"Goodbye."
"This isn't goodbye, Noelle. This will never be goodbye."
_ _ _
Noelle was the type of girl that you'd see in the halls at school, or in a store at the mall that you would just assume had everything. She was rich, a cheerleader, and had a...
Bryce watched Noelle meandering down the walkway alone. His eyes automatically shot to Jake to see if he noticed his so-called best friend that he hadn't spoken to in weeks. They were barely acquaintances. At first, it had bothered Bryce, but he had come to realize that it was a reality that friends grew apart. He couldn't blame it on his brother just because he had feelings for Noelle. Plus, it wasn't like he abandoned her to the wolves; she had friends through cheerleading and the like.
"Oh, there's Mateo and the guys. I'll see you at home later," Jake offered Bryce a wave that his brother returned.
Alone, Bryce glanced around at the students passing. It was the last day of school, no one cared what he was doing. He was a senior, he wouldn't even be in town in two months.
He jogged over to Noelle, easily catching up with her due to her shorter legs. She was wearing a grey hoodie and tapered sweats but she somehow managed to look cute and not sloppy. Sometimes he wondered if growing up with money just made one inexplicably more stylish.
"Bryce."
"Babes."
She rolled her eyes, but he saw a twinge of a smile glimmer on her lips for a second.
"Would you like a ride home?"
"Sure," Noelle shrugged, "no Jake today?"
"Nah, he's got plans with that Mateo kid," Bryce pulled the handle of Noelle's binder from her small hand, letting his fingers linger on hers, "it seems I'm all yours."
She snorted, "lucky me."
Bryce savoured her as they walked. He loved to watch her when she wasn't paying attention. She was just minding her own business, the permanent sadness on her face dampened by distraction. She was so beautiful in those moments. She was always beautiful to Bryce.
Her dark hair was escaping its ponytail and the wisps whipped in the breeze. Her cheeks were rosy with the permanent blush she wore. She was Noelle.
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Noelle pushed him into the hard, wood of the closed door the second they entered his bedroom, locking her soft lips with his hungrily. Bryce found his hands fisted in the fabric of her clothing as he let out a soft groan.
Pulling away from his mouth, she peppered kisses down Bryce's exposed neck making his stomach clench. She swirled her warm tongue over the tendons and he shuddered.
"I'll miss this," she murmured absently against his skin.
Bryce winced. He didn't like to think about what was happening at the end of summer. He pulled away from her gently, then walked to his bed in the centre of the room. She raised an eyebrow at him and he held out a hand to, beckoning.
"We haven't talked about this," Bryce murmured, lacing his fingers with hers and watching her face intently, looking for any sign of emotion.
"I know," she mumbled noncommittally, fiddling with his fingers.
