The Only Exception

Book 2 Part 1

The whole house was filled with giggles and playful screams as he chased me around the kitchen and living room. In the end, Noah caught me and we plopped on the couch and sat there breathless.

“That was fun, Celeste. Christmas is in a few days, and since we are having a Christmas Eve party here for our families, we should get going on baking those delicious cookies you make.” He smiles and squeezes me tighter and closer to him, “But I can’t bear to let you go.”

“Well, Noah, if you don’t want to let me go, how about you help me make those cookies?”

“That is an excellent idea. I’ll be your sous chef, you tell me what to do.”

We get into the kitchen and we make peanut butter cookies that are better than my mom’s. It took us a few hours, but at least we were together and we worked hard.

The next day, I was walking around the store, looking for a present for my Noah, when I was so stumped that I had to text him.

hey babe wat do u want for xmas?

I slip the phone back into my pocket and wandered a little more until I felt a buzz in my pocket.

all i want is u C. luv u

All he wanted was me? Wow, that’s a pretty easy gift then. Wait a second, let me put this together a minute. Ok, I’m a virgin still, he’s still a virgin. All he wants is me. OMG! He wants to. Wait, I better ask him.

wait. u mean u want to...

I felt the buzz in my hand a few seconds later.

nonono not wat i meant. just want 2 feel u in my arms and in no one elses lol XP

Oh, what a relief. I’m not ready for that yet. Another buzz.

cant wait 4 u 2 come back 2 me. luv u <3

I find him a new cashmere sweater in blue and get him a bottle of his favorite cologne. I put the bags in the trunk of my Impala and drive home. While I was driving, I listen to the new c.d. from my favorite band that Noah bought for me for my birthday, and my favorite song, ‘The Only Exception’ came up and I was crying along to the lyrics because my family wasn’t very happy for a few years. That’s how I started becoming more of an artsie because of it.

I parked the car in front of our house and walk up the walkway and turn the handle of door. I walk in to the smell of homemade Italian food. I slip off my jacket and hang it up in it’s rightful place and walk towards the kitchen, where Noah is making chicken parmesan and he looks up and says, “Hey there, beautiful, I missed you.”

I walk over to him and roll up my sleeves before he says,

“No, babe, not tonight. It’s my night to cook. You go sit down and relax while I finish dinner.” He kisses me and gets back to cooking. I grab a bottle of white wine from the fridge and pour two flutes full and give one to him.

I watch some television and wait for Noah to finish our meal. I get up, turn off the t.v. and turn on our stereo and put on Paramore’s Brand New Eyes softly. I grab my sketchbook and draw Noah as he is cooking. I finish right before he calls me into the kitchen to eat our dinner.

We talk for the duration of our meal and I help do the dishes. After the dishes were done, we sat down together and he fiddled with my fingers and I grab my sketchbook and show him the picture I drew of him.

“Celeste, that is amazing! You really need to frame this one. It should go right next to the picture I drew of you.” He points to the picture on the wall next to the front door. Noah can draw really well, too. It’s like we were made for each other.