Chapter 11: 09 | DON'T KILL, WE ARE TOO YOUNG

Click ⭐ to vote

════════════════════════

Iris

"Here's your sandwich and orange juice." Mom gives me my breakfast. I look at it, happily devouring it. Mom sits across me, taking one of the sandwiches, and eats it.

"This is good," We both say, simultaneously, and a second later, laugh together.

After yesterday, I am dead sure about the fact that Noah and Dad have become the best of friends since the whole night he was here, they were inseparable. When Mom came home, after an hour and a minute and seven seconds, she gave them a look for eight seconds before sighing, with a smile and started chatting with the gang.

"Good morning, beautiful... and hungry women in my life," Dad says, entering the room as he kisses me on my forehead and goes towards Mom, kissing her on her cheek.

"Morning," I say, smiling.

"Morning, Honey," Mom says, grinning at him. Dad smiles at her, lovingly, before sitting beside her.

"So, Iry—" Mom starts to say, finally looking at me.

"Is something wrong? Am I in trouble?" I ask her, quickly.

"No, why would you think that?" She gives me a weird expression.

"You call me Iry when you want to mock me or something..." I shrug. Dad chuckles, agreeing with me.

Mom sighs and looks at me. "Any-hoo, we have to tell you something—"

"No." I gasp and both of them look at me, confused. "You—you are not pregnant, are you?"

"What?" Dad looks at Mom, questioningly. "I am sure I used—"

"Oh, my ears—I am not hearing what you both do alone together." I put my palms over my ears, shaking my head. "But, look, I am not going to judge you for that—I am just surprised that's all—I don't mind having another sibling—I swear to love the baby—"

I stop as I hear Mom laughing. She shakes her head and says to me, "Stop overthinking, Iris Cooper."

"Wait, so..."

"No, I am not pregnant," She answers, smiling. "I think I would know if I was but no, I am not."

"So, it didn't." Dad sighs in relief.

"what didn't?" I ask him, confused.

Dad narrows his eyes at me and says, "For a smart person, you are weirdly too innocent."

"I am not innocent, Dad," I state.

"And hell is just a sauna." He snorts.

"Don't go and quote my fav—"

"Alright," Mom gives us a look to stop and we do. She sighs and looks at me, seriously, which me nervous. "Your Dad and I are going to London this Sunday."

A small silence between us stretches for a second.

"Grandpa's...?" I ask, looking down at my plate.

"Yeah," Mom nods and holds my hand.

"I know, kiddo, you aren't ready yet," Dad says, assuring me. "Don't worry, take your time."

"I rather stay here," I mumble. I haven't gone to London, since Grandpa's funeral and I haven't visited the grave too. I don't think I can gather myself enough to go there.

I remove my hand from Mom's and give them a smile. "It is okay and someone should go among us—best if it's two of you."

"Dear, you know if you want us here, we—"

I interrupt Mom. "Oh no. No. No. Don't cancel it because of me. I am a big grown-up woman—I can handle myself for some days."

"Actually..." Dad starts and I groan.

"Not her, Dad. I am way more responsible than she is. You know she's crazy!"

Dad gives me a look. "She's your sister!"

"And craziness is kind of in your blood." Mom gestures towards Dad. I smile as Dad turns towards Mom with a look that says: 'I ain't crazy, woman'

Mom ignores him. "Daisy is coming on Saturday and I hope you prepare well for that day."

***

There are several things in your life that you don't share with anyone and keep a secret for yourself. The part of you that you are scared of if the world knows, it will take advantage of your weakness.

I feel that every moment in life because there are a lot of things, I keep to myself. I feel like people will reject or dismiss my feelings and thus, making me not share them.

The harsh truth of life: you just pretend to be yourself, most of the time.

The bell rings, indicating the end of AP History.

I look away from the window, sighing and closing the book. For someone who cares about school and grades, I am sure daydreaming a lot, today—it is probably the subject.

Don't get me wrong but history, though it is easy, sucks the hell out of me. The classes are just so boring that I can't help myself but feel sleepy.

At least, I feel sleepy. Noah, who has his seat behind me, sleeps throughout the whole thing. I don't know how he has not got any detention yet. Worse, how is he in an AP class?

