Chapter 13: If you were a potato you'd be a good potato

"Hey," Noah jogs off the field, pulling his helmet off. I stand where he asked me to, on the edge of the railing, waiting for him. I want to get angry at him, but I can't. I know I shouldn't get on his bad side.

"Hi," I try to morph my expression into a neutral one. I think it works.

"Did you enjoy the game?" he asks, leaning over the railing, towards me, too close for comfort. I smell the stench of sweat and Gatorade. I try not to recoil.

"Yeah, yeah," I lie.

"Cool," he says.

"Why didn't you pass to Alex?" I ask him, trying to sound as neutral and curious as possible.

"I saw a guy near him, so I knew the best option was to run," he shrugs, leaning in closer.

WHAT? He want me to kiss him? Isn't it to early in the relationship? What do I do? What do I do? Ahhhh!

I breath in  heavily and make my mind up.

I lean in and kiss him on the cheek. He opens his eyes, a depressed look on his face.

"C'mon, lets go," he takes my hand even though there is a steel railing in between us.

"Uh, Noah, I can't exactly come with you? There's a railing?"

"Oh, no worries," in one swift move he leans over the railing, picks me up, bridal style and lifts me over. I laugh when I plop down.

"Ok, now I can come with you," I smile and we walk off. He grabs my hand and threads his fingers through mine. As much as I want to shake it off, I know that would be mean, so I let it be.

***

I ride in Noah's pick-up truck to the party. We talk the whole way there. Its pretty fun, we have common interests and he knows how to make me laugh., he's ditched the shy-guy personality and I find myself enjoying his company. We pull up outside the house and I jump out of the car.

"Oh," I look up at the familiar venue. "Alex is hosting?"

"Yeah, its always at his house. He doesn't interact much with the team though, he's always hooking up with girls," Noah rolls his eyes.

"Oh," I say quietly, nodding my head.

"C'mon, lets go," he pulls my arm. "Did I tell you have great you look tonight?"

I look down, blushing. "Thanks."

He hooks an arm around my waist and leads me inside. I want to shrug out of his hold, but that would be rude. We walk into the house and immediately I hear the pumping party music booming through the house. I see people dancing, eating, drinking and getting drunk. Noah pulls me into the kitchen and pops a beer can open.

"You're eighteen?" I ask him.

He laughs, looks up and then realizes I'm being serious. "Well, I am in a couple of months," he says awkwardly.

"Oh," I nod.

"You want anything?" he gestures to the drinks around him like her owns them. I take a lemonade.

"Thanks," we walk out of the kitchen and into the living room. I gesture around, "I'm just going to go and find my friends," I tell him. He nods, kisses me on the cheek (um... Okay?) and I walk away.

I find Bubbles and Callum in a separate room, just talking and hanging around. Probably to escape the action and loud sounds.

"Hey," I walk in, closing the door behind me.

"Hi!" Bubbles says. "I'm not allowed in the kitchen because I'd probably take a creaming soda and... BOOM! I'd fizz out like a sherbet," she giggles at her sentence. Callum looks down and smiles. My heart practically bursts for Bubbles, he'll make her so happy!

"What're you guys doing?"

"We are playing monopoly," she turns and gestures to the board spread out on the floor in front of them.

I laugh. "That's a long game."

"Yeah, this is a long party," Callum says, grinning.

We hear a tap at the door and I turn around. "If that's a girl scout bring me 12 cookie boxes please," Callum says. I walk towards the door. I open it and I see Alex standing there, eating a cheeseburger. I smile at him, remembering our burger conversation as he gulps his meal down.

"Hey," I say.

He grunts, walking past me and into the room. I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket I answer when I see its Noah. I turn to the others and wave goodbye. I see Alex's disappointed face. Ha! Sucker.

"Hi," I greet Noah.

"Hi Nat! I'm down in the games room, do you want to come and meet my friends?" I think this is a strange request but I reply anyway.

"Um ... yeah, OK," I say. "I'll see you then," I hang up and close my phone. I make my way down through the house until I see a familiar door. I open it and step through. I immediately see the place where Alex turned the wall around so that we could play basketball, and I hear shoes squeaking on the other side. I walk over to where Noah is sipping a beer and watching his friends play air-hockey and I tap him on the shoulder.

He turns around and smiles. "Hey Nat," he says. Swallowing a gulp he begins introducing his friends to me. "This is Benny, George, Henry and Jack," he informs me. I nod at them all. "Hey guys can you go and get me a drink?" he asks them. They all nod, as though four boys getting one drink for one person is normal.

Noah swings his legs around the couch so he's in a seating position. He pats the spot next to him like he owns the place. I plonk down next to him and I sip my lemonade. We watch the NFL match on the TV before he turns to me.

"Have I ever told you how gorgeous you are?" he says. I look down and blush. "You are. I was really shocked when you agreed to go on a date with me."

I look up. "Really?"

"Of course, a girl like you accepting a guy like me? I was totally astonished," he says. I look down and nod. "And, um, I was wondering," he brushes a loose strand of hair astray from my ponytail behind my ear and I look up, facing him. "If you'd like to do it again sometime?"

I can't exactly say no and just ditch him. Having to see his face at school would really be awkward.

"Yeah, sure," I say. He smiles. I'm not ready for what comes next.

He places a hand on my cheek and leans in. Oh God, what have I gotten myself into?

He kisses me for around ten seconds before pulling back, I'm left with the disgusting taste of alcohol in my mouth. Well, that was a great experience. I feel someone' watching me and I turn my head in their direction. I see Alex for a split second before he turns and walks away quickly, I'm left staring after him. I turn back to Noah.

"Next Friday at the... movies?" I ask, itching to get away.

"Sounds good," he smiles. I stand up.

