Noah's Lifeline

Carnival Treats and Truths

Wanted to get this fall themed chapter out before the end of the month! Finals are beating my bootay but writing makes me happy. Enjoy the love fest ya'll! And happy sag season to my fire babies (:

Unedited lol I was way excited

Song- Angel x Finneas

Zahra's POV

We were exiting the event center now and I felt like a young girl again, nervous to go out with the hot guy  she'd been pining over for the first time. Sure we'd ran into each other at a few places and talked otherwise but this outing was different.

The smallest follicles of my arm hair tingled where his arm brushed mine and I wished I'd gone with a real jacket instead of sweater with the striking number I adorned. Sure it was pretty but fall was pretty much here and I was suffering.

We passed by stragglers probably waiting for their ride service and my stomach churned at the possibility of one of them noticing me- well noticing me with him.Goosebumps flared throughout my skin as  I felt Noah's dominant arm tuck me closer as we neared the stragglers. 

He noticed my inner voice crooned, almost wistfully as we approached a different car than I usually see him in. It was easy on the eyes, a sleek grey convertible straight off the lot with smart technology echoing all around.

Noah walked me around to the passenger seat and politely ushered me in. As soon as I lowered into the seat I never wanted to leave because I was surrounded by him from the familiar sweet musk of his natural scent and cologne to the delicious scent of fresh cookies in the back.

At the same time he got in the driver's seat in himself and gave me a once over before laughing beside himself. As he gathered himself at the sight of my pointed look he put one hand behind my seat and backed out the spot. I then turned fully towards him and broke into a huge grin. "Congrats, super star! You looked pretty nice out there once I got past the blood. You a heavy weight yet?" I poked his outstretched arm and he fought not to smile.

Big loser.

As soon was we merged into the highway his smile stretched as he moved that hand behind my seat into my own and tugged them both towards the backseat. Stretching all the way until we hit a cardboard box that sizzled at the touch. I looked back to Noah and he only winked knowingly  in response.

Taking the bait I unlocked our fingers and grabbed the box with my discarded sweater as a barrier between the hot box. My eyes widened as I took in the seal that told me all that I needed to know. "When did she have time to make this? How did you have time to get them? Noah- " he stopped my rambling with a small pinch to the thin skin of my elbow.

"I stopped by on my way to help with the garden and she practically forced them in my hand. Well until she found this big ass thermos of sorts."He laughed at the memory as I nursed my elbow in pain.

"I would recognize these labels anywhere! We spent a whole weekend working on them over the summer after she attended my award ceremony. She was the only one in attendance  from my family." My gaze trailed away as I recounted the bittersweet memory.

 "My grandmother Lucille  had made cookies just like these and brought them for literally everyone at the ceremony. Later that night and well until Sunday we developed labels so next time her new customers would know how to reach her- they were really such a hit." I smiled wistfully and we fell into a weird silence after that. Or maybe that was just me.

A few breaths later Noah's hand squeezed my shoulder one time and the awkwardness fell away immediately, now giving way to a comfortable silence before he said " Their fucking loss."