As I get up, Noah stretches, looking at me, intensely. I look back at him, raising an eyebrow.

How the hell can someone look so casual yet formal?

"Class is over," he says, looking at me.

"I know," I reply, drily. "Unlike you, I don't sleep in classes."

He nods, slowly. "You just look outside the window and daydream."

"You notice everything," I say—more like state it, instead of being offended.

Without any hesitation, he replies, "Not everything."

"Wha—" I pause as I see some people in the corner looking at Noah, whispering. I look back at Noah.

He clenches his jaw and runs his hand through his hair. He turns to them and gives a hard look. He says, "Can you talk a bit louder? We still have to catch up with your fucking gossip."

"I would like to keep you up to date with recent happenings, Noah."

The demon is here and oh, there are her fake yet devoted followers; Yes, I mean Stacy and her minions—Michelle and Tina.

I have to get out of here.

Giving me a fake smile, Stacy flips her recently dyed strawberry blonde hair, as she leans towards Noah, pushing me away from him. She is wearing a black bralette with high-waisted pants paired with six inches heels.

"Stella," Noah says, boredom in his voice.

I stop on my way, wanting to know her reaction.

She flinches for a second as she looks back at him, but stays in the same position. "Oh, baby, I love it when you call me by that."

Did she just go on to imply that Stella is her alter ego in bed?

Noah doesn't give away any expression as he looks at her for two seconds before he starts to walk, but Stacy doesn't leave him. She wraps her hand around his arm, looking up at him.

"You know, I was thinking why shouldn't we continue what we had started on Tuesday?"

"You kiss like a dead fish," He states, looking at her, as he gets her hand off him.

I look at them in shock and amusement. Stacy's face looks like she has been beaten down hundred times while her minions' eyes are wide. Noah moves forward, exhaling.

To make things more interesting, Michelle yells, "That is not true. Stacy gives the best kisses. I know that she had kissed me."

I would have laughed like other people in the class if Stacy didn't look like a deer in headlights. That just lasts for a second as Stacy composes herself, glaring at Michelle.

"That," She says. "was a dare which you gave to me. If it were up to me, I would rather kiss a donkey's butt than you."

With that, she storms off from the class.

Noah says to me, "Let's get out of here before someone—" His amber shifts to Michelle who is really red and is being consoled by Tina. "—bursts. It is going to be ugly."

My lips twitch a bit before I scold myself internally for being amused at the scene.

"Damn, right," I say, going out of the class. Noah follows close behind me but within three seconds, he starts to walk beside me.

I scoff, shaking my head. "Okay, what was that? She, definitely, needs some improvement in the minion department."

Noah shrugs. "I really don't care."

"Of course, you don't." I roll my eyes. I look up at him just when his lips lift up to a smirk as he looks forward. "What are you so amused about?"

He shakes his head and looks down at me. "Nothing that should concern you, Bella."

I narrow my eyes. "That's too suspicious."

"Look forward and see for yourself," He answers, shrugging.

I look forward and see Thomas and his friends are standing away. His friends are talking among themselves while Thomas's gaze is on us. For another second, his eyes linger on us, before he walks away into the cafeteria, closing the doors with a force that the students in the halls look at it, shocked and surprised.

"Why is he acting like that?" I say, looking at the door.

"How dumb are you?"

"I am not dumb," I give Noah a glare but he dismisses it.

"Iris!" Julio is walking towards me, smiling. "We both need to talk about something."

I look at him and ask, "About what?"

Instead of answering me, Julio turns to Noah and says to him, "Radcliffe, Coach Tucker is asking for you. You should go, right away."

Noah and I look at each other, probably thinking about the same thing. He nods at me, going away from us.

"Well?" I turn to Julio but he has already started walking.

"Come to the dance room, fast," He tells me.

***

"So, pretty much that's it."

"No," I answer and start pacing around the room.

Julio groans. "Iris, really? You will get more college credits for doing... extra work?" He pauses, blinking, and now, nods. "Yeah, extra work."

I look at him, drily. "With nationals and town's dance festival coming, you are asking me to be an assistant coach for the soccer team?"

