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Iris
Yesterday's ride home was one of the random yet funniest rides ever. I got to know a lot of things about the guys. Augustus has a serious and mature vibe attached to him except for the collection of fluffy flip flops he owns while Sam is more of a going with the flow guy except for the philosophical things he says.
During the ride, Sam kept on flirting with me while Augustus kept on stopping him with his death glare. I just was laughing with the cheesy lines Sam tried to woo me with. In the end, we all three were singing out to one song till an old man yelled at us for being so loud.
So, yeah, it was really good.
"You do know that Caleb has a crush on Ava, right?" Colt asks me with wide eyes. "You shouldn't tell him Ava's dating."
"I wouldn't if I don't catch him doing anyâ"
"Mmmm...." I hear a girl moan against â
"Oh God, burn my eyes. Burn my eyes, right this moment!" I say, closing my eyes.
First, I wake up to a cloudy morning, and now, my cousin is making out with some cheerleader, near the pillar, so vigorously that I swear in three seconds they would eat each other up.
Not kidding.
"Caleb, it is morning, man!" Colt says. I don't even need to see his expression; I can feel that he is irritated too.
"Ava's dating someone!" I tell Caleb, eyes still closed.
I hear Colt hiss and I kind of cringe too but I know it was needed. To save us from the PDA happening in front of us.
"What?" Caleb says, breathlessly and loudly. I hear the sound of heels strutting away from us and I take this my cue to open my eyes. "No. No. No. You are lying, Iris, right? Tell me you are lying!"
He starts shaking me by my shoulders.
"I swear Caleb, I willâ" I say, pulling away from him when a sophomore girl sighs really loud near us.
"Oh, damn. He is so hot that I don't even need an oven to heat my meal," She says to her group, again sighing.
"That's some claim." Caleb scoffs out but when he turns in the direction of their sight. "Of course." He scowls.
"That's Noah Radcliffe," Colt tells me, gesturing.
I turn and I just want to curse out my fate or lifeâor whatever you call this.
Noah Radcliffe is Stupid.
No, no. I mean the stupid I met yesterday.
Noah Radcliffe is walking down the hallway as normal as any kid but the stares he is receiving just make the scene pop out of a movie. He has worn a white plain t-shirt, under his black leather jacket and jeans with black vans shoes.
When his gaze falls on me, his lips lift into a smirk, and almost immediately, I roll my eyes. Moving past the staring crowd, I go towards my locker.
"Hey, Noah." I hear Colt say to him. "Long time, no see?"
"Fuck off, Dias," Stupid replies back.
"Attitude, much?" I mutter, looking through my books in the locker.
"Radcliffe," Caleb says.
"Wallace," He replies and I hear a long shadow looming near me. "Bella," Stupid says, leaning next to my locker as I keep some of my books.
"Stupid," I say, giving him a tight-lipped smile. As he clicks his tongue at my reply, I raise an eyebrow at him.
"Bella, if you can't call me sexy or hot..." He smirks, shrugging his shoulders. "...or just call me by my actual name."
"Why? Is it too much for your reputation? Oh, wait..." I give a tight-lipped smile, again. "You don't even have a reputation," I say, closing my locker, to look at him properly.
"Really?" He narrows his eyes, looking at me, and he looks intimidating. "Everyone knows who I am, Bella," He tells me as a matter of fact. I roll my eyes at him before dropping the truth bomb.
"Well not everyone knows, Stupid. I got to know your name just fifty-six seconds ago." He looks at me in surprise as I brush past him to move towards my homeroom.
"Oh, Stupid?" I call out to him, turning backward. He looks at me, blankly. "Get your facts straight otherwise your name actually may change..."
Turning back to my classroom, Colt and Caleb walk beside me, looking at me in surprise.
"Stupid?" Colt questions me.
"Bella?" Caleb, now, questions me. "You told me you don'tâ"
"Just... forget it, guys," I tell them, rolling my eyes as we enter the classroom.
