CHAPTER 5 “NOTHING ELSE”

 

Returning to school that week was hard. I had been absent for a few days. Mom wanted me on bed rest and the doctors agreed.

It was a rainy Wednesday when I returned to school. I had told Shawna and Drew not to tell anyone what happened. Drew was still pretty annoyed with me about that night. But I paid him no mind.

I entered 1^st period awaiting to see Noah's face and I was not disappointed. He watched me come in and a smile lit up his glorious face. I smiled at him as I approached my seat.

“It's good to see you Emma. 1^st period just isn't the same without you.” He smiled smugly at me.

“Yea I guess Wendy wasn't distracting enough.” I laughed sarcastically.

He gave me that adorable smirk and pulled out his book from his bag. “Her attention is straining at the least. I think she is getting bored with me though. At least I hope so.”

I giggled at his comment and made one of my own. “I can't see how anyone could get bored of you.” I said shyly looking down at my unopened book.

He smiled once again. “Have any good dreams lately?” He was so cocky.

. “None that included you.” I shot at him smirking.

He chuckled lowly and gave me a crooked look. “We will have to fix that, won't we?” He winked at me. Can we get together after school? I would really love to talk to you more.”

I felt my face go red. He was asking to spend time with me. I wasn't sure if I was hearing him correctly.

Not realizing I was day dreaming of the possibility, I hadn't bothered to answer him. I looked over at him and his face had gone from cheery to stormy.

“I'm sorry, I guess that's not a good idea.” He said looking rejected.

“I'm sorry I got lost in my train of thought, yes I would like to hang out. It would be nice.” I said smilig brightly at him. His face lit up again.

“Great, I can meet you at your house after school then.” He spoke with a voice of pure delight.

“But you don't know where I live.” I giggled to myself.

He laughed as well. “Well you tell me and I will come by an get you.”

So I gave him my address.

After 1^st period the day went by slowly. Even though I got to peer at him in lunch, I was anxious about our hang out after school.

“Noah asked me to hang out after school today” I said nonchalantly.

Shawna's eyes perked up and her smile grew in a big grin. “WHAT! Ooh I'm so jealous! Tell me everything. Every girl is going to be so envious of you. Especially Wendy! She squealed with enthusiasm.

But Drew's reaction was something unexpected. “You really want to hang out with that guy? He thinks he is something else. Always having all these girls following him, acting like he doesn't notice. Probably uses them and when they don't put out, he dumps them. He only wants to get in your pants.” Drew was cold and mean.

“DREW!” Shawna spat angrily at him. I just sat there shocked by his comment. Did he really think so little of me?

He just gave Shawna a dirty look and got up with his tray. “If you want to hang out with the womanizer, go ahead, see if I care.” He left the table in a huff while me and Shawna just stared at each other.

I couldn't believe how Drew acted, it was so unlike him. I gave Shawna a puzzled look and she just shrugged and asked me more about my hang out with Noah. It almost seemed like he was jealous.

After school was over I was excited about going to see Noah. I never had a guy who was like Noah ask me to hang out before. What if Drew was right? What if all he wanted was to run the bases with me? For some reason, I just couldn't believe it. I walked over to my car and looked over to where Noah's car was. He was standing next to it looking over at me, smiling.

I kept smiling back in his direction and failed to even notice Drew approaching me. He walked in front of me to block my view of Noah. “Can we talk for a minute?” He asked in a cold tone. I took a deep breath and shook my head.

“Please don't hang out with him. He is just one of those guys who thinks he is so good looking and can have any girl he wants. He is playing a game with you.” His voice was pleading

I was angered by Drew's assumptions. Did he not think I was pretty enough to have a guy like Noah. That Noah wasn't genuinely interested in me? I felt more agitation building up.

I looked at Drew with an angry glare.”How dare you! What do you think I'm not good enough for him! It seems every time some guy even shows me a little bit of attention, you automatically jump to ridiculous conclusions! Like I'm not pretty enough or good enough for them! Some best friend you are!” I screamed at him

It was true. Every time a boy ever showed any bit of interest in me, automatically Drew knocked it down with negativity. He never did that to Shawna. I guess to him I was just average and guys felt sorry for me, that's why they would ask me out. But Shawna was beautiful and could easily have a guy's attention.