"Huh-uh" He nods, grinning. "So, you going—"

"I said no, Julio."

"Well," Julio replies. "DEU would appreciate a dancer who is a sportswoman too!"

I raise an eyebrow at his statement. "You did not just use my dream school to get me into this."

Julio shrugs, grinning. "Just did."

Yes, Julliard is every musician and dancer's dream. The place and the community are something to die for but, honestly, I don't know if it is the place where I belong.

Donella Estoile University is one of the best and oldest universities for arts and dance. It is in Central London and the old Victorian-style architecture attracts me. I think the best part is that it is located in a creative and culturally rich neighborhood, a place where all artists love to visit for inspiration. The university doesn't only focus on arts and dance but also on basic subjects, giving its students the opportunity to explore more in other areas.

I don't remember a moment when I didn't want to go there.

"Julio, I do like soccer but dance is the one I am fully devoted to." I sigh, helplessly. "What if I get distract—"

"Iris, it is about you graduating too. I know you are lacking some hours of community service and you are getting them by tutoring some juniors but I think this—the assistant thing is good for you. Anyway, it is just for an hour after dance practice—it is not like he is going to tell you to train the students. That's Coach Tucker's job."

"You do have a point," I say, flinging my arms a bit. "But I don't get why you are going out of your way to tell me to this."

He opens his mouth but pauses, looking a bit disoriented. "That is a good question."

I groan and give him a disbelieving look. "Seriously?"

"No, no, I got it," Julio holds up his hand as if telling me to be patient. "I advise. You think and do what I say."

I laugh at how absurd he sounds.

"Also, you can come and practice by the studio anytime you want," Julio tells me, getting up. Julio comes to me with a smile. "Iris, trust me, I know you can manage. You always have been a multitasker."

Doing both the things I love? One defines me and another my grandpa. Maybe, assisting the soccer team might get me closer to my grandpa, more?

"You are not giving up, I see." I sigh, rolling my eyes. "Should I start from today?" I ask.

***

"It is three o'clock, now, Iris. Go to the field, now," Julio says to me as he looks after other students.

"I am going in a bit!" I reply as I do the Pique Turn and in a second, sit properly, breathing in and out.

"No, you are going now other—"

"I am going. I am going," I say, getting up fast and moving towards the door, picking up my bag along the way. Just I reach the door, I turn and say, "Julio, today was great!"

"Ya, good—No, not you. Now, do it again." Julio tries to make the sophomore kid do the arch, properly.

I walk towards the soccer ground. I have changed my clothes to blue 'Kim Possible' tee and black sweatpants with Jordan shoes. I try to massage my neck, cursing out the hard practice we went through, today.

I look forward and see the team. There are only five seniors in the main team while all others are juniors. Nick is the goalkeeper and the captain of the team; Caleb is a defender while both Noah and Colt are strikers.

The other senior is Benjamin Russo who is another defender and the vice-captain. I don't like him very much but he is a good player from what I've seen and from what Nick has told me.

"There's my assistant!"

I turn to see Coach Tucker smiling at me. I smile back at him before he gives me the board, filled with paper. I hold them, properly, before the things can slip from my hands.

He tells me, "All the plays are in this and the name of the players and their roles. Feel free to change anything but do tell me about it."

"Got it, Coach," I say, looking through the paper. "So, what exactly I have to do?"

"Um, be a coach when I am not here."

"But," I say, slowly. "You are going to be here, right?"

"Until someone calls me urgently or when nature calls."

"Coa—" Colt looks at me like he has seen a ghost. "Iris—what the—?"

"Iris?" Caleb stops running and looks at me.

I grin, finally. "Did I forget to tell you?"

"Finally?" Nick says, coming towards me. "Thank goodness, you agreed."

"Agreed to what?" Caleb and Colt look at Nick, confused.

"Cooper will be the assistant coach" Coach Tucker shrugs, before going away.

"We are dead." Colt groans and I can't help but grin.

"We are so dead." Caleb scoffs.

I put a hand on my chest and say, "Aw, I would be really good to you,"

Nick coughs into his fist and says, "What a lie." We both look at each other and share an amused smile. "Anyway, where's Noah?"

"Behind you."

