Like I said S!, a million apologies for this delay in putting up the rest. I had the beginning and the ending and just couldn't write in the middle😆 Anyway, here it is....Princess Zee:)
I said when I started out it would be 10 chapters (that was bad enough!) and now I find it's 15 chapters (did you just run away😆 Won't blame you!😆)
I got B to read through it to check for continuity and stuff, it was too long to proof for grammar, so please do overlook the errors, the mistakes....[Thanks B!]
If the songs don't make sense in the situation, blame me again. I've been listening to them and just wanted to put them in. Also, blame Gossip Girl, Chuck...😆
The Ice is Getting Thinner:Death Cab for Cutie
With me: Sum 41
They are sixteen now btw.....And if there are time line errors, let me know and I'll rectify them.
xoxo:-Nonee
Chapter 9
Two years later….
Shabz was lying on the recliner in her room, reading a book. If gazing at the words jumping out at her could be termed reading.
All she could see were images of Preet dancing with that girl, his arms around her waist, his eyes gazing into hers.
That horrid horrid girl! Ever since Ashlesha Mann had moved across the Atlantic, she had proved to be an utter nightmare. Her Dad was apparently some long lost friend of Lalit Juneja and she could always be found hovering around Preet. These past six months. And now, this…..
At first Shabz had been amused. Ashlesha was so blatant. She batted her fake eyelashes ceaselessly, dressed like a tart, had a high-pitched nauseating giggle and was disgustingly gushy all the time.
'Hello Zee, I've heard sooooo much about you from Preet when he was staying with us in London last summer. It's so totally fab to see you. And you're just as sweet as he told me you were.'
Shabz had narrowed her eyes at that, 'My name is not Zee. It's Shabz,' she had said before walking off to find Preet. That was the first time they had met.
Then, in school, wherever Preet was, Ashlesha just had to be around. She had kind of insinuated herself into their company. Where it had been Preet, Nate and herself, it was now Preet, Nate, Ashlesha and herself.
And everyone seemed to like her. Shabz was horrified. Her parents, Nate's parents, Nate. Even Lalit Juneja who never smiled at anyone and always looked like some kind of overgrown brooding vampire, always had a smile for Ashlesha.
But what hit her the most, was how easily Preet took to Ashlesha.
Nate had looked at her searchingly when she had ranted about Ashlesha to him. 'She's alright Zee. Why are you getting so worked up about her? Sure, she's silly, but she's just moved here. Give her a chance.'
'Everything's changing Nate. Can't you see!' she had told him, feeling a sudden urge to just cry and not knowing why.
Something must have alerted Nate for he tilted her chin to look into her troubled eyes. 'What's the real problem Zee? You know you can tell me.'
'I don't know Nate, I don't know,' she had murmured, looking at the ground between them and Nate had hugged her, telling her to perk up.
Ashlesha had barged into them at that time and the silly cow had taken it into her head that Nate and she, well, had a thing for each other.
And then, Ashlesha had taken it upon herself to ensure that their entire class kinda thought that Nate and Shabz were a couple. That had been so irritating; random people walking up to her, some congratulating her, some asking if it was true, some telling her that they had thought Preet and her were a couple all along. People just couldn't mind their own business.
'Nate and You!' Preet had grinned at her, rolling his eyes. 'When did this happen?'
'When you were making out with that bint!' she had told him, glaring at him, 'This whole rumor is her fault anyway.'
'What! Ashlesha started this?'
'Oh! So you agree you're 'making out with her?' Sheesh! Preet! How can you?' she had shot a disgusted look at him.
'Very funny Zee! You know she's just a friend. You know that very well.'
'I don't know anything of the sort. You spend all your time with her these days.'
'That was just yesterday Zee. I told you I couldn't get out of it. Dad insisted we visit this common friend. It was super boring by the way, the whole evening. Hope that makes you happy!'
'Oh! You have no idea how much,'she had told him, grinning, 'sweeeetieee,' drawling the words in the sickly sweet gushing tone that Ashlesha used.
'She refers to you as her sweetie even in school. You know that, don't you Preet?'
'Oh! God!' He had stared at her, appalled. She had laughed then. 'How do I get her to stop?'
She had thought everything was okay then. Then Prof Granger had made the announcement that had made everyone sit up, the girls excited and the boys wary.
