The Grey- Noah Sebastian

three

*Noah's POV*

I feel like today could be summarized in the term "calculated risk."

The thing about Sutton, though, is that this calculated risk was never about her knowing who I am prior to this, nor has it been about wanting anything out of this, it's just been such a comfortable experience. It has felt organic, almost as though we arrived together today, and I never want this day to end. 

But all good things come to an end, unfortunately. 

It hit 8 p.m. as we sat in a patch of grass talking to each other. The good part about us not being well known on this lineup is that most people assume I'm just someone attending and they don't even look in my direction, so it felt like I had just been bouncing from stage to stage all day with no repercussions, which is super nice. 

Sutton is just incredible the more I get to know her. She loves going to concerts, her favorite band is Paramore, she enjoys painting, and she has three cats and a dog. She also is just so emotionally intelligent and mature that it's really nice to chat back and forth with her; she just is super empathetic and not in a fake way. It's in a way that makes you feel seen. She's also pretty tall for a woman, not too much shorter than me, so that's also a bonus.

"So what state is next?" she asks, breaking my thoughts.

"Massachusetts, but our last show is in Ohio. We're only doing this until the 18th." Thank God she also lives in Virginia, too. I live in Richmond and she lives in Norfolk, but that's doable. 

What am I even thinking? Is this more than a one day thing? I sure hope it is, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

"Hey, guys," a security officer comes up to us timidly at first, and then recognizes me, "Oh, hey, Noah! They're starting to close the grounds down, is she coming with you to the bus?"

I looked at her cautiously, because I want her to, but I also understand if she doesn't want to be around everyone. "Would you like to?" 

"Sure!" she said without a second thought, like she's clearly comfortable enough already not even be a little nervous about going to a bus full of guys that she just met today. I stood up and extended my hand to help her up, which she took gratefully, and I couldn't help but notice the electricity her touch causes in me. But I cannot get too ahead of myself. 

We contentedly walk to the buses in a comfortable silence. We people-watch as we go, as though we're just observing the final moments of everyone's magical day. I remember my first Warped Tour and how much it meant to me; I see myself in these 15 year olds getting that freedom for the first time. It's nice to see how happy it makes me 8 years later. 

I feel a sudden awareness as we're halfway to the buses, like something was about to happen. "What the fuck is your problem?!" Sutton screams suddenly. I turn around and she is clearly following close to someone that we have never seen before. "You think you can just fucking grab a random girl's ass and she won't fight back?!" The random man turns around and spits in her face, but as soon as it makes contact, she punches him perfectly in the nose. Blood immediately starts gushing after hearing a satisfying crack, and I see the rage in his eyes. I become a barrier between the two, not wanting him to fight back.

"Do you want to get your ass beat twice or are you going to move on?" I start, my heart beating out of my chest with adrenaline, but I am towering a foot over him, so he clearly does not want this fight. Him and his friend leave, his friend clearly telling him that he was a dick for that. I turn to Sutton, and while she's wide-eyed and mad, I can't tell what else she's feeling. "Are you okay?" I ask timidly. She fidgets with her hair, trying to push it out of her face, and then eventually puts it up into a bun.