The Secrets We Share

TWENTY

Dawn

You could say that the rest of the fair passed in a pretty hectic way. While Noah and I were lining up for yet another cupcake, a girl who I later realised as Kathleen knocked into me when she 'dropped' her bag, making me crash into Noah, who grabbed my shoulders while asking me if I was okay. I was ninety percent sure Kat was hoping there would be some sappy romantic crap where Noah caught my waist and leaned in for a kiss and she could report it back to Aria, but she was sadly disappointed. 

While we were just poking around and having a look at some of the other stalls, she stupidly stuck out her foot as she walked past me, thinking that I would trip and that Noah would catch me again and she could have another shot at the sappy romantic kiss, but smart little me hopped over it, then turned and stuck out my own foot which she tripped over almost instantly. Of course, no one was bothered to catch her. 

After that, Kat left the fair after cleaning up a small scratch on her elbow, but not before trying to glare at me and then bursting into what could only be described as an evil cackle. 

It didn't scare me or Noah.

"I think it's safe to think that we won," I laughed as Noah and I walked back to my house. It was a little chilly now, and the wind was picking up the slightest bit, so we'd decided to head home. 

"Yeah," Noah agreed, capturing my hand in his large one. I tried not to let on the burst of excitement that I felt. 

"So... you're coming home with me now, huh?"

"Well..." He paused for long enough that I turned to look at him. "I... if you don't want me to..."

I squinted. Was it just me, or was there a tiny bit of colour on his cheekbones...?

"Are... are you blushing?" I got out, amazed. 

"I... what? No!"

I did a little inside squeal. "Did I get the ever-stoic, hardcore, total badass Noah Griffins to blush?"

"No! It's... it's the cold. You know, cold. Chilly. Um, windy." He sounded so adorably desperate that I did another squeal... inwardly, of course. 

"Huh, sure. And not that I told you that "your face is freaking adorable and I bet the rest of you is too"? Oh wait, I don't think I've ever said that, have I?"

Oh yes, I was enjoying this way too much.

He seemed to blush harder. Yes, there was definitely a little bit of red on his cheekbones. 

"Um, n-no?" 

Was that a voice crack? A stutter? A-

"Have I ever told you that we're overdue for kiss number two?" Noah broke in, his confident smirk back in check.

"Um... no?"

My confidence evaporated like the weather had shot up fifty degrees. 

*

"You do know that you've basically been having dinner at my house for the past few days?" I questioned Noah as we sat down to watch a movie. 

"Yeah. My dad's overseas now to visit his own dad and mum's shifts are really awkward so they're just telling me to fix my own dinner and stuff."

"You can come over tomorrow too if you want," I offered. "Mum will be back on Monday or Tuesday I think, so Sunday night might be the last time we see each other until something else comes up."

"I don't think you gave me a choice," Noah laughed, and I blushed a little bit, the movie selection forgotten. 

I checked my watch and jumped up. "Can we go for a night walk? I just feel like it, but you don't have to."