I really love my friends but sometimes they just force me to either pull my hair out or theirs. Whichever gives me relief soon! The party was weeks ago and long forgotten, especially when there was nothing to celebrate about. I did get an earful from dad when I narrated how I just went with the flow and he just hummed about the whole 'Stel'-took-me-home thing. Mom merrily congratulated me on my first drink and then scolded me for being careless and not to forget, the praises she sent to Stellan. I swear Stellan has my mom impressed. And dad...well it will be a shocker if he was! I made a fool of myself and I had successful hid the story from almost all the people who asked me about the night, including Bella.

I continued to come to the library almost every Sunday. The smell of the books soothed me and well, Bella can prove to be an awesome listener and even awesome cook. I had almost raided her kitchen when she called me to her house. She didn't really have many friends, none actually! I have known for so many weeks but never had she mentioned any. One fine day she confessed that she was kind of awkward around people in general. Speaks of why she was hesitant to sit with us the first day. But I had grown warm to her! I tend to find solace in good listeners. And how can't people love her and Nicholas too? They are literally goals and they treat me like a family.

The thing is that Bella just had her mom as a family for a large part of her life. And Nicholas, well he had grown up in an orphanage. So, they rarely had visitors and her mom lived on the other side of the country. So if you ask of family, these two just had Bella's mom and as they now say, me! I am more than happy to be though. These two literally treat me like their kid. A full grown kid.

It's not really new for me to visit her home. While the library occupies the ground floor, the couple kind of renovated the floor above it to change into a small apartment. It's just like mine though it has three rooms with a living room and kitchen, of course. The fact that it is adorned with various pictures of these two, over the years and Bella's various handicrafts which she rocks at, gives the house a comfy and homey feeling.

So, as usual, I headed for Haven. Apparently Allison wanted to join me today. Succumbing to her sweet nature, Bella invited us both for a coffee. And here we are, sitting at the round table and solving world hunger.

"Yeah.....he was with her the whole night! I was drunk too but I still remember him taking good care of her!" The two women continue to whisper and giggle.

I still continue to grumble under my breath and force the coffee down my throat because I might accidently throw it at Alice.

"Oh Lia! Why the heck was I kept in the dark about all this? Why did I get to know about I-was-drunk-as-hell-so-I-just-returned-home-and-don't-remember-about-anything part?" Bella asked me.

"Bells, it wasn't a really big thing. Plus, I really don't want to think about all those embarrassing moments!" Heck, I don't even remember half of that night! I just know the bits Stellan told me but I have a feeling that he missed on something.

Maybe intentionally.

Maybe not.

Because after that party, I swear he acted kind of different. I mean he was still his cheery and joyful self, only serious when needed to be but he looked at me differently. Not to start with the entire 'stare' thing again, but I knew something was different. I might just be over thinking but cut me some slack. I have a huge hole in my memory regarding that night.

Before I could continue on my inner thoughts, Bella broke them.

"Not a big thing?! Girl, me and Nick have been married for almost 2 years now and that guy will never pick me up! Like once I had to whine like a child and he just picked me and threw me to bed! He says I am too heavy....I had been so angry, I remember....oh yeah, back to the story! Why is it that Stellan is always the mother hen for you?" I almost spilled my coffee as the two gave me a sly look. Not creepy at all!

"Seriously.....mother hen! I mean sure, it was nice of him. I am gratified but I mean, it's Stellan we are talking about. He treats everyone with much respect and has no immoral bone in his body!" It was true though. Stellan treated everyone with care. That was his personality. To care about everyone till the end.

"Sure...he is a great person but I was drunk too! But he took care of you and everyone knows we all are friends. All four of us!"

Touché.

Ian, Stel, Alice and me....we all cared for each other. There was no hiding that.

But these two women are ganging up against me?

"Oh really....he might have had actually, if Ian would have left your side!" And now it was my turn to smirk!

Yes, finally I am o-

"Don't change the topic Ms. Hale!" Bella almost snapped at me. It was genuine I guess. I did hide the stuff from her. Sure, she had no hold over what I should tell her and not, but with everything that she has shared with me about her life and me being the one to hardly ever, ever tell someone, she did deserve this much! I sighed.

"Guys....it's seriously nothing! I don't even remember all of it. Just some parts that Stellan told me the next morning when I had a severe headache!"

"Well....you did gulp down almost the entire club!" Like she didn't drink any.

"Please Al....it wasn't the whole club....just a few shots!"

"A few shots to make you forget the whole night!" Bella chided.

Damn it! Why are they extra smart today?

"Okay....fine! I might have drunk a lot but I won't repeat it again!"

Alice almost jumped on her seat.

"Oh no no no! You might actually get drunk again and this time I will be sober to see Stellan chasing you around!" Bella nodded seriously.

What the hell is wrong with them!?

"Are you guys kidding me? What is your obsession about me and Stellan? And why oh, why would I want to torture the people around and poor Stellan.....I am not burdening him again! He couldn't even enjoy the party that night? Although he was the one to be invited first!" With everything that everyone told me, I am sure Stellan did not enjoy the party. Like come on...no one enjoys babysitting others at a party.

