It All Began In Autumn

ch16

As soon as the clock strikes 6, I am out of the diner, pulling Noah with me.

"Ugh" i let out a groan and release my hair from its ponytail. Noah waits as I take off my shirt and apron and shove them in my bag.

"That's that". I sigh and Noah takes my hand in his as we start walking down the road.

"I'm really sorry". I say after a bit and he shakes his head. "Don't worry about it". He sounds distant and I start panicking.

"Did I do something wrong? What is it? I'm sorry, I won't cancell last minute again I promise". I pull him to a stop abd glue my eyes to him. He mindlessly carrsses my cheek and places a lock of hair behind my ear.

"Noah"? I ask nervously and tighten my grip on his hand. He smiles but his eyes are still far away. "What is wrong"? I ask worriedly as he pulls me to start walking again.

"What do you plan on doing now that school is over"? He questions, looking at the road ahead. I am taken back from his question.

"I don't...I don't know. I sent a couple letters to universities, but I don't really care about going. I found a university that offers monthly courses and that would be my first choise. I don't really want to leave mama and leaving just once a month would be ideal". I answer and look at the road ahead, trying to search what he is looking at.

"You"? I ask and he smiles sadly. "I was accepted in the engineering program of the City University
I drop his hand and gawk. "You were? Already? Noah that is incredible" i start dancing around and then I jump in his arms and hug him tightly before drowning him in kisses until he can't help but laugh.

"Relax"! He says and pushes me away. "I'm not going". My blood freezes. He has been talking about this program ever since I met him. He wants to open a garage here so that people don't have to go all the way to the city.

"That's bullshit. Of course you will go". We have reached my house. He tries to get in the yard but I pull him back with all the power I can muster.

"No, I'm not. I can't leave you for four years, and what about the pack? There have been more and more lone wolves around in the past few months. They need me. I need you" he adds and tries to take my hand, but I shake him off and step away.

"You can't throw the opportunity away for me damn it"! I shout. He seems taken back by my anger

"Of course you can leave me. You can leave me and go study because that's what you need to do. You owe it to yourself. I don't want to be the thing that will hold you back from something so big." I explain a bit calmer. "I dont want to keep you from growing".

"We will visit. I will drive up to the city every weekend and bring Nakai and Clarke with me. And you can visit here too"! I try to convince him.

"I can't be away from you" he begs and I shake my head. "Yes you can. You are a big, indipendent boy and you can take care of yourself just like I can take care of myself. Don't you trust me"? I ask and he nods frantically.

"I do. It's just that I feel a hole in my chest whenever you're not by my side. You can't feel it because you're human but damn it Lia. I feel like my heart is torn in half whenever we're apart. I can only imagine what it will be like to be away from you for four years.

"Noah" I whisper, my own heart is bleeding at his words. I take a step forward and hug him. He leans his head on my shoulder and breathes me in. "Don't make me do it" he whimpers and I roll my eyes. How dramatic.

"You will do it. If not for yourself, then do it for me" i demand and he lets out a long whine, muffling the sound in the fabric of my dress.

"If you do it" i suggest. "I will marry you as soon as you get back" he stops breathing. His heart is fast under my fingers on his back.

"Are you having a heart attack"? I ask worriedly. "I might be" he breathes out.

"Do you mean it"? He asks, not raising his head from my shoulder. "I do" He pulls back just enough to kiss me. I almost fall, startled, but he holds me up. The kiss is long and rough and by the time we pull apart I am out of breath and the taste of caramel is still lingering on my lips.

"What was that"? I ask, still feeling startled and he smiles, kissing my cheek softly. "Just a kiss" he answers and I laugh. "Right" I say, letting him guide me to the house.

"Hey mama" i say once we enter. "Babes" she greets me and goes back to her book. Noah makes his way to the kitchen and when he comes back he has two sandwiches in his hands. He eats both in less than three minutes. It really is shocking how quickly and how much he can eat, I am not sure who to blame, teenage or wolf metabolism?

The summer rolls by like the water on the stream. Fast, calm and unreturning.

August finds me working at the diner as a head waitress. Maggy left for a job at the convenience store. Less walking, more night shifts, she explained as she handed me her black work shirt and red apron expressionless.

It is nearly fall. I have my first class in a week and Noah leaves in two.

He keeps trying to convince me to let him stay. I keep shooting his attempts down. He drowns me in affection when we are alone, making sure I smell as much like him as possible before he has to go. He is practically glued to me whenever he can. Even if we are watching a movie with my mom or his family. Neither seem to pay any attention or care.

Mama really likes him, despite playing hard to get.

And I've noticed the looks she gives at Layton, an african american middle aged man who visits the flower shop unessecarily often.

A suggestive sway of her hip here, a comment that could be read into more than others. A look that could make any man kneel at her feet. It is disgusting and fascinating alltogether watching my thirty eight year old mother flirt.

"Sure you want me to go"? Noah asks again, his bags are in the car already. His family has long gone inside, we've been standing here for twenty minutes now. My feet have started hurting.

"Noah" I say softly and he huffs angrily. "I know" he kisses me again. His hands are locked around my waist while mine are knit at the back of his neck, my fingers curling his brown locks.

"I love you". I say and he says it back and kisses my throat. I let him drag his canines over the soft flesh and then nip the spot between my collarbone an dneck, until i cat handle how tickly it is and i bump his head with mine.

"Noah" i breathe his name as he pulls back and he looks at me like he might kiss me again.

"I'll miss you." He whimpers and I smile. "It's only two weeks" i remind him and he pouts as he gets in the car.

"Drive safe" i say through the open window and he touches my face softly before he nods and turns the keys.

"Love you". I say and he smiles, pleased. "Love you too".

I watch the car until it has disappeared behind the curve of the road and then I head inside the Clifford household.

"What's for lunch".? I ask and help Nakai set the table.
-_________
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