More Issues Than Crimson (Sequel)

Chapter Eleven

~°JENNIFER°~

My hands fidget, wondering if to knock on the door or not. They do, anyway. No one comes out. I ring the bell but no one still.

It's cold out and I'm shivering. I can still feel puke on me and it's sad I reek of alcohol. It's dark but the streets are lit up with the lights. I turn to Shawn who seems a bit anxious.

"They're probably asleep," Shawn says and I nod. "But just try again," he continues and my hand moves to the bell but stops halfway. I shiver, staring at Noah through his window. He closes the curtain immediately and as if losing my stance, I trip, gripping the gate tight to keep myself up. What is wrong with me?

"Are you alright?" Shawn asks and I nod. Deep down, I know Noah's on his way and I want to be anywhere but here.

I hear the front door open and then, footsteps towards the gates. He opens it and I try my best to keep myself from crying. He's in his shorts and is shirtless - Exactly what he's used to in my house when we were together.

Well, now I have to act like I don't see that body of a god or that my body doesn't crave his warmth- both of which are miserably false, unfortunately.

"What are you doing?" he asks, his eyes moving from I to Shawn and me again.

"Standing," Shawn answers sarcastically and Noah glares at him. He moves his gaze to me and I search for my tongue in my mouth because it has suddenly forgotten how to speak.

"We - we got stranded," I say, stammering. I am so silly around Noah and worse, he isn't even mine anymore.  I exhale deeply, but not to anyone's notice.

"In school? Why? What happened?" he asks and I take in a deep breath.

"It's a long story," I reply. He looks at Shawn and it seems these two will never go along well. "Well - "

"And why are you here?" he asks, looking at me once again. He interrupted. Noah freaking interrupted.

"We need a place to spend the night," I reply and he stares in shock. I feel horrible, coming up with this pity party charade. He hurt me. He should be the one at my house. I regret coming to ask him for help. I just want to run away but it's too late.

"Here? Why here?" he asks and Shawn beats me to a reply.

"Because there is a hotel in every single area in Abuja but we refused because we're stupid," Shawn shoots sarcastically and I facepalm. Shit.

"The stupid part... That is true," Noah says and it hurts. "For you," he adds and I watch a smirk dance on his lips. Wait- Why did he- well, we'll think about that later.

"Can we get in already?" Shawn asks like he's entitled to a space in Noah's house. He never runs out of jokes.

"No," Noah replies and my jaw almost drops. Almost.

"What?" Shawn shoots. Honestly, I wonder why he's surprised. If I were Noah, I wouldn't let me in. I'd be too busy blaming myself for all the hurt I caused me. In this case, he caused me.

"You heard me. It's about 2 am and I really cannot let you in. I would if I could, but I can't," he says and Shawn glares at him with hardened fists.

"Fine," I say, well aware of what Noah's trying to do. "Let's go," I say to Shawn and we start walking away. I'm quite foolish for expecting him to call us back. But well, it's okay to be a fool sometimes.