TNS Short Stories

No Shell (Part 4)

Richelle's POV

- I said DON'T!
I try to walk away from him but he grabs my arm to make me face him.
- Richelle...
He looks like he's got tears in his eyes.
- What are you trying to do to me? - I say almost crying. - Why do you pretend to care about me all of the sudden?
- Because I was too stupid to realize before! Ok? I'm sorry, I'm really, really sorry!
O My God, he's almost crying, his voice is cracking... I've never seen him like this before.
- Realising what? That you were a terrible person to me? That you were a terrible friend?
- Not only that but...
- Then what? Noah what you did was too low, trying to soften me with that kiss... I'm not falling for it anymo-
- That I LOVE YOU!! Ok?
Silence. I'm. SPEECHLESS. Even my mind is blank.
- Don't Noah. How can you do this to me? I can't believe you would lie this much! Why are you doing this?
- I'm going to leave the studio... After regionals. No one knows. Only Jacquie... And you.
Jacquie. JACQUIE.
- I broke up with her last week when I decided to leave. - He said.
- Why? - I ask trying to change the topic.
- When I made my decision, I didn't think of how much I'm going to miss the studio... I didn't think of how much I'm going to miss Jacquie... even though I will miss all of that... But all I could think of...
- Don't say it.
- ...is you.
I think I just skipped a heartbeat.
- Look, Richelle... I know I've been the worst friend ever this whole time. I don't really have an excuse. I know I did wrong... But you have to know that I care about you. The thought of not seeing you anymore... Not dancing with you again... Man, it all just made me realize how much I missed. How it could have been if I only knew.
At this point I'm fighting myself. I'm not going to let tears fall from my eyes. All I ever wanted had just happened and I was not able to enjoy it. I can't take it anymore. Part of me wants him to kiss me again. The other part, though, wants to leave.
- I'm leaving Noah. Please tell Michelle and Emily that I'm sick or something. I can't stay here right now.
- Don't go, Richelle. - he begs me.
- Please, stop this... I'm exhausted! - I almost yell. Good thing no one else is here.
- I won't give up Richelle!
- You should give up! I've been loving you for years and now you notice? Now you care? I never even expected you to love me back and yet you managed to hurt me! I don't know, Noah. It's kind of too late. Let's forget about all this ever happened. Let's focus on regionals.
All of the sudden, I feel his arm grabbing me. He takes me to the closet where all the costumes are.
He closes the door and lets my arm go. I'm standing next to the door and he is in front of me.
Then he looks at my eyes and says:
- I will respect whatever you choose.
- What? - I say.
- Look me in the eyes. If you don't want me to talk about this anymore... If you don't want me to love you... Say it now. I'll respect it. But say it. Look me in the eyes and say it.
Silence. I couldn't say that. Even though my pride wants me to lie. I just can't. Tears start sliding down my cheeks. After some seconds, he speaks again.
- If you don't want me to kiss you ever again, say it now.
SILENCE.
He's got tears in his eyes too. I'm starting to melt inside.
- Say it. Tell me that you don't want me to kiss you...
- I can't. - I finally say.

Then I feel his lips crashing against mine. It's not a peck. This is a kiss. The kiss I've always dreamt getting from him.
I start kissing back. He puts his arms around my waist and pushes me gently against the door.
My arms find a place around his neck. We just stay like that, kissing, a few seconds more. Then we just hug in silence.
- Richelle - he says still hugging me. - Be my girlfriend. Please. I'm begging you.
I'm petrified.
- Noah... I'm too scared.
- Of what?
- This would affect the studio.
- You're right... - he says, almost like sighing.
- Noah?
- Yeah?
- Kiss me again. - I say.
He doesn't hesitate. He puts one of his hands on my cheek and kisses me again.
After some seconds, he speaks again.
- Be my girlfriend. Please.
- Did you hear what I said?
- You never said yes or no. The rest of the studio doesn't have to know. At least not until regionals are over.
I kiss him again. This is addictive.
- I'll think about it. - I say.
Then I place a quick kiss on his lips again and I leave the closet before anyone else arrives.