Falling Upwards

/Goodbyes Are Hard\

After our tea, and the catastrophe of breakfast, we mostly slept and watched tv the rest of the day.

-later that day-

I steal a glance at the clock above the stove in the kitchen. It's already 6:37!My parents will be home at 6:45!

"Noah! You gotta get outta here like right now!" I yell.

"What? Why??" He seems confused and starts freaking out. "Did I do something??"

"No, Noah. It wasn't you. My parents will be home in less than ten minutes!"

He seems to understand what I was saying, finally, and his eyes get big. Like really, really big.

"Oh my god, okay, gimme like two minutes to get my shit together then I'm gonna help you clean up, alright?" He has a game plan. Alright.

"Okay, okay just hurry up!" I yell at him as he runs up the stairs into my bedroom to change out of my dad's old sweatpants and into his own clothes.

I run over to the couch, grab all of the sheets and put them back in the closet. Then, once I've put all of the pillows back, I go into the kitchen, and make it look like breakfast for one person only has been prepared. Details my friends. Details.

Noah pops his head downstairs and yells "Where do you want me to put the pants?"

"Uhhh bury them in my hamper!"

"Kay!"

Okay, Max. Don't lose your cool. It's only 6:39. It's all good. It's not like the house looks bad. Oh god.

Noah scampers back downstairs and jumps from the fourth step onto the wood floor. A little bunny hop.

"Okay. Let's do a quick scan of everything. You tackle downstairs and I've got upstairs?"

"Sure. Least we've got most of everything done. Let's do this thing."

We put our hands together, and throw them up into the air and yell "break!" and run to go make sure things are in place.

I run up the stairs, takin' em two at a time. I get into the bathroom, do a swivel-glance with my head, and leave. Onto my room. Okay okay okay. What's in hereee. Oh shit. His shoes. Grabbing the pair of dirty blue converse, I do a 360. Everything seems to be in order. Alrighty then.

Running back downstairs, I see Noah and toss him his shoes.

"Any problems?" I ask.

"Nope. All clear boss." he replies.

He hugs me, and I lean my head against his chest. I open my eyes and look up at him. He slowly starts to lean down and our lips brush each other when he applies more pressure and deepens the kiss- just as my front door opens. My mom is walking in, with my Dad and brother trailing close behind.

We instantly break away. She hadn't seen anything. Noah leaps onto the couch, over the back of it, and I awkwardly lean on it, whist flicking on the tv.

"Oh, hi Noah! How are you?" my mom's chipper voice rings through the once quiet house.

"Hey there, Mrs. Charlotte. I'm great. How're... things with you?" he says smoothly.

"Things are going swimmingly, Noah, thank you for asking." then over to my dad she whispers (thinking I can't hear her) "he is so polite. He needs to rub off on Maxine."

Wow. Thanks mom. Eh, well I kinda agree. He is super polite. I could use some of that...

"Well, I had fun today Max, but I should get home for dinner." He says, turning towards me, clapping his hands together and clasping them, whilst raising his eyebrows.

"Oh, well what'd you kids do all day?" My mom questions.

He looks at me like 'a little help here Max..?'

"Uhh we went out to lunch and saw a movie," I said, not so convincingly.

Mom raised one eyebrow in a 'I see right through your bullshit' look, but let it go when she realized everyone was looking at her.

"Well maybe sometime you can come back over to have dinner with us, unless you'd like to join is tonight? I'm making baked ziti?" she tells Noah.

"Oh I would love to, but, sadly, I have to get home. Goodnight, Max, everyone. I'll see you at school?" He nods to me.

I'm about to answer when I look at his eyes... are so... beautiful. Oh, my god he's a pretty boy. What was I saying again?

"Max, Noah is speaking to you," my mom says, a slight edge leaking into her voice.

"Huh? Oh yeah, sure, see you then." I say.

He smiles and backs out of the house mouthing 'text me later' and winks at me. I feel my knees go weak.

I trudge up the stairs into my room, and close my door and lie down, belly first, on the bed, and sigh. Is it bad that I already miss him?

Yeah. Yeah, it is.

Great.

I think I have a crush.

•••

A/N

Ugh short chapter. things are going well with Noah and Max. but how angry will Noah be when he finds out her secret that her best friend doesn't even know? who knows?

btw I'm so sorry I haven't updated in forever. wattpad like got deleted (idek how ugh) but now I got it back! soo expect more updates! comment, vote, and subscribe! I love you all so much thanks for reading😊

~Amanda