The Kissing Booth - The First Year

No more fears - Elle

I could not believe it... after a perfect night yesterday, all the costume's surprise and the party that was supposed to be the best of all times, I was running away. *Would he never learn?* And what about that Tuppen cousin saying he's known as a troublemaker at Harvard? Does he have the notion that this can lead him to be expelled from college?

I did not know where to go, it was not so late, I saw some kids on the streets still "Trick or Treating" between houses. No ... I could not go back to Lee's house, I was not well and did not want to talk to his parents about what had happened at the party, I also did not want to go home and explain to my dad why I was not at Lee's with Noah. I needed time to think, so I decided to go to the beach, I loved going to the Santa Monica pier and sitting there to watch the waves, and while I sat on the swings with the wind hitting my face, I thought about life.

It was quiet there, people were on the streets, it was a good choice, but my heart still beat fast and sad.

I have no idea how much time passed, I just realized that it was already much colder and I decided to go back, I had started to feel sleepy too, but where would I go now? As soon as I got off the pier, I saw someone walking toward me.

"Hey Elle, what are you doing here alone? Where are Lee and Noah?" I was Tuppen

"Oh, hey, I wanted to be alone for a while, and the swings here always help me doin' this ... is the party over? Where's your cousin? "

"She was talking to some friends when I left, I think she'll be home later." This information made my stomach hurt, *which friends?* I wanted to ask, but I kept quiet.

"Well, I was going home, I'll see you at school on Monday ..." I was leaving and but he grabbed my arm softly

"Do you want a ride to Lee's house? Or to your house? It's a little late for you to go alone "

I was surprised and scared, my cell was dead for hours and I would not have how to call Lee or Noah to get me, but other than that I could not imagine arriving at Noah's with Tuppen, that would not be really smart... I could cause another misunderstanding and I was not in the mood to face another fight...

"No ... it's okay, I'm going to walk. It's not far and there are still a lot of people on the streets... but thank you anyway for asking."

"You know me Elle, despite everything that happened last year, I really like you. But okay, if you think it's fine, I will not be pushing it. Good night, go carefully. "

"Don't worry, I'll party with the kids asking for candies." I gave him a quick smile and left.

I was walking in the front block when I noticed the headlight of a motorcycle coming towards me... my heart started to beat fast again. Noah stopped and looked at my face.

"Why did you disappear?" His face was really worried and his voice was choppy.

"I had to be alone, Noah, I could not stay there ..."

"But your phone is out of the area, no one saw you leave, I went to every single place we know in the city, I even called my mother to see if you had gone back there ... here was the last place I decided to come before starting follow you in  hospitals. I know that things could have been different tonight, but disappearing is not the solution, if we want this to work, we'll have to talk, not just run away from each other whenever things go complicated or something goes wrong." He sounded more relieved, but still worried.

He was right, but I was still thinking about what that blonde had said, and all the madness of the fight ... Suddenly Tuppen appeared behind me and Noah's eyes changed color. At the same time I saw his eyebrows lifting, he took a deep breath and asked "What are you doing here, Tuppen?" My heart was beating fast, but for a moment I felt a relief, he controlled himself instead of start punching the boy without even try to understand what was going on.

"I live here Noah, you're in front of my house." Tuppen did not seem so happy with Noah's question, but he stayed behind.

"Were you thinking in the swings with him, Elle?" Noah asked me, his eyes even darker.

"Hey, were not you listening when I said I wanted to be alone? I have not even seen Tuppen until now (and I hoped he would not mention that he offered me a ride home), please Noah, stop being so controlling and forget about this baseless jealousy." I looked angry and was emphatic.

He stopped, breathed, and looked at me again. "Are you coming home with me?" His voice was soft now.

I just nodded, got on the bike, and we pulled away.

When we got to his house, Lee's car was in the garage and we heard voices by the pool, but before wenting there we stopped at the garage. "I know Shelly, we have to talk, but can we do this after everyone sees that you're okay? We can talk in my room later..." He did not laugh, which relieved me because he noticed that I wanted a serious conversation, I needed to put an end to his stupid believe that he needed to control all my steps to protect me.

"Hey you two, finally home!" Lee shouted, not knowing exactly what had happened after the *near-struggle* of the century. "We were here waiting for you to go to the beach, it's not too late and we can make a bonfire, what do you think?"

Noah replied, "You guys can go, Shelly and I are a bit tired, let's leave it for another day, but we can go to TCL Chinese Theater tomorrow."

"Okay silly, have a good night you two, do not make too much noise" Lee laughed and I did not hold back, I laughed too ... it was a moment of relief after all the tense night I had.

We got upstairs, June and Matthew were asleep, or at least I thought they were. The moment we entered hia room and closed the door, I began to calm myself down. He looked at my face and I blushed a little, but could not lower my guard, not yet.

"I need to take a shower, there's sand on my feet and legs, I'm also a bit cold"

"I can help you," he said with some doubt in his voice.

"Noah better not... we really need to talk and if you try to help me in the shower, we probably will not say anything."

"Ok ... I'll wait, you can go first."

I opened the shower and as soon as the hot water touched my body I started to relax but still a little sad and I thought of my mother, I missed her at times like this, maybe if I could talk to her about all of this types of things... surely she would have given me the best advice ... I started to feel calmer just with that thought and I buried my head in the tub.