Chapter 7
The next morning, when Meera walked into the classroom, the first thing she noticed was that Kitty was finally back.
Kitty was sitting in her usual seat, flipping through her notebook.
Meera dropped her bag on the desk and immediately sat beside her.
"Where were you yesterday?" she asked. "You just disappeared."
Kitty shrugged casually.
"I was sick. I didn't really feel like coming to school."
Meera looked at her suspiciously.
"Sick… or lazy?"
"Both," Kitty admitted.
Meera laughed quietly.
For a moment they just sat there, listening to the noisy classroom around them.
Then Kitty turned toward her suddenly.
"So," she said.
Meera narrowed her eyes.
"So… what?"
Kitty smirked.
"Do you still like Rohan?"
Meera paused.
She stared down at her notebook for a second.
The truth was… she did.
Even though she had been trying to focus on exams, even though she had heard all those stories about him…
The feeling hadn't really disappeared.
But she wasn't sure if she wanted to admit that to Kitty again.
"Um," Meera said slowly.
Kitty waited.
"I mean… a bit," Meera admitted finally.
Kitty sighed loudly.
"Of course."
"What?" Meera said defensively.
"Meera," Kitty said, rolling her eyes, "a crush is not a lifelong commitment."
"I know that," Meera replied. "But it doesn't just disappear overnight either."
Kitty leaned back in her chair.
"You know what you should do?"
"What?"
"Go out with Sam for once."
Meera looked at her like she had just suggested something ridiculous.
"Sam?"
"Yes, Sam," Kitty repeated. "He has liked you for at least two years."
Meera groaned.
"Oh my God, not this again."
Kitty ignored her.
"You haven't even given him a chance."
Meera shook her head.
"Because I don't like him like that."
Sam was one of their classmates.
He was nice. Funny sometimes. Easy to talk to.
And yes… he was actually kind of good-looking in his own way.
But Meera had never once thought about him romantically.
To her, Sam was just… Sam.
A friend.
Someone she joked with during class.
Someone she trusted.
Nothing more.
"I like him," Meera said honestly. "But as a friend."
Kitty looked unconvinced.
"You might change your mind."
"No," Meera said firmly.
"Why not?"
Meera thought about it for a moment before answering.
"Because," she said slowly, "I see him more like a brother."
Kitty made a dramatic face.
"Wow. That is the worst possible thing you could say about a guy who likes you."
Meera laughed.
"I can't help it."
She glanced across the classroom.
Sam was sitting a few desks away, talking to someone and laughing.
He looked up for a moment and waved casually when he noticed her looking.
Meera waved back.
And that was exactly how she saw him.
A friend.
Nothing more.