I turn towards the voice. Noah is standing in front of us. He has worn black with white stripes on the sides, a jersey, and shorts with red spikes. He runs his fingers through his hair as he walks toward us and finally, standing beside me.

He looks down at me, from head to toe. His lips lift up at the corner and he says, "Not surprised by the choice of the t-shirt."

I roll my eyes at him, saying, "Zip it, Radcliffe. Otherwise, you are gonna regret it."

He looks taken aback for three seconds before his signature smirk forms on his face.

"Everyone, come around," Coach says and the team with me standing near him. "Good, now, meet my second in command, Iris Cooper—"

"She is really, really sweet and won't trouble anyone, right?" Caleb smiles at me. He gives me a look— 'don't kill anyone of us, we are too young'

Okay, okay. Not the exact translation but it will suffice.

"Fifty burpees, right now, Wallace," I say to him, innocently. In my defense, I am in the coach mode, right now, and nobody interrupts the coach.

His eyes widen in surprise. "You—"

"Sixty," I say.

"Iris—"

"Seventy,"

"Wait, she can't do that, can she? You are the coach." Luka, a junior, says, looking at Coach.

Coach shrugs in reply, saying, "I said she is my second in command. She has every right to do that. What are you waiting for Wallace? You heard her. Move your feet or else I'll make you do hundred."

Caleb looks between both of us and then, starts to do it. Everyone looks at Caleb and then, at me while Noah looks at me with a smirk.

Coach claps his hands and says, "Until Caleb's completing his exercise, y'all start the usual conditioning. I'll be back in a moment."

Just as he goes, Caleb glares at me and I grin back, sinisterly.

Colt lets out a laugh and says to me, "Welcome to the team, best friend."

"Why, thank you, best friend," I say back, making him roll his eyes. Noah just smirks, looking at the scene, before going away to start conditioning with Colt.

Nick turns to me. "I really could use your help here, you know?"

"For what?" I ask him. He steps away from prying ears (Caleb's), gesturing me to do the same. As we do, I ask him, again, "For what?"

"For choosing a new captain," He answers, taking a water bottle.

"What?" I look at him in disbelief. "Why? You are a good captain."

He sighs. "Soccer is not my sport anymore. I just think the team needs someone who is passionate about Soccer."

"Honestly," I look at the team. "That would take out the majority of the team. There are only some who are passionate about it." I give him a look. "You have someone on your mind, don't you?"

"I knew having you would be good for me." He smiles. "Yeah, I have someone but that guy needs to prov—" Nick stops abruptly, looking over my shoulder. I look in his direction.

"Do you have some death wish?" Benjamin Russo sneers at a junior team player who seems to kick the ball towards him. "Watch where you aim, you fucked up punk." He says to him, going away.

"What is he—" I start to move towards it when Nick holds me back.

"Wait," he says to me, and only then, I see Noah approaching the junior.

At first, the junior is scared until Noah places a hand on his shoulder, he relaxes a bit. Neither Nick nor I can hear what he is saying to him but we understand Noah is giving him tips as they try to practice shooting the balls, together.

"Need more proof?" I ask Nick and he grins.

"Maybe, maybe not." He pats my shoulder, smiling. "You go back to doing your assistant thing."

"Don't tell me what to do, idiot." I give him a serious look. "Do your conditioning twice since you missed two minutes of it."

He laughs, waving it off, as he starts running towards the goalpost.

***

"Hey, Iris!"

I turn towards the voices. The practice is almost ending but I did nothing; just sat on the bleachers and noticed the progress.

"Oh my, what are you guys doing here?" I say, looking at Victoria, Alyssa, Adi, Tom, and Michael. "Wait, how did you guys...?"

"News travels fast." Victoria shows me her phone and of course, the school's gossip site has been updated with something like this.

"Also, we rather be here seeing you torture those guys than be at home doing nothing," Tom replies, grinning.

"I am just noticing—no torture...for now," I add, chuckling.

"Hell yeah! Milady, I want you to scratch my best friend bad." Adi puts his arm around my shoulder.

"I am here to get some eye candy..." Alyssa says, looking over my head to look at the guys. "Call me shameless but I ain't giving a fuck about it."

