Pop Tarts, Brand, and Her

Chapter 12: Resistance is Futile

Chapter 12: Resistance is Futile

Noel tip-toed down the hall after Shannon as Julian walked Russell in the opposite direction and slipped through the first door he found... His room. He turned around to find Shannon frozen in place, hiding from Russell in his room it appeared… apparently where she’d also been waiting for him to come back to.

“Hey…” He watched as she shuffled nervously, not sure where to look.

“Hey.” He gave her an encouraging smile.

“There’s something I need to tell you…and I need you to know that I’m so sorry I did it.” Shannon held her hands up in a gesture of surrender.

Noel Shrugged, “Okay.”

Shannon explained everything, including the conversation with Julian preceding her current confession. She apologised over and over, fighting tears, “It just…happened…I’m so sorry”

Noel nodded knowingly, “What do you want?”

Shannon paused. She seemed in shock that he wasn’t upset or mad at her, but when she replied he could tell she spoke truthfully. “I want you…I want to be with you…” Noel looked at her, waiting for her to go on. “I know that’s not fair of me to say after what I said before…but I had to tell you…I had to tell you how I feel...I’m sorry… I’ll go.”

Shannon went to leave, but Noel caught her hand in his as she reached the door, and pulled her into his arms, kissing her passionately. “I want to be with you too…” he whispered and kissed her again, gently this time, one hand in her hair, the other in the small of her back. When they broke apart, finally, for air, Noel smiled. “Why don’t we just go out and hide…in our secret place…we don’t have to do anything at all…I just…I want to be with you. Spend time with you…” Noel smirked wickedly. “Seduce you right.”

Shannon blushed as she replied, “O…Okay…”

Noel smiled down at her warmly, “I’ll set up a movie…come out in twenty minutes, Shan…then I’ll be all set.”

Shannon smiled as she leant up on tip-toe and kissed him lightly. Before leaving, she paused by the door. “Thank-you…for not judging harshly…it’s one thing I love about you…” Shannon smiled and disappeared through his bedroom door.

Noel watched the door close behind her ‘I’ll seduce you right this time, Shan. This time…you won’t be able to resist.’

***

Noel looked around Shannon’s hidey-hole, observing his work. He’d snuck in here to set up. On top of her soft rug, Noel had spread out a comfy doona, and along each shelf and flat surface he’d lit candles…bees wax candles. Julian said they were her favourite…apparently their scent made her feel safe. It was all…quite romantic, Noel thought to himself proudly.

He’d laid two long-stemmed roses at the entrance, and now only had to wait for her to meet him here. Noel looked at his watch. Two minutes. Two minutes and she’d be here…he hoped…unless she was followed again. Noel shuffled over to the door and checked for a lock…and, indeed, the small door had a bolt-lock. Noel grinned. No interruptions. Just how he wanted it.

Noel heard the branch covering the tunnel entrance rustle lightly. “Noel?” he heard her call hesitantly.

He smiled, “I’m here, Shan.” He grinned as she crawled into the small room, carrying the two long-stemmed roses. “Do you like them?”

“Yes, they’re gorgeous…” Shannon drifted off mid-sentence as she looked around her hidey-hole…at the candles, the doona, the pile of cushions upon which was laid a third long-stemmed rose. “Oh my goodness!” Shannon’s voice was hushed, as if in prayer. “Noel…what did you do?”

Noel grinned at her awed expression. “Seducing you right…do you like it?”

“It’s…it’s like a dream…” Shannon whispered as she settled on the doona and he handed her the last rose. “This is beautiful…” Shannon smiled sweetly up at Noel as he sat next to her. “But, you didn’t have to do all this…”

“Yes, I did…” Noel leant forward and touched his forehead with hers. “A beautiful room for a beautiful girl…” He noticed she wouldn’t meet his gaze so, very gently, he tilted her head up and gave her a warm smile. “Everyone makes a mistake every now and then, love… But you found your way in the end.”

Shannon smiled back at him, “Yeah…I guess I did…”

Noel’s smile faded as his eyes focussed on her mouth…her soft, pink lips moist and begging to be kissed, and Noel happily obliged.