Noah & Josh

The Perfect Life

Noah! Noah! Noah!" My name was all I could hear moments before the swimming competition started.

"GO NOAAAAAH" The one screaming uncontrollably is Any, my best friend.

The next thing I hear was the "gunshot" signalling the beginning of the competition.

"NOAH! NOAH! NOAH!" Although I couldn't quite hear the screams because of the water, they were motivating me to win the race.

I ended up winning, but only with a few seconds of difference. Despite being over, and that I was already going to the locker room I could still hear my name. After that, I took a shower and went to find Any, who was already waiting for me at the door with Scarlett.

"OMG congratulations, I knew you were going to win" Said Any almost choking me with her hug.

"We don't need to exaggerate, I only won with a few seconds of difference"

"I don't care, the important thing here is that you won fair and square, right Scarlett?"

"Yeah, sure" Said Scarlett looking at her phone, totally not paying attention to the conversation

I've know Scarlett since i'm 10 and she never really talked to me. That changed when I joined the swimming team and started to get popular around school. Since then she has been stuck with me. Of course I know the she only does that to be popular as well but I don't really care because I don't talk to her that much and don't ever consider her my friend.

"I'm really hungry because of the competition, let's eat something"

We decided on a coffee shop that's close to school, we go there all the time. As soon as we got there, I saw Josh. He is the football's team captain at our school. We don't talk that much, but we get along. But there's something I don't like in him, he's a known homophobe. 
Scarlett is obsessed with him, always trying to talk to him but he doesn't even acknowledges her. Leaving her furious.

"Noah, come here" I heard Josh calling me from his table. "Congratulations bro, I heard you won the competition. Unfortunately I couldn't be there to see it"

"Thanks bro, maybe next time" I smiled, feeling my cheeks turning red i said "I have to go now but we'll talk later" I was already going to my table when I heard him saying

"Will you go to my game tonight?" In that moment I didn't know what to say so I looked at Any, terrified. She understood, and said

"Yeah, we'll be there, on one condition"

"What?" He looked confused with her answer

"Dedicate one touchdown to Noah" She had a smug look on her face

I immediately looked at her. What the hell was she thinking? I also looked at Josh, trying to decipher his reaction. He just laughed.

"Deal, do you just want one Noah?" He was looking directly into my eyes. I froze once again and the only thing I was able to do was shaking my head affirmatively.

"Will you dedicate one for me as well?"Asked Scarlett with a seductive tone.

Josh looked at her, and just continued eating. After this, Scarlett got furious and just left the coffee shop. I looked over at Josh and we just laughed.

Eventually we finished our food, and left. I took Any home. On the way I talked with her about what happened at the coffee shop.

"What got into you to say that to Josh?"

"I saw your face when he talked to you, I just did the math. You like him, don't you?"

"What?! Do you really think that?" I was shaking, I knew I could trust her but still..

"Noah... I'm not Scarlett, I pay attention to you. I've known you my whole life, you can't fool me"

"Fine, I do think he's cute but I don't like him. After all he's homophobic" The last sentence came out as a whisper.