Protected

Blair Meets Noir

                    I clamber out of the car and grab my bag from the trunk.
     "Bye Mom, see you tomorrow!"
     "See you sweetie!"
It's Monday night, the week of Thanksgiving and we have off school.
        I'm sleeping over Blairs house tonight, it'll be our first sleepover. I've been over to her house numerous times the past 3 weeks, and she's been to my house just as much.
        "Hi Lexi!" Blair greets me at the door, a big grin on her face.
     I love her. She's always so happy!
"Hey girl! Thanks so much for inviting me!" I say.
    "Oh no problem. Come on in!"
I enter her cozy little brick, ranch style house, and we head down the hall to her room.
      I sniff. "Smells amazing here!"
"Moms been cooking. She likes to make some stuff ahead of time, so she's not overly stressed come Thursday. We have relatives coming for the holiday."
     "We have Carson's family over."
     "Sounds fun."
We flop on her bed and start chatting gaily. Blair puts on a CD by our favorite singer, Kaitlyn Kutch.

     "I'm lava red, I'm burning up!"
     "Igniting a fire, I'm gonna erupt!"
     "Don't get on my bad side, it's going to hurt,"
       "Cause I'm a volcano,"
      "NOW WATCH ME BURN!"

     We scream along the lyrics, and I am filled with happiness, hanging out with my best friend, listening to music she introduced me to and we both love.
      Blairs mom pokes her head around the door and smiles at me and Blair, hanging upside down off Blairs bed.
     "I figured you arrived when I heard all the laughter. Hi Lexi."
     I grin. "Hi Mrs. Huntsmen."
"Dinner is ready girls, come out in about 5 minutes. Your father's just changing, Blair."
     We nod and turn Kaitlyn back on.
    At dinner, there's a lot of laughter and joking around. Blair's parents love me, they seem to think I'm hilarious.

     Which I am.

After dinner we head back to Blair's room, where I receive a text from Noir.

    What are you up to, beautiful?
-N

    Blair reads over my shoulder and squeals. "Oh, my goodness, I didn't realize he was so smitten with you!"
   I giggle, "Yes, he is." We've talked about Noir a considerable amount.

Just sleeping over my BFFs. -L

Again? You were at his house last weekend! -N

Not Carson, you dimwit, Blair. -L

Did you finally drop him? About time you came around! -N

Shut up! Of course not! I've known him for years, I'm not just going to drop him like a hot potato. -L

    Blair snickers at my messages, and sits up with a jerk. "I just remembered, me and Noir were never properly introduced!"
   "Well let's get that fixed!" I say.

Call me.-L

Anytime, can't wait to hear your voice. -N

We collapse into giggles and my phone rings. It takes 6 rings before we're calm enough to answer. I put it on speaker and shush Blair.
    "Hi Noir!"
"Hi beautiful! How's my girl today?"
    "I'm grand! And you?"
   "If you're happy, I'm happy."

Blair slaps a hand over her mouth in an attempt to stifle her chuckles.

"Well then. Thanks Noir."
He laughs, "Anytime. Hey, I thought you were sleeping over Blairs."
"I am. I, uh, told them I was calling my, er, mother, and snuck out on the porch."
"Secretly phone calling me? I must mean a lot to you."
"Yeah yeah." I glance at Blair. "I think you'd like Blairs house. It's cozy."
"I think, by what you tell me, I'd like Blair. I think I'd like anything you like."
I sigh. "Seriously you need to cut it out with the sappy comments. Get a girlfriend."
"I'm waiting on you."
I rolled my eyes at Blair, who looked like she was having a conniption.
"You're very entertaining."
"Tell me more about this Blair. We've talked about her, but give me more info. What does she look like?"
"I've already told you that and sent you photos! She's got long, gorgeous brown hair and brown eyes. She's very pretty."
Blair blushed and mouthed a thank you. I nodded.
"Hmm. How's her laugh?"
"Lilting."
"What kind of bra does she wear?"
I snort, and Blair bursts out laughing. We fall into hysterics.
"I wear Aerie!" She shrieks, and I can hear Noir take a sharp intake of breath.
"You liar, Lexi! You weren't on the porch!"
"Ya think?" I snap, still laughing.
"Oh my gosh." He says.
"Don't tell me you're embarrassed."
"I'm not. I do actually want to know."
"Well too bad you weren't paying attention. She did tell you. But we're not going to say it again. Good night, pervert."
"Lexi wait-"
Click. I hang up and turn to Blair, collapsing into giggles again.

   We'll finish this discussion tomorrow. >:( -N

  Gives you a lot of respect for Carson, seeing's how he's put up with me for 8 years. Night night
-L

     After that, we headed downstairs to sit in the living room, around the fireplace. We made mochas and had snicker doodles, snatching them from Mrs. Huntsmen's baking tray. We watched the latest teen movie, "On Key," and discussed the newest jock that Sandra Bearnes was dating.
        We went to bed and after talking for 2 hours, fell asleep.

        The next day I was laying on the floor with Little Bear, my 5 year old Pomeranian, rolling around and stealing his tennis ball. I had gotten home from Blair's at around 3 that afternoon, and was home alone now.
My phone rang, the caller ID read, "Noir <3." He wants to talk about what happened last night.
"Hello."
"Lexi! How my girl?"
"You start every conversation like that." I say flatly.
He chuckles. "Why did you allow Blair to listen in on our very private conversation?"
"Why was it so private? We weren't planning a murder."
"I would've rather she didn't hear me ask that question."
"You asked me if I wore bikinis." I say bluntly.
"Yes, well that's not as messed-up sounding as 'what type of bra do you wear?'"
I was surprised. This was one of the very few times where Noir sounded vulnerable, not his usual cocky self.
"Listen Noir. Blair was not bothered. She already knows you ask funny questions like that, she just thought you were being... Humorous."
"Do you tell all your besties about our conversations?" Noir asks angrily.
I answer truthfully, "Yup."
"Carson knows the stuff we've talked about?" I could hear anger and annoyance in his voice.
I pause. "Not all of it... I only told Blair everything because, well, we're both girls and girls can tell when you're keeping something."
"So can guys." Noir says.
"I guess. Why does it bother you so much? We weren't being inappropriate."
"I have to go, my mom wants me downstairs. We have relatives coming tomorrow for Thanksgiving in 2 days. And hey, I'm not upset. I can take a joke. I'm not mad at you, please don't think I am. Bye, beautiful," he says.
The line goes dead. I sigh and turn to Little Bear. "Who wants to go for a walk?"

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Whoop whoop! You guys all read my last chapter really quickly so I decided to update a little early for ya ;) Only a couple more chapters and an epilogue left to go!

This chapter is dedicated to meemeemoo for commenting how many times Lexi said "freaking." Go follow her, her name is Paige and she's my cousin!

-M.R.