'I can't believe it is actually happening!' Claire said with her eyes sparkling with excitement. She twirled around in her happiness.
The two friends walked down the hallway along with other students. That day happened to be the last day for the final year students and they had only just announced their graduation date to them.
Rhea laughed at the enthusiasm of her bestfriend. She was also very happy and even found it very difficult to contain her happiness, it overwhelmed her.
"I know right...., it has been years of hard work" Rhea responded, a bright smile lit on her beautiful face.
"I am graduating, I am really graduating, Rhea, I am leaving college for good!" Claire sang and Rhea looked at her in amusement.
She looked around and took a peek at every other person's face. Most of the students also had the same joyful look that embrace their faces. Being a student was not a single easy thing, attending classes and meeting shitty lecturers. Although there are always fun times but there was nothing finally graduating.
Rhea turned back to Claire and said,
"It is true, we are graduating for real".
Just as they walked on, a certain person crossed their path and stopped them from moving forward. Rhea's smile morphed into a look of confusion while Claire's lips dipped into a frown.
"Hey" Amelia said, a small smile shone on her face. The most sincere smile she had ever offered.
Seeing her gesture, Claire's frown turned into shock but it quickly disappeared as fast as it came. She stood in a defensive mode. Claire could not be blamed for her reactions, knowing the kind of woman Amelia poses to be, her reaction was necessary.
"What do you want?" Claire asked.
"I came in peace" Amelia replied.
"Oh, I could not tell" Claire rolled her eyes in response.
"Claire!" Rhea called and pulled Claire behind her.
"Don't be rude!" She cautioned and Claire snorted. Her best friend is just too nice she thought.
"What do you want Amelia" Rhea asked in a kinder voice.
"To apologise" was Amelia's response and Rhea raised a confused brow.
"What—" Rhea started but was interrupted immediately by Amelia.
"You might find it a little bit difficult to believe but I have sincerely come to apologise to you for every crazy thing I have done to you, when I insulted you and mostly when I led you to the wrong way in the forest. Don't mind me, I am doing this hoping to become a better person. You might not forgive me now but it's okay"
Amelia voiced and with that being said, she turned around and walked away.
"Wait— hmff" Rhea said but before she could finish her sentence, Claire covered her mouth and her words came out in a muffling sound. After Amelia was out of sight, Claire let go of Rhea's mouth.
"Hmff... why did you do that!" Rhea questioned.
"You believe every thing so easily" Claire said and eyed Rhea.
"That is not true! Do you not see how sincere she seems" Rhea retorted.
"That does not matter. Have you forgotten you are dating her ex?" Claire voiced.
"How does that even mean anything with her apology" Rhea said looking confused.
"Don't be so dumb best friend, jealousy is not a very nice shade on anybody, it has a lot of trick" Claire answered.
"Oh..." Rhea mumbled and turned to look at the direction Amelia walked to. She did not perceive the situation, she felt Amelia was sincere. Not wanting to dwell on it, she shrugged and they walked on. It was a good thing she now had one less problem in her list.
They stepped out and walked towards Claire's car. Just as they were about to get into the car, they were stopped by the yelling of their names.
"Rhea! Claire!".
They turned and saw Carter jogging towards them. A sudden flash of light flickered across Claire's eyes but it was not noticed by any other person.
Rhea beamed all in smiles as Carter approached them. It was the first time she was seeing him since the year began.
"Hey, happy new year" She said as soon as he got to them.
"Happy new year Rhea" he responded and smiled back to her.
He turned to look at Claire who was quick to avoiding his gaze. He stared into her face for a moment before finally looking away.
Rhea noticed the weirdness between the two but she thought she was actually imagining things and ignored her suspicions.
"Claire..." he called and she turned to look at him. Although her look was more like a glare.
"I told you to give me a call when you are coming to college today but you did not" he said not shifting his gaze away from her face.
"I did not find it necessary" Claire answered nonchalantly to which Rhea's jaw dropped.
'These two... what is wrong with them. They were doing just fine last time' she thought.
She looked from her best friend to Carter but at that moment, none of them paid her attention. They were so engrossed in their glaring contest.
"Claire...—" He started but was interrupted by Claire's sudden enthusiastic squeal.
"Rhea look!" She yelled happily and pointed at a particular spot. Rhea blinked and looked at where she pointed. She wrinkled her brows when she was not seeing anything special.
"Can't you see, it's that beautiful guy from our camp!" She pointed vigorously. The word 'beautiful guy from our camp' stuck Rhea's mind and she paid close attention. Seeing who it was, her mouth dropped opened.
"isn't he beautiful.." Claire fawned. Carter gave her a really hard look and glared at this man in question who seems to be approaching them. Rhea was no longer listening to Claire, her eyes were glued to the figure walking towards them.
Eris walked in his handsome might. He ignored all stares sent his way and walked towards the woman he only had eyes for. As soon as he walked out of the car, he scanned through the students standing and his eyes met with hers as soon as she looked at him.
Rhea stood rooted to the spot, she looked surprised and shocked at the same time. Claire called her continuous but she was totally absent-minded. All that crossed her mind at the moment was the man who was only a foot away from her.
"Hey..., why do you look so surprised? Don't you want to see me?" Eris said as soon as he got to his woman who did nothing but stared at him.
"E–Eris..., is this really you? Why are you here?" Rhea muttered finally finding her voice back.
Eris took her hand in his and placed it on his cheek. He did not mind the attention that was now placed on the two of them. Even Claire stared at the two of them without blinking. She had actually forgotten for a moment that this same beautiful guy was her bestfriend's boyfriend.
"I came to see my woman" he said staring deep into the abyss of her eyes. Rhea found it so difficult to blink. She held him in her gaze.
"I missed you" he said.
"We are in public" Rhea whispered. Her cheeks were reddened in embarrassment.
"Really.." Eris said. He looked around them to see those watching before pulling her closer and placing his hands on her tiny waist.
"But I really want to hold my woman in my hands even if every one is watching" He whispered into her ear deliberately fanning her skin with his warm breath.
"Eris!" she called and he smirked before letting go. She frowned at him. But he did not mind it.
"With me, you will have to get used to being loved everywhere. I just can't hide what I feel for you" He voiced out loud and everyone close could hear. Rhea tugged at his arms. He used his free hand to pull her cheeks.
Claire feigned a cough and the lovebirds turned to her. Rhea wanted to hid her red tinted face in her pillow at the moment while Eris raised a brow at Claire.
"Sorry to disturb you two.. but I believe you need to know, I am Rhea's best friend. I watched her since she was a child" Claire said with a smile.
"Oh.." Eris responded.
"It's a good thing she is together with you. She needs a very hands— I mean hard working man like you" Claire voiced.
"Really...?" Eris raised a brow.
"Yes, yes. I can bet my life on it that you will take good care of her. You just look how skinny she looks—"
"Claire!" Rhea snapped interrupting her bestfriend. Claire quickly zipped her lips and went silent.
Eris pulled Rhea and placed his hands around her waist.
"There is no need to trust her with me, she is the woman I love after all and it is my pleasure to take care of what is mine" He voiced without battling an eye.
Claire's jaw dropped at the confession spoken in a subtle way and even Rhea could not help but blink at Eris.
"It's time for us to go" Eris said and pulled Rhea along with him towards his car. He did not bother to wait to be excused, not like he needed to be.
Just around the corner, as every one watched, Amelia also saw the two. She smiled and mumbled to herself.
"The two actually look good together..."