The Kissing Booth 2: Don't Kiss & Tell

Chapter 13: Awkward Lunch- Noah's POV

Watching Elle leave again was hard. There were so many things I wanted to know and so many more questions I needed to ask. I had dreamed of this moment for such a long time and now that it had finally come and gone I wasn't disappointed. I had expected her to react much worse than she did. I expected a lot of screaming and yelling. I expected her to run. I didn't expect her to be as collected as she was. She was always surprising me.

I knew that I had to try today.  I was prepared to pull out all of the stops just to talk to her. I got up extra early and headed to the flower shop. I was there for over 20 minutes before they opened. While I waited I tried to decide what I was going to say and how I was going to say it. I didn't want to sound pathetic, but I wanted to be honest. Being love sick isn't exactly an attractive look on me. While I pondered my situation, I looked through all of my old pictures that I had previously been hiding. I missed that version of my life more than I knew was humanly possible.

When the flower shop opened, I walked inside. Admittedly, I've never been inside of one before. The last set of flowers I bought Elle were at the airport before she left. I had gone into the gift shop and just grabbed the first ones they had available. There weren't many options, so I didn't have to put any thought into the actual flowers. 

This time, things were so different. I had so many choices. Of course there were traditional roses. While the sentiment of "I love you' was true, it was probably coming on too strong. Roses alone may send her running. I looked at the daises, the lilies, sunflowers, orchids and carnations. I found some rainbow colored roses and decided to save them for the next time I needed her attention. Maybe the idea of roses would be more tolerable. I was learning far too much about flowers.

After staring at the flowers for over a half an hour, I still was no closer to making a decision. Let's face it, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't even know what her favorite flower was. I found myself regretting not sending any to her after I left for college. If I could go back I would make weekly orders. She deserved that and so much more. If I ever end up in her good graces again, this place will be on my speed dial. I already can predict that I'll be here a lot in the future.

The florist noticed my indecisiveness and decided to approach me. He of course asked a bunch of questions to gauge the nature of the occasion. After taking in my vague answers he suggested making a new bouquet of flowers that consisted of almost all different types and colors (excluding roses of course.) 

As I paid the florist said 'Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.' 

I gave him a bewildered look and left the shop. I guess my vague answers told him more than I intended to. I went in for a simple pack of flowers and ended with odd wisdom. 

The quote hit home though. Before dating Elle, I was just Flynn. I put on a bad boy persona. I try not to let on that I have actual feelings. I put up walls and hide behind the mask of Flynn. People only see what I want them to see. The only person that has ever really seen beyond the mask was Elle. I'm uncomfortable taking off this said mask, but I also know I can't live within it forever. Love once let me take this mask off for awhile and I missed being free of it. I missed being Noah. 

For the first time in awhile, I was thankful that I had practice. I knew that Shelly would be in the next field over and it would be a good opportunity to work off this nervous energy. When I got there I noticed that Elle's jeep was already there. I instantly felt the fluttering in my stomach. I hid the flowers in my bag, but carefully took them out when I got into the locker room. I didn't really want to give her dead flowers. That probably wouldn't send the right message.