LAKE

Jade woke up to the sound of someone banging the front door down. She picked her head up from the laptop cover.

She had fallen asleep while writing with her hand still poised on the keyboard. There was a long row of alphabets which didn't make any sense.

The doorbell started ringing again and Jade heard someone knock.

She got up groggily wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Okay... I'm coming... I'm coming."

She dragged herself somehow to the door and pulled it open to see Alec standing on her doorstep with a bunch of roses.

"Good morning." She grumbled.

"Good morning? Good.. Morning? I've been standing here for the past 10 minutes ringing the doorbell and banging on the door with a bunch of flowers in my hand and you were sleeping?"

Alec said grumpily.

"You brought me flowers?"

"That's what registered in your head from all that I said?"

"Sorry... Come in."

He looked at Jade. She was dressed in shorts that left most of her long legs in display. Her black hair was ruffled and her eyes were bloodshot.

"Nice shorts."

"Ha!" Jade laughed sarcastically.

Jade moved aside so that Alec could come into the living room.

He was dressed casually in dark wash jeans and a plain white shirt.

It was really similar to the one Matt had been wearing the day they had met in Jo's.

"Here you go." Alec turned around once they were in the living room and handed her the bunch of roses.

She looked down and then looked back at Alec. Either her head was too clouded because of sleep- actually the lack of it- or finally Alec had lost his mind.

"You seriously got me flowers?" She asked in disbelief.

Alec shoved his hands in his pockets looking really uncomfortable.

"Well I saw them on the way here.... And I thought you'll like them."

"Yeah they are pretty."

She took the flowers to the kitchen filled a vase with water and put the flowers in it.

"Why were you still sleeping? Did you forget about the deal?" He said following her into the kitchen.

She looked up from the flowers, the colour was a deep pink which was so pretty, and said, "What time is it?"

"10:15. I've been at the door from 10."

"You were on time?"

"Yes. And you were not."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't sleep much last night." She said going out of the room carrying the vase with her.

"What were you doing?"

"Writing." She kept the vase down on the table and stood back to admire them, "They look lovely. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Look you sit, give me five minutes and I'll be ready." She said guiltily.

"Okay."

Jade flashed a guilty smile and ran into her room to get ready.

Meanwhile, Alec wandered around her living room.

The house had a cozy, laid back feel to it. None of the sofas matched, the cushions were all different colours. And there were too many of them everywhere.

There were huge waist high stacks of books everywhere, on the table, on the shelves. Even on the floor.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Asked Jade coming out of the washroom having cleaned up the best she could.

"No thanks. I'm good."

"Okay. Make yourself comfortable." She said going to her cupboard.

The first thing that came to her hand was a skirt which had small flowers on them.

"Hey Jade. Do you actually read all the books that you have here?"

Alec's voice from the living room reminded her that he was waiting for her.

This was not time to be choosy. Her only option was wearing the first thing she could find.

"Kind of.... Some of them are research for my books. And some of them are just light reads."She replied while putting on the skirt.

"Light read."

Alec looked at the book in his hand. It weighed more than a new born baby and was named, 'Medical Advances in the 70's.

Alec picked up a hard bound copy of her book and sat down to read it.

"You are reading my book?" Jade came out from her room and saw him reading her latest book.

"Yeah. I didn't get time to read this one though." Alec replied.

"This one?" Jade murmured pulling her hair into a loose bun, "You have read the others?"

"All of them."

Jade was surprised, she stopped in her tracks, "They are love stories."

"No shit, Einstein!" Alec laughed, turning the book so that Jade could see the cover of the book, which featured a couple in an embrace.

"That's... I don't even... I never thought you would read my books."

"They are your books, Jade. How could I not read them? And you are a good author."

Jade smiled and turned around.

This was the reason she had fallen in love with Alec. He did such sweet things without even realising what kind of effect he was having.

Though she was overjoyed that he had taken out the time to read her books, books that were not even the genre he liked, she didn't let it show.

Instead she looked back at him and said, "I'm ready!"

That was quick, thought Alec.

She was wearing a white skirt with small flowers on it, with a pink tank top.

He himself had dressed up very carefully that morning, putting on a shirt which was as close to what that 'Kissing in Parking lots' doctor had been wearing that day.

"What? Why are you staring at me?"

Alec quickly dropped his gaze, "I was just surprised that you got ready so fast."

Jade went to the shoe rack and started putting on ankle length sneakers.

"I told you five minutes. I don't take long to get ready."

"When Emma says five minutes she doesn't come out before 45 minutes. I was getting ready to spend a good half hour more."

"Are you already complaining about your girlfriend?" Jade smirked.

"I'm not complaining, I'm just saying."

"Of course you are!" She smiled while putting on her sneakers.

"Can we leave then? We are already late. Thanks to you." Alec stood up and walked to the door.

"Where are we going?"

"Being in the field that I am in I couldn't stop myself from making a small itinerary of all the places we should visit today. So first stop is the lake!" He cheered.

Jade laughed and followed Alec out of the apartment locking up behind them.

The Blue lake- as the local people called it- had always been their favourite place to hang out when they were in high school.

The lake was a bright blue colour even on downcast days, hence the name. And was surrounded with trees all around.

There was a certain calmness in just sitting there and thinking.

In the years just after Alec had gone, Jade had frequented the lake whenever she missed him. Which had been quite often.

