Out of My League

Chapter 32 (Noah)

"No, the interview wasn't on purpose," I insist, throwing myself back into the couch, sinking so far into the cushions that I wish I would just disappear, "He just showed up!" 

Allison looks at me, curiously, "Why didn't you just tell him to leave?" 

I'd taken to venting to her the past couple of weeks. After our talk that day, we'd built an unexpected friendship. 

One I'm glad I have now, especially. 

I stare at her blankly and then say, voice quiet, "I didn't want to be rude." 

"Oh, yeah?" She laughs, clearing her throat to mock my voice as she asks, "Do you guys have nothing better to do than follow me around all day?" 

"First of all," I burst into laughter at her horrible replication of my voice, "It was you people, not you guys." 

"Yeah, yeah," she waves me off with an easy-going laugh, "What happened to not wanting to be rude?" 

"They'd already made me mad at that point," I shrug, trying to cut off my grin, but her voice mock is still fresh in my mind, "I mean, seriously, did they set up cameras outside of my house?" 

"Probably," she picks up her water bottle from the stand next to her, taking a small sip from it. 

At the sound of the plastic crinkling, Vivi snaps her head up from where she'd been sitting on the floor playing with her dragons and the new, fancy castle that Santa got her for Christmas. 

Immediately, she's on her feet and racing towards Allison like the water is the last drop on Earth. Allison doesn't seem the least bit fazed as she hands the bottle, un-capped, down to our daughter. 

Vivi drains it of its remaining liquid. 

"Thirsty?" I ask, to which she releases the breath of air she'd been holding while drinking and nods, returning to her dragons without a second thought. 

Allison and I watch her for a moment before Allison returns her attention to me, crossing one leg over the other as she asks, "Who'd you tell about the break-up?" 

"You," I tick the list off on my fingers, "Connor, Spencer, Bryce and Kenz, my parents-" 

"So it isn't a secret, then?"

At the look I shoot her, she says, "Was it ever a secret?" 

"No," I answer and then shoot her a curious glance, "Why? Who'd you tell?" 

"Nobody. I'm just wondering how the news got out." 

"I don't know that either," I sit up, resting my forearms on my legs, "I didn't tell them."

"Obviously," she huffs, "If you were shocked about the interview. Do you think Connor-" 

"No." 

"What about your parents-" 

"No." 

"Spenc-" 

"No." 

"Well, it has to be one of them, Noah," she throws her hands up in the air, exasperated. 

"Was it you?" 

"Me?" 

"Yes, you," I reply, suddenly defensive, "Who would have better motivation than you? You're my-" 

"I know what I am," she interrupts before I can speak the word, "But no, it wasn't me. Do you really think I'd be trying to help you if it were me? I wouldn't care." 

"Actually, you could be trying to cover up your tracks," I reply, grouchily. 

"Noah, I get that you're in a bad mood about it," she huffs, throwing her upper body into the couch like I'd done moments before, "But, maybe, don't make everybody mad that's trying to help."