"Do you think...?" I hear Caleb ask Colt in a hushed tone.
"Maybe, noâ" Colt replies but stops abruptly as McLane tells us to sit fast and not block the way.
***
"Iris, seriously, girl, you need to dress better..." Alyssa tells me as I sit beside Colt on our lunch table. I have worn grey distressed knee-length shorts with a blue oversized sweater and my favorite blue converse shoes.
"It is better!" I defend, lamely.
"She isn't going to change now, Alyssa," Nick says, rolling his eyes.
"Remember that she wore Barcelona's jersey yesterday?" Tom comments as he looks up from his phone.
"And yesterday was way colder than today," Michael says, eating a taco.
"Well, first, these are comfortableâif you know the meaning of the word. Second, I need to show my support for the team. Third, don't start up a fashion conversation especially when the pizza is so cheesy today..." I say and take a huge bite from a slice of pizza as if to prove my point.
"Grizzly is on the ride to cheese-town today..." Caleb says as everyone starts to laugh. I roll my eyes at them but don't say anything because I am, in fact, in cheese-town today.
The lunch table mainly consists of us â Alyssa, Tom, Nick, Michael, Caleb, Colt, and I.
Alyssa Jones surfing through the five shopping apps on her phone while, her twin, Tom Jones making us listen to his new remixed songs. Michael Dunn eating up everyone's food like there's no tomorrow and, finally, Nick Wills having an opinion every damn thing that happens around in school.
We have typical roles in this school. I am the dancer while Colt, Caleb, and Nick are on the soccer team. Michael and Tom are in the theatre while Alyssa is in the girls' basketball team. So, we are just some people who follow their heart no matter what and this must be the reason we all are togetherâalso, we get along great.
"So, Iris," Alyssa says, trying to get my attention as I stuff my mouth with pizza. She keeps her phone back in her bag, before looking at me.
"What?" I say as I finish chewing the piece.
"About the thing that happened in the morning?" Nick says, putting his elbows on the desk. Surely, they would know all the gossip in this school.
"Yeah, you didn't tell me about it," Colt says, narrowing his eyes at me like every one of them.
"Stop looking at me like that, people. The thing is that I hate Noah-whatever-Radcliffe," I tell them as I take another bite of my pizza.
"Hate is a strong word," Michael states.
"Alright, I strongly dislike him."
"How did you not know him, huh?" Alyssa asks as I shrug my shoulder at her question and start to eat.
"Well, she is busy in her own life to notice him," Caleb says, dryly.
"Like she couldn't go shopping with me because she had homework to do," Alyssa states.
"Or that time when we all went to Ice Cream and suddenly Iris goes away, talking on her phone," Michael says, stuffing his face with a large bite of burger.
"Or that time she could not contribute to the car wash," Nick says, shrugging.
"Orâactually, she was the only one who came to support me when we went to that club where I was asked to DJ." Tom and I give each other high-fives before he looks back into his phone.
"Wow, I didn't know I had such important things to do," I say, sarcastically, to others. "Any-hoo, that Stupid, and I never crossed paths."
"Weird. He was with us in the seventh grade too." Tom points out, looking up from his Samsung.
"He was in the same middle school as us?" I say, surprised.
Alyssa and Tom facepalm themselves while Nick rolls his eyes and as for Colt, Caleb and Michael, they just ignore and start to eat.
"Whatever" Caleb waves off the topic. "Mike, get rice-balls tomorrow." Caleb groans with happiness. "I miss them and your Mom makes it the best."
"Are you friends with me because of that?" Michael replies, wiping his lips with his hands, and Alyssa scrunches her nose, passing a wipe towards Mike and gesturing him to use it.
"No?" Caleb shrugs.
"Don't answer a question with another question," Michael grumbles, wiping his hands with the napkin.