'As you all know, the end-of-year dance is coming up in two weeks,' Prof Granger had said, smiling at them. 'Well, the headmaster has decided that this time, it's girl's choice. The girl gets to choose her date. No, Cassie, you have to wait until class runs out before you ask Mike.' They had laughed at Cassie, who turned around and made a face at the rest of the class.
There had been loads of whispering and muttering and passing notes after that and Shabz had turned around to look at Preet and Nate who were whispering something to each other. She had turned back and tried to focus on what Prof Granger was saying. Of course, she would ask Preet. This was the most anticipated event before they entered senior class. And she had always dreamed of going with Preet. Always!
She had gone through the rest of her classes, a little smile tugging at her lips. She would ask Preet in the evening, she had decided, as he wouldn't leave school with her today. Nor would Nate. He had football practice and Nate, basketball.
'So, you're asking Nate of course,' Ashlesha had sidled up to her, as she walked up to her waiting car.
'If you're so certain, why do you ask me?' she had retorted, rather coolly.
'Just being friendly,' Ashlesha had cooed back, 'Oopsie, I'll just take this call…'
'Be my guest,' Shabz had muttered, rolling her eyes as Ashlesha crooned, 'hey, sweeeeetieeee, I was…'. Shabz had just waved at her and walked away.
Nate had come over, immediately after basketball practice.
'Ewww…Nate! Go home and change…,' she took one look at him and scrunched her nose.
'Zee, I have something to tell you,' he told her quietly, his brilliant blue eyes very serious for once.
'What is it?' she asked, alarmed, walking up to him and putting her hand on his shoulder. 'Are you alright Nate?'
'It's not me, it's Preet,' he told her and the colour leached out of her face and her grip on his shoulder tightened.
'No, he's alright,' he said quickly and she rapped him on the shoulder, 'You scared me, Nate! Idiot! What then?'
'Ashlesha asked Preet to the dance.'
She stared at him, speechless for a long moment. 'And what did he say?'
'She told me he's going with her.'
Shabz bit her lip discreetly. 'I was going to ask him,' she told Nate.
'I know!' he replied softly.
'I was going to ask him this evening,' her voice shook slightly and Nate reached out for her.
'I'm sorry Zee. You should tell him how you feel, you know,' he said gently.
'Does he like her Nate?' she asked softly and Nate sighed.
'I don't know,' he told her, after a moment. 'I always thought…..'
'Forget I asked you that,' Shabz said quietly, 'forget it.' She pasted a small smile on her face. 'who's taking you?' she asked him.
'I still have to decide,' he told her, a little smile on his face.
She stared at him. She wanted to just curl up and process what Nate had just told her. Preet knew how much she wanted to go with him to this dance. Then why had he….
We're not the same dear
As we used to be
The seasons have changed
And so have we
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Nate was looking at her seriously.
'Are you alright Zee?' he asked her softly.
'I'll speak with you later, Nate,' she had whispered, wanting to rush off to her room before she did something silly like cry. She never cried. Especially before Nate or Preet. He had just nodded at her as she had run off upstairs. To her room, to try and sort out these feelings. These new conflicting feelings!
There was little we could say
And even less that we could do
To stop the ice from getting thinner
Under me and you
And so, here she was, trying to read a book to get her mind away from the tumult raging through her. She had never felt like this before. She felt so hurt. She didn't want to think of Preet with Ashlesha. How would she deal with seeing them together at the dance. Preet dancing with Ashlesha. Preet smiling at Ashlesha. Oh! No! She closed her eyes suddenly, trying not to cry. Why would Preet do something like that? Didn't he know how much she…..
And when spring arrived
We were taken by surprise
When the flows under our feet
Led into the sea
Nothing was left for you and me
"Hey sleepyhead, wake up," a hand was shaking her shoulder and she slowly opened an eye.
Preet was looking at her, a strange look on his face.
She sat up feeling disoriented. And then recalled what Nate had said about Ashlesha and she narrowed her eyes as she looked at Preet.
"What do you want?" she asked him curtly, furious with him for accepting Ashlesha's invitation to the dance. Had he forgotten how much she had looked forward to attending this dance with him! How could he have?
We're not the same, dear
And it seems to me
There's more where we can go
With nothing underneath
And it saddens me to say
What we both know was true
That the ice was getting thinner
Under me and you
She watched his face fall as he looked at her. Good! She thought. What about how hurt I am!
"What's the matter Zee? What have I done?"
"If I have to tell you," she replied furiously, she couldn't believe he didn't know how upset he had made her, "I am not going to bother." She got up from the recliner and walked past him.
