Time after time

They don't know about us

Elle POV

It was the first time I sat in the stands of a football stadium as a girlfriend in order to watch my boyfriend play football. When Noah was playing in high school, I wasn't his girlfriend yet, officially. Then during his freshman year at Harvard, I had never been there when he had football.

Today was the first football game of the season. Harvard was facing Cornell University and it won't be an easy matchup according to Noah. I was very happy to finally have the privilege of coming to cheer him on today.

I joined Abby and Chloe in the stands. Chloe had made a habit of coming to cheer on Noah last year. Today, I was grateful that she had been there for him, even though at the time I was dying of jealousy.

When we sat down on the platform, the people around us (especially the girls) started whispering... It's true that Noah's little demonstration yesterday at the party meant that now everyone knows me as Flynn's fiancée. This fact does not go unnoticed no matter where we go. I was hearing filtered words like: they're too young, it's probably not forever.

It always had a way of disturbing me that people who don't even know us allow themselves to comment on our life choices. Chloe must have heard the same thing as me, because she said to me:
-Don't worry, Elle! These people don't know you and they don't know what they're talking about. It's so obvious that this guy is totally obsessed with you! He'd do anything for you!
-I know, I'm crazy about him too!" I said, looking at my hands, embarrassed.
-He's so excited that you're here today. I think he's been talking to me about it all week," Chloe said with a wink.
-And if you ask me," Abby said to me with her disgusted look, "all bitches, these girls! They're just jealous!"

Abby is one of my best friends here. In some ways, she resembles Lee with her habit of dragging me into crazy ideas. She doesn't care what people think of her and strives to make others wrong rather than question herself. What I don't tend to do, I always let people define me.
-I think I'm just scared to realize that in the end, they're right. That we're too young and that our story can't be forever," I said in a small voice.
-It's up to you to prove them wrong," Chloe said, putting her arm around my shoulders. "You've been through so much that could have separated you, Elle. Lee and his famous rule number nine, for example..."
- What's rule number nine?" asked Abby.
- Quite a story!" I said with a sigh. "Lee is Noah's brother and my best friend since I was a little girl. When we were 6 years old, we wrote a list of rules: help your best friend pick up his mess, always be happy for your best friend.
- Rule number nine didn't sit well with Noah at all!" said Chloe, looking at Abby.
- It stipulated because it's no longer relevant in my opinion," I said, looking at Chloe. "That your best friend's family members were untouchable.
- So it was a rule only to prevent you and Noah from being together. Because Lee wouldn't have dated your little brother." Abby said with a serious look.
-That's right!" I said, laughing. "I don't think Lee would have dated Brad for anything other than a guy's night.
- But you've broken rule number 9 because you're getting married soon," Abby asked.
- Yes, and it didn't go very well. At first I was scared to tell Lee so Noah and I dated in secret for almost 6 months. Lee threw a fit when he found out, accusing me of lying to him. But as Noah told me, he would have been against it no matter how I told him," I told her.
- Do you want my opinion, Elle?" Chloe asked, but she gave me her opinion before I even answered her. "Lee's reaction to your move to Boston and the news of your engagement is just an extension of what you went through during your junior year in high school," Chloe said.
- That's right!" I confirmed.
- Were there any other people who disagreed with your relationship?" asked Abby.
- My dad because Noah had a reputation as a bad boy in high school often being involved in fights. All the girls in high school for obvious reasons and Marco..." I replied
- Marco? " Abby asked.
- A friend of Lee's in high school. He had also become mine, but he wanted more than friendship.
- Oh, problem in sight!" Abby pointed out.
- This was some time after Noah left for college. I was convinced that he was going to find a great girl at Harvard and let me down.
- Seriously," Abby asked me with big eyes. "This guy always wanted to make it clear to everyone that he had a girlfriend in LA and didn't want to know anything about anyone else.
-I was convinced he was dating Chloe at that point so we broke up and I kissed Marco in front of him!
- Oops!" said Abby.
- Marco made up his mind, Noah was heartbroken. Finally, we got back together at Thanksgiving but Marco was really trying to get it into my head that Noah wasn't good enough for me. The summer brought a lot of confrontations between the two.
- Wow! But you're still together and stronger!" said Abby.
- That's right, Elle!" said Chloe. "Last year, when Flynn gave me advice about my relationship with Jason, I asked him, since he's so good at finding problems in other people's relationships, what's the problem with yours?
-I'm afraid to ask you what he said!" I said, putting my hands in front of my face.
-Nothing to make you blush... He told me it was the lack of Elle! That when you're with him, everything is perfect!
- Oh, he's so cute!" exclaimed Abby.
- Don't ever say that in front of him! Noah hates being called cute." I said
- But that's what he is!" says Chloe before bursting out laughing.

I couldn't help but smile at what Chloe had just told me. It's true that under his shell, Noah has a really tender heart that sincerely wants to take care of me.

And at the same time, my hero entered the field accompanied by the rest of the football team. It was Noah's first play as a starting quarterback and I knew he was particularly nervous.

He spent hours listening to me talk about my friendship with Lee or my father in the last few weeks. Last night, the roles were reversed from what they had been in the last month. We've gotten into a good routine in this university lifestyle. I appreciate the privacy and autonomy we have here. It brought Noah and me together a lot, not just physically, but emotionally. The fact that we are the closest thing to family and the connection between us at home has brought us closer together. Noah is not only my lover but also my best friend. If I'm not doing well, I'm going to tell him and vice versa.

So last night after the party, we were both laying on his bed. All of a sudden, Noah opened his heart to me and shared with me that he was scared that he wouldn't be up to the task as a starting quarterback. I looked up at him to tell him that he has the right to make mistakes and that strength of character is in the ability to pick himself up. That my definition of who he is is not based on his performance but on who he basically is. So no matter what he's going to do or be as much as he does his best, I'll always be proud of him! The look he gave me at that moment indicated that I had lifted a heavy burden from him.

The screams of the crowd brought me back to the present moment. Noah turned to the stands to look for me. As soon as his eyes were screwed onto mine, I saw him articulate "I love you." To which I replied by articulating "Do your best". He nodded, put on his helmet and then started the game.

At the end of the 4th quarter, the score was 22-25 for Cornell University. Harvard was in possession of the ball. To be able to win, they had to score a touchdown. My eyes were glued to the game as Noah grabbed Greg by the shoulder to explain a few things to him. I saw Greg nod and move to one side of the field. Noah took possession of the ball and looked like he wanted to make a pass but he ran a few yards cleared by Derek when he stopped to pass to Greg who had quietly dodged defenders to get to the end zone.
-Catch the pass Greg!" shouted Abby.

We were all on our feet watching Greg jump into the air to catch the ball and land on the ground rolling into the end zone by the time the signal went off to end the game. He stood up and raised his arms still holding the ball instantly imitated by Noah.

They had won!! The entire stadium erupted in applause. What an end to the game! The guys started their post-game celebration while I was recovering from the stress of the game. I was so hopeful that Noah would win and really realize that he can do anything! I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice Noah approaching the stage while he was saying something to his friend Chris. I came to my senses when I was lifted off the ground and climbed over the fence into Noah's arms.

As soon as I was safe in his arms with my legs wrapped around his waist, he spun me around in the air.
-You know you're really the best fan in the world!" he whispered in my ear.
-Congratulations, Noah! I knew you could do it! " I said, running my hand through his damp hair.
-Thank you, to making me able of having confidence in myself, Elle!
- Promise me you'll never forget what I'm about to tell you: You're Noah Flynn! In my book, there's not much you can't do!
- I want to be your Noah!" he said before kissing me passionately.