miracle [N. SEBASTIAN]

"i just need to get off the boat."

[<3]

it around 6am and I'm sitting in bed reading a book when a receive a text from Noah.

Noah :) : hey, you awake?

me: yeah, what's up?

i don't receive a reply but there is a knock on my door about a minute or two later.

I get up from bed with an oversized hoodie and shorts, walking to the door and opening it already knowing who's at the door.

"hey, what's up?" I let him in.

he just shrugs and takes his slides off and climbs in my bed.

I take that as a sign he didn't want to talk about it, "do you want coffee or something?"

he shakes his head and just lays in the bed. I climb in the bed and grab my book again, letting us sit in silence.

his soft snores meet my ears as I continue to read. he moves every so often, soft flinches - almost spasms.

around 10am I finish my book and a call from Nick.

"hello?"

"hey, sorry if I woke you. do you know where Noah is? we can't seem to find him."

I look at the sleeping figure next to me, "oh no you didn't, it's fine. and yeah, he's actually asleep in my room. he showed up at 6 and just seemed out of it."

"oh okay, well I'm glad to know he's okay. he's been really tired recently so I'm glad he's getting sleep. alrighty well I talk to you later, bye Ken."

"alright, bye."

"who was that?" a raspy voice says making me jump.

"god Noah you scared me." I say holding my hand to my chest.

he gives me a small smile, "sorry."

I smile back, "it's okay, it was just Nick. he was wondering where you were."

"ahh okay."

"you feeling better?"

"yeah, sorry about earlier."

"it's okay, don't worry about it. I'm always here if you need me."

——

the waves captivate me. the boat lightly rocks on them as it sits near a boating dock. we're still by the beach. I can hear the bands playing on the ship along with people cheering.

I'm leaning on the rails watching people chill on the beach. music plays there too. it's our last day before we head home.

the salty water leaves a calming smell in the air when the breeze hits. palm tree leaves sway almost unnoticeably.

"hey, there you are." I hear someone say behind me.

"I've been calling you."

"oh," I check my pockets but don't feel a phone. "sorry I must've left it in my room."

Noah shakes his head and smiles, "it's okay, glad your safe. you had us worried when you just walked away."

"sorry, I just wanted to come up here to watch everything. it's so calming." I go back to look at the water.

he nods his head and leans on the rail with me. we watch in silence before he gets a call.

it's the boys asking if he found to which he tells them our location and then hangs up.

"you know you never asked me the question." I say looking at him.

"oh right," he says looking at me and then to the water and back to me. "wait you have an eyelash on your cheek." he lets out a soft laugh.

I try to wipe it off, "did I get it?" he shakes his head and I try again.

he gently grabs my wrist pulling it away from my face as moves closer. his hand meets my face with a touch so gentle, one would think I was porcelain.

"got it." he whispers still starting in my eyes.

the butterflies don't stop and my body feels like it's going to melt.

"thanks." I whisper almost breathlessly.

kiss him.

I gulp when my eyes meet his lips for a split second.

the two words echo in my head over and over again. my hands grow clammy at our close proximity.

I didn't think it through before i did it. it was almost out of impulse.

I didn't realize until 2 seconds after that I had kissed him.

I instantly back away, embarrassment and shame all over my face.

"I- I think I'm gonna go. I'm sorry."

I can't even look at him nor the boys when I walk past them in a hurried manner.

"Hey Ken - what's wrong?" Nick asks when I push past him.

everything is a blur, even sounds as the embarrassment clouds my senses. I just need to get off the boat.