First Meet

Main Characters:

Alexander - The 25-year-old handsome and independent guy who's a workaholic. He likes working and earning money. He had a past that turned him into a narcissist. He doesn't believe in love and has commitment issues. 

Ellie - The Novels narrator and 23-year-old protagonist who's studying and still dependent on her family. She has been brought up in a strict family with morals and ethics. She's a day-dreamer who keeps dreaming about her prince charming and finding her true love.

Belle - The 23-year-old crazy girl who loves the idea of being independent and enjoying her life to the core. She's sister of Alexander and best friend of Ellie. 

***

"Ellie! Ellie! Wake up now! Till when are you planning to keep dreaming?" A voice yelled, breaking the sweet dream of a girl.

"Mom! How many times should I tell you, to not wake me up while sleeping?" I yawned while sitting up on my bed and rubbing my eyes to clear my blurry vision. 

"If not, then I'm sure, you'll definitely sleep for eternity!" My mom exclaimed and glared at me.

I got freshened up and had my breakfast at lunchtime, turning it into brunch. I packed my bags to leave for the hostel. After zero emotional drama, I left. 

At the hostel, Belle hugged me saying how badly she missed me. She started telling about funny incidents that happened during her vacation. 

"Ellie! One day you should visit my house. There are many tourist places to visit around." Belle said, for which I gave a thumbs up.

"So, Ellie, I'm thinking of inviting you to my home for the upcoming Christmas holidays." Belle said with hopeful eyes.

"I don't know Belle, I have to visit my home too! My parents would be missing me right?" I tried to say it without hurting her feelings.

"I have an idea. You come to my home for a few days. Then you go home. In this way, I hope your parents wouldn't mind!" Belle suggested making me ponder.

"Then will you visit my home?" I asked Belle for which she gave sheepish looks making me frown at her.

"Actually, my brother is visiting home after two years. So, I want to spend more time with him. You know how much I miss him right?" Belle asked me, making me smile.

"Yeah. You love your brother too much. Which is why I shouldn't visit your home!" I said simply while unpacking my luggage.

"But why? What has my brother got to do with you visiting my home?" Belle asked while frowning like a kid.

"It's simple.You want to spend most of your time with him. In that process, you'll have no time left for me. I'll get bored. Then why should I visit your home?" I said simply and shrugged, earning a smack from Belle. I fell on my couch while yelping "ouch!"

"I'll ask for your parents permission. You're going to visit my home with me for this Christmas and that's final. Hurray!" Belle started dancing while cheering, making me facepalm myself for her craziness.

Christmas Time.

I started packing my luggage along with Belle. She told me that her brother would pick us up in his car. She was successful in making my strict parents agree to stay at her home for Christmas vacation for a few days. I must admit that she's really very talented at such things. I started getting nervous as I didn't go to any of my friend's place till this day to stay for a few days. Sensing my nervousness, Belle assured me that this is going to be the best Christmas vacation for both of us. I smiled while hugging her. We broke out hugging hearing a car honk. 

A handsome guy came out of the car and approached us. Belle hugged him tightly while tears started brimming in her eyes. I'm sure they are happy tears. Did I forget to tell how senti she could turn into sometimes? Her brother broke the hug and asked her to stop her melodrama. She smacked him and turned towards me, making his attention to shift towards me. 

The moment our eyes met, I felt some unknown feeling creeping up. It felt like a dejavu moment. 

"Belle. This is my brother Alexander." Belle said cheerfully while pointing at her brother. 

"Alex, she's Ellie. My bestie." Belle said while pointing to me.

"Hey." Alexander said while forwarding his hand. I stared at him dumbly for which Belle smacked me making me come into my senses. I hesitated to shake his hand but looking at Belles' angry looks, I forwarded my hand saying "Hi." and shook our hands. An electrifying sensation shook my body at the touch.

Alexander helped us in loading the car with our luggage. We started our journey to Belles' home.

On the way, Belle fell into deep slumber leaving me and Alexander in full panic mode. I don't know why but there's some strange tension filling up around us. I started scrolling my insta feed ignoring him. I caught him staring at me through the rear-view mirror. But he used to gaze away when I caught him. After reaching his house, he carried his sister inside the house and placed her sleeping form on the couch of the living room. As it's midnight, his parents were sound asleep. I helped him in unloading our luggage and bringing it inside the house. We didn't speak any word throughout the process. Instead we shared a few eyelocks, where I felt as if our eyes were speaking.

He showed me their guest room where I would stay for the next few days. He carried her sister to her room and made her sleep on her bed and covered her with a blanket. I smiled at his affection. We ate a few snacks and retired to our respective rooms.

Next day after waking up at noon, I hurriedly freshened up while cursing myself for being late. No wonder my mom scolds me for waking up late. Even Belle didn't wake me up. At the hostel, she's the one who wakes me up in time. I hesitated to go downstairs. I saw a guy passing by my room. Oh yeah! How can I forget that Alexander and I share rooms on the same floor, that too side by side. My heart started beating fast. 

