The Story of Us

Life

*A/N So, this is the first chapter of Noah's point of view. Hope y'all like and comment.*

The Sandwich House never had enough excitement to hold my attention for very long. Sure, the food was good but that was about it. Levi and Gentry found entertainment in flirting with the wait staff but it wasn't my speed. Sure, I flirted shamelessly with girls I found attractive, but the average ones?

“Hi Noah.” I looked away from my coffee to see Delilah Jackson giving me a shy smile. I grinned back, satisfied with the pink blush that spread across her cheeks. Making girls blush was fun, especially when they acted like they were untouchable. Delilah wasn't like that from what I knew of her, which was a lot.

Growing up in a small town gave you that small advantage over your peers. Delilah and I had never been close but we acknowledged each other as mutual friends. One of my exes was friends with Delilah and we had spent quite a bit of time together. Never in my wildest dreams had thought that she would openly flirt with me in public.

My attention was momentarily diverted when Gentry grudgingly handed Levi ten bucks.

“Dammit, I thought it was gonna be Leslie Tucker.” They had lost me when the money was handed over.

“What the hell?”

“Chill, Noah. We bet on stuff all the time.” I rolled my eyes at the transaction, deciding it wasn't worth the hassle of getting into an argument with them. Levi might not have said much but Gentry would ramble on about the free country and his rights.

“Whatever. I'm going home.” I stood up and saw the pretty barista's eyes snap onto me. I had seen her around school before, she was Thomas's sister. What the hell had he said her name was? Reagan? As I got closer to the door her name tag glinted against the artificial lighting. Rachel.

I sent her a wink and exited the cafe, the only evidence I had even been in there was her blush.

Being late was one of my pet peeves. Thank god I didn't have to pick Gentry up or I would have committed murder a long time ago. Levi was always on time, always exiting his house at precisely the same time every morning. This morning was no different.

“Please tell me we ain't picking up a girl today.” Levi said, getting into my truck. I laughed, the sound filling the small cab.

“No, we ain't picking up no girl today.” Levi gave me a relieved smile, rubbing the back of his neck guiltily.

It was too damn cold this morning, at least the forties. I shivered and snuggled deeper into my letterman jacket. My jacket was my pride and joy. I had lettered ever since my freshman year in track and football. There were two pins for both sports, proclaiming that I had been on the varsity teams for both my freshman and sophomore year. Of course there were countless medals in my room for my achievements in track. There was even a pin on my jacket for winning states in the 300 meter race.

The school's parking lot was filling up and students were milling around, discussing the latest gossip.

“So how about that big pep rally today?” Levi asked as we walked toward the school. I nodded in assent, even though it was a rhetorical question. Truthfully I didn't give a damn about the pep rally. Levi seemed to know what I was thinking and his eyes zoned in on a cheerleader's butt.

Someone bumped into me. Had I been a weakling and carrying books they would have scattered all over the floor.

“I'm so sorry.” A voice said. I looked around and recognized the barista from the cafe I had winked at.

“It's okay.” I told her, wondering for the hundredth time what her name was. She blinked and paled suddenly.

“Oh my gosh. Hi, Noah.” She gasped, getting that look on her face I had become all too familiar with. It was a mixture of awe and recognition. What I wouldn't give to not be recognized for a day, to be invisible.