Between The Lines

twenty eight

        My eyes open to the sun shining thru the window. I groan, rubbing my eyes with my hands. My head was pounding. I guess the little drummer boy decided to come earlier this year. I look down to see myself wrapped in a dark blue bed sheet, a snoring Noah Harper beside me. I gaze at him and his shirtless torso for a bit. 

        I could get used to this.

        He soon opens his eyes, his dark eyelashes fluttering. 

        "Morning" He says, lowly.

        "More like afternoon" I snort, "Thank goodness we didn't have to work today"

        "Who clubs on a school night?" Noah jokes, giving me a smirk. 

        "Well people do" I say sitting up, "There's a song about it"

        "Really?" Noah says, doing the same. I hold the sheet to my chest, "What's the song?"

        "That song about clubbing on Tuesdays" I say, "I've heard it on Vine like a hundred times"

        "Social butterfly" Noah says, giving me a smile.

        "Hardly"

        We just look at each other in silence, it wasn't awkward like i thought it would be. Then, my head screamed at me. It hurt so bad.

        I groan.

        "Whats wrong?" Noah asks, getting out and pulling a pair of sweats on. "Long night?"

        He smirks. "My head just hurts"

        " I have Advil" He says, "C'mon"

        I follow him into his kitchen, he motions for me to sit at the small two person table. I watch as he opens the cabinet and brings me a white Advil bottle, then a bottle of water.  I swallow the pill and he sits across from me. His hair is a mess on his forehead, and i can imagine mine not being much better. We sat at his table for a while. Him in his grey sweat pants and me in his blue dress shirt. 

        It was nice.

        "So" He says, "Sophie Travis, what are your plans for next weekend?"

        "Probably Netflix on my couch with Buffy" I say laughing a little.

        "Well"  he says, "If that gets boring, I'm going to New York next weekend to visit my family for my Mom's birthday.. and i want you to join me"

        I stay silent for a moment. So many bad things could come from this, yet, so many good things could come as well. 

        "Can i get back to you on that?" I ask. He smiles and nods.

        "Of course" 

        I smile back. For the first time in almost two weeks, i feel happy. Sure last night with about six shots of God knows what, i felt pretty good. But i was sober, hungover- yes, but sober. And you know what, i was happy.

        For the time being i chose not to think about Britt, Mr.Morris' rules, and most of all: The pain that i've felt for the past two months. 

        "You alright, Soph?" Noah says, breaking me from my daze.

        "Oh yeah" I smile, "Just thinking"

        "About?"

        "Just the past two months" I shrug, "I mean, my life has changed a lot"

        "Mine to" He says, "I moved here, met you.. it's been great"

        "Yeah" I say, "It has"

        My phone rang. I walk over to my purse that was thrown on to the couch last night when we came home in a hurry. I dig it out and see Peter's name flash on the screen.

        "Hello?" 

        "Sophie!" He says, "Hey, It's Peter"

        "Hey" I smile, "Whats up?"

        "Well" He starts, "I just landed at LAX and i was just wondering what you were up to"

        I completely forgot he was coming this weekend.

        "Oh" I say, nervous, "Just visiting a friend"

        Noah looks up from his phone in the kitchen. I just shoot him a smile.

        "Well" Peter says, "How does lunch sound? I'd love to meet those friends you were telling me all about when you were in Portland last"

        "Sure" I say, "Just text me where and i'll see what i can do"

        "Alrighty" He says, "I'll see you, Bye"

        "Bye" I hang up      

        "Who was that?" Noah asks.

        " A friend from Portland" I say, walking back to the table.

        "Does this friend have a name?"

        "Yeah" I begin, "Peter"

        "The one you have a thing with"

        "A thing?" I ask, "What?"

        "Britt mentioned him once in the break room. Same guy?" Noah asks, crossing his arms over his toned chest.

        "Yeah" I say, then shake my head, "We don't have a thing. My mom tried to set us up. But he's a friend, nothing more. So relax"

        "I'm not un-relaxed" Noah defends, "I'm just wondering why this guy who likes you is calling this early and why you are so happy and giggly about it and to him on the phone"

        "First of, he doesn't like me" I say, Noah snorts

        "Sure he doen't"

        "Noah" I sigh, "I really don't wanna do this with you, please"

        "Fine" He says, "Did you think about New York yet?"

        "I need time" I say, "It's not a no"

        "Good" He smiles, "I want you to come"

        I sigh, "What about Britt?"

        "What do you mean?" He says

        "She'll find out" I say, "The media has already released pictures of you guys together, New York City is a busy place with a lot of people, someone is bound to recognize you"

        "Let's not worry about that yet" He says.

        I breath out and smile, "Okay"