“Hello Jazz……” Dastan’s voice came floating toward me through the passage with busy students…. “Where have you been…” I said,holding my backpack tightly…

He threw back his head and laughed…” I was not well…So I decided to take some rest…You didn’t call me even…what’s new?” He wanted to know…

“Oh I’m really sorry Dastan..I didn’t know that you were not well…Also I was not in a good mood too” I said,my voice steady,but my confidence already beginning to steep away..

“It’s okay Jazz…Cheer up…” He said,as if I might be un ware of that fact that It’s okay for not calling him….

“No It’s my fault actually..You were always with me but I was not with you in your most wanted times” I sounded sure of myself,even if I wasn’t exactly feeling that way..The only thing I was thinking about was W-I-L-L-I-A-M…But I never wanted to tell Dastan about that….

“C’mon leave it…So tell me what is new with you” Dastan said,his deep voice gripping with curiosity.. “Well…I’m dating someone…” I uttered with fear… I stared a while to observe his feelings… Dastan started turning red like a tomato.. “You are dating SOMEONE?…what does that mean?”

“Well..Nothing big despite that..Just to take an experience about guys…” I could tell Dastan was smiling…I could hear it in his voice.. “Thank god..That’s better..Thought that you are dating someone seriously to make him your lover….”

“Yes Dastan..I only want to make William jealous of me…” Though I wanted to tell those words…My hand started shaking…I dropped my hand so he wouldn’t see it shaking,But I couldn’t disguise the growing unsteadiness in my voice…. “Yah…I’m not serious”

I gave him a tough smile….

“I think your friends are waiting for you..” he said while pointing Stephanie and Roxanne whom were watching us at the canteen…

“Oh god…They always use to study at canteen..Thought they were at library…” I said in dismay..

“Hm..Okay Dastan..It’s great to see you again..I’d better go now..”

“Okay Jazz..See you later..”

After waving Dastan,I hurried to the canteen….

“Here you come..We were waiting for you from a long time..” Steffi said..

“I was searching for you two…” I cried..

“Thank God Dastan showed me you guys…” I comforted myself in a cozy seat…

“What is happening between you and that Jeramie?” Roxy said with a confused look..

“Nothing at all..Just hanging out..” I lied…

Then apparently seeing my expression..though I don’t know how…Steffi softened her tone..

“Jazz Jazz..what ever you are doing..Please be careful..I don’t think that Jeramie is good for you..” Steffi said,pulling one of her hands

I didn’t say anything.I don’t think that I could have spoken If I’d tried…It was hard enough to think…All I could think about was William and what he is doing… Soon I wanted to stop my crazy behavior…

“Are you listening…” Roxy said..I could feel her curiosity..

“Yah…” I chided….

“You are crazy..” Steffi snapped…

Before I could make any statement…I saw William coming towards me… “Here comes the other disaster…BACK BACK!” Roxy said…

“The main reason for Jasmine’s weird behavior is this guy…He has make her a total geek..” Steffi said in disgust..

“For your information..I DON’T THINK SO” I replied with sarcasm..

“Hey Jasmine…Can I have a word with you please…” William said with a toneless voice…

“Yah…Sure..” I said while standing

William had no any expression on his face..He just looked like a spooky statue without any feeling…

“Well..we are planning to have a small party tonight at Cassie’s place…So came to invite you and your friends…”

“Whoa..That’s awesome..” Steffi said with a cheerful voice…I stared at her with a curious look because before few minutes she accused William and now after hearing the word PARTY..she can’t even remember how she felt about him…

William gave her a soft smile…

“Looks like your friends accepted my invitation…” He said lowering his steady tone..

“Yes yes we all are coming” Roxy replied,before I make any word…

“Woww..Thanksss…” He said twisting his hands..

“when is the party” I questioned..

“Oops..I just forgot..You guys have a very small time to get prepare..Party is tonight..”

Unfortunately It was the most worst reply for me…It was a word that didn’t exactly engender the same response in William…

“Gosh..William I’m sorry I can’t come… I’m extremely sorry…” I replied shortly,with a worried expression..

“WHAT?” William,Stef and Roxy cried at once…

“William..Cant you remember that I have  a date with Jeramie tonight..We are going to watch a movie…So I can’t come..Hope you can understand me….”

“What do you mean? I didn’t know that… Hey you can make it on another day..You must come tonight..I hate the word NO..” William said ghastly with an angry look…

“Hey..Don’t lie..I told you about that yesterday..” I cried..

“No You didn’t..Also are you going to miss this occasion because of that Jeramie… huh?” William cried in dismay..

