The Kissing Booth - The First Year

So this is what is called a hangover - Elle

I woke up a little dizzy, my head was aching... ok, I drank more than I am used too, but still less than that crazy party ast year. Our party was very good, and I was totally aware of what had happened in the end... I spent the night with Joe. It was very different from everything I had with Noah, impossible not to compare since Joe was the second guy I was with in my entire life... it had been good, I let go more than I thought I would, and I didn't regret it. At least until that moment...

"Good morning" I heard his voice beside me, I looked at his face, smiled a bit awkwardly and I replied "Good morning"... he came to give me a kiss and I gently rolled my face to my cheek.

"What is it, Elle? Is everything okay?" Of course he was confused.

"Everything is okay Joe ... I just don't want to hurry things" I stopped a moment and I thought, why not hurry if I slept with him? I shook my head to clear that thought and shut the stupid little voice inside criticizing me, I continued, "as you know, I still have no idea what's going to happen in my life right now. All this with Noah (he heard the name and closed his face) I did not even talk to him yet... "

"He does not deserve you, Elle, I told you that on the first day of the year when we met at the hotel and you were mad at me. Now you understand why right? Sharon told me he was seeing  this redheaded girl before coming to Los Angeles for the holidays, but I didn't dare to tell you they were sleeping together... sorry, I wanted to, but besides not having any proof at the time, you also totally ignored me"he was being honest and really had been very upset... ah that unhappy bitch girl.

"Joe ... I know everything that happened between Cindy and Noah before the holidays. He told me ... and I told him about our kiss in San Diego. What you don't know is that Sharon always, and I mean always, has tried to interfere in our relationship since the first time she saw me... or rather, I think since the first time she laid eyes on Noah. I bet she did not tell you that right?" Now he seemed even more confused.

"No... she never told me any of that, and I honestly would never guess that Noah would have told you if he had stayed with another girl... but the pictures only show that they're still together, and I bet he didn't told you this" when he finished, I stopped, I thought for a moment, if Sharon had already told him about Cindy, and surely he had told that he didn't said anything to me, she might have other intentions sending the pictures to Joe... and suddenly everything was clear in my mind... *OH MY GOD, I did what she wanted me to do!* I despaired

"Joe ... I just realized that this bitch got exactly what she wanted! All the time she wanted me to think Noah was with Cindy, but he's not ... he's crazy without understanding the pictures ... Oh God ... I'm sorry" I got out of bed and ran to the bathroom... I started crying harder than when I saw those stupid pictures ... I betrayed him, knowing exactly what I was doing and all the time he was telling me the truth, he had no idea what was happening. I needed to think ... I decided to call June.

*Answer please* "Hello, hi Elle, good morning!"

I was not even polite and answer the good morning back, I started to talk desperately "June ... you were right... Sharon did everything on purpose... My God... I need to talk to Noah, but not on the phone... I have to go to Boston! Please help me!!"

"Calm down Elle, of course I'll help you. Do you want me to pick you up in Malibu and take you to the airport? "

"Ah June ... yes, thank you! I'm already going online to check on tickets" I breathed "I need to pack my things. Thank you again ... I love you, and I'm sorry that I was so stupid yesterday."

"Hey, don't worry, I know how you are and I also know how much you were hurt by this whole story. I'll be there to pick you up in an hour or so. Please calm down okay? We all do some stupid things when we are mad and most of all at your age... I'm going. See you soon, bye" she was right... I messed things more than I could.

I left the bathroom and Joe was dressed waiting for me. "Elle, I don't understand what's really happening now ... I just wanted you to know that I'm here if you need me, we're friends" he cleared his throat "above everything, okay?"

"Joe... I'm sorry for all this... Sharon put you in the middle of your dirty game, you did not deserve this. Inspite of all, I need to tell you that I really enjoyed our night, and yes, we are friends. Please, do not be upset... I know it's hard to ask you this at such this delicate time, but I really can't stay here to explain everything to you right now, but I have to catch a flight to Boston. "

"Boston? Are you going to Harvard?" He was almost screaming.

"Yes, I am. June is coming to pick me up and I still need to talk to Lee." Good thing I had not taken too much from my bag, it was easy to pack everything up while I was talking to Joe. "I need to get down... I'll be back on Sunday and than we can talk ..." I kissed his cheek and left the room.

I walked down the stairs, and even with my suitcase and backpack in my hands, I managed not to fall, Lee was in the kitchen.

"Hey, we need to talk outside... now" I just demanded and he followed me onto the balcony

"Good morning, boss, what's going on?" every time I told him to do something, he used to call me *boss*. He was laughing and I was serious, "I'm afraid of your mad face... what happened?"

"You'll never guess ... well, first of all I spent the night with Joe ..." he opened his mouth and could not say anything other than "What?"

"Yeah, exactly what you've heard, I spent the night with Joe... but I don't want to talk about this now, I have something more important to tell you." I breathed. "We woke up and he said that Sharon had told him at New Year that Noah and Cindy were seeing each other before the holidays, of course she was sure Noah was not going to tell me about the night he spent with Cindy, and she found out that Joe liked me, so she used it, making him think Noah was cheating on me... why those photos are taken from so far away?" I asked and Lee was still somewhat shocked.

"I don't know Elle, but please get to the point, I'm already desperate here"

"It's obvious Lee, she waited the right moments and took the pictures, sent them to Joe, who now had evidence of what she told him, and so he would show me, taking Noah out of the scene and leaving my way free for Joe, and Noah's for her! All the rest of the story you already know. The main point... she threw me into Joe's arms... and I cheated on Noah, who has been trying, all this time, to understand where the photos came from and how they have been sent to me. "

"Shelly, what a mess ... we even thought it was kind of weird, but the photos were plausible" he was as shocked as I was. "It only makes me understand once again that all stories have two sides. I'm not going to judge your attitude of spending the night with Joe, I'm always on your side, but now what are you going to do? "

"Your mother is coming to get me, I'm going to Boston, I have to talk to Noah and if I'm lucky, I can punch Sharon's face!" I was really anger, and I knew that waht I did was really bad

"Hey, Rochelle Joni Evans Flynn," he shouted using my usual full name (since we were kids he'd put Flynn as my last surname, since he said I was his twin) "Please stop wanting to act like Noah" He had to tease in the end "Have a nice flight and please call me as soon as you land in Boston... are you going to tell your father you are going to Harvard?" I had not even thought about that

"Oh my God, of course, I have to tell him... I didn't even think about it... I'm going to call from the road and say that Noah sent me a ticket to stay in Boston with him until the weekend. Your mother will confirm my story and please Lee, wish me luck... I'll really need it "

"Good luck... everything will be fine... I love you Shelly."

"I love you too ..." we hugged.

June arrived and we went to the airport, she left me there at noon and I took the first flight at 1:00 pm to Boston. When I arrived, Noah would be in his dorm, it would be a great surprise ... and I had to think exactly how would I tell him that I spent the night with someone else.