Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-One
What Happened Last Night?
I woke up when I was being shaken. My eyes slowly fluttered open, confused for a moment when I saw Noah standing in front of me.
Noah was shirtless and in his black jeans from the previous night. His eyes squinted, a look of confusion and discomfort on his face as he probably had a brutal headache. "Tiffany? What are you doing here? And on the couch? What happened last night?"
I sat up, the blanket falling in my lap. Noah sat down on the recliner in his room across from the one I was sitting on. After he had passed out I got out of his bed and took the recliner because I knew I wouldn't be sleeping much since I didn't have my pills.
"You came back wasted out of your mind." I told him although he already knew that part. "You didn't let me leave... asked me to stay the night?" My statement came out as a question, looking at him in inquiry as I wondered whether he remember a thing or not.
Noah shook his head, answering my question. He ran a hand through his messy hair, still hazy and a little confused. I could tell he was tired just by looking at him, "You could've slept in the bed, sunshine." He sighed, almost like he felt bad.
I shrugged, "Not a big deal. I got up after you passed out and wouldn't have slept much either way."
Noah was confused for only a second until realization dawned upon him, "Fuck, right. I forgot about the... sleeping pills. You're still on them?" His eyes narrowed down on me, skeptically.
I shrugged, "Kind of. Still not used to the mattress, you know. Anyways," I cleared my throat, ready for the subject to change. "What ar-"
"Why'd you stay?" Noah cut me off, his confusion getting the best of him as he spoke up with more questions. "I mean, you stayed after I had already passed out?"
I sighed as I looked at him with an expressionless look, "You were plastered and I was afraid you might throw up in your sleep. I wasn't sure if you threw up before you had gotten home and didn't want to take any chances either way."
Noah blinked, "You... Tiffany, you... wow." Noah eyebrows raised in surprise as he shut up, not finding the right words. "Well, thank you... for worrying, you know. And for staying, Tiff." He shot me a soft smile but I could tell it was difficult for him to do because he was hungover and in pain from his headache.
I pulled the blanket off me and let it drape over the arm of the chair, "Not a big deal, Ace. We have to head to school and I need to go home to change before that. Also," I paused, scrunching my noes at Noah. "The alcohol is seeping right out of your pores, Ace. Take a shower and let's go. I don't trust you driving when you look that lifeless."
Noah chuckled softly, "I do need a shower but have you seen the time, Tiff?" I gave him a questioning look, not sure what he meant. "We're already halfway through second period. We may as well ditch the rest of the day."
I nodded slowly as I stood up, "Right, well in that case I can head home so I'll see you later."
"Wait," Noah grabbed my wrist just as I had turned around.
"What now?" I sighed, turning to look down at him since he was still sitting.
Noah's features were soft, "are you mad at me?"
"Why would I be?" I looked at him flatly.
Noah gave me a sheepish look. His hand let go of my wrist and he rubbed the back of his neck, "Because you had to take care of my very drunk ass. I'm sorry, Tiff. You shouldn't have to babysit me to the extent that you literally stayed the night to make sure I was okay."
I sighed as I took a seat on the other recliner once again, "I'm not... well, yes Noah, actually I am mad at you. You're an idiot. I'm not saying don't party but that much alcohol? Are you stupid? I mean what the fuck were you thinking? I'm not trying to mom you or anything but you actually scared me when you walked through your front door- that's how fucking wasted you were. I mean, God forbid something actually happened to you. You could've seriously gotten hurt."
Noah was looking at me with a small grin and eyes lit with amusement. I didn't even realize I had gone off on a mini-rant, getting angry with him.
"Sorry," I grumbled, looking away from him. "I just meant that you could've gotten hurt."
Noah exhaled a laugh, reaching over to lift my chin so I was looking at him, "You can admit that you were worried about me, Tiff."
I scoffed as I swatted his hand away, "I'm not a fan of alcohol and drugs, Ace, you already know that. Don't get full of yourself."
Noah leaned back in his seat, amusement all over his face, "I'm going to chose to be flattered. You were worried about me."
"And that's a good thing?" I quirked an eyebrow, narrowing my eyes as I looked at him dully. "Having a reason to be on edge is a good thing?"
Noah shrugged lightly, the amused grin not leaving. "When you put it that way I sound inconsiderate."
"What's inconsiderate," I stated, standing up again. "Is the deadly smell coming from your body. Go shower, I'm going home." I turned to leave.
"Stay," Noah stood up and grabbed my wrist, stopping me from leaving. I turned to look at him, giving him a tired look. "Come on, sunshine. We're dipping school so why not make the best of the day? I'm going to take a shower; you can help yourself to take whatever you want from my closet and can take a shower in the guest room, if you want. That way we won't have to get you home. Then we'll go grab some breakfast. What do you say?"
I gave him a long look, "Why?"
Noah quirked an eyebrow, "Don't make it difficult, sunshine. Not when it doesn't have to be."
He had a point. I shrugged, "Fine."
A smile broke out on Noah's face, "Good."
"Good." I nodded.
"Fine," He smirked.
"Fine." I repeated.
"Good," He quirked an eyebrow challengingly.
"Okay! Go shower, you mess." I shoved him towards the bathroom.
Noah laughed as he started to walk away, "Hot mess, sunshine. What you meant was hot mess." I rolled my eyes as Noah chuckled and walked into his bathroom.
I helped myself to take a shower in the guest room bathroom. I figured I wasn't getting home anytime soon so I may as well. It may seem weird but it really wasn't since i had already showered at his place before.
I wasn't one who made big deals out of minor things like this. Joy and Jade on the other hand would freak out since I spent the night and now was showering here. It wasn't that deep.
