Cupid's Angel

chapter i.

"Jules!" Noah called out after me just as I'd walked out of my apartment, "Let's go for dinner before the HV party tonight?"
"Can't," I responded, "Got dinner with the girls remember?" I gestured to Gina and Sarah who waved in return.
"Right... Okay well I'll see you tonight then. What time are you coming?"
"I think 10? But I'll message you."

"So," Sarah spoke as I approached them, drawing out the 'o', "Who's the hottie?"
"That's Noah, the one who saved me from the coffee-spilling major asshole who effectively ruined my first day of college," I said.
"Ah, I see," Gina chimed in, "So Noah's the reason for the sexy dress? Hoping to get some lip action from Prince Charming?" She teased, gesturing to my champagne-coloured sequence dress that was tight fitting and ended mid thigh.
I rolled my eyes, "No. We're just friends and we've been that way for two weeks now. Am I into him? Of course. But there's no doubt he's not into me. Besides, this is the first freshers party - there's bound to be some hot guys somewhere. I don't suppose that's why you two are also in sexy dresses?" I winked.
"Ugh, whatever. Anyway! Dinner, dinner, dinner!" Sarah piped up again.

-

Sarah, Gina and I were greeted by what appeared to be a scene from Bad Neighbours as we walked into HV's frat house.
"Tonight, ladies," Sarah smirked mischievously, "Tonight, we drink."
"Girl, you don't have to tell us twice," Gina grinned, "We dined, our stomachs are lined, it's time."
And those, dear friends, were the last words I remember hearing for the rest of the night. Massive disaster? Couldn't agree more.

-

I awoke the next morning in a shirt that wasn't mine, under a duvet that did not look like mine, in a room that - surprise surprise - wasn't mine. However, I did have a splitting headache that made me feel like my brain was about to explode.
"Shit," I muttered and began to retrace my steps.
Think, Jules, think. Okay, so bar, tequila, tequila, tequila, some dancing- and then more tequila, of course. Then some sexual dancing with... Noah? Oh dear God no. No no no no no, I didn't, did I? I calmed myself down and started thinking again - only I couldn't, because dancing with Noah seemed to be the last thing this stupid intoxicated brain of mine could remember.
The door from the bathroom opened and Noah walked out in just his underwear. Water accentuated the ridges between his abs and highlighted his beautiful olive skin.
Great. I did it. I'm that girl. I meet a guy two weeks ago, I barely know him, our relationship is not even remotely romantic, and then I have sex with him. Fan-freakin'-tasctic.
"Morning, Tequila Queen," He winked at me.
"Ugh, shut up," I groaned, falling back onto the bed and feeling the tequila bubble in my stomach.
"About last night-" He started.
"-Right, yes. About last night," I cut him off, "What exactly happened last night? Because fourteen tequilas down I can't quite remember what happened after we, uh," I cleared my throat, "Danced."
"Right, well, yeah. We were dancing, and then, uh. And then you... uh..."
"And then I?" I looked at him expectantly.
"And then you kissed me," He finished.
My cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, "Oh my god Noah, I'm so sorry. I was drunk and I wasn't thinking and I just- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"No, it's okay, really. No need to apologise, it's not like I didn't kiss you back or anything..."
"You did?" My eyes widened with shock.
He nodded, "Can I, can I ask you something?" He avoided eye contact.
Kinda already did buddy. I wanted to say, but this isn't third grade, we're all adults here, right? Even if we do get drunk and make out with our friends...
"Yeah, sure. What's up?"
"Would you have," He paused, "Do you think you would have kissed me if you were sober?"
"No!" I answered almost instantly, "Of course not, Noah. I was drunk and really out of it, I wasn't thinking. I shouldn't have done it and I'm really sorry."
"Oh."
I'm sorry - is that disappointment I heard? If it was, the tone didn't stick around for much longer.
"It's okay Jules, really it is. Anyway, I brought you back to my place because I couldn't find Gina and Sarah and I didn't know where to find the keys for your apartment. I gave you my shirt and you changed into it in the bathroom, so don't stress about that. I went to shower after and when I came back out you were asleep in my bed."
Thank God. I knew mama ain't raise no hoe.
"Thank you so much, Noah, what would I do without you? I should go though, the girls are probably worried about me." I got up off the bed, "Can I borrow some shorts? I promise to wash everything and bring it back to you."
He nodded and handed me some shorts.
"Thanks again!" I yelled just before closing the door and beginning the walk of shame to my apartment.

