The Primaries

9

Finals week came and went really quickly. Noah kept telling me not to stress about the exams, so I relaxed a little and I'm sure I passed them with flying colors. He was also very confident that he did well on his too. The end of finals week marks one thing: Kyle's annual summer kickoff party. Tonight was supposed to be the best one he's ever thrown since he's moving away for college and he won't be able to throw them anymore. Normally, I'd let Hailey and Corinna go alone, but this year was completely different. Even though I'd hate to go to another one of Kyle's parties, Corinna was still grounded so I couldn't let Hailey go alone and I knew Noah wouldn't want to miss it.

After tonight, my life was supposed to get really hectic. First, the seniors graduate on Monday; I won't have to worry about seeing Kyle ever again. Then, we underclassmen have to endure the last week of school without having the seniors around. My friends leave on their vacations the weekend after school ends. Tonight was really the first step toward my summer.

"We're going to have so much fun tonight" Chloe says.

Chloe and Hailey were both getting ready for the party at my house tonight. Noah and Mason were on their way to pick us up.

"Remember to let loose!" Hailey adds

I definitely won't be drinking any alcohol any time soon. After what happened last time, it grosses me out even more than it did before.

"How are things going with you and Noah?" Hailey asks

"I think things are fine. Things aren't as awkward anymore" I said

"What changed?" asked Chloe

I hadn't told them about Noah kissing me the other night. Since then, things have definitely been different with us. The past week has been great for us; I'm not as "jumpy" around him anymore and we try not to let things get awkward.

Our conversation was interrupted by a honking car outside. Noah and Mason had arrived to pick us up. I ran downstairs immediately. Noah was already standing at the door while Mason stayed in the car.

"Hi" Noah smiled.

"Hey" I replied

"Hey" He repeated

"Hi"

"Can we wrap this up? I want to get there already-" Hailey said, hopping into the back seat; Chloe followed her in shortly after.

Mason was sitting in the passenger seat, but got out as soon as Chloe sat in the back and he quickly hopped in next to her, leaving the front seat empty for me to sit next to Noah. Noah opened the door for me and I got inside.

"Noah, your ass better stay sober tonight because you're our ride." Hailey says

"If I have to, then so do you" He chuckled

I'd hate to see Noah get drunk, especially since he's taking us home.

"There's no way I'm staying sober tonight" Hailey says

"She wants to get as fucked up as she can so she can hook up with Cole" Chloe adds

"You and Cole?" Mason asks, looking at Hailey. She stays silent.

"She's been crushing on Cole since we were freshman" I reply

Noah rests his hand on my knee as usual, and I look up at him and smile.

"I can talk to him for you. Find out where his mind is at." Noah offers

"Thanks, but no thanks."

"Why not?" I ask

"He graduates on Monday. If anything, we're just hooking up. I'm not looking for anything serious anyway" She says

I can tell she's sad about him leaving, but it's better this way. He didn't seem to show any interest in her, and I don't want to see my best friend hurt all because of some pothead senior.

We were quiet for the rest of the ride, except for the music playing in the background and Mason occasionally flirting with Chloe, just for her to call him gross right after. After like twenty minutes of this, we pulled up in front of the gate to Kyle's house.

His parents were loaded. There were two enormous gates blocking the entry and you needed a special code to get in, but he always disabled it for his parties.

Hundreds of people lined the makeshift "dance-floor" in the empty space where, I'm assuming, the living-room was supposed to be. There was booze everywhere, and Hailey had already ran off somewhere to get drunk. Mason and Chloe were still with us, but they'll probably disappear later tonight to hook up.

After a while of swaying to the music, the spawn of satan herself shows up: Veronica.

"You sure do move on quick, Addi. First Kyle and now Noah?" She says

"I never hooked up with Kyle" I said. She rolled her eyes at me before continuing.

"The football team sure is having fun with this one" She said to Noah. She winks at him before walking off, probably to go make somebody else's life Hell.

"Ignore her. She's not always this mean" Noah says, wrapping an arm around me.

"She's been like this since I've known her. Trust me, she's always this mean."

"She can be nice when you get to know her" He says.

"She's only nice to you because you're hot-"

I always find a way to embarrass myself in front of this boy.

"You think I'm hot?" He asks, a smirk already forming on his lips.

I stay silent but I can already feel the blood rising to my cheeks. I'm blushing again, great. Thankfully, it's dark enough where he wouldn't be able to tell.

People from school were still looking at me funny after the Kyle situation, and now that I was hanging around Noah it was getting worse. He tried his best to calm me down when it was bothering me too much, but I still hated being the center of attention regardless.

"Are you sure you're comfortable being here, baby?" He says

"Yeah it's fine; why wouldn't it be?"

"I just didn't think you'd want to be at Kyle's house again after everything"

"I don't mind. It's his last party and I knew you wouldn't want to miss it."

"You came here for me?"

"I didn't want you to come alone"

I trusted him to not make any stupid decisions, but I didn't want him to be bored here like he says he usually is; and frankly I'd rather be here than home with my parents. I know, just a week ago I was complaining about having to leave my house, but I kept my nose buried in a book for so long that I never really tried having a "normal" high-school experience. It's crazy to think that Hailey tried getting me to "let loose" so long ago, and all it took was for Noah to come into my life.