THE UNFINISHED STORY

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."

-Edith Sitwell

Winter is the best season of all. Each day is filled with different experience. Holidays, lights, Christmas, tieing loose ends and making new amends, meeting someone new during the holidays, spending time with your family.

But sadly this year I couldn't visit my family in Cary, NC . I had a lot of pending assignments to complete and an exam to prepare for. My genius university decided to conduct an exam right after the holidays. I mean come on; don't they have anything better to do. Everybody wants to enjoy the holidays with their family. They don't want to sit alone in their apartment and study. Most of my friends went home, that leaves me all alone in NYC during the holidays.

And let me say alone in NYC during holidays is pretty lonely. But I have to cope somehow. I went shopping in Target, to buy some food, decoration items for my Christmas tree, I brought an artificial tree last year before going home because after I come back my apartment feels really gloomy and dark. I decorate it so that after I come back, I can still get a homie feeling. I also brought DVDs for Kingsman The Secret Service and the Golden Circle. My two favourite movies. After I paid for my things and started walking towards my apartment, which is almost 10 minutes from Target.

On the way I stop by at Starbucks and ordered my usual order White Chocolate Mocha. I reach home and open the front door of the lobby. I greeted Mr. Black, the new doorman. I walk towards the elevator, went inside and press the button 3. I reached my floor, took out my keys from my jackets pocket and walked towards my door A15. As I was about to open my door, the door of A12 opened, which is one door away from mine. It was empty for the last two months. I turn around to see who rented that place. A very handsome boy came out.

He was wearing a blue jacket with black t-shirt; black sweatpants and his hair was short and spiked up. He is a little scruffy and that makes him look more handsome. He saw me and greeted me with a smile "Hi". "Hello. You new here?" I ask him smiling. "Yeah, just moved here few hours ago" he replied. "Cool. I am Phoebe." "Asher. Nice to meet you. I have to buy a few things but we should catch up sometime" he said and put his hands in his jackets pocket. "Yeah sure" I replied to him. He smiled at me and said "See yeah" and went towards the elevator.

I went inside my apartment with a smile plastered in my face. I went and put the food in my kitchen and the decoration items in my living room where an empty dull artificial tree is standing, waiting to be decorated. I changed into some comfy clothes, made a cup of hot chocolate, put on some light music and started decorating the Christmas tree. Even thought I was doing that I could not stop thinking about Asher. Let's see what will happen.

CHRISTMAS EVE

It's really cold today. I woke up around 9 am, freshen up and made a cup of hot chocolate along with some toast. I switch on the TV and put the plate of toast on the coffee table. I open YouTube and press on my playlist. I finished eating my toast and was sipping the hot chocolate when the door bell rang. I thought who can it be? I wrap my woollen cardigan around my body and went to open the door. I opened the door and saw Asher smiling at me. "Good Morning. Are you busy at this moment?" he asked.

"Morning and no come inside" I open the door for him, he went inside and I close the door behind me. Asher and I got close since the day he came. He is like my long, lost friend. He is funny, cute, handsome and he have a shy look. Sometimes I caught him staring at me and when I look towards him, he sees somewhere else. Ash sat on the Recliner and I sat on the couch. "So, what's up" I ask him. "If you are not doing anything today, will you go out with me?" he said to me with a tiny smile. I am not going to lie I was shocked and happy at the same time.

You see I was started to have a crush on him since the day I meet him but I didn't tell because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. "Sure okay. Where do you want to go?" I ask. "You know just a little bit of shopping and maybe later I will take you to lunch" Ash said with a nervous look. "Sure. Give me 10 minutes I will go and change" he nods and I went to my room. I took out a maroon sweater, black jeans and my black beanie. I got dressed and went to the living room. Ash notices me coming in and said "Ready?". "Yeah, let's go" I said and grab my keys and phone and went.

We did some shopping and decided to go to KFC for lunch. After we were done, we went to Central Park and sat there talking, enjoying each other's company and the beautiful sunset. We reach home around 6 pm. "Thank you for today. I really had a great time" I said to Ash. "Me too. We should do that again" he said with a nervous smile. Two things that drives me crazy for him, one the way he looks at me, like I am the most beautiful girl in the world and when I caught him staring either he looks away or just gives me a small smile. Two is that he is really gentle and kind.

Like I said he have a sky, nervous look which makes him insanely cute. "Yeah, we should. Hey why don't you have dinner at mine, it's Christmas eve" I said to him. "Sure. And tomorrow lunch and dinner at mine. Deal?" he said smiling. "Deal". He went to his apartment to put his bags and came to mine. We cooked dinner together and binged all the Christmas movie on Netflix.

