Puppets on a string

SERENDIPITY

Won't you stay till the a.m

All my favorite conversations always made in the a.m

Feels like this could be forever tonight

Breaks this clock, forget about time

There could be a world war ||| going on outside

You and me were raised in the same part of town

Got these scars on the ground

Remember how we used to kick around just wasting time

Won't you stay till the a.m

All my favorite conversations always made in the a.m

Cause we don't know what we are saying

We're just swimming around in our glasses

Talking out of our asses like we are all gonna make it

I woke up with the beautiful voices of my favorite band song, One direction.

I have their song as my alarm tone because it just makes my morning a little easier. Ugh! I hate to leave my bed in the morning.

Every morning, the first thing I do is check my phone. Who doesn't?

As I picked up my phone, I saw that I have an unread message from Samuel

"Good morning babe"

When did I become his 'babe'.

"Good morning" I texted back.

I left the bed and ran to washroom. I don't want to get late for college.

Soon I was in college spending time with my friends in cafetaria. Vincent came and sat next to me again today. What's wrong with him. He can't just decide when he wants to be my 'friend' but I being too polite and innocent for this world ignored this and continued talking to him like everything is fine.

"I heard you had alot of fun yesterday in Amusement park" he said

"Yes, it was great. These guys were quite entertaining and funny. I had a great time " I replied

"So, you and Samuel huh?" He asked making me frown.

"What about Samuel and I?" I asked confused

"Are you guys dating or something?"

"No. What the hell are you talking about Vin"

I seriously had no idea what was he talking about.

"Wait. You didn't see the group chat?"

"What chat?"

Truth is I barely open the group chat so I really don't know what goes in that group.

"Open the chat and see it yourself"

I frowned and opened the chat. There I saw my picture with Samuel holding hands with him when I was almost leaning onto him laughing at something he was saying. And it was sent by none other than Jennie.

"Jennie, What the hell?" I almost yelled at her.

She looked at me and laughed.

"Sorry Ash. But it really looked like you guys are dating" She said and laughed again.

I sighed. This girl loves to ship people together. She has been shipping me with Vincent and now she is teasing me with Samuel.

"So, Do you have feelings for him or something " Vincent asked taking me out of my thoughts.

Wait. Is he jealous?

"No Vincent. We were just having a conversation. Yes, it feels good to be around him. He is a great friend of mine. That's it" I replied. I kind of had feelings for Samuel but I didn't need to say this to Vincent when everybody was shipping Vin and I together.

"Okay" He relaxed.

What is it with him? Why is he behaving like that he cares? I mean he is the one who ignored me for Vicky and now he is pretending like he cares who I talk with and who I don't.

Gosh! Boys are complicated.

Soon, the day ended. I met Samuel too but the conversation was short as today was kind of a busy day for me. I was covering up for my missing classes today.

When I reached home today, I was really tired, I went straight to my room and changed into my pajamas. Sometimes I really do hate jeans.

I was almost asleep when my phone pinged making me complete awake again

"You looked a little busy today. I barely saw you today" Samuel texted

"Yup. I was covering up for the classes I missed last week"

"Oh! I misssd spending time with you ;)" He replied

Ugh! He knows how to make me smile but I know must be smirking while writing this. This guy loves to flirt and tease me. I am someone who gets nervous and shy very fast. And I also have very low self esteem.

"Well, I didn't miss spending time with you" I replied.

"Liar. You can't not miss this handsome face :p " He is handsome and he knows it but I didn't have to show him that.

"What handsome face?" I replied smugly

"Ouch. You wound me Ash. But you can't deny that I am handsome".

I laughed reading that. I didn't even need a coffee and I was fully awake now.

"You need to see the mirror" I texted back

"I see it everyday. I think you need to get your eyes checked"

"My eyes are completely fine. Your mirror must be broken"

"Yes, it broke after seeing this handsome man everyday "

I laughed reading that. He is really self obsessed. I ignored the message and went to have dinner.

Later in the night, I was on a call with Vinnie. As we were talking she asked me about my feelings for Vincent and Samuel.

"I don't know Vinnie. I am confused. I thought that he wanted to be close with Vicky but today he behaved like he was jealous after seeing my pic with Samuel " I told her.

" Why would you think that he likes Vicky" She asked me.

Then I narrated the whole story from the beginning to Vinnie. I felt like I can trust her.