"You know I like how rich in ethnicity we are." Alyssa smiles, looking at us. "Tom and I are biracialâ"
"âwith red hair and that, my friends, is really rare," Tom says, grinning. "I am so raâ"
"Did this conversation rise because I asked for rice balls from a half-Chinese dude?" Caleb says, pointing his thumb towards Michael.
"I am German, too. Why do you all forget that?" Michael says to us. "You are Korean, right?" He asks Caleb and me.
"Korean?" Nick leans forward, interested. "I didn't know about that."
"Dad and Aunt Stevie were adopted into a Korean-Jewish family. We are not Korean by blood but we consider it as a part of our ethnicity," I reply. "But if we go by blood, we are half Filipinos."
Caleb grins, giving me a slight nudge.
"I am just a Danish." Nick shrugs and Alyssa scoffs.
She says, "Your descendants are Vikings. What more do you want?"
"Red eyes?"
"Gosh, no."
"I am Hispanic, in case you guys were wondering," Colt says, lifting his hand. Everyone gives him a dry look.
Alyssa says, "We know, Colten. We know."
"I thought you are a typical American Golden Boy."
"He just doesn't stop, does he?" I grumble and turn to see Stupid aka Noah.
Noah sits beside me and says, "Then, again, appearances can deceive anyone." He turns to look at me. "We meet again, Bella."
"What are you doing here?" I ask, glaring at him.
Nonchalantly, he looks at me and says, "What do you think? I am having lunch with you, Bella."
I question back, crossing my arms, "And how do you always just pop out from nowhere?"
He glances back, before looking at me. He points at the door, "Not exactly nowhere."
"YouâYou are..."
"Handsome?" I hear Alyssa pipe in.
"Stupid." I give Alyssa a look but she just holds up her hands.
"Just stating the facts, girl."
"Well, sometimesâget your hand off my pizza." I slap Noah's hand away when he tries to reach for the second slice of my pizza. He blinks at me in surprise as everybody starts to laugh.
"Dude, never mess with Iris's pizza and cupcakes. They are the top two in her priority list," Colt tells him, sympathetically looking at him.
He nods, tilting his head but then, says, "So, Bella, it seems like I am coming to your house tomorrow night."
Suddenly, I choke on my food. I can literally feel his amused expression as he passes me a bottle of water and Colt rubs my back in concern.
"What?" I say, finally.
"Oh ya, forgot to tell you, Iris, that since Noah is in the soccer team now, he will come tomorrow for the movie night," Nick explains as I raise an eyebrow at him.
Usually, all the guys from the soccer team and we have a movie night once a month. 'It is mainly for the team spirit', Coach says while we enjoy it as an excuse for not attending school the next day. Since we all take turns to host this night, it is my turn, this month.
...which apparently, I don't want to host!
"Him? Him at my house? Nuh-uh uh, not happening," I say, pointing my thumb towards Noah. "I forbid it!"
"Really? You don't want me? Yesterdayâ" Noah says, smirking before I punch him real hard on his toned arm.
"Shut up!" I whisper to him, harshly. Rubbing his arm, he curses, in some other languageâItalian? French?
"That hurts," He glares.
I bat my eyes, innocently. "The verbal insult or physical harm?"
"Radcliffe, get used to it. Iris tends to hit at least three people a day," Caleb says to him, drinking his juice. I glare at Caleb and he just raises his palm in surrender.
But when I look at Noah, again, I feel kind of... guilty? for almost destroying those toned bicepsâahem, I mean arms. Arms.
"Noah, I amâ" I stop as suddenly, he looks at me, without any smugness or anger. "Why are you looking at me like that, all of a sudden?" He looks at me with a blank expression.
"Nothing," He says, shaking his head. I look back at him in confusion as I stare into his eyes.
"Oh okay." I nod, looking away, only to meet Alyssa's gaze. She smirks and mouths, 'You like biceps'
My eyes widen and I check around if anybody has seen it. Noah is talking with Nick and except for Tom who is very much into his phone, everyone else is eating. When I look back at her, she smirks and wiggles her brows.
