Rage (Blue Rose Series Book 1)

Chapter 23

Jessica, Riley, and I decided to walk to a bar not too far from campus. I was afraid that Jessica was right about the part of Noah following me here. I still didn't know how he knew I was at night's club. If I found out he had some tracker on me, he had an ass beating in his future.

We decided not to get dressed up and when we got to the bar we took a booth in the back. A waitress came over and took our orders. We ordered a pitcher of margarita, and I ordered a burger and fries. I was on my second glass of margarita while Jessica and Riley were still sipping their first.

"What's going on with you two?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" Jessica answered.

"I mean, are you two a couple or what?"

Jessica opened her mouth to answer, but Riley spoke instead.

"We're just hanging out. I'm going back to school soon, so we are just keeping things casual."

Riley was too busy sipping on her drink to notice the hurt look on Jessica's face. I felt terrible for bringing it up now.

"How's the plan going?" Riley inquired.

"Fine."

"Is it difficult now that you are confused about your feelings for Noah?"

"Yes," I answered honestly. "I wish I was emotionless with all of this."

"If you were, you wouldn't know where to draw the line."

"True."

We sipped our drinks, ate food, and chatted for a bit. Before we left, I used the bathroom. I finished, washed my hands, and started toward the door when it opened up, and unsurprisingly Noah walked in.

"I should have known. Jessica said you'd come."

"I'm going to keep doing it until you realize it wasn't me who set you up."

"Don't you think giving me space is the best way for me to process?"

"No."

"Well, I do, so stop following me around." I started to move past him but stopped. "How do you keep finding me?"

"Don't worry about that. Just know that I will always find you."

"Uh-huh."

I moved past him, and he let me. I went to the table where Riley and Jessica were chatting like all was right in the world.

"Did you guys not see him walk inside the bathroom?"

They looked over at me.

"Who?" Jessica asked.

I looked behind myself where Noah was leaning against the wall, eyes directly on me.

"The six freaking four foot guy that walked into the women's bathroom."

Their eyes widened as they took in Noah.

"No, we didn't see him go in. We're sorry."

I didn't bother responding because I had no actual right to be upset. Noah would have gotten into that bathroom regardless if they had warned me. We paid for the meal and left with Noah, following behind us. I wished he would leave me alone. It hurt when he was this close. Every day I wished I rightfully hated him as I should.

He followed us back to campus and stood outside the dorms until we all went inside. I looked back to see him standing there with his hands in his pockets, staring back at me. We stood there staring at each other for a while before I went to my room, closed my door, and cried myself to sleep.