondering if it was real. Could Jayden have done such a thing? Did he really wish for them to be happy? She felt a mix of gratitude and guilt towards her brother’s best friend. He had been the one who had supported their relationship, the one who had plotted behind their backs, the one who had arranged their first date. But now, four years later, he had also been the one who had brought them back together, the one who had revealed the truth, the one who had given them a second chance.
She looked at the phone again, and realized that Ashton was still waiting for her response. She heard his voice, soft and sincere.
“Angie, are you there? Please say something. Please tell me what you feel. Please tell me that you still love me.” he said, his voice trembling.
She felt a wave of emotion wash over her. She felt angry and hurt, but also happy and hopeful. She felt confused and conflicted, but also curious and tempted. She felt scared and cautious, but also brave and adventurous. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know what to say. She looked at the phone in her hand, and made a decision.
She took a deep breath, and said; “I do.”
They hung up the phone with a smile on their faces, feeling a new spark in their hearts.
They didn’t know it then, but that phone call was the start of their new chapter.
A chapter that would lead them to get married and start a family.
A chapter that would lead them to travel the world and write books together.
A chapter that would lead them to eat mutton biryani for the rest of their lives.
As Jayden once said to Leo: “They’re married and eating mutton biryani for the rest of their lives.”
(A.N. I love that line. Biryani is a delicacy where I'm from by the way, don't question it.)
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