Two Rules

Chapter twenty-four: "sometimes it can't be about me"

Once we're only about 15-20 minutes away from the house, I type out the message.

Me: Noah. I'm so sorry. I've never wanted to be the person that did this over text but I know I can't bring myself to do it in person. I think we need to break up. I loved you, so much, but I need to find myself without you. You fixed what Zack broke, and for that I will always have so much love for you. I can't wait to see where you go in life, and know that I will always be your #1 fan. I realized that I don't know what college is like without you. Without you protecting me, and depending on you to be my person. I need to be my own person. I'm sorry, but please understand. You once told me that a girlfriend would distract you from family, school, or hockey, or all 3. And it has, you've gotten in countless fights because of me and my friends. That isn't fair to you. Go out and be Noah Hale again. Be the star center forward that will go to the NHL and be amazing. I love you, always...

I hit send and immediately turn my phone off, knowing he would call once he read it. One sad look from Nat is all it took for me to completely lose it. Bella and Chloe look confused from the front seat as I cry uncontrollably.

"what happened?" Bella asks worried.

"She broke up with Noah, just now."

"What?" Chloe and Bella both say.

Through tears I say, "I need to know who I am without him. I just can't do it right now."

"Aww Scarlett I'm so sorry." Chloe looks at me through the front mirror. 

"I turned my phone off, he's going to try and call you guys. Please don't tell him where I am or what I'm doing. I need to get my stuff and hide in the dorm as fast as possible."

"Don't worry, we can do it." Chloe steps on the gas peddle making us go faster.

Andrews POV (AHHH new POV yay!)

I got a warning text from Nat, but even that didn't prepare me to watch the color drain from my best friends face as he read the message from Scarlett. I tried to understand her reasoning, and I did, but as Noah's best friend it was hard to watch this happen. 

We sat across from each other at the very front of the bus. He leaned across the isle, eyes glistening. I've never seen him come close to crying. He hands me his phone.

Damn. Reading that text made me almost feel like I was getting dumped. I see why Scarlett is going for journalism, girl has a way with words. 

I hand the phone back to him. "I'm sorry, bro." Is all I can think to say.

"Why now? We were fine last night, what happened between then and now?"

I hate lying to him, "I wish I knew dude, girls are weird sometimes."

I really hate lying to him. 

He doesn't say a word the rest of the drive home. Staring straight out the front window of the bus, his leg bouncing anxiously the entire time. 

We get off the bus and Noah goes straight for Whitlock's truck. We're supposed to go into the conference room to talk about the game, but he shows no signs of slowing down. Cam, Whitlock, and I all stand in the parking lot, unsure of what to do.

"Hale! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Coach yells as he steps off the bus.

He keeps walking, nearing the truck.

"HALE!" Coach yells again.

Noah turns around, furious, "What?" He yells back.

"Get your ass inside, where do you think you're going?"

He half laughs, "I'm going to find out why your daughter decided to break up with me. Is that cool with you coach?"

His tone is scarily undefinable. Like we can't tell if he's about to cry, punch something, or both. 

Coach looks from Noah to the three of us, "Go on. You 4 are excused." 

We give him grateful looks and walk towards the truck where Noah is not-so-patiently waiting. 

We all get in, and Cameron is the first to talk, like normal, "what's going on?"

"I don't know. Scarlett texted me on the ride here and said she needed to 'find herself without me' and decided that we were done. And her phones off so I can't even call her."

Cameron sits back quietly and looks at me with a sad look. We might not seem like it, but the four of us are family, and one of us hurting this bad hurts all of us. 

We pull into the driveway and the Jeep is already there. 

"Maybe she's still here," Noah says hopeful.

Except I know she's not. I know that her and Nat left 10 minutes ago with all of her stuff. Chloe and Bella stayed behind to stall Noah as long as possible.

Scarlett's POV

"The boys just got to the house." Nat says as we walk through the front doors of the dorm building.

I give her a panicked look, knowing Noah is probably already speeding over here. She nods and we hurry up to the elevator. 

We get inside and Nat's phone has not stopped blowing up. By now, Noah has figured out that Bella and Chloe stayed behind so that must mean Nat was with me. He hasn't stopped calling her.

Her phone rings and she looks at it, "it's just Andrew, its ok."

She answers it just as I'm about to stop her. Noah probably took his phone.

"Hello?" She says.

"Oh, hi Noah." She looks at me with a sorry look, I slap my hand onto my forehead. 

She puts it on speaking and motions for me to be quiet. 

"Where is she, Nat?"

"She needs space Noah, give her a few days."

"Natalie, tell me what the fuck just happened." Her eyes widened at her full name and his strict tone. 

"You both need to just take some time to process. Talk to her when you've calmed down. She's already stressed as it is, you've got to give her time."

His voice cracks, which breaks my heart more, "I love her. How do I just let her go?"

She looks sadly at the phone, "I know, Noah, I know you love her. I wish there was more I could do but I don't have the answers right now."

"It's fine." His tone changes into a serious voice, "I'll be fine. Have a good night."

"Noa-" But he hangs up before she can finish. 

A few hours later, I turn my phone back on. Bella and Chloe had eventually come back and told me that Noah was so mad he punched a hole in the wall and then went upstairs and closed himself in his room.

My phone was flooded with messages and missed calls. Tons of messages asking me why, did something happen, is there someone else, etc. But the last one is what really caught my eye. It was from 30 minutes ago.

Noah: I'm sorry, I love you, I'll wait for you. 

My heart broke for the millionth time today. I broke down again and all 3 girls came onto my bed to hug me. 

3 words. Fuck Sam Prescott. 

♥︎A/N: It's almost done!! This is a long chapter I know but I think it's worth the read ;)

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