My hasty steps stop at the threshold of the kitchen,and I smiled seeing May cooking.

Throwing my bag on a chair,I proceeded slowly from her back, motioning others to remain silent.

She shrieked in surprise when I grabbed her waist

"Oh my heavens! You notorious girl! You would have given me a heart attack!"

I kissed her cheeks while other maids smiled at us.Hugging her more tightly from behind. I enjoyed her scent and warmth

"Oh come on mamma, aren't you used to my sneaky entrances till now?"

Kissing me back she placed her hand on my head and I closed my eyes. Her eyes gentle as she asked me

"You had your lunch on time? Neil gave you the tiffin on time or not?"

I nodded, giving her a wide smile. I am saving his ass one last time. Or he knows how mom can be when she is angry.

"Madam it's time!" One of the maids said and mom looked around in anxiousness.

"Oh good heavens! I am late again! The Reeds are already seated on the table."

Momma screams orders and I shake my head at it, she is really diligent when it comes to work.

I hold her shoulders, making her widened eyes to stare at me.

"Calm down momma... breathe ...I got it...okay?"

She places her hand on her chest, taking deep breaths. I smile at her and look back at the helpers.

"Okay,now tell me...what all is done and what is left"

....................................................

Mr and Mrs Reed were engaged in a heated discussion with Ben sitting next to them,least concerned by the debate.

His eyes fixed on the game in his hands, sounds of bullets being fired resonating from the device.

"He wishes to leave Rose. Let him,plus he has earned this. We can't be an obstracle in our child's dreams" Mr Reed was explaining Mrs Reed who looked really worried.

"But Drake he is has no one there. Who will take care of his needs? He is still young!"

"He will be fine on his own Rose. Trust me on this. We are not discussing this any further. The boy is leaving.'

A long sigh leaves Mrs Reeds lips,as she looked at her husband. I proceeded to place the dishes on the table,when they took notice.

Mrs Reeds sadly smiled at me,the usual excitement in her voice missing.

"Ezra my daughter! Come ! sit with us!"

I merely smile at her asking the maids to set the table.

"No Mrs Reed. You start, I am helping mama today."

I was standing next to Ben ,he paused the game and turned to look at me.

"Do we have my favourite?"

I smiled at him, lifting the cover from the dish placed in front of him. His eyes widen in happiness and he turned around to look at me with a child's excitement.

"Ezra! You are the best! What would I do without you!"

The game was long forgotten,as he pulled the dish all to himself. Mrs Reed looked at him with disapproval.

"Let everyone come Ben. Don't start without them."

"Oh come on mom ! This is torture!"

"Where are Neil and Aaron?"

"Mrs Reed Neil told me ,he will not be joining us for lunch. He had an extra class today"

"Extra class or an extra session of-" I smacked Ben on his head. Making him to turn around and look at me.

"Ow that hurts Ezra"

I lowered myself to whisper to him.

"It should. When will you learn to keep your mouth shut."

He sighs and looks back at Mrs Reed.

"You were saying something Ben?"

"Me? No...mom... nothing"

Mrs Reeds nods and turns to look back at me. Smiling at me as usual.

"Ezra child can you please call Aaron downstairs. The boy has been giving me a real headache lately."

I gulp. Not me.. please. I hate going to his room or even come infront of him. We never talk.. never and anyone can tell how much he hates / detests my presence.

"Me...Mrs Reeds but I..."

"Hurry Ezra! My food is getting cold!" Ben says with mischief evident in his eyes,he knows how Aaron's presence keeps me at edge. Yet he does this to tease me.

Stomping my foot on Ben's shoe he screams and coughs suddenly to cover it.

I give him a fake smile, batting my eyelashes and offering him a glass of water.

"What happened Ben?" Mr Reed asks this time to which Ben replies awkwardly, giving me a deathly glare.

"Nothing... nothing dad"

I leave the dining area to run up the stairs,my footsteps stopping outside his door. I can hear loud music blasting from the inside.

He loves rock and jazz,they are his favourite. Other than music he loves horse riding , shooting and jogging. Almost everyday at 6 am sharp he leaves for a jog and returns at 7:10 exact. He asks for his protein shake at 7:20 and hates nuts with passion. Except for hazelnut, vanilla and hazelnut coffee is his favourite and he likes it steaming hot. Other than these he lik-

Ezra! Stop it! I try scolding myself, focussing on my mission at hand. The task may seem very easy for some,but for me it was a different story.

Gathering enough courage,I knock on his door. There was no reply,I debated on knocking again when I realised.

Stupid! How can he hear your knock when the music is blasting so loud?

