Falling - NOAH CENTINEO

ch. 19 | The Truth

"Have you guys started Mr. Harrison's paper?" Rita asked.

Noah looked in the rearview mirror. "I'm so glad I'm not in his class, it sounds like hell." He laughed.

"It is, we have to write a ten page research paper by next week." Rita said, rolling her eyes.

I stared out the window of the car in the front seat. It felt like I was going to explode, I didn't know what to or who to talk about it with.

I couldn't tell Noah about it. It'd kill him to know what was happening and after I saw him beat the shit out of Anthony, I was worried he'd actually commit murder if he found out.

"B, have you started it?" Rita asked.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I haven't started it." I said.

"You wanna hang out and work on it?" Rita asked.

"Uh, yeah, sure." I smiled back at her. "You can just come over." I offered.

"Sweet." She said, leaning back in her seat.

"Oh, I thought we were gonna-" Noah started, looking at me with sad eyes.

I remembered him this morning saying that he was upset we wouldn't get to act couple-y umtil
school was out.

"I'm so-"

"No, no, no. Noah, you get our Blake everyday, I need some B time too." Rita joked.

I smiled softly looking back at Noah.

"Nah, its fine." Noah smiled, waving it off.

Noah dropped Rita and I off at my house and we got upstairs to my room.

Rita opened up her bookbag and took out her laptop.

"Girl, this paper is gonna suck." She whined.

I snickered. "I don't even know what I'm writing about." I said.

She laughed. I sat at my desk and opened up my laptop.

Rita stood up from my bed and walked around my room.

I didn't notice until she became increasingly silent. I turned around to look at her and saw her holding a piece of paper.

She read it intently, with her eyebrows raised. "Blake. What the hell...?" She said, looking up at me.

I stood up and reached my hand out to grab it, until she turned away from me.

"Rita, its not a big deal." I said, feeling an ache in my chest.

"Blake, this looks like a big fucking deal." She said, re-reading it.

"Rita-"

"Show me your email." She said, giving me an intense look. "Now." She ordered.

I sighed and sat back down in my chair.

"I didn't want anyone to know." I whispered.

"Show me the damn email." She said.

Tears welled in my eyes as I turned around and opened up my email. I clicked on the link, showing her the paused frame.

"What is this?" She asked, quietly, standing next to me.

"Anthony wanted to make a... tape. I didn't want to, but now he's-" I paused, not wanting to say it.

"For God's sake, Blake. He's blackmailing you?" She said, putting her hand on her forehead.

I nodded, looking at the ground.

"Why?" She pleaded.

"I have no idea! I guess cause we broke up, I don't know. He said he was taking me on a date wednesday."

"You actually met up with him?!" She asked, pacing the room.

"Of course I did. I can't let Noah see that video." I said, wiping tears from my eyes.

"Blake, you haven't told him?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.

"No, he can't no." I shook my head.

"Blake, he can help you with this." She said, sitting down next to me and grabbing my hands.

"He can't know, Rita. He just can't."

"Why not?" She asked.

"Because I- Look it doesnt matter. He'll kill Anthony if he finds out."

"Maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing?" She joked.

"I don't know what to do, Rita." I said, shaking my head.

"Then, I guess you have a date to go on. Maybe then he'll be done with you. He probably just has shit to say to you."

"What is he gonna say? He's always around other girls yet hes still harassing me."

"He's crazy. Everybody knows it." Rita rolled her eyes.

"Wish someone told me that before I dated him." I sighed.

"Blake, we reminded you constantly. You were just obsessed with trying to fix him." Rita said, standing up.

I sighed. "Alright, alright. Just please don't tell Noah about all of this." I pleaded.

"I promise, just don't do anything stupid and you better let me know when and where that date is happening." She said, pointing a finger at me.

"I will, Rita."

"And you can always talk to me, B. Don't keep anything from me." She pleaded.

I nodded my head in agreement.

"Good. Now lets do this paper." She smiled.

"What's up? You seemed kind of off today." Noah said through the phone.

I laid on my bed, twiddling my fingers, trying to piece my sentences together.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired." I said.

"Oh okay." He said. "Missed you today. I was hoping we could hang out."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. Rita and I just needed to start that paper." I lied.

"All good. I just missed kissing you and stuff." He laughed.

I giggled through the phone. "Me too."

"Well, you do only live across the street..."

I laughed. "Not tonight, Noah."

"C'mon, we could just hang out, I was just kidding about-"

"I know, just not tonight."

"Oh, Okay." He whispered. "I mean, do you even wanna try this?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean us, B. You never even wanna try acting like a couple. I feel like I'm the only one trying right now."

"Noah, I do wanna try. I'm sorry, I'm just tryna process everything right now."

"I mean, we can go back to...just friends, if you wanna." He whispered.

I sat up in my bed. "Noah, stop. I still wanna try."

"Okay, I don't want to pressure you at all. We can go back to normal." He said, quietly.

"Thats very sweet, but we're still trying." I laughed.

"Alright. Well I'm gonna hit the hay." He said, yawning. "Goodnight, Beautiful."

"Okay, Goodnight Noah." I bit my lip to try and minimize my smile.

I hung up the phone and plopped down on my bed.

How the hell am I supposed to keep all of this from Noah? The sweet boy that calls me beautiful and the protective one that beats up ex's for me. What am I going to tell the boy that would do anything for me?

What the hell am I gonna do?