Kshitij
Genre: YA Romance
Number of pages: 350
Book Description:
People never change; they only become more or less of who they really are…
Just as mysteriously as Alyssa appeared in Estella’s life she disappeared. Who was Alyssa, really? For all their years of friendship in college, Estella has no idea why Alyssa left without saying goodbye after graduation. Now, after all these years, Alyssa leaves a recording on Estella’s voicemail –an RSVP to their college reunion! Trembling with delight and dread, Estella has only one question: Why?
Alyssa has been searching for something all her life—her future. She believes in nothing but success and winning. Manipulative, willful, emotionally cold is the best way she can describe herself. To the world and her college mates, she’s glamorous, confident and has life on a silver platter—men dream of having her and women dream of being her! But Alyssa is blind to everything except success…
until she meets Kurt, a dreamy exchange student, who challenges everything she believes, while his touch runs through her body like the sweetest flame, making her want things she knows she shouldn’t have! Kurt wants her heart and that’s the one thing Alyssa can’t give him.
Through seven years of silence, Estella and Alyssa discover life is ever changing—just as their perception of themselves…yet, how could they ever know tragedy and joy are from the same tears of life?
Amazon
Excerpt:
This has to be my final and
the most memorable trophy before the term at Stoke ends.” Alyssa looked at
Estella with a smile, awaiting her response. Things somehow never seemed sure
to Alyssa until Estella confirmed them. The answer to every question in
Alyssa’s life, no matter how trivial it was, had to be assured by Estella.
Estella
nodded yes and then dropped her head to attend to the afternoon meal. While
Alyssa somehow never felt the need to eat, Estella was pretty disciplined when
it came to her food. She had to eat three times a day, no matter what was going
on around her. She never believed in skipping meals. She knew it only took a
few minutes to eat, even if one was in a hurry. But Estella had almost given up
in her efforts to make Alyssa eat, and she herself sometimes missed meals when
she was with Alyssa. The girls had made it a routine to be in the café at least
for an afternoon meal and at all the times between or after their lectures.
“Est,
why don’t you?” Alyssa said, widening her eyes.
Estella
looked straight at her, wondering why her friend left the question hanging in
the air. “Why don’t I what, Aly?”
“Why
didn’t you register your name in QS?”
“You’re
kidding, right?” Estella shook her head.
“No,
I’m not. You know that.”
“Come
on, Aly. You know me better than anyone. I’ve not registered because I just
didn’t feel like being in it. It’s not the first time.”
Alyssa
knew Estella avoided the dance competitions, or fancy dress competitions, or
most of the contests of a similar kind. She couldn’t recall if they’d
participated in the same competition. But Alyssa always wished Estella would
consider it—she had all the qualities to win. Estella was perhaps the best at
color and style, and she was a great dancer. But she only danced for fun in senior
farewell parties, birthday bashes, or at Alyssa’s shindigs at London. Estella
had good overall grades. Alyssa thought Estella could be her closest contender
if she somehow managed to convince her friend to be part of the competition.
But before Alyssa could further her argument, Estella read her face and quickly
responded, “I’d never ever take part in the competition you’re in.” She grinned
and made it all sound like a joke.
What
was that supposed to mean? Alyssa thought, looking at Estella who was again
busy with her food.
What
Alyssa didn’t notice was the gaze that was locked onto her face. It was Kurt’s.
He was sitting alone at the extreme corner of the café, in a seat with a view
outside and with a half-finished burger, fries, and a Coke. Kurt had decided
he’d never become obsessed with a single thing, person, or motive in his life.
That was something he inherited from Woody. But from the first time he’d seen
Alyssa, he, like so many others, couldn’t think of anything else but her. He
managed to find out everything about her, which turned out to be an easy thing
to do. He’d already become a stalker, following the girl, not knowing why and
confused about his feelings.
“How
are you, captain?” Kurt saw Nick taking a seat beside him. He’d started calling
Kurt the captain, which was the best thing Kurt had heard since joining the
team. Kurt thought that Nick had also noticed him staring blatantly at Alyssa.
Sensing Nick had seen the subject of his gaze, Kurt dropped his eyes, feeling
embarrassed.
“It’s
okay, mate… she’s the hottest property in here,” Nick said, looking at Alyssa
and then at Kurt. “And she’s used to such inviting and flirtatious eyes,” Nick
added, picking up fries from Kurt’s plate.
Alyssa
was talking and smiling, speaking with her pink lips, flashing glimpses of the
dimples in her cheeks. As she tucked loose strands of hair behind her ears,
Kurt saw her pierced ears and shining earrings. There were two different
rings—one dangling much like a wind chime on a breezy day and the other that
appeared to be a bit more unconventional in design but still held a precious
jewel. That’s what Kurt assumed, not that he had any experience in female
adornments.
Then
he saw a man put his arm around Alyssa’s shoulder, and taking a seat with the
girls.
“That’s
Adam, her boyfriend,” He heard Nick say, but Kurt neither responded to Nick nor
looked at Adam. His sight was fixated on her. He felt his heart was reading,
looking, feeling, tasting, and breathing her. The kittenish batting of her
eyes, the shape of her mouth, the gleam of her teeth, and those loose
hair—wild, black, and beautiful. And then that snowy face, which could light
the darkness and ignite a flame of passion in the most pessimistic soul. There
must be a catch, Kurt thought. He’d heard somewhere that a smile could cure
little things, but a smile like hers could end half of the world’s problems:
how could anyone who’d seen Alyssa ever forget her or remember himself or
remember anything, for that matter.
As
he watched her kissing her boyfriend, his eyes couldn’t see anything but those
lips—he opened his lips to fit hers. There was a space between them—the space
he couldn’t see or feel. He was already savoring what he thought was their
first of many kisses.
About the Author:
Kshitij lives in New Delhi. He has written books in various genres. Classic literature novels, movies and culture have been his source of inspiration. Although he graduated with a business degree, the word ‘ART’ holds a special place his heart. When not writing, he can be found learning about history, food, and people for his new book.
Author Links:
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