♢Chloe's POV♢
Since what happened with Bailey, I've caught Noah staring at me even more. He's also tried to be around me more than before. I don't get why. Why would he want to spend time with me? We've gone to school together a couple more times last week and he has asked questions about my family and personal life. I don't know why he wants to know so much about me.
Right now I'm sitting alone in my room reading a book since I've finished my school work, but thoughts won't leave me alone. It's saturday afternoon and I've got nothing better to do. My parents are out, my best friend is with her boyfriend, my brother never comes home on weekends even though he is half an hour away from home and I'm trying to read alone in my room.
My phone rings and I pick it up from the bedside table. It's a number I don't have saved or know. I answer a little scared of who it might be.
"Hello?" I say into the phone with half a voice.
"Hey princess. What are you up to?" Noah's voice is on the other side of the phone.
"You scared me you idiot. And how the hell did you get my phone number?" I say relived and irritated at the same time.
"Why did you get scared?" He asks.
" 'Cause I didn't recognize the number. Now tell me how did you get my number?" I ask again.
"Ethan got it from Harper's phone." He answers. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing much. Just reading a book." I say leaving the book on my bedside table and getting up from the bed.
"Boring!!! Do you want to go somewhere?" He says dragging the first word.
"Where for example? I'm not in the mood for going outside."
"You'll love it. I promise. It's really awesome." I don't want to be alone with him. It's been bad enough to drive to school with him, which is a ten-minute drive, a longer drive would be even worst.
"Does it have unicorns and fairies?" I ask sarcastically. "Otherwise I don't find it amazing."
His laugh fills my ears. His laugh if beautiful and it makes me smile. What is wrong with me? I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts.
"You think you are really funny don't ya?" He says. "It doesn't have those. But it is really pretty though."
"I did make you laugh so, I am funny. And no, I don't really feel like going." It sounds like a good place, but it doesn't feel right going with Noah.
"Okay then. I'm coming to your house and we are hanging out there." He says determined.
No no. You are not coming here mister. That's even worst.
"Okay okay. Fine. I'll go to your amazing place." I give in. Hanging out in my house was not a good idea.
"Be ready in ten. We'll take my car." He hangs up.
I sight and start getting ready.
Ten minutes later I'm ready and standing in my front yard waiting for Noah. Finally he walks out and gestures me to go over there. I go and sit in his car and he starts driving.
"Where are we going?" I ask as soon as we are on the road.
"You'll see princess. It's a surprise." He smiles and looks at me for a second.
"I don't really like surprises so please just tell me. The anticipation is going to kill me." I beg him to tell me, but he just nods his head no.
I give up and cross my arms over my chest.
"Fine. Stubborn." I mumble.
He just laughs.
We just listen to some music the whole way. And thank god not heavy metal music, just some pop songs that were in the radio.
"Are we there yet?" I ask.
"I haven't stopped, have I? So no, but we're close." He says smiling.
A while after he stops at the side of a deserted road. We get out of the car and he starts to walk towards the woods. This is how I die, I think to myself. Where on earth is he taking me?
"Are you taking me here to kill me?" I say catching up to him.
He laughs. "Don't worry. I'm not a murderer."
The trees start to get rarer and a beautiful field and a lake come into view. It's so pretty. I look at Noah with a big smile on my face.
"I knew you would like it." He guides me to seat near the lake, close to a big tree.
"How did you find this place?" I ask him sitting down by the tree, he sits near me.
"I was angry at something that happened and found this while walking. Now it's become my getaway place." He says throwing a pebble to the lake.
"What made you angry?" I ask.
"You have a lot of questions, don't you?" I nod. "Let's play twenty questions then."
"Okay. I asked my question. Now answer." I say looking at him.
He sighs. "It was something about my dad. We had just come here." He answers shortly.
Now I really want to know.
"My turn. What college do you want to go to?" He says finally looking at me.
"I'm thinking Yale, but I'm not completely sure yet. You?"
"I haven't decided on anyone yet." He says a little unsure. "Why do you find it hard to breathe in certain situations?" When he sees me looking at him with confused he tries to explain. "I mean... in the party when I found you, you were barely breathing. And that time with Bailey your breathing wasn't normal. So I just wanted to know" He says scratching his neck.
"Nothing really. Now my turn." I say, but he cuts me off.
"Tell me, what is it?" He is looking at me seriously. He really wants to know.
No! I can't tell him. Only my mom and Harper know and they are the only person that need to know.
"Nothing to worry about. And you asked you question. Now it's my turn." I say trying to get him to forget about it. He doesn't have to know.
"No. It is something to worry since it happens often. It happened twice only when I was with you. I need to know so I can help you." He continues. "You can trust me." He takes my hands in his.
Once again I can't move. My heart starts beating faster and I don't know what to do. I just look at our hands and then back in his eyes.
'I don't want to tell him. He doesn't have to know.' This is all that goes through my mind. But it wouldn't be the end of the world if he knew, right?
I can't think straight. I pull my hands away from his and look at the grass. Telling him wouldn't hurt.
"Well, I ..." He is looking at me waiting for an answer. "Look, I haven't told this to anyone other than my mom and Harper. So this isn't easy for me." I start.
He just looks at me encouraging me to go on. I take a deep breathe and continue.
"I have anxiety. Panic attacks are just part of my life. I'm used to them now." I say not daring to look at him. That would make it harder.
"How long have you had anxiety?" I still don't look into his eyes.
"Three years now."
"If you ever need someone to be by your side when it happens just tell me. I'll help you at all times." He says, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I finally look into his brown eyes.
"Mhm. Thank you." I say breaking eye contact again. He made me feel safe for some odd reason. "Can we do something else? This conversation turned out so depressing." I say lightly laughing.
"Yeah, sure. Are you hungry?" He asks getting up.
"Not really. But I am really tired. I fell asleep at like two in the morning last night and woke up at seven." I say getting up as well.
"Okay. Let's get you home then." We make our way back to the car.
While we are driving a question pops into my head.
"Where is your dad?" I ask Noah.
I'm curious because I've never seen him around. Maybe he is like my dad who works hours on end but I thought I might ask.
"He doesn’t live with us." He replies.
"Are your parents…" I hesitate.
"Divorced, yeah." He says, his face in a frown.
"Oh. I’m sorry." I simply reply.
The rest of the ride is quiet. When we get home is about eight pm and it's starting to get dark outside. My mom should be home by now.
"Thank you for listening to me today. And thank you for understanding. I didn't know you were so caring, but I guess I was wrong." I give him a smile.
He says nothing, but just smiles back. I start walking inside and before I open the front door I turn my head and see that Noah is still outside looking at me.
I just get inside and, after I close the door, I rest my back against it.************************************
A/N:
HE FINALLY KNOWS. Ok i should calm down 😂😂. Sorry.
Chloe told him and now let's see if he can help her.
Thank you for reading, voting and commenting on my chapters. It means the world to me.
Let me know if you enjoyed this one.
See ya in the next one. Peace.XOXO
P.S. I'm going on holiday on the 16th of August(today) until the start of September. So I don't know when I'll be able to update again because I don't have good internet and also I'm on holiday (duh).😂😂 This might be the last update for 2 weeks. We'll see. 😅
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Boy Next Door (ON HOLD)
Подростковая литератураAn anxious girl and a charming boy, Noah and Chloe, meet when Noah moves next door and into her life. At first Chloe thinks Noah is just trouble and bad news. But after a while, when she gets to know him properly, is she going to change her mind or...