Again (PUBLISHED!)

Chapter 3.

This chapter is also posted at the Wattpad Block Party- Winter Edition III (February 2017) hosted by the amazing Kelly Anne Blount!

(https://www.wattpad.com/368722044-wattpad-block-party-winter-edition-iii-hazeleyes_1#)

Crawford Lane wasn't just a beautiful suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of New York City, it was picturesque as well. Each house was built as a mark of fine architecture and painted in exotic shades of different colors. The front steps leading to the lovely porches were as white and glittery as snow. The well designed fences that bordered the houses were white too.

There was a breath-taking garden area right at the heart of the Lane where colorful and exquisite flowers blossomed among the shrubbery during the spring season. During Christmas, the garden is decorated like a bride. Besides that, every street and every house in the neighborhood was flanked by an elegant green cover of trees, bushes and grasses.

Crawford Lane also had a club with modern facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports like a soccer field, basketball court, a swimming pool area, table tennis, billiards and chess. The club also hosted a library that stacked books for both children and adult. So when Stef, Adam, Josh and I weren't hanging out over table tennis, I came to the club to read in the library. Because unlike my friends, I was so not a sports enthusiast.

The boys loved basketball while Stef was into swimming. She considered a dip in the pool as the best form of exercise to keep herself fit and active so as to continue stealing Ferrero Rocher from my freezer.

So that afternoon, after a tiring day at school, Stef made a splash into the pool to relax herself while I rolled up my blue denims to my knees and sat at the edge dangling my feet into the cool waters. Stef swam like a pro in the pool wearing an orange swimsuit that suited her curvy body well. But she didn't leave me alone to get bored as we also talked about life in general, school and also about our college plans which was a difficult topic to speak about.

"Do you think we'd remain best friends once we go our own separate ways after graduation?" Stef asked quietly.

"Ofcourse we will, no matter what!" I said without a doubt, "I know our choices of colleges are completely different. You've applied for schools in the East while I've applied for the West but I'm sure we will stay strong inspite of everything."

Stef brightened up hearing that. "I'm so happy you said that, El!"

Right then, my phone beeped. I rolled my eyes seeing another 'Sorry' message from Luke. I didn't bother to reply for I was still very pissed at what he did with me that day.

"Bravo, Eleanor! I'm so glad you didn't respond to that boyfriend of yours," remarked Stef, guessing who it was. "What did he do this time? Not that I'm having troubles guessing. He surely must have been an obnoxious shit like always."

"Let's not talk about it," I said in a disturbed tone.

"Who's even telling you to? Dump that guy already. End of story."

I honestly didn't want to get into that with her again. "Enough of discussing me," I said. "Why don't we ever talk about you as much as we talk about me?"

"That's because it's you who has a boyfriend, not I?"

"So why don't you?" I returned, "You know right how much of a shy marshmallow Adam is? You & I have known him since Grade 1. He'll never have the guts to confess his feelings to you. You being the feisty one should stop being like a fool in front of him and make a move."

"It's just that....."

"Why do you look so anxious?" I asked in amusement. "Dating your best friend is the most amazing thing ever! You will be free to be yourself with him. Adam will make a very good boyfriend. And besides, he and you know each other very well."