Over the next couple months, Ashley and Mark started dating and they were getting really close. He got along great with Josh and Ali loved him too. Noel and Ashley didnt hangout anymore and their interaction was limited to brief hellos when he would pick up Josh to take him somewhere. Things were going really good and Ashley was happy. At least she tried to tell herself she was, but she missed Noel and thought of him everytime she looked at her ring, which rested on her finger everyday. Mark didn't really understand Ashley and Noel's relationship. Ashley did not tell him that they had had sex just that they were friends and he was a kind of mentor for Josh. Mark sensed there was something more there, but didn't ask Ashley about it. A few days before Josh's 15th birthday, Mark, Ashley and Josh were sitting at the table eating dinner.
"So what did you want to do for your birthday?" Ashley asked Josh.
"I don't know. Just stay home I guess."
"Well you can pick dinner and I can make a cake "
"Ok. Can I ask Noel to come?"
"Oh." She looked at him and wasn't sure what to say. Mark and Josh both looked at her.
"I guess, yeah." She shrugged.
"Yes!" Josh said quietly.
"So I finally get to meet this Noel."
"He's so cool." Josh looked at Mark.
Ashley quickly changed the subject.
"So Mark was saying they are opening an arcade downtown with all kinds of video games. Maybe you guys could go sometime."
"Yeah that'd be cool." Josh said.
After dinner, Josh called Noel.
"Ello"
"Hey, can you come over for dinner for my birthday on Saturday?"
"I dunno. I uh." He tried to think up an excuse, but couldn't.
"Please. You haven't come over in awhile."
"Is it ok with your mom?"
"Yeah, she said it was fine."
"Ok, yeah I can come."
"Great. See you Saturday."
"Ok"
"Bye."
"Bye."
Josh's birthday came and Ashley made him a big breakfast then took him out to lunch. Mark came over later and helped Ashley start dinner. Noel arrived a little while later and Josh answered the door.
"Hey"
"Ello" Noel gave him a small smile and pat on the shoulder.
He followed Josh into the kitchen. Mark and Ashley were standing by the oven. They looked up when they heard them come into the kitchen. Ashley smiled.
"Just in time!"
Mark walked over to Noel and stuck his hand out.
"So you're the famous Noel, I keep hearing about."
"Ello, nice to meet you."
Noel shook his hand.
"Sit, its ready!" Ashley looked at Noel.
He sat next to Josh and Mark and Ashley brought the food to the table. They sat across from Noel and Josh.
"I'm glad you could join us Noel" Ashley gave him a small smile.
"Yeah, thanks for 'aving me."
"So Ashley tells me you're a musician?"
"Yeah. I hear you play guitar?"
"Yeah, just for fun really. I have a beautiful acoustic Gibson, that belonged to my grandpa."
"Oh, right?"
"What do you play?"
"I usually play Gibson, but lately I've been getting right into Fenders."
"Oh Fenders are great."
"Noel has like 20 guitars, you should check them out sometime." Josh said.
"I'd like that." Mark replied.
They ate and Noel was kinda quiet, Ashley thought. Ashley got up to get the cake out and Mark got up to help her.
Noel looked at Josh and said quietly, "You think you're mom's really happy with 'im?"
"Yeah, she's happier than I've seen her in a long time."
Noel watched them getting the cake ready and decided she did look pretty happy. He decided to give Mark a chance. They sang happy birthday to Josh then ate some cake then Mark got up to do the dishes. Josh went to help him and Noel and Ashley sat at the table in silence. Finally, Noel spoke.
"He seems like a nice guy."
"He really is" she smiled.
"You know I'm still 'ere right? If you or Josh ever need anything."
"I know, thank you" she looked at him and he looked back.
"I'd love it if you came around more, you're always welcome here."
"Maybe I will."
He gave her a small smile then she saw him look at the ring on her finger then look away. She looked down at her ring and felt a little guilty. Maybe she shouldn't wear it anymore. Mark and Josh returned to the table and they all talked for a little while. Noel watched Mark reach over and put his hand on Ashley's and he was happy that she was happy, but at the same time he felt a sting of jealously. He looked away and cleared his throat.
"Thanks for dinner, I should get going."
He stood up and Mark did too.
"It was very nice meeting you Noel."
"You too."
Ashley smiled at him and Noel looked away. Josh followed Noel to the front door. "Are we still going to see the new Star wars on Thursday?" He asked Noel.
"Yeah." He lowered his voice. "Hey, if he does anything to you or your mom to hurt you, you fuckin' tell me ok?"
"Ok. Hes a good guy though, really. At first I thought he was a lame, but he's not too bad. He's kinda cool actually."
"Ok. See you Thursday."
"Ok, bye"
Noel left and went home. He played his guitar for a little bit then went to sleep.
Thursday, he knocked on the door to pick up Josh. Ashley answered.
"Hi, Josh will be down in a minute."
Noel stepped inside and looked around.
"No Mark?" He looked at her.
"He's out of town on business"
"Ah, ok"
"He liked you."
"Does he know I've fucked you?"
She glared at him and he stared back.
"Stop."
"Sorry." he sighed. "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks, that means alot" she smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear. He noticed she wasn't wearing the ring he had given her. He was about to ask her why, but Josh came into the room.
"Ready?" Noel asked.
"Yeah, bye mom"
"Bye honey, have fun"
They watched the movie then ran into Josh's friend Sam as they were leaving. He invited Josh to spend the night so he called his mom to see if it would be ok. She said it was fine so he went with Sam and his mom to their house and Noel walked back to his car. He was about to leave when he got a text from Ashley.
"Do you want to come hangout for a little bit?"
He told himself he probably should decline, but he wrote "sure, be there in 20 minutes." And pushed send.
*Song inspiration