Michael mumbles, "of course, you don't." Alyssa gives him a tight smile and he gives one back, too.

Tom groans, loudly. "Stop both of you. You both keep on yapping like poodles."

"Poodles are cute, shut up," Victoria says, offended.

"Poodles? I don't know about them but," Colt comes and sits beside me, looking at Victoria. "You definitely are, Tori."

I don't know whether to cut off my ears or cut off Colt's tongue. I am not the only one feeling it as Alyssa makes a face at it too. Colt notices both of our expressions and looks at us, questioning.

Alyssa sighs and I laugh when we notice Victoria is blushing at his words. She says to him, "That was bad, Colt."

"It was worth it as I saw you blush." He grins.

"I think I have water in my ears." Tom slaps his hand above his ear and now, looks at Michael. "Did you hear the most unromantic guy being smooth too?"

Michael laughs and says, "I did."

The rest of us start to laugh as Victoria and Colt are blushing hard. Adi pinches Colt's cheeks, cooing, "Aw."

"Stop that." Colt lets out a laugh, pushing away his hand, just when Nick, Caleb, and Noah come towards us.

"Since you all are here, I have some news." All of us look at Michael. He smiles and tells us, "I've got a date on Sunday..."

"I have a feeling a but is coming..." Nick asks, confused.

"But," Michael sighs, "On the condition that I get another girl to go on a double date with her brother."

"I am not going!" Alyssa says, backing out.

"Wouldn't have let you." Tom crosses his arms on his chest.

"Well, neither Victoria nor Iris are going," Colt says, protectively.

Michael frowns, nodding. "I know, that's why I said—"

"You didn't say no, you idiot." I look at him and throw a playful punch at him. "You haven't gone on a date since like... forever?"

"For a year, Iris," He replies, drily.

"Can't I exaggerate?" I say and Michael scowls.

"It is not like you are willing to come with me."

"Because she is not—"

"What if I do?" I say, interrupting Caleb.

"Holy what?" Adi says, looking at me, just like everyone is looking at me.

"What?" I smile. "I am willing to say yes. I mean it is just a... date, right?"

"Iris," Nick starts to say. "You have not been on a date since..."

I roll my eyes. "Well, that chapter has closed. Also, it is not like the guy is going to be my boyfriend. It is just a date."

All the guys, except Noah, try to change my mind but I am way too stubborn to listen to them.

"Honestly, it is her decision, guys," Victoria states, and Alyssa nods.

Alyssa says to them, "Yeah, I understand you all protective of us—it is well and good but this is way too protective." Then, she turns to me and grins. "And this is so good we can do stuff."

"St—stuff?" I stutter, looking at the excitement on Victoria and Alyssa's faces.

"We will decide a cute outfit—" Victoria says.

"—set your hair—" Alyssa continues.

"—do your makeup—"

"—and tell you how to be on a date."

My eyes widen. "I am reconsidering—"

"You mean, Iris would dress up?" Colt smirks, glancing at me. "Then, I am okay with the date."

This bastard.

Caleb sighs, looking at Michael. "I am okay too only if..."

"...the guy is good and all? I will see that myself," Michael promises.

"Well, it is settled then. This Sunday—"

Before Sunday, Saturday comes, and on Saturday... uh oh.

Just now, I look at Noah and I have a realization of something. Noah looks in deep thought as he runs his fingers through his wet hair and goes towards the boys' room when I get up from my seat and stop him.

"Hey, Noah?" He looks at me with his usual resting bitch face. "I want to talk to you."

"About what?" He asks, coldly. I look at him in shock but he looks away from me.

"Can we talk somewhere pri—" Before I can even complete it, Noah looks at me, finally, and turns to the gang.

"You don't mind if I take Bella home? Okay, good."

Without waiting for their reply, he pulls me away from the group. Just as we are near the rooms, I stop him.

"Let me at least change to my normal clothes," I say to him. He looks down at me, from head to toe, and nods.

"You need to? I would prefer if you won't, Bella," He says, looking back at my face.

"And I would prefer if you keep your player eyes to yourself," I say, huffing out. I look at his sweaty body and make a face. "Go and have a shower, Stupid." I wave him away.