Drew looked at me with hurt in his eyes. From what? I wasn't sure. “Emma you just don't get it! You are so busy getting wrapped up in these guys who don't even see you the way I do, that you fail to see how it makes me feel.” The words hit me like daggers from his lips.

“How it makes you feel? You got to be kidding me?” I said rage in my voice.

“Yes Emma, how it makes me feel.” His eyes were lit in pain. He came closer to me and I backed up until I was pushed into my passenger side door. His face was moving closer into mine as he leaned down at me I heard Noah clear his throat from behind Drew.

“Whats the problem over here?” You could hear anger in his voice.

Drew lifted his head with the malice building in his expression. Meeting Noah's glare.

“You're the damn problem! Come here from your fancy city and put moves on all the girls. Making them all think you like them when you clearly can't decide which flavor you want. But of all the girls in the whole school or even the whole town, you could have any of them. You choose my girl as your next victim!” His voice was a high pitched roar.

“I had no idea she had a boyfriend.” Noah's voice never faltening.

“I am nobody's girlfriend! I never was your girl Drew, so just leave.” I spat my words at him feeling frustrated.

His face still clearly angered. He pushed past Noah and walked off. Noah didn't even look in Drew's direction, he just looked at me with concern. “Are you okay? I don't want to cause problems for you Emma.” He said my name so beautifully that it melted away all my recent rage.

“I don't know what got into him. He never acted like that before.” I said puzzled.

“If today is a bad day to hang out, we could do it another time.” Noah said sweetly. But I wasn't about to let Drew ruin this for me.

“No today is perfectly fine.” I said.

Noah smiled at me. “Well I will meet you at your house in an hour then.”

When I got home I rushed up the stairs and rummaged through my closest. The most descent, but not over the top outfit I could come up with was a pair of dark blue jeans and a red turtleneck sweater.

As I tried to get my hair to behave I heard a car pull up outside. I looked out my window and it was Noah. I took one last look at myself in the mirror before I went down the stairs to greet him at the front door.

He smiled brightly at me and gestured his hand in front of me to walk toward the car. He opened the passenger door for me and closed it behind once I was in the car. He got into the driver's seat and turned the car on and we were off with a fast pace.

'So tell me where are we going?” I asked smiling with my curiosity peaking.

“It's one of my favorite places I discovered since moving here. I promise you won't be disappointed.” He half smiled at me and my heart melted.

So we drove about 20 minutes and then pulled into this beautiful park full of tall green trees, colorful flowers and a magnificent waterfall. It was breathtaking, almost like Noah, but he was far more glorious.

I couldn't believe where he had taken me. All the years I had lived in this area, I never knew a place so magical could exist. He opened my car door for me as I looked around amazed. I could see his prefect smile from the corner of my eye and turned to face him.

“This place is so....unbelievable!” I exhaled excitedly.

“I told you, you wouldn't be disappointed.” His smile gleaming at me.

Then for whatever reason I let my insecurities sink in and Drew's harsh words. “Do you bring a lot of girls here?” Regretting those words once I looked at his surprised face.

“Why would you think such a thing?” His smile turning into a frown.

“Come on Noah, you can't be serious? You are so good looking and all the girls in school want you. They practically do whatever to get your attention.” I said looking down rubbing my sneaker into the dirt.

“Have you seen me give that attention back or see me with any of them?” His voice was accusing.

“You and Wendy seem very cozy. You walk her to class everyday.” I was still looking down trying to match my tone to his.

I heard him snort out a “HMPH”.

“No comeback to that huh?” I said sarcastically.

He looked at me with a frustrated look. “ She is the one who follows me like a lost puppy. I try to be polite and tell her to stop, but it only makes her more persistent.”

“Oh”. I said feeling embarrassed.

“You are one to talk. What about your friend Drew?” He looked at me with one eye brow perched.

