We had another little jam sesh to Noah's playlist on the car ride to the next destination. I tried to annoy him enough into telling me where it was but he wouldn't break.
He held my hand the whole way and we both sang on the top of our lungs. I was genuinely having so much fun. I missed times like these so much and I never thought I would be able to experience them again. We pulled up to a secluded private beach. The view was perfect tonight. The waves were crashing and shimmered under the moonlight. It looked like it was out of a scene of a movie it was so perfect.
"Are we supposed to be here?" I laughed as he shut the car off. He smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. We won't get into trouble." He laughed and he got out and came around to my side to open the door for me. He held my small hand in his after we kicked off our shoes so we could bury our feet in the sand as we walked.
"This is so beautiful." I was amazed at the view.
"This worked out perfectly." He looked pleased and we only walked for a couple minutes before I saw people in the distance.
I squinted.
"Is that.....is that Jolly?"
Noah didn't answer me but I looked at him and saw a grin forming.
"What is this? What's going on?" I narrowed my eyes and started to mimic his smile.
"Come on." Noah snickered and I saw a huge blanket laid out with some pillows with a little picnic basket and Jolly was tuning his guitar smiling but not saying anything.
"A seat for me ladie," Noah had me sit on a pillow and chill out and he sat next to Jolly.
He took a sip of water and cleared his throat as he started to sing. Jolly started to lightly strum his guitar. It already sounded so beautifully melodic.
"I'm not afraid,
Of the war you've come to wage against my sins...
I'm not okay,
But I can try my best to just pretend..."
I instantly recognized the song. It was the song he wrote for me when we first started growing apart and Bad Omens was going away for months on tour.
I first heard it when Noah hand delivered the new album to me and I was the first to listen to it. It instantly brought tears to my eyes.
It was bittersweet.
It was also the song that skyrocketed them to fame over night. But everyone that sang along seemed not to know how deeply rooted it was in a place of pain.
It was beautiful.
No one had heard it acoustically other than me and it was so special.
Noah's enchanting voice cut through the air and I felt like he was singing to my soul.
"I can wait for you at the bottom,
I can stay away if you want me to,
I can wait for years if I gotta,
Heaven knows I ain't getting over you."
I listened to him taking everything in feeling overwhelmed with emotion.
They made it through the song flawlessly and, if it were possible, I felt like a complete puddle on the ground I melted so much.
As soon as they finished, I made my way over to Noah and tackled him into the sand.
He laughed falling back softly and pulling me to him.
"I think she liked it." Jolly smirked and I giggled and kissed Noah softly.
"Later guys." I heard Jolly whisper and trudge off with his guitar. Neither me or Noah broke the kiss or acknowledged him. We were just caught up in the moment.
I eventually pulled away to take a breath and Noah sat us up grinning from ear to ear.
"That was perfect Noah." I gushed.
"This is all so sweet of you."
"Well I'm glad you're having a good time babe." He sat next to me rubbing my knee and he reached over to the picnic basket. He opened it up showing he brought some chocolate covered strawberries.
"Dude...come on Noah okay you've seriously outdone yourself." I giggled thinking he put thought into absolutely everything.
He chuckled and fed me a strawberry then I fed him one. We both hummed at the deliciousness. Noah looked content everything was going so smoothly and I was having the time of my life. After we ate a couple strawberries, I laid back on the blanket looking up at the stars and Noah laid down next to me.
"So...do you think I've earned a second date?" We both stared at the sky but I could feel the smile in his voice.
"Ehhhh...I'll think about it." I said cheekily.
He laughed and I rolled over and laid my head on his chest and I felt him wrap his arms around me.
I don't know how long we stayed there for but I closed my eyes taking in everything around me. The salty scent of the breeze that pushed my hair away from my face...Noah's heart thumping against his warm chest beneath me...the sound of the waves crashing...I wanted to remember this forever.
In this moment, the way I felt, it reminded me why I still held onto him after all of this time.
I could have drifted off to sleep if it wasn't for Noah rubbing my arm softly. He almost spoke in a whisper.
"I don't want to, but I should probably get you home." He sighed and ran his fingers through my hair.
"Do we have to?" I whined playfully still staying in place and keeping my eyes closed.
"I mean no...we don't...but people might eventually call the cops." He teased.
I exhaled and mentally talked myself into sitting up and he followed after me. Before I went to get up I felt him grab me around the waist and pull me back.
He kissed me sweetly and I kissed him back wanting so much more but trying to talk myself out of giving into him so soon.
He helped me up and gathered the blanket and basket and we eventually made it back to the car.
The car ride back to my place was quiet and easy. We were both relaxed and still basking in what was left of the date. When we made it back he walked me to the door.
"I had a great time with you." He said gazing down into my eyes.
"Me too Noah. Thank you for everything." As I stood there I had an overwhelming urge to kiss him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he wrapped his arms around me protectively. He kissed me softly and sweetly, making me feel weightless.
When we pulled away he gave me a small smile but it was slightly saddened.
"Do you think you could ever love me again?" He asked quietly.
I took a breath and just looked at him for a moment.
"Why do you think I ever stopped?"
He looked at me then rested his forehead against mine.
"You're too good for this world." He confessed. He had told me this before a few times and I rubbed his chest comfortingly in response.
"Did you want to come in?" I asked a little nervously.
"I appreciate the offer but I've been super clingy tonight so I'll give you time to breathe." He teased but he was really trying to be respectful even though he very much wanted to come in.
"Tomorrow we're going to be heading down to the studio to work for a bit but can I call you after?" He hoped.
"Of course, Noah." I smiled happy he was taking things slower and giving me time. "Thanks again for tonight, really."
"Anything for you." He said seriously and he kissed me sweetly a few more times before watching me walk into my apartment. He smiled to himself and I watched him eventually pull off.
My head was going a thousand miles a minute trying to process everything that happened tonight. We talked about a lot of uncomfortable things but it had to be done and the way he was handling himself shows that he's been putting in the work on his end.
It was time for me to reflect on what I needed to do in order to make this work as well.
As soon as I got in the door, I put my beautiful sunflowers and roses in some water in a vase, and sat them in the counter top next to the black roses.
I got ready for bed and when I laid down I got a text from Noah. I opened it up to see him also laying down, shirtless, and I could tell he was in his bed.
"Ooooh. I hope to see you in my dreams tonight." I responded with a wink emoji. Even though I was looking right at him, I still wondered how it was possible for someone to naturally be this attractive.
"Me too beautiful. Sweet dreams my love."
I melted reading the text and sent a kiss emoji and I rolled over and tried to rest my eyes. The butterflies still fluttering in my stomach kept me up for a while, replaying the perfect night we had in my head.
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*Honest question to the readers...what do you prefer in a fan fiction? Do we like the toxic, not-so-pretty behavior? Do we like soft Noah? Is it a toss up? We like a little bit of both?
I guess I just miss the drama but also don't want to bore anyone! Maybe I care too much 😅Thanks for reading yall!*