This is War

Chapter 26

just to clarify beforehand, this chapter is in Noah's perspective!

Chapter 26 - Noah's P.O.V

It was dreary outside, the sky was just a large mass of gray, the only thing separating each cloud was the different shades.

Shoving my hands into my jean pockets, I inhaled the brisk air, turned cold with the changing season. Almost all of the trees in the park were naked, their leaves gone for the winter. I continued the walk into the depths of the park, to the edge of the treeline, but came up short when I saw a brunette sitting there in my spot.

Granted, it's not like it was only my spot, but it was the spot that I always came to when I needed to think. And right now I really need to think, but there's a girl sitting where I go to think.

As I near the bench, my bench, I'm surprised when I find the one and only Natalie Brooks-- the very reason I needed to come to my self-proclaimed thinking bench.

Her expression says it all; she's nowhere close to the happy-go-lucky girl she was at school today, when she stole my motorcycle battery.

"Natalie?" I call out and she looks up, the conflicted expression on her face replaced by confusion, her nose scrunching up like it always did. Not that I noticed those things on purpose or anything because that would just be weird and uncool.

The cloud of confusion was almost immediately replaced by irritation, "Can I help you, Hall?"

I sat down on the bench next to her and with out proximity came the thought of our almost kiss earlier today in the hall. I sighed, "Are you okay? You looked a little down."

"Why the hell would I tell you about my problems?" She scoffed.

I'll admit, that hurt.

Raising my hands in surrender, I shrugged, "Good question."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you," She mutters, looking down at her hands that are folded in her lap. "I've just had a lot on my mind lately."

"So tell me about it," I suggest, angling myself towards her more.

She looks up at me in disbelief.

Call me crazy, but I was really hoping she'd tell me and a part of me actually let me believe she would.

Natalie shook her head, "Why do you care? Last time I checked you hate me, I hate you and we don't care about the other's problems. In fact, we usually are each other's problems."

Why did I care? I gave her a lopsided smirk, "Isn't that the million dollar question."

"Whatever," She shook her head but I saw the smile at the corners of her lips. Her perfectly plump, pink and kissable-- Shit! What the hell was I saying? I sounded like a f*cking chick!

"Alright," I shrugged, trying to gain back some cool points.

She let out a sigh, not sad or happy or relieved, and looked out and up to the sky, where white flakes started to come down. The first snowfall of the year. She turned to me, "You know even if I wanted to tell you, I couldn't. I haven't even told my friends yet."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "So? What's the big deal?"

"The big deal," She explains, sounding exasperated, "is that it's the friend code. I tell them any big news before I tell anyone else. It's a rule of respect, you know."

Scoffing, I nodded, "I'm sure."

"And to think I almost told you," She muttered to herself. She looked back up to the snow, flakes landing perfectly in her eyelashes, one landing on the very tip of her nose.

"Tell you what," I begin, "you tell me what's got you down and it'll be like a practice for when you tell your friends. They don't even have to know you told me first."

She sat there and pondered over it, so obviously it was a good idea, at least good enough for her to seriously consider it. For once she wasn't degrading my ego.

Natalie nodded, "Okay, I'll tell you."

I nodded, "Okay, shoot."

Taking in a deep breath, she rubbed her hands together, her features drawn together and eyebrows furrowed. Finally, she looked back up at me, "I'm moving."

"What, a few streets or cities over?" I question.

"Try states," She grumbles. Natalie looked up at the sky for a third time, but this time there were tears welling in her eyes. "I'm moving to f*cking Minnesota! I have to leave everything behind."

For some reason, my heart clenched.

"When are you moving?" I asked her.

"Three weeks."

Digesting the news, I realized in this very moment that I didn't want her to leave. The girl next to me, 5'2" with dark brown hair and brown eyes to match and a fire that could burn the entire country-- I didn't want her to leave.

I nodded, "So are you going to miss the winter formal? Don't you chicks like that shit?"

She let out a sarcastic laugh, "Actually I'll still be here. I'm moving two days after it."

"Damn," I mumbled.

Natalie gasped and shoved me, making me fall to the wet ground. I glared at her and she shrugged, "You brought it upon yourself."

"This is true," I agreed and she laughed. Not sarcastically or to make fun of me, but it was a genuine laugh, clear as a bell that made me feel warm even though I was partially wet and sitting in a mid-November snow shower.

This is what confused me, the way I felt about her. We argued and fought and pranked each other. We called each other names and pushed the other's buttons. So why was I so sad that she was leaving? And why did her simply laugh make me feel happy?

"I have to get going," She sighs and stands up, offering me her hand to help me up. I accept and stand, towering over her small frame. "See you."

She walks away, arms wrapped around herself as if to protect her from the cold. I continued to sit on the bench and finally the answer settled down on my shoulders.

Ah, f*ck, I'm falling for Natalie Brooks.

I groaned, cradling my head in my hands.

∞

a/n: GIVE IT UP FOR NOAH HALL EVERYONE!! ha ha, next chapter will be back to Natalie's P.O.V. But tell me, did you like getting Noah's input? Let me know in the comments! And don't forget to vote, lovelies! Also, after today updates might be slower because of school starting back up :(

SPOILER: News is given and a truce?? Maybe? Who knows??? xD