10 Arguments

As we  walked further, I heard Rachel's voice, I walked faster and Austin followed me. As we reached, I saw Rachel and Justin standing and  both were  holding one book.

"I took the book first," Rachel muttered.

"What do you mean by you took the book, it was on that chair so I took it," he pointed his index finger towards the chair and growled.

"I was the one who put it there, you idiot," Rachel said and pulled the book to her side.

"I don't care, give me my book," Justin pulled the book towards him.

"Why are you both quarreling over that book when  there are many books in the shelf," I pipped in.

"Why should I give the book which I took first," replied Justin.

"I told you, I took it first. You go and take another book," Rachel gritted her teeth.

Justin who was looking at Rachel turned towards our side and looked at our hands.

"Am I seeing this for real??"  said Justin widened his eyes and laughed at me and Austin.

I didn't understand what he said   but after few seconds it  struck me that I was still holding Austin's wrist. I became alert to his words, I dropped his hand and took one step forward. It was really awkward.

'Why does Justin use his mouth  to embarrass people, especially me' I thought.

"Don't use your brain, Justin,"Austin said with a glare directed at him.

"Hehe... what are you talking about, I saw nothing," said Justin, and smiled awkwardly as he brushed his hair with his fingers.

While Justin's attention was at us. Rachel pulled the book from his hand and walked away saying, "better luck next time, you son of chicken feather."

I took a book from the shelf and gave it to my cousin, there were many other books but my cousin and friend were quarreling like cat and dog as if there was only one book. "Why do you always  irritate  her, what do you even get in return," I said.

"Satisfaction," he said with  wicked smile.

"You ....are an idiot," I said and turned.

I looked at Austin who was standing there quietly all this time.

"Bye, see you soon," he said.

"bye," I said to Austin and then at Justin.

"No, sister. Wait, don't leave me alone, I'll come with you," Justin said as if he needed me to rescue him from Austin.

"We are not leaving right now," Austin said smiling at Justin but there was something  sinister in his smile.

Rachel waited for me near the steps, she looked at me with mischievous grin, as soon as I came close to her she asked me how did I end up holding his wrist.

"Few months ago, I wasn't there with you for few minutes and you ended up in his arms and  now I left you alone for few minutes and you held his hand, what's happening between you and him," she asked me with a raised her eye brow and slightly moving corner of her lips upwards.

"Nothing is happening," I said and took a step forward with the book Austin picked for me. I avoided her gaze and her tease as always.

It was the time of our final exams. I had sleepless nights and worked hard so that I could score well. After our final exams we had summer vacation and a few days later  our results were out in which  I scored 75%.

Rachel was really happy that I improved and was proud of me.

I was in ninth standard, Rachel often came to my house to study. She found my sketch book while I was searching for my notes.

"You still have this drawing book ?" she asked me in surprise.The sketch book was given by her when I was a kid, so that I could draw in it  as I used to draw in different papers and lose them.

I nodded and  replied with a hmm.

She opened the book and turned pages,  the starting pages of the book were either houses or mountains. As she kept turning the pages she saw sketches of dresses with models which I designed.

"The designs are beautiful, you never cease to amaze me Jess," she said with her eyes fixed at the book.

"Thankyou," I replied with blush.

"You have to  design my dresses  in case you become  a fashion designer in future," she giggled.

"Sure, I will," I took my book from her and Kept  it aside I continued, "but only if I become a fashion designer, I don't think I'll choose fashion designing, not even in my dreams." I looked at my wall where I have pasted different designs of my favorite designer ASA.

"We never know what future holds for us, let's see what happens," said Rachel.

Days passed, months passed and so did the year. I worked hard since the day I decided my name to be in the top list. I still didn't  get into the top list but I improved in my studies,  from being a person who barely passed in her exams to scoring 86% in final examination. I've gone through a lot. People  talked behind my back, they didn't laugh at me but  told me on my face that It would be impossible for me  to score at least 60% and advised me not to day dream.

Rachel and Cindy  always encouraged me when people discouraged.  they  believed in me, that was more than enough for me,other than Rachel  not even a single person knew why I was so determined to get into the top list.

I never got a chance to talk to Austin alone in my ninth standard. It became difficult for me to see him as days passed. One day I went to water purifier  to fill my empty bottle as I was thirsty, as I was filling my bottle I saw him through window, the place where I went to fill my bottle was near to his class  and since that day I went to fill my bottle almost  everyday. Even though I couldn't talk to him, I always felt happy just by looking at him. Just one  glance at him would make my day.

Nothing changed between Rachel and Justin, whenever they met, they always argued.

Looking at their behavior towards eachother, my  aunt Helen, called me one day and said that she needed my help in bringing those two close to eachother.  I said that I wouldn't help her to my reply she was little upset. I knew that she just wanted to help those two  but Rachel never wanted Justin's mother force him to like her.

She would start to stay away from him if she comes to know that my aunt tried  to scheme something to bring them close, she was aware  that Justin doesn't  feel for  her the way she feels for him.

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A ship never sinks because of the water around it, it only sinks because of the water that gets in it.

Just like Jessica  was discouraged by her own classmates, people  often get discouraged by their  own people,  when ever they try to do something new. They are  always looked down,  their own people  talk behind their  back or try to change  their  mind set. One must fumigate negative and toxic people in their life and move forward and do what they want.

Jessica never understood why Rachel and Justin  always argued with each other But as time passed she understood that, that was the only way they talked to each other. There was unspoken love for each other in those arguments.