Bittersweet // Complete

03.

Chapter 3

Sophie and I had grabbed a seat in the cafeteria on Monday, talking about the weekend and laughing over River's antics again. I didn't notice when Eleanor had joined us, till she was standing right in front of us, "Hello, what are we talking about?"

Eleanor had swiped some beautiful bright eyeshadow and contour on her face perfectly, not a spot unblended. Her lips were coloured pink like a baby rose, the highlight was popping and the soft white dress was making her look all too much like an angel.

"What's with the makeup?" Sophie asked before I could.

"Well, I thought about everything that has happened, and I have come to a conclusion."

That didn't explain what was going on, and the confused look on our faces communicated everything to Eleanor, who let out a frustrated sigh, "Do you remember when Noah said I wasn't good enough before Miss Feminist went off on him?"

We nodded, so she continued, "Well, so now I will make sure Noah knows what he's missing out on. I am good enough and he has no rights to tell me what I am and what I'm not."

It stunned me for an entire minute before I could formulate a response to that. Sophie was eating Eleanor's ear off about why she was wrong, and Eleanor was countering her arguments with her own twisted beliefs.

"You guys are very hypocritical," she complained, settling down on a chair, "You keep saying women are free to make their own choices, and when I have made my choice, you won't let me do it."

Sophie was explaining to her the distinction, but I knew there was no learning for Eleanor. She'd have to see it on some Instagram influencer's page to realise this, and I knew no Instagram influencer would ever post anything about this. No woman wanted to be associated with the angry feminist tag until they wanted to make it their only identity. The moment you identified yourself as a feminist, you automatically cease to be an environmentalist, a teacher, a doctor, a nurse, a woman. You're just a bitch, a rage machine with legs.

"Guys?" Sophie muttered low enough only for us to hear, "Don't look up but Noah is here."

Mouth full of rice from the lunch I had carried, I half looked up, and accidentally met his gaze. My cheeks heated as I took in his squared jawline, the small but prominent dimple on his right cheek as he half-smiled, looking straight at me.

"You've got rice on your lips," Sophie brushed it off the corner of my mouth, my cheeks warming again.

"Guys, is he looking here?" Eleanor was holding her phone in her hands, screen blank, but pretending to type.

"I don't think he's looking at you," I gulped my food down, before breaking away the eye contact.

"Well, shit. I'm gonna go get coffee so I get a chance to walk around here. He'll notice me then, right?"

Sophie nodded unenthusiastically, but Eleanor was not one to care. She squealed, grabbing her wallet and running away.

I looked around again, to see Noah settle down a few seats away, right in my vision line. Not for a second had his gaze wavered from me, making me uncomfortable.

"Seriously, can we set Eleanor up with someone else?" Sophie moaned, burying her head in her hands, "I almost feel some form of apathy creeping on me about the whole Noah thing and I don't know for how long I'll be able to keep this up."

I agreed, "She's literally only ever talking about him as if he's hung the stars in the sky. It's pissing me off."

"How about Benjamin? From Communications class?" She suggested. I didn't see it honestly, but I hadn't seen Noah and Eleanor either and that happened.