"Why don't you ask this to Vincent "? Vinnie said

" I can't do this. What if he says that he is really after Vicky. I don't want to get rejected and feel embarrassed for the rest 3 years of college"

"There is nothing to be embarrassed about. It is okay to like someone. And it's not like you are asking him to be your boyfriend. You just need to say that you liked him and you know that he doesn't feel the same way. Just say that you wanted to confess this so that you won't feel burdened. If he feels for you, he will confess and if he doesn't then it's completely okay "

What she said made some sense to me. I don't have to propose to him or something. I just can say this to him and I will feel less burdened. I was still confused but agreed to Vinnie's advice.

"Okay I will do it. I will call you and tell you whatever happens "

"Good. All the best Girl" She said and hanged up the call.

I opened my chatbox with Vincent and typed a message. 'But should I tell him this when I am still confused about my feelings for Samuel' I thought

'It's not like you are asking him to be your boyfriend. You are doing this just so you won't feel burdened. It's not like you are playing with his feelings or something ' My heart said.

" Hey Vin. What's up " I tried to start the conversation and not directly drop the bomb on him. Ugh! it's the first time I am doing something like this. Please don't embarrass me.

"Hey Ash. Nothing just listening to music. What about you?" He replied

"Actually I wanted to talk about something if you are free"

"Yes I am free. Is everything okay?"

Here we go Ashley. You can do it

"The point is I have feelings for you and not just as friends " My hands trembled as I sent that text

As I didn't want to embarrass myself I quickly typed another text

"And I know that you don't feel the same way. I just wanted to confess this so I don't feel burdened."

"it's okay Ash. But I think you deserve someone better than me" he texted back a few seconds later which felt like hours to me.

And yup I was right. He doesn't feel the same. And he really did gave me that 'You deserve better bullsh*t.

"I hope it doesn't affect our friendship " I texted again

"You don't have to worry about that. We still will be good friends. I am glad that you confessed"

Yes I confessed and made a complete fool of myself. God I have never been this embarrassed in my whole life. That's why I never approach boys first. I am afraid of rejection. I decided not to reply and threw my phone and myself on bed and screamed in my pillow.

'How will I face him in college now. What if he tell others about it. Now everyone will laugh on me' I thought and hoped that ground will open up and swallow me.

I received a call few minutes later. Vinnie.

I picked up the call and told her about my conversation with Vincent

"I feel so embarrassed Vinnie" I almost cried on phone.

"You don't have to be embarrassed Ash. It's okay. You just confessed and didn't propose to him"

"But it still feels the same Vinnie. It's easier for you to say but I feel so awkward right now. What if he tell others about it"

" I don't think he will. He doesn't seem to be that kind of person who will do something like this "

"I hope he doesn't. I will talk to you tomorrow Vinnie. I feel sleepy. Good night"

"Good night Ash"

I hanged up the call and went to sleep but it didn't come easy this time. I was continuously thinking about my conversation with Vincent. I wasn't even sure about my feelings for him. I was confused between him and Samuel and I still made a complete fool of myself in front of him. I decided to listen to some music.

And yeah I let you use me from the day that we first met but I don't regret falling for your fool's gold.

And I knew that you turned it on for everyone you met but I don't regret falling for your fool's gold.

The voices of the 1D boys calmed me down immediately and I felt asleep listening to their angelic voice.

Next Morning

When I woke up next morning and looked outside, it was raining heavily. Feels like a storm was coming. I ran downstairs and saw that my father was in living room watching Television.

"A cyclone has been heading towards San Diego which recently created havoc in Los Angeles. The colleges and schools in San Diego has been ordered to be shut down for three days and people are advised to stay inside their homes and avoid going to beaches".

Great. I just went to college for two days and now I have to stay at home for three more days. Well it's good in some ways too. I won't have to face the embarrassment of rejection for three more days. I went back to room and decided to sleep for the whole day.

I didn't wake up until my mom came to my room asking me to atleast have some food. I felt like a zombie today. I was still feeling bad after whole Vincent incident and I was a little moody. I wasn't even arguing with my brothers when they were teasing me. I was very grumpy. My father understood that I wasn't feeling good and asked my brothers to leave me alone.

Later in the evening I received a text from Vincent and three texts from Samuel. I decided to open Samuel's text first.

"Good morning Beautiful"

"Are you ignoring me or something? Did I do something wrong"

"Hey ,is everything okay?"

Is he worried about me. I looked at time and it was already 6 p.m. Did I sleep for 15 hours straight after going to bed at 3 a.m in the morning ?

"Good evening Sam. Sorry I just saw your texts. I didn't use my phone today and slept for whole day"

After that I opened Vincent texts.

