Kissing Booth: Another Take

Chapter 41

AN: Thank you for all the votes, comments, and bday wishes!
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Noah

I was a little surprised when Elle exited the kitchen down our hallway that she breezed past all of us, Sabrina in tow. "Elle," I tried but she just shook her head.

"Can we get out of here?" She asked quickly not stopping for an answer. Chloe and Jake looked at me concerned. Sabrina shot us a look, letting go of Elle's hand and linking arms with Liam. Elle made a beeline for the door, not looking back.

"I think she needs a moment," Sabrina reasoned stopping us in the hallway. "I think that was a lot and she needs to just level out," she directed at me.

"I need to talk to her," I said trying to push past her. It was Jake who stopped me. "No she's right," he said with a hand on my chest. I looked down at it like it burned me. "What the fuck Jake?" I spat at him. He frowned at me and I could see the same look on Chloe's face.

"Flynn just give her a minute, I think she just needs a second to breathe. She just went from celebrating coming here to finding out that you were involved in some vapid game and having to pretend she didn't know you. Then confronting a bunch of girls that you snogged," Chloe reasoned. I clenched my jaw, looking to Sabrina and Liam who both nodded at the explanation.

"I'll go out there, keep an eye on her," Jake reasoned with me. I wanted to tell him to fuck off but I didn't get a chance too because he was already out the door.

Jake

I found Elle walking down the sidewalk in the wrong direction. She wasn't walking fast and I could see her shoulders tense as I called her name. She stopped but didn't turn so I ran in front of her. I could see she looked flushed as she started fanning herself.

"You okay?" I asked. She continued to fan herself, "It was just so hot in there right? It was hot."

Her free hand shook as it came up to pull some hair back from her face as she let out a shaky exhale. Tears lined her eyes. "Elle," I said softly coming up to her. A frown formed on her face as tear made it down her cheek.

"It was so hot in there," she said again her voice breaking.

I took her into my arms slowly, feeling her start to cry against my chest. "You're okay," I said into her hair. "You're fine. You did great," I said to her as her own arms wrapped around my waist.

"That was awful," she said shakily into my now wet shirt. "That was so so awful," she repeated.

"I know," I sighed, rubbing her back. "I know that sucked. You handled it like a champ as usual though," I reasoned.

Her cheek came to my chest so she wasn't muffled, facing the street. "I can't believe people would do that. I can't believe the way they talked about him..." she said her voice hoarse, my shirt still collecting moisture.

"They suck," I assured her. "They're nothing. You know that right? They're little people who think little of themselves and treat other people like shit to make themselves feel better. They're nothing."

"They had him," she mumbled to herself more than me. I shook my head.

"They never had him," I murmured back to her. "You know that Elle. Don't let their shit get in your head."