Kissing Booth: Another Take

Chapter 25

Elle's POV

I can't do this. I don't want to do this. I can't handle this. I hate this --- all thoughts that raced through my head as we parked the car at the airport to walk Chloe, Jake, and Noah to security.

Noah's hand hadn't left mine through the car ride where we squeezed in the back next to Chloe. I insisted Noah take the front because he was too much of a giant to be in the backseat of his mom's Volvo that we borrowed but he contended, "I have plenty of time coming up away from you Elle, I want to be as close to you as a possible today."

Lee had scoffed, "What a line," with Jake laughing along. But it still made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Noah released my hand just long enough to grab everyone's luggage out of the trunk before quickly taking it again, a kiss on my knuckles without even looking at me.

Rachel and Marco had said their goodbyes this morning, headed to school together since Lee and I were skipping the morning to drop them off.

It was a cute goodbye. Noah had taken Rachel up in his arms and tossed her around as she giggled as Lee complained of the manhandling of his girlfriend. She had given Jake and Chloe big hugs, some tears springing up in her eyes. She hated goodbyes as much as I did.

Marco had given Chloe a big hug and she whispered something in his ear that made him blush. He and Jake did the manly handshake hug as they said things with 'bro' at the end of every sentence. I kept myself from rolling my eyes.

The strangest goodbye was between Noah and Marco. It started off as a long handshake with words I didn't really get.

"I'll keep my promise if you keep yours," Marco had stated. Noah nodded. "Of course, make sure Perry watches himself," he requested.

"You're a really good guy, Marco," Noah stated seriously. Marco smiled. "You too, mighty Flynn."

Noah scoffed but laughed and pulled Marco in for a hug, Marco hugged him back. I stared in shock with Lee looking at the two impressed.

As we neared security my stomach started to flip. This reminded me so much of last year but with way less questions in my mind. Noah sensed my worrying and slipped his arm around me, a kiss to my forehead.

We reached the escalator that leads up to security and we all stopped, a collective sigh between all of us. Lee started by saying bye to Jake and I turned to Chloe, tears already in my eyes. She bit her lip, her own eyes glistening as she grabbed both of my hands.

"Promise you'll call," she demanded looking at me. I promised. She pulled me into a hug and I squeezed her back. "You have changed so much for me and you don't even know," she whispered, her tears falling freely. If she was going to let them go I could too.

"Thank you so much for making me talk to Noah," I referenced back to the first night at dinner.

She pulled back laughing. "You two are perfect together," looking back at him as he said goodbye to his brother. I laughed as Jake pushed her out of the way, his arms wide.

"Bring it in Rochelle," a huge smile on his face as Chloe scolded him. I jumped into his arms and spun me around and around. The whole time he sang lyrics from "Don't You Forget about Me" causing people at the airport to laugh at him.

"Okay that's enough," Noah's voice chuckled as Lee snickered at his antics. He put me down, "It was nice to re-meet you at a time where you weren't stranded on a freeway," his hand on my shoulder.

"If you ever need help again, you know not to call me cause Flynn will just be a jealous baby about it... but you can still call me," He laughed.

I laughed and hugged him again. "Practice your video games okay?" I tossed back at him.