The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 24 (Noah)

Noah

"Jamie, come on." I say, getting impatient.

I've knocked on the bathroom door like ten times now, said her name five times, and waited.

And I'll keep waiting, because I know she's in there. I saw the door close behind her just as I came out of the men's room. She doesn't wanna talk to me, clearly. But I need to explain myself. She looked completely mortified when her dad talked to me just now. As much as I wanna keep my distance from her, I can't just ignore this situation. Her dad doesn't know me, it was an innocent conversation as far as he's aware. That awkward encounter was no one's fault, and I need to explain. She just... She looked so fucking confused. And kinda hurt? Whatever it was, I didn't like it.

"Jamie, I know you're in there, and unless you're planning on climbing out the window..." I trail off, because oh my god, she's climbed out the window, hasn't she?

I push the door open carefully, in case there's anyone else in there. I fucking hope not. The coast seems clear, and the window is wide open. For god sake, Jamie! Real mature!

Without much thought, I climb up to the window ledge and pull myself through the open window. I drop down into an alleyway at the back of Marley's and look around. She must have went back inside through the main entrance. She wouldn't just ditch her dad and Patrick, would she?

I run down the alley, towards the front of the diner, and I peak through the window. Her dad and Patrick are still sitting at their booth next to the counter, but there's no sign of her. Where the hell did she go?

I step back from the window and look around. Why the hell is she so dramatic? Running out of the Halloween Dance on me, climbing through a fucking window in a diner to get away from me? Is it any wonder she drives me so god damn crazy?

I turn around and start running in the direction of the dorms. I was done eating anyway, I'll text Stefan and let him know what I'm doing. Why does Jamie effect me this way? Since when do I jump through hoops for girls? I literally just climbed through a fucking window for her. This is crazy.

I reach the Northern entrance to North Bridge Park, and for a split second I seriously consider running over to Jamie's house. I brush the idea off almost immediately. Not happening. I'm not going out of my way like that for her. Fuck no.

I start running through the park, towards the dorms, and I'm only about 200 meters along the edge of the lake when I spot her. She's sitting on a bench, facing the lake, blowing into her hands and rubbing them together for warmth. What the hell is she thinking? It's fucking freezing out, and she's only wearing a band t-shirt. No coat, no hoodie, no scarf. Christ, she's so irritating.

"Jamie, what the hell are you thinking?" I call out as I approach her. She startles at the sound of my voice, but she turns around to face me, before looking around quickly. Looking for an escape route? Probably. There's no one else around, she doesn't need to worry about being seen talking to me or whatever it is she's worrying about.

"You actually climbed through the bathroom window at Marley's?" I ask, shaking my head at her in disbelief as I approach the bench. "I just wanted to talk to you to let you know that I got talking to your dad at the Grill last night. As soon as I figure out who he was, I left. That's it, okay?"

I turn away from her, because the look on her face is pissing me off and I need to get away from her now. She looks so fucking sad and hurt. I don't get it. Shaun Campbell not making you happy anymore? Maybe I should ask her about that. Yeah. Maybe I need to have it out with her about this.

Because the truth is, it's been pissing me off ever since the night of the Halloween Dance. I told her I couldn't be her boyfriend before then, yes, fine. She thought I was fucking Madison Hudson, okay, whatever. But still. She shouldn't have slept with him. Not when she was mine, barely two nights before then. The memory alone makes my blood boil. Fuck! I crack my knuckles, willing myself to calm down, as I turn to face her. She's on her feet now, and she's staring at me.