After that, I changed into my jeans from yesterday and one of Noah's sweatshirts that I took from his room.
I went downstairs to the kitchen to find Noah sitting at the island, busy on his phone. The house was empty since everyone was at school, Adriel left for college and his parents were at work.
I cleared my throat which caused Noah to turn around and look at me with an eyebrow quirked. "Have to say, you do look good in my clothes." His eyes lit up with amusement.
Ignoring his comment, I rolled my eyes as I walked over to him, "so, what are we doing?"
"You're not going to fight with me to get out of hanging out with me?" He teased, his voice light and amused.
I gave him a flat look, "No."
"That's it?" He seemed geuinely a little surprised.
I shrugged in response.
"Okay," Noah shrugged as he stood up. "I'll take it. Now, let's go."
"Where are you taking me?" I asked skeptically as I followed him out of his house.
He swung his car keys around his index finger get, "You'll see, sunshine. Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise."
"I don't trust you." I mumbled.
Noah looked at me over his shoulder, eyebrows raised. "I'm not sure I believe that."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Ace." I grumbled as I got into the car. I was in a weird mood, not too peachy because I was exhausted and could use some sleep.
Sometimes even with the sleeping pills, I wouldn't get a lot of sleep but still a few solid hours. Without them however, it was a restless night just like last night. The tiredness in my body along with being hungry since all I had was ice cream the previous night, was resulting in me being more dull than usual.
I could tell Noah noticed my emotionless exterior put up but he didn't say anything. He was very amused and perky, a little weird because he was hungover. I didn't see how he could be in a good mood when he was hungover because I knew what killer hangovers were like. I didn't question it because he always seemed amused when he looked at me anyways.
The car ride was quiet and eventually we reached a diner.
"Could've told me we were coming here," I muttered as I looked at him and then to the diner.
"Wait here." Noah said, shooting me a quick smile.
"Wh-" Noah didn't let me say a word before he was already out of the car. I sighed as I leaned back in the seat and waited for him.
He returned a few minutes later with bags in his hand.
"Could we not just have gone in and ate?" I looked at him weird, wondering what he was doing and thinking. I was confused.
"Patience is key, sunshine." He grinned as he started driving once again.
A short drive later we arrived at... a forest? We were parked in front of a forest.
"What are we doing here, Ace? Not going to feed me and kill you, are you? Or wait, are you going to kill me and then eat?"
Noah chuckled, "Just come with me, Tiffany." He said as he grabbed the bag of food and got out of the car.
I reluctantly followed him. Noah grabbed my hand as he led me through the forest until we got to an opening where a lake and dock laid.
My eyes widened as I looked at the view in front of us.
"See," Noah grinned. "Not that bad, huh?"
"Not that bad." I agreed, nodding. Noah continued to lead me onto the dock where we both sat down. A view of trees lined across the lake sat in front of our vision as we sat on the edge of the dock. Noah had the food and drinks he had gotten from the diner to-go.
"How'd you find this place?" I asked after a while
"How'd you find this place?" I asked after a while. We sat in silence, the empty garbage from our food placed aside as we sat comfortably listening to nothing but the sounds of bugs and birds and the water lightly swaying.
Noah looked at me, his expression soft, "I needed a place to... to think and just... have to..." Noah paused as he looked for the right words.
"To get away to?" I offer, looking at him. "To get away from everyone and just let yourself be with your thoughts without the worry of someone... finding you and getting in your bubble with questions and concerns?"
Noah chuckled lightly, "Yes. That's exactly what I'm trying to say, actually. I was driving around trying to clear my head when I found this place and it did just what I needed."
I briefly wondered what it was that Noah was getting away from. Maybe it was his father or... I didn't know but I didn't ask him because it wasn't any of my business.
"I had a place like this in Saratoga," I told him, looking out at the water. I could feel his gaze on me, intently like he was interested but also surprised I was telling him anything. "It was this... rooftop garden on top of a tall, old building. Nobody tended to the garden so when I first found it it was just a giant mess with dead plants everywhere. I ended up spending a lot of time there so the garden came back. It was... nice. It felt zen and calm and like the plants would listen to me talk which," I chuckled, shaking my head. "It sounds so stupid but it was nice because I didn't want to talk to anyone else."
"It's not stupid," I looked at Noah who had a small smile on his face. "It is nice. That's just the kind of thing you need sometimes."
"You ever brought Luke out here?" I asked, tilting my head. It seemed like he would since they were closer than ever. I didn't think Noah had anyone he trusted more than Luke.
Noah shook his head softly, "No. Luke worries a lot, about me and everyone else too. But sometimes I just..."
"Didn't want to hear the worry?" I offered, once again finishing his thoughts.
Noah looked at me sheepishly, "It sounds like I'm an inconsiderate bastard for trying to get away from someone who's looking out for me."
"It's not," I shrugged. "I get it. I mean, you'll always appreciate that he's looking out for you but sometimes when someone else wants you to talk about how you're feeling - they might not understand that you don't want to talk or think about it."
Noah nodded slowly, "Seems like we have a lot more in common than we'd think, sunshine." He had a small grin twitching his lips upwards.
I rolled my eyes, grinning as I looked away from him and back to the lake, "I disagree but whatever floats your boat, Ace."
"Why can't you admit we have things in common?" Noah narrowed his eyes as he tried to understand me but still had a look of amusement on his face, like he was finding it interesting that I was denying us having similarities.
"Trust me when I tell you I'm not someone you want to have things in common with." I respond softly, a small but sad looking smile resting on my face as I watched the water waver.
Noah continued looking at me in thought but didn't say anything to my comment which was surprising.
I had to admit, the day ending up being not so bad.