Toothpaste Kisses

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

‘Cause it’s too cold for you here and now. So let me hold both your hands in the holes of my sweater.

I couldn’t help but move to the beat of the song playing through my speakers. My hands, thick with shampoo bubbles, wound through my curls as I sang along. This song always made me think of Noah, just the words California sand and his chocolate eyes were staring at me as we skimmed rocks over the ocean years back. I loved how a click of a button and he was there, with our memories, even when he was thousands of miles away.

I sighed and tilted my head under the spray, feeling the bubbles and warm water wash around me. Even under the water I could hear the song and I hummed with it. If you like them, write them down Jodes, I heard Nick say like he had only just spoken the words, you know this show only plays songs once. I had brushed Nick’s words off back then thinking that a band this good would make it up and true to my thoughts Sweater Weather pulled through.

I laughed as the next song played and my dancing turned to something different. It was kind of sad to admit but there was a playlist just dedicated to Noah that had started four years ago and was still growing rapidly.

As I conditioned and closed my eyes thinking back to that Halloween party where Noah and I had danced to this song, how he had danced up against me in my onesie. I was always nostalgic about those times; the times that led to that first kiss, that had led to the kiss in the airport. We had shared many kisses since then and I still felt no different towards them.

Like I did him, I loved our kisses.

As Beyoncé came to a close so did my shower and wrapping a towel around me I climbed out of the shower and walked into the main room. I made no issue about strutting around in a towel in front of everyone; after living with them for two years it was an ordinary sight to see one of us walking around the flat in only a towel. There was always someone round with the eight of us; whether lying on the sofa or at the breakfast bar or having an existential crisis in the middle of the living room floor.

“What’s up?” I called as I walked out of the bathroom, steam licking at the back of my legs. There were disheartening grumbles and turning I laughed as I saw Blake, Tryph, Jess, Cal and Drake all around the kitchen island, hot caffeine in their hands. “Come on, people; chirp up!”

“Oh my God,” Cal grumbled, his hooded eyes travelling to me. “Could you not?”

“Not what?” I asked innocently, staring wide eyed at him.

“Being all Thomlinson,” Blake said groggily. The rest of the group smirked and laughed as I rolled my eyes and went towards my room.

“Where is everyone?” I asked. Sometimes, I found their humour stupid; it was nothing to my own and I usually only ever found comfort when walking away from them. Without Rocky here to keep me sane I could only speed my steps.

“Rock is out at the store, Jay had early lessons,” Jess called helpfully. Jess was probably the only one who would save me from the white jacket out of the bunch remaining this morning. Tryph would be Tryph; sarcastic, Blake would become all snappy and defensive – true to my heart, Cal would quip and Drake; well, when he wasn’t on a console he only grunted; not really any help.

“Thanks, Love,” I called and slammed the door behind me. I sighed as I turned to close the curtains, stopping the old guy across the street from seeing my dressing body. I yelped when I saw who was standing at the foot of Rocky’s bed. “Noah!”

“Hey, Little Brit.” I laughed as he stepped forward and I wrapped my arms around him. He pressed his lips to mine and I laughed against him as he, holding my wrists, picked me up and spun me around. “I brought your mail, hope you don’t mind.”