THE WITCH NEXT DOOR

Life goes on

Cole and Steven were on their way to school.

Cole turned towards Steven" They are not better , are they? . "

Steven sighs" No they are getting worse. "

Cole tries to comfort him" May be it is nature's way of warning you about something. "

" Are you stupid ? (sarcastically) Nature's way of warning. It's nothing like that. Stop watching paranormal stuffs they are eating your brain. "

Steven picks up a diet coke and turns on the radio. He was trying to distract himself. He asks Cole cut off the topic.

Cole ignores him" Ok I am stupid so you tell me, Why are you having dreams about some creepy girl ? "

Steven gets furious" I don't know. Every night I close my eyes I find myself in a bloody ground and some girl is there standing at some distance. Her hair covers her face and

she calls out to me. "

Cole " I have seen the sketches you made about the girl she looks scary. "

Steven " I am having this dream for long now so it doesn't scare me , not anymore. And I have this feeling that the girl won't hurt me. "

" Oh may be someone from the otherside is trying to reach out to you. After all there's a whole new world awaiting for us after we will take our last breath

in this world. " Cole mocks. Steven his him with his bag.

Cole" Cool boy, I am driving. "

Steven" You think it is funny. "

Cole" I was just trying to distract you. You look quite tensed. "

Steven" I know I am scared to face everyone. "

Cole" Come on that's so not you. You are the hottest dude of the college. "

Steven" I was but that's not me now. Time has changed , I have changed , everything has changed. "

Cole" Not everything has changed. Something is still the same. "

Steven" Oh god please say that it is not about Ava. "

Cole " Ok so it is about a girl you used to date and now you have started ignoring her without even breaking up with her officialy. "

Steven" I am not avoiding anyone , I just need space and more time I have been through a lot. What's up with her ? "

Cole" She asks me about you everyday. Why are you with her if you don't like her ? "

Steven" Of course I like her she was my best friend. "

Cole" You just said that you she ' was' your best friend. "

Steven" I mean she was my best friend since first grade. I loved her I enjoyed her company. And then she suddenly proposed me one day. "

Cole" You never wanted to make her your girl friend. "

Steven" No , I accepted her proposal because I didn't wanted to break her heart. I don't think I see anything more than a friend in her. But being in relationship

spoiled our friendship. And right now I need a friend and not a girlfriend. "

Cole" Why don't you accept ? "

Steven" Why don't I accept what ? "

Cole" That though you are officially in relationship with Ava , you have feelings for Elena. "

Steven" No it's not like that. "

Cole" You know it is. I have seen you gazing at her all the time in school. "

Steven" Stop it "

Cole" Why ? it's romantic "

Steven" You are making me feel guilty. I am in relationship with one girl and in love with other. "

Cole " Wait ! Wait ! Wait ! I said that you have feelings for Elena I never said that you are in love with her. That's all made up by you. "

Steven" I just feel a connection with her . I don't know if it's love. "

Cole" Listen man , I understand you are confused about your feelings but Ava has no part in it. Why are you hanging her ? If you don't want to be with her just

tell her. I know she will get hurt but sooner or later she will move on. That's the best of her. Don't keep swinging her around. "

Steven" Yes I will. But she will get hurt. "

Cole" Not as much as being with a man who is in love with some other girl . "

Steven" Man , I don't love Elena . "

Cole" You are complicated bro , you are dreaming of one girl , you are in relation with other and you are feeling the so called ' connection ' with a third girl . "

Steven" Don't make fun of me dude , my life has already become a mess . "

Cole" As you say ! "

Steven" Are they still talking about me in school . "

Cole" No man , not really , you know . "

Steven " This means they are . "

Cole" Kind of yeah . "

Steven" Oh God ! I don't want to face anyone . "

Cole" You can't just run from everyone . You have to bring your life back on track . "

( Suddenly a truck comes in front of their car . Cole take a quick right to avoid the accident and the car hits a tree )

Cole panics" Steven are you fine , I am so sorry the truck came out of no where , I lost my control . "

Steven takes a deep breath" It's ok , Cole . Just give me a minute . I will have to move on . I can't let that accident affect me forever . "

Cole" And I will make sure that you do . "

Steven" Sometimes life takes surprising turns and it leaves you no where . "

Cole" Let's not talk about it . "

Steven" I think this year has some dark fate for me . "

Cole " Wanna know what I think ? "

Steven " And what you think is ? "

Cole " I think this year is going to be different . You will be beyond happy . You will find your true love . I think there is a bright future awaiting for you . "

Steven " Thank you . "

Cole" I just wish that your true love is not the creepy lady you have been dreaming of . "

Steven " Shut up now or I am going to punch your face . "

Cole" We reached ' Wingston High ' . "

Wingston  High was not just a college. It was a whole different world. 

