𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 (𝘣𝘹𝘣)

seventeen

It had been almost a full week since Benjamin kissed Noah. Benjamin was so embarrassed that he wouldn't pick up his phone.

Noah shuts his car door and looks at Gabi's office building. He sighs and shoves his keys into one pocket, and his wallet and phone into another.

He swings the door open, looking around. A pristine man walks by, holding a clipboard. He looks up and down at Noah, clearing his throat. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for Gabi."

The man quirks an eyebrow. "Gabriella?"

Noah rolls his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Look, we're close friends, just need to speak with her."

The man nods. "Follow me."

Noah curses under his breath as he follows the blonde man down a hallway. The man opens the door, "Gabriella? Someone's here to see you."

Gabi looks over, a big smile on her face. "Noah! Come in."

Noah smiles and walks in. The man keeps the door open and stands by it. Gabi rolls her eyes, setting his hand on Noah's shoulder. "Give me a second."

"David, go. What are you supposed to be doing right now? Oh, and I need that contractor's number. You have work to do. Bye."

Gabi shuts the door and smiles. She turns back around to face Noah. "Sorry about that. David sort of-."

"Has a crush on you, Gabriella?"

Gabi laughs and sits down at her desk. She scoots her chair in and folds her hands flat on her desk. "So what brings you here? Wanna invest? Buy a building?"

"Nada. I was just wondering how Benjamin was doing."

"Oh?" Gabi shrugs her shoulders and sits back in his chair, crossing her arms. "He's okay, I guess."

"He hasn't returned any of my calls since the other night. I guess he's kind of embarrassed. But I just feel like there's nothing to be embarrassed about and if he'd just call
me-."

"Woah, Slow down. What happened the other night? I thought you guys couldn't meet up? He said you had to go see your mom."

"Nope. We-..." Noah stops himself. If Benjamin didn't tell her, that meant he didn't want her to know. "I just wanna make sure he's alright. Can you have him call me? Please?"

"Sure. I'll see what I can do."

Noah smiles and stands up. "Thanks, Gabs."

**
Gabi shakes Benjamin awake. Benjamin groans and grabs his blanket to pull up over his face. "Stop it."

"Wake up. I need to talk to you. And don't you have a job interview?"

"It was rescheduled." Benjamin lays his head back down.

"Benjamin. Get up. Stop being so sour."

Benjamin sighs and sits up in his bed. His head goes slump and he looks down at his tee-shirt, hating the way it scrunched up around his stomach.

He frowns and reaches down to pull it forward.

Gabi smiles at him. "Okay. I know you lied about the other night. What really happened between you and Noah?"

Benjamin lifts his head, his cheeks turning light pink. "Uh-... How'd you know I lied?"

"Two reasons. One...You're a terrible liar. And two, Noah came to see me. He said you're avoiding him."

Benjamin groans again and leans back against his headboard. He brings his hands up to his face. "Oh god."

Gabi frowns and crosses her legs. "What happened? Why are you so upset?"