The Kissing Booth - The First Year

San Diego and drinks - Elle

I was not thrilled about the trip to San Diego ... three days, or rather, two and a half days away from home, just with the team girls, our coach and the support staff ... Lee and Rachel could not come with us.

I liked the girls, but no one was like Lee ... he knew me better than I did sometimes ... and in those 25 days I kept talking about Noah, he was always by my side to cheer me up. It had not been easy, we had loads to do at school, I had soccer practicing, we started studying for the SATs and we got the college forms. Despite the distance from Noah, I kept my application to Harvard as my first choice ... I was no longer hurt with him and I missed him so much ... I knew he would come for Christmas ... I wanted to send a message at least to say that I missed him, but I decided to wait and say it in person.

Joe had not entered the football team or soccer team, when I saw him talking to our coach, he was running for the support staff of our soccer team, so he had come with us to San Diego. I had notion of how handsome he was, it was just what the girls had said since he appeared in school for the first time, he kind of became a "Flynn descendant", and Lee did not even mind since he was with Rachel. We ended up getting closer, not like Lee and myself, of course, but he started hanging out with us, taking part in study groups and going to lunch at Lee's or mine house. He really was cool, came from San Francisco when his father was transferred to Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. He had a younger sister, Maggie, and by coincidence, she was studying with Brad, and was always at home playing with him. We used to say that they would be like me and Lee in the future, but in their case there was no need for rule number 9.

We arrived in San Diego on Friday, the game was going to be on Saturday morning and we would be back only on Sunday.

The Friday afternoon workout was very hard, I was literally broken when I went back to the hotel room ... I took my phone, and saw a picture of me and Noah on the screen. I felt a tightness in my chest, I almost sent a message, but it was almost ten o'clock in the evening, so it would be one o'clock in the morning in Boston ... he should be asleep. I put my phone to charge, turned on the sound and went to take a shower. When I left the bathroom, the bed was screaming for me, I still lay in a towel and slept automatically.

We won the game, although it was very difficult. We play against La Costa Canyon High School, one of the best teams this season. Unfortunately I did not score, but I had two passes that ended in goals and overall, I was very happy with my performance.

Dinner was a lot of fun and our coach paid the bill. We took the night off and decided to go to the Onyx Room Dance Club, everyone wanted to learn how to dance salsa.

The club was amazing, a great dance floor, lots of crystal globes and lots of beautiful people. I did not go out much in Los Angeles and this climate, the Latin rhythm and the decor of the place, made me very impressed and happy. Debbie, Beth and Stacy were very excited and as soon as we went to the dance floor they were already invited to dance.

"How are you feeling soccer star?" Joe came up beside me and put his hand on my shoulder, and I felt a different heat, a strange feeling.

"Oh man, I'm very excited, the game was very good and now, all this music and this mood ... I'm happy, very happy!" And I was being honest and smiling

"Very good to hear you say that, especially since you've been moaning for Noah for so long ..." he stopped talking and I noticed it was because I had frozen when he said Noah's name, he continued "I'm sorry, Elle, I did not want to make you feel bad. "

"Do not worry Joe, I'm not feeling bad about him ... I'm sure we'll be fine ... he's coming to LA for Christmas and we'll have time to make things right." This thought was what made me happier and hopeful, but Joe's face was not so happy now ... I thought it was better to change the direction of the conversation, we really needed to have fun "Hey, are we going to get a Mojito and dance or what?" I smiled at him and he smiled back.

"Ok, Elle Evans, let's have some fun!"

We drank and danced a lot ... it was almost 3 in the morning when we got back to the hotel, the girls were all happy, Beth stayed behind with a cute boy, Stacy and Debbie went up to their rooms and I stayed a little bit in the hotel lobby, which was right in front of the beach, with Joe. He asked me to take a walk and I agreed. We talked and laughed a lot ... we drank a little more than we expected.

"This moon is incredible, don't you think?" He asked me.

"I love the moon ... she's always there for me ... every time I wanted to do something and not tell anyone, I used to talk to the moon. The best thing is that she never told anyone my secrets"I was a little dizzy and he was looking at me like it was the first time he saw me. We were very close, now walking on the beach side by side. He stopped me with one arm, I looked at him and he kissed me. For a moment I returned the kiss, sweet, it seemed that I was kissing Noah, but suddenly I realized that there was something different in the touch of our lips, I concentrated, causing the drink to let me think, and I remembered that I was with Joe... I walked away carefully.

"Sorry, Elle, I could not resist you anymore ... I felt like doing it from the first time I saw you at that school bench ..." he blushed.

"You do not have to apologize ... I really like you, but as a friend. You're amazing, I think if I did not have Noah, I really would want to be with you, we're so close ... we lost our mothers too soon, we have younger brothers, we love the same sports ... but unfortunately my heart belongs to someone else and you know that. "I did not want to make him feel bad and more importantly, I did not want to lose his friendship. "I'm sorry ... please try to understand me ..."

"You do not need to be like that, Elle ... nothing's gonna change between us ... I just needed that kiss, I needed to know if maybe you could feel something. I just made sure you did not, and it's okay I hope you and Noah understand each other, and I also hope to be able to meet him and keep our friendship the same way we have been until now." He was being sincere

I felt relieved. "Of course we're still going to be friends and I think you and Noah will get along too ..." this was at least what I expected. "Let's go back, it's almost 5 in the morning, our bus leaves at 10 am, we need to get some sleep"

He hugged me for a moment, I felt his perfume sweet, and a warmth in his chest, I cared for him, but that was all. He looked at me, smiled, and we went back to the hotel. When we arrived, Beth was coming too, she looked at us and smiled "Hey Elle, I thought you were still dating Noah ..." I did not understand why she was saying this, but then I saw, on Joe's T-shirt had a lipstick on the chest, probably from when we hugged. I thought too fast. "Yeah, I'm still with Noah and I had to go to the beach to call Joe ... we have to go to sleep and he was making out with a girl he met at the club ... look at his shirt" I gave a forced smile, but luckily she did not notice my excitement and looked at Joe.

"Ah, then that blonde eh ... well done Joe!" And she laughed ... I breathed in relief.

We walked in and when I closed the bedroom door, I picked up the phone and texted Noah "I love you and I miss you ... your Shelly"

That kiss Joe gave me just made me realize how much I missed Noah, and I could lose him if I kept this silence ... a month had been enough for me to think and understand how much he meant for me, and I hoped he was feeling the same. I slept with a smile on my face.