no rules | noah flynn | the kissing booth

4 - no communication

I didn't talk to Noah for the next few days.

the only time I talked to him was when I was forced to at Sunday family brunch.

"I wanna talk to you." Noah whispered as he pulled out my chair in my usual spot, beside him.

"there's nothing to talk about." I smiled.

he shook his head, frustrated.

"so, Callie, how's school honey?" Mrs. Flynn asked.

"uh, okay I guess." I shrugged.

then the usual casual conversation.

"Callie, Noah needs some help with homework, it would be great if you could stop by with us." Mr. Flynn said.

I shook my head. "sorry, Mr. Flynn, but I have practice."

Elle gave me a funny look. "no you don't. it's Sunday."

I glared at her and smacked her toes with my foot under the table. she winced in pain.

"I made a mistake, oops! I guess I can go with you guys after brunch." I fake smiled.

"arcade, children?" Lee suggested.

I shrugged. "why not?"

then I realized Noah would come too. I rolled my eyes and walked to the ski ball area, the place I dominate.

-

"look, why aren't you talking to me?" Noah whispered just as I was about to roll.

"because now it's hard."

"so you're gonna throw away a lifelong friendship for...what? because you still never told me."

"for something I don't want to talk about."

"I don't care, Cal. you're gonna talk to me right now."

"or what?"

"or..." he smiled. "this."

and then he kissed me.

Noah Flynn, my best friend, kissed me.

I looked around to make sure no one saw.

"are you crazy?!" I whispered.

"crazy about you, Callie."

I rolled my eyes. "you're so cheesy."

"now, talk to me."

"fine. it had something along the lines of what you just did. I've been wanting to do that for awhile."

"wait, what?"

"goddamnit Noah, I like you. that's why it's so difficult being your friend now. I saw you with Elle, and I've never gotten more jealous."

he grinned. "you really should've told me that, like, 4 years ago."

I scrunched my nose. "why?"

"because we would've been in a relationship by now! I've liked you for the longest time, and you just now tell me this?!"

I smiled. "no way. you're just making me feel better."

he rolled his eyes. "false claims."

"...so where do we go from here?"

"well, before we go all Cory and Topanga on everybody, let's just be friends with benefits, and see where we go from there."

I wasn't gonna lie, I'm disappointed, but I agreed.

"and absolutely no one can know, Noah." I warned.

"cross my heart. aren't you happy you're coming home with me now?" he winked, and I rolled my eyes, continuing the ski ball game.

Elle grabbed my arm. "can I talk to you in the bathroom?" she asked.

I nodded. "of course. be right back, Noah."

oh my god. what if she saw me and Noah?

"look, I'm about to tell you a huge secret."

"okay..."

"and promise you won't tell anyone, even Lee."

"Elle, are you okay?"

"I like Noah. alot. I've had a crush on him since, like, forever, and him kissing me really makes me think he likes me back."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, but was relieved she didn't see us.

"oh."

"so, is there any way you can convince him to ask me out?"

hell no.

"sure!" I smiled.

she gave me a huge hug. "thanks so much, Calliope. you're always there for me."

"mhm. always." I cringed.