The Dare

Chapter 23

6 months later
I still visit Chris every single Wednesday and it's the one day of the week I actually can't wait for.
I haven't talked to Noah since, we still see each other in class and in the hallway. I catch him staring at me sometimes and sometimes he catches me.
My mind is plague with memories of Noah. They follow me from the moment I wake up, to the moment I fall asleep. There's never a moment I don't think of him. Sometimes I wonder if my absence hurts him the way it hurts me. Deep down, I'm scared that he moved on.

I'm in my room when I get called to the kitchen by my mom. As I walk into the kitchen I saw her sad face looking out the window, thinking about something.

Something was up, as soon as she felt my presence she turned to me fake smiling but then it fades away.
"I've been needing to tell you something for a while and I think this is the right time"
I arch my eyebrow confused, hoping it's good news but there's this feeling in my stomach, it's not.
She takes a deep breathe.
"We're moving."
I stared at her, wanting her to elaborate. But she stands there waiting for my response, I couldn't talk. My mouth was hanging wide open.
"Where" i whispered as that's all that could come out"

"Texas"

That hours away. I could feel my eyes fill up and tears running down my face.
"What"
"I'm so sorry y/n.. I- I found a better job there, and-"
I can't listen anymore.

I'm still standing in the same spot, frozen. I can't leave this place, I can't leave Chris, I can't leave Ellie, I can't leave Noah.
I snap out of it.

"When" I say wiping the tears with my sleeve"

"3 weeks" she says with tear rolling down her face too.
"I know how much you love this place and I'm so sorry we have to go" she says walking towards me wrapping her arms around me.
I want to pull away and shout but I'm stuck, I'm frozen so I accept it.

"No no no no" I whisper with my shaky voice"
—————————————————
Two days later

I still haven't told Ellie and I'm dreading it. I can't leave her. I can't. She's the best thing that has ever happened to me, I'm never gonna meet someone like her ever again.

I'm walking to the hospital after school to see Chris. His hearts going to break. I'm going to miss Chris so much.
"There's my girl" he's says with his arms out.
"Hey Chris" hugging him back.
I sigh grabbing the seat to sit in.
"Everything okay?"

I didn't say anything back, I just shake my head. I look up at him with tears overflowing. I bit my lip not wanting to say it, i squeeze my eyes and look back up at him.
"We're moving Chris"
His mouth opens slightly, and blinks rapidly.
"What"
I nod. "We're moving to Texas in 3 weeks, Mom found a better job"
He shook his head.
"Y/n... I know how much you liked here and I'm going to miss you so
much, no one visits me as much as you and Noah do."

Noah.

"And I'm gonna be guttered to see you go."
I stand up and hold him again. It makes me so sad when I think about leaving Chris, what if something happens to him. Think about that makes me sob even harder.
I stand up and wipe all my tears and sit back down.

"Can we please change the subject" I laugh wiping my tears.

He laughs too. "How did the Science test go?"
"Got 95%"
He smiles "I knew you could do it" giving me a high five.

"Hey dad soccer practice was cancelled and-
Noah was standing in front of us staring at me, and my eyes remained on his. It's the first time I heard him talk in 6 months.
"Oh Noah" Chris says.
His eyes were still on mine. I stand up brushing past him to get my things, I get a whiff of his scent. God I miss that so much.

"I better go" I say getting my bag and jacket.
I leave the room and walk down the hallway wanting to go home.

I could finally breathe again, when I'm in the same room as him i swear I can barely breathe, especially when he stares at me with those brown eyes.

I just want to go home

—————————————————

Noah

I turn back to my dad who was staring at me, before curling the side of his mouth nervously.
My mouth dry "What is she doing here"
"She comes to me every Wednesday... while you know.. while your at practice"
I sigh. Running my fingers through my curly hair.
"She still talks about you, you know"
I lift my head up to face him.

"She still talks about you like you put stars in the sky" he laughs.

I stare at him, not knowing what to say but he keeps saying

"She always wonders how your doing, or if your okay."
He looks down at his feet under the white blanket.
There's a silence.
I look down at my feet.

He clears his throat
"And um"
I look back up at him again.
"She moving" My dad say with his voice breaking saying the word "moving".
My heart was sprinting now and my mind span in circles.
"No" I whisper, shattering the silence between us. I shake my head but the tears watering up my eyes won't stop.
"I'm sorry No-
"When" I cut him of.
"When" I repeat.
"3 weeks" I could barely breathe. I sat down in the chair y/n sat in, it even smells like her.

"Where"
"Texas"

That's hours away. My mind raced, y/n is moving and there's nothing I can do about it. I turned my head so he wouldn't see a tear rolling down my face. I was angry, so angry that I couldn't just talk to her, so angry that I broke her heart. I want to rewind the time and make everything okay again but I can't.

I was so lost, watching the sun setting, and I waited for as long as I could before I got to my feet. I want to get to y/n, but at the same time, I didn't know how to talk to her. It's been six months. I couldn't stand the thought of her seeing the person that broke her heart, standing in front of her.

I ran out of the hospital, I ran and I ran. I could she her back to me with her backpack on, watching the trees  swaying as she past by them admiring them.
Looking so beautiful.
I ran closer and closer until she finally turned around.