Everlasting

Chapter 1

I watched the boys run. They were practicing, as they should be, for the upcoming football game. I was mezmorized. I heard a muffled voice, which I assumed, was calling my name. "Alice!" I looked over, dazed. "Can you please go to the cafeteria with me? I need to get breakfast." Said the voice. I instantly made my decision, but I made it seem like I hadn't, just to be polite. "But I really want to stay to watch the football practice. You do know who's down there, right?" I said warily. She rolled her eyes. "Yes. We all are aware that your boyfriend is down there. But I'm really hungry! I didn't eat dinner last night!" she cried dramatically. I was flushing scarlet, furious. Yes, Noah liked me. Yes, I liked him. But one, he didn't know I liked him. Two, he doesn't know that I know that he likes me. It would probably never happen. So when she said 'boyfriend', it really bothered me. "You know what, Joanna? No, I will not go to the cafeteria with you. Maybe next time think about what you say before you say it," I muttered bitterly. She walked away, of course, also bitter. Great, more drama in my high school life.

Me and Hayliegh were sitting on the top of the bleachers. It was our favorite place, because nobody ever came up there. We liked to listen to music and be with ourselves. All of the sudden, Noah starts heading towards the bleachers. Well, that freaks me out, so I elbow Hayliegh. She glares at me. My face, at this point, it as red as a cherry. He starts climbing up to get something out of the filing cabinet that sits up on the top level of the bleachers, in between the two rows of seats, where the stairs that go up top end. I warily watched him, VERY carefully avoiding his eyes, and I go numb as he finally reaches the cabinet. It wouldn't make me go numb normally, I mean come on, he's just getting something out of a metal drawer, except that this morning, we decided to sit on the end, where my luck would get me, right by that same dang filing cabinet. And my friends, the beautiful people that they are, put me on the end, where yet again, that stupid filing cabinet is. As he reaches for the cabinet itself, he grabs whatever he needs, and turns to go back down. I decide to say something instead. We'd talked before, so I guess we could be considered friends.

"Hey Noah, High Five," I yell over the heavy chatter of the kids in the gym.

He turned to look at me, and the hand I had extended. He put his hand in the air vertically. I eagerly accepted the invitation. I slapped his hand, again eager. He does the same. when we make contact, he touches my hand.

When you make a highfive, it only lasts for a split second.

So it surprised me when he didn't let go.

His fingers lingered on mine, feeling as soft and light as feathers. I stood up, unsure. "Hey, Alice," he smiled. I opened and closed my mouth, trying to form words, but nothing came out. His smile turned into a wide grin. "When is football practice over?" I asked quietly. He looked down, blushing slightly. I cautiously used my index finger to tilt his chin back up. Another smile, this time crooked. When he smiled, it made my heart flutter. His eyes always crinkled adorably around the edges. "In about ten minutes. Wait for me!" Noah called. He took his amazing hand out of mine, and I suppressed a sigh. He bent his fingers in an arc so that they delicately stroked my palm. "Hurry back," I murmered, frowning as his fingers left the last centimeter of my own. He ran down the steps, not even stumbling. I watched as he slipped his helmet back on, covering his blonde hair, and overshadowing his ocean colored eyes.

About an hour later, he finally sat down, exhausted from practice. I crossed my arms and looked away childishly. "Alice?" He panted. I turned to glare at him. He had been late for fifty minutes. Fifty. After about five seconds of icy eye contact, I turned away to look at nothing, still upset. He sighed unsteadily. "Look, I'm sorry. It's not my fault that Damian started messing around and got us in trouble. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry." He repeated over and over again. I couldn't help but slip a small smile. He grinned, and we both knew he had won. I turned to look at him slowly. His eyes honestly looked apologetic, so I looked down to smile as wide as I could. This time his finger slipped under my own chin. His eyes searched mine, and I got lost in them. I wanted to swim in those oceans forever. I didn't even realize that his hand was searching for mine as he still gazed at me, and I placed my fingers over his to help him. He smiled. He intertwined our fingers "We always find each other."