Paper Hearts (boyxboy)

Study Date

Noah:

"Okay." I breathe. "Pencil: check. Notebook: check. Three dollars in cash that won't help anything: check." I nod at my preparation and zip up my backpack. This is my first time going to Andrew's house, this is a milestone in our friendship. If I goof this up, I could wreck everything I've worked for.

I glance in the mirror, surveying myself. "You can do this." I try to encourage. "It's just like being at school. Except entirely different."

Damn, what if his parents hate me? What if I embarrass myself, or worse, embarrass him? This is driving me way crazier than it should! I used to go to friend's houses all the time a couple years ago. I guess that was back when I had real friends...

The hall phone suddenly rings, making me jump a bit. I sigh, knowing already it's Carly. She's called here time and time again, but every time I just have Lilli pick it up and say I'm not here. I have to answer; I have to! I can only ignore her so long. At some point it's just pathetic.

I bring my bag with me into the hall, picking up the phone cautiously on the fifth ring. "Um, hello?" I croak slowly, bringing the black receiver to my cheek.

"Noah," she hisses angrily. "Where the fuck have you been?"

Uh oh, losing my nerve. "Babe..."

"Do not babe me, we haven't spoken in weeks!" Her voice is in a crescendo that is horrifying. "Get over here now. We need to have a talk."

"Carly, babe, I'm a very busy man." I laugh nervously. Something about the growl on the other end tells me she didn't think it was that funny. "I... I feel like we have a distance between us, you know?" Yes that's good, get right to the point.

She scoffs. "No, I don't know. You haven't talked to me at all. I've been trying to call you every day, I look for you outside of every class, I even skipped cheerleading Monday to see if you were at football practice, and sure enough, you weren't! You've been avoiding me Noah, admit it!"

It's awful to admit, but I totally have been. Okay, I'm a pussy. I can own it. But honestly, she's a nightmare! Sure she's gorgeous, and sure she really helps my "image" around school, but god is she insufferable.

"I'm sorry, Carly. But seriously, I gotta go." It's already fifteen minutes past when I wanted to leave.

"Where! What could possibly be more important than me?" What does she think, that she's god's gift to the world or something?

"I have stuff to do! Andrew is waiting for me!"

"Andrew? You'd rather hang out with that faggot than save your relationship with me?" The tone in her voice is so cocky and annoying. Faggot. Of course she'd say that.

"Don't talk about my friend like that." My voice drops.

She scoffs, sounding hysterical. "Ha! Now you're defending him! Noah, he's a fag. It's obvious!"

That's it. No more holding back. "God damn it why are you always such a bitch? All you ever do is judge people! I'm sick of it!"

She gasps. "I am not a bitch, I'm just honest! You... You... pig-headed, dick wad! All I've ever done is try to make this relationship work! I constantly cater..."

She goes on forever and ever about everything she claims to have done to make this relationship function. After a while, I get tired and cut her off, mid-rant. "Yeah, I'm gonna have to stop you right there Carly. You lost me at pig-headed dick wad."