I took a deep breath and walked at as steadily a pace as I could toward him. He didn't glance up at me again and was still rummaging through his locker, apparently looking for something.
"Noah, can I talk to you?" He didn't look at me, instead he kept his focus on the contents of his locker.
"I'm listening," he said in a barely audible voice.
"I'm sorry. For everything. I didn't mean what I said, I don't want us to be done. I'm sorry I wasn't at your game and I'm sorry that I've been a drama queen lately." He stopped messing with his books and binders, but kept his gaze forward. "Please say something. I love you, Noah. You don't really want this to be the end, do you?"
His eyes flickered over to me and then back to his locker. "You just have to say the words, Adeline." I couldn't help but smile at this statement. Those were almost exactly the words I said to him right before we became official. Four years ago, at our freshman year homecoming, Noah had asked me to dance and all while we were dancing, he kept telling me how pretty he thought I was and how nice and sweet and funny and a list of other things. Eventually, I cut him off and told him to just say the words and right then and there he asked me to be his girlfriend. It's one of my favorite memories with him.
I studied his face for a moment, trying to read his emotions. Sure enough, I saw the corner of his mouth lift a little and I knew exactly what he wanted me to say. "Noah, will you please be my boyfriend?" Not even a second after my question ended, he came at me and picked me up into a hug and backed me into a wall. I could barely stifle my yell of surprise.
"You know I would never say no to you, Adeline," he said in a muffled voice. He had his face buried in my neck and my fists were full of his shirt in order to keep myself stable so I wouldn't fall.
"Then why were you ignoring me!" He brought his face out of the crook of my neck so his eyes could meet mine.
"Had to teach you a lesson, baby," he smirked. I released my grip on his shirt to smack his shoulder.
"Do you even know what I've been through this weekend! I was so nervous to talk to you."
"I can't stay mad at you. We're meant to be. We just need to communicate better. And remember that no matter what happens, Adeline, I love you. I always have ever since I met you." Something about his words strikes a deja vu moment in me. I've heard them before, recently I think. Noah leans his face into my neck again and kisses it before whispering in my ear, "meet me in class in two minutes. Don't want Mr. Johnson to be suspicious." He pulls us away from the wall and gently sets me down. He reaches down and picks up the envelopes I dropped when he picked me up, and then hands them back to me. He then takes his hand and brushes my hair back behind my ear and then walks down the hallway and ducks into his class.
Where have I heard those words? It wasn't Noah who said them to me. Maybe I just had a dream about it or something. After two minutes pass, I enter Mr. Johnson's class and hand him his mail. He looks up at me from his desk and says, "Hello, Adeline. We're showing a movie today and you're welcome to join."
I smile at him and nod. "Thank you, Mr. Johnson, I'd love to." I turn around and see Noah sitting at the first table on the left. Three seats down from him is Delilah, and two seats down from her is Riley. When I make eye contact with him, that's when it hits me. He's the one who said those words to me, I know it. I walk over to the door and switch the lights off all while I can feel Riley watching me closely. When did he tell me that? And why? I'm trying hard to remember what happened. I walk back towards Noah and decide to take the seat right next to Delilah, so there's an empty seat between Noah and I.
Noah looks at me with a confused expression, and whispers, "Okay?"
I whisper back, "Oh, you wanted me to sit next to you?" I desperately needed to talk to Delilah because I felt like something was wrong. Something about Riley, and I need her to tell me what Tommy told her.
Noah pats the seat in between us and I nod. Before I switch seats, I lean close to Delilah and whisper, "We need to talk. Take out a pencil and paper. And be ready." She looks confused but nods anyway. In an old-fashioned manner, I'm going to be passing her notes because Mr. Johnson absolutely does not tolerate phones. I personally think that's ridiculous because this is only a study hall class, but whatever. He's oblivious to notes, but can spy a phone a mile away.
I slide into the seat next to Noah and he immediately wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer to him. I rest my hand on his leg and lean my head into his shoulder. The smell of his cologne is so comforting to me. I've missed him so much, even though it's only been a few days.
Delilah lightly taps the table and I look over at her and see that she has a pencil ready and a piece of paper in front of her. I nod and she slides them both over to me. I can feel Noah shift his weight so he can whisper to me.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing, just talking to Delilah. Go back to watching the movie."
"Okay, whatever you say." He kisses the top of my head and turns his attention back to the screen, which is showing one of his favorite movies, The Outsiders.
Delilah: what's up?
Me: I need you to tell me what Tommy told you... about me and Riley
Delilah: he didn't say much, just that Riley was really happy about something you said or did
Me: what does that mean??
Delilah: no idea.. wait actually he said something about it being while you were lighting sparklers
I tried to think about when we were lighting sparklers. Okay, think Adeline. I was trying to light sparklers and Riley tried to help. But I don't think that we ever lit any. What happened... Oh my God. The words. The words that Noah said to me before we came in here are nearly the same words Riley said to me after we tried to light sparklers. And then what? I was straining to remember. He said he loved me and then... he kissed me.
Me: OH MY GOD DELILAH I REMEMBER
Delilah: ???
Me: I'll text you later!!
I looked down past her to see that Riley was no longer sitting in his seat. He must have seen Noah and I back together and left. Oh my God, I really do do dumb things when I drink. I have to find him and confront him about it.
I reach up and take Noah's hand and slide it around my head and off my shoulders.
"Noah, I have to go. I will see you later, okay?"
"Where are you going?" He stared at me with his blue eyes and the guilt of what happened between me and Riley began to feel like a heavy weight in my heart. I can't hurt Noah again. I'll explain everything to him later.
"I have to find Riley before he leaves and get him his hoodie back. You know how much it means to him." He looks uncertain, but nods anyway.
"Okay. I love you." I put my hand up to his cheek and look into his eyes with the most sincerity that I can manage.
"I love you too." And with that, I leave the room and rush down the halls and into the parking lot in hopes of finding Riley.
I really need to fix this.
