What's the ship name for Hayden and Reagan vs Reagan and Noah?
Btw...Noah didn't hit Bruce. I'm not sure why everyone thinks that ð¤
Chapter Twenty Nine
"I'm really glad Bruce is okay," Noah says as we walk down the stairs from english. "I was worried."
I sigh, "I was worried too."
"I'm sorry I couldn't stay to hear the good news. You have no clue how much I wanted to be there to hug you and see that pretty smile," he smiles, nudging me with his shoulder.
I blush lightly and look away- mainly down at the steps so I don't fall down and break my leg and end up suffering the same fate as Bruce.
"How is he handling the whole three leg thing?" Noah asks.
I shrug as we hop down the last step. "He's adjusting. He's frustrated though, he snapped at me and Angel multiple times when we tried to help him."
The vet wanted to keep him overnight and well into the next day to monitor his heart rate. He was hit hard, the vet made it clear how shocked he was that Bruce didn't have any other major damage aside from the stitches on his side and his back left leg needing to be amputated.
When Bruce came to, I broke down again. I hugged him close to me and heard him purr out a relieved growl of affection as he nuzzled his nose into my neck.
We took him home yesterday afternoon and have been helping him settle into life with a missing leg. He's handling it the best he can. But he's fallen multiple times, he hasn't learned how to walk up the steps, and his body tilts forward as he eats and drinks so food and water goes flying everywhere.
No matter the case, he doesn't give up. My Bruce is a fighter.
Noah smiles down at me; his bright eyes and bright smile distract me from my thoughts. "It's amazing how you can get all of that from your pets. I never understood how my old cat felt at all."
I chuckle, "That's because it was a cat. Cats are confusing creatures."
He chuckles too and brushes his hand against mine, "I guess you're right. Bruce and Angel are lucky to have you."
I smile, "Yeah I guess they are."
Then Noah's face lights up as he remembers something. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you! I hear you get love letters." He grins.
My eyes widen and I blink at him. "How did you know that?"
He chuckles, "When you fell asleep at the vet, I started talking to Hayden. He may or may not have dropped that bomb. I also know they're anonymous."
I furrow my brow as he talks and try to wrap my head around why Hayden would tell Noah about my letters. They aren't even friends, and I'm pretty sure Hayden doesn't like Noah. Like at all.
Why would he share something like that with him?
I look away and keep walking. "Oh."
"When do you think you're going to find out who they're from?" He asks, something in his voice making my heart thud faster.
He sounds like he knows a lot more than he's giving off.
I purse my lips, "I'm not sure. Hopefully soon." I sigh.
It's about time I find out. It's been the entire school year that I've been getting these letters and by now Anonymous should know that I'm his.
From down the hallway, a group of girls I know Noah is friends with start waving him down. He sighs and we stop walking as he turns to me.
"They need me to help decide prom stuff since they so graciously put me on the committee," he grumbles. "I'll text you later?"
I smile and nod, "Sure. Make sure the prom theme isn't stupid!"
He grins, "Of course. Though some people on the committee were hoping for Star Wars."
My face fills with horror, "No."
Noah booms out a laugh. "Don't worry beautiful, I won't let them choose that one."
Beautiful.
Warning signs go off in my head as Noah walks away, his words staying in their place in my mind.
Beautiful. Like in the love letters.
This is the third time Noah has dropped hints that I've noticed.
I'm dense too, so who knows how many other signs I've missed?
I watch as he jogs over to the group of girls, smiling and waving and making them laugh too. They engulf him into their circle of friends and they become a circle of hormonal juniors fawning over a breathtaking senior.
I sigh and stop at my locker, quickly unlocking it and swinging it open.
As I it creaks open, a love letter floats down from my books and onto the dirty school floors. I bend down to pick it up, and as I stand tall again I see Hayden walking around the corner towards me.
I smile slightly at him and he responds with a familiar smirk.
"Hey Cupcake, whatcha got there?" He asks, reaching forward to snatch the delicate paper from my hands. "Is that a note to leave early or something?"
I scrunch my face at him, "It's a love letter, Hayden."
His eyes snap towards mine. "What?"
"A love letter? Those things you make fun of me for?"
"I get that, but you got another one?"
I furrow my brow, "Yeah..."
He stares at the folded paper through hard eyes and then directs his attention sharply to his phone. His fingers dance across the screen as he texts someone a seemingly urgent message.
I shrug at his odd reaction and turn all of my attention to my love letter.
Dear Beautiful,
Don't you think it's time you discover who I am? I've been wanting to tell you ever since the first day I saw you, but it has taken me this long to find the courage to admit to you who I am.
Meet me at the school garden at six o'clock tonight, beautiful. I'll be there waiting for you. Longing to see you, longing to hold you, and longing to kiss you.
Love,
Anonymous
I have to read it back over three times before it resonates.
I'm going to meet my Anonymous tonight.
In only three hours...I'm going to finally see who the mystery man is behind the heart stopping letters. I'll get to see the face behind such tender and loving words. I'll get to see the man that knows how to make me smile unlike anyone else.
"You look a little winded, Cupcake. Was it that bad today?" Hayden asks, crossing his arms as he forces a passive smirk.
I continue to stare at the letter and let out a disbelieving laugh. "I'm finally going to meet him tonight."
Hayden's smirk disappears and he stands up straighter. "You're what?"
"Meeting him!" I exclaim.
"That's what it says?" Hayden questions in just as much disbelief as me- but his carries a much different tone.
I glance at him with an awestruck smile. "Six o'clock tonight! I can't believe it..." I breathe. "This guy has made me feel emotions I didn't even know I had, and I finally get to see who he is."
Hayden looks away and clenches his jaw. "So, once you meet this guy...you two are probably going to get together?"
I bite my lip as I stare at the letter, still in disbelief that this is actually happening, and nod. "I think so," I practically whisper.
Hayden doesn't seem entirely too pleased with my answer and the weight of this situation comes crashing down on top of me. It destroys my joy and celebration and builds confusion in its place.
Hayden's reaction is a clear indicator that he's not the author. And after admitting to myself that I'm falling for him...I was hoping he would be. All night after the vet I couldn't get my mind off of him. His eyes, his smirk, his smile, his laugh, his sarcasm- everything that I've come to care about.
I'm falling for Hayden, but I'm already in love with my love letters, and I wish more than anything he could be the author.
However...now that it looks like he isn't, I have to restart my heart for whomever I'm meeting tonight.
I almost miss the breath Hayden takes in, and I glance over to see him nodding with his eyes focused on the floor.
"Right. Of course you would, you've fallen hard for those letters." He mutters, and my heart lurches. Then he shakes his head and forces a tight-lipped smile at me, avoiding eye contact.
"I've got to go." He hesitates, and then lightly shakes his head and walks away with his head hung and hands deep in his pockets.
He doesn't know it, but he's taking a little piece of my heart with him.
Now I just have to save the rest for whomever I'm meeting tonight.
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