I kiss her temple in answer and curl her in tighter to me, “Goodnight cricket.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Iam light and hopeful and damn fucking happy.
Five days. That’s how long it’s been since Noah confessed thinking I was asleep, five days since we both admitted that it’s been more all along, and it’s been five days of, well,bliss.
No pretending.
Just nights spent exactly like we used to, but with no restrictions or boundaries. No lines drawn in the sand between us. Truly, nothing much has changed except his hands now find me every chance they get; his kisses are either soft and gentle, explorative, or desperate and full of yearning, a need to claim and taste and learn.
We’ve slept together every night, none of this bullshit of separate bedrooms, waking up alone and wishing to be next to the other but pretending we didn’t.
Man, we really fucking fumbled, didn’t we?
All this damn time.
Juggling my concept folder in one arm and my purse in the other, I jiggle the key in the door, waiting for the lock to click back. Rain is hammering against the back of my head, rumbles of thunder rolling through the clouds that tumble through the sky with the late summer storm.
My phone buzzes inside my purse just as I get the door unlocked and practically fall through it, escaping the downpour.
Shaking off my folder, I place it down and then my bags, moving quickly so I can pull out my cell. I already know it’s Noah.
God, I feel like a teenager all over again. I even have that light, butterfly feeling in my stomach, making my whole body tingle with excitement, the memories of how we met coursing through my mind.
Why did we have to move? I dip my head so I don’t make eye contact with any of the other students in the hall. We’re all making our way to our next class so the halls are rammed to the edges, loud and crowded and I tuck my arms tighter around my books, holding them to my chest like they are a shield.
I get that my dad got a new job and everything, and it was way too good to pass up, but aren’t adults meant toknow how damaging big moves like this can be? I mean, I had to leave all my friends, everyone I had ever known, and for what? A concrete jungle that has no color. Not like Nana’s garden anyway; that’s full of color, especially this time of year. Spring has sprung, but I see no wildflowers or butterflies. No buzzing bees hopping from one flower to the next. It’s all rather depressing.
I’ve been here almost a month, and I haven’t made a single new friend. If I weren’t so annoyed at this whole move bullshit, I’d be sad and probably crying into a bag of chips.
I find my next classroom, but I have time so dip into the girls’ bathroom before I have to sit through an hour of Mr. Edwards getting off track and telling his students his entire life story instead of teaching us Math like he’s supposed to. At least I know who to blame when I fail my exams, not sure my parents will believe me though.
The bathroom is mostly empty, save for a couple of cheerleaders who pay me no mind as I stop in front of one of the mirrors to make sure I don’t have any broccoli in my teeth after lunch.
When I started high school, I one hundred percent saw myself as a cheerleader. Those outfits are so damn cute, but alas, I do not have the flexibility or the nerve to do what they do. What do you mean I have to trust someone to throw me in the air and catch me? No, thank you. I’ll pass and watch on in awe instead.
Once I’ve triple-checked that my teeth are in fact clean, I gather up my things just as the bell rings and head out of the bathroom, keeping my head low once again.
Just gotta make it through the semester and then summer is all mine.
I turn to head to class, but since I’m not looking where I am going, I don’t see the six-foot wall in front of me until he’s reaching out to stop me from walking right into him. It’s a shock. I haven’t spoken to a single other human in this school since I started, managed to get through each day as if I am invisible, and it’s like I’ve completely forgotten that other people exist and how I should react in front of them.
I’m not sure I can even name the kind of noise that leaves me. Is it a squeal? A scream? A grunt? Who the hell knows? But I definitely just embarrassed myself with it after jumping like three feet into the air.
“Whoa,” the guy laughs, “Easy now.”
“Where did you come from!?” I gasp, clutching my chest as I look up and up and up and meet a set of stormy gray eyes and a cute—no,hot—face. Chiseled cheekbones and a strong jaw, dressed in ripped black jeans and a sweater, a pair of biker boots on his feet.
He hikes a thumb over his shoulder, “That way.”
“I didn’t see you.” I manage to get my breathing under control and step out of his hold.
“You know you chirped?” He cocks his head, a tendril of dark hair falling over his forehead.
“Chirped?” I scoff, “I did not chirp.”
“You totally did,” he grins at me, and I’m pretty sure my heart skips a few beats. Maybe I’m having a heart attack. Is this what that feels like? I don’t know! We haven’t covered it yet in that first-aid class I decided to take for extra credit.