I mouth, 'Shut up.'
She's about to reply with another snarky remark but then, Colt says, "I have detention today."
I turn towards him, excited. "Say that again."
"You heard me," He says, rolling his eyes.
"No, I don't think I have heard it properly! Did you just say 'Yes, Iris, you were right that among both of us, I would be the first to get detention in senior year'?" I say, mocking him.
"I didn't say that."
"You meant that in your head. Am I right?"
"Yeah..." he murmurs. "You will get your cupcakes."
"Oh, I will." I grin. "Not just any cupcakes. Chocolate and Caramel cupcakes. Yummy..." I say, sighing happily as Noah just stares at me, and the rest of them start to laugh.
"Anyway, why did you get detention?" I ask as everyone stops laughing in eleven seconds.
"I was using my phone in the class..." Colt replies, shrugging.
"That?" Alyssa scoffs. "Tell me who doesn't?"
"Me." Nick holds up his hand.
"It was rhetoric," Michael states. "You were not supposed to answer the question."
"Nobody asked you," Alyssa murmurs and Michael rolls his eyes.
"Using your phone in the class? That is why you got the detention?" Caleb says, making a face.
"Well, I just got caught this time," Colt replies, narrowing his eyes at Caleb.
"Good for me, anyway. But, Colt, I hope your detention goes well," I tell him, sincerely, placing my hand on my chest.
"Ah, the sincerity. It definitely runs in the family," Caleb says before high-fiving with me.
"Cooper!" I turn back to look at Berta, a senior too, standing near the entrance door.
"Julio said no practice today," She says before turning back to the cafeteria, not staying for an answer.
Ah, the free class.
"Seems like you are free today after school," Noah says to me, thinking, as I turn back to my pizza â I mean, friends except Noah.
"Yeah, seems like it," I reply, uncertain at his tone.
"Hmmm."
I look at him as he smirks back at me. "Now, what is going in your thick head, huh?" I ask, tapping on his forehead. He blinks in surprise.
"You'll know, later," He replies, taking a bite from my slice.
"Hey!" I say, punching him, lightly this time.
***
After finishing up with Gym, I swear my body needs a spa but, since I spent my monthly pocket money on new pair of sneakers, seems like I have to settle up for a hot bath, instead.
"Did you see Noah Radcliffe kissing her?" Some girl starts to talk, surprised, in the girls' room, as I take out my stuff, behind them.
"Tell me if there's any girl who he hasn't kissed yet," Another girl says, scoffing.
It hasn't been over two days and Noah Radcliffe is already under the radar for the rumors. I roll my eyes and try to go out of the room as quickly as I can.
"I know, right? Anyway, it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that I take him to my bed..." This high-pitched voice is definitely recognizable everywhere.
Stacy Penelope.
"Looking at his reputation, he won't ever deny me. It is a bonus he looks hot," Stacy says, definitely must be swinging her hair.
I roll my eyes at her comment. Stacy has a reputation for being a playgirl and not to forget, her oh-so-sweet attitude towards me. I have no idea what I did and don't care as long as I don't talk to her.
As I brush myself swiftly, passing her, and go towards the door, I hear her calling me.
"Hey, Irish!"
I roll my eyes at her pronunciation of my name. I ask, not even turning to look at her, "What do you want?"
"I heard that Noah sat with you in lunch."
"Yeah, so?"
"Stay away from him."
"Whatever," I say, exiting the room.
For someone who just wants to sleep with a guy and throw him in a bin later, sure, she has a lot of possessiveness. Any-hoo, why would I want to come close toâ
"Bella, you sure love to crash on me," Noah says, looking at me, as I look up at him.
I feel his hands grip on my waist and his heartbeat underneath my hand on his chest. The warmth radiating from his body surrounds my body as I look into the calm wildness of those golden eyes surrounded by small freckles on the nose, making him look two to three years younger.
I push myself away from him, as I realize the closeness between us and, not to forget, the small audience around us.
