Tales of a Crush

The beginning

Hi. I'm Katerina Thomas, but my friends call me Kat. I, at age 27, stand at 5 foot 6. I haven't grown much since I was 16 when I grew that extra 3 inches. I have always had this really thick but fine naturally curly hair, honey brown eyes, and a mocha, caramel complexion. My lips are pretty full and are a warm shade of pink. I have a skinny nose, full cheeks, and oval face shape. I have, as my sister describes it, a Coke-a-Cola bottle body shape. My boobs aren't small or big. I have a lean waistline and a 'big' butt.

Anyway, this is supposed to be about that silly crush of mine. Well, where do I begin? Ahh, I know. I've had a crush on Noah Morrison since I was 14...
_______
April 24th
I walk into the school's front office and sign in. I'm working on yearbook since I'm in 8th grade. Once I'm given permission, I head to the back room where the computer that Gabby, Noah, and I were assigned to today is.
I put my bag down next to me and sit down. I log on to the computer and begin sorting pictures for the cheer and basketball pages. As I sort through, I see a lot of pictures of me and Gabby cheering our asses of and Noah, tall, lean, slightly tanned skin, light brown wild hair, and very muscular, in that jersey...Okay back to work.
I finish sorting pictures a little while later and move on to adding them to the pages. I open up the cheer page and paste all of the pictures on and start moving them around.

You may be wondering why I'm the only one working, and that is because Noah has baseball practice and Gabby is also on student council. Gabby's meeting will be out in a few and baseball practice ends at about 3:30, which is...now. SHIT!!! I really don't need to be alone with him. I get all awkward and nervous. This will be just amazing.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Noah comes strolling in a black muscle tee and jeans that hug every inch of him. I am in ripped skinny jeans, a loose, powder purple tank top, and white converse. I stop staring at him and go back to work, trying to ignore him. He puts his bag down next to mine, "Hey, Kitty." Did I mention that he gave me a nickname? No, okay...yeah, he gave me a nickname.
"We are working on the cheer and basketball pages today. I already sorted the pictures. I'm just figuring out the layout for the cheer page," I state trying not to start a conversation.
"What, no 'hi'? Just straight to business?" He says. I roll my eyes, and continue my work on the computer, "Hi, Noah. Now will you sit down and help me?"
"Fine," he sits in the chair next to mine and rests his arm across the back of mine. I sit up straight from my leaned back position. Really? Why in the world is that necessary?!

"Make the picture of the group bigger, surround it with the individuals, and put the action shots along the bottom," he chimes in after a few minutes of silence. I give him the mouse and let him do it. He leans forward and I lean back. He moves his hand and rests it on the desk as he works.
I take this time to notice that he has a small bruise coming up under his left eye. "Oh my God! What happened to your face?" I ask grabbing his chin and angling his face and pushing  away his hair so I can see the bruise better.
"I may have pissed Raymond off again. It is no big deal. He's the one with the busted lip," he says cockily. I roll my eyes and stand, "Where are you going?"
"To get you an ice pack. That is swelling and I don't think you really want to have to explain to your mom why you got hit so hard. Believe me, she won't believe you just got hit with something during gym," I say barely towering over him because he has to be 6 foot 2 in 8th grade.
I go to the nurse, who's son is in my home room. "Hi Miss Hanson, I need an ice pack for Noah." "Hi Katerina. Sure. Let me guess him and Raymond got into it again," she hands me the ice pack and I nod. She laughs and shakes her head, "One of these days, those boys are going to do more then just bruise each other."
"You're probably right. Thanks Miss Hanson," I agree as walk back to the office.

When I get back Noah is hard at work picking a border for the cheer page, "As a cheerleader, which one do you like more? The megaphones or the pompoms?" I look at the two choices, "Pompoms, definitely. We don't even use megaphones. Here, put this on your face." He positions the ice pack on his face and I take over again, moving on to the basketball page.
On occasion, I l'll check my phone for the time wondering where Gabby is until this text comes.

GABBY: Sorry won't be able to make it to yearbook today. Don't forget...USE PROTECTION!!!!!

The worst part of that is that Noah checked that message for me. "Protection for what?" he asks smirking. This isn't the time for you to be a cocky asshole. "Ummm....that's an inside joke...loooong story," I snatch my phone and text back, tilting my head down letting my hair cover my viciously blushing face and phone.

