PROLOGUE

"Is he... Is he really here?" I asked, totally not believing what my pretty small eyes saw. I was quite mesmerised, but to say I was in shock, is an understatement.

"I guess so, his eyes are of same colour and looks exactly like you described" Samantha, my best friend, said.

"But... But how?"

"You should know it better" she replied and left me all alone there.

He was back. The best of the 'bestest' friend of me. But he doesn't remember me. Doesn't recognise me and that's what hurts the most. Because he was not just a friend to me.

I had a crush on him since I was 8.

Giving me a small glance of his beautiful blue eyes, he stared at me for a while, making me realise that I'm not the one he knows, and it's not a tradition to just stare at someone like that.

At least not for a girl to stare at a boy like I was just doing.

I lowered my gaze, finding it difficult to meet those eyes again after all these years, when I knew it just wasn't easy for me now to stay in the same school as him.

*****

I was still looking into those blue eyes. They didn't change in those six years. He was talking to some other boys and hasn't seen me. So, yea, I was looking in those eyes sideways. Just then his gaze turned towards me, and I didn't notice it until he started to stare at me back. I looked down in embarrassment and turned back. I was about to leave when I heard a voice.

"Hey girl!" someone had said.

Even if I didn't hear that voice in the last six years, I could sense that it's no one else's than Ryan. But the voice has deepened and it is way huskier than the cute clear one he had way back.

I turned around again, facing him, not knowing how to react. I even thought... Maybe he remembered me?

"What?" I asked slowly, still not meeting his eyes, cause they do different magic whenever I look at them.

"You must really like me!" he said. I looked at him in shock.

What did he just say?

"What??" I asked stunned.

"You were staring at me for the last 10 minutes I suppose," he said and I could really feel the embarrassment pass through me straight. "Stop that already," he said with a smirk on his face.

I didn't reply and went to the washroom. As expected, Sam was already waiting for me there.

"I'm sure... He's back... Ryan Carson... Sorry... Ryan Swift and... He has completely changed! I'm out of my mind right now... He was so shy and so quiet before... And now he's so bold!! I don't want to be in the same school—" I was cut off by Sam.

"Oh cool down my dear!! It's fine!! He doesn't remember you anyway"

"He doesn't! And he shouldn't!"

"I know right. Just don't act weird" she said and dragged me to my classroom. I and she were bench mates, so we sat together. Well, it was the first day of our 10th class, so we can decide on the bench we want.

"You know what Hannah, just calm down," Sam said to me again, as she looked towards my dull face.

"You know I shouldn't be sad when he returned, but what can I do? It's bad for me as much as it is for him! You just saw how much he has changed!"

"How can I see that, when I haven't met him before?" she said.

Oh yeah. She hasn't.

"Well, earlier, he was just as cute and handsome as he's now, he was cool and talked in a decent manner. He was a disciplined boy and was just too shy to talk to anyone!"

"Then?"

"Well, it's a long story, but what I now know, is that he's a completely different person I knew once"

"And don't tell me you still have a crush on him?"

"Well... Yes"

"Go and die!"

"Why?"

"You're never gonna understand! I mean just get over him already!"

"I can't! I tried!"

"Leave it. The class is gonna start!" she said.

I looked towards the door and waited for the teacher to come. But someone else came at the door followed by the gossips of the young girls in the classroom.

Don't tell me, Ryan, & I are in the same class!!

And he came in my row. I closed my eyes because I was so embarrassed. I was startled when I felt a breath on my neck. A shiver went through my body on the hot breath of someone.

I desperately wanted to know what was there that increased my heartbeat to god—knows—which number. But I just wasn't ready to face it.

"You're lucky. I'm sitting behind you" he said, right, he was Ryan.

Oh god. Just kill me already!!

I didn't dare to look back or face him, he went and sat on his seat. While I was earning glares from my classmates, Samantha was dumbfounded.

--

I waited for the class to get over. When I saw that the total length was 40 minutes, and it's been just 10 minutes, I decided to make a plan.

"Sam, I'm going to the washroom, come after me," I said to her. Usually, teachers don't allow two students to go out at once, but she won't pay attention, I guess.

"Ok fine, which washroom? Lower one?"

"No, this floor"

"Ok," she said and I stood up.

"Mam, may I use the washroom," I said and she allowed. At a fast pace, I walked and walked and didn't stop until the washroom. At least here I was safe... It's a girl's washroom.

I waited for Sam who came to me a little while later.

"What took you so much time!!" I yelled as she entered the area.

"You don't know Hannah, I had to act like it was so urgent! She wasn't allowed!"

"Oh, ok, thanks. Now listen. What the hell am I gonna do?!?"

"Firstly, would you please tell me what the hell happened to him six years back? I never asked because you became a cry—baby whenever I did!"

"Oh really...."

"Yes really!"

"Fine fine. I'll tell you"