"Don't you all having anything to do, huh?" I say to them, clenching my fist and ignoring my embarrassment, as they quickly strut away.
"Yeah, so... what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to go for practice?" I ask Noah, looking anywhere but him, as I tuck a hair strand behind my ear.
"We don't have practice, today," Noah states, looking at me. I nod, slowly, as I start to walk.
"Okay, so I'll go to Colt," I say, reaching my locker. "Thaâ"
"No, you are coming with me."
"Excuse you?" I turn to look at him, surprised. He stands in the middle of the hallway, twirling a key in his finger, as he starts to move towards me. I raise my eyebrow at him while taking out my bag from the locker and closing it.
"You are coming with me, Bella." He repeats.
"And why is that?" I ask him.
He stops twirling the keys and holds them in the palm of his hand. "Do you not want to know me?"
"I do not want to join you in your little smoking area." I look away when I say it. The hallway isn't really busy as it is the after-school hours and not many people take part in the after-school activities. Right now, in the hallway, it is just him and I.
I do not hear anything from him, for a moment, until he says, "Okay."
I let him walk away from me. But when his steps start to fade, I speak up, "Just out of curiosity..."
I look up at him as he stops walking. I continue, "Where were you going to take me?"
He glances back at me from his shoulder and says, "The offer stands until I am out of the door."
Then, he starts walking again. I purse my lips and look aroundâfor a sign, any sign that what I am going to do won't be a bad decision.
"Ugh, dammit," I murmur, tired of waiting. I look at Noah's retreating figure. "Wait for me!"
***
"You know, it is surprising how I can still hear," Noah says as I get down from the bike.
"Hey! Don't blame me; it was way too exciting. It isn't that I haven't ridden a bike at all. I have but when the wind passes through, touching my face so softly, I feel so good and alive." I babble as the adrenaline rushes throughout my body until I realize Noah's face is five inches apart from mine.
"You don't find this exciting, huh, Bella?" He whispers, enunciating each word properly.
Again, the familiar smell of lemons fills my nose and it really is distracting but I answer, anyway, "I think you should know I am a black belt holder in karate."
He leans away and nods. "You were a member of the Brain Olympics team for two consecutive years with Caleb. Not to forget, you got the highest in Math Olympiad in the stateâ"
"Well, that was once," I mumbleânow a bit embarrassed.
"As far as my memory takes me, you used to be the captain of the girls' soccer team in middle school. Then, you almost kicked a guy for bullying Alyssa and after that you, both, became friends. The most important of all, everyone knows you as 'The Swan Lake' actress in the musical which you were the main character," He tells me. "I think, Bella, I do have my facts straight always."
He's really something.
"Hey, you dick! I have been waiting for you like thirty minutes, you know!"
Someone says, behind me, surprising both of us, as I hear footsteps approach us.
Noah straightens up and rolls his eyes while I turn to look at a guy with typical short black hair, probably Indian, wearing a buttoned-up striped shirt over a black one with blue jeans and slip-on.
"Adi, didn't see you there," Noah says, casually, but seems like this Adi guy is not going to leave it at that.
"Of course, you didn't see your best friend..." He, right then, notices me. Then, he looks in confusion at Noah who just sighs, in reply.
"Adi, meet Bella, the reason I am late..." He says, casually putting his arm around me.
"Uh, no!" I say, smacking his arm. "I am not Bella. I am Iris Cooper and not the reason he is late..." I cross my arms across my chest and glare at Noah who glares back at me, waving the hand I just smacked.
"Well, I am honored to meet you, milady. I am Aditya Subramaniam; you can call me Adi and I know you won't definitely be the reason he is late by the way you smacked his arm away." Adi says, bowing in front of me, as I chuckle at his action and smile back, looking at him.
"Nice to meet you, Adi. So, you are Stupid's best friend, huh?" I say, pointing at Noah.
"Yeah and seems like best friend is just a word to this dick." He sighs dramatically.
