Sip by Sip

Chapter Twenty-Two: Worth It

Noah never heard from Jamie. But Levi returned nearly twenty minutes later only to be bombarded with questions and apologies.

    "Dude I didn't know, I'm so sorry . . . "

    "What's going on between you guys?"

    "What's happening? Sorry for provoking a scene."

    "Where did she go? Are you guys alright?"

    Only Noah stayed silent. When Levi finally noticed, he turned to him expectantly. Only Noah knew the correct question to ask.

    "Complicated?"

Levi's tense muscles relaxed at the word, as he realized Noah understood. He grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him into the back.

    "I don't know what we are anymore, Noah. Everything is spiraling out of control and I just- I want my friend back. I want Jamie back."

    Noah nodded, but didn't say a word, he only intended to listen.

    "It started out simple, you know? We ran into each other one day, and we set up a time to hang out. But then we started hanging out more and more and I started feeling all things unwelcome for us. And suddenly I was . . . I was kissing her, and later kissing Kate and . . . "

    Noah didn't know who the hell Kate was, but didn't ask.

    "And I can't lose her, Noah. I can't lose her. I can't . . . " his voice trailed off. Noah had never seen his friend so distressed. "I can't figure out if what I feel for her is real."

    Finally Noah couldn't bite back his tongue.

    "Levi, you know it's real when you care this much."

    "I don't want complicated," Levi whimpered, "and if I go through with this, I could ruin everything. Destroying our friendship, and replacing it with something that can be easily destroyed. Something fragile, something possibly temporary."

    "Sometimes it's worth it, Lev. Sometimes the complications are worth it," Noah replied in a whisper, and wondered how many times he had thought the opposite despite claiming the same.