Bella gave me a knowing look.

"What?" I was frustrated, okay? They have been giving me looks for the past hour.

"Trust me.....you are no burden!"

"Yeah.....you and him have a heart to heart chat everyday!" Sarcasm dripping from my mouth. I usually get sarcastic when I don't want to talk about things.

"No, but you see....some things are just obvious! The fact that he cared enough for you to take you home, make sure you were comfortable enough, making you sleep in his bed and taking a guest room himself, taking your attitude the next morning, helping you with your hangover and letting you go when you were okay speaks tones Ophelia. And this is only about a day. You want me to continue?"

She wasn't completely wrong.

Who was I kidding? She was right about everything. She usually is. I groaned.

"Okay....maybe he cares for me more than others but that's all! There is nothing more to it!" Bella sighed.

"Tell me Lia.....how long are you planning to stay oblivious?" She gave me an almost sad look.

"For as long as she can!" Alice answered for me. I guess she was quiet for too long.

"I am not oblivious guys! I am not! There is nothing I am ignoring. Everything is just as I see it. Simple, no complications. You are just over thinking. It was just a party and I am sure no such thing is happening in future. Not like I will allow it! I am not unobservant....you guys know that! I am not oblivious because there is nothing to be oblivious about!" I finished my rant and Al gave me deadpan look while Bella had a frown etched to her face. Then she spoke and boy, did she shut me up.

"Then why does it sound like you are convincing yourself more rather than us....?"

And I had no answer that. Probably because she was right. You could hardly hide truth from Bella's eyes. She could catch you and your freaking lie in an instant.

But it was true.

I was trying to be oblivious. Guess I am not good at it.

I sighed deeply.

"Bella.....I don't know! Okay? I have never been treated that way....I have never allowed myself to be treated that way but.....Stellan, I don't even know what to say? He is a great guy. Any girl would be lucky to have him. Hell, I don't even think that there can be a more perfect person than him but I am surely not! I am not that lucky to have him and as far as the liking me thing is concerned....I still think it's just myth and if it isn't, it will wear down in a few days....if it hasn't already." I didn't really notice my voice had become a mere whisper by the end.

Allison gave me a small smile. She knew me better than many people. And I would be shocked if she felt that this whole thing was comfortable for me.

Bella covered my hand with hers over the table.

"Ophelia.....no one is perfect. Even he isn't. Although I haven't met him since the last time, the things you guys tell me, all these instances, his way around you and your pictures, if they do ever appear in the media even though Stellan sees to it, is a measure of just how much he thinks you are perfect to him. Yeah, there are millions of girls out there who could keep him happy but right now, he has you. He has had a taste of Ophelia Hale. And trust me; you are not a wine that will wear down quick enough. Not quick enough for him to pick himself up as he is falling for you!"

She rendered me completely speechless after that. I had no idea what to say. And even if I did, I knew I couldn't speak. My mouth was suddenly dry and I had to swallow down the gulp in me throat. For a second, I couldn't even look Bella in the eyes. I forced my eyes to look up; only two find my two friends smiling at me.

"She is right, Lia! Heck! I see you guys everyday and I would be a fool to deny it!"

Guess I was a fool then.

"Bell....it's not that easy. It's just not about him, it's so many more things......"

And I let the sentence hand in the air. I couldn't complete it with every argument I had.....the ones that actually are reasonable. The ones that are difficult to confess. But Bella didn't give up.

"I know it isn't, sweetheart. I know there are many things I don't know. Many things you haven't told me yet....."

I could feel Allison stiffen beside me as my eyes flickered to Bella's dark brown ones. I hadn't told her anything. I didn't even give away much needed hint but over the years, maybe my personality speaks more than I want it to. And although I might have mastered hiding emotions, Bella had a keen eye too.

"I am not forcing you to tell me anything. That's your decision. If you wish to tell me someday, I would be more than happy and even if you don't, I trust you enough to handle yourself. I just....want you to be happy about yourself and the way you effect people. And the way Stellan makes you feel too. You have known it for long Ophelia.....let your heart reign over too. They aren't meant to stay in cages forever."

Of course they aren't. They were meant to be free. But once in a while, all those things meant to be free, are still trapped down.

Maybe that's why we were bestowed with cages.

Maybe that's why I was bestowed with a heart, too scared to fly, fiddling deep within my ribcage.

Bella had put me in a completely different light now. So long, I had looked at the problem like I looked at all of them all these years. The way I did when Al started to warm up to me or anyone else who would have been able to get me close enough to know every version of me. But I couldn't think in the same way with Stellan, simply because it just wasn't the same thing.

He did not look at me the way Al did. Or the way my parents did.

Sure, they loved me but to describe what Stellan made me feel was beyond words. Having yet not discovered those words myself, telling those to anyone else was a thing of the future.

Right now, the only thing I could do.....was to let myself whirl down. Because neither could I let go Stellan and I knew there wasn't a time soon he is going to let go of me either.

My fate loves to play games with me. The game had begun again. And although I have had never desired to win against it, I did this time. You could blame Stellan for that.

I looked back at my friend.

"Bella, I know you just want me to be happy. And trust me, I am. I don't need anyone to that for me. I never have had needed a relationship."

