The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 31 (Noah)

Noah

"All I'm saying is, I don't understand why my parents are so against the idea of Maddie and me taking a vacation over the holidays. I mean, I've been with them every Christmas and New Year since I was born, surely I can skip one now."

I'm walking through campus with Will, we're headed for the library building. It's dark now, and it's fucking cold. If I weren't with Will, listening to him bitch about his stupid problems, I'd be running to warm myself up. At least he'll shut up when we get to the library. We're meeting Zach and John to make a start on studying for finals, and you need to be quiet in libraries. Maddie is there with Zoe already too, so chances are, Will's gonna ditch me. Fine by me. If I have to hear him talk about his plans to whisk Maddie off to the South of France for Christmas much longer, I'm gonna punch him.

We walk into the library and head for the second floor, where Zach told me he was going with John. As soon as I spot them, I hurry over to them. I need to get away from the sound of Will's voice. He's driving me fucking crazy. And luckily enough, Madison and Zoe are sitting at a table on the other side of the room. Will wonders over to them with his books and his laptop. Thank god, he's gonna sit with them.

"Hi." I whisper as I sit down next to Zach and dump my shit on to the table.

"You took your time." Zach whispers, not looking up at me from whatever text book he's reading.

"Where's Will?" John asks, looking around. I incline my head towards Maddie's table, and John nods his understanding. Zach doesn't look up, he must be in the zone. Fair enough, that's what we're here for.

I look around the room and see that it's pretty busy. There's a lot of kids here, and only a few free tables. It's quiet, because everyone is busy studying. Great. Some peace and quiet at last.

I open my laptop and wait for it to come to life. I had intended to study for English Lit tonight, but fuck that. After how awful that class was this morning, I can't so much as look at any English Lit material tonight, because I'm still pissed about it. As soon as Jamie stormed out of the auditorium, all eyes fell on me, which I hate. I didn't say anything, I opened fucking Pride and Prejudice and stuck my nose right into it, pretending to read. It didn't work, of course. Professor Griffin told me to see him after class. So fucking unfair. Jamie was the one causing a scene, not me. But whatever. I went down to the front of the hall as all the other students filed out back, and the Professor was unimpressed to say the least. He demanded answers about Jamie's little outburst, and I played dumb. He didn't buy it, of course. Jamie would have been as well yelling "Hey everyone - we fucked!" because what she did say made that totally fucking obvious. Fantastic. I'm private, and I don't like having my personal business broadcast in front of a room filled with 100 other kids. So uncool. But, I got off pretty lightly with Professor Griffin. He told me to sort out my differences with Jamie and make sure we get our joint assignment submitted on time. I told him that would be no problem. I'm not sorting out shit with Jamie, of course. But the assignment will go in, and that's all that matters. She said she'd submit it, but I'm gonna submit my own copy - just in case.

I honestly don't know why she was so emotional this morning. I was pissed too, but I contained it. I didn't stand up and yell at her in front of everyone. She's like a fucking ticking time bomb, and she drives me crazy.

I scroll through my laptop for a few minutes, opening some reading material from my Physics class. That will do for now. I take out a pen and notepad, preparing to make some notes, but I get distracted by Zach's face. He's looking up from his text book now, and the colour has almost completely drained from his features. He's staring at something over my shoulder, so I turn around to see that Aubrey and Kim have just walked in here. Great. They're looking around for a free table. I watch as Aubrey points out the table right next to ours. No. Please don't. I look over at John, and he's smiling and waving at her. Right, they're an official couple now. Of course she's gonna wanna sit with her boyfriend, just like Will and Maddie. This isn't good. We can't sit with Kim. Zach will not be able to concentrate.

"I'm leaving." Zach whispers as the girls begin making their way over to us. He moves to start gathering up his shit, and I don't know what to do. Luckily for me, John does.

"Zach, no. This is fine. Remember what we talked about earlier?" John looks at Zach sternly, and I see Zach's throat bob as he swallows hard before nodding his head at John. He relaxes a little in his seat. He's staying. Wow, well done, John.

"What did you talk about earlier?" I ask quickly before the girls get here. But there's no time for either of the boys to answer me. Aubrey and Kim are here.

"Hey you." Aubrey whispers, before leaning down and kissing John on the cheek. He grins up at her. Adorable. Not.

"We'll be right over here." Aubrey says to John with a smile, gesturing at the table next to ours. Thank god they aren't sitting with us (there are two empty seats). One look at Kim's reaction to seeing Zach explains why Aubrey has chosen not to sit at our table. Smart move, Aubrey.

"That guy Kim posted a selfie with on Twitter." John whispers, barely audible, so that no one can hear him besides me and Zach. "He's gay. Aubrey told me, I told Zach earlier."

Oh, really? So, clearly, Kim was just trying to make Zach jealous by posting that photo. I look at Zach, and the colour has returned to his face. He's obviously comforted by the fact that Kim isn't dating that guy. Okay, progress.

"Still no further with her?" I ask Zach quietly, and he shakes his head at me before resuming reading his text book. Fair enough.

I return my attention to my laptop screen, preparing for a shit night of studying. I didn't wanna come here, in case I ran into someone I don't wanna run into tonight. Or tomorrow night. Or any night for the foreseeable future. But, Jamie isn't here. And I'm thankful. I may actually get some fucking studying done.