6. The Diva in Disguise

--Finley pov--

"Noell is tired, he thinks it's too early for this shit but Kaeden dragged him out of bed so now he's here," Noell yawns out loud. His head bobbing up and down on Maisie's shoulder while she carries him on her back as we walk through Regent's park on our way to Soho.

"You should be thankful that Kaeden did it instead of me," Maisie grunts as she holds him up. The sight of this tall woman carrying her half-asleep boyfriend who is at least a foot shorter was unusual and amusing to those walking past, but personally, I was never one to judge these things. I kind of wished the other girl Sonya was here instead of them but she had better things to do

"You're right, Kae is a gentleman. You're something else," Noell mutters and she turns on her heel. Walking crossing in front of us to get closer to the river.

"I wonder if you'll fully wake up after I drop you in the river." She threatens and he holds on tighter.

"No! You know I'm scared of birds! Stop being so mean!" He cries out.

"Come on guys, if you keep acting like this, it's going to be a long day." Kaeden, Who apparently plays the role of the great mediator, steps in before she actually does dump Noell into the pitch black water.

"Kaeden, you gotta learn to live a little, take some risks, have fun!" Maisie whines but Kaeden stays unresponsive to her pleas.

"When have I ever been the fun one in the group?" Kaeden asks them.

"The man has a point. He's more like the stern disapproving dad if anything," Noell pouts and I look at Kaeden's rigid face, his light brown eyes were dull and unchanging.

But why were they so dead? I had only known the man for a few days but it looked like there was something off. Did something happen?

Then again it's also 8 am, so I decided to just chalk it up to exhaustion.

"Why am I always the dad? Why can't I be the uncle or something?" He grumbles as he takes a sip of his coffee. Amused, I rest my hands in my pockets.

"Because you always make sure we're taken care of. Uncles don't do that and usually, uncles are the fun guys because they can return the kids at the end of the day. You can't," Maisie argues. Reaching the park exit, Noell hops off her back and ruffles Kae's messy hair.

"You know you love us either way," He giggles and Kaeden rolls his eyes as we head into the underground station.

"What are we looking for anyway?" I ask as we walk through the crowded streets filled with small colorful shops and bright flashing lights.

"I'm looking for white outfits for the cast members. When they die, they wear these white outfits symbolizing their renewed innocence," he says as we duck into another small shop.

"I will help you as much as I can but I'm not the best at clothes shopping," I sigh as I briefly flip through a rack. Kaeden stops for a second and looks me up and down.

I had to admit he was quite handsome in his tight olive colored sweatshirt and brown leather jacket, showing off his muscular physique. The light jeans and dark leather boots matched perfectly and all but I find myself drawn back to his face.

"I noticed. What? Are you going through a second emo phase?" He asks and I look down at the dark monochrome outfit I tossed on after a jog.

"Why yes, I think the black really channels the deepest darkest depths of my soul," I deepen my voice for the dramatic effect and he cracks up.

"Now excuse me while I find my antidepressants," I add and he shakes his head as he pulls out a small white garment while I turn around and wonder to the front of the store where Maisie was fighting with Noell about something.

"What? I think they make my butt look good," He says as he looks in the full-length mirror while trying on a pair of electric blue six-inch heels. Maisie crosses her arms in clear frustration.

"No, I don't like you being as tall as me. Find shorter ones instead." She demands and he looks at me.

"What do you think Fin?" He asks and walks towards me. I thought he was going to walk like a baby deer learning how to walk with stilettos that tall. But instead, he walked with a swing in his hips and such effortless grace I find myself whistling.

"I think you look good," I try to compliment him but he wasn't having it as he stands chest to chest with me and pokes my cheek.

"Just good? Come on now, I think the look in your eyes says otherwise," he seductively whispers and I try to catch my lost breath, Not expecting Noell, of all people, to be so forward. Yeah, this man is definitely not straight, and that's okay because I'm not either.

"I would rather not say my thoughts on what I would love to do to you aloud when I can feel your girlfriend's eyes ripping me apart nearly a foot away," I whisper back and the small blush on his cheeks builds as I look into his beautiful clear blue eyes.

Maisie clears her throat as she grabs Noell by the hood of his pink sweatshirt and pulls him a step away from me.

"Don't encourage him," she growls and I give her a look.