Steven" Seems like I was last here ages ago . "

( Outside Wingston High )

Ava saw Steven making his way through the corridor. She runs to him and wraps him in her arms.

Ava" Steven finally you are here . You didn't tell me that you were coming today . "

   Steven   " Actually I. . . "

Even before he could complete his sentence Ava interrupts in between" Forget it , Cole , How is he doing ? "

Steven waves to Ava" I am right here . You could ask that to me , directly . "

Ava" I left you like a thousand messages you didn't responded to any . Cole use to tell me about your well being , so I thought it's better that I ask him directly . "

Steven" I am so sorry , Ava , if I kept you hanging . I didn't meant to . "

Ava" What do you mean by that ? "

Cole  knew Steven was running out of words, so he jumps in between " Nothing , nothing he means nothing , right Steven , do you mean anything . "

Steven " Nope I mean nothing . "

Ava nods her head as if she understood everything when she didn't" Great lets go in . "

Derek" Hey Steven my boy . "

Steven" Hi Derek , good to see you . "

Derek " Good to see you too , how are you doing ? "

Steven" I am doing fine , thanks for asking though . "

Derek" No worries man , Oh did Ava tell you about my new position . "

Steven" What position ? "

Cole" Leave it , let's go . "

Derek" By the way I am the new captain of football team . "

Steven was not able to believe what he just heard. Steven was the captain of the football team." What ? Cole you knew it yet you never told me . "

Cole " I knew it would hurt you . "

Steven " I need to talk to the coach . "

Cole" Just let it go . "

Steven" The coach said that he won't fit anyone in my spot . "

Cole" The finals are on head the team needed a leader . "

Derek" Just let me know if you want in . I will keep going . "

Steven " He always wanted my position . "

Ava" Just let it go . "

Steven " How can I let it go , Ava . I don't have millions like you do . You can go to any college you want but I can't . Only the team captain gets scholarship . "

Ava" The captain does not get scholarship the best player of the team gets , I can ask my dad if you want he will surely help you . "

Steven" So this is what you think of me . You think that I will never be able to do anything on my own . "

Ava" No that's not what I meant . "

Steven" Exactly you mean this . "

Ava wipes her tears" I think I should go . "

Cole" Ava listen to me . "

Ava " He made himself very clear what's more to listen . "

Cole " He didn't meant that he just . . .  "

Ava " Little tip for you Cole stop acting like his pet . I planned a surprise for you Steven but now I don't think it matters so I will keep going . "

Ava goes to her class. Cole turns to Steven.

Cole" You were so rude to her , Steven . "

Steven " I was pissed on Derek and I took out on Ava , I will just go and ask her to forgive me . "

Cole " You want to break up with her . "

Steven " But I can't loose my best friend . "

They sighted Steven's locker from a distance. It was decorated with flowers and balloons. Ava planned a little surprise to welcome him.

Cole " This was what she was telling . "

Steven " She decorated my locker , you knew about it ? "

Cole " No she kept it a secret from me . "

Steven " I feel so bad I have to talk to her . "

Cole " Just tell her how you feel , you understand , tell her everything . Don't keep her swinging . If you don't want to be with her just tell her so that she can move on in her life with someone who will truly love her . "

Steven " Yes. . . "

Cole " It was not a ' I am convinced with you yes ' . "

Steven " I am just missing my mom , I never felt so stuck when she was with me . "

Cole " I am making it very clear right now , the past is in the past there is no going back . "

Steven " We are getting late for the history class . "

( History Class )

Steven grabs the seat behind Ava. He puts his hand on her shoulder.

Steven " Hey Ava ! "

Ava " Is there something left to say ? "

Steven " No I just wanted to say that I am sorry . Derek really pissed me off and I took it out on you . I was wrong and I am really very sorry . "

Ava " I really don't want to talk about anything right now . Excuse me . "

Ava goes to sit somewhere else.

Alex " Good morning class . So today we have Steven with us as we all know he has been through some rough phase so I expect you all to be kind to him . And Steven I want to make sure to you that we all have got your back , you are not alone . We all are there with you . "

Steven stands up" Thank you so much sir , I . . . . "

Alex intrudes " We have already wasted a lot of time so lets start . Take out your text book and start from page 150 "

Elena barges in through the doors.