Bittersweet // Complete

14

 Chapter 14

Noah did not show up to volunteer at the camping site we were cleaning on Saturday morning. I did not want to admit that I was hoping he would show up soon, even till everyone was ready to leave and I was still walking around like a madwoman, hoping to find some piece of trash so I could stay longer. Maybe Noah was just running late.

Around forty minutes after everyone had left, I sighed in defeat. There was no more work to do and Noah had not shown up, despite having signed up for it on Monday. Well. I marked his name in attendance anyway and cycled back home, still reeling from the aftereffects of waking up next to him.

I had woken up a little after sunrise, I assumed. A soft glow was reaching the floor and on Noah's face. In his sleep, there was a childlike innocence to his face, one that was lost behind the stupid smirk and devil-may-care attitude he put on as soon as he woke up. Keeping my movements as light as I could, I made my escape from his house, feeling the judgement of the minimal onlookers on the street. My walk of shame ended at home, after which I had to wait on the stairs for a good half of an hour till River woke up by the sound of the continuous bells. She was furious, but sleepier, so she promised to threaten me properly when she could actually form coherent sentences.

I slipped out of Noah's jersey into one of my own tee shirts, realising much, much later that I had accidentally left my bra on the floor of his room. I had gone to bed still wearing it, but it got uncomfortable in the middle of the night and I had to take it off. In my hurry to leave before he woke up, I had only grabbed my clothes on the nightstand and bolted. Fuck.

Eleanor had luckily brought my purse and coat to the camping spot, but she forgot to charge the phone laying dead in the bag, so I had to wait till I got home for that. I plugged the charger in place before taking a bath to wash all the sweat and grime of the day, making sure my face was properly cleaned. I had tried my best to clean off my makeup last night, with soap and water, and the absence of a makeup wipe was haunting me. I could only cross my fingers and hope no acne outbreak came up soon.

Wrapped in a towel around my body and another around my head, I checked my phone till I was dry enough to wear clothes.

Eleanor: I took your purse and coat, come soon! (1.24am)

Eleanor: Fuck I just found your phone in your purse, sorry! (1.46am)

Sophie: El who r u texting if Bri doesn't have her phone (1.47am)

Eleanor: Good point (1.56am)

Eleanor: I just tried to call her lmao (1.57am)

Sophie: You're drunk (2.34am)

Eleanor: Says the one who puked all over Finn (2.35am)

Daniel: Finn came through to pick us up since we were a lil drunk. Where r u? (1.34am)

Daniel: Nvm El told me about your phone (1.48am)

Daniel: Get home safely! (1.49am)

Daniel: Remind me to never bring Sophie near Finn (2.14am)

@noahsterling: You're not here and this bed feels empty :( (7.14am)

@noahsterling: Your pillow smells like you (7.14am)

@noahsterling: I like the gift you've left behind ;) (8.34am)

@briannabananas: it wasn't intentional smh don't get ideas. (12.46pm)