The Kissing Booth - The First Year

New faces - Elle

When we got home, I went straight to my room, left my two large suitcases at the bottom of the stairs, and went upstairs only with my backpack and necessaire. I opened the door and felt my heart scaping out my mouth, I needed to be alone and cry, cry a lot... I could not refrain all these tears anymore, first in Alice's house, then during the whole flight ... it was only 6 hours and I was already feeling the weight of the time I asked him. When I saw his jacket and felt his perfume, I cried even more ... it was as if we were appart for an eternity, and I could never imagined how much these things hurt.

I needed that time, I needed to think about everything that had happened, I loved him, and even though I was very hurt by what he hided from me, I knew he really loved me ... but he needed to learn, once and for all, in a relationship there is no room for lies or secrets, especially when they affect the other party ... even if it might hurt a little. I didn't accept to feel totally impotent while that stupid viper poured all her poison in us, which would not have happened in case I knew before she was living there ... My tears kept rolling and I decided to take a bath. As soon as I entered in the shower Lee called .

"Hi Shelly, are you better?" His voice was soft.

"Yes ... a little ... are you coming here? I need to stay with my best friend today" my voice was bossy, it was almost a requirement 

"I'm going, yeah ... I just left Rachel home and wanted to know if you want Chinese food, I'll get some on the way to your house."

"Yes, please, I need to eat something ... I almost did not eat at brunch and nothing on the flight. Dad said he would not cook anything... So you're my only hope and I love you for it. Can you get some for dad and Stinky too?" I was really hungry... something that never changes is the way I fell about food: happy or sad, I never lose my appetite.

"Okay, I'll be there in 20 minutes, please tidy my sleep bag" he hung up.

I finished bath and went down to get the other suitcases. My dad was sitting in his favorite chair reading ... he looked at me over his glasses and said, "Are you ok now, dear?" Of course he heard me crying

"Yes, Dad, you know I needed this right? You had your argues with Mom ... it's normal ..." I tried to be as natural as possible, I did not want him to get mad on Noah.

"Yes, we had our moments, I just do not want to see you grieving for Noah ... you know that I now accept your relationship with him, because that was your choice but I can not pretend that I like to see you cry over him ... if he does anything to hurt you, I'll really have to control myself not to kill him" Dad was kidding about killing him, but he was being honest about all the other things.

"I know dad ... do not worry, I'll be fine soon. And it's normal for a couple to have some fights... soon we'll be okay again." I walked over and hugged him, he gave me a kiss on the forehead. "I love you my princess" he finished.

I went upstairs carrying my gigantic, stupid suitcases. *No one told that you had to buy all the winter clothes in Boston* (Shut up, I told my insistent inner voice) and Lee arrived with our dinner. He kept watching me unpack and I told him in detail what happened with blond bitch.

"She's really disgusting Elle, and I understand your point ... she caught you unprepared, otherwise I know you'd have finished her... *FATALITY*" he finished imitaiting the Mortal Kombat guy's voice

"I really wanted to, but I did nothing... by the time I figured that he had hidden from me the fact that she was living there, in the same building as him, I froze, I felt my face catching fire, and I almost broke his fingers ..." I finished my yakisoba ... and I was really tired. "I've got your sleeping bag, you can take a shower if you want, I'm going to look for a movie for us to watch ... a very rough comedy that makes me laugh and forget everything that is happening at this moment in my love life. Tell me... when did adult life became so messed up?"

"I really don't know Shelly... I'm going to a bath, I promise I will not be late ... and if you're asleep when I get back, I'll throw you a bucket of water ..." He was teasing me, I threw the pillow in his face and we started laughing

It was a good night after all, Lee always knew how to cheer me up.

***********************

The first day of school after the Thanksgiving holiday was always too lazy ... Lee and I arrived late for the first class, so we stood outside watching the staff decorate the school for Christmas. I've always loved this time of year, but this one in particular, was still not being so good, thanks to my "forced time" away from Noah. *You'll be fine* my inner voice shouted, oh boy... she was insistent.

We were sitting on a bench under our favorite tree and I saw him ... a new student coming to school, tall, dark haired, amazing blue eyes and kind of reminded me of Noah *okay, please, let that thought get out your mind now Shelly* now the little voice was taking my side

"Hey, sorry to bother you, but could you guys please help me find the school registration room?" He stopped in front of us smiling "Sorry for being so rude, my name is Joe"

"Hello Joe, my name is Lee. We'll enter in the second period, you can come with us and I'll show you the registration room." Lee was kind to new students, and I always thought he was like this because of his brother's popularity, so, if he was not kind, people would never have spoken to him ... selfishness on my part, because on the inside I realized it was, in fact, jealousy, I did not want to share my best friend with others.

"Thanks Lee, and what's your name?" Joe looked at me and smiled.

"I'm sorry, I'm rude and Lee too," I laughed. "I'm Elle, it's a pleasure"

As we entered the school, between the first and second periods, everyone was looking at Joe and me and Lee. We showed him the registration room and kept our way to class.

"He seems to be a nice guy, a new friend to us Elle" Lee was being kind and I was deep down in my thoughts "Land to Elle ... where are you kid? Harvard, all of a sudden?" He joked.

"Oh shit ... sorry ... no ... I was thinking about what we'll have to discuss at our next student council meeting" this was a big lie ... I was thinking about what to do with my free time now that I would not have to call Noah at lunch ...

Mia approached "Hey Elle, who's the new guy ... I just saw you and Lee with him... any relative?" She always went directly to the point, and of course her inseparable companions were by her side just waiting to hear the news.

"I really do not have much to say, except his name is Joe and he just asked us where to find the school registration room ... now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go." I was not in the mood for stupid chating.

After school I had soccer practice, and I saw Joe talking to our coach *Of course, I thought, with that body and shape, he must be an athlete... but why is he talking to the female soccer team coach?*

By the end of the day, after so many activities, I was really tired, and glad I did not have time to think about Noah.

I got home, took a shower, had dinner and went straight to bed ... it was not so easy to sleep, but I was trying to focus on my new prospects, at school and more importantly, in college.