He moved quickly to intercept her and blocked her at the door.
"This is not fair Zee. At least tell me why!"
She folded her arms and looked away, refusing to meet his eyes.
"Don't you want to know why I'm here?" he asked her after a moment.
"I know why you are here," she answered nastily. "I don't know how you can…."
"I thought you wanted to ask me Zee. You told me beginning of the year that you wanted us to go together," he interrupted her, suddenly looking uncertain, "to the end-of-year dance."
"You knew Preet! You knew!" she looked at him, a flash of hurt in her eyes, "You knew and you still agreed to go with that…that….What! What did you say P!?
"I thought you wanted us to go together," he told her quietly, "to the dance. I wanted to as well Zee. Have you really asked Nate, Zee? You want to go with him?"
The last bit was so very soft that she could hardly make it out.
And the blank look that had suddenly come into his eyes was what made her pause and think back. Nothing was making sense. Did he mean what she thought he meant? A small smile crept onto her face, hope flooding her.
"You didn't agree to go with Ashlesha?" she asked him, a hopeful look on her face.
"You didn't ask Nate?" he asked her slowly, the blank look fading away slightly as he looked at her changing expressions.
She shook her head, feeling like the sun had come out again and everything was wonderful again. She gasped as he suddenly pulled her into a hug, closing his arms around her tight, lifting her off her feet and swinging her around. "I'm so glad Zee," he told her, smiling.
"Preet," she said half laughing, half breathless, as he set her down, loosening his grip so that she could look up at him, "I…"
He didn't let her speak. "Ask me now?" he told her quietly.
She looked at him wonderingly. It wasn't like he had never hugged her before. He had. Although, it was true that she initiated most of their hugs. He was more prickly with showing affection. Always had been. That's why she treasured his hugs. His overtures of affection. However little! However simple!
I don't want this moment
To ever end
Where everything's nothing
Without you
He still hadn't released her, she realised, a thrill running through her as she felt his arms around her, one around her waist, one halfway up her back.
She closed her eyes just in order to savour these new feelings coursing through her and felt giddy as she felt him pull her closer. That was a first!
"Zee, ask me," he said in a low voice which had her opening her eyes. His face, so dear and so known to her was suddenly mysterious and exciting. Very very exciting! And so different!
I'll wait here forever
Just to, to see you smile
Cause it's true
I am nothing without you
How was it she had never realised what beautiful eyes he had. In the light from the window, his eyes shone a glorious chestnut brown.
She now realised what all those girls in class meant when they raved on and on about how dreamy Preet was. Ever since they had turned fourteen, girls had made a beeline for Preet and Nate. Nate, of course, was more comfortable with all the adulation. A born flirt! Preet on the other hand, thought the girls were crazy. She had agreed. Not any more….
Her heart suddenly gave a strong leap as she felt him running a hand through her curls.
"I've wanted to do that for so long," he said quietly and she didn't know what to say. She didn't think she could say anything at the moment. These new feelings that were flooding her body were overpowering her senses. She continued to look at him mutely, just drinking him in.
"Zee, ask me" he whispered again, his face closer than it had ever been before. He wanted her to do something but what could it be.
"What?" she whispered back, not wanting to say anything loudly and find this was all a dream. She wanted this to be true. So badly, it hurt!
She closed her eyes. Images flashed before her eyes, the very first time they had met, their first hug, their games together, becoming best friends. Suddenly, it felt like everything had been leading up to this moment.
"Ask me to the dance."
She looked right into his eyes, wondering whether he could see himself reflected in her eyes, the way she could see herself in his.
"Will you take me to the end-of-year dance Preet?" she asked him, all smiles, watching the light create shadows in his eyes.
"I'd be honoured," he replied softly, looking at her intently as he bent his head and dropped a kiss on her jaw, just at the corner of her lips. She inhaled sharply and looked at him, transfixed.
I want you to know
With everything I won't let this go
These words are my heart and soul
I'll hold on to this moment you know
'cause I'd bleed my heart out to show
And I won't let go
He stared back at her, his eyes dark and intense. They instinctively moved towards each other again when a voice called out to them….startling them.
They jumped apart, looking around nervously but it was only Shabz's mother calling out to them from downstairs, asking them to come have some cake that she had just baked.
They walked down, refusing to meet each other's eyes, each lost in what had just happened, dreaming of what would have followed, new emotions coursing through them, taking root….
Both unaware of what was in store for them…..
…………………..
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Udne Ki Aasha