"I think you should buy them, then come visit me when you have the chance," I attempt to openly flirt with him only to be given a hard shove by Maisie. Stumbling sideways, I catch myself just before I take down a rack and we get kicked out of the store. Noell laughs it off and sits down on the display chair to take off the high heels.

"Shouldn't you be assisting Kaeden or something?" Maisie points to the lonely man in the corner of the store.

"Shouldn't you guys be helping him too since that was what this trip was about?" I turn it around and she furrowed her eyebrows in frustration.

"We're not the assistant stage managers here," She huffs under her breath. I decide to leave the two of them alone and rejoin Kae.

"So you're back," he says as he hands me a small pile of white clothing.

"Why yes, I suppose my dark night of the goth soul was very brief. Do you need help with anything?" I offer and he pats me on the shoulder and drapes another shirt around my neck.

"Nope, you can just be my personal shopping cart," he says with a small smile when he sees how ridiculous I look. It was nice to see him smile, even if it was at the expense of my dignity.

"Are you guys ready for classes to start tomorrow?" Kaeden asks the group as he takes a bite of a small soft-shelled taco. We were sitting down together for dinner at this small restaurant with a warm feel to it which contrast the cold winter breeze outdoors.

"Ugh, don't remind me. I have three English classes tomorrow back to back to back. I'm going to die," Maisie sighs.

"I thought you liked English?" Noell asked as he takes a bite of his burrito. His foot just touching mine as he does so.

"I do, but not one after the other. It's going to be mentally draining. Although, I think Cassie and Sonya are in one of my classes so that should be fun," Maise adds.

"What about you Fin? What do you have tomorrow?" Kaeden turns to me and I think for a few moments. Forgetting that classes were just beginning and I actually had to start doing work.

"Well, I'm trying to get the last of my lib eds out of the way this semester, but tomorrow I only have one class. Drawing and Sketching with Professor Maynard. It's going to be a real bitch to wake up at 7 in the morning for an art class though," I scowl just thinking about it but Kaeden suddenly gets excited.

"No way! I'm taking the same class! This is going to be so much fun now. I can't draw for shit though so I'm kind of nervous," Kae admits to us.

"Neither can I but I'm glad to have someone else in the same boat," I agree just as Noell's foot slips off mine. I was confused by the gesture, but try not to show it on my face as I take another bite.

"I wonder if we'll have to buy all the art stuff. I really hope not because I'd rather not waste money on something I'm never going to use again," Kaeden groans and I get a small glimpse of Noell, who was now looking out the window, his smile gone and his energy seemed to disappear.

"Yeah, me too," I answer Kaeden but don't take my eyes off Noell. Did I say something without realizing it?

"Hey, are you okay?" Maisie beats me to it but Noell only shrugs.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he says and glances at me briefly.

"I think I'm going to head back actually, Noell doesn't feel all that great," he sighs and pays for his check with the slide of his wrist against the table.

Maisie was so occupied by flirting with the waitress that she hardly noticed what he said and waved him off. Kaeden looks at me and it's almost as if I can read his mind.

"I'll walk with you," I offer and Noell gives a sad smile but shakes his head.

"That's okay, I'd rather be alone," he sighs and walks out. I look back to Kaeden for advice but he nods towards Noell again. I grab my coat and follow behind him.

"Hey," I walk beside him as we duck into the subway.

"Hey," he huffs out and I gently reach out, touching his arm to close the space between us.

"Are you okay? You went from this twinkling little spirit to a depressed gremlin, what's going on?" I ask and he finally cracks a tiny smile.

"I'm fine Finley really." He giggles and thinks for a moment. His hand comes up and touches mine, holding it for a second before thinking twice and pushing it away.

"It must be exciting to have a class with someone you know," He says just as the tube pulls up to the station and the confession clicks everything together.

"I see. So that's what this is?" I laugh as I follow him onto the crowded train, leaning in the tight space against the door he's forced to stand right in front of me. Unable to look me in the eyes, he keeps his head down.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he lies and I lean back against the front wall of the car.

When the train starts rushing ahead I reach out and grab his waist to keep his small body from flying into some stranger.

But Noell is the one who takes the tiny step forward to be closer. He finally tilts his head up so I could see the spark return to his eyes.

"What? It's cold," he smiles and I was fighting to resist, thinking of the possibility of getting murdered by Maisie's small but overly aggressive hands.

"Mhm, if you say so,"

But the resistance disappears the moment his lips touch mine.

*******

Oh dear...Not Noell

Which Noell are you right now?