Lone Ranger | Jake Fitzgerald

8| All Over Again

Sarah stood at her locker stuffing her textbooks and binders inside. She lingered a while, looking at the pictures on the door. Her family, friends, celebrities she adored. It was nice seeing that some things didn't change, like her locker wall-of-fame. "Okay, game on. But you better impress me." Sarah noticed a familiar voice appear from behind. She turned her head noticing Riley and Noah in conversation. Sarah's dads investigation was no longer directed at Noah, and so she was able to speak to him freely again. The only problem was she didn't know how to begin when she had the opportunity with him. They were barely looking at each other, and since the other night when he caught her and Jake, he had been more distant.

At first, Noah having his locker next to Sarah was fantastic, especially once they became friends. More chances of talking in between classes. But now, Sarah couldn't have felt more awkward, and so she decided to give small-talk a shot. "You and Riley are getting close, huh?" 

Noah rose his head from being focused on the lock on his door. "Oh, are you allowed to talk to me now?"

"Noah. You know how strict my dad is." Sarah sighed, closing her locker so she would have easier access to speak to the boy. 

"Actually, I don't, Sarah. I never met him so I wouldn't know." Noah clenched his jaw, a considerately kind smile towards her.

"I know... I know. He hasn't been around much for you to..."  Sarah shrugged, shaking her head as she realized they were heading to a tangent. "I'm so sorry, Noah. I haven't been a good friend, and I sure as hell haven't been there for you with all the drama going on."

"No, I love the drama. Solving murder mysteries is my favourite hobby." Noah broke out a more humorous smile than the one before. 

"I know." Sarah responded as more of a breathy speech than her regular voice.

"Look, I get it. Things are changing for all of us and we just had a small downfall. We can pick it up. I mean, in every movie the best friends get in a fight but they get back, right? This is just a minor fault in our friendship." Sarah grinned listening to her best friend's reasoning behind their few days apart from speaking. She couldn't be happier to hear him compare their friendship to movies, since movies were his favourite thing in the world.

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right. I miss us. You, Audrey and I, we were the three musketeers." Sarah bounced up a little as she stepped closer to her best friend.

"The three stooges." 

"Threes company." The two of them laughed lightly and soon they were hugging, as they did in old times. Sarah hugged him tightly, her hand clutching his shirt in her hands. She felt it begin to wrinkle but she was happy and she didn't care much. Noah laid his chin on her shoulder, shaking her somewhat in his arms. They pulled away and it was like nothing had ever happened, which was what best friends did. Which was what she was really happy about, and a little guilty for hurting Noah and ignoring him... but she promised herself she'd make it up to him. "So, are you and Riley dating?"

"Casually... but yes. I guess we kind of are." Noah blushed, his pale cheeks now flushed with bright red. "But, it's no big deal."

"Is virgin boy no longer?" Sarah questioned, raising her left eyebrow. Speaking about him and Riley, it would've made her more jealous, but she didn't feel any jealousy. Maybe because she liked Riley, or maybe due to the idea that she liked him and missed him more when they were apart... but she wasn't upset. She felt happy for Noah, and oddly enough, she didn't feel like she was in love with him. At least not in the moment.

"Nope. Virgin boy hasn't left the building." Noah pursed his lips, his fingers tapping against the locker door he swung in his hand. He watched Sarah focus her entire attention on the basketball team, as if she was looking for someone. Noah knew who, and Sarah did too. "Is virgin girl no longer?"