The Welcome

I was in the passenger seat with Reid driving and the love hazed couple in the back seat canoodling and Lauren giggling (not the annoying one, but the pretty bearable one) at regular intervals. I let out an exasperated sigh, it was just 15 min and there was nothing I could do. Atlast I plastered my face to the window and started staring at the retreating snow on the huge pine trees along the road. It really is a beautiful spectacle. Suddenly, John Mayer started playing softly in the background. Aah! the merits of silence.

"Oh half of my heart's got a grip on the situation, Half of my heart takes time , Half of my heart's got a right mind, To tell you that I can't keep loving you, can't keep lovin you ... ", someone started singing in a really melodious voice. I turned to see who it was ...

"Shut up Romeo. And why is this CD even lying around here", Reid was whining at Tyler who continued to sing irrespective of.

"That would be cause of me Reid. You know I like, sorry that's an understatement, I LOVE John Mayer and especially when Ty sings it to me.", Lauren ended coyly.

"Yeah, I guess the only sane person left is me. Aah! why am I always stuck with the love sick puppies and... ",Reid trailed off mumbling to himself. I turned myself completely to look at him and started smiling to myself, he is like a 10-yr old mumbling about how life is unfair.

"I think you sing really good Tyler. And your voice is really melodious and also pleasant to hear. You sing otherwise ?" I questioned Tyler.

"Thank you and yup I do a few gigs when I am free and can. And see Reid even Mischa (unreasonable stress on my name) like's my singing. You know you should appreciate it too."

"Yeah yeah yeah", Reid continued. He really is such a kid.

Everyone went back to what they were doing before with the music continuing to playing softly in the background.

After around 15 - 20 min Reid broke the silence speaking, more like whispering, to me, "are you seeing the snow for the first time ? Cause your like a kid (funny how I used the same word to describe him before) looking at Disney World for the first time."

I turned to him with a smirk I replied," I have seen snow before. The north of India has Himalayas, the snow capped mountains, I've been there. But, this is different. The snow here looks more I don't know - snowier? ,if you could say so. It's just different , better and warmer. And I love nature. Always helps me think, feel calmer and just unwind from everything around or anything going on. You know you should go to the Himalayas sometime, it's cold but really calming and so beautiful that I can't even think to describe it." I sighed thinking about the trip with him, rather my last trip with him!

I was shaken from my reverie by Reid's voice, "Oh cool, sure will. Have I told you your the most different person I have EVER met. So, you miss home? You know the whole home sickness thing !"

"Not really. Miss few things but not home though. And is that a pick up line for all your girls, Mr. Reid?", I ended with a formal tone, changing the topic about home as I did not want to talk about "home". Reid gave me a small smile realizing I changed the topic in the flip of a coin.

"Not really, your a first. So are you impressed?", Reid replied accompanying it with a smirk. "Huh! not really. Am not like them girls, you see you have to work harder for me." I gave him a sheepish grin. "So did we reach yet? How long?", I quickly changed the subject again realizing that we were on the verge of starting to flirt and like the previous time I don't want it to lead to the same.

Reid looked at me with amusement reflecting in his crystal blue orbs and then back at the road and replied," Twenty minutes. We are going to the city, it's pretty far you see. You know you should buy stuff now itself, cause am guessing you don't have a car. And there isn't much transport around Ipswitch too."

"Yup, as it we girls are going to get some supplies and shop around for awhile. You should join us.", Lauren added from the backseat leaning in front.

"Okay, I guess." I did have my credit card too and I don't see why not and as it is I do need stuff for the room.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-

After 15 minutes we reached the diner, atlast!

It looked like a normal diner just small from outside with a plaque, with writing in red reading - ' Joe's - You Know It'. Reid dropped us at the entrance and went around to park the car. We went in and occupied the corner table at the end, away from the crowd. Lauren and Tyler sat in front of me and Reid was seated to my right. We all were busy checking our menu to order.

"Hi guys !", I lifted my head and saw "Kate", Reid whispered , Kate! I saw Kate bouncing on her heels with a tall guy beside her ,with dirty blonde hair and carrying the whole biker boy persona smoothly with his leather jacket hanging on his right shoulder ,was grinning and nodding at everyone and behind them was Sarah, aaah I got this name right without any help, with a tall guy, although he was shorter than the dirty blonde guy, with dark hair smiling - jeez he has the whitest teeth I have seen.

"Hey everyone", Sarah and the dark haired guy quipped together. I and Reid shifted to the middle with the recently come couples at the end of the seats.

Kate, who was on Reid's right, introduced me to the two guys. I meekly wished them too. Kate then introduced me to both the guys then," This is Pogue and that is Sarah's boyfriend Caleb. You know Mischa is the new transfer student, she is just across mine and Sarah's room. You should hear her sing, it's really beautiful and her voice really helps you calm. I mean it did shut Reid in the middle of an argument, and that my friend is nearly impossible (she turned to me and informed), but thanks to Mischa here now we know that it is possible.

"I guess you owe us a performance then", the long dirty blonde haired guy, Pogue said.

"Am not that great, everyone is just exaggerating."

"Oh no, we aren't. I really mean it Caleb she is exceptionally good", Sarah said ,and I? I was embarrassed and was turning red. Caleb gave me an appreciative smile and added, " I guess we have to hear you sing."

Seriously I sing after two years and everyone suddenly just wants me to go on with it, why couldn't I just have kept my mouth shut and continued with the unpacking , then I for sure would not be in this spotlight, oh and did I tell you I hate being in the spotlight.

"Alright" I replied exasperated and gave a polite smile so that they would not focus on me and later forget it too hopefully, although looking at their expression I doubt it, and distracted myself with the menu or rather hid behind it.

And luckily everyone went into their own reverie talking with someone about something. When the waiter came everyone started giving their order I too ordered the same, on Reid's advice - cheese burger with fries and a coke.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-

After an hour or so of lunch and the best dessert and loads of talks later the waiter finally brought in the bill which the guys paid and even my share saying it is a 'WELCOME' for me. We decided to head back to the dorms. Sarah and Caleb had to go home to meet Caleb's mom and Pogue - Kate were going to Pogue's apartment, also Tyler and Lauren decided to head back to roam around, so what about the girls shopping trip your wondering. They decided to do it tomorrow; huh!

So it was only Reid and I heading back to the dorms.


R&R please !