Chapter 40: Love Vs Friendship

Stanton High school, America

12:00 p.m.

Rosaline's P.O.V

"SO, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE XAVIER KNIGHT FOR WHOM ALL THE GIRLS OF THE CAMPUS ARE CRAZY ABOUT CONFESSED TO YOU!!!"

Rebecca shouted on top of her lungs glaring me furiously. I looked down.

"I-I-"

I couldn't find words. After that unexpected confession by my Prince Charming, I ran away from there.

'Yes, I ran away'

I told everything to my friends as I was shell shocked. But their reaction was totally unexpected as they all were...

'Flaring with anger'

We all are currently in the school backyard. No, I was not as I was dragged here by Rebecca who was going all berserk. It was the lunchtime. We all were in the cafeteria when I told them about my love confession but as soon as they heard it, they became enraged and dragged me out of the cafeteria to the school backyard. I haven't seen them so angry. I was very confused with their sudden change in demeanour. Nick was inflaming like the corybants while Mark was glaring at me fiercely.

I gulped in fear and looked down while they all kept glaring at me as if they were scolding a kid who had done something wrong.

"I-I agree with you all and you do have your right to get angry but I was also shocked when Xavier proposed me. I have never in my life expected that the boy whom I always used to admire from afar will all of a sudden confess that he loves me. This was totally unheralded. I couldn't digest it nor I was able to believe it so I ran away. I don't know but I was scared. Not because of his proposal but because of accepting this reality. I mean why the Xavier Knight whom every girl adores and dies for will love an ordinary geek? I am nothing in front of him. I am just a simple girl with a simple family and simple dreams, have simple friends and live a simple life. But Xavier? He is everything except 'simple'. He is smart, rich, handsome and brilliant. He is a far cry from my whole world. We are totally opposite persons. I know I am crazy about him but I also know that he can never be mine. It's just a one-sided love and I am totally okay with this. But what happened today was totally unexpected"

I spoke in one breathe as they all stared me with anger.

And yes, it was for me. I mean Xavier has never ever talked to me. If he had known be for so long, why did he always avoided me like a plague? He didn't even ever feel my presence. Then how come all of a sudden, he helped me and confessed to me as if he knew me....

Since years?

"THIS IS ALL BULLSHIT! A MERE ILLUSION. A PIPE DREAM, NOTHING ELSE, GOT IT ROSIE"

Nick bellowed on my face. My eyes got filled with tears. My lips started quivering in fear as this was the first time, he had raised his voice at me. Tears slowly cascaded down my cheeks and I started crying silently.

Mark sighed heavily as soon as he saw me sobbing like a child. My friends knew that I was a cry-baby. He walked to me closer. He stood in front of me and held my shoulders tightly.

"Buttercup?"

I didn't look up. He sighed.

"We are your friends, right? And good friends are the ones who stay with each other in weal and woe, praise one when they do right and scold one when they do wrong. See Buttercup, we all know who is Xavier Knight. You yourself said that you both are like oil and water, like fire and ice then why are you trying to eat your own damn words? He is the son of a billionaire while you, you are just an average class girl. In fact, we all are. I am not saying that a billionaire can't like you but it is just that we don't know anything about him. We love you very much Buttercup. We don't want you to end up getting hurt. We all are well aware of your crush for that handsome billionaire and we never stopped you even. But this? This is now going out of hands. We are not your enemies, Buttercup. So, it will be better for you to snap out this before you realize that you are living in nothing but a fool's paradise"

I became shocked to hear his words. I looked at Rebecca and Nick. They both nodded in agreement.

I looked down and took a deep sigh. My heart felt heavy but it was for my best, I guess.

"Alright"

End of Rosaline's P.O.V.

As soon as Rosaline replied, the trio sighed in contentment.

Actually, they lied to her as they all were suspicious about Xavier since the very beginning. They all were training in CIA and recently had found out about a gang called Black Swan which has been too active lately. The crime rate in America had increased drastically since the past four months. All the police officers have been on a qui vive for this Mafia gang but found nothing. The case was then handed over to the intelligence agency. All the top agents and officers had been flat out like a lizard drinking as everyone wanted to get the gold.