What do I do? Everyone is waiting downstairs.

I stand for few minutes,not knowing what to do. And then taking in a deep breath I turned his door handle and surprisingly it was open.

With small scared steps ,I entered. Looking around,I almost had a heart attack when my eyes fell on his naked back. He was doing push ups, with his joggers on. His muscles flexing as he dipped down everytime ,eyes focussed on the wall in front.

I almost forgot to tell you,he also goes for a jog when he is stressed. If not jog ,he starts working out to let out some sweat to calm his nerves.

And I knew why he was stressed right now,Mrs Reed was not happy with him leaving for the university out of state.

I stood there frozen not knowing what to do or say. Rubbing my hands in awkwardness,I kept staring at his toned physique like a freak. Feeling my cheeks burn in a blush and heart to thump in my chest.

Should I leave? How do I call him? He will not be happy to see me here.

I was still debating as how to make my presence known when he suddenly stopped and stood up. Running his hand through his wear hair, his back muscles stretched to show the perfect V

Sh**! Why was he so damn hot! Now I can see why girls are crazy after him.

"Robert. My towel" He orders opening his palm , without looking back.

Robert? Our helper? But he is downstairs. I look around in worry, he thinks it's Robert that entered. Biting my nails,I start taking small steps away from him. It's better if I run now, go before he finds out it is you Ezra.

"My Towel !" He speaks a bit loudly this time ,voice laced in anger and irritation. I stop immediately ,afraid of him. I see a towel neatly folded in a corner and pick it up with my trembling fingers.

Approaching him from behind,I place it in his hands and he roughly pulls it from me,still with his back on me.

Rubbing it on his face and neck , cleaning the sweat with it.

"You know how much I hate tardiness Robert. I asked you to get me my juice 10 minutes before."

I gulp. Placing my flick behind my ear and looking back at the door.

"What are you doing standing there? Get it. Now!"

I flinch at his tone,even though it was not meant for me. I was going to leave when eyes fell on the glass of juice placed on his side table.

Should I?

Picking up the glass with my trembling fingers ,I approach him from behind. He was staring at the mirror , rubbing his hair with the towel now.

Moving my hand forward,I offer him the glass. For few seconds he didn't notice and I moved my arm further.

His hands stopped and fear entered my mind.

Looking in the mirror I saw his eyes focussed on my shaking hands and my heart stopped.

Sh**!

His fingers wrap around the glass and that's when our fingers came in contact. I immediately pulled back in surprise and the glass would have shattered into pieces if he hadn't had it tightly in his grip.

Creases appear on his forehead and that's when his cold grey eyes met mine in the mirror. Hell froze the very instant and my mouth opened in shock.

His grey orbs changed from calm to angry and I gulped stepping back in fear. He turns around abruptly , making me look down.

"What are you doing here?"

He asks ,each word coated in irritation and dislike. My body mind coordination short circuited as I managed to meet his stare.

Opening and closing my mouth like a fish,I gave a small fake laugh. People say my smile is beautiful,maybe it helps melting his cold aura right now. Because other than that I couldn't find a solution.

Seeing my smile his eyes darken , placing down the glass on the side table he gives me his full attention. Coming towards me, my eyes move between his angry eyes and his toned chest. My smile vanishing like a burning flame is showered with water.

"I....I... nothing...I..just...."

I continue to step back, seeing him approaching me. His cologne hitting me, clouding my senses and rationality.

"Stop stammering and speak" He says calmly even though his eyes were nothing except calm.

"I..your mom...I mean Mrs Reed asked me to call you. Everyone is waiting for you at the table"

He doesn't say anything for a minute. Just stares and I look down at my hands in consciousness. Turning around ,he runs his hand through his hair, ignoring my presence completely.

I stare at his back , wondering what was wrong. He has worked so hard to get this scholarship,now that he got it, what was worrying him.

"Is mom worried?" He asks surprising me and I don't know what to say. He rarely talks to me,he hates seeing my face. Was he really asking me this?

"Mrs Reed...yes...she doesn't want you to leave. But your father has convinced her."

He sighs sitting back on his bed, and falling back on it . His eyes fixed at the ceiling,lost in some thoughts.

I adjust my weight from one leg to another. Not knowing what to do. Should I leave? Will he come downstairs? What do I say when I go downstairs,they all are waiting?

He looks beautiful, with arms placed below his head. His pointed nose looking perfect from the side and his dark locks of hair ,wet and messy.

Few seconds passed and he looked up at me with a raised eyebrow. I look down ,ashamed of caught staring.

"Anything else?"

He asks and I move my head in a no. Still standing there like a statue.