Scowling, Noah looks between both of us and says, "I have a name. Just call me by that."
"The name is too decent for you," I say, shrugging and ignoring his glare as Adi agrees with me. "Um, I hope no van comes out of nowhere and tries to kidnap me..." I say, looking around the parking lot which has just five cars and some five-six bicycles.
"And what? Call your parents and tell them to drop 100 thousand dollars?" Noah says, dryly. In a second, he rolls his eyes, too.
"I think, Stupid, I have way more worth than that," I reply, smirking at him.
"Have the roles changed now?" He smirks back and, before I know it, I am rolling my eyes. "And we're back."
"Do you know how infuriating you are?" I huff out, looking at him. He bends a little, dipping his hands in his denim pockets, and comes at my level.
"I prefer the word charisma."
I take a step towards him, not breaking the eye contact. "I could have used it but I don't want to lie." He just narrows his eyes in reply.
"Oh, I like her," Adi says, after six long seconds, making us break eye contact. Blinking my eyes, I turn to look at Adi who seems very amused. He looks at me and smiles as I smile back at him.
"Let's go to Coral's!" Adi announces, excitedly.
"Coral's? No way. I was here yesterday but I didn't... oh, probably because of the rain..." I nod in understanding and give a disgusted look as I think about the rain.
"Let's go. Shall we, Bella?" Noah says, stretching out his hand towards me. I look at the hand and then at him, rolling my eyes.
"I can go by myself," I say, moving forward.
"Bella, Coral's is this way!" he yells behind me.
"Yeah. Yeah. Okay." I say, internally smacking my hand over my forehead and turning towards them.
Adi gestures me to go forward, saying "You first, milady..."
Even though I know I am as red as a tomato after the embarrassment, I smile at him and move as they both walk beside me. As we reach the entrance door of Coral's, Adi tells me, "Milady, would you like to find a suitable seat for us as I get the orders?"
"But, I didn't evenâ"
"I told him what to get for you," Noah says, cutting me off as Adi goes away.
"Seriously, I can order for myself," I say, looking around the coffeehouse. It isn't too packed like yesterday which feels good as the soft music plays in the background.
Just then, I find a huge window panel on the extreme left. The panel is filled with cushions and tables and chairs, in front of them. What attracts me the most is how the sun's rays radiantly fall on the cushions and how beautiful the small garden on the other side of the window.
"I have got the seat! Come on..." I walk towards the place, pulling Noah with me by his hand. As we reach the place, I announce, looking at the beautiful window panel, "Well, I did a wonderful job."
"You know, I would clap but you are holding my hand."
I didn't need to look at his face to see the smirk. I can hear it now, literally. I leave his hand as I go and sit on the panel full of colorful cushions.
My eyes wander off to the beautiful garden behind. Even when it is a bit cloudy today, the flowers â roses, jasmines, hibiscuses, irises, carnations â don't stop to blossom up and energize the whole scenario. There are a few fruit trees like mangoes, oranges, and guavas. The greenery in this area reminds me of so many memories.
"A new girl is working on the counter and, damn, is she hot?" Adi says, bringing back my senses to the present, as he keeps the coffee and a whole tray ofâ
"Oh my, those are cupcakes?" I ask, grinning at the sight of it.
"Yeah, Noah told me you like them a lot," Adi replies, sitting beside Noah. "And I must tell you they are really the only goodness in this evil world."
I look at him and say, "Adi, I like you." He laughs while I turn my attention towards the cupcakes. "Look at the amount of whipped cream, it really is heaven..."
"I promisedâ"
"I haven't even tasted it, Noah," I say, looking at Noah who gestures me to go ahead and taste it.
I pick up a cupcake and take a huge bite. Suddenly, my mouth is filled with dark chocolate, soft caramel, and cream; all of them sweetening my taste buds so much that I want to do the happy dance on this table right now. The taste is so amazing that I also want to cry out loud right now.
