The Kissing Booth: Noah's Story

Chpt.4

I decided to show up to the carnival actually on time. I did a quick lap to learn the layout and tried out a couple of the games. Elle tracked me down as I rang the bell with my hammer swing. "Hey." She greeted, fiddling with her fingers. "Hey," I replied, shoving my hands into the pockets of my leather jacket. 

"Listen, I know that we don't really see eye to eye on things but I'm desperate." I bit my lip in hopes of distracting myself from how cute she looked. "So maybe if you could just stop by the booth for a little, I don't know, I just, it would mean a lot to me." I bit back a sarcastic laugh. "Wow. The independent Elle Evans who doesn't want to be told what to do by anyone is begging somebody else for help." I couldn't help but smile at how frustrated my comment seemed to make her. 

She shook her head in defeat and my smile began to fade. "It is what it is, Noah. I just really thought that maybe it would be nice for you to do something for people who care about you." I had nothing to say as she frowned and walked back to her booth. She said people, people who care about me. Lee, obviously, he's my brother. And Elle, she must mean that she cares about me too. And I care about her, which is why I immediately started to mentally war with myself. 

Our interaction had me feeling pretty bad. I was a bit hard on her when she was clearly nervous about things to begin with. I also wanted to help her, but I just didn't have it in me to stand up in front of everyone and kiss all those too eager girls who no doubt would go on and on bragging about it for the next few weeks.

I continued wandering around the festival, checking out booths and mingling with people. A little while later I stopped over to the cotton candy which was coincidently next to the kissing booth. Their crowd had stayed constant all night, which was a good thing for them and also eased my conscience for not helping.

I was sure Elle hadn't noticed me but she went up to pull the name card and shouted, "Alrighty, as promised, the next kisser is Flynn!" I panicked for a second before looking up to the stage and seeing Lee standing there, blindfolded. Some of the girls started to object and most wandered away.

Now I felt extra shitty for putting my brother in that situation, but there was nothing I could do about it now. I would only make things worse to go up and take his place. Our relationship was pretty good overall but I knew he harbored some resentment for my reputation in comparison to his.

I stood frozen, unsure of what to do, when a cute brunette stepped up to the booth, smiling. She walked up to Lee and, after a moments hesitation, kissed him. It was sweet. Lee pulled off his blindfold and smiled at the girl before kissing her again, a little longer this time. 

I smiled, now feeling much better about the whole situation. 

I lingered near the booth a little longer, slowly inching closer until I was up at the ticket stand Elle had been manning. Olivia had been kissing for the girls and disappeared behind the curtain, leaving no one out there. I stood waiting for Elle to come back out so I could apologise but the guy in the front of the line mistook my reason for being there."Cutsies?" He asked. "What?" I leaned forward, unsure of what he said.

"Cutsies?" He repeated, gesturing in front of him. "Thanks dude," I said, taking his place at the front of the line. It wasn't exactly what Elle wanted from me but then she did just ask me to stop by the booth.

Just my luck though, Elle came stumbling out from behind the curtain instead of Olivia. She was blindfolded and a klutz, trying to feel her way through the air. I walked up and caught her just as she tripped, "Oh, sorry, ooh muscles." She giggled nervously as I guided her over to the podium, holding her hands for a second longer than was probably necessary.