it was always you: a kissing booth fanfic 💕

Chapter 7 - joni evans

Noah's POV
I remember the first time when I found out that Joni Evans was sick. I was fourteen going on fifteen, at home, while Lee and Elle were playing in the game room. Since forever, Shelly has practically lived in our house as she was always by my brother's side. She had sleepovers here constantly and even slept in Lee's bed, regardless that they were growing older and twelve already.

My dad was working and my mom was in the kitchen baking some cookies for us. Elle absolutely loved my mom's peanut butter cookies and my mother was sweet enough to make them often just for her. I was sitting in the living room watching television when the phone rang. My mom answered it and I knew Joni, Elle's mom, was the one that called because my mom's voice lit up. They were the bestest of friends and regularly chatted over the phone when our families weren't together. They talked about everything, from us kids to work to issues they were facing. My mom and Joni have been inseparable since they met in college.

"Hey, Joni! How are you doing, love?" my mom asked. "... What do you mean? Are you okay? ..." Her voice quickly changed from cheerful to concerned in a moment. And I mean, really concerned. "Sure, Joni, absolutely. I'll just ask Noah to watch over Elle and Lee ... Okay, see you soon."

She pushed the button to hang up and I looked over the couch to see her. I recall discerning the clear distress on my mom's face. She stood there silently and unmoving for a few seconds before grabbing her purse on the counter and directing her attention to me.

"Noah, sweetie, could you look over Elle and your brother for a while while I go out? The cookies are in the oven, so if you could, carefully take them out when they're done please. You kids can help yourselves to a few."

She rushed through her speech as she spoke and came over to give me a quick kiss on my head. "Tell Lee Mom will be back soon." And like that, she rushed out of the house before I could ask where she was going.

I was confused because generally my mom was a very calm person, even when she was stressed. However, this time was different. I felt in my gut that something was up, and it wasn't good.

And it wasn't.

After the cookies finished baking, I gave a few to Elle and Lee while they played their video games. I tried to limit their cookie intake due to my parents' mindfulness of healthy eating, but since Elle was beginning to become a girl I was interested in, I made a special exception for her. I still tried to contain her though because Shelly has always been a bottomless pit with food.

I watched them play a little bit, well, mostly watched Elle. The way her face lit up when she won against Lee, her laugh while she battled through the game's obstacles, and her eyes that sparkled with delight repeatedly made my heart skip a beat. While at the same time, she warmed it in all the right spots, especially the parts in my heart that got colder due to fighting and frequent anger. It was almost like she helped me regain comfort and solace by her natural loveliness.

I didn't realize I got caught in a daze by Elle until after about an hour later, the front door opened. I told the pair of gamers that I was going to talk to Mom. What I saw next brought me anxiety: my mom was sitting at the kitchen island with her face in her hands, crying.
I hated to see people cry and I never saw my mother cry. She was a strong woman but something was definitely wrong.

I walked up to her slowly and I put my hand on her left shoulder. I spoke in a near whisper. "Mom, is everything okay?"

My mother blew her nose with a tissue before looking up at my face. She forced a little smile through her tears to make her appear happier. "Um, well, honey ... something has happened and that is why I suddenly had to leave earlier ... thank you for helping me with Elle's cookies."