Seven Summers Gone- A Kissing Booth Continuation (Fanfiction)

chapter 3

I feel like I've barely slept as I make my way through LAX.
That felt like one of the longest flights of my life and it's only going to get harder now that I'm home.

I make my way through the arrivals gate and spot Lee a mile away, he's standing on his own kicking his feet against the concrete floor. When he looks up and sees me, my heart breaks a little, he looks terrible!

"What are you doing here? I could've got a cab."
"Gee, nice to see you too Elle."
I grab him and squeeze him tight
"You know what I mean, you have enough to deal with without running around after me. How did you even know when I was arriving?"
"Renee messaged me with your flight details and to be honest I can use the distraction."

It's nearly midnight, it was only this morning that Mr Flynn passed away, Lee must be shattered.

"At least let me drive you home, you've had a long day!"
"Thanks, Elle, but you don't need to go by my place, Lauren and I are staying with Mom until the funeral."
"Great! Well...not great, but it'll be a lot easier to take care of you all being under the same roof. It's definitely going to be a packed house then! Could you reach Noah? Is he here yet?"

I'm only asking so I can prepare myself if need be.

"You're just as bad as Lauren, I still have two working arms you know! And....um....yeah, Noah got in earlier today, but he and his girlfriend are staying at a hotel a couple of blocks away. I don't think Bethany was very keen to stay with all of us."

"She high maintenance huh?"
I'm joking, but not really.
"You have no idea!"
"Ooh that bad," I say
"Let's just say I've only met her a couple of times and that was more than enough! I don't know how Noah puts up with her!"
"Maybe they have a deep connection no-one else gets, definitely can't be the huge tatas and Barbie legs."

Lee let's out a loud laugh, which after the day he's had makes me smile.
"Wait!" he asks confused.
"Have you met her?"
I let out a very unattractive snort-laugh.
"Noooo, I may or may not have Instagram stalked her. Their pages are public, so really they are just asking to be looked at."

He raises an eyebrow at me.
"You're going to be fine seeing them aren't you Elle?"
I roll my eyes.
"Yes Lee, I'll be fine. Give me some credit! It has been like six or seven years. In saying that though I'm only human and Noah is one good looking S.O.B.!"

Now it's Lee's turn to roll his eyes. "Come on you crazy, stalker ex-girlfriend, let's head to mom's."
"Haha very funny! Come on then, I'm in desperate need of a June hug and I'm sure she could do with a hug too!"

I can see the sadness returning to his eyes so I wrap my arm around his waist, he looks at me with a forced smile and wraps his arm around my shoulder and we head out to the car park. This is going to be a long week with plenty of tears, but I'm glad we're all together!

Early the next morning I make my way into the kitchen, I can't sleep anymore as I'd normally be at work by now if I was in London and I'm starving!

I try to keep quiet since everyone else still seems to be asleep.
I look through the pantry and fridge and decide on muesli and yoghurt, as I'm poring the milk I hear rubber soles screech to a halt on the tiled floor.

I look up towards the door and my heart stops! Standing there in all his sweat dripping glory is Noah Flynn in only running shorts and shoes, listening to his iPod.

I can't stop looking at the sweat dripping down his chest. Good Lord, he's a fine-looking specimen!

Eventually, my gaze moves up to look him in the eye and an awkward silence fills the room. Finally, I snap out of it.
"Hi.............how are You?"
He obviously doesn't hear me cause he's still listening to his iPod. He grabs it, presses the button a few times then pulls his earbuds out.

"Sorry, what did you say?" He asks.
"Oh...I was just asking how you're doing?"
I watch his eyes travel up and down my body. I'm still in my PJs which only consists of light pink short lacey shorts and matching tight-fitting top. His eyes zone in on my chest.

Oh shit! I'm not wearing a bra!

"I'm...ok....if you'll excuse me I'm just here to get a couple of things from my old room before Brad gets here." And with that, he heads back out of the kitchen.

"Wow! That's it! After not seeing me for like five freaking years, that's all I get? I've seen a more affectionate response to a long lost 10 dollar bill found under a sofa cushion!" I say to myself in the now empty kitchen.

Then I hear a muffled laugh in the hallway, great he heard me!
He blatantly checks me out then doesn't even bother to ask me how I am.
Bit of a dick move.

I sit down at the counter to eat breakfast and process what just happened. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on him, he did just lose his Dad yesterday morning. Of course, he's not feeling sociable.

As I'm finishing up I notice Noah standing in the doorway steering at me.

"Can you let mom know I came by this morning and that we'll be back later this afternoon."
"Sure no problem," I smile at him.
"Thanks!" he goes to leave, then stops and turns back "Oh and Shelley."
"Yeah?"
"It's good to see you."

As the day gets later everyone else gets up and we struggle through some awkward conversations. Coming to terms with the fact that Mr Flynn is really gone takes a toll on Lee and his mom.

When everyone has disappeared from the kitchen I get to work tidying up before I have to leave for the airport to pick up my Dad and brother.

As I'm emptying the dishwasher I find myself thinking about this morning again. It was so awkward, but I'm glad we have that first meeting out of the way and hopefully next time I won't feel like an awkward teenage girl. I'm also kinda glad I won't be here when they come back this afternoon. The last thing I need is looking like a complete idiot in front of his perfect girlfriend with her massive melons and freakishly long legs.

Before I know it it's time to get Dad and Brad.
"Hey, Lee! I'm heading off now," I yell through his closed door.
"Ok, see you in a bit and drive safe k."
"Don't worry I'll be fine, bye."
He's been at me about driving safe since I drove here yesterday and I can totally understand why I just wish there was more that I could do. I feel so useless at the moment like I'm in the way.

I can't wait to see Dad, I know I'll feel a lot better after I've had a Dad hug, or better yet a Dad and Brad hug sandwich.

I was right! I knew I'd feel so much better after a hug sandwich. I haven't seen Dad and my brother since Christmas and Brad had grown, even more, he must be almost about Noah's height now, like six or six foot one. Agh! Stop thinking about Noah, your a strong independent woman who doesn't need a man to feel fulfilled, I say to myself.

Who am I kidding I'd love a significant other to share my life with! What Noah and I had was really special and I so want that again. It just sucks I still haven't found that yet and he's totally moved on. Hell! I'm the only single one here, even my little brother has a girlfriend.

Then I decide here and now, when I get home I'm going to make a serious attempt to find the one. Renee is going to have a field day with this!

She's constantly trying to set me up with random men. Once she even tried getting me to go on a date with the old guy who mows the lawns at our local park. Turns out he has a boyfriend who loves gardening in a Speedo. I saw them together once at the local pub not long after that humiliating encounter.
It took me weeks to purge the image of them gardening together in matching Speedos from my mind.

I gag involuntarily at the thought.
"You ok sis?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine, just a bit of heartburn that's all, so anyway how's school going?"
"Great! been working hard, so I'm really looking forward to a break this summer."

Brad is at the University of Chicago studying engineering and even though he's my brother and I'm biased, he's actually a really great guy. I'm so proud of him.
I smile up at him and he wraps his arm around me and squeezes me to him.
"It'll be ok Elle, we're all together now."
So proud!