15 years ago

Jade walked up to where, Alec and Julia were standing on the playground.

She was angry, extremely angry on Alec. So angry that she had not spoken to him, for the past 4 days, which was her personal record.

"Why did you'll call me over here?" She said crossing her hands over her flat chest when she reached them.

Sh glared at Alec who was standing behind his elder sister with an uncomfortable look on his face.

Good he deserved to be uncomfortable, thought Jade.

"Hi, Jade!" Julia was the first one to speak up.

Jade had got a call from Julia that morning requesting her to come to the kindergarten playground in the afternoon.

Jade had come but now that she thought of it she shouldn't have.

She didn't reply to Julia but stood and continued glaring at Alec, who was slowly turning a embarrassing shade of red.

She could feel the anger rise again.

Their school had organised a story writing competition for all the students in the age group of 10- 15.

12 year old Jade, who had already discovered her talent of writing had been very excited to participate in the competition.

Days were spent thinking up the story and then a few more days had been used to write it up in her best handwriting.

She had done her absolute best, trying to make it the best entry.

But on the day of the submission, Alec had taken the papers she had lovingly filled and completely spoilt them by spilling water on them.

There was no way Jade was going to forgive him for doing that. She hadn't been able to submit a story and instead of her, her biggest nemesis in school, Bella Hawthorne won the competition.

And to make it worse, he had not even apologised.

"Alec wants to say something to you." The elder girl said when Jade didn't say anything.

"What?" Jade asked.

"Say!" Julia nudged her younger brother.

"I'm not going to say any thing." Alec said stubbornly.

"Chicken!"

"Nerd!" Alec retorted.

The two of them started throwing names at each other.

"Guys can you'll do this sibling rivalry thing later?" Jade spoke up interrupting their argument.

Julia and Alec looked at her guiltily.

Julia spoke up again, "Alec wants to apologise to you."

"I'll believe it when he says it." Saying this Jade turned around and started walking out of the playground.

"Jade!" She turned around to see Alec run up behind her.

"What?"

"I really am sorry. I hate it when you're angry with me." Alec said when he reached her.

"Then why do you do stuff that makes me angry on you?" Jade asked.

Alec smiled guiltily, "I'm sorry. Actually I got jealous."

When Jade looked at him shocked he continued speaking, "Really I got jealous of you. Even I wanted to participate in the competition but I can't write even a half decent story. And you're so good at it."

He looked down at his sneaker clad feet.

"But that's the only thing I'm good at!" Jade said.

"No you're good at everything. You always end up coming first in school. You're even good in sports. It's not fair sometimes."

"But you are the one who answers all the questions in school. You know so much stuff about so many different places."

"That's nothing." Alec said shaking his head.

"It is!" Jade insisted, "That's you're talent. Like writing is mine. I really wanted to participate in that competition you know."

"I really am sorry. I even got something for you to make up for it." Alec scrambled in his pocket and came up with something, "You remember the ring Mrs Watson's husband gave her? The red one which you liked so much..."

Mrs Watson was their home room teacher, who had been given an ornate ruby ring by her husband for their anniversary. A ring which Jade had fallen in love with.

Alec handed her a ring which looked just like that ring and said, "Well this is not the real thing. I asked mom how much the real one would cost and let me just tell you it was way out of my budget. So mom helped me get this for you. It's not as good but..."

"It's perfect!" Jade explained and hugged Alec.

It had fake stones set into a silver ring. There were many small clear stones surrounding a big shiny red stone.

"Really?"

"I love it!" She put it on her finger and held her hand out to observe the effect.

"So I'm forgiven?" Alec asked with a cocky smile.

"Yes you are." Jade smiled back.

.................

THE MISTAKE

Dinner was a subdued matter. Though she tried to plaster a smile on her face and kept up a conversation with her dad, Jade knew that her parents could see right through her facade.

She knew by the wary looks they were giving her and concerned looks they were exchanging.

Her mother had made her favourite lasagna for dinner, but the cheese and tomato sauce was completely tasteless to to her.