"Excuse me," I walk away then run down the corridor, searching for Alex, my feet pounding on the ground. I turn down a few hallways before I get to the living room. I'm about to step outside and look for him in the gardens when a heavily perfumed person corners me.

"What do you think you're doing you little skank?" Amanda asks me, malice etched into her voice.

My heart rate increases, but I keep my tone as neutral as possible. "I'm just going out for some fresh air?"

"No, you're not Natalie, my boyfriend just went out that door, and I remember specifically telling you not to talk to him!"

"Well, newsflash, hun, you're not my boss, or my mum," I say. I'm annoyed at her enough for just being her (sorry, Amanda, its true), so that's what I retort.

"Oh, yes. How's your mum travelling? Well? Like the rest of you? You think you can just waltz back in to America, steal my boyfriend, while going out with another guy, may I add, and pretend like you were never the ugly, fat cow that you used to be?"

"I-I-I don't want to steal Alex from you! My dad got a business call, so we're back. And I'm not pretending."

"Natalie, please don't think you're anything more than an just an ugly, dying piece of rat that should be left to rot. No one cares about you. Not Noah, not your family, no one, Natalie, not Alex, especially not Alex."

"What is your problem Amanda? I never wanted Alex!"

"And it should stay that way. Stay away from my boyfriend you lying, cheating little sl*t," she says in a fierce whisper, I notice the people around us have gathered, watching the commotion.

"What do you have against me, Amanda?"

"I hate your guts! You return from France, trying too hard to be beautiful, wanting my boyfriend, thinking life will just sail smoothly. But guess what, bi-" she's interrupted when she sees the person that hooks an arm around my waist. I sigh with relief, and I swear I slump down against the person holding me. Thank God for Alex.

"Amanda?" he says.

"What're you doing with her?" Amanda hisses.

"What were you saying to Nat?"

"Nothing. Just how nice I think your friendly relationship with her is."

"Ok, I'll be back soon. After I take Nat home."

"You're choosing her over me?"

"Chill out, Amanda," Alex sighs. "We've only been together for a day. I'll be back soon, Ok?"

He leads me out the door, a firm hand wrapped around my waist. Unlike how I feel with Noah, he makes me feel safe. Not that I'd admit that to anyone...

"You all right Greg?" he snaps me out of my day dream and I stare up at him.

"Better than ever, Patricia," I smile at him and he continues leading me through the house, towards the garage. We hop into the car, shutting the doors in sync so the sound echoes around the large space. I suddenly realize how awkward it is between us. We drive off.

***

We spent the whole car trip in total silence.

It was awkward.

Now I'm walking into the house and he's following me.

We're walking up to my room.

I sit down.

We look at each other.

Well, this is awkward.

"Are you sure you're okay, dude?"

"Yeah?" I say, maybe he's just asking to break the tension.

"Hey, look," he sits down on a stool, pulling it over to my bed, which I'm sitting on. "Amanda isn't as bad as she seems," he says.

"Really?" Why is it that I have a hard time believing him?

"She used to be a really nice person. She changed her attitude, started being a different person, but I think the old Amanda is still inside her."

"Wow, motivational," I clap my hands sarcastically.

He rolls his eyes. "I'm just saying, you should give her a chance."

"I don't understand why you're dating her," I shake my head. He sits up straighter.

"I told you, she's still the nice person she was when you were around."

"OK," I nod my head raising my eyebrows. He doesn't say anything, just sits there like a non-moving zombie. "If you were a potato, you'd be a good potato," I tell him.

"What?" he asks.

"Well, you're sitting there with no intention of moving, and you look like a little potato."

"Great analogy bro," he chuckles.

"Mhhm," I nod and smile sheepishly. "I'm gonna go have a shower, babe," I say, standing up and walking over to my dresser. Alex follows me.

"Can I come, mate?" he wiggles his eyebrows and I laugh.

"Go away, I don't want you urinating in my shower," I shove him as he pretends to follow me like a puppy dog. "Make sure you're not in my room. Go outside and do something else," I roll my eyes, grabbing my pajamas and towel and walking into the bathroom.

***

I walk out of the shower, feeling fresh after just washing my hair. I dry it and pull my pajama pants up. I realize I don't have my underwear. Oh, damn. I think about calling out to Alex, but the walls are soundproof.

I'll have to walk out and get them. Oh, sweet baby Jesus, don't let Alex see me. I tie my towel tightly around me, open the door and walk out to my room. I clutch the towel closer to my chest as I rustle through my underwear draw.

I hear a whistle behind me. I spin around, mentally groaning, clutching the towel closer to my chest. I turn to face Alex. "Damn, mate, those legs," he raises his eyes brows.

"Alex! I told you to go and do something else!"

"Couldn't resist a game of Fortnite and seeing the girl of my dreams standing in front of me half-naked."

"EW! Alex! I'm more than half covered!" I look down at my towel wrapped around me. It only just reaches my thighs and is lower than my neck. Oh damn, I'm showing more than half of myself. "Go do something else!" I shout at him, taking my underwear and running to the bathroom.

"Aw, you're not going to take the towel off for me?" Alex asks as I slam the door.

"EW! No!" I hear him snort as I get changed.

I walk out of the bathroom a few minutes later. "You, missy," I shake my finger at him. "Are in big trouble."

"The only trouble is that you didn't take your towel off!"

"You're such a pervert Alex! Don't you have a girlfriend?"

"No one as willing to show me themselves as you are," he swings an arm around me and I shove him off.

"You should get back to the party, Amanda's probably waiting for you. And she'll kill me if I 'hog' you for too long," I push him out the door.

"I thought I was staying the night?" he pouts.

"In your dreams, sugarpie," I snort.

"G-night, dude."

"Night, babe," I shut the door behind him.

________________________________________

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