Trials {Editing}

Chapter 10

Harper's POV

After dinner, Jeff and I walked off to the park together. We walked along the paths, playing the Truth game so we could get to know each other easily. Jeff seemed to be a very joyful guy. He laughed a lot, and made a ton of jokes. We found things we have in common, like our taste in music, and things we're different in, like taste in genres of books and movies.

"So, girlfriend or single?" I asked. Jeff shrugged.

"Single, not ready to mingle," he replied. "You?"

"Same," I shrugged, not wanting to even think about moving on to someone else from Noah. I'd rather get over him, then meet someone.

"Oh really?" Jeff asked, sounding more curious than I would have liked. "Are you still hung up on someone?"

I stopped walking and turned towards Jeff, feeling a bit spooked. "Why?" I asked slowly. Jeff burst into a hearty laugh.

"I've known who you are all night!" Jeff exclaimed. "My buddy Noah talks about you all the time!"

I looked at Jeff, feeling confused yet happy. Noah talks about me? I shook my head at Jeff. "Why didn't you ever say anything?!"

"Because it was too perfect!" Jeff replied. "Getting to meet a girl you always hear about without pretenses, and then freaking her out the minute she says something you know about."

I giggled and shook my head again as we continued walking. "You are something else, Jeff," I commented. "So what does Noah say about me all the time?"

"That you're a good friend," Jeff answered simply yet empathetically. I nodded my head, accepting my fate in the friend zone.

"Ouch," I replied jokingly. "That friend zone thing sure does hurt! But at least I'm finally trying to move on."

"Don't lose hope yet," Jeff replied. "Something tells me he feels more than he's sharing."

I nodded my head, appreciative that he was trying to make me feel better, but knowing that a miracle wouldn't be happening for me anytime soon. "So, what's your story then?" I asked, trying to move away from the topic of Noah.

Jeff let out a big sigh. "Well, a year or two back, I was absolutely head over heels for the girl I was dating, like so much so that I wanted to marry her the minute we turned eighteen. But one day, I was on my way to go buy her a necklace for our anniversary when I saw her in a car with another guy, kissing each other hard. I was totally crushed. She saw me, and she rushed out of the car and begged me to talk to her about it. I refused. A few weeks later she showed up at my door, begging for forgiveness. I considered it, but... well, you know."

I looked to the floor, memories of Noah and I appearing in my head. Two different scenarios, but the exact same crushing feeling. "Yeah, I know."

We both stayed silent as we walked side by side. It wasn't uncomfortable, though. Eventually, we both just stopped walking and faced each other.

"Look at us," Jeff said with a chuckle. "Two broken hearts bonding in their misery."

I shook my head and smiled. "Ah yes," I replied. "Walking around, wallowing in our self pity for what he had and what we lost."

We both laughed at ourselves, even though it wasn't very funny. I pulled my phone from my pocket to see if Damon got my message I sent earlier as to where we were. There was no response. I put my phone back and looked up, instantly met with Jeff's hypnotic eyes.

Looking at them so closely now, I realized that there was flecks of gold in his brown eyes. They were captivating, demanding my attention, not letting me look away. They were so soft, seemingly filled with a torrent of emotions.

Suddenly, my senses sharpened slightly, allowing me to register how close we were to each other. My eyes flickered down to his lips, realizing that I could easily come into contact with them just by leaning slightly forward. As I looked in his eyes, I could see the same thoughts. He put his arm around my waist, pulling my body closer to his. I rested my hand on his neck, pulling us closer until our lips met. Fireworks went off in my head as we shared that kiss, so tender yet so full of emotions....

I heard the loud snapping of a twig, making both of us jump away from each other. I looked around and took a step back as a gush of air swept through me. Then, I realized what just happened. I told myself I didn't want to fall for another guy, yet here I was, kissing a guy I'd barely known for a couple hours!

I turned towards Jeff, seeing the same confusion reflected in his eyes. Then his phone started to ring. He quickly accepted it as I took a few steps away. What is with me? Am I really that desperate to get over Noah? I shook my head, trying to free myself with all the different thoughts coming into my head. Is that even something that happens? You just randomly have the sudden urge to kiss someone you just met? Although, I can't say I exactly regret it either...

Jeff ended his conversation, and I whirled around to face him. I held a very composed face, just like the one Connie always holds, and I folded my hands neatly just as she does. Even though there's a torrent of emotions going on inside, I must look professional to hide them.

"That was Jennifer," Jeff said to me, looking as composed as I was. "She said that they're ready to call it a night now."

"Alright then. Let's go head back and fetch our cars, then."

We both walked side by side in what felt like an awkward silence. We were both thinking about what had happened before, but neither of us were brave enough to say it out loud. This continued for most of the way, until we were almost to the restaurant. Then Jeff turned to me. "Look," he started. "I'm not gonna pretend that kiss didn't happen, but at the same time, I'm really not ready for a relationship right now, and-"

"Oh thank god!" I sighed in relief. "Me neither. I was so worried that was going to ruin a pretty good friendship, because a good friend is all I need right now."

"Yeah? Oh good," Jeff agreed in relief. "I'm glad we got that sorted out. So, we'll just say that kiss was two lonely hearts getting out of control and leave it in the past?"

"I'd like that," I answered happily. We walked the rest of the way together, happy to have found a friend in each other.