"Hey." His voice broke my trance. I looked up at his smiling face. "Are you planning to hide all day in this room? Or are you going to step out and grace your presence in the dining room?" Alex started teasing me. Great.

"Uh. No. I mean yeah. I'll come." I started stammering. Wow Ellie! You started showing your clumsy side to him. Great! Just a great way to get started, making a fool out of yourself in front of your bestie's sexy brother. Oh my god! Did I just use the S E X Y word? I thought while closing my mouth with my hands.

"Hey! Are you alright?" Alexander came towards me with a concerned look on his handsome face. 

Handsome? Seriously Ellie? Firstly, sexy now handsome. Next what? I thought while virtually smacking myself.

"Yeah. Let's go." Saying this I literally ran out like a scared puppy leaving him perplexed. We both went towards the dining room together minus holding hands which I virtually held though. I blushed at the thought of holding hands with him. 

"Aww. Here comes my heart throbbing prince charming along with his sweet blushing princess!" Belle exclaimed dramatically while winking at us, making Alexander glare at her and his parents started laughing, making me blush more.

"Welcome home my dear." Belles' Mom said with a warm smile. Belles' father remained silent while giving a smile. He looks like a reserved person.

We ate lunch while the family got immersed in talking about each other's well beings. Belles' mom started a conversation with me. All the while I felt someone staring at me, which I ignored. 

In the evening, Belle asked her brother to take us shopping for which he agreed, making Belle gasp in surprise. Later in the car, she told me that he usually doesn't accompany her to shopping as he gets bored easily. 

"Something is fishy!" Belle started teasing her brother.

"Don't tell me your secret girlfriend is about to grace us at the mall and you want to introduce her to us!" Belle exclaimed dramatically, making Alex frown and then glare at her making me laugh hysterically at his reaction.Sensing my laughter the duo stared at me, making me silent.

While shopping, Alex started staring at every beautiful girl passing by, making me get irked with his behaviour. Wait a minute. Why am I getting irritated? He's not my boyfriend for crying out loud! 

After finishing shopping, Alex took us to a tourist spot. Belle coincidentally met her childhood friends there. She got busy with them leaving me with her perverted brother who's busy checking out every girl around us. I silently started appreciating the beauty of the nature that surrounded us. The chirping of birds, the sounds of water, the cool breeze passing by, the laughter of children, the romance of young couples. When I felt a hand on my shoulder, I panicked while turning around to look at the intruder. 

Alex stood there while scanning my expressions. "Enjoying the view all by yourself?" Alex asked while smiling at me.

"Yeah. Belle seems like she forgot me while you were busy checking out." I quickly shut my mouth with my hands.

"Checking out what?" Alex asked while smirking.

"Nothing. Leave it." I said while feeling embarrassed.

"By any chance, are you getting jealous?" Alex asked out of the blue, making me gasp in surprise.

"What? Excuse me. Why would I get jealous?" I asked while staring at him intently.

"Because you're not getting much attention from me." Alex said proudly with an evil smirk plastered on his face making me want to slap off his smirk.

"In your dreams!" I exclaimed while smirking, making him pout. He looks damn cute while pouting. 

Belle after what seemed like an eternity came back to us. We started hanging out for some time. Alex stopped teasing me in front of Belle. After reaching home, we had dinner and watched a Christmas movie. Alex kept stealing glances at me which I caught from my peripheral view.

Few days passed by, I got a call from my dad asking me to come home. When I told Belle about that, she started her melodrama in order to please me to stay for a few more days. Alex too gave sad looks. Her parents arranged a vehicle for me to leave while telling me to visit them once again. I left with a heavy heart. What is happening to me? Why do I feel like I'm going to my in-laws' place while leaving my parents house? Whereas it's quite the opposite, even if it's not my in-laws place. 

As soon as I reached my home, my mom hugged me saying how she didn't miss me and how she's going to get a headache from me till the end of Christmas vacation. I pouted for which dad started laughing hysterically. We ate our dinner and prayed together.

I started getting vivid dreams of the stay in Belles' House. I missed her and her parents. Wait. Did I forget to mention how terribly I missed her brother? I don't know why but I feel this strange void within me as if someone plucked a piece of my heart. Does he feel the same for me? While leaving his house, his eyes spoke many things which felt surreal. I felt like, I hallucinated at that time. But, what if it was true? I decided what I have to do in order to get answers.

Without having any second thoughts, I opened my insta and looked at Bellas' insta account. I searched for her brother's insta account and clicked on his picture. I sent a request for him, which he instantly accepted. I messaged him and he replied soon, making my heart skip it's beat. "Was he waiting for my text all this time?" Was the only thought that lingered in my mind.