C H A P T E R 3
d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n s p a r k s
I know I am an idiot. Hell, I am a fool, even. Sadly it is too late for me to come to my senses, because the job is already done. My hands uncurl from around Emily's forearms, feet move back a few stumbling steps, and eyes snap open; if it were humanly possible, they would have fallen out all ready, I am for certain. There is a subtle tingling sensation to my parted lips, wide open for the sake of reasoning.
Reasoning as to why I just assaulted my best friend with a kiss, even if it did not top two seconds time.
My eyes, filled with dread and hesitation, shift over to where I left Emily. I expect to meet a pair of furious eyes, but instead I meet confused ones. Her mouth is shut tight, giving her a narrow expression, hands near frozen by her sides, and her brows are scrunched together, all of which should scream anger with me.
I know Emily, though. I can tell by the look in her eyes that she is puzzled over something.
"I, um," I start. "Uh."
Emily simply shakes her head. Those warm eyes I know so well avert away from me as she begins to turn around. As much as I want to reach out and stop her, express how deeply I feel for her, I do not. I subject myself to watch as she makes her way deeper and deeper into the hallway, disappearing around a corner. She leaves the camera sitting in it's stand, and thick aura behind.
A hand of mine wipes at my face, curse words left and right slipping off my tongue. God knows how much I have messed up by a simple kiss. Emily and I's friendship might be over. We all ready were drifting apart, but this might of been that final tear to break us apart.
"Excuse me."
Oh, no, what if she never speaks to me again? What will happen to the Youtube channel, our aspirations together as a duo, and Tuesday evening drive in movies?
"Excuse me."
The mere thought of loosing her is too much to handle. I need to calm down, stop pacing around in place, and get myself together and search after her. If it is all over, I want it over officialy, not it a way such as this.
"Excuse me!"
I nearly jump at the voice. It is then that I realize this girl I pulled inside witnessed everything. She had a front row ticket to the crash and burning of a friendship.
Clearing my throat, I straighten up a bit. "Oh, um, sorry. . ."
"There is nothing for you to apologize for. I was just wanting to see if you are okay?" Her eyes manage to hold my hesitant gaze.
I really am not okay. "I am fine."
She shakes her head, a few red wisps falling over her forehead. "Nonsense. Now, you helped me, and now I will help you. Come on, I'll treat you to some lunch." The pep in her voice and step took me aback. She securely wraps herself in my winter coat, going as far as buttoning it all up too, before looking at me for agreement. It seems I did not necessarily have a say so in this, so I nod.
"Good. I saw a Waffle House across the street from here, and that actually was where I was going earlier before you saved me from freezing half to death," she admits with a sheepish smile. "I am Chloe, by the way."
Chloe extends her hand, awaiting for a countering shake from myself. I blink, all too many feelings worked up in me about the whole Emily situation. Once I keep my compsure, I grin softly.
"Noah." I take her hand, shaking it firmly. "Its nice to meet you, under these, er, circumstances."
She chuckles softly. "Yeah, under the circumstances." Chloe then points over to the camera equipment questionably.
I sigh. "That is a long story."
"A story we can talk about over coffee and waffles?" she asks with a smile.
Somewhere in this building, Emily is walking around angry, distraught, sad, I am not even sure myself of how she feels. Her dad thankfully works as a professor here, so at least she will not be alone.
If she will not be alone, then obviously I should not be alone, either.
I look at Chloe, giving her an honest to God smile. "Yeah, sure. Why not?"
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"Wow, so you really did it? Sat on people's laps?" Chloe's laughter fills the entire Waffle House. "That is so crazy. If someone did that to me, I am not sure what I would do."
I shake my head, trying my best to calm my laughter. It really was starting to burn my abdomen. "That was how most people were! They sort of just stared at me, moved awkwardly, and were overall confused."
Chloe looks on the verge of tears. When I think her laughing could not get anymore infectious and adorable, she hiccups. At first I am hesitant to believe that she actually hiccuped while laughing, but when I hear it for a second, third, and fourth time, I could not hold it in any longer. My laughing becomes even heavier, directed towards her.
"Are you hiccuping?" I ask in between fits of laughter.
She smiles wide, shaking her head over dramatically. I would have believed her, but she only hiccups again. I turn away from her, not able to stand laughing anymore, meeting the eyes of our waitress behind the counter. Also the two cooks and a few customers.