CIA finally found a very important evidence regarding the leader of the gang. The leader was one of the top names of the business world and moreover he/she had recently expanded his/her business empire in America.

Andrew Knight, Xavier's Dad had always been in CIA's roster of suspicion. His spooky aura always screamed danger and his howling success was not at all digestible by them. So, the agency decided to look further into the matter and start searching for the evidences. Finally, after four months of hard work, they found that all the clues and proofs were pointing towards the mighty Knight. The recent cases of robbery and dealing of drugs and weapons were all linked with Andrew Knight. He was also involved with other criminal gangs and many other illegal activities. After putting all the puzzles together, CIA finally concluded that the leader of the gang who has been plaguing them for so many days was none other than the famous businessman who was no less than a devil in disguise, Andrew Knight.

Rebecca, Nick and Mark knew about this. They were shocked to know that the intelligent guy who always seemed so quiet and cold was none other than the son of a Mafia. They always have been too overprotective over Rosaline and would do anything to save her from that Gangster.

Rosaline was a very innocent and pure soul just like a child. She was highly pampered by her parents and her friends also used to indulged her like a kid. This made Rosaline live in a bubble and that's what made her dumb and naive as she couldn't understand the manipulating tactics and wicked games of the cruel world. Her friends and her family were her only world. She trusted her friends more than her life so she obeyed their each and every command like an obedient child without any if or buts.

"Alright. Don't cry now my Barbie"

Nick chuckled and hugged Rosaline. She smiled. Rebecca side hugged her while Mark cupped her small face in his palms and wiped off her tears.

"No more crying. We can't see our Buttercup sad"

Mark pouted. Rosaline chuckled and they all then did a group hug.

"Alright, let's go and grab some snacks before all the food get finished otherwise, I will have you all in my lunch"

Rebecca winked at them. Mark and Nick looked at her horrified.

"OH MY GOD!! PLEASE FEED THIS WITCH, I AM TOO YOUNG TO DIE!!"

Nick yelled in a scared tone.

"I am not even married. I haven't seen the world yet. Don't please, have mercy Witch. I don't wanna die young"

Mark shouted as he looked at Rebecca who was smiling at them evilly. Rosaline burst into laughter watching this. They all started laughing along with her. Rebecca then took a deep breathe.

"Alright, I will count till three. 3...2...1"

"RUN!!"

Rosaline shouted and they all ran inside the building with Rebecca chasing them.

They didn't know that a shadow was watching their every move with hawk eyes.

He was none other than Xavier.

"Interesting"

Xavier rasped as he came out from his hideout. He glared at Rosaline and her friends furiously. His eyes were dark with rage and his face turned red in anger when he watched Mark wiping off Rosaline's crystal tears with his bare hands. He clenched his jaw tightly and balled his fists as soon as his gaze landed on her small hands which were trapped in Mark and Nick's large ones as they all ran inside the building while chortling.

Xavier's P.O.V.

I heard their entire conversation. When Rose ran away abruptly after hearing my confession, I felt a bit sad but then I thought maybe she got shy and nervous as I had myself not planned that I would confess to my Rosebud in this way. I couldn't control myself anymore but I had also not anticipated that her reaction would be this heart breaking. But what I heard now only boiled my blood.

No.

Her friends aren't good for her. They are trying to separate us. Fools, they don't even know with whom they are dealing with. They are trying to implant seeds in her naive mind and are trying to turn her against me but these jerks don't even know that Rose became mine the day I saw her. In fact, I know her much before them.

She has always been mine and will remain only mine till eternity.

I smirked menacingly as an evil idea popped in my mind.

"No matter how hard you all try, Rose is already mine. I will manoeuvre the entire situation in such a way that she will herself choose me over you all and that too in front of the entire world. And once I get my Rosebud, I won't even allow your filthy shadows to stray around her. Just wait and watch....

CIA's minions"

~~~💗~~~