Jade just wanted to go back into her room and snuggle into the bed she had grown up sleeping in.

Her mom had convinced her to stay back that night. Not that Jade had put up much of an argument.

"Mom, I'm really sleepy." Jade said once dinner was done while helping her mom clear the dishes.

"Of course sweetie." Amanda went to her daughter and placed a light kiss on her forehead, "Go to sleep. I'll clear up the rest of the dishes."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

She smiled at her mom. A smile that was a silent thanks. She knew her mom understood.

She said good night to both her parents and went up to the room.

Fortunately, she was fast asleep as soon as her body hit the bed, giving her no time to think about and cry over all that had happened today.

.....................

When Jade woke up the next morning, she was completely disoriented for some time.

It took her few minutes to realise where she was.

And then everything came flooding in. She groaned and held her head.

If this was going to be the way her day was going to start always, then she might as well stop writing, abandon her life and go live in the Himalayas.

She pulled herself up and actually looked around. Her room looked the same as it did when she had moved out.

Her mom hadn't touch any of her things.

She pulled herself up from her bed atlast and went into the washroom to splash water on her face.

As she was coming out with the towel still in her hand, she stumbled over something lying near her bed.

She bent to pick up the box on the floor.

It was an old wooden box with stars and flowers stuck on it.

Jade remembered the box clearly, as if it had been yesterday, when she had made it with some help from Alec.

They used to call the box, 'Friendship Box' and it had all the things they associated with their friendship in it.

She opened the box and started going through everything.

There were cards and notes, Alec had given her at different points, there was a friendship bracelet, some photos.

It had been ages since she had last seen the box and it brought back so many happy memories.

She picked up the photos from the box to take a better look at them, but something fell to the ground.

Jade bent down again and found something she had not laid eyes on for 8 years.

A fake ruby ring, which still sparkled like it had been given to her just now.

She picked it up and looked at it with a wistful smile playing on her lips.

She remembered the day Alec had given the ring to her.

She had worn it every day since that day. No matter how many other rings she had got she had worn it everyday faithfully.

Till the day Alec told her that he was going to Thailand.

On that day she had come back home, taken it off of her finger and put it in the box.

She quickly opened the clasp of the plain silver chain she had around her neck. She put the ring in the chain and then put the clasp again wearing it like a locket.

She let the chain fall.

Now the ring would stay close to her heart forever even if the person who had given it to her didn't.

She held her hand over where it lay before getting to get ready.

................

She sneaked out of the house without waking her mom.

She half ran, half walked to the place where she wanted to go.

Within a few minutes Jade found herself in the kindergarten playground. The place where she had met Alec for the first time.

It was still early in the morning and there were very few people on the road.

The ground was a little wet still from all the ran from yesterday, but Jade found a dry spot under a tree.

She sat over there and opened the small notebook she had taken from the desk in her room.

She lost herself in writing, while the ring lay nestled under her tree.

................

When Alec had gone to Jason's house to talk to him about his plans, he had not thought that things would happen so fast.

Less than four days, and he had already decided on a place.

His plan was working.

Around the time when Wanderlust had become more famous than Alec had ever expected it to become he had come up with a plan to do something he had always wanted to do.

Open up a Wanderlust office in Millbrooke and move back to town.

He didn't want to stay away from home, his mom any longer.

And Jade.....

He shook his head once and looked around the place he had chosen for the office.

It was spacious with plenty of light and many windows.

He could see how it would look once the office was made completely.

He could almost feel the energy coursing through the place.

The office was very close to the kindergarten. Once he had finished looking around the place he decided to go to the playground and take a breath of air before going home.

Emma had been on a high ever since she woke up that morning.

Just as she had been the day before.

He had stayed in his room the whole day yesterday, pretending to be ill. But he had to get out today. Her excitement was tangible and so was his moms.

So much so, that he and Julia had not been able to take it any longer. They both had made excuses and left the house.

He had come to the site to talk to the contractors who told him that they would start working from the next day.

As soon as he entered the playground he saw something that made his heart beat louder.

