4

Chapter Four - Blue

Noah Jackson's P.O.V.

I stop in between my classes to grab some coffee when I bump into Evie. Instantly my mood sours and I feel like running away when we lock eyes. I force my gaze up to the menu and order what I want, deciding to forego my earlier plan of sitting down and enjoying my break. Grabbing my things from the cashier I clench the bag of pastries a little too hard as I turn praying that she left.

Unfortunately, luck is not on my side today.

She waves hesitantly and I let out a heavy sigh dripping with annoyance, satisfied when it causes her to wince. Good, I think to myself. Maybe one day she'll finally realize that I don't want anything to do with her anymore.

"What?" I utter in a clipped tone.

"I think we should talk Noah." She pleads softly and I notice how she looks like a mess.

"Sure. Why don't we talk about how you said you were drunk that night but I know how you talk and behave when you're tipsy or fully drunk. You were neither of those things." I seethe quietly, not wanting to make a scene.

Her eyes widen and she turns as white as a sheet. "I-I can explain –"

"Just stop Evie." I murmur tiredly as I shake my head. "I don't want anything to do with you so leave me alone."

"Please Noah..." She begs and I frown when her voice cracks from emotion. "I just want to talk and explain myself. Just one chance. Can you at least give me that?"

"I'll think about it."

"R-Really?" She perks up hopefully.

"Fuck no." I mutter and start walking away to my next class.

I hear her quiet yet pained sob behind me and feel a tad bit horrible for my behavior. Then I remember all the events from two weeks ago and it's like my heart has been ripped open again. My last class of the day passes by horrendously due to Evie making me feel blue. I can't stop reliving what happened and it's driving me mad.

Where are you? I text Faye as soon as my class ends.

Library. Study room eight. Why? She replies instantly which makes me smile.

On my way. I reply before stopping to grab her favorite pastries and a mocha that I know she'll love.

I know if I go back to my dorm I'll be stuck with memories I don't want to reminisce on repeat. Spending time with Faye is something I'm always up for. Sure, she's mostly quiet and shy but once she became comfortable around me I found that she's nice to hang out with. That I want to spend time with her.

Faye's a book nerd but I love it when she rambles about her new read of the month and how she's added a new "book boyfriend" to her list. She's clumsy as hell and has made me laugh way too many times to count in the time that I've moved in with her.

The fact that she doesn't watch many tv shows or movies and has no interest in sports means that I've spent most of our evenings and weekends binge watching tv with her and making sure she knows at least the basics about soccer even though she refuses to attend my games.

Walking into the building and making my way up to the study rooms I start my search for her. Stopping outside study room eight, I step inside and find her with headphones on. She bops her head to the music as she writes something down. An amused smile quirks my lips when she doesn't realize that someone else is in the room and I use the time to take her in.

Her flawless warm brown skin is complimented by the healthy dusty pink flush to her cheeks and full lips. She has a mix of angular and soft features and her dark brown hair is styled in curls today with a few shorter strands always dangling just by the sides of her face that I find myself staring at for far too long whenever we lock eyes. They're a heavenly mix of chocolate brown with bold green specks, reminding me of mint chocolate chip. Faye West is literal perfection in my eyes.

Stop it Noah! She'd never look at you the same way, I reprimand myself mentally.

Even though I've just got out of a relationship and wouldn't jump into another one right away I can't deny that I enjoy her presence and she's cute too. Snapping myself out of it though I make my way over to her and knock on the table right next to her notebook.

"Fuck!" She yelps as she lurches back and almost topples off her chair. "Holy shit Noah! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

I chuckle at her furrowed brows as she takes off her headphones with a pout. "You're facing the door Faye. You should've seen me walk in."

"Well...I-I...excuse me for being focused on my work!" She splutters adorably and I resist the urge to pinch her cheeks.

"Alright, I'm sorry. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" I cry dramatically as I set my things down.

"No." She mumbles but with an amused smile.

"I got you your favorites."

"You're forgiven." She beams happily as she takes the food from my outstretched hands. "What brings you here anyways? Are you done for the day?"

"Yeah, I just have practice left but that's hours away." I reply and rest my head on my crossed arms on the table.

"Did you eat?"

"Hmm. I got coffee before my lecture there." I answer as I close my eyes. "Do you have any classes left?"

"No, I just came in to get some notes done."

"Good. Do you want to go get food?" I ask and smile when she laughs.

"Sure. Give me fifteen minutes?" She continues talking before I can respond. "Oh! Lilah wants to meet you too. Will I ask her if she wants to go?"

"Yeah, I don't mind." I nod as I watch her text her friend. "She's the one that lives three doors down right?"

"Yep! She's free too so where are we –" Faye's interrupted when her phone starts ringing. "Sorry, it's my dad. I need to take it."

"I can leave if you want?"

"No, don't be silly! I doubt it'll take long." She waves off my suggestion and I resume scrolling through social media.

"Hi dad. How are you?"

"Apparently the youngest of the Jackson clan, Noah, goes to the same university as you." A loud masculine voice filters through and her eyes widen. "Stay away from that kid alright?"

A huge grin is plastered on my face and Faye realizes straight away that I can hear him in this quiet room. She scrambles to hang up but her phone ends up slipping from her shaky hands and sliding across to me. I grab it and smirk as I put him on loudspeaker, holding it away from her while listening to her father rambling on about me.

