Flynn - a kissing booth fan fiction

Volumes

A/N:  So, I know we're meant to be starting in on the third book/movie right now, but you know what the best part about writing from Noah's POV is? Having the chance to cover all the parts we didn't get to see, and adding in the moments we wished were there. This chapter is one of those times, so please indulge me and indulge in some extra Noah Flynn goodness. Jo xx

A persistent prodding feeling in my side wakes me, but not fast enough. The prodding turns into jabbing and I sit up, grimacing.

"Fucking ow!" I glare up at Chloe's grinning face as she stands over me, her pointed toe shoe lingering way too close to my ribs. "I'm awake, okay? No need to keep on maiming me."

"Excellent. Go home, Noah. We're done here."

Sighing, I retrieve the textbook that put me to sleep from the floor next to me and push up to my feet. "I'm still nowhere near as prepared for this exam as I wanted to be."

"Me neither," Chloe groans, collapsing back onto the sofa in her living room. "But my brain is mush. I haven't retained anything for at least the last half an hour." Her eyes cut to mine. "That might've had something to do with your snoring, though."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

It takes me a few minutes to gather up the rest of my notes and stuff that are scattered all over Chloe's apartment and shove them into my backpack, but soon enough I'm bidding my friend goodnight (although technically, it's morning) and heading across campus to my dorm. Just one more week until my first year here will be done. One more exam, then one last assignment to hand in, and it'll be over. The thought is both scary and exhilarating, but I don't let myself get too amped up about it, because I need to sleep, preferably in my bed instead of on Chloe's floor.

Sleep's been in shorter supply than usual these past few weeks as we've reached the pointy end of the semester. Elle's time here over spring break feels like a lifetime ago, instead of just a couple of months. And if I can just get through tomorrow, then finish my assignment over the following two days, I'll be able to fly home a day earlier than she's expecting me. Because I'll be damned if I'm going to miss out on the chance to surprise Elle on her last day.

About 28 hours later, I start to wonder if maybe I actually am damned. At least, I look like I could audition as an extra in some kind of zombie movie. I faceplanted on my bed after grabbing dinner with Chloe and some of the guys post-exam and even after eight hours sleep, I still look like shit. Shrugging, I head for the shower in hopes that the hot water will bring some life back to me. 

It does, but only barely. The coffee and muffin I snag from the dining hall afterwards help a little as well, but then it's back to my room to sit in front of my laptop and punch out another few thousand words on medieval images and motifs. Dear lord, I will be happy when I'm done with these Gen Ed subjects. Lunch is a protein bar and a Gatorade, and I probably would've had instant ramen for dinner if Steve, Blaine and Eli didn't barge into my room and all but drag me out to eat with them.

There are a couple of beers involved, and it hits me that this might be the last time I really get to hang out with my roommates like this. Next semester we'll all be living in the residential colleges or off-campus in apartments and while we've become friends this year, we aren't super close. But they're a good group of guys and maybe we'll still catch up from time to time. Hopefully. Knowing my luck, Eli will end up in one of my classes and bug me incessantly for my notes, I think wryly.

However much they've bugged me this year, I've come to enjoy having them around. Looking back on this year, I can admit that I wasn't at all prepared for how different college would be from high school. It's been the hardest year of my life, and they've all been here for it, a part of it. My freshman year at Harvard doesn't exist without them. Alright, that's about enough of this existential bullshit, clearly my sleep debt is catching up with me.