The Game We Both Lost

Part 4 - Wrecking Ball

At lunch the next day, Noah suggested that we not eat at school, where all the talkers will be, and brought me to the nearest McDonald's. See the thing is, we've always thought of Noah Carlisle to be some sort of an asshole. Well, at least I did. In the times that I've spent with him, though, he's only proven to me that he is not the way he was known for.

When we entered McDonald's, both Noah and I saw a girl our age laughing away. She had food in her mouth, and her whole body took up two seats. I wasn't being mean, but she is being disgusting. I looked with slight disgust, and we saw that she was laughing at a disabled kid, who was trying to say something to his mother. The mother of that poor child glared at the girl but she ignored because she was too busy taking care of her son. I shook my head. Unbelieveable.

"You know that can happen to anyone of us," I heard Noah spoke, and my mouth fell open when I see that he was standing in front of the girl's table, and now has everyone's eyes and ears on him. "Who are you to laugh?"

The girl snickered, food still in her mouth, "God gave me mouth to laugh and I'm going to use it." She looked up at Noah like a child would his scolding mother.

"Well, God gave you mouth to eat too but it looks like you abused that privilege as well." People around us began to murmur, and some even laughed. The girl sat there speechless as she stared at Noah. He continued; "And wipe that damn ketchup off of your chin."

She began to wipe at her chin but Noah wasn't finish. "No, your other chin."

The whole room bursts into laughter at the same time the girl burst into tears. Noah shook his head and took my hand before leading me away and out of the place. We left the place with me feeling slightly.. high? I don't know how to explain it. It made me see him in a different light. He isn't the asshole and jerk I've thought him to be. Not exactly a good guy because he could be kind and mean at the same time, like with the girl. 

I spent so much time with Noah that he's become sort of my everyday person to go to. When we weren't face-to-face, we would be on the phone, talking about just everything and nothing. I tell Noah things I wouldn't tell anyone else besides Hayley, and since Hayley and I aren't on speaking terms, then Noah is literally the only person I can talk to.

He tells me things, too. Things like how his parents were never home to spend time with him and how he used to have his grandmother accompany him, until she passed away a year ago and he broke up with Melissa because apparently she didn't care like he thought she did.

Talking with him felt comfortable, like I had no shame and I had nothing to hide before I tell him everything. But at the end of every week, I remembered that while he and I could be friends, the game is still on. And our friendship would undoubtly end when one of us lose.

Most of the time Noah would be at my place and we would watch TV. Nothing good was ever on so all we mostly do was talking. We were on my couch on a Saturday, my mom out for work, and Noah had his arm around my shoulder, as usual. We were joking about who's the better kisser, laughing at our silly argument until we finally stopped and sat in silence.

I was still smiling when I felt his lips on my temple, and because I was used to it, I only leaned in further. He took one of my hands in his and began to play with my fingers. His scent was a soothing sensation, making me want to breathe in all the time so I could feel it linger around me. His lips travelled from my temple to my cheek and with his other hand, Noah turned my face so I would look at him. He shot me that famous smile of his and I saw his gaze fell onto my lips.

When he leaned closer, my mind went blank. All I could think of was his lips and his eyes and the way he was looking at me, and all I wanted was for him to kiss me right there and then. And when he did, I returned it almost too gladly. His lips melded with mine like they were puzzle perfect for each other. My hand raised up to touch his face and his went on my neck.