Under the shade of the tree Jade sat with a notebook on her lap. She was scribbling as fast as she could into it.

Her long hair was flowing around her face with the morning wind. Her tongue was out in concentration as she turned a page and continued writing with fervour.

He walked closer to her but she didn't even look up, she was so lost in the story.

"Writing something?" He asked once he was in hearing distance.

Jade immediately picked up her head to see who had spoken. Once she noticed him, her face got a steely expression on it.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I was right around the corner from here for some work. Thought I'd take a walk." He replied.

Jade looked at her wrist, but there was no watch there.

"It 10:30. If you want to know." He said sitting down next to her.

Jade scowled, "I didn't. Alec why are you sitting here?"

"The last time I checked, this was a free country." He said, simply.

"Do whatever you want to do." Jade said getting up.

She couldn't handle being so close to him.

She couldn't handle seeing him. He looked so handsome in a full sleeved blue t- shirt and black jeans.

She picked up her notebook and the pen.

Alec realised her intentions of walking away and so he stood up himself.

"Jade... Wait!" He said.

"What?" She turned around to face him. It was taking a lot of energy to keep her face blank of any emotions, "Look Julia told me yesterday. That you.... You... Proposed! So congratulations! Now let me go."

He caught her wrist before she could leave.

"Wait Jade let me..." He started to say.

"Let me what? Explain myself? There's no need of that. You want to get married to Emma its your choice. Completely yours! But you shouldn't have lied to me. About not knowing what to do!" Jade yelled.

"You're acting like I'm the only one who lied. What did you do huh? Telling me that you and Matt broke up. I came to your apartment after you left. I know what was happening." Alec said equally loudly.

"What...?" Jade was confused. What was Alec saying?

"I saw him without a shirt. Shamelessly pulling up his pants. I remember what you said about half naked guys...."

Before Alec could complete his sentence Jade picked up her free hand and slapped him on his cheek with a satisfying sound.

He looked shocked for a second.

"I don't owe you an explanation for anything. Why don't we just make it a point to not meet each other or talk to each other?" She said, trying to free her wrist.

"Jade..." Alec tightened his hold on her wrist, "Will you listen to me?"

"You're hurting me Alec!" Jade lied through gritted teeth.

Alec immediately left her wrist, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"Bye Alec!" Jade turned around and started walking out.

"Jade I don't know why I proposed to Emma. I don't know what got into me when I saw Matt. I was angry and drunk....."

"That's no excuse." Jade said, she had stopped walking when Alec had started speaking. "And I know why you proposed to Emma. Because she is 'The One' for you."

"Maybe she's not... Maybe 'The One' for me had been right in front of me all along and I didn't notice."

Jade's heart was beating so loudly that she wondered why Alec couldn't hear it.

"Maybe I was wrong all along."

Alec had been taking steps towards where Jade was standing while speaking.

Just as he finished talking he reached her and laid a hand over her shoulder.

She turned around to look at him. Her green eyes were shining with unshed tears.

"Alec..."

"Don't." Alec said and bent down to place his lips on hers.

Jade had always thought that her first kiss with Alec would be magical, sweet, soft and promising.

This kiss was magical, but nothing closed to slow.

It was like he was trying to tell her all the things he had not said through a kiss.

She found herself kissing him back. She wound her hands around his neck and Alec pulled her closer to him.

She wondered what it would be like if this worked out. If they ended up together.

What if Alec was really in love with her?

She could almost see the future. How it would be all perfect for them.

She poured all her love into the kiss.

But that would not happen would it? He was engaged. He was going to get married to Emma.

Emma who had been so sweet about Matt yesterday. Emma who was so excited about the wedding. Who was already planning the engagement party.

Jade broke the kiss and pulled back.

Alec looked at her confused. The look on his face made her want to give in and kiss him again.

But thoughts of Emma stopped her.

"Bye Alec." She said and walked away.

"Jade..." Alec called out and she made the biggest mistake of the day, she turned around.

Well, the second biggest. The kiss definitely deserved first place.

It took her a lot of strength to turn her back on his pleading face and run back home.

.................

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