My laughing dies down to chuckling. "Sorry about her. She is a little strange, don't ya think? I mean who hiccups while laughing?"
Hiccup. "Lot's of people do!" Hiccup.
A few of the eyes stare at us like we are some unearthly creatures. I do not blame them, though. If it were closer to evening, they probably would assume we are wasted beyond belief.
Although we have not been drinking or smoking anything, I will admit that I feel a bit high with Chloe.
One of the customers, an older lady, smiles towards me. She looks pleased, happy over something. "You two remind me of my husband and I when we were young. God rest his soul."
The smile on my face falters briefly. She thought Chloe and I were a couple?
My eyes venture towards Chloe, who was already looking my way.
Why do I feel like that wouldn't be such a bad thing?
"Hey, do you want to get out of here?" I ask spontaneously.
Chloe is now the one taken aback. "To where?"
I shrug, unknowing of that answer myself still. "I don't know, just somewhere."
The pressed expression to herself does not match my adventurous one. "What about Emily?"
My smile drops, confused as to why she asked about Emily.
I shake my head, shrugging once-more. "What about Emily? She has her dad back at the campus."
Chloe does not look very convinced. Just moments ago she was laughing and chatting away with me. I learned she was a hardcore vegetarian in a family full of hunters, and that she loved the sound of the ocean on her phone, even though she has never heard one for herself in person. I learned a lot about her more than I know about Emily in three hours.
"Look, Noah, I am just trying to help you feel better, not be a rebound. Now, if you'd excuse me, I will am going to the ladies room." She stands up, pressing my winter coat to hang over her chair.
I watch as she gets up, walking away and towards the direction of the bathrooms.
Was I seeing her as a rebound? No way! She was a really cool girl, helping me feel better over the whole Emily situation. She even gave me advice right when we sat down here. She made sure to tell me that there are differences between sparks for people. One person might feel enormously confused, like Emily, flustered like me, or entirely different. It is all up to the individual, and it is spontaneous.
So, what I felt while kissing Emily, was that a spark? The little tingles left on my lips after I thrashed away, was that spark or just guilt from my action?
Sighing, I get up and rummage through my wallet. I make sure to pay the bill, even Chloe's tab. A shiny, advertisement card for my online video game store makes it's way into the pocket of my jacket, too.
I make sure to tell the waiter to watch the coat carefully. Not only because it has my contacts and is expensive, but because Chloe needs it. She might of not agreed to keeping it long term, but she can have it. It looks better on her, anyways.
Right now I just need to go home and level my head out.
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Unknown Number: You left me the jacket, how romantic of you, Noah. And a secret note? Even more so. ;)
I prompt my head up with my elbows, staring down at my phone from the sweet comfort of bed. After I left Waffle House yesterday, Chloe sent me this text shortly after I was well down the street. I have not answered her yet, but that does not mean I do not want to talk to her. I would love to talk to her, actually. She understood the feeling of falling for someone close, since her ex boyfriend, and ex best friend now, blew her off two weeks ago.
That just shows how terrible a relationship can go sour-- even if there was ten years of history behind them.
Finally gathering enough nerve, I press my thumbs to the screen.
Noah: Yeah, sorry about leaving so abruptly. Maybe we could do that again sometime. (and no, this isn't me asking you out)
I instantly go back to her number and convert her I.D. to Chloe. To my shock, Chloe has all ready replied by the time I head back to our messages.
Chloe: Are you sure? It sort of sounds like you are.
Noah: I am not! I just need advice on how to work things with Emily...
There is a long while of 'Chloe is writing' on my screen, only for a short message to be sent out five minutes later.
Chloe: Oh, okay. In that case, then sure. I am free tomorrow afternoon. Time for an intervention.
I chuckle.
Noah: An intervention? Why would you call it that?
Chloe: Because we are going to make you get over Emily, and see that friendships are lasting, and relationships are expendable.
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A/N: WHO IS HAPPY I FINALLY UPDATED AFTER SO LONG?? I apologize for that, too. I got really busy with school and other stories, that I completely abandoned this one! Hopefully that will not happen again, because I love these characters and story line. Anyways, WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? The best comment expressing their thoughts gets the dedication for the next chapter!
The dedication this chapter goes to Lizziehart2 for all of the comments! They are so appreciated, and I love you for it <3
NOAH TO THE SIDE BEING THE BABE HE IS <3333