"Hey, hope you and your family stay safe in this cyclone."

What? Why is he behaving so formal? It feels like he just sent a text when he didn't want to. This is what I didn't want to happen.

"Hey Vin. Thankyou and wish the same for you and your family " I replied.

Suddenly my phone pinged again and it was Samuel. It was like he was sitting with his phone in his hand

"Thank God you replied. I thought you were angry with me or I had to attend a funeral"

" I am not dying this easily Samuel. You are not going to get rid of me this easily"

" I would have missed you if you died"

"You wouldn't have to miss me. I will stay forever with you as a ghost :p"

"its creepy jenkins.But it's better if you die. That way I will have you with me forever with me on my bed too "

I blushed reading that. He started this again.

"You will have a ghost in your bed and you will be fine with it?"

"As long as the ghost is you ;)" he replied

Agh! Why does he makes me blush this much.

"You are creepy Mr. Stark" I texted back

"Your creepy though Mrs. Stark :p"

What the hell? I laughed so hard reading these texts.

"When did you become mine and when did I become Mrs. Stark?"

"You just need to say 'Yes'".

"In your dreams Stark."

"In my dreams it's more than just a 'Yes'. You know what I mean ;)"

Oh my God

"You are p*****t Stark"

"Only for you Jenkins"

I blushed and laughed reading these texts. He really can light up my mood anytime he wants.

I just realized that I am not grumpy like I was since morning. I haven't laughed since yesterday even when my brothers were trying to make me react, I was behaving like a robot still embarrassed of yesterday's incident. But a few texts from Samuel and I was again happy and laughing like nothing happened. This man really has some magic tricks up his sleeves.

Three days passed by easily. I spent a lot of time with my family and watched Netflix too. Because of my father's schedule, he barely spend time with us. He doesn't even stay home on Sunday. He works 24/7 just so he would provide us with everything he can. He is the best father in the world. And now because of cyclone, he stays at home and spends time with us. We play cards and watch movies and football too. The time you spend with your family are the most beautiful moments of your life.

Other than this, Samuel and I have been talking alot too. He has been texting me throughout the day. We start our conversations in the morning which ends till late at night. He makes me smile and laugh alot. I have not even thought about Vincent once. He has been texting me too but the conversation seems a little forced and formal. But with Samuel, time passes by very quickly. I have long forgotten about my feelings for Vincent. I guess it was just another stupid crush or infatuation.

"Hey Ash, Are your parents around ?" Samuel texted me.

What does he wants with my parents?

"My mum is here. But my father is out for groceries."

"Will you give me a call when your father is back. I want to ask him something."

"What do you wanna ask?" I replied curious to know his reply. I knew that it was one of his another joke

"I want to ask his permission to marry you" He replied making me laugh out loud.

"You need to ask me about this too Sam"

"Well you can't say no to this handsome face"

"You are too self obsessed, you know that right"

"You know you love me. You are just not accepting this".

"You wish Stark." I replied back with an unknown smile on my face.

When did I start smiling like this. I was never this smiley even when I was with Paul.

My relationship with Paul was good until he messed up. Even if we were together for only 4 months but he was very respectful person. I was happy for those 4 months but I was never this smiley. Something about Samuel feels different. This man feels different. When I talk to him, I don't think about other people. I totally forget about world when I am with him. He always makes me laugh like noone else ever had. He makes me happy. What am I feeling? I know it's more than a crush because what I feel for Samuel in just 1 month, I never felt it for Vincent or even for Paul in those 4 months. I liked Paul but I always knew that he was not my 'forever'. I knew from the beginning that Paul and I won't last long. I was also confused about my feelings for Vincent. But with Samuel, everything is different. It's too early to call it love but I know that it's more than a crush too.

When I was scrolling down my phone, I saw my pictures with Samuel in Amusement park. I was so happy. I have never laughed this much before and Samuel is the reason behind it. I smiled seeing those pics. What are you doing to me Samuel Stark? I feel like a creep looking at those pics with a stupid smile on my face. I have never done this before. I don't feel for people this early. It took me almost an year to agree to be Paul's girlfriend. He chased me for almost an year until I said 'yes' to him. But Samuel Stark, he is making me feel things I have never felt before.

I thought all night about it, about him. Thinking about our conversations together and our little interactions in college along with the day in Amusement park. When he stayed with me in freshers party when I felt lonely made me think that he is a nice person. Maybe I like him more than just a crush.