The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 2 (Noah)

Noah

The night of the Halloween Dance

Ive been tossing and turning for hours now. Staring at the ceiling in my bedroom, obsessively checking my phone to see if anyone has replied to me yet. I text John, Sarah and Jamie to let them know the truth: there's fucking nothing going on between me and Madison. My roommate Will is the one she's been sleeping with, because they're a couple now, and no one fucking knew. So why wouldn't Jamie assume I was the one Madison had sex with over here on Friday night? Of course she would.

As soon as I figured it out, after talking to Madison and realising what Jamie must have thought, I ran over to her house to talk to her. I wanted to let her know that she'd gotten this completely wrong. Jamie and I slept together Thursday night, and it was the best sex I've ever had. I'm not interested in any other girl, not anymore. Sure, I don't wanna officially be Jamie's boyfriend or anything like that, but I do want her to know how much she means to me.

Or, I did.

When I slowed down to a walk outside her house earlier (when I rushed over to talk to her after figuring out what was wrong with her), I noticed a dim light shining from her bedroom window. I watched for a moment, wondering what she was doing. It was late, after all, and I don't know, I thought she was maybe up playing her acoustic guitar or something.

I was wrong. I walked up to her front door, fully expecting it to be locked, but it wasn't. She'd left the door unlocked, so I opened it and stepped inside. I was about to call out her name, when I heard her calling out a name from upstairs in her bedroom.

Shaun. As in, Shaun Campbell. Mr Campbell, John's student drum teacher and my friend Zara's older brother.

And there was absolutely no mistaking what she was doing with him. He was either in the middle of fucking her, or he was pleasing her in some other type of way that would result in her calling out his name like that. I don't fucking know. I just knew I had to get out of there. I ran home as fast as I possibly could (which is pretty damn fast, since I'm a runner), and now here I am. Trying to get the sound of her calling out Shaun's name out of my head.

She thinks I fucked Madison though. Of course she would go and screw some other guy. Who could blame her? I sure as hell can't. It's exactly the type of thing I would do myself.

So after a while of thinking and calming myself down about what I'd just heard, I decided to bite the bullet and text her. At least this way, she'll know the truth about me and Madison. She'll know there's nothing going on, there never has been. She'll have all the facts, at least.

She fucked Shaun Campbell though. For all I know, she's maybe still fucking Shaun Campbell. And I hate it.

***

I haven't slept at all, but I guess 6am is an acceptable time to get out of bed. No replies from anyone yet, because obviously, they're all still asleep. Either that, or they're fucking Shaun Campbell.

I get up, take a shower, get dressed, put on some coffee, then decide to call Sarah. I didn't hear from her again after she left the dance with Joel last night. Joel's a good guy, though, I know she's fine. But I wanna hear from her now. This whole thing is driving me fucking crazy.

She doesn't answer after four attempts, so I give up. I'm not calling Jamie, and I'm not going over to her house again. Not when she's most likely having morning sex with Mr Campbell. Even though she told me she doesn't do sleepovers. Why the hell is this bothering me so much?

I change into my running gear and head out. I need to do something. I'm exhausted, I'm irritable, and I'm hungry. But I don't wanna eat, I can't sleep, and I can't work out my irritation until I know that everyone knows the truth about Madison and me.

After a run around the park, I head to Zach's dorm. It's almost 7.30am now, and I still haven't heard from anyone. What, no one gets up early on Sundays anymore?

I climb the stairs up to Zach and John's dorm, and just as I reach their floor, my phone finally rings. It's Sarah.

"Noah, hi. I'm sorry I didn't get in touch with you last night, but I didn't hear from Erin and..."

I cut her off. "It's fine, Sarah listen. I know what happened with Jamie last night."

Just then, John opens the front door of his dorm from the inside, revealing him and Zach. They both looked stunned, and they're both holding their phones. Clearly, they've just read the texts I sent them.

"Jamie thinks you slept with Madison!? That's what was wrong with her last night!?" Zach pretty much yells.

"Oh my god, please tell me you didn't sleep with another girl!" Sarah says into the phone. I guess she heard Zach.

"No, Sarah, I didn't. Jamie got it all wrong." I say, stepping into their dorm. Time to fully explain this fucking stupid misunderstanding to my friends.