Midnight Love || ✔️

11:42 pm

v | | five

THE MUSIC played softly from the radio, though Ella would not be able to recall what songs were playing. She stared out of the window, at the dark sky and the lights of the city zipping by. She was hyper aware of Noah beside her, his body not much closer than it would usually be during math class. But it feels a millions times more intimate now.

Ella sent a quick text to Jessica to tell her that she was leaving, so as not to worry if she didn't find her. Not that Ella thought Jessica would have worried much about her disappearance.

They had been on the road for about fifteen minutes, and Ella had yet to gather the courage to ask where they were going. Neither did Noah volunteer any information.

Finally, after about twenty minutes from leaving the party, they parked in the parking lot of a small dinner, the words Home Cooked Dinner flashing in neon red. Noah got out and Ella followed suit. They walked silently into the dinner.

They were met by a hostess, an older woman with soft grey hair pulled in a loose bun, and vibrant blue eyes.

"Noah! So good to see you my boy," she exclaimed at their entrance, pulling Noah in for a hug. The boy did not shy away, wrapping his arms around the women's petite frame.

"It's good to see you too, Grandma."

Wait, grandma? He brought her to his grandmother's diner?

Ella didn't know why he would do that, but felt strangely flattered that he did. Then she reminded herself that maybe he brought everyone here.

"Oh, and who's this angel?" Grandma asked when she saw Ella.

"Grandma, this is Ella. A friend from school."

Grandma smiled and pulled Ella into a hug. The young girl was surprised at the contact, but eventually returned the hug with a smile and a soft, "Nice to met you, ma'am."

"Oh, none of that 'ma'am' stuff, just call me Grandma, dear," the old lady said, patting Ella's cheek. Ella nodded with a smile. It's hard not to love Grandma after a few seconds. She was the perfect grandma, warm and nice and seemed to actually care about her even though she only met her a few minutes ago. She was everything she'd ever wanted in a grandma.

"We'll take the back booth, Grandma," Noah said, leading Ella towards said booth. Grandma nodded, picking up menus and following them.

"So, she's your grandma?" Ella asked, pretending to look through her menu. She looked up when she heard laughter. "What? What did I say wrong?"

Noah shook his head, amusement covering his face. "No, you didn't say anything wrong. She's not my grandma, I just call her that," he looked at her, eyes twinkling. "But you should have seen your face, you looked like you'd seen a ghost."

Ella felt her cheeks heat up, and she thanked her darker skin for its ability to hide her blushes. "Oh, okay."

Ella looked through the menu for real this time, when Noah said, "Get the chilli. Grandma makes one of the best chillies I've ever tasted."

Ella ordered the chilli, and true to his word, it was one of the best things she's ever tasted. "Oh, wow, it's really good," she said after a mouthful.

"You didn't believe me?" Noah teased with a smile.

Ella shrugged, "Each person has a different taste."

"But they all include liking Grandma's chilli."

Ella chuckled a bit and then sobered up. "Hey, Noah?"

He looked up from his bowl of chilli. "Yeah?"

"I'm sorry," the words flowed out of her mouth without her having to force them out.

"Whatever for?" his brows furrowed.

"For the way I acted your first day. You were trying to be nice and I was a total jerk to you. Then you became so cold and different and I really didn't mean to hurt you or anything it's just that I don't . . . I-I can't—" She stopped when Noah placed his hand on top of hers. Her breath hitched, effectively stopping her rambling.

"It's okay," he said, voice soft. "I overreacted a bit and I realize now how it might have looked. I was always there and trying to talk to you, I don't blame you. As for how I looked . . ." he blew out a sigh. "Sometimes I feel in extremes, can't find the middle. I'm either too open or too closed. I've been working on it," he flashed her a small smile. "I think I'm getting better."

Ella nods, but her mind was shouting: his hand. his hand was on her hand. She barely understood what he said. But she understood enough to relieve her worries about his character.

Her eyes dropped to his hand, the way his skin was darker than hers, and much larger that they almost completely enveloped them. Noah noticed and immediately retracted his hand, with no little disappointed from Ella.

"I sometimes feel too little," she whispered, the words out there to prevent the inevitable awkwardness from setting in.

"Well, maybe we can help each other figure out this mess that is our emotions?" Noah joked, but the glimmering hope in his soft brown eyes told a different story.

Ella remembered the dreams she'd had the past week about what their relationship might have looked like if she didn't ruin it before there was a chance. Now she was getting a chance to say yes, to make those dreams a reality.

Ella was not going to make the same mistake twice.

"We absolutely can," she said with a smile that grew larger as she saw Noah's grin. A grin that was so bright Ella could have sworn the dinner got a bit brighter too.

It was still early in the night, and so Ella and Noah sat in their little corner booth, eating wonderfully made chilli and talking about everything and nothing. It was a perfect night.

It was the calm before the storm.