If I'm There - Noah Sebastian

Chapter 5 - Home.

It gets to 2 pm. The boys need to go set up for sound check. Noah asked if it was okay for him to come back to mine while I get ready. Well, duh, of course.

I apologise for the state of my car as he gets in, his knees practically touching his chin from how far forward the seat was. May's fault, she's as small as me. I should text her, actually.

"Jesus Christ, is this some kind of sick joke?"
I couldn't help but cry laughing at him, sitting in practically the foetal position. I couldn't get my words out to show him where the seat adjuster was. Instead, I grabbed my phone and quickly took a picture on Snapchat before I decided to help him.
"Awww thanks, you just had to get a picture of my suffering before you decided to help. Real nice Lou," he sassed me while trying to contain his laughter.

I plugged my phone in, and Bad Omens started playing automatically before I had a chance to scramble to turn it off. I was turning bright red. I switched to my favourite band ever, The Amity Affliction. I looked up and saw his sweet face looking at me smiling. We sat there for a second, looking at each other before we were both engulfed in laughter.
"Okay, so that was embarrassing."
"No, it's sweet. I'm glad you like our music. It's taken us a while to get here, so it means a lot." I smile and start driving.

30 minutes later and we arrive at my house. The drive felt like 2 minutes. We talked. Really talked. He asked me more about my job, my apirations, and goals in life while I asked about his.
I live on my own, no pets either, so we're met with silence at my house. Thankfully, I keep it neat, so I wasn't worried about his impromptu visit.

"It's nothing much, but it's home." A 2 bedroom house. 1 room is my makeup room where I film videos for TikTok and Instagram. Noah seemed fascinated with it.
"Shit L, you have so much makeup,"
"Yeahh? It's my job, so I kind of have to. That's like me saying "ShIT nOah, YoU haVe sO mUch mUsiC EqUipmeNt,"
I mimic his voice, waiting for his typical smirk and shake of his head.
"You're a little shit, I do not sound like that."
"Well, you do, a little." I winked and walked off down the hall.
I feel his presence behind me and quickly stop and turn around to scare him. I'm met with his chest, radiating heat like I'm standing directly in front of the sun, and he raises his hand to my neck and kisses me. Before I'd even realised what had happened, he's already taken off downstairs and into the kitchen. I stand there for a moment, taking in what just happened and smiling to myself until my cheeks are so tense that they're burning.

I walk into the kitchen and see his lanky body sat on top of my work tops, smiling while drinking a bottle of water he's taken out of my fridge. As he puts it down next to him, I walk over and throw my arms around his neck, bringing him in for an embrace. Home. That's what it feels like. For the first time in my life, I came to the realisation that home isn't 4 walls. It's 4 limbs, 2 eyes, and a beating heart.

"I'm going to go get ready. Make yourself at home. The living room is through there. I have a PS4, but only Sims, I'm afraid."
"Awwww, SICK! I love the Sims!" He buzzes as he jumps down and makes his way into the living room.

I head upstairs, turn on my favourite Spotify playlist that I made with all my go-to bands. Paramore, The Amity Affliction, Black Veil Brides, and Bad Omens (of course). I start doing my makeup. It's my escape. I was an ugly child in school, so makeup is my way of feeling like myself. After a short while of playing around and jamming, I put on Never Know by Bad Omens. It's my favourite song at the moment, and I sit there humming and singing along while finishing up my makeup. I'm in my own world, swaying to his angelic voice when I catch a glimpse of a figure in the doorway. I'm so used to living along that I forgot Noah was here, and I absolutely jumped out of my skin.
"FUCKING HELL! Noah, dude, you just fucked me up! I didn't hear you come up!"
"I just wanted to watch you in your element, and it was beautiful to watch. Never Know, huh?"
I catch my breath quickly, trying not to show how much he actually just frightened me.
"Yeah, it's my favourite at the moment. I just feel like it speaks to me, you know? It's open to interpretation as well, so it can resonate with so many people for so many reasons, and I think that's just beautiful how you can help so many people with those lyrics."
"Wow, no one has ever spoken about our music like that. Thanks, Lou. I really liked that. Almost as much as I like you."
"What?"
"Oh, like, you know... you're a cool chick."
I spin in my chair and look at him so deeply, knowing that he understands what I'm saying without me having to say anything.
"I like you too, Noah."
He blushes and lowers his head, a piece of his hair falling down, and I do what I should have done yesterday. I get up and tuck it behind his ear.
"I mean it, I really like you."

I see the corners of his mouth turn up, and I give him a peck.

"You can grab a shower here. It'll be easier for you. Let me get you a towel."

I show him into the bathroom and go to head into my bedroom. I keep the door open a touch, knowing he'll be able to see when he heads out of the bathroom.

I hear him turn the shower off, and I start undressing. The bathroom door opens, and I carry on getting dressed. I have tattoos on my back that he's not seen, but he'll see now.

After I pull on my long black denim skirt, I turn around and see him. "Come in? It's okay. "

"Oh ha, I er-" He clears his throat. "I didn't realise you had tattoos on your back, too,"
"We're you watching me?"
"No! No, not at all, I just kinda.. er.. just happened to -"
I start smiling and burst into laughter.
"Noah, I'm fucking with you."
He lightly shoves me, shaking his head and I do it back but as expected, he didn't move at all. I'm definitely not as strong as I thought I was.
I grab his hand "right come on, we can't have you be late, the lads are probably wondering where you are, so make sure you text them in the car."

I drag him downstairs, I turn my lights off, grab my keys, and we head out the door and back into my shitbox of a car.
It's Noah's turn with the Aux and he puts on The WeekNd. He's just full of surprises this boy, isn't he?
I shot a glance at him smiling with a slight frown on.
"Don't be judgey, I love The WeekNd. He's actually inspired a lot of my vocals for our new album"
"No judgement here, babe! The WeekNd is good. I just wasn't expecting it. I love knowing these pockets of you, I can't wait to find out more"

He places his hand on my thigh, and I get driving.
He didn't take his hand away the whole ride and we sat singing, dancing, talking and I realised I could do this my whole life, with him.

--------------------

"Yooooooo kids, did you get up to some stuff I wouldn't?" Jolly joked with us as he pulls me in for his signature hug.
Noah and I just chuckled and stayed silent, indicating something, but nothing at the same time.

We head into the venue and to the green room. I helped the boys get ready, fixing and brushing their hair. Making sure they're drinking water and we're all just stoked.

There's a knock at the door, and the lads go silent as look at each other. I don't think they know I've clocked on to them doing that.
"You guys expecting someone?"
"Hey Lou, could you grab that, actually?" Nick shouts from the back of the room.
I walk towards the door and open it.

My jaw fucking drops.