The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 56

Jamie

December 22nd. Three days until Christmas. Finals are over, I'm enjoying spending some quality time with my dad and my boys, Erin will be home soon, and Noah leaves for New York tomorrow.

I didn't see him yesterday, as expected. He did text me back eventually, but he completely ignored my last message. He text me to ask how my Guitar final went. It couldn't have gone better, and that's what I told him. We talked about finals for a bit, and he asked if I wanted to spend the night with him tonight, seeing as he's leaving in the morning. I had hoped he'd wanna come over to my place, but he doesn't. He wants me to go to his dorm. Which is fine, I guess, since he's leaving soon. It just kinda sucks that he's so against seeing my dad. But, whatever. It's not like I'm in a position to meet his parents any time soon, you know? So this is fine. Well, actually, I probably could meet his mom (not so much his dad, since he hates him) because I have absolutely no problem driving to New York. I could visit Erin and Sarah, I could probably car pool with Joel. It would totally work, you know? But it's too soon. So, yeah. Whatever.

The thing that's bugging me a lot more than it should be though? Noah's riding back to NYC with Zach. But not only Zach. Kim too.

That's right. Zach asked Kim if she wanted to spend the holidays with him. At his parents place, in New York City. They've been official for like a day. They haven't even slept together yet, but she's going to stay with him and his family, and sleep with him in his bed in his old bedroom, and probably fuck him every night and every morning for like two weeks, and walk around Central Park with him in the winter, with lattes and hand-holding and all that romantic chick flick movie type stuff that I want. I'm totally fucking jealous, I'm not even afraid to admit that.

Which is why, I need to execute my plan tonight at Noah's. I need to ask him what's going on between us. I wasn't looking for an invite to New York, of course I wasn't. It is far too soon for stuff like that, but I can't help how jealous I am of Zach and Kim, and Joel and Sarah, and even Aubrey and John (they're going home to Ohio together, and I know they'll be seeing each other every day over the holidays), and even fucking Will and Madison Hudson! I am jealous of fucking Madison Hudson! Will's taking her to some fancy resort in the South of France or some shit. Again, super romantic. And you know things are bad when you wish you were in Madison Hudson's shoes. Bad times. Very fucking bad times indeed. I'm gonna have an awesome time at home in North Bridge with Jay, Patrick and Erin. Of course I am, I always do. I'll miss Joel, but he always spends the holidays in Philly, so this is nothing out of the ordinary.

When I step into Noah's dorm, I'm happily surprised to see Will and Madison sitting watching TV together. They look so cute, all tangled up in each other on the couch. Madison's even wearing sweats. Wow. I don't think I've ever seen her looking so casual and relaxed. They are designer sweat pants, of course, but still. Her and Will really are the real deal, huh?

"Hey, Hawkins." Will looks up at me from the couch. Madison doesn't say anything, she just gives me a small smile. I'm cool with her now, but we aren't friends, so yeah, that works for me.

"Hey you two." I say, walking towards the living area. "Noah told me you guys are going to France or something tomorrow, sounds cool."

"We're going to the South of France." Madison corrects me, screwing up her face in horror because I got it wrong. Big deal.

"Yeah, we're excited about it, right babe?" Will says, beaming at his girlfriend. Noah walks in from the hallway.

"Hi." Is all he says. He smiles at me though, so I smile back at him.

"Hi."

"Wow, could you guys be any more awkward? Hi. Hi." Madison makes fun of us, and I look over at her in alarm. Shut up! Noah will not respond well to that!