The Kissing Booth - The First Year

New Friends - Noah

Summer holidays were finally over and all my classes were scheduled. I let Friday afternoons and Monday mornings free, so if I decided to spend the weekend in Los Angeles, it would be really easy.

The first classes were very hard, all the teachers filled us with books, work and, incredibly, surprise tests, which meant that my free time to talk with Elle was scarce, since in addition there were football training sessions .

I was now waking up at 5 am to go to football practice, showered around seven, swallowed my breakfast at 8:30 am to be in class at 9 am. My first call to Elle was during lunch, since it was the only time I could get her free between her first and second classes. As I left two free periods, during the afternoons of Monday to Thursday I also had classes, and so, I was only back in the dormitory around 6 pm, to take another shower, to study and prepare the works teachers gave us, and it was countless assays and books to ready... Elle used to call me on Skype around 10 every night, and we always talked for over an hour, then I went to bed to start over again the next day.

I made some new friends in the last two months: Will, Mike and Robert were not just in the same classes as me, but also in the football team, so we practically did everything together. And there were two girls: Alice and Sharon. We used to hang out when we got spare times, and since Alice is from Boston, she used to took us to the best places whenever we could. She also does not stay in the dorms, she still lives in her parents' house, where sometimes we have parties, barbecues and things like that. She's like a sister to me and her parents really like us too. This was one of the best things about moving to another city, of course I was missing home a lot, mainly because of Elle, but I had to have a life and I had to make friends. Everyone knew Elle, of course, because I talked a lot about her, and they already seemed to like her a lot, or at least pretended to.

As early as the beginning of October, we started planning our Halloween holiday, which for my happiness would be on a Saturday, and I was thinking of flying home the previous Friday and returning only a week later. I would have time to stay with my Shelly, study for the first trimester tests and ride my bike, yes, I really missed the freedom, feel the wind hitting my face ... I didn't mean to tell Shelly that I was going to LA, I just made plans with Mom and Dad and asked them not to tell Lee because I was sure he would tell her immediately.

Will and Mike also wanted to go to LA, and since Alice and Will were dating, so would she. I was really excited about this, I was going to introduce them to Elle and hoped she would like them, it would already be a big step for her to come to study here next year - to make new friends - and I always knew that this was not a problem for that remarkable little girl. Lee and Elle were always very popular at school, friendly and cheerful, there was no one who did not like them.

On Thursday night, the day before the trip, when Elle called me, I said I would have an extra practice on Friday, so I could not talk to her at night.

"Seriously? Is it so weird ... practicing at night?" she was using that angry tone, totally upset ... even trying to look ok with the situation, but first I knew her too well, and second it was good to talk on Skype, the camera said the truth. And I, even though I had to "lie" for a good cause, I had to keep the impulse to tell that I was not going to have any practice and I was actually going home just to see her. That sad look in her face was killing me, but I kept the story... I always loved to make surprises, especially for her.

"Hey baby, you do not need to be upset, I'll have the whole Saturday to talk to you, after you wake up, of course ... I'll stay here in my room just waiting for you to call. By the way Miss Evans, have you decided on your costume for the Halloween party on Saturday night?

"Um, not yet ... I'm not so excited for this party. Lee and Rachel are going to dress like Fred and Wilma Flintstone, so I'm thinking of going as Pebbles, since lately I am acting like their daughter..." She was loathing this situation, not out of jealousy of Lee, since Rachel was the first girlfriend of him that did not imply with the relation between him and Elle. At that point she had also been lucky to be dating her best friend's older brother, any other guy would not understand their connection either, but at that moment I found it very funny that she wanted to go as Pebbles to the party. She kept staring at me, but did not say anything, just took a deep breath.

"Well, Miss Evans, I have to go now, finish my work for the first class tomorrow, and get some sleep. I miss you so much ... Have a good night and dream about us ... feel my hugs and kisses, and do not forget that I love you very much." I tried to emphasize to see if I could cheer her up a bit, but once again she made that face of annoyance and again took a deep breath, totally annoyed. *Yes, that was a very strong feature of her personality, she hated being contradicted, even when she was wrong (which was not the case at the time)*

"I love you too, have a good night." she sent me a kiss and went offline in Skype... I was feeling a bit uncomfortable with this freezing good night ... "I'll be home tomorrow night and everything will be fine" I thought before opening my logics book and concentrate on the summary I needed to deliver in the first class.

I literally stayed up all night studying, missed the morning practice, but I called Will and asked him to tell the coach. I swallowed a toast and went straight to class. In addition to delivering the work, we had a test and I could not hesitate, I had to go well. It was not in my genes to take low grades, I was always a great student and this had to continue. *Yes I am a perfectionist*

Sharon was at the front door of the class and stopped me with one arm.

"So, Noah ... are you really staying in Los Angeles next week?" Her voice was a little strange, too sweet, but I did not care.

"Yeah, I am going to the airport right after lunch. Will, Mike and Alice are coming with me, but why do you want to know? Since Alice started dating Will, you walked away ... sorry but I really do not understand"

"Actually my aunt lives there, so ... I decided to go there too, maybe we can meet." Her voice still more mellow

During the short time she hung out with us, I had never realized she might be flirting with me, but the way she was acting, particularly today, puzzled me, anyway, I decided I would act normally, as if I had not yet perceived nothing.

"Yes, of course, you have our phones, and you have the opportunity to meet Elle as well." I made it clear that everything was fine between me and Elle.

She kind of glared at me, and finished, "Good luck on the test, see you later." and went to sit in the middle row of the room with some girls Alice did not like at all.

I walked in and Will called me, he was with Alice in the back of the room, I sat in front of the two.

"Hey, what did Alice want?" Alice asked with a face of a few friends

"What do you mean? I thought you two were friends, or at least closer ... did you argue or something?" I asked without really understanding the reason she was asking like that

"You really only have eyes for Elle, Noah ... Sharon got close to me to try to reach you, even knowing that you have a girlfriend and how much you like her. I do not understand this kind of thinking and much less force or do anything to try to help her ... she did not like it and walked away, said she would have her own methods to make you notice her. "I didn't even know what to say and she finished "I hate to feel used by people too... and she made clear she was only being friendly over other intentions"

For a moment I was absorbed in my thoughts ... what was really going on? Sharon was always nice, always friendly, but I never realized anything but friendship between us.

The teacher came in and we started the test.

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Hello everyone!

This is my first fanfic, please comment and vote... tell me if you are liking it :)