The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 52

Jamie

"I'm happy for you, of course I am. I just want you to keep your guard up for a while with this guy." Jay warns me, for like the tenth time.

"Jay, I already told you, I am being careful. We're taking it slow, so you have nothing to worry about, okay?" I sigh.

The following day, and I'm walking Jay to campus with Benji. He has his first exam today: Poetry. That's right, Jay takes Poetry class. He says it's good for his creative flow or some shit, and it helps him come up with lyrics and rhyming and what not. He tried to convince me to take First Year Poetry, but... I didn't. I took English Lit instead. And now, I'm very fucking happy about that decision. I may never have met Noah if I'd picked Poetry. I've just finished fully telling Jay what happened between Noah and me after the Snow Ball, and he's taken it quite well. Better than expected, actually.

"So, are you guys, like, a couple now?" He asks as we walk across the quad.

"Not exactly." I admit. "We haven't really put a label on anything, but I'm fine with that. Telling me he liked me was a big step for him. I'm happy with that for now." It's true. I am.

"So, when are you seeing him again?" Jay asks neutrally. He's okay with this, I know he is. If anything, he's probably just jealous. Poor guy.

"Tonight." I inform him happily. "We're going to the Winter Fayre. I guess it's our first official date."

Noah asked me if I wanted to do something with him last night, after I had dinner with Aubrey and Kim. I declined, because as much as I would like to roll around in bed with him all night, I don't wanna fall into the trap of spending too much time in bed with him. I didn't leave Aubrey and Kim's dorm until after 10pm. Going to see Noah at that time... I don't know. It would have felt like a booty call. I'm being careful here. And he was totally cool with that. He asked if I wanted to do something tonight instead, so I suggested going to the Winter Fayre. I love the blueberry snow cones, and the toffee nut lattes of course. We can wonder around the town square for a while, it'll be romantic. Maybe we could even hit the ice skating rink together. I'll fall over because I'm a kluts, he'll laugh at me and help me up, we'll kiss. Queue the snow and smiles and music and cheesy chick flick moment...

Well, I don't know about the cheesy chick flick moment, but it is cool. Noah walked over to my house to pick me up, and we walked into town together. I'm wearing my winter coat, a scarf, and a woolly beanie with a bobble on the end. It's so cold tonight, I am actually kinda hoping it'll snow. Noah's wearing a coat too, and he looks totally hot. When I answered the door and saw him standing on my porch, I almost felt my knees go weak. Almost! Because, I'm keeping my guard up and being smart about this thing.

We got into the town square, and honestly, I'm not sure how impressed Noah was with the festive Fayre. I guess he's not the most Christmassy guy in the world, but whatever. He came here because I wanted to, and that means the world to me.

"So, what do we do?" He asks as we walk past Santa's grotto. He looks through the doorway curiously.

"Well, we do not go in there." I say with a laugh. "Unless you wanna sit on Santa's lap and tell him you've been a good boy this year?"

"Well, I would. But that wouldn't be entirely true, now, would it?" He replies with a grin, while nudging me slightly on the arm. The left arm, I note. Glad to see he isn't treating me like a China doll anymore.

"Shut up." I say with a smile. "We could go get snow cones? Or lattes?"

"You pick."

I smile to myself.

"Okay. Snow cones first, then lattes to warm ourselves up afterwards." I say decidedly.

"Sounds good."

And with that, we make our way past the ice rink, and the snow machine, and all the couple's and families and excited kids running around, until we're waiting in line for snow cones.

"Remember when we got coffee together at Symposium?" Noah asks. "The Saturday night of Freshman week?"

I do remember.

"Yeah, I wouldn't let you pay for me." I remind him, and he rolls his eyes playfully at me.

"Exactly. Well, that's not happening tonight. I'm paying." He says, giving me a small nudge again. Ohmygod, this is too cute. As much as I don't wanna be doted on, I will let him buy me a snow cone. This is technically our first date, after all. And they aren't exactly expensive. I'll buy the lattes later. Or I'll try to at least.

"Thanks." I reply, and we move ahead in the queue just as a couple of people walk off from the snow cone cart up ahead. Hang on a second. Fuck me! It's Patrick, and he's with a girl!

"P!" I call out and wave at him. He looks over and raises his eyebrows at me before saying something to the girl. She smiles over at us, and they make their way down the line to me and Noah. This girl is a total hottie, and I like her style. Ripped jeans, combat boots. I bet she has a few tattoos hidden away beneath her coat. And she has long blonde hair, dyed lilac from her shoulders down. I hope to god she's nice, this could be Patrick's future wife.

"What are you doing here?" I ask brightly as he approaches us with his girl. I cannot believe he's taken her out on a date. This is a first for him!

"Getting snow cones. Obviously." Patrick replies casually, and the girl giggles. "What? That's what we're doing."

"Awesome." I say, grinning at the two of them. Patrick raises an eyebrow at me before rolling his eyes. And then, he smiles. He totally likes this girl! Adorable.

"Um, it's nice to meet you guys..." the girl starts, but she's rudely interrupted by the arrival of an overly excited Aubrey.

"Hey guuuys!" Aubrey throws her arms around me and Noah, pulling us both into a bear hug and knocking the wind out of me.

"Looks like it's date night." I hear Zach's voice, and once I've pulled myself free from Aubrey, I see him and Kim standing next to us, hand in hand. John's here too.

"Shut up, man." Noah says quietly to Zach. He looks a little uncomfortable now.

"This is so cute!" Aubrey exclaims, clapping her hands together. She's wearing mittens, good call. My hand is gonna freeze once I get a snow cone. "Look at us all out on dates. And it's so romantic too, with the snow and the lights and the music. It's perfect!"

She beams at me, and I chance a sideways look at Noah. He's running a hand through his hair awkwardly and looking down at the ground. Jesus, did you really need to use the words date, romantic, and perfect just now, Aubrey!?

"We'll see you guys around." Patrick says, and I notice him smirking at me before walking off with his gorgeous mystery girl.

"Patrick's on a date!?" Kim asks me in disbelief as soon as he's out of earshot.

"Yeah, I think he is." I reply. It is really exciting. "She's a fucking knock out, huh?"

"Stunning!" Aubrey agrees. "I haven't seen her around. Is she a second year?"

"I don't know anything about her. P's notoriously private about girls, and she's no exception."

"Really?" Kim asks, as I turn to see Noah, Zach and John engaging in a sidebar conversation. Noah doesn't look so happy anymore. I wonder what they're talking about...

"They look great together. She is totally his type, huh? Beautiful, but a little rough around the edges, just like him." Aubrey comments, and I look over to see Patrick standing with his girl, just past the snow cone cart. She's chatting away to him, and he's smiling and listening intently. I wanna snap a picture, but he'd kill me if he noticed, so I won't.

"So, how's it going with Noah?" Kim asks quietly, so the boys won't overhear.

"It's been good so far." I say. Yeah. So far. I'm worried he's gotten a little weird now. The arrival of our friends seems to have shaken him a bit. But why? And what is he talking to Zach and John about..?