"Then leave"

I nod like an obedient kid. Why do I behave like this in front of him! He must think you are so stupid Ezra,not that he doesn't know it already.

I turn around to leave when he calls for me. His words ice as cold.

"This is my room. Not your private property. Don't enter without my permission next time."

I knew this was coming. I fold my hands in front of me and nod, just like a teacher scolding a kid. His eyes scrutize me from top to bottom ,look of detest covering his features.

"Get out"

He orders in his cold voice and I turn around to leave. I was at the threshold when I hear him whisper,his words like sharp knives piercing past my heart.

"Atleast I don't have to see her face for next 3 years" He was talking to himself,but the amount of hatred he had for me,made me self conscious to some extent.

And that's when I sprint out of his room like I have been burned. Why was he like this towards me,why does my presence alone offends him.

I look down at myself, I was still wearing my school uniform. It looks fine to me .

I couldn't see anything that would offend me. Then why did he looked offended?

And then it struck.

He was a cleanliness freak and taking this in mind,when I look down I realise .

My t shirt had a gravy strain on it ,from helping mom in the kitchen earlier. My shirt was tucked out from one corner. My shoes, well they were covered in dirt even though I had polished them in the morning itself.

Sighing ,I just shake my head and continue down the stairs. I don't have time to doll up for him like others, this is who I am and I love myself.

Mrs Reed looks at me expectedly and I just shrugged my shoulders,not knowing what to say. She understood my silence well and asked everyone to begin.

Everyone was halfway done when the doors to the dining room opened and in he walks in all his glory.

Folding the sleeve of his shirt ,with eyes fixed on others. He walks with long confidence steps towards us.

Pulling the chair next to Ben ,he ruffles his hair and Ben hits him with his elbow in irritation.

Not even once did he looked at me and I was thankful. I can't bear being the subject of those grey eyes anyways.

"It's great of you to join us Son, Ezra child can you please arrange a plate"

I nod at Mrs Reed , going into the kitchen and heating the food again for him. Once sure that everything was perfect ,even the alignment of the dishes in his plate. I place it in front of him.

He didn't cared what was there to eat. Taking the first bite ,he shared a look with his father.

"Is everything ready for tomorrow Son? Flights,papers? "

"Yes Dad. I have managed everything"

Mrs Reed's smile vanished immediately,her face turning gloomy. And Aaron seemed to notice this.

Placing down his fork ,he stares at his mother.

"Mom. Please don't be like this"

"Like what Aaron. I am fine. You and your father never listen to me,then fine. Go! Fulfill your dreams "

"Mom ?" He says ,his voice low and tired .

"There will be no one with you! We don't have any relative there! You are merely 19 years old. God knows how their food is like"

Mr Reed stops her from continuing. Holding her hands in his.

"Calm down. He is a big boy now,he can take care of himself"

"Exactly mom, don't you trust me. ? I am not a kid anymore. I am 19 for god sake.It's just for 3 years ,I will be back with you after that"

"But-"

"Mom please! For me?"

Mrs Reed places her hands in the table in defeat. Tired of this father and Son duo trying to convince her.

"Fine! You can go! But I need a promise"

Aaron's lips curve up in a smile,one that I rarely see.

"Anything mom"

"Promise to call me everyday. If you forget calling me for even one day ,I promise to catch the first flight and get you back here"

He gets up from his seat ,and hugs Mrs Reed.

"I promise Mom. Thank you"

Mrs Reed has tears in her eyes, she holds Aaron's face in her palms and kisses his forehead.

"Anything for your happiness Aaron, anything"

Mr Reed joins the family hug and Ben and me look at each other, sharing a mutual smile.

"I hate hugs..ahhhh so cheesy"

He says and I chuckle, placing my arms around his neck,I hug him from behind and he screams at me.

"You hate hugs huh? Come on ,I will give you one"

He tries to prey out of my grip while I hold him tightly ,he calls to Mrs Reed for help and everyone chuckles.

My eyes met Aaron's grey ones and our smiles vanish. His eyes and his stare does something inside me and I can't help feel something weird happening inside me.

Looking back at his mom ,he again smiles and I still. Wondering after how long will I see this smile again.

How will I live these next 3 years without seeing his face and feeling butterflies in my stomach.

I just hope the best for him ,and wish he gets all that he wishes. Goodbye Aaron Reed ,I will be waiting for you when you return.

If only I knew the Aaron Reed I know right now will be very different from the Aaron 3 years later.

If his heart was like ice right now,it will resemble a stone later.

Where a piece of ice still has scope to thaw with warmth. A stone is indestructible , to only draw cracks but never be soft ,no matter what.