The Dare

Chapter 28

As I walk down the staircase, I couldn't help but sob. It came to a point where I couldn't breathe and it felt like I was going to throw up. I sit down on one of the steps with my head in my hands. Not because I feel sick, I don't want to go back to my apartment either.
Standing outside my door, I wipe my tears and fix my hair, like I haven't been crying for thirty minutes.

I finally open the door and find Ethan watching a football game. "Hey babe" he says turning his head to me then back to the tv.
"Hey" I say walking over and kissing him on the cheek, then to the kitchen and get a glass of water. I lean on my elbows watching Ethan, as he concentrates on the game, thinking about what I said to Noah.
I shouldn't have said that. We've met for the first time in almost five years and i already messed it up.

After I down the rest of my water, I walk over to the couch and sit next to him. He wraps his arm around me  to pull me in closer and kisses me on the head.
"How was your day"
"Not too bad how about yours"
"Fine"
I try to watch the tv trying to understand it, but I can't. I have no interest in football. Then Chris comes back to my head again and I'm on the verge of crying.
I stand up "I'm gonna have a shower then head to bed"
"Okay" he says.

I stand in the shower with both my hands on the wall keeping me up. I can't even remember how much I cried as it blended in with the water and slowly swirls down the drain. This is the longest shower I ever took.
I went to bed and cried until I heard the tv turn off. I heard Ethan walking into the room, so I roll over onto my other side so that he can't see my wet face, and close my eyes, waiting for him to climb into bed and fall asleep for me to sob again.

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The next day

I was wide awake in bed staring at the ceiling. I turn my head and read the alarm clock.

7am.

I decided to get out of bed and start my day an hour earlier, I might even study for an hour before my class.
I eat my breakfast and I peek into the bedroom, where I find Ethan still asleep. I slip out the door and stroll through the cold streets of New York.

I get to a cute café and go to the counter, ordering my drink
"Thank you" I say taking my green tea off the barista and turning around to look for a table. My eyes immediately fall to Noah sitting at a table by himself next to the window.
He looks up too, and gives a friendly wave.
"Hi Noah" I say walking towards him.
"Hi y/n, I would ask you to join me but your busy" his says pointing to my books.

I hesitate for a second "No I'm not studying, I'm just going class after my this." I say pointing to my tea.
He raises his eyebrows and puts his hand out in front of him, motioning to sit down.
"Green tea?" He says looking into my mug.
"What" I say to Noah as he makes a disgusted face.
Noah definitely hasn't changed. I take sip of my tea to drown out the
silence.

"You look really tired" he says ducking his head so his eyes are in front of mine.
"Yeah just didn't get a lot of sleep"
He nods, knowing why.
His eyes move to my phone facing down on the table. Showing the folded note that's in my clear phone case.
"What's that" he says nodding his head towards my phone.

"Oh it's just" I turn back to him.
"An address" i lie- the worst lie ever. He nods.
"Tell me about you, what have you been up to" I say leaning into the table.
"Couple weeks ago we finished filming a movie, I had one of the main roles"
I raise my eyebrows "Wow"
"I'm a chef at Manhatta and I love it."
I smile "I'm really happy for you"
He sips his black coffee and looks at my phone case again.
"Do you have a girlfriend" I ask that makes him look back up quickly.
He quickly shakes his head. "No"
I take a sip of my tea.
"Why were you out on the rooftop last night" He says changing the subject.
I shrug my shoulders "I had a stressful day so I go up there to relax, I love watching sunsets and just the view in general"
He arches his eyebrows "What about the sunrise"
"I'm never awake for them" I confess. He laughs.
"You still talk to Ellie?"
"I talk to her everyday, once every two weeks she comes over and stays for a few nights or i go to hers. Those are the nights I look most forward to."
He nods with a smile. I look out the window to avoid his brown eyes looking at me.