Chapter 32

Chapter Twenty-Nine
A Little Hasty
I stirred awake the next morning, shifting in the bed as my brain regained conciousness.
I blinked a few times until I got into my senses. I looked up to see Noah who must've felt me move because a few seconds later his eyes fluttered open.
"Good morning, sunshine." He mumbled, a smile on his face. His voice was hoarse and groggy from sleep.
I exhaled through my noes as I rested my head back down on his chest, not wanting the warmth and comfort to go away just yet. "Morning."
Noah reached over to grab his phone from the bedside table. I couldn't see what he was doing since my head remained rested on his chest, my arm draped across his torso, but I could tell he was scrolling with his free arm since the other other was still wrapped around me.
I shut my eyes, still sleepy.
Noah exhaled deeply, continuing to do whatever on his phone, "Charlie, Luke, and Ezra headed back to your place this morning since we were still sleeping. Said we should meet them there."
"Mmm," a grumbled sound came from the back of my throat as I didn't want to wake up fully just yet. I was too comfortable and at ease the way I was right now. That was something new because the soreness and pain from the bruises on my body had me feeling pretty drained out the past week. "What time is it?"
Noah chuckled, his body rumbling lightly under me. "Two pm. Looks like we really slept in."
"It's still early," I grumbled softly, my eyes still shut.
Noah exhaled softly, placing his phone back down on the side table. He then snuggled closer to me, wrapping his strong and protective arms around me.
Noah and I lied there like that for another