Today, as I got up from my bed, my pillow didn't reek of tears, it was dry. I was confused and then it hit me, Alex... I cried to him and I was being stupid, I have never told anyone else about my feelings and yesterday I poured out to him and he stood silent, hugging me, and devouring each and every word like he understood. 

I felt bad and good.

I felt good today and my chest was not heavy, it felt nice. My thoughts were surprisingly mingled with a slow whistle and ruffle downstairs and suddenly I was scared, who could that be. And it hit me, I was not alone. 'God, why am I so slow today?' I dressed for the jog and went downstairs to see a beautiful man preparing coffee. His toned muscles and abs screamed for attention and he was gorgeous.

"Angel, I am your brother, stop staring."

"But... Fabian, I am so stunned to see you, you are gorgeous and if you were not my brother I would have pounced on you with my feline paws and you wouldn't have escaped my claws."

"Gees, you and your dirty mind; I am ashamed to address you as my sister."

It was nice to go out with a guy as handsome as this man. Every other jogger stopped a bit when they found that they were staring and was about to hit something. Fabian was engrossed in talking to me that I never listened but watched the stunned expression of these people. It was really fun. I mentally planned to take him with me to the gym and he agreed.

"Angel, you are a mighty runner, I was scared you might back off, but, I see that you are good. Hmm, so behind all that fat, you are fit." He said that with a smile and I slowed down when I got in front of the gym.

"Well, I started about 1 month ago and I am not seeing any results, thus, I started doing it for fun."

"Gee, Angel, you will not see the result within a week."

"Fab, I was talking about a month and that's four weeks in total."

"So, this is the gym. Cool, let's go see Jack." 

"Yeah"

"Angel... I see you have brought... Fabian..." Jack trailed off from a bored expression to a one that screamed excitement.

"Jackie..." 'Did my brother just drool over there?'

"Oh my god, my brother..." they engulfed in a bear hug. 'Wait, what? Brother?'

"Wait, you guys know each other?"

"Angel... knows each other? He was my best friend..." Fabian was twinkling with delight as he found his long lost friend. "I lost connection when I moved here and there and I never had any idea that this was the person you were talking about all this time."

"Can't wait to tell Jasmine..." he texted her and there she was sweaty yet looking beautiful like a diva. As soon as she got in, my brother acted strangely and got tensed, like he just froze. He was not smiling like he did when he saw Jack, instead staring at Jasmine and she was staring back not in a very friendly or first-time-seeing-you-way. Noting the pressure between them, Jack and I were dumbfounded.

"Jasmine...huh, we meet again." Fabian's voice was dripping with hatred, managed to break the silence and this was what he said, trying so hard not to stammer.

"Fabio... do you know Jasmine?"

"Ask her Angel."

"Jasmine what is going on?" jack now really sound pissed. I couldn't blame him. I was too stunned, staring at the drama.

"Jack... him...I..." Jasmine was stammering so badly that she never pulled her gaze from Fabian.

"Jack, remember the time when I told you about a girl when we were doing school together? A girl, who said she loved me back and after the last dance, walked out saying she was just trying to be close friends. Who walked out just like that? This is her... I never told you her name, but, now... this is her Jack. Her name was Janice Johns."

Now it was our time, I and Jack struggling to catch our breath. Jack was fuming with anger and Jasmine was near to tears. It was a big drama, which made me clarify my theory that I should not fall in love. Love, see what is happening to a couple who are going to be married soon? Her ex is back.

"Jasmine is that true?" after a few unhealthy minutes of silence, Jack managed to ask and Fabian was now sitting on a treadmill.

"I..."

"Answer me..." he was so close to screaming on top of his lungs.

"Yes, um... I am her, but I never was in a relationship, it was he..." she trailed off, and I knew instantly... she was trying to cover up her side. Wait; is love possible for me then? Why am I thinking about me, when it's about my brother? He was now on his foot, turning an alarming shade of red.

