The Kissing Booth - The First Year

New Years Plans - Elle

I was so in love with my necklace ... so delicate and matching the color of my eyes ... Noah was really amazing, I thought he would not bother to buy anything for me, mainly because of our time apart. I did not buy anything for him... I'll try to think of something when he went back to Boston, so I would surprise him too.

We got up early on Christmas morning, got down and everyone was chatting in the dining room, just waiting for us and Lee to start opening the presents.

Brad was extremely anxious, there were two big boxes that he was sure were for him and everyone took the opportunity to tease on him.

"Mr. Stinky ... who can confirm if Santa really reminded you..." I had to give my contribution

June approached "Wow what a lovely Elle necklace ... Noah tastes great" she touched the pendant, smiled and hugged me "Merry Christmas my lovely little girl, I love you as if you were my daughter and I could not be happier seeing you two well again "

I really loved hearing that ... June always treated me like I was his daughter, especially after my mother passed away. I talked to her when we arrived from Boston, I told her how I felt about Noah not telling me that Sharon was living in his building and she supported me ... actually everything was in the past now ... a lot of things happened, Joe... Cindy... I hoped, on this return, that we could be stronger than before.

Noah was outside the house with his dad and the other men watching Brad test his new bike that my dad gave him ... Brad was growing up so fast, my stinky boy was now almost nine ... my eyes watered Lee saw and came to me. "What is this? What the fool did now? "

"Nothing Lee ... Noah did not do anything. I was watching as Brad is growing up fast, remembering when he was born, how my mother was happy to see him in her arms for the first time. I was thrilled ... it's Christmas, too, her favorite holiday. I miss her, Lee, many times." I hugged him.

"Shelly ... we'll always be here for you, even when you do not want to," he teased trying to make me laugh.

"I know ... and I'm very happy for this ... I love you Lee, never doubt that" I dried my tears "Where is Rachel today?"

"Oh, she went to the grandparents, I'll just see her tomorrow ... I can help you with the new wardrobe, if you want company, of course ..."

"Of course Lee ... not only the wardrobe, but my father has changed my bed too" I laughed and suddenly I was serious "But what about Joe's visit?" I could not disguise a strange and clear look, he realized

"Why do you look like this? Is there anything I do not know Elle Evans?" He knew me too well, but I didn't had time to talk to him since I came back from San Diego, so of course he didn't know about the kiss ...

"Lee, we need to talk, or rather, I need to tell you something, but please promise me you will not tell Rachel ..." He nodded and whispered an "okay"

"Joe kissed me on our last night in San Diego ... we were coming back from the bar that I told you we were going on Saturday night, we ended up at the beach and he kissed me," he gasped, saying nothing and suddenly freaked

"My God Elle, I don't believe, of course I will not tell Rachel ... Noah cannot know this or he'll kill Joe... I even got some glances from Joe looking at you, several times, but never imagined that he really had a crush on you" he was really worried

"Calm down ok ... let me finish. When he kissed me, I gently pushed him away and made him understand that I love your brother. Nothing else happened and just so you know, I told Noah... after he told me that he slept with a girl back in Harvard after that Friday night party" now Lee was shocked

"What, he slept with another girl? Jeez, Elle, I don't know what to say, what a mess!"

"Tell me about it... but I had no right to be really mad at him ... I asked for that time, and I was aware that this could happen, how many times did we talk about it? Of course I was not happy to hear It was not just a kiss ... but if I had drank a lot more in San Diego, I might have spent the night with Joe too ... I'm glad I did not drink that much because this way I managed to reason in time to talk to him." I stopped and looked into his eyes. "Please don't be angry because I did not tell you this before "

"I'm not mad at you ... I can imagine how hard it was to say this to Noah and ... damn Elle, how did you feel when you had to have dinner with Joe and your family at your house? Noah was there too ... "

"Oh that dinner ... I almost ran back to my room when I saw him standing in my living room with his father and sister, my father and my uncles ... Me and Noah had just made up, and in that moment he I did not know anything yet. We had this conversation yesterday morning, so he did not meet again Joe after that ... that's exactly why we have to get out of here before he arrives." He looked at me and smiled

"I'm going to send a message to Joe and tell him that I'll stay at Rachel's house all night and you'll be with Noah ... and I say we try to meet him during next week, before New Year's Eve ... by the way, how are the plans for New Year's Eve? Any idea on where we're gonna spend the night? Mom and Dad are going to Malibu with Grandma, Grandpa and our Uncles ... "

"Nothing planned yet, my father and Brad are going to London with my uncles, but I have not talked to Noah about where to go ... any suggestions?" I did not have time to think about it

"We can go to Disneyland, Rachel and I, you and Noah, what do you think?" He smiled.

"Hey ... perfect! I always wanted to see the fireworks there, I'll talk to Noah and you talk to Rachel ..." I hugged him, my lovely twin brother from a different mother.

Noah came in laughing and saw our embrace, then came and hugged us as well.

"Family hugs, how lovely" he joked. "Mom's calling for lunch and Brad now has a new knee injury thanks to his new bike ... I love your brother Elle, I hope our kids are so adorable as he is" he was really happy and *wait.. our children? He was crazy and I loved the idea, but no, calm down ... you're not even 18 yet ...* my inner voice was screaming and I was laughing a lot.

After lunch, my father, Brad and my uncles said their goodbyes, they still had to pack, the flight would be the same night for London.

Me, Noah and Lee went to my house with them, we had a lot of work to do in my room. Lee said that Joe got the message and I was relieved.

Obviously we made an absurd mess in my room ... three big kids in a war of clothing, while we took everything out of the old wardrobe. My bed had an endless mountain of things, not to mention my trinkets that were on top of the clothes mountain... I really was screwed to get it sorted out.

"Hey, love, Lee had the best idea for our New Year's Eve ... what do you think about going to Disneyland?" I asked and I kissed him.

"Um ... with another kiss I can think better," he smiled and pulled me

"Hey Hey sweethearts, I'm here and working as a slave, please do not forget that ... I do not want to have more clothes to pack inside the wardrobe ... and feel ashamed to hear moans and noises... although with your new bed, at least it would not make so much noise." Lee was laughing and Noah threw my pillow on him. I really loved them a lot... I could never choose between them and seeing him so close made me even happier.

My father shouted, "Hey, young lady, we're waiting for you to give us a ride to the airport"

"Oh my God, I forgot, come on, we can finish this later today or tomorrow, we have to go to LAX... their flight is three hours from now!"

We ran down and went to the airport.