Almost Us

Veronika's POV

It was supposed to be a peaceful Sunday morning. At least, that's what I thought until my mom's voice reached an eardrum-shattering pitch, competing with the high-pitched squeal of my alarm. With a groggy stretch, I reached for my phone and nearly dropped it. "Monday?!" I squinted at the date flashing on my screen, realization hitting me like a bucket of ice water. It was 7:35 a.m., and school started in twenty-five minutes.

Panic set in. I was halfway to the bathroom before my brain fully woke up. I threw on my school uniform, the pleated skirt and blazer I'd spent way too long ironing last night now a crumpled mess. My school was one of the most prestigious in the city, all thanks to my family's connections and... resources, let's say. Not that I was the ideal daughter for the role. I kept my distance from my family, navigating the world largely on my own terms. In my family, no news was good news and if I stayed out of trouble, they barely noticed me.

I was halfway out the door, ignoring Mom's complaints about breakfast, when I caught sight of my little sister, Tia. Sweet, doting Tia, who somehow made everyone around her smile just by existing. "I'll see you after school, Tia!" I called, blowing her a kiss. I loved her to bits, even if she made me look bad by comparison.

On the school bus, my best friend Rhea caught my attention. "Ver, please tell me you did the homework," she begged as I slid into the seat beside her.

"Of course, I did. Who do you think I am?" I smirked, handing her my notes. I wasn't exactly the topper kind, but I did good. Studying came naturally to me.

School wasn't exactly thrilling, but I had my friends and the occasional drama to keep things interesting. Speaking of drama, my heart decided to act up the second I spotted him, Ayaan Singhania. He was standing with his group, laughing about something, his smile lighting up his face in an annoyingly magnetic way.

Ayaan and I had history. We'd been friends since childhood. Our families were close. But somewhere along the way, we'd grown apart. Now, he was the school heartthrob, and I was just a girl in the background with an inconvenient crush.

As if on cue, Rhea whispered in my ear, "Did you hear? Ayaan hooked up with that junior last night."

I winced, hiding my disappointment under a neutral expression. "Why am I not surprised?" I muttered, eyes glued to my notebook. Reading the same line over and over again. Focus, Veronika!

Classes blurred by, and soon it was time for break. We usually sat together, eating our packed lunch while gossiping about teachers and movies. But today, as I settled into my seat, Rhea called over, "Hey Ver, come with me to the bathroom?"

"Sure," I shrugged, grabbing my bag. Just as I got off the table, I felt a sharp tug and then a loud rip. I froze, looking down to see my skirt caught on a nail, fabric torn and hanging awkwardly. Mortified, I barely registered Jay, my friend, helping me detach it.

"Relax, Ver," he assured, his voice steady as always. "It's just a skirt. We'll get you a new one from the store."

I nodded, trying to hold back my embarrassment.

It's just a skirt, I reassured myself, ignoring the dull sting on my thigh where the nail had caught me. I bolted out of the room, eager to escape the scene not sparing a single glance in it's direction.

But just as I turned the corner, someone's voice caught my attention. "Nice legs, Raichand," a mocking tone sneered. I didn't have to look to know it was Ayaan. His comment wasn't enough no, his friends had to laugh too, as if he were the king of the universe, and I was the joke of the day. A chill ran down my spine. This was supposed to be a lazy Sunday morning. But here I was, becoming the school's laughingstock, all thanks to him. Without thinking, I spun around, storming up to him. "Keep your filthy comments to yourself, Singhania," I spat, the words barely registering before I raised my hand and slapped him.

The slap stung, but the satisfaction was worth it. Whispers buzzed around us as I stormed off to the bathroom, trying to collect myself. What was I thinking? Slapping Ayaan Singhania? The moment replayed in my head, dread coiling in my stomach at how I'd just escalated things.

The next thing I knew, my vision went hazy, and I felt myself swaying. A steady arm caught me before I could fall, guiding me down the hallway, his voice a low hum against the ringing in my ears before everything faded to black.

Later, in the Nurse's Office

The heavy, antiseptic smell greeted me as I slowly opened my eyes, blinking against the bright light. I realized I was lying on one of those cold, vinyl cots in the nurse's office, a bandage around my thigh from where I'd cut myself on that stupid nail.

"For the last time! I didn't hurt her," came a familiar voice.

Ayaan.

I winced, squeezing my eyes shut as if it would make his presence disappear. He was leaning against the wall, looking frustrated. The last time we'd been this close was when we were kids, laughing and sharing secrets. He'd changed so much since then. Or maybe I'd changed. Either way, the distance between us now felt as vast as the ocean.

The nurse came over to me, checking my cut. "Are you alright, dear?"

"I'm fine," I mumbled, my eyes darting to Ayaan, who had an unreadable expression on his face. "Can I go back to class?"

Before she could answer, Ayaan turned to her, exasperated. "Look, can we just confirm I didn't do anything wrong here?"

I turned bright red. "What? Of course not! It was an accident, nothing more."

"Fine, you both can leave. Get a tetanus shot after school, Veronika, and make sure you come back tomorrow," the nurse said, giving me a final once-over before dismissing us.

Ayaan stepped forward to help me up, offering his arm. Reluctantly, I took it, trying to ignore the warmth of his grip as he steadied me. We walked in silence down the hallway, his arm still supporting me as I limped slightly.

Once we were outside the nurse's office, he paused, glancing down with that familiar cocky grin. "Good to know you're alive, Veronika," he teased. "That little slap barely left a mark."

"You deserved it," I muttered, trying to sound braver than I felt.

He laughed, that genuine, unguarded laugh I hadn't heard in years, and for a second, I caught a glimpse of the boy I used to know. But before I could say anything, he added, "Tell you what, to make up for it, how about a peace offering? One kiss, just for old times' sake?"

My jaw dropped. "In your dreams, Singhania."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Suit yourself. See you around, Ver."

As he left, I watched him go, my heart doing a strange, jittery dance. Beneath all the sarcasm and the bad blood, there was something still there, some lingering familiarity that felt impossible to shake.

The complex history between Veronika and Ayaan lingered like a storm cloud, their shared past hovering just beyond reach. They'd grown up together, bound by years of memories that no amount of high school drama could erase. Maybe, just maybe, that connection hadn't faded completely-even if it was buried beneath years of resentment and unspoken words.