"Give it here!" She whispers lowly so he doesn't hear.

"Hush." I put a finger to my lips as her cheeks flame bright pink.

"...got in on a scholarship for soccer. You don't need to be around these boys. All they think about is partying and hooking up! They're bad news Faye and there is no doubt in my mind that Noah Jackson is the exact same." I place my hand against my heart acting deeply hurt which she rolls her eyes at. "Faye Harper West! Are you even listening?!"

She lunges across the table, grabs her phone, and takes it off loudspeaker. "Yes dad, I am. Where did you hear that from though?"

"Do you remember Ryder Jackson? Our competitor?" He asks and she makes a noise of agreement. "Well, he was at the same event I went to last night and mentioned it to the group. Smug bastard actually thinks his brother is going to go far in life!"

Faye's jaw drops in horror and she mouths an apology to me before replying to him. "Uh...I'm sure he's not all that bad –"

"I don't care! I need you to stay away from him Faye!" He barks and we wince when his voice raises.

"Alright! I really need to get to class though so I'll talk to you later?"

He huffs before replying. "Remember what I said."

I find it odd when her father hangs up without so much as a goodbye and how his tone didn't hold much warmth when speaking to Faye, it was demanding and cold. It's a sharp contrast to the conversations I have with my parents that last for at least twenty minutes if not more and are always full of them concerned about how I'm doing. Not as straight to the point and emotionless as that. My gaze meets hers as she blushes in embarrassment before all but chucking her phone in her bag.

"Well, that cheered me up!"

"I'm so glad I could amuse you." She replies sarcastically while fanning her cheeks. "You did look very bummed out sitting there."

"Couldn't keep your eyes off me?" I grin cheekily and dodge the pen she throws at my shoulder. "My girlfriend of two years cheated on me recently and I just saw her before my last lecture."

She winces before sliding me a piece of candy. "Ouch! What a bitch."

I chuckle humorlessly as I unwrap it and pop it in my mouth. Sour apple. "Yeah...I walked into my dorm two weeks ago to see her hooking up with the captain of the basketball team."

"Wow..." She blows out a breath as she leans back in her seat. "That guy's graduating this year too so she's screwed both ways if things don't work out."

That makes me laugh genuinely and I shoot her a smile. "She said she was drunk but I realized after that that wasn't the case."

"Doesn't change things though does it? I've seen him and even if she was drunk you two look nothing alike."

"Yeah..." I nod but don't say anything more.

I start feeling a mix of emotions again but the sudden sound of Faye's stomach growling breaks the silence and elicits an amused look from me. She smiles sheepishly and shrugs before gathering her things. I look at her in confusion as I stand before she tilts her head towards the exit.

"Still hungry? I know a place that makes amazing cheeseburgers." She smiles and I swing my backpack over my shoulder.

"That sounds great! And you still haven't tried a Boston cream pie. I know a place that makes the best ones so we should get some on the way home."

"Good god! It's like you have a never-ending pit for a stomach." She mutters before yelping loudly as she trips over a wire for one of the computers.

I snicker quietly as her eyes widen at the number of students who turn their heads to her. She rushes behind a bookshelf and I can't stop the amused smile from blooming across my lips when I see her cover her face with both hands and groan softly. Catching up to her I drape my arm across her shoulders and tuck her into my side as we walk downstairs and out of the building. When she finally has the courage to look up from the floor I grin at the sight of her raging blush.

"It's not funny!" She whines before marching off.

"I beg to differ!" I call after her before jogging to catch up. "My car's this way."

"Okay." She mumbles before completely missing the curb and almost tripping over it.

I bite my fist to stop myself from making any noise but my body still shakes from silent laughter. She sighs exasperatedly and whispers a "I want to jump off a cliff," before shooting me a murderous glare. I can't help it and end up laughing loudly which makes a few heads turn towards us.

"Stop! Everyone's looking!"

"Let's give them a show then." I wink before picking her up and throwing her over my shoulder.

She shrieks and demands to be put down as I run towards my car before eventually giving in. I put her back on her own two feet with a smile which only grows wider when she smacks my arm repeatedly.

"Alright I'm sorry!" I chuckle and she stops but the glare doesn't slip. "Come on, let's go."

"I'm not going!" She huffs with her arms crossed. "You can go get food on your own and miss the opportunity to have the best cheeseburgers in town!"

"Faye...I literally prevented you from dying. You should be kissing the ground I walk on in gratitude." I scoff playfully and she narrows her eyes at me.

"Just because I'm clumsy sometimes –"

"All the time." I correct her which only makes her grumpier. She turns to walk away and I pull her back to me with a chuckle. "C'mere. I'm sorry okay. I won't do it again and I'll pay for your food."

"O-Okay." She nods and I notice the dazed look in her eyes before it's gone. Her gaze darts to everything and anything but me before she gestures towards the car. "Uh...let's go then."

Maybe I'm not the only one affected, I think to myself with a weird happy feeling in chest, almost giddy, as I watch her get in with a hint of a blush. She seems to have returned to normal by the time I get in the car as she smiles at me, a little shyly this time. I smile back but get lost in her features as I buckle up.

"Are you not going to start that car?" She chuckles and I snap myself out of it.

"Right! Let's go." I start the engine completely flustered before driving off.

Yeah...I'm a goner.

Update schedule is: two or three times a week whenever I find time!

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