He smirks. "Why? I am sure I look really hot." He steps closer to me, looking between my eyes. "Don't I, Bella?"

"Ye—no." I huff out. "You are so delusional. Shut up—Stupid, I hate you and everything that comes with it," I say as I enter into the girls' locker room, without looking at him and his smirk.

Only now I hear him say, "We'll see, Bella."

***

"I thought you are taking me to my place," I tell him as we enter his house.

"I said I will take you home. I didn't say anything about whose home," He states as a matter of fact.

"Clever."

"I know, Bella," He says as he starts to step on the stairs and I stop in the hallway.

"Um, can we just talk here?" I think I just sounded nervous— and he notices it.

"Why? Are you scared of us being alone in one room? Wondering what might happen?" He asks, smirking, as he leans forward on the handrail.

"Uh, please, I am not scared."

Just anxious about going into your room.

"Anxious about going into my room?" His eyebrows shoot up. "Why?"

"Did I say that aloud?" I ask, shocked he heard my thoughts.

"Um, you just mumbled but I heard it. What do you mean anxious about going into my room?"

"Uh, it is your room," I merely state.

"I don't have weapons, Bella."

"Any murdered body?" I inquire.

He narrows his eyes at me. "Had one but disposed of it this morning. My room might smell dead, actually."

I blink at him, before realizing he was actually being sarcastic.

"I am serious, Noah."

"Why do you always think I will do something that sorts?" He asks making a weird face.

"I don't know you well," I reply, shrugging.

"A truth that hurts," He straightens up. "You could have run away the moment we stepped here." He crosses his arms over his chest, making his biceps tightens which makes it look big.

He really exercises well, doesn't he? Can he lift—Iris, focus.

"You would have stopped me," I say, tucking my hair behind my ear and looking away from him.

"I would not have."

I look up at him and see nothing but honesty—don't ask how; it is just a feeling, I guess.

"Lets' go?" Noah nods towards the stairs and starts walking. I start following, a second later.

Three minutes and nineteen seconds after walking up two floors...

Noah opens a black wooden door but before entering, he looks at me. "How much time was it?"

"What?" I ask him, confused.

"Reaching my room's door?"

"Three minutes and nineteen seconds," I say, trying to be very cool about it, but seriously it takes that much time to actually reach his room.

"You aren't going to comment about it?" He asks, still looking at me as he enters first.

"About the time taken or your room?" I ask back, holding his gaze. I turn my gaze away and look at his room.

It is a light-filled bedroom, with a tilted ceiling with medieval-style chandelier. The center of the room is filled up by a huge king's size foster bed with a couch and tv, a few feet in front of it. The room is lighted by the huge glass panels on the left side of the bed; the view is of the beach which is four streets away from Noah's place. Near his study table, there is a bookshelf and beside it, are the posters of Messi, Ronaldo, and David Beckham and also his autographed jersey.

Okay, I am not surprised by that but I am surprised by—

"Ah, colors!" I gasp and he gives me a look, making me grin. "What? Your room is filled with bright colors. Mustard Yellows, Sky blues, Sunset red and orange—that is such a good shade of orange."

"Why are you surprised?" He asks, going towards some door, which obviously would be the closet—oh, it is.

I go and flop down on his bed with my arms wide (so soft it is).

"You wear monochrome colors a lot. Sometimes, dark colors, too, but, honestly, I expected the room to be plain white with bedsheets of grey and black and also, the curtains stopping the light in."

"I am not a vampire."

"You sure might be with the color of your eyes."

He comes to my view. "You think you have me figured out?"

"Don't you think you have me figured out too?"

"Touché." He says, looking at me, as he sits beside me. "So, you wanted to talk about something?"

"Ah, yes." I sit, crossed-legged, getting myself up. "Daisy's coming on Saturday."

"What?" He asks, shocked.

"Yeah..." I cover my mouth with my hand as I yawn. "Mom and Dad are going to London, this Sunday."

Ugh, my eyes are so tired and the soft bed isn't much of a help.

"Why can't you just stay alone?" He pauses and, slowly, his lips lift up in a smirk.

Before he can say anything else, I say, "No, I am not afraid to be alone. My parents trust me completely with the house but they don't trust my obsessive nature to eat which is why Daisy is coming."