-

A week had come and gone since the fresher's party and Noah was completely off the radar. He hadn't been to any advanced english literature lectures, he didn't return any of my calls and when I'd gone by his apartment, he either didn't answer the door or he wasn't there.
I called Sarah from my apartment.
"Hey girl," She answered.
"Sar, I'm seriously worried. It's been a week and I can't find him, what if he's not okay?"
"Who?"
"Noah."
"I'm sure he's fine. I actually think James said he saw him yesterday at football practice."
"This just doesn't make any sense. Why won't he return my calls? I don't think he's angry with me because he said that the kiss wasn't weird at all."
"Maybe," Sarah started with a mouth full of food, "Or maybe he wanted you to kiss him and when you brushed off the kiss like it was nothing he got hurt."
"There's no way. He didn't seem like he cared at all."
"Just a theory. He'll be okay, hun. Maybe he just needs some space."
"Maybe. Thanks Sar."
"Anytime babe, love you."
"Love you."
I put down the phone and sighed.
Boys.

-
"Hey, Walker," A very shirtless Cupid sat next to me in the eng lit lecture hall.
"Not today, Fletcher, I'm not in the mood," I responded flatly.
"Boyfriend troubles? I haven't seen you with Nathan in a while."
"It's Noah, and he's not my boyfriend asshole."
"Aw no. Are we really back to that? We made such good progress, we were even on surname basis."
"I said I'm not in the mood, Fletcher."
"Aw there it is. I knew you'd come around."
"Do you not know-"
I was interrupted by Noah walking into the lecture hall and looking at Cupid and I before turning around and walking right back out.
"Noah! Wait!" I called after him, trying to get past Cupid so I could run to him. By the time I had gotten into the passage, he was gone. I huffed in frustration and stormed back into the hall.
"You know what I really don't understand?" I turned my head to look at Cupid, "Boys. You people are so inexplicably childish. I mean come on, we're nineteen, we're in university yet you still can't grow up enough to have an adult conversation about why you're mad, or at least let us know that something's wrong. You'd rather walk around all mopey and avoid conversation. And why? Because you people are still freaking children!"
Cupid chuckled at my outburst; "Trouble in paradise, princess?"
"Okay, number one, I hate you. And number two, move so I can leave. I don't think I can sit through a lecture feeling like this."

-

It was now two weeks since the fresher's party and I was beyond pissed off. I sat on the stairs outside of Noah's apartment and refused to leave. I had been there for about an hour when the door finally opened and Noah walked a girl out.
"Noah," I stood up.
"Hey, Juliet."
"Hey? That's all you have to say to me? After two weeks of waiting and wondering where you were and if you're okay, all you can say is hey? I can't believe you Noah. You're such an asshole, honestly. You tell me that it's no biggie that I kissed you but then you spend two weeks hiding from me? It's childish, really childish. I don't understand-"
"Don't understand what? Huh, Juliet? That you lead me on for two weeks, kiss me and then tell me you'd never do it again? Or that you'd never do it sober? Have you even stopped to consider how I might feel?" He yelled.
I looked at him flabbergasted.
"Look, Jules, we had a good thing going and clearly I thought of it as more than it was, but I don't think I can be your friend. I don't want to be that guy friend you call for boy advice, I want to be that boy you call for advice about. And I thought you knew that," He spoke calmly, his green eyes searching mine, "But you didn't and you don't feel the same way and that's okay, but things can't go back to the way they were, I'm sorry."
"You- you have feelings for me?"
"Of course I do Jules, and-"
I interrupted him by getting on my tippy-toes, looping my arms around his neck, and kissing him. Our lips moved in sync as his hands found my lower back and locked me into him.
I pulled away; "I missed you, dumbass."
He grinned and led me into his apartment.