Fact no.25: The basement isn't the best place for a secret hookup

APRIL

We're all at dinner, the guys making their usual barbecue. Only they made more food today, since they said they want to make me a birthday feast. The meat is still cooking as they start to work on the salad. They gave us a day-off, so Nini, Dia, Kai, Cami, Leo and I are chilling on the couch. Soph and Nessie wanted to make me a birthday cake so the two are at the kitchen isle, baking.

We are playing a card game with the ones on the couch as Soph asks: "Guys, can one of you please help me?"

In the matter of five seconds, four guys appear next to her. Alec who looks at her, his eyes filled with love. Caden, who seems to look at his little sister. Adam, who shares the same expression as Caden. And Darrel, who seems to be ready to fight anyone to help her. Soph's eyes go wide at the four guys, she even turns at us for a second and smirks, realizing the five of us have the Fab Five wrapped around our fingers, then puts an innocent smile on for the guys and points at a mixing bowl on the top shelf of the cupboard.

"I can't reach the mixing bowl", she lets out. Alec sends all the other guys a death stare, making them disappear back to the salad. Soph says a thank you at them on their way, making them smile. Alec then helps Soph get the mixing bowl and remains to help her, and Nessie, but mostly Soph, bake.

~

It's after dinner as Noah and I sneak downstairs in the cinema room. It's in the basement and it is a room with a large screen, a few couches and a popcorn machine. We sometimes came here this Summer for Stranger Things. And making out.

Which is what we are about to do now.

"Are you ready for your birthday present?", he asks me, carefully placing me on the couch. I nod while smirking.

"Wasn't the hoodie enough?", I ask him.

He indeed bought me a present. An official Love On Tour hoodie. I screamed as I saw it.

"That was just the appetizer. Here comes the main course", he answers, making it sound dirty. Obviously.

"I thought you saw me as the dessert", I counter. He takes down the top I am wearing and licks my neck.

"You're not only the dessert, precious. You're everything. A personal feast."

I smile as I tug on his shirt and he removes it too. I kiss his lips as he widens my right arm, kisses his way down from the shoulder to the fingers, then licks that path. He does the same to my left arm. And my thighs. I am panting and burning and leaving small souvenirs on his chest for him to remember how he made me feel.

He's doing the process on my stomach as we're interrupted by some footsteps and chuckles. I gasp, Noah covering my mouth with his. He then makes me a side to hide, and we crawl under the couch.

I recognize the two people coming in by their shoes first. Soph's Chanel heels followed by Alec's expensive sneakers.

"What the fuck?!", I mouth at Noah. He makes me a sign to stay quiet.

I can see Soph pinning Alec to the wall and slowly unbuttoning his shirt. They whisper stuff I do not want to hear and chuckle.

"I guess the cake is in the oven", Noah mouthes at me and I show him a middle finger, yet I inside laught at that. It must be.

Alec's shirt is on the floor, followed by Soph's dress. I don't want to know what's happening there. Only as Soph starts gasping, I let out a sigh.

It wasn't that loud, but enough for the two to stop.

"What was that?", I can hear Soph ask.

Fuck.

Noah slaps his face with his hand. I show him the finger again. He kisses me and I stop, wrapping my hands around his neck.

"April, you can come out now", Alec says, his voice a death note. I freeze at that. Noah next to me crosses his fingers and mouthes: "I hope he doesn't take his time killing you. Slower is always worse."

I glare at him as an idea pops in my head. I take out one of my earrings from my ear, throw it somewhere and stand up, acting like I was searching for it.

As I look at the couple, I might want to puke. Soph is in her underwear, which is, you guessed it, Chanel. Pearls are still around her neck and wrists. Alec is only in his pants and sneakers, red kiss marks on his chest.

Oh-

"Hey there", I let out, trying to hide my worries.

"Hi", Soph says, then notices she's still in her underwear. Alec must have seen her flinch, as he takes his shirt from the ground and hands it to her. She thanks him and puts on the shirt, which fits her like a dress.

"I was looking for my earring", I lie. Alec doesn't bite it. Neither does Soph.

"In your bra? You're looking for your earring, in your bra?!", my bestie asks. I look down at my body. Biker shorts on, I slipped into them under the couch, but my crop top didn't benefit of the same luck.

"Yeah. It was hot", I lie again.

Soph glares at me. So does Alec. Who analyzes the room once and says: "You can come out now, Coin."

Same death tone.

I hardly hide a smirk. Noah is going to get it now too.

Noah comes out from under the couch and Soph gasps, covering her mouth with her hand. Alec doesn't look surprised, only places his hand on Soph's waist and comes closer.

Noah doesn't say anything as he comes next to me and places his hand on my waist. His hand. My waist. I think I might burn any moment now. Soph still looks like she has seen a ghost. She looks at the two of us for a few moments, his hand on my waist, and then stares me in my eyes.

"What in the world?!"

~

Even though I told Soph everything that happened between Noah and me, I could still feel Soph sneaking glances at us, even when we were back upstairs. She didn't comment, said she was happy if I was happy. I even told her how Noah and I dated as Kai was away and why we broke up and how we started being closer again now. She only listened and nodded, seeming she understood.

"So...", I asked her at the end, since she hadn't said anything the whole time.

"I don't know what to say. I mean, I always suspected there was more to you two then you let the world believe, but I hadn't expected this", she explained.

"Are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad at you?", she asked, clearly surprised.

"I don't know. Cause I didn't tell you. And I hid it all this time."

"There are some secrets we share with others, some not. It's our choice how we decide to let those wounds heal. I could never be mad at you for not feeling ready to tell me something."

"But..."

"No but. I just want you to know I'll always be there for you. No matter what. If you and Coin decide to make the next step, I'll be there as your greatest supporter. If he decides to be an asshole again and break your heart, I will be there for you and we will cry together."

And that's when I lost it and went hug her. For she spoke so honest, and meant every word. And I believed her.

I can tell she still has her doubts when it comes to Noah. Now more than ever. She knew him as a playboy before, she now also knows how he broke me. But I am willing to give him another chance. And she is willing to put up with him if that's what I want.

"I am sorry for what happened", Noah says, as he kisses me now. We are on the beach, it is almost midnight, and we're looking at the stars.

"It wasn't your fault", I let out. "It was my fault too."

"No, it wasn't. Don't say that. I am sorry if Sofia gave you a hard time", he replies.

"She didn't", I tell him, thinking back at what Soph told me. "Did Alec give you a hard time?"

He chuckles. I take that as a yes.

"Sorry", I whisper.

"Don't worry about it", he kisses me. I lift myself up and climb onto him. He wraps one arm around me and plays with one of my curls with the other.

"How's life being twenty?", he asks me after a while of silence.

I look at him. The love in his stare. This moment. The two of us. "Perfect", I breathe.

"I am glad to hear that", Noah answers and kisses me.

"Want to finish what we started earlier?", I ask him. Mischief flickers in his eyes.

"Do you want to?", he asks me, probably to make sure he doesn't push things.

"Yeah. I do", I whisper. He comes closer and does the same movements as before. Kisses and licks. I am melting. My nails dig deeper into his skin with every gasp.

"April", he breathes. I chuckle. His voice is so raw.

"Yes, Noah?", I ask to tease him.

"I think you'll be the death of me", he answers, finding my neck as sanctuary.

"Yes, Noah", I reply. He looks up at me and I smirk. He chuckles.

"Oh, precious", he lets out as he kisses my lips and our tongues lock.

If I am going to be the death of him, I plan on making it a sweet one.