"This is so...yum," I say, closing my eyes. "Okay, you did fulfill your promise!" I tell Noah.
"You really are obsessed with cupcakes?" Noah asks, bringing back my senses.
"Yeah, they are so amazing..." I reply, sighing.
"Whoa, Milady, I didn't know you have a sweet tooth," Adi says, sipping coffee. "I have one, myself, but I have been made to not eat a lot." He glares at Noah.
"You need to exercise," Noah says to him.
"You need to shut up," Adi and I say to him and give each other high-five. Instead of scowling, Noah has a blank expression as he looks at me.
"Shit," Adi says and we look at him. "Guys, I have to go. My mom wants me to go 'grocery shopping'!" he says, using air quotes and momentarily looking at his phone.
"It was nice to meet you, AS..." I say, smiling as he smiles back.
"I assure you, Milady, we are going to meet again." He tells me and goes, not before passing a look to Noah, who just rolls his eyes at it.
"So, I have some questions," Noah says, looking at me.
"I have, too."
He looks across my face. "You are going to ask why didn't I come to school last month?"
"Yeah." I shrug, eating a cupcake. "Do you get this question a lot?"
He nods. "The answer is I don't want to come to school."
I blink at him for about five seconds. "That's it?" I say, surprised. "I was hoping for some story."
"Why do you all eat in the courtyard?" He asks, instead of replying.
I recoil at the bluntness of the question. "Well, the courtyard is an open space with peace and greenery around..." I tell him but he just gives me a look.
"Tell me the real reason, Bella."
"You know, you are soâ"
"Handsome? Charming? I know."
Getting up, I smack him hard on his shoulder as I laugh a little.
"It is quite simple. I was in a relationship. It ended badly. Like every time, rumors start." I look down at the plate of cupcakes as I say, "It was worse day by dayâbut you have to give credit for how creative they are. So, Alyssa came up with the idea to sit in the courtyard such that we all can be away from it."
"Thomas Scott," He says with no emotions at all. "Your ex-boyfriend. What was the reason?"
"Doesn't matter, Noah." I let out a humorless laugh as I grab another cupcake. I look down as I ponder about the night that changed it all. "Well, I have to face him one day. After all, we both are in the same school..."
"Do you think you will go back to him if heâ?" Noah tries to ask but I interrupt him.
"No. Never," I say with full confidence. "I won't."
He just nods at my answer, before drinking his coffee.
A comforting silence washes over us as I eat the rest of the cupcakes and Noah sips his coffee. It feels like this silence is needed for both of us to gather ourselves.
I look at Noah, drinking the final bits of his coffee.
"I didn't know you used to play soccer?" I ask him, taking him off-guard by the question.
"But I knew you used to play football."
"Noah," I sigh. "You are just dodging my questions."
He lets out a breath and runs his hand through his hair. "I haven't played the sport professionally for two years. Last time, I did not feel like I should play it but, yesterday, something felt right and I thought of joining it again."
"A hope about something?"
"I don't have hope."
"Hm..." I hum, not trying to push him any further. Then, he takes out his phone and looks at the time while I already know. 3:26 pm.
"We stayed here for almost an hour, huh?" Noah says, looking up at me, now.
"You wanna know the exact time?" I say, knowingly.
"I think I am good with approximate time and I think I have to drop you off, now, Bella," He says, getting up.
"Yeah, okay. Um, where's my bag?" I ask, looking around, as I get up too.
"You forgot?" He lifts his hand to reveal my bag.
"How did itâoh!" Now, I remember giving it to him as I sat on the bike in school.
"Yeah, oh. Now, let's go..." He says as we both near the door after we both paid half the bill for the order.
"That rhymed." I point out as Noah pushes the door.
"And it was lame," He says but his eyes hold some amusement.
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- a u t h o r ' s n o t e -
heya, there! how's everybody doing? can someone suggest to me some really good songs? i need something to jam to.
until next chapter,
Inerys