Me: WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!? He is right fucking here!!!!!!!! Did you forget you are the only person that knows I like him?!?!?!!
GABBY: OOPS😉
Me: 😑
GABBY: Love you too 💚

I roll my eyes and lean back in my chair. "You good, Kitty?" "Fine, just a little annoyed," I sit up and go back to work.
"You sure? Whatever that joke was about has got you pretty stressed out," he rests his hand on my lower back. I stiffen up a little but not enough for him to notice. What in the hell is with you today?!?!?
"I'm good. Let's get back to work. It's 4:10 and we have to be done by 4:30," I say as I try to convince him that I'm okay. My best friend is going to get it later tonight.

As we finish up and submit the pages his phone sounds off. He watches his phone for a minute and laughs, "Who was that?"
"Darren. Come here, you have to see this," he grabs my hip and slides me closer to him. I bite my lip so I don't squeal. The video he shows me is a 45 second video of him handing Raymond his ass after he punches Noah. I try to pay attention to the video but I can't. All I can focus on is his large hand still gripping my hip. I want to scream like an idiot but that would be weird. *internally rolls eyes*
When the video ends, I look up to Noah, who was obviously just watching my reaction, "You're one of those people that doesn't really like to watch fights, aren't you?" I realize I didn't really react to anything I saw. I was too busy thinking about his hand, which he just happens to move right then.
I shrug as an answer, "It's just weird when you actually know the people fighting I guess." Just play along, Kat.
"I get it. When is your ride getting here? I'm staying till about 4:45." Good, a subject change.
"My sister should be here soon if she isn't already here," I answer honestly. "Cool. I'll wait with you if she isn't," he answers standing grabbing both of our bags.
He holds the back straps of mine so I can just shrug it on. I turn my back to him and put my arms through the loops and grab our iPhones off the desk. His had a clear, protective case, showing the space gray phone. Mine is a green whale made out of thick rubber. I unintentionally read a message off his phone...

DARREN: So your ass is stuck in a room with Kat's annoying ass for an hour? Hahah!!! Tell me how many times she corrects you a minute.

Okay fuck off! You are the main one trying shit.....oh my LORD Jesus help me. I know me being a know it all is a running joke, but his ass will get a rude awakening tomorrow. I hand Noah his phone, schooling my expression so I look more tired than annoyed.
"I swear he needs to chill..." He says to himself as he replies to the message. Okay pretty good reaction.
"Who?" I want to see if he'll tell me.
"Darren, he's just making jokes about...never mind,"
"Is about me?" I cock my head to the side slightly.
He sighs a little looking at the floor ten at me, "Yeah. He...just thinks you're a bit of a know-it-all. But go easy on him. He does have a small crush on you. If you tell him I told you, I'm dead and you're coming with me."
A crush? On me? Darren? NO WAY!!! I opened and closed my mouth a few times, trying to make words but they wouldn't come out at first, "Please tell me you're kidding."
"Naw, do you like him or something?" He asks looking a little bit jealous? No, I'm tripping, "NO! Hell no. He gets on my nerves too much. Plus, I like someone else." SHIT!!! Did I really let that slip? I start walking out of the room checking my phone for a text from my sister. Nothing. Shit!
Noah catches up with me as I make it outside to the waiting area, "Then who do you like?"
"I'm not telling you."
"Come on Kitty. I won't tell anyone."
This gave me an idea, "You promise?"
"On my signed basketball."
I motion for him to come closer so I can whisper in his ear. "None of your business!" I yelled.
"Fuck you. Ow my ear. But seriously who is it?"
"One, NO." Yes please...I need Jesus," Two, HAHAHAHHAHA. And Three, I told you I'm not telling you"
"What do I know the guy?"
I don't answer. IT'S YOU DUMBASS!
"Is it a girl?"
I shake my head, "No, it is not a girl."
"So based off that. I know two things about this person. It's a guy and I know him."
And Jesus sends my sisters car rolling up to the sidewalk. "Bye, gotta go," and I get into my sisters car. As we rolled off I saw Noah's moms car roll up.

~~~~~~

So this was the first chapter....do you want more?

SAMMI.NIX 💚