They drove in silence to the lake.

Alec wondering how to start a conversation about the 'Doctor' while Jade tried to push down all the memories of them coming to the lake together threatened to pour out.

She should have realised earlier that agreeing to go to all their old haunts with Alec was not a good idea.

Atlast they reached their destination and Alec parked the car.

They got down and walked to the bridge on the lake.

Jade sighed, the silence and the beautiful lake. And all the million happy memories.

"It's been years since I last came here." Alec said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

He could clearly remember the two of them sitting on this particular bridge after spending the whole day in school, doing their homework together.

Jade smiled, "I come here pretty often. You know whenever I'm stuck while writing. The silence helps me."

Alec stared at her. The Jade he remembered could not sit for a second without talking or doing something.

And now she craved the silence.

"You come here with Matt?" He asked.

"Matt? How do you know him?"

Jade was surprised. She was sure that she had not mentioned anything about her relationship with Matt.

Alec smirked, "Surprised?"

"I have no clue how you know Matt. So of course I'm surprised."

"I saw you'll kiss in the parking lot of Jo's that day. Quite a steamy kiss if I say so."

"You were there?"

"Yeah. I was taking Emma for an ice cream when I saw you'll kissing. I got quite a surprise. I didn't expect to meet you for the first time after so many years while you were sharing such an intimate moment with someone."

"Matt was my boyfriend. We had a breakup." Jade said walking away from Alec towards the bridge.

Alec moved towards her and stood next to her, "Didn't look like a kiss between someone who were not together any more."

"He wanted to get back together.... Why am I explaining myself to you? I don't ask you about explanations or how many times you have kissed Emma."

She seriously didn't need to explain her actions to anyone. Especially not Alec. She couldn't believe that he had been spying on her.

"Maybe you are explaining yourself because you still are doubtful about... You know... The 'break up'."

The last two words were accompanied by sly smirk by Alec.

The smirk became even broader when Jade scowled at him.

"I can't believe you just said that."

"So was Dr Matt one of the half naked guys your mom saw?"

"Okay that's enough."

By this time both of them were standing right at the end of the bridge.

Jade went up to him and shoved him. And in a matter of seconds Alec found himself in the lake, drenched completely.

He came up sputtering water out of his mouth and breathing heavily to see Jade still standing on the bridge, completely dry and laughing her heart out.

"You're going to pay for this!"

In the midst of her uncontrollable laughter, Jade forgot to step back from the edge of the bridge.

Alec threw his hands around her thighs and pulled her into the water with him.

With an almighty splash, Jade was right beside him, wet and coughing out the lake water.

"What is wrong with you!?" She yelled coming out of the water.

"You started it!"

They glared at each other for a second before the burst out laughing.

It was just like old times. They were wet and laughing together.

They came out of the water, with their clothes dripping.

They sat at the edge of the bridge, still wet, talking and remembering all the old memories.

Jade's hair was stuck to her face and shoulders.

She was positive that she looked like a drowned rat, with mascara running down her face.

Her pink tank top was almost see through and her skirt was sticking to her thighs.

When Alec stared at her and started laughing she defiantly crossed her arms over her chest trying to cover a little of the damage.

"It's not funny!"

"Oh! It most definitely is funny. It might be the funniest thing I have seen in quite some time now."

They walked to the car, while Alec still laughed, clutching the side of his stomach.

His white shirt too had become transparent, giving a perfect view of stomach which had no flab only muscle.

It was taking a terribly high amount of self control on Jade's part to stop herself from staring at his body.

Once they reached the car instead of opening the door Alec went behind the car and opened the boot.

He pulled out a small back pack and started fidgeting in it.

"What is that?" Jade said coming to stand next to him.

"After so many years in the travel business the biggest lesson I have learnt is that, always carry a change of clothes." He shrugged and pulled out a dry shirt and a fresh pair of jeans.

"I'm cold!" Jade stated, trying to bring her situation to Alec's attention.

Alec looked up, halfway through opening his shirt, "Too bad for you."

Jade stomped her feet and got into the car, slamming the door in the process.

She tried to convince herself that she walked away from Alec because she was angry at him, and not because the prospect of seeing him without a shirt made her mouth dry and her cheeks flame up.

She sat over there with goosebumps on her arms, till finally Alec opened the door of the driver's side.

He threw a sweatshirt at her and sat down, "Put it on."

He was dressed in dry and fresh clothes. Jade picked up the sweatshirt which was surely going to be too huge for her.

"I don't need your help. Thank you very much!"

She threw the sweatshirt on the back seat, crossed her arms over her chest and stubbornly looked out of the window.

Alec looked at her and smirked.

Now this was more like the Jade he remembered.

He started the car and put on the air conditioner.

Jade heard the sound of the air conditioner and could feel the cool air on her already ice cold arms.

But she forced herself to ignore him.

Alec reduced the temperature.

Again no reaction.

Jade had become stronger at this game.

He reduced the temperature till it was the lowest and waited.

They sat over there in the stationary car. Jade stubbornly looking out of the window and Alec tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. Both of them waiting.

Suddenly Jade stretched her hand, took the sweatshirt and snuggled into it. Making a point not to look at Alec.

Alec grinned. He switched off the AC and put the car into gear, with a constant smile on his face.

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

Happy Reading!