Playing The Waiting Game

Chapter One

June 6th 2015

Noelle Viola Chandler. That sounded so perfect in my head. It was as if her name was meant to be paired with mine. I'd been in love with this girl ever since I first laid eyes on her, very cliché but also very true. It had been my first year living in here in Ocala, Florida and also my third moving since the year started but that's a different story for a different time. Where was I? Oh. Yes, Noelle. Her father and mine were very good friends ever since boot camp days, he actually is the one who convinced my father to move us out here to Ocala.

"Maxwell I want you to meet my daughter", Colonel Green said as I stood there awkwardly next to my dad who to others went as General Chandler. "Noelle!" he called out, Noelle? But he said daughter. Confused I looked at my dad who was smiling from ear to ear, why? Colonel Green turned around and looked at me, "You're going to love her," he mumbled and soon enough a young girl about the same age as me I supposed, stood next to Colonel Green. She was the most beautiful person I've ever laid my eyes on - my mother being the only exception. She has long beautiful dark brown hair, green eyes that seemed even greener now since she was standing in the sunlight. She was slender, beautiful tanned skin, she was perfect. I could not go into fully details of her, it would be too much. Wow.

I stood stunned in my spot her beauty gluing my feet to the ground, and the next thing she said almost melted me to the pieces. "Hi, I'm Noelle" she extended her arm out as she smiled, holy shit. Her smile literally left me breathless, straight perfectly white teeth and as her smile grew wider so did the little dimple on her left cheek. Act cool, Maxwell.

I let my hand fall into hers as I shook it lightly, her hand was amazingly soft. I wonder what her hair smells like. Those were my hormones speaking and at the age of 14 they were ready to explode. But nevertheless I kept my composure and smiled back, "Maxwell, nice to meet you Noelle" I said a little breathless, she pulled her hand away as she nodded and kept the small smile on her face. "Nice too meet you Maxwell. Hey General Chandler" she waved at my dad who was still smiling. Why is he still smiling?

"Call me Frank, Noelle." my dad ushered out as Colonel wrapped his arms around his daughter who was looking at me, slightly embarrassed I turned away from her and looked at my dad. What a bitch move, Max. "General's son is new here maybe you can help him out around when school starts? You two will be attending the same school, and same grade I believe?" Colonel turned to me in question as I nodded my head, starting freshmen year in a new school with this girl. God, life couldn't be any better.

"Oh that's so cool! We can become really good friends" Noelle looked at me as the smile she had plastered on her face grew wider. I smiled and nodded, that's all I could do. I was so mesmerized by this girl that I was afraid if I said anything it would ruin my chances, but you heard her Maxwell! '-We can become really good friends'.

Right, but that would not stop me from loving this girl. I already felt something so weird but strong in me. It couldn't be love, I'm 14! I don't know what love is. But as I turn my head to stare at this beautiful creature that was created by the great gods, (also her parents) something tells me that what I'm feeling is indeed love.

So now I sit on a plastic beach chair five years later, looking out in the ocean seas as I stare adoringly at my best friend who still has no idea that I am completely and utterly smitten for her. I haven't found the perfect moment when to say it, and to be truthfully honest I don't think I ever will. Throughout the five years our friendship has grown so much I cannot begin to describe it, we've grown up together surpassing the bad times and slowing down in the good ones. We accomplished graduating high school together, something that was on my checklist ever since we met. I've gotten to know her; I mean truly know her like what ticks her off, what makes her happy, what makes her sad, all of those things. As I learned more and more about her the more and more I fell in love with her. But as we have conversations I start to think about the long life consequences I could face if I spill the beans. Losing her as a friend I don't know how I would do it, surely enough when you invest so much time and love into a person you cannot simply bare to lose them. So I try to keep my feelings at bay, so much that I tried dating other girls once I figured that Noelle and I could simply not be.

I can't say it didn't it work out, because at the time it did. It helped me slightly dismiss the feelings I had for my best friend. But being around her most of my days didn't help, the feelings soon returned once I found out my father had to be deployed to Iraq, being the General he had no choice in the matter. But, being his son I worried if I would ever see him again. It's been 10 months since he's been deployed, he missed a lot of things throughout those times including his youngest son graduating High School. I don't despise him for it, we still see him at least twice a month on Skype. It's not enough but it's something to keep our minds sane. Although, I did not have my father there present for one of the happiest days of my life counted I had my family sitting out there and my best friend was standing next to me. At the time I had my girlfriend Jasmine, we were somewhat close she knew the basics. Not like Noelle, she knew things about me no one else knew. What Jasmine and I had only lasted 5 months, it didn't end very well to say the least. I wasn't in love with her I will be honest; I was more in love with the thought of her and how she made me feel. I always knew Jasmine loved me, but it just wasn't right I didn't feel okay knowing that while she was in love with me I was in love with my best friend; so I told her how I felt she understood but I knew I had just broken the girls heart. The last day I saw her was on graduation day she wished me luck and said she was moving upstate. We don't keep in contact much but I'm glad I burned that bridge before it turned into something serious. Truth is I don't think there will ever be a person that can compare to Noelle. No matter how many girls I date no one will come close to her.

"Dude, when are you just going to tell her how you feel?" Tyler who has also been a very good friend of mine asks. He knows how I feel about Noelle; he understands why I won't tell her but still encourages me to at least give it try. I shake my head as I lean into the beach chair taking my eyes away from Noelle for a moment and take a look around, couples cuddling, children playing with sand, friends goofing off. A normal day here in Daytona beach.

"It's not as easy as it sounds Ty"

"Yeah, Yeah, I know. Your friendship with her means more than the actual feelings you have for her. But honestly Maxwell, what if she doesn't take it as bad as you think she will? What if it makes your friendship grow stronger? And you guys end up marrying each other, and having a bunch of little Maxwell Juniors" I laugh at Tyler's visual future of us. I just don't think that's possible, she won't take it well and I'll lose everything. I glance at her as she jumps around in the water with Vanessa (another friend), and Millie, Tyler's girlfriend.

"That would be my dream come true, but I won't take any chances she's the only person who knows me and understands me" I say as I keep my eyes on her face, she looks so adorable when she's laughing her eyes squint and her dimple stretches as her face gets a light shade of red.

"Ouch bro" Tyler murmurs as he places a hand in mock hurt in front of his heart. I shake my head and laugh a little. "It's true"

"I understand but don't you ever disrespect our friendship and what we have! It's much stronger!" Tyler mocks a girl's voice and I start to laugh, I look over to him for a second before I hear someone say, "What's much stronger?"

I turn around and there standing is a very dripping Noelle, from the ocean water of course. "The love Maxwell has for me is much stronger than the love he has for y-"

I immediately cut him off by throwing the closest beach towel I have which was Noelle's.

"Hey!" Noelle screeches, while laughing a bit.

"Man what was that for?" Tyler asks as Noelle snatches the towel of off his head. "You had a bug, bro. Sorry." I mutter as Vanessa comes up behind Noelle stealing her attention for a mere second, in-between that second I take the time to widen my eyes at Tyler who just smirks at me. Bastard.

"This summer will be a memorable one!" Millie exlaims as she sits on Tyler's lap who tries to pry her off since she is wet. Her statement is followed by a bunch of small mumbles of 'yeah's'.

Hopefully.

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