I tried to say something, anything, but I came up blank. What could I say? The way Drew acted today was unusual for him. He never acted that way before. “I have no idea what his problem is.” I said feeling flustered.

“Well its clear he has feelings for you. How do you feel about him?” Noah looked down like he was afraid to see my expression.

“He's been a really good friend and he doesn't have feelings for me. He is just looking out for me” I shrugged.

Noah began to laugh humorlessly at my answer. “He called you his girl and before I interrupted your conversation in the parking lot, he was going to kiss you.”

“What are you talking about? He wasn't going to kiss me. He probably meant that I was his girl, like his friend who is a girl and he was looking out for me.” I was feeling annoyed by this.

Noah looked me dead in the face with out smile or frown. I couldn't read his expression. “Are you seeing good these days? Can't you tell when someone likes you?”

“Of course I can tell.” But I honestly had no idea.

“I don't even know him, but I see the way he looks at you.” Noah's face tightened up at the thought.

“How does he look at me exactly?” I was feeling infuriated.

“Like he is in love with you. You can't be that Oblivious.” He said rolling his eyes.

I never noticed him staring at me differently. I never thought of him being in love with me. “You have no idea what you are talking about.” Folding my arms across my chest looking away from him.

I heard Noah sigh heavily. “Can we change the subject?”

I turned around and looked at him, happy to appease his request. “Why did you bring me here?” I asked unsure of what response I would get this time.

His face lightened up. “I was trying to impress you.” His smile was wide and innocent.

I blushed at the comment, but more at the way he tried to play it off. “Well this place is okay, I guess.” I said jokingly.

He continued to smile at me. “Well if you give me a chance, I can show you a lot of impressive things.”

I began to let my imagination get the better of me with his comment. His kisses in my dreams were always so hot and passionate. They gave me a fever. I wonder how they felt in real life. I was much too shy to make a move so bold, but the curiosity got the better of me.

“What are you thinking about?” Noah asked looking at me perplexed.

I wanted to tell him the truth, but I was much too embarrassed to admit it.”Um, nothing.”

He raised one eye brow and smirked at me. “The expression on your face deceives you then. You can tell me, I won't be upset.”

I met his gaze and focused on his mouth. His lips were full and looked so soft. In my dreams, they were very soft and very comforting. “I was just...wondering how you kissed.” I could feel my face burning from the flush of red growing through my face.

He looked at me with an indifferent expression. It frustrated me so much not knowing what he was feeling or thinking. I suddenly regretted what I blurted out. Of course he didn't know how to respond.

hy would he want to kiss me? Why would he even think of me like that? He wouldn't.

But his response shocked me.

“I wondered what that was like too.” He looked at me almost frowning.

I was overcome with a feeling of relief or joy. I wasn't sure which one, but it was certain, he wanted the same thing as me.

“Then why are you wasting time talking, kiss me already!” I couldn't believe my boldness.

He looked at me with wide eyes, but still no type of clear emotion in his face. “I think its time I took you home. Its getting late and your mom will be home soon. I shouldn't have brought you here. I'm sorry.” He then proceeded to walk into the direction of his car, never turning to face me.

I stood there for a moment, not sure what to say or do. He just admitted he wanted to kiss me, but when I made it very clear he had permission, he rejected me. I felt humiliated.

He held the passenger door open for me and I got in. We drove back to my house in silence. When we pulled up in the front, I didn't get out right away, hoping he would change his mind, but he just stared straight ahead.

I began to reach for the door handle to get out when he turned to face me. “Emma, I�"Goodnight.” He looked defeated again.

I was disappointed that he didn't say more, but it was enough torture for one night I thought. “Good night Noah.” Then I descended out of the car and up my stairs. I unlocked the front door and his car was still in front of the house. I waved to him before walking in and closing the door. Once I shut the front door I heard his car drive off.

I slid down the door pressing my body against it. I couldn't help the tears that began to flow down my face. It was the worst feeling being rejected by the best looking boy in school. Now I understood Drew all too well.