Next day was even better. For lunch we cooked Chicken Parmigiana and for dinner we made Shrimp Spaghetti with Crispy Chicken. Both of us love chicken. When we were making dinner, I spill some sauce on his t-shirt deliberately and by the end, both of us were covered with sauce and the kitchen was filled with our laughter. I was about go to the bathroom but I slipped on the sauce that was on the floor. But before I hit the floor, Ash caught me by my waist.

We lock eyes, he was leaning towards me, I was also leaning towards him. Our lips were about to touch but the oven timer beep signalling that the food was done. He let me stand properly and cleared his throat, I broke the awkward silence and said "I am gonna go and wash my face". "Okay. Till then am going to set the table" he said. I nod to him and went towards the bathroom. We were about to kiss, maybe he also feels the same way towards me. I smile and started to wash my face. Let's see where this will take us.

One year later

It's been a year since my friendship with Asher and when we almost kissed in his kitchen. After that day nothing been weird or anything. We hang out, talk like we usually do. After the holidays when my friends came back, I introduced them to Ash. I meet his friends too and one common thing that both the groups said that he and I would make a very cute couple. Someone even said that we were dating in private and will make our relationship public with a bang! Ash and I turn like a tomato when they said that and we also have one common answer "We are just friends".

None of us said we were best friends, we say just 'friends'. I was really confused with our friendship. Someday we act like a couple and someday just friends. I wanted to tell him that I like him but I don't know what's holding me back? When we see each other, even though we don't say anything, our eyes speak for us. That's how I know that maybe he also has feelings for me. Maybe none of us are not being able to say because the fear or worry how the other person is going to react. As if the mind is saying something else and the eyes are trying to prove something else.

Well, that's that. Today my friends decided to go out for dinner, as after three days we are going home for the holidays. I ask Ash if he wanted to come with us and he said yes. During the whole dinner Ash was looking at me with sad eyes. I ask him if he was okay, he didn't reply he just nod. After dinner all of us took a stroll around the city. Joking and laughing around, making silly jokes about each other. Ash and I reach our apartment around 11 pm. I said good night to him and was about to open my door, suddenly he said "Bee I have to say something to you".

My heart jump to that nickname and I said "Okay what is it". "Not here come on" he said and open his door. We went inside and I saw almost all of his stuff were packed. "Ash what's going on" I ask him with a confused look. "I am moving". When he said he wanted to tell me something I thought that ' this is it I think he is going to tell me' but no, those three words I wasn't expecting.

"Where are you going?" I ask

"Back to LA" he said

"Okay. Um.. that's good. When are you leaving" I ask trying my best to hide my sadness

"In three days"

"Okay that's –"

"When you will be leaving for home" he finished my sentence.

We didn't talk much that night. I went to my apartment, changed and went to bed but I was not being able to sleep so I decided to go to Ash's place. But as I open my door he was there, about to knock on my door. "Can't sleep?" we ask at the same time. We both said no. I told him to come inside and went to bed together. We use to have sleep over at each other's place but this time it felt like it was the last one. He hold me close and both of us were consumed by a dreamless sleep.

Exactly after three day, as I was about to leave for Cary, Ash was about to go to La. We went to the airport together, the whole time he was holding my hand tightly. The boarding of my flight announces and I look towards Ash and said

"I am going to miss you so much" as I said that, tears were flowing down my eyes.

"I am going to miss you more" he was trying his best to hold on his tears.

"Promise me we will stay in contact"

"We will. I will call you everyday text you, okay?"

I nod and hugged him. I didn't want to let go; I should have said something to him earlier but now it's too late. I pulled away and kissed his cheek. "Bye Ash" "Bye Bee". And I walked towards the boarding gate, crying. I didn't look back, I wanted to but I couldn't.

ASH'S POV

As she walked towards the boarding gate, a part of me was hoping she will look back. But she didn't. I am so stupid. Why didn't I tell her something earlier? I like her so much and I know she also likes me back. Both of us couldn't say anything and I don't know why. Maybe we thought it might ruin our friendship? Those unspoken words remain unspoken. I could have done something but I didn't.

PRESENT DAY

"Bee!" I blinked a few times and look towards my best friend Adam. "You zone out" he said. "Yeah, I did. Sorry" I replied to him with a small smile. We were sitting on the terrace and seeing the sunset. Sunset in NYC are really beautiful. "Don't be. So, you couldn't tell him?" he asked me.

"No, I couldn't. I wanted to but I don't know why I just couldn't"

"Wow. Where is he now?"

"In LA, I guess. After he went, we talked a few times but as time went, we stopped" After he went back to LA I felt so empty. I never felt that way about anyone before. I think I loved him.

"You guys were soul mates. And that was a hell of a story Bee" Adam said.

"Yeah it is"

We just sat there in silence. Seeing the sun set, the sky turning orange and eventually dark. None of us said a word after I finished my story. We just sat, enjoying the silence, the sun and a whole lot of memories.