Teenage Dirtbag / 5SOS

Chapter 11

When I wake up, the sun is shining in my face. I blink a couple of times and see Luke leaning out of his window smoking a cigarette.

“Smoking kills,” I say, my voice sounding so hoarse I barely get the words out. I watch him drop his head, shaking it slowly from side to side.

“We’ve got to be at the carnival in an hour,” he says, still leaning out the window.

I sit up with a start.

“When were you going to wake me up?” I ask indignantly. I need to take a shower and get ready and –

“I wasn’t.”

I roll my eyes.

“Listen, Noe, are you okay?”

Luke drops the cigarette and walks towards the bed.

“Yeah, of course, I’m fine,” I say. Am I fine? No. Luke looks at me disappointedly, biting his lip.

“Noelle –“

“Really, Luke. Thanks for what you did for me,” I say, cutting him off. I can’t talk about it yet. I fell apart last night. That’s not me. I’m Noelle, and I stay calm and collected. I get straight A’s and –

“Come on, Noelle, you’re not fine,” says Luke with a sigh. Naturally he can see right through me. Our whole relationship has just been this ridiculous back and forth for so long.

“Fine! I’m not okay! Is that what you want to hear, Luke?” I demand, standing up off the bed. “I’m not okay! I had a complete meltdown last night! I had a complete meltdown last night! I’m dating Michael but I’m in love with –“

I can’t finish the sentence.

I spin and quickly walk out of Luke’s room. I run down the stairs, his voice calling out my name behind me. But I don’t stop. I run down the stairs, through the front door, and to my house next door.

There are no tears. I just can’t face him. After what happened last night, how can I tell him I love him? After the embarrassment, after everything…

“Griffin!” I call, walking down the hall towards the kitchen. He’s sitting at the table, eating a bowl of cereal and reading some sports magazine. “Griff.”

“Oh hey… rough night?” he asks with a smirk, looking me up and down. I ignore his question, even though I can feel my face heating up a little.

“Can I borrow your car?” I ask.

“Gotta have it today,” he replies, looking back at his magazine.

“Well then can you take me to school in like thirty minutes?” I huff, putting my hands on my hips.

He nods. “Whatever.”

After I have showered, changed clothes, and made myself look more presentable than I was, I stand next to Griffin while he gets his keys.

“Where were you last night?” he asks as we climb into his truck.

“Nowhere,” I reply, much too quickly. He gives me a look. “At Luke’s,” I mumble.

“Ha! I knew it! I knew that you guys were dating!” he says, punching the air with his fist like it’s his greatest accomplishment.

“We’re not dating,” I grumble, sinking lower in my seat.

And then Griffin seems to actually look at me for the first time.

“But you want to be, right?” he asks, sounding a little more serious.