Partly.

His scrutinizing eyes look into mine, deeply, as if he knows I am telling him the half-truth but he doesn't pry me on it. "Oh-kay. So, what I hear is—"

"Noah, I swear if you—" I say, glaring and pointing my finger at him. He holds his hands up.

"Okay. Okay. Shutting up." He says and, weirdly, we both share a smile.

"So, Daisy is coming this Saturday," I say, emphasizing with my hands.

Noah nods. "Okay, Percy has taken a semester off from Dartmouth. So, obviously—"

"They both can meet each other."

He narrows his eyes at me. "Let me guess, we have to do something about them?"

"Exactly!" I pat his shoulder and he raises his eyebrows at my excitement.

"Daisy knows that you know me?"

"No... why?" I ask, curiously.

"I am hurt that you don't talk about me, Bella." He says, "Deeply hurt, I must say."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "You make a good joke—don't. Also, I have better things to do than talk about you. And, we are talking about how to get your studious brother and my party fanatic sister together and you are concerned that I don't talk about you?"

"Again, I am going to ignore that you don't talk about such an interesting handsome, and sexy man."

"Oh, my goodness," I mumble, rolling my eyes. "What a narcissist."

"Don't you know, Bella, that I am a natural hazard that can raise the temperature of the whole world with just my eyes?"

I blink at him for two seconds, before bursting out in laughter. "Wh—who told you that?" I snort, unattractively.

"I heard a girl say that as I was passing their group, today. Honestly, I was impressed."

"Of course, you were." I roll my eyes at him, smirking. "Anyway, as I was saying we have to do something about them."

"Actually, I said that."

"Noah!"

"Okay, what do you have in mind?" He asks, concentrating on me.

"Well..." He tilts his head a bit. "I just thought that I should talk about it to you, first, and then plan it."

"You, out of all the people, didn't think it through?"

"In my defense, I was too occupied with dance and soccer." I shrug my shoulder, pouting a bit. "Also, I am not a big planner."

He looks at me for a second, before saying, "I have an idea."

"Huh?"

"You think about what we will do—"

"So, you are admitting you don't have a brain to think?" I raise my eyebrow.

he continues, ignoring my comment, "—and wait for me till—"

"Wait?" I scoff out, looking at him. "What your schedule is booked for some girl coming over right now?"

"Yeah, you wanna stay and—" He replies, raising his eyebrows.

"Blah, blah, bladdity blah!" I say, covering my ears. "Don't want to hear any of your hanky-panky ideas. I am going downstairs." I get up but Noah holds my hand, making me sit on the bed.

"I am going for a shower, Bella." He says to me. "Stay here, till I come?"

"Fine by me." I look at him, curiously, as he gets up. "You didn't answer about the girls coming thing?"

"You know, Bella..." He leans towards me but I stay firm on my place. "...you don't need to be jealous. you will always be," He pauses, looking across my face with seriousness. "...my one and only Stubborn Dancing Queen Bella."

I blink at his words as he leans away, his expression changing fast to the smirking one.

He goes to the bathroom, saying, "Oh, relax as if you are at home."

"Seriously, I have been here for past nineteen minutes and forty-one seconds and you say that now? Praise for your hospitality, Stupid." I say to him, loudly, and in reply, I hear him laughing.

"Stupid," I mumble, getting up from the bed. I walk towards his study table, looking at the bookshelf.

My one and only Stubborn Dancing Queen Bella? Was that a compliment? Or an insult?

"Oh, forget it. He is just tricking your mind." I mumble to myself, as I take a look at the books on his shelf.

I take out a book, I have never read, and go towards the couch. Suddenly, a yawn leaves my mouth just as I sit on the couch.

Damn, I am tired, but I shouldn't—

I yawn, again.

Seriously? Ugh. Probably, reading this might help me stay awake.

I lean on one side of the couch and start reading the book...

════════════════════════

- a u t h o r ' s  n o t e -

hi! i am literally listening to 'have u found what ur looking for' by ashton irwin and i do not regret it. i just love the song.

if you like the chapter, please vote and share the story!

until the next one,

Inerys