Chapter 1 - A Rebound Date?

Bella Evans was in her room, sitting near the window and watching a movie when suddenly she heard opening the of door but she didn't budge to look at the person and kept her attention on the laptop screen only.

She had always loved watching movies at weekends so she was enjoying her Saturday night with her all time favourite movie " Twilight ". She was so engrossed in it that she didn't even notice the person standing behind her until she put the cup of hot coffee at the window pane next to her.

She looked at her, and could not thank enough to the woman who had always been there with her since she left Boston and settled in New York with Varonica Young. Yeah Bella wasn't living in Boston anymore and her aunt and uncle respected her decision, although she missed them a lot but can't give them frequent visits, to have a family time with them.

Eric too had started speaking now, Bella wasn't able to handle her joy when for the first time after that dreadful car accident which had made him silent for such a long time, he took her name and it hardly bothered her that it was on call not in person as happiness was more overwhelming then her not being there.

Yeah She was a bit sad as she wasn't able to see him while taking her name but still the joy was so intense and enough to subside the sadness. She came back to present when Varonica shook me, she sat beside her and Bella took her in a tight hug and said, "you didn't sleep till now?"

Varonica just gave her a sheepish smile and said, " I wasn't feeling sleepy." and shrugged her shoulders.

I grinned and replied, "nice, that means I have got company." and signalled towards the playing movie.

She gave Bella seriously - not - this movie - again look and huffed while she made herself comfortable to watch the movie with Bella. They both enjoyed the movie a lot with pop corn, some coffee and gossip with teasing in between.

Overall a perfect Saturday night Bella liked. Because she was not the one who would go to the pub, get drunk and come back after having a disco party and end up with a terrible hangover.

Bella didn't like crowds and hustle bustle especially at weekends so she preferred to stay at home and enjoy her alone time. I was my best friend and now I had another one too Varonica.

She would kill Bella if got to know that she didn't stand first in my best friend list, Bella let out a small laugh at that thought which made Varonica curious and she raised her brow asking what happened but Bella composed herself and gave her an innocent face.

Though Varonica didn't buy it up again and was about to say something else when Bella hushed her and asked her to focus on the movie. She narrowed her eyes and started watching a movie again. After sometime she stretched her body and stood up to go as the movie ended. But stopped at the door and looked at Bella for a while before saying.

"Will you go tomorrow?"

Bella gave her an uninterested look and shrugged it off, "maybe."

Varonica glared at her and spoke, "you can't say NO now Bell if you didn't want to go on a date with Jacob then you shouldn't have said YES at the first place." she was angry by now with my childish attitude.

Bella shook her head in understanding, went to her and replied while squeezing her hand in assurance," I know you are right Varonica. Sorry for being reckless. I will go with him. Happy now." and her anger evaporated.

Varonica said in a serious tone "don't carry baggage of the past with you Bell. It's time that you let it go."

After saying these words Varonica left Bella's room but her words were ringing or to say hammering inside Bella's head badly. And the question raised in her, was she still carrying baggage of her past when she thought she had moved on all along.

Sadness and confusion was building inside Bella when suddenly her jar of fireflies caught her eyes. But there was no glow, no shine. And how would it glow or shine when there were no fireflies instead it was just an empty jar now.

Bella looked at it with teary eyes and in her choking voice all she could manage to say was, " I hate fireflies the same way I hate you."

And let out a dry laugh thinking how things had changed the fireflies which she used to adore didn't fascinate her anymore.

Bella gave the jar a last glance and went to bed. She switched off lights, covered herself with a duvet and closed her eyes tight in a hope to get proper sleep which she had been deprived of since the day she had stepped in New York.

Earlier she thought it would help her mind to forget him in fact it was the sole reason for her moving there but still after listening to Varonica she was confused if she really succeeded in it.

After some struggle her eyes got heavy and her thoughts came to a halt as her body relaxed in sleep.

Sunday

Bella woke up with puffy eyes and slight headache as yesterday her mind gave her a tough time so she wasn't able to give her body proper rest because she had slept late.

She stretched her body and with a yawn went to freshen up.

And there in Boston Ashton woke up with a hangover due to the effect of countless drinks he had yesterday. Although the sun was shining bright, spreading hope, for him nothing was new. He was staring at the wall blankly while the ticking sound of the clock was reaching his ears.

He took a photo frame from the bedside table and hugged it close to his heart and spoke with a heavy sigh, "I wish I could turn the clock."

Knowing that wasn't possible, he sadly got on his feet and went to the washroom to have a shower, in case cold water would wipe his grief.

Whole day passed in no time with daily routine work and finally the evening arrived for which Varonica was more excited than Bella herself which made Bella laugh at her.

"Varonica I really doubt if it's me who has a date or you."

Varonica replied while hitting her lightly, " Haha chill Jacob isn't my style. He is dumb. "

Bella's eyes got wide at this and she spoke in utter shock, "did you just call him dumb Varonica! Like you who never stops praising him. "

Varonica just shrugged her shoulders and said "yeah I did. because he is. A person in his right mind won't date you." and let out a small laugh in the end.

" Hoooo how mean Varonica wait I will show you."

Bella ran after her with a pillow in her hand and Varonica stuck her tongue out while running in the whole room. Both were laughing, enjoying their not so harmful pillow fight but stopped when they heard the sound of a car horn.

Both paused and Varonica went to the window to see who had come. She jumped in excitement and spoke with a teasing smile, "Go Miss Bella Evans your Prince charming has arrived."

Bella gave her a disbelieving look and after making herself presentable again and re-checking her makeup Bella went downstairs. Jacob handed her flowers and opened the passenger side door of the car for Bella. Both got sat and he drove off the car towards their destination he had planned.

Hope this date will come with a good change. That was all Bella could wish for while looking at the breath-taking night view of the street from the window of the car.