Just Pretend

Chapter 35 - We Brought Snacks

"Shhhh..." Noah whispers as he holds me against his chest, stroking my hair.

"I-"

"It's okay, just breathe." Noah cuts me off and I try to steady my breathing. My throat feels raw, it hurts to swallow. I look up at Noah who gently presses a kiss to my lips then against my forehead. "You're going to be okay baby." He whispers and I finally stop crying so hard, the tears slowing rolling down my cheeks.

Noah grabs the shampoo and massages it into my hair, doing the same with the conditioner, then finally reaching for the body wash.

"It's okay. I got it." I tell him just before he picks it up off the shelf.

"Please let me look after you." Noah pleads so I let him. He then does the same for himself Shampoo, conditioner, then body wash. I step out the shower wrapping myself in a towel, one around my hair too quickly drying myself then stealing one of Noah's tops for comfort. I pull it over my head the hem of it stopping at my thighs, scrunching at the chest part of the top pressing it to my nose and inhale. It smells like Noah, it smells like home. I grab a pair of shorts quickly pulling them on and then hop into bed.  "Nice shirt." Noah winks at me as he ruffles the towel against his hair while I pull a brush through my own.

"Thanks, it's my boyfriend's I think it looks better on me though." I smirk as Noah gets into bed next to me.

"He has good taste in shirts but you're right. It definitely looks better on you." Noah smiles as I put the hairbrush back down on the side table.

"Will you braid my hair for me?" I quietly ask Noah who chuckles at my request.

"Of course." He pulls the sheets back and pulls up his legs so I can sit between them.

"Thank you." I say handing him a hair tie seating myself between his legs. I turn on the T.V as Noah sections my hair and starts to braid it. 

I scroll through the movie options until I settle on Superbad.

"There." Noah finishes tying the elastic at the bottom on the braid flicking it over my shoulder.

"Thank you so much." I kiss him quickly and he then pulls me against his chest so I'm leaning against him, his arms wrapped around my waist. The opening scene for Superbad starts just as there's a knock on the door. I turn to Noah confused and he shakes his head as he gently moves me so he can wriggle out of sitting behind me. He heads straight to the door looking through the keyhole then chuckles to himself before opening the door.

"Helloooo... We heard our friends not doing so well so we're here for comfort, support and a movie night."  Jolly sheepishly smiles in the doorway.

"Let us in, we brought snacks." Nick hisses making me laugh.

"And drinks!" Folio adds and Noah steps out of the doorway to let them in. Sadie immediately comes to my side and gives me a hug.

"I love you. Why didn't you say anything?" She asks and I shrug in response. Noah gets back into bed seating himself behind me pulling me against his chest once again.

"What we watching?" Nick asks as he squeezes himself in between Noah and Sadie, then pulling Sadie into the same position I am with Noah.

"Superbad." Noah replies as Folio hands us both a can of Fanta. "Thanks."

"No sweat." Folio replies as he and Jolly set all the snacks and drinks on the dresser then take seats themselves, Nick on his stomach at the bottom of the bed below our feet and Jolly in the dresser chair.

"Resume." Jolly says and Noah grabs the remote.

"Wait they're ten minutes in, you gotta rewind." Nick protests.

"Dude, ten minutes... you've missed nothing." Folio laughs then taking a sip from his can.

"A lot can happen in the first ten minutes. It sets the tone. Back to the start Noah." Nick argues earning a sigh from Noah as he reluctantly puts the movie back to the start.

"Well that's our private movie night no longer private. Sorry babe." Noah whispers into my ear.

"It's okay, I think it's just what I need." I reply and it's true. I just want it back to normal where no one acts like I'm broken or doesn't know what to say around me.

"Shut up Margo we're watching a movie." Nick hisses at me as Noah rests his head on mine.

"Don't talk to her like that Nick, that's my job. You do that again I'll leave you for wax Travis." Sadie scolds Nick.

"All of you shut the fuck up, I don't want to miss the part with Mclovin." Folio grunts.

"Bro that's like at least half an hour in." Nick protests.

"Shhhh! If y'all gonna talk through the movie get the fuck out." Noah grumbles.

"Yes boss, so sorry won't happen again." Nick smirks knowingly. No one's ever quiet through any movie we watch, especially Nick. "Can we play a game after?"

"No!" Everyone seems to shout at Nick at the same time.

"Okay, okay. It was just a question." He smiles.

"You guys are so annoying." I groan at them.

"Yeah but you love it. You love us Mar." Folio replies turning to face me instead of the movie. It's true, I love this weird group of friends so much I couldn't even imagine life without them now. I roll my eyes and scrunch my face making him laugh. "We love you too Margo."