"You assumed I was in a relationship when you were not? Is that how to pay me back my worthy love? You knew I was serious and wait; did you even remember you seducing me to break my virginity? Yes, you knew I was taking special consideration about that matter but you were so adamant and I was 16... you broke up with me, and then you came crying back because it was prom and no one invited you. Oh, my Janice, thank god, I was just in time to save my Jack. When Angel told me about you guys, I never thought in a million year, it would be you guys."

"Janice? Who is Janice?"

"Jack...you are looking at her and didn't you even listen to me when I said that first."

"So, that's why you never showed me your license and stuff. You knew this might happen."

"Jack... Fabian... I am sorry; I was a player back then. I mean, who was not? And I never knew you were this serious, ok. I didn't think in a million years, things would change like this. Fabian, I thought you might be just like anyone else and I played with you. I never had a serious relationship with Jack... with you, I found one. And, no, I am not joking here, so, please... I am sorry Fabian and Jack...please."

"Jasmine, Janice... I don't even know what to call you. Please, leave me alone and give me some time, ok."

"Yeah..." with saying that, she went to the lockers, changed her dress and half smiled looking at me, I returned the smile. Why should I be mad at her? Fabian and Jack were pretty hard and I didn't know what to say. So, I stood there and looked at the time. I still had half an hour before school. 'What will I do?'

"Well...well...well... what do we have here, a family earthquake."

"Alex....shut up" The three of us managed to scream at him and we laughed at the awkwardness. It seems like Alex was pretty capable of solving silence. Hmm... he is a brown alert.

The school was just the same. I didn't care anyone trying to hurt me, I just went with it. Opening my locker door, I saw Loren standing next to my locker with a frown and I knew it was a danger. I frantically searched for Annie or anyone, but none was there and I panicked.

"I am sorry, alright?"

Somehow my mind didn't register any genuineness and I crossed my arms waiting for him to say something. He was flaring and seething, and I felt he was being forced to do something, and then it hit me, Annie, must have done something.

"Ann..."

"But he promised he would say sorry to you, and he promised mother."

"That's because I couldn't stand her long lectures, brainy, do something worthwhile with it. I am not sorry for what I did Angela."

"Really, and since when did I felt otherwise. You are paying me revenge to which I was never a part."

"Never a part? it was my first love, and do you know how much it hurts?"

"I am sorry, I don't... but, I never promised to make you fine. Besides, we were in elementary for crying out loud."

"Says you, who don't understand what pain and hurt mean."

"Excuse me; have you lived your life to be under constant pressure? You probably must have not, so leave me alone and I don't want to lecture you about the hurt that has swelled to the size of my body in my heart which none of you care to acknowledge because all of you are in your own little bubble that projects your problems. For once in your life, shut your monitor and look at others to see what they might be going through."

I was so loud that the buzzing hallways were silent for a minute echoing my speech. I was not ashamed of it, it was the truth. The bell rang and many were in a hurry, but most of them stared at me like they have found themselves a pair of eyes to see that I actually have a heart beneath this fat. That was embarrassing. I pushed aside Tobias and picked my books for the day until lunch and stormed to whichever class was first.

Luckily it was English and Ms. Celine was about to get in when I walked past her.

"Someone's grumpy..." she cooed, making me go sore and about to cry. But, I plastered my best smile and shook my head. She really understood everyone and thus she stared at me with those gentle stern eyes that meant she was not going to open the door and I am not entering until she gets her answer. Sometimes, it is just plain irritating to be confronted by a nice gentle person.

"Well, I am not in a good mood and many encounters just boil me."

"Listen, my dear, I am not going to say I understand what you have been through as I don't, but, I know what it is to be bullied and cornered just to make fun of me, pull my copper curly hair, say absurdity about my geek glasses and stuff. I never cried, nor did I in my home. I just pulled my chin up and walk straight from whatever situation I am in and laugh it off. Do it, I assure you, you will feel great. Push inside others boundaries and make yourself a seat, show others you are fun. Cause I know you are... go get it, tiger." Her smile was heartwarming and I fell in love.

______________________________________

Olivia Wilde as Jasmine.