Seven Summers Gone- A Kissing Booth Continuation (Fanfiction)

Chapter 5

I wake up early and just lie in bed looking at the ceiling not wanting to face the day.  Eventually, I hear voices around the house and decide it's time to get ready. 

When I'm done I decide to check if Brad is ready yet.  I poke my head through the door and see him sitting on the side of the bed dressed and ready, looking down at something in his hands. 

I walk further into the room and see he's holding a framed picture of me and Noah, it's the one where he's holding me bridal styles, kissing me on the cheek and I'm smiling at the camera with the biggest grin. 
I remember that day; Noah had surprised me by coming home for prom, which I had planned to go to with a couple of friends because I thought he couldn't make it back.  I smile at the memory, we were so in love in that photo.

"You know, Noah asked me to frame that and send it to him at Harvard."
I almost jump out of my skin as June speaks from behind me looking at the picture Brad is holding, Brad almost drops it then turns to see us both standing behind him.

"When he came back from Harvard after you two had broken up, I noticed he'd put it in his bedside draw there.  Then after he'd gone off to New York I was doing a clear-out and came across it still sitting in the draw.  You two had been broken up for a few years at that stage so I took it out thinking he wouldn't want it anymore.  He came home a few weeks later for Christmas and I swear he had been in the house no more than ten minutes before he came looking for me wanting to know where that picture was. I kept it, of course, it was always one of my favourites and when I gave it back to him he told me to leave it where it was and stay out of his draw."

That seems kinda weird considering the last time I saw Noah he was all loved up with Mackenzie the redhead. 

Then as if reading my mind June says, "He still loves you, Elle, I can see it every time he looks at you."
I feel my cheeks going bright red and she gives me a warm smile.
"There you guys are, we have to leave soon.  Is everyone ready?"
Lees timing couldn't have been more perfect.  Noah is not something I feel like discussing today and especially with his mom.

The service was beautiful, not a dry eye in the house. 
So many people shared their memories of Mr Flynn, he was a great man with a big heart and he will be missed so so much. 

I also noticed Noah didn't get up and say anything, I caught his eye a couple of times and I could tell he was struggling, maybe that's why he didn't go up the front, he just couldn't.

The three boys, dad, Mr Flynn's brother and an old friend carried the casket out of the church and placed it carefully into the hearse.  We all stood there, arms around each other as it pulled away to take Matthew to the crematorium; the final goodbye.

I still can't believe Mr Flynn is really gone, I keep expecting him to walk through the door at any moment, smiling at us and asking how our day is going.

We head back to the Flynn's house for nibbles and drinks with friends and family.  As I sit at the kitchen counter on my own I go over the day's events in my mind.  I feel so drained and Mrs Flynn's revelation this morning that Noah still loves me hasn't helped either. 

I really thought I'd moved on from him, but after she told me that I can't stop thinking about him.  I keep finding myself searching for him when I enter a room, looking in his direction when he's nearby and I can legitimately say I fear for my life because I'm pretty sure Bethany has been watching me, watching him.

Suddenly Mrs Flynn rushes through the door all flustered looking for more napkins and cutlery and glasses for the guests.
"June you go and spend time with your family, I'll sort out the food and drinks ok.  Plus I'm pretty sure all the extra things are still in the garage from when we unloaded it all."
"Thank you so much, Elle, you really have been wonderful this week.  I'm so grateful for you and your dad being here."
"It's not a problem, we are pretty much family after all. Off you go, I've got it covered."
She gives me a hug and heads back out to the guests.

I go in the other direction towards the garage to get all the extra supplies when I hear muffled crying by the back door.  It sounds like a guy and I wonder if it's Lee. 

I peek through the door really quietly just in case it's not and instead I'm shocked to see Noah sitting there.  I don't think I've ever seen Noah cry! I'm about to turn and leave thinking he would want to be left alone when he notices me.

"Don't go, Shelley," is all he says.
So I sit down next to him on the back step.  We sit there in silence for a few minutes before I decide to say something.
"You know you can talk to me about anything Noah unless of course, you'd rather just sit here."
"Dad rang me last week, he wanted to catch up and I just blew him off.  I told him I was too busy and I'd call him later and you want to know the worst part, I had absolutely no intention of calling him back."

"Don't beat yourself up Noah we've all been there, it can be hard to keep in touch with loved ones when you have so much going on."
"That's just it Shelley, I've barely kept in contact with dad, mum and Lee over the last few years.  I just got so caught up in my job, going out with my mates and dating, I started to lose track of what's really important; my family!"
He tries to quickly wipe away the tears as they fall.  I put my hand on his shoulder.

"The last time I saw your Dad was in January when I was staying with Lee and Lauren for a few days before heading home to London.  We were talking in the kitchen one evening while the others had gone to go get some food for dinner and I asked him how you were.  He told me he hadn't talked to you for a while because you had been busy with work and stuff.  I asked him if he found that hard and he said to me, you know what, I was exactly the same at his age, I was doing some travelling and would go for weeks at a time without any contact with my parents.   He's having the time of his life and I'm so proud of him, he has a job he loves, he's made some great friends, he's living his best life how can I be angry with that."

He turns to me and I look him in the eye.
"Your dad wasn't angry or disappointed, he loved you so much and was so proud of you Noah, don't you ever forget that."
We sit there staring into each other's eye's, he grabs my hand then starts rubbing circles over my palm with his thumb.

"Thank you, Shelley, you don't how much what you just said means to me."
I playfully shove his shoulder with mine and I smile at him, he smiles back and we sit there on the step smiling at each other, holding hands.  His expression starts to change and his look becomes more intense, my heart starts pounding, he moves a little closer then all of a sudden I feel a chill go up my spine like we are in the presence of evil or something.

Then I look towards the back door,
"Oh hi Bethany," I say.
She does not look impressed, Noah then drops my hand like it's on fire.
Right, that's my cue to leave!
"I'm...if you'll excuse me I told your mom I'd get more supplies out of the garage. And remember Noah, your dad was your biggest fan, don't ever doubt that ok."

I give him a warm smile and get up to go back inside.
Bethany is standing in the doorway giving me a death stare.
"Excuse me, Beth, can I get past?" I say knowing she hates being called Beth, Mrs Flynn, unfortunately, made that mistake the other day.

She doesn't budge.
"Just stop being a bitch and let her past," Noah says to her while still staring out over the back garden.
I look at Bethany, her eyes go wide, then in a split second narrow in on me, I can feel the hatred radiating from her.  I wonder if Lee and Lauren will let me sleep with them tonight, maybe one on either side of me to keep me safe, cause I really don't like my chances of surviving till morning.

She moves a couple of inches so I have to squeeze past, but unlike her, I have class and wouldn't dream of making a scene at a time like this.  I head to the garage rubbing my palm which is still tingling from where Noah touched it and I can't help it as a small smile spreads across my face.