The Kissing Booth - The First Year

As time goes by - Noah

And so my loneliness, for the last months of my first Harvard year, began as soon as she entered the boarding gate.

I returned to my room and slept for almost 6 hours, I woke up an sent a message to Lee, just asking if she had arrived well, and when I got his answer saying everything was just fine, I rolled to the side and slept again.

The next week went by real quickly and on Saturday we would have the first game of the semifinals. I was back at the airport waiting for my mom and dad on Friday afternoon. I was happy to have them with me in my first big game and also wanted too much of a hug from my mother... I was feeling sad without Elle and she was the support I needed.

"Hi Noah, how nice to finally look at you, my baby." She hugged me tight

"Hi Mom, it's good to have you two here for tomorrow's game and Alice's parents are very excited to see you again."

"We are also very happy dear! It was great to meet them and we really missed our days here, they are wonderful people. "

My father was right next to her and also gave me a big hug "My famous quarterback, good to be here supporting you in this important game... Yale team has always been a rock in Harvard's shoe," he was ecstatic

"I know dad, that's why I've been training so much in the last few weeks, I'm very confident and excited for tomorrow."

He smiled and gave me another hug "This is my big boy"

I was not planning, but the question came out almost instantly, "How's Elle?" my mother gave me that smile *I knew you were dying to ask*

"Like I told you every single day, she's fine Noah... trying to act normally and showing that she's a strong, mature girl... but I know she's really broken inside. I talked to her last night, the whole gang was at home studying" she stopped because my fac turned dark, and she continued "Joe was not there Noah... so I talked to her, you know she tells me everything, and she said she perfectly  understands  what happened and why you made your decision. It has become clear to me that she is taking the time to think about her college applications, final exams and SATs ... you don't have to worry... I think you two will have time to reconcile after this year is over, and by the way, she asked me to give you a present, it's in my bag, I'll give it to you after dinner."

We went to Alice's house and the whole group was there waiting for us, also Robert, Mike, Sarah... and Cindy. I did not know she'd be there.

"Hi, June, how nice to have you and Matthew in Boston!" May greeted us at the door "Please make yourself at home my dear ones, we are just waiting for you to dinner"

Mom and Dad did not know Robert, Sarah, and Cindy, so I did the honors, and of course my mother gave me that most inquisitive look, the one only Mrs. June Flynn had when I introduced Cindy... my luck was that Cindy was not Elle, so she did not even noticed the difference in my mother's look.

"Nice to meet you three!" She smiled.

Dinner was pretty good, thank God, but I realized that my mother was just checking the reactions, mine and Cindy's to be more specific, and of course, she did not catch anything suspicious.

"I've told you a thousand times, I don't even talk to her so much. We only met during these collective events, it's not a big deal and I've been very careful with what I say to the people close to us. I don't want Sharon to know that Elle and I are having this time apart, or she can try another madness on me, or even try to poison Elle, and I will not curb my instincts any more if it happens again." I went upstairs with my mother after dinner, she wanted to give me the gift Elle asked her to bring me.

"Here, baby" she gave me a black velvet box and when I opened it was a gold necklace with an oval ball pendant, along with a small card. "I was hoping to give it to you when you were in the final game, but since I will not be there to watch, there was no one better than your mother to give you this gift. It's for good luck... I still love you. L" my eyes filled with tears and my mother just touched my face.

"I know honey, I can imagine what you're feeling... she was kind of asking me to give it to you. She begged me to say she was not trying to rush things or make you talk to her again... and I know she was telling the truth... I was with her when she bought this gift, it was just after you came back to Harvard, after the holidays... did you like it? "

"I loved Mom and I really love and I miss her a lot, and I understand why she kept asking you to tell me that she is not trying to rush things... it's so Elle ... she was afraid that I thought she was not respecting my time..." I breathed "I'll send thanking messsage to her..." My mother smiled and hugged me.

We came back down and the guys were playing pool, I joined them and my mom stayed in the room with Alice, May, Sarah and Cindy. The night ended soon, we had the big game the next day and we really needed to rest.

"Bye, Mom, I'll see you tomorrow after the game ..."

"Bye, Noah, have a good night, sleep well and good luck tomorrow. We'll cheer for you." She gave me a kiss and left.

Sarah and Mike asked for a ride back to Harvard, which meant Cindy was coming, too. I had not talked to her after the party but she knew about the photos' mess and that Elle and I were taking a break but I didn't want to talk about it and kind of hoped that no one would mention it on our way back to the campus.

"So Noah, are you excited for the game tomorrow?" She asked as we got into my car.

"Ah... yes, I'm a little anxious... I always feel that way the day before all big games. It was the same when I was in high school, but I kinda get calm when the game starts. "

"He's one of our stars, don't worry, tomorrow we'll kick Yale's ass!" Mike was even more excited than I was.

We arrived at the campus and stopped in front of Sarah and Cindy's building. "See you all tomorrow, have a good night!" I said, Mike and Sarah got off and wished good night

"Noah, can we talk for a minute?" Cindy asked before getting out of the car.

"Ok..." I was not expecting it and I was also a little annoyed, but there was no need to be rude to a girl who never did anything wrong with me

"After all this mess with the photos, I wanted to call you to see if you were okay... and today your mom mentioned to May about you and Elle being apart... it made me feel horrible ... see I know I was just a puppet in Sharon's game, but if I hadn't been there, none of this would've happened."

"Cindy, please, how would you possibly know what would've happened? You don't have to feel this way... since the very the beginning you were never the problem, not even when we spent a night together. First of all, when that happened, you didn't even know I had a girlfriend. The main point of this time apart from Elle is that we realized that this long distance relationship did not go the way we figured it would be... if we don't trust each other, we cannot be together, and after the incident with the photos some other things happened... but I don't want to talk about it, okay? I'm sorry, Cindy..."

"Oh no ... it's okay, I'm sorry that I got to talk about it, I was just worried when your mother confirmed that you were single again..."

"I'm not single ... because I didn't breakup with her, and at that point, even if I had, I wouldn't still be free because my heart belongs to her."

"Okay ... well have a good night and good luck in the game tomorrow. We'll be there cheering for Harvard." She gave me a kiss on the cheek and left the car. I felt relieved.

As soon as I entered my room, I picked up my phone and sent a message thanking Elle for the gift. "Thanks for the necklace, I really loved it and I'm sure it will be my amulet. I love you too. Noah "I went to the bathroom and by the time I lay down she had only answered with a wink and a heart... I rolled my eyes at the ceiling, I was missing her so fucking much.