Once the sun had disappeared and cool air dropped, I knew my time was ending at the park. I stood up from my spot on the grass and stretched my arms over my head, my body aching as my joints crack.
I wondered what Eli was doing right now. I haven't heard from him all day and I can't help but worry. He had to be okay. He was at a friend's house, what could go wrong?
Without thinking, I pull my phone out, calling him. He doesn't answer and that worries me. I quickly make my way back to my house, calling up Eli again. He better answer.
As I put the key into the lock, he finally answers my call.
"Why aren't you answering my calls?" I begin with and he only laughs.
"It's not funny." I tell him, turning the doorknob to go inside.
"Wait, Noelle, turn around." Eli says and I furrow my eyebrows, turning around like he said. I'm left confused when I see him standing there with a smile on his lips, his phone to his ear. Miranda stands next to him and Niall standing behind them.
"I thought I was picking you up?" I ask him, hanging up the phone. Eli shrugs, nodding his head towards Niall.
"Niall said he could drop me off." He says and I nod, sending a small smile towards Niall.
"Thanks, you didn't have to." Niall waves it off, his hands jamming into his front pockets.
"It was no biggie, but I was wondering if you wanted to come along with us and go get some dessert.. maybe ice cream?" He asks and Eli looks at me too, with pleading eyes.
I let out a breath, closing the door with my hand. "Sure," I agree and the kids cheer, Niall only smiles at me, his eyes staring directly into mine.
I turn to lock the door, my head back to being hung low. Ignoring the fact that my face looks like I got trampled on, I try to remind myself.
I follow them towards Niall's car, Eli and Miranda being all giddy as they climb into the backseat. I take the passenger, and Niall climbs into the drivers seat.
It's silent as he begins to drive, the only noise I can hear is Eli and Miranda whispering to one another. I clear my throat, not being able to take this awkward silence.
"How old are you?" I ask Niall, he looked so young. He looked like he was 17, 16 if he wore cargo shorts. There was something so innocent about Niall too, he didn't look like someone with struggles, or someone who made bad choices. He looked boyish and young.
"Twenty one, just turned twenty one." He says with a proud smile on his face, I can't help that my eyebrows raise in surprise.
"What?" He chuckles, looking between me and the road, I notice him turning into a ice cream shoppe.
"You seem so young, you could pass for a 17 year old." I tell him and he laughs, shaking his head at my words.
"That's a first, people usually think I look older than I actually am." He says just as we park, I can feel the kids jumping in their seats as we still sat in the car.
-
We sat near a window, both Eli and Miranda talking about school, 'elementary school drama'. I sat silently, eating my ice cream, thankful my hat blocked Niall's view of my face. It's not that I'm completely disgusted of myself, well I am, but it's not just that.