“That’s true..Come on Jazz..Lets go…” Roxy said…

Before I could think of something to say,he figured it out on his own..

“Fine…I’m totally disappointed..because I invited all my friends..So Wanted you to come to enjoy with us… Stupid of me…Thought that you feel the worth of our friendship and the helps we exchanged.. But now I know that you think about LOVE AFFAIRS more than the FRIENDSHIP…” Tonelessly he said…

I shrugged..I was like locked inside a cupboard…

Before I could think of something to say that would lighten the situation..or at least get his mind off from those stupid ideas…the last person in the world I wanted to live with WILLIAM..said in a quite difference tone… “Enjoy with Jeramie..I felt for you in a different way..That’s why I was disappointed..I’m sorry Jasmine… Hope your best friends will come..”

He turned to go..

“Look William..I didn’t…….” before I finish my words,William walked away from us….

Like a fool…I stood there in the middle of the canteen without saying any word…

**************************************************************************************

“Can you do that for me?”  Dastan said

I tuned in to what Dastan was saying to me a little to late…And I couldn’t ask “what was that..Dastan” because then he’d want to know what I’d been thinking about..Instead of playing attention to what he was saying…

“Can you” Dastan’s blue-eyed gaze bore into mine..What could I do but sallow and nod…

“Sure..” I said,not having the slightest idea what I was promising…

“That makes me feel better Jazz..” He said…

“So Can you help me now..I want to hand it over to our science teacher before evening..Are you free now”

Oh…Now I knew what he’d been talking about..Dastan wanted my help to finish his science assignment

But I was not in a good mood to help him..I was thinking about William all the time..It was my fault to hurt him like that…The words he said “I felt for you in a different way” Made me so pathetic,because How could I tell him that I never wanted to date Jeramie… I wanted William to realize my value..But eventually he has realized that I’m something to him..I’m sure that he likes me somewhere..There was no any need  to make him realize about me…He has already understood that we have a close bond between each other..So do I have to continue this dating ACT anymore..? No I don’t..I don’t want to do that..I must tell William about how I feel for him..I want to tell him that I like him in an unbelievable way..I want to express him how much I need him… I waited for a long time..But not anymore…  I was stunned and deeply hurt,so much so I felt mortally wounded,I was speechless..My lips gaped and I wanted to plead William for him to give me chance to express my real feelings..I wanted to confess everything…Hot,blinding tears stung my eyes..I struggled not to cry as Dastan was there…

“What are you thinking about Jasmine?” Dastan wanted to know…

“Ah No nothing…Dastan I think I should go now… Because I have something important to do..Please forgive me…I promise..I’ll help you with your assignment..But now I’m so helpless as well as not feeling good” I said while picking up my stuff..

Dastan gave me a soft look..

“Okay sure Jazz..No problem..Yes I trust you more than me… ” Dastan gave me a satisfying reply..

“Thanks a lot savior…” I said while leaving him…

I ran faster and faster like a cheetah… “I won’t lie to anyone again..Today I hurt William badly…I can’t do that with him… I cant loose the bond with him because of Jeramie..”

After a huge search I found Jeramie at the grounds with his friends..

“Hey Jasmine… Surprised after seeing you here..” Jeramie shouted,giving a narrow look

“I know that Jeramie… Well I just wanted to apologize from you”  confessed meaninglessly..

“apology for what…I can’t understand…”

“Well…I mean I never wanted to go out with you either date you..All I did was to make someone jealous of me being with another guy..I’m sorry I spoiled your valuable time…Also I cant go out with you tonight…” Those words eventually came out from my mouth

“Huh what? You mean what?”

“Gosh..cant you understand? Okay Simply I want to say what is..I CANT GO OUT WITH YOU..really sorry…” I said with an angry look

“But why? You said that you like to go…But why suddenly like this without any reason?” Jeramie said in dismay

“Because I like someone else…you got it?”

For an eternally long time Jeramie said nothing…

“Then why did you date me?”

“Look I did that because I was acting…. ”

“What the hell…You were acting?”

“Let me explain clearly Jeramie..I liked a guy…But he doesn’t like me..So I dated you because to make him jealous of me for being with guys…So now I think that I don’t have to act like that anymore…So I wanted to apologize from you..Please forgive me…”

Jeramie’s expressions started changing vastly…. “You are a slut..You used me..” He cried loudly..

As I was not in a mood to fight I chided “I know..I’m sorry…”

Before the problem become big,I moved away without making another word…I saw Jeramie telling his friends about the incident… “Another enemy”

The only thing I had to do is finding a place to sit alone……..