Bittersweet // Complete

44.

Sometimes I wished I cared a little less about the environment. I was fully capable of driving a car, if I could ever muster the courage to drive, that is. Getting behind the wheel was daunting, but I couldn't deny the fact that it was much faster than my feet pedalling on a stupid bike as I cycled all the way across town, trying to get to Noah. I couldn't do that with all the snow anyway.

Fuck it. I called for an uber, opening the small hole under the Buddha statue and taking out my emergency money. My coats were never warm enough, so I wore a sweatshirt under it too, hoping that along with the two tee shirts would be enough. Jeans under leggings seemed to be doing okay, and it wasn't like I'd be outdoors for long. First things first, I had to go find Noah.

The Uber took ages to arrive, or maybe my impatience was stretching time too thin. I called Alex, but it went to voicemail and Daniel wouldn't respond too. My best bet was Noah's home, so I went there first. The streets were clogged with traffic, and I found myself bouncing my leg impatiently as we slugged through the cars.

"What the hell is it today?" I mumbled, getting annoyed when the traffic lights wouldn't turn green.

"It's that football match at the University. The entire town's headed that way."

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Noah's finals.

"Can you reroute and take me there instead?"

"That'll cost you ext-"

"Yeah, whatever. Just get me there."

My heart was bursting. Even in the freezing cold, I was warm inside, and my anxieties were off the charts. I had to get to Noah, I had to find him. I couldn't wait till the match ended or my soul would depart from my body. Urgently, I called Sophie, who answered on the third ring, "Soph, has the match started?"

"Oh my god, you're coming to get your man?!" She squealed loudly, "Ah, no it's not started yet. How long will you take?"

I could hear the screaming of the crowds behind her, and the music thumping through the speakers. "Ten minutes. Do I have enough time?"

"I'll make sure you do, hurry!" Sophie hung up and I breathed a sigh of momentary relief. As the cars started moving again, so did my heart, having migrated from my chest to my stomach, queazing the hell out of me.

My phone buzzed with a flurry of messages from Finn.

Finn: WHat did you talk to Sophie about

Finn: WHYYY IS SHE RUNNING ACROSS THE FIELD LIKE THAT

Finn: Geez she's about to be thrown out this is gonna delay everything

Bri: She's trying to buy me some time, I gotta get to Noah

Finn: OOHH FUCKKKK YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME

Finn: I COULD HAVE RAN ACROSS THE GROUND NAKED

Finn: MORE DISRUPTION

Finn: Lemme go do something to help then

I have never felt luckier to have found these two. God, if only the traffic moved faster. As soon as we neared the campus gates, I all but flung out of the doors, tossing a wad of cash to the driver. It wouldn't have been all that much, but definitely enough to curb his grumbling, if he had any.

Did I have any idea what I would do once I saw Noah? Fuck no. My knees hurt because of the cold, but well, fuck everything. What was important was Noah, and I had enough on my plate to think of psychosomatic pain.