Wait For You - Noah Sebastian

Cruel Summer

I didn't really want to be a part of the party that had started on the main level of the house, but it was my party after all. I wore a simple black bikini and placed myself in the hot tub after grabbing a drink. Most of the boys from across the street and other friends filled the backyard under the sound of music and the occasional shout. Ryan invited some of our more distant friends I hadn't seen in a while, making for a few awkward hellos.

It had been exactly one week since my failed blind date. I've only seen Noah in passing when I get home from work. I'm never sure if he's coming or going when we see each other from our respective driveways. It occurred to me the other night that other than the photographer I don't know what any of the boys in that house do for a living. But who am I to judge, I work in medical records for a large medical facility, I have one of the most boring jobs there is. Maybe they're all some form of creatives?

I was pretty focused on my drink and people watching when I noticed Noah standing in the living room with Brett. I felt stupid for how my chest fluttered when I saw him, so very stupid. He's just tall, that's all it is. Tall with brown eyes, uggh, those eyes. The water around me became too hot forcing me to lift myself from the water and perch on the edge of the tub to cool off. The sudden change of temperature shocked me causing a chill to run down my spine as my eyes stayed on the brown eyed man that was making his way out onto the deck. He held a beer in his right hand and his other in the pocket of his shorts. He stood casually with his shoulders relaxed. Stop staring you creep. I averted my eyes as I took a sip from my red solo cup. My eyes couldn't stay away though. As I turned my head back in his direction my breath caught in my throat as I saw he was approaching me and was already half way here.

"Hey stranger" he said smoothly as he got closer.

"Hey" I watched as he climbed into the hot tub and matched my positioning of legs only in the water.

"How have you been?" His hands gripped the side of the hot tub, I couldn't help but notice the tattoos covering his long fingers. "Any more blind dates you need saving from?"

"No" I shook my head as I laughed. "Ry promised me if that date didn't work out I didn't have to go on anymore."

"Any more dates in general or blind ones"

"She meant blind ones, I'm not so sure I'll be that specific though,"

"Oh come on, I'm sure there's someone worth your time," Noah countered.

"I'm not worried about my time. I don't like wasting others time" I corrected. "I seem to have wasted a lot of other's time in the past and I don't intend on adding to that number" a long moment passed before Noah opened his mouth to speak.

"I'd let you waste my time if I could," I quirked a brow at his sudden statement. "Only I don't think you're capable of wasting someone's time." He looked at me with sincerity that I'm not used to, it caused me to look away by ducking my head and finding interest in my cup.

"Thanks. That's kind of you to say" I felt more awkward than before.

"You're welcome." his calm tone of voice had me looking back up to lock eyes with his brown ones.

"Look, you don't have to pity me because of the breakup." I felt the need to set the record straight. "I'm fine, well not completely, but I will be,"

"I wouldn't pity you, you don't need it. I certainly wouldn't waste time pitying you if you didn't need it."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He was becoming to poetical for me.

"I mean, you're stronger than you think, and you're not a waste of time." The topic at hand was becoming too heavy for me. It was too much about me, to much me, I've never been one for the spotlight.

"What do you do for a living?" I asked in a desperate attempt to change the subject as I lowered myself back into the hot tub. I hoped the water would cover me, hide me from the prying brown eyes that didn't seem to be interested in anything else. I watch Noah strip himself of his shirt and toss it aside. Holy shit, I felt my jaw hang loose slightly for a second before I corrected myself. I watched Noah sink into the hot tub opposite of me. I hated to see the tattoos disappear under the water, but I still got to enjoy some of them.

"I work from home," he was quick to answer.

"Doing?"

"Engineering." he was short answered again.

I nodded before opening my mouth. "Okay" it came out long and drawn out. "How long have you been doing that?"

"Awhile now" again, he obviously didn't want to speak of his work, maybe he works for the government and it's top secret. "How's medical records going?"

"Just as boring as it's ever been." Noah cracked a smile at my fake happy response. It's the only response I ever give when talking about my job.

"Heard this isn't just any party," Folio announced as he strutted over confidently.

"Who said?" I tried to play dumb. I watched Noah knit his eyebrows together as he turned to look at Folio for a answer.

"A little birdie by the name of Ryan told me it's in honor of Ella," he climbed into the hot tub and perched on the edge. "For her twenty-fifth birthday" he narrowed his eyes of me. Noah looked at me with raised eyebrows while Folio smiled like a dork.

"Yeah, yeah, she wouldn't let me go without something to celebrate." I admitted as my eyes fell to the water bubbling between the three of us. "I'm not a fan of my birthday"

"I'm not a fan of birthdays myself," Noah admitted before tipping his beer back.

"Hate to break it to you but you're celebrating one right now," Folio said with a nudge to Noah's shoulder.

"I don't mind this one," Noah's eyes landed on me as he winked causing a blush to rise to my cheeks. I think I imagined it so I ducked my head once again to hide my reddened face.

"Well I'm gonna take a dip in the pool," I announced as I stood and climbed out of the hot tub. Noah let me get a few steps ahead of him before he followed me. I stood at the edge of the pool contemplating my entrance route when Noah stepped up beside me.

"You scared or something?" he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Of the water being cold? yes," I craned my neck to look up at the tall man beside me.

"Well, they say the best way to acclimate to water is to fully submerge yourself." Noah said off handedly.

"I don't want to get my hair wet." I countered as I faced the pool again, looking at the clear water.

"Too late"

"What?" I turned back to ask him what he meant as I felt an arm wrap around my waist just before my feet left the concrete below me. Suddenly water crashed into me and surrounded me. My eyes burned as they shot open in the chlorine filled water. I saw Noah, shit eating grin spread on his face as he watched me, a large bubble left his mouth as he let out a laugh under water before pushing to the surface. I pushed off the bottom of the pool and surfaced just after Noah, to hear his infectious laughter. "You ass!" I shouted as I splashed water in his direction.

"is the water cold?" he asked as his laughter died out.

"No, not really," I conceded

"You're welcome" I didn't realize till now how close we are and how his left hand rested on my low back keeping me close. I watched as water dripped off the end of his pointed nose as well as the ends of his hair that looked no wilder than my probably does now.

"Thanks," I breathed out, I felt caught by his eyes, I couldn't look away, I was locked in place as I felt his other hand rest on my hip.

"Where's the birthday girl?!" I heard Ryan call out from the deck, "Come take a shot for your birthday, birthday girl!" Noah's hands left my body as we pulled back from each other and turned towards the house and pushed ourselves to the edge of the pool.

"There she is!" Ryan called out again. As I caught sight of her I saw her standing on the edge of the deck holding a shot glass in each hand as she bounced around excitedly.

"Bring them over here" I called out, not wanting to exit the pool, hoping to be able to salvage the moment Noah and I just had ruined.