The Missing Years - a kissing booth fan fiction

Slow

Noah

On my way over to Elle's apartment I run through the conversation I had with Chloe yesterday in my head. Annoyingly, she's in almost complete agreement with Lee.

"Noah, I believe you love Elle. I know you want to see where this thing between the two of you goes and I support you. But you can't ignore all the bad blood after seeing her for five minutes."

"I'm not trying to ignore anything, Chloe."

"So you're going to talk things through with her then? Everything?"

"Yeah, we're going to talk."

"Promise me you'll ask questions, Noah. Ask questions, and get to know Elle again. Think about how much you've changed in the last six years. Now imagine that the same is probably true of Elle."

"I promise I'll ask questions, Clo. I get what you're saying. I need to take things slow, get to know her again first."

"Yes exactly, you both do."

Chloe's words of caution are still ringing in my ears as I pull into a parking space outside Elle's apartment building. I text her that I've arrived and a couple of minutes later I see her emerge from the underground parking garage. She pulls up next to me and I can't help but grin.

"You seem cheerful this morning," she pouts.

"And you seem to be slightly under caffeinated," I observe. Elle is still not a morning person, it appears. Some things haven't changed.

Elle sticks her tongue out at me. "Did you have any specific plan today?"

"Well not really, but I would like to go up the coast a ways. I haven't been for awhile." Inspiration strikes. "If we go through Malibu we could stop at Caffe Luxxe on the way..."

That earns me a smile. "Oh my gosh, yes. Sold."

"Well then, lead on."

I'm content to stick behind Elle as we travel the surface streets and then onto the freeway, where we weave through traffic before finding clear space. I note with some satisfaction that she's wearing the leather jacket that I bought for her all those years ago. I also note that the bike she bought is similar to mine, just a model smaller. To be honest it's better suited to her small frame, even though she managed the 750 just fine.

Once we're out on the coast highway, I overtake her and open up my bike, giving it a good run. I pull into the parking lot outside the coffee shop and am just taking off my helmet when Elle pulls in next to me. There's a smile on her face and the fact that she obviously gets so much joy from riding her bike fills me with a small burst of pride. I was the one who taught her how to ride, after all.

We get our coffees and sit at a table outside in the sun. After a few sips of her drink Elle is looking decidedly more sociable. So why do I suddenly feel nervous and a bit shy? I guess it's the elephant in the room. There's so much to say I don't know where to begin, but I guess the best idea is just to start somewhere. I take a sip of my coffee and swallow hard. 

"Elle..."

"Noah, stop." Elle is holding one small hand up between us.

I pause, puzzled.

She goes on. "I know we have a lot to talk about but can we just not? Like, not here, not now, I mean. I feel like once we start, it's going to be a long conversation, and I would rather have it somewhere more private." She glances around at the tables full of people well within hearing distance and I can't help but agree.

"Okay, that's fair. Raincheck 'til later then."

Elle nods enthusiastically, "Agreed."

"In that case, what should we talk about?"

"Well have you decided which job you're going to take yet?"

"Yeah, actually I have," I grin at her, knowing that my lack of a full answer to her question will bug her.

"And?" Elle asks impatiently.

"LA. I accepted the offer this week."

"Really? Wow, that's great. I mean, what made up your mind?"

I'd like to tell Elle that seeing her was kind of the clincher, but I have a feeling that might be a bit much. I shrug, "I guess I just realised that it was time to come home, you know? Seven years is a long time be away from everything, from everyone..."

Elle nods and then breaks out in a smile. "I bet your mom's happy you're coming back."

"Uh, yeah, you could say that," I chuckle. "I've managed to channel her excitement into finding me an apartment, though."

"Ha! Well played. Knowing her she'll find one and have it fully furnished and everything for you before you know it."

"Here's hoping. I don't really have a lot of time to try and get it sorted myself. My last day at work in Boston will be this Friday, then I've got a week off before I start the new job here. The firm said they'd put me up for a couple of weeks, but the sooner I can get into my own place, the better."

Elle nods. "So does it feel weird? To know you'll be home for good in a week or so?"

"Kinda, yeah. But in a good way. I'm ready. I feel sort of like I've been marking time since graduation. I'm just ready to actually settle in at the firm here, knowing that's where I'm going to be, you know? I never felt like I could get too invested in the work in Boston." I drain my coffee. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, sure. Sounds good." Elle finishes her cup and gets up from the table. She's avoiding eye contact and I don't know what shifted in the last couple of minutes. I run through what I said in my mind and can't see what would have set off her change in mood. We get out to where we parked the bikes and Elle's still not looking at me. I can't stand it any longer and reach out and pull gently on her elbow, turning her back to face me.

"Hey Elle, what's going on? What just happened there?"

She bites her lip and looks up at me through her lashes. "It's nothing really. I just....for a minute there I could pretend that everything was kind of okay between us, you know?"

I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

"But it's not is it?" She's looking up at me sadly.

"I guess not. Not right now." She looks away and I can't stand to see her so sad. "But I want it to be."

Elle looks back at me. "You do?"

I shake my head slightly while I run my free hand through my hair. The problem is that she's unsure of my end goal here.

"Look, I know we have a lot to work through and I'm not saying it's all going to be easy." My right hand is still holding onto her arm, and I let it slide down to her wrist, before taking her hand. I step in close to her. "But just to make it perfectly clear, I want to be with you, Elle."

I see her eyes go wide as I reach up with my left hand to hold the side of her face. So much for taking it slow is my last thought before I crash my lips down on hers.