The Kissing Booth: Adult Edition

On The Rooftop

"Good thing Mrs. Kim next door had a tent we could borrow," I was watching and trying- poorly- to help Noah set it up on the patio. All the light we had was from the little decorative lights, and they didn't emit much. Noah swore under his breath as he tried to collect the polls for what felt like the millionth time. I was beginning to feel bad for him; he'd been working at it for an hour or so.

"You know, we could get Lee out here to come help," I finally suggested when Noah looked like he was about to blow a gasket. "Ha! No; he'd only make things harder. Hand me those pliers over there." I did as I was told, handing the pliers over to where Noah was kneeling on the ground. Then I brought my hand back to underneath my chin and sighed. "You could just sleep on the floor of Lee's bedroom tonight; set up the tent tomorrow morning. It'd be lighter out then....." Noah's lip let out a loud, irritated huff. "Listen, Elle. We agreed to me staying here on the terms that I sleep out here- otherwise Lee will never let me hear the end of it. So would you just be quiet and let me do this?" Stubborn as ever; why am I not surprised? "Alright, if you say so," I sighed again, leaning into my palms. It was late out, and I was getting sleepy.

Noah must have noticed my actually growing quiet- just like he asked, I might add- and paused to check over his shoulder at me. I was staring up at the night sky wistfully, not really thinking about anything right then. Or that was until a chilly breeze brushed over the rooftop, catching me off guard. I gave a tiny shiver and sneezed into my folded hands. Noah sighed yet again and got up. "Lee's right- you really are hopeless," I blinked as the sensation of his jacket draping over top of my shoulders overcame me. Once he made sure I was all snug, he went back to his poor excuse of a tent. Meanwhile I watched him slightly ajar. "T-Thank you, Noah...."

"This is a nice place you got here, even if it is a little crowded," Noah eventually broke the quiet again. "You like it? So do I. I've loved it since I first saw it, and it's even better now with roommates." "Well, it's a good thing you don't mind them, anyway. Me though, I'm kinda glad I got my own space out here- even if it is in a tent." "You used to love camping as a kid. Just think of it as adult Korean-camping," I grinned playfully. He did not. "Yeah, keyword: used to." My fingers twirled together in a thoughtful manner. "We only have one bathroom. We're gonna have to think of a bathroom schedule." "We're adults, Elle. I think we can handle it." "And we're gonna have to redo the food budget. With four people, we might to afford meat more than once a week..." "You make working super easy, Elle," Noah remarked sarcastically, though he wasn't frowning.

A relaxing quiet fell over us again until Marco appeared at the door. He was carrying two mugs in his hands. "How's it going out here? Still a broken mess?" "If it were, you wouldn't be helping, would you?" I grinned at him. "Lee and I are still airing out the spare blankets; they should be ready in an hour or so. In the meantime, I made you two some hot chocolate." "Thanks, Marco," still grinning ear-to-ear, I took one mug from him. He placed Noah's cup down onto the ground beside where he was sitting. "Yeah, thanks, man," Noah told him. He nodded and straightened his back up, spinning his feet so to face me. I glanced down into my mug and grinned even more, if that were possible. "Awe, you put extra marshmallows in mine!" "I know how you like it. You getting tired, Elle? I can stay here with Noah if you want to go inside," Marco offered. I gently shook my head. "I'm alright. We'll try to keep it down though, in case you want to go to sleep." "Eh, I won't be going to bed for a while; not until Lee's in his room anyway. But don't worry about me. Is there anything else you guys need?" "Not that I can think of. Noah?" I pondered to him. He shook his head. "Nah, I'm all good." "Ok then. In that case, I'll go back inside and help Lee with the blankets." "Thanks, Marco," I flashed him one last grin, then he disappeared back inside. Little did I know that Noah had been watching the two of us through the corner of his eye the whole time. Marco left and Noah grabbed the pliers again.