"So you plan on to be alone forever?"

Alone.

I almost chuckled at the irony.

"No one wants to be alone Bella......but tying myself to him and then let him go deeper down the darkness is not something that comes with being together!" I said more than I should have but nevertheless Bella smiled at me.

"Oh dear, we all have scars to hide. But they are not to be protected from the world. Not from the ones who are ready to wear them with us. Because as much as we hate them, our scars are not only ours to nurse and heal."

"But they are ours to tell...."

"Yes, Lia, they are! And you will be the one to show Stellan that......that's the beauty of affection, darling. It makes you do things you never even dreamed of doing."

That was true....for I had mom, dad and Allison with me. And somewhere up there, grandma too!

"Maybe I will Bells.....but I don't know what will happen then? Heck.....I never even really thought about it?!"

Allison chuckled lowly.

"Babes, that's not for you to worry about. Future can go and worry about itself for right now, you have yourself to take care of." Bella nodded.

What did I do to deserve these two?

For as far as I had once believed, my sins wouldn't let me live a day with happiness but people are proved wrong every day.

"When did you two turn into relationship gurus?"

And I was back. I had been sappy to long. Bell rolled her eyes.

"Dunno about Alice.....but I am a professional love expert!" And the tension was soon evaporated away. It had hung too long in the room.

And maybe too long over my head.

We couldn't talk any longer since Bella needed to be somewhere. So, greeting our final goodbyes, we headed straight to our apartments. It was good that the apartments were nearby since we got to walk a little more together.

Almost half way, my phone blared on full volume. Fishing it out of my bag, I was confused to find Natalie calling me. We had exchanged numbers but we never felt the need to talk over phone. Alice looked over my shoulder. Sharing my confusion, she gave me a quizzical look.

Like I know why. I took her call as her bright voice greeted me at the other end.

"Ophelia! Can you meet me at my office?"

That escalated quickly.

"...Natalie! Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, everything is fine! It's awesome actually."

Okay, she seems super cheerful.

"It's just that you are suddenly calling me to your office so..."

"Oh that.....yeah, I need you and Allison too.....come with her! I need you two to help me with organizing. I will message you the address or you can just Google it, whichever is quicker!"

I put the phone on speaker but did I hear her correctly! Me, organizing?

"Nat....me and organizing? What are you on?"

"Endless amount of chocolate with pickle....I guess, yes!"

"No I mean....bruh, I can't even keep my room organized every day. It's like everything has a foot of its own. I even lose my comb somewhere while combing...."

Alice giggled beside me while Natalie one the phone. But it wasn't funny?!?! Everyone loses their comb, it can't just be me!

"Oh no, Ophelia.....I need help and I know Allison has some awesome taste and you are, well, needed!"

"Damn right I do!" Allison proudly puffed her chest as I gave her a boring look. She gave me raised eyebrows. My friend has some sass.

"Oh hey Allison! Good you are with her. So I need you guys at my office right now. It's just 3 PM so we have time.....I really want the party to be full blown!"

Party? God, not again!

"What is with you Walkers having party every other weekend?" Alice scoffed at me. I swear, I have had enough parties for a lifetime.....I don't think I can handle more. Not now at least!

"Oh....this a more personal one. Just family gathering! This Wednesday!"

"Nat, Alice might help you but it's a big NO from me! I don't KNOW anything about it?!"

"But you know the birthday boy!"

"I am still not qualified enough."

"So I won't be able to convince you to help me with the birthday party of me and my twin three days from now?"

I sucked in a breath.

Natalie's birthday was three days from now.

And so was her twin's.

And last time I checked, Stellan was his twin.

So that means it's his birthday too.

And he never told me.

Scratch that, he never told us.

Oh, he had a thing coming.

Why the fuck would he hide it and not tell us?

Like you hide things from him!

Well, well, well....if it isn't consciousness again.

"Oh lords! Happy birthday in advance Nat....and I am totally in!" Allison almost snatched the phone from my hand.

"Yeah.....I know you will rock....so Lia...."

"Yes...." I was unsure though.

"Still unqualified to make Stellan's birthday a damn big one? So, yeah...I need you! Meet you in a few minutes. " I could almost hear the smirk in her voice. But why emphasize Stellan? She was turning 25 too.

"But Natalie....it's your birthday too!" They were twins after all.

"Oh trust me....for all the time I spent in London, I had enough of parties. Even here, my friend would throw a party and although we both were the birthday twins, he let me enjoy everything and was just happy for me. You see, Stellan never really treats himself much. Typical of him. And out of us both, I am the one for all the managing and making so I am organizing it. I might want to make it a surprised one. I don't know..... People do that every day but since its his birthday too, I want it to be seen through his eyes too...."

I let her continue.

"And since I really don't want him to know every detail, I need someone who looks at things just like his eyes. You know, understanding things like him, understanding him. And right now, no one understands him better than you! So, yeah....I need you for him!" And she hung up.

Well that changes everything, doesn't it?

Hi guys!

How are you all? I hope you liked the chapter. I am dying of study load.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Anyways, hope you have a blast week ahead.

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Adios!