It was if I heard it, I heard the handle turn and I heard the voices of those who would end my peaceful slumber. But even if I had heard it before it happened, I was to late to react, in fact I didn't react at all. Sterling walked right in. My body curled up tightly against his body. Although he wasn't under the covers, I knew he was there, his arm draped around me and his body against mine. I heard his quiet snores in the moment before Sterling gasped and flipped the light switch. My eyes slugged open, tired from my days work and definitely tired from the time, 1:23 am, the clock read.
"Rose? Jaden?" Her voice quivered and that's when Cynthia walked in, her tight dress showing every perfect curve she owned. Her eyes widened and I was in full realization of what was happening.
"Sterling, Cynthia!" I sat up quickly, letting Jaden's arm fall in the place I was a moment ago. I brushed my hair behind my ear, sucking in a deep breath before looking back at Jaden who was blinking his eyes. "Why are you guys home so late?"
"We were at a party- What is going on?" Cynthia's voice wavered at the question and all I could do was gulp. I shut my eyes, rubbing my leg and huffing out a breath before shaking my head.
"We were just watching a movie together. I must have fell asleep." I plaster a small smile on my face to hide my guilt. But I had nothing to be guilty of. What I said was the truth.
"Okay, well you better go talk to Noen before he walks in here." Sterling motioned me to walk with her out the door. She quickly stepped out of her heels before tossing her hand bag to the chair of the right of her. She then took my hand and carefully looked me up and down, leading me out of the room. I glanced at Jaden before leaving, his face a solemn tired and his hair a mess. My stomach wanted to spit itself out but then I saw him, everything about him was calming. His blonde hair, his skinny figure, his green eyes. Noen Eubanks.
"Noen!" I called, releasing myself from Sterling's grasp and pushing my way through some of the boys to fall into Noen's chest, his arms immediately wrapping around me. "Why did you respond like that? You made me worry! I thought you were upset. Are you upset?" I pulled away, my hair falling in front of my eye again.
"Im so so sorry." His voice sounded vulnerable and scared. I didn't understand what was wrong but he slowly moved my hair back behind my ear. "I- something came over me and when you texted I really wasn't in the mood to talk until like an hour ago when I started thinking about you." Noen looked away, his eyes searching the hall, landing on Chase and breath catching in his throat. "Rose I-"
"Its late. Let get some rest guys. We have a day of planning tomorrow before the show." Jaden's voice echoed down the hall. He stood in the doorway of his room, his eyes burning into me as I felt Noen's arms tighten around me. I felt the tang of guilt again, Noen turning my head towards his face, a smile falling upon it.
"Goodnight my love." Noen kissed my forehead, letting me go and walking towards his room away from me. I gulped again, my throat feeling heavy and my body craving the cold.
my love
The words echoed in my head as I slept. My guilt over ridden. All we did was fall asleep next to each other. l never lied. But I felt as if I did.
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"We need something huge!" Payton had been pacing for the past 10 minutes trying to figure out something to pop our sales and increase income for the final greet in Dallas before Phase 3. Everyone else had been on their phones around him. I was laying my legs over Milo and Noen as they sat on the couch on the left of our hotel room, my hair in a messy bun and a blanket draped over me as Noen ran his fingers through the loose hair, scrolling through his phone. "Oh! I've got it!"