"You two seem awfully chummy," Noah's comment made my head turn. "Huh? Me and Marco?" I blinked perplexed. His eyes dashed around to meet mine. "You haven't noticed?" "N-No, I guess I haven't....." I answered back truthfully. I knew Marco and I felt insanely comfortable around each other, but I'm not sure when that started. It just sorta happened..... without my realizing. My lips parted a sliver. "Somehow without my ever noticing it, it felt so natural, having you near."

"Hey, Noah? Can I ask you a question?" "Yeah. What is it?" His back straightened up a little; his head full-on facing me now. "Don't make fun of me, but.... How can you tell if you like someone?" Noah's response was to nearly fall to the ground. "What?! How can you even ask me that?! You're a twenty-six-year-old woman!" "Hey! It's not my fault! I haven't had a crush in seven years! I guess I've forgotten what it's like to have one.... over the years." Noah eyed me for a moment before letting out a loud huff.

"You haven't forgotten what it's like to have a crush on someone. You just don't want to admit to yourself that you may like somebody again. You're still on guard, Elle." My eyes shot over to him annoyed. "Well, of course I am! It's not something I can just turn off." "Well, you're gonna need to learn to, otherwise what kind of sad, lonely life are you gonna have?" He's right... Maybe the reason my walls are still up is because I'm still scared to get hurt again. But for the first time in seven years I'm willing to admit that someone makes my heart race like no tomorrow. But.... Does that mean that I like him? Nugh! How can I be a PhD candidate and ask all these middle school girl questions?! What's wrong with this picture?! My hands rubbed the side of my head in agony, which Noah noticed.

"You're right, Noah; I know you're right.... It's just... I'm so confused. I've been confused for a while now, I guess. I have all these conflicting feelings welling up inside of me. Even if I did like someone, what would be the point in it? I'm moving back to Edinburgh in less than six months....." Again, Noah watched me for another second. Then he sighed setting down his tools and coming over to sit beside me on the ledge. I noticed how close to me he was sitting.... He sighed yet again and looked at me.

"Do you remember back at the start of your junior year of high school? You tried so hard to convince yourself that you didn't have a crush on me." "Heh, oh yeah; I remember that," my eyes scrolled down to my lap reminiscently. "And look how well that turned out? You can't control who you do and do not like, Elle. Even if it your ex..." "But I'm just afraid to....." I started until Noah cut me off. "What did I tell you about being afraid? You don't need to be afraid anymore; you got me here, after all." "Noah!" My eyes widened, and he immediately caught himself. "Us! I meant us; you know- me, Lee..... and Marco." Marco, my lips parted.

"But I am moving back to Edinburgh. There's nothing I can do about that." "No, there's not. But the time in between now and then belongs to you too. It's ok for you to cherish it." Cherish it... Hey, wait! That sounds so familiar..... Noah continued to look at me and I eventually met his stare. We watched each other for a brief, quiet moment. It was Noah's turn for his lips to part first.

"Is there.... someone you like? Someone in this house?" "Noah, I.....!" My blood froze. My sentence was interrupted by Noah gently shaking his head. "No, you don't need to say it. You're still getting used to everything; you can take your time." "But what if.... someone in this house likes me too? How would I know then?"

Noah watched me for a long time; a simple grin blooming across his thick lips when he was ready. I blinked surprised when his hand reached down to rest overtop of mine. "Noah, what are you.....?" "Oh, I think you'd know, Elle. You're a pretty smart girl." "How would you know? You'd ever read any of my work," I frowned, but Noah chuckled. I felt his hand give mine a squeeze. "Well, maybe I am giving you too much credit. You had no idea that I liked you back in high school." Or that Marco did as well.... My eyes grew. I have such a bad track record when it comes to knowing which guys like me.... Noah chuckled to himself more, shutting his eyes and leaning in towards me. I blushed wildly when his forehead pressed up against mine. N-Noah! Why is he getting so close to me? I don't understand! But he just breathed- he breathed so contently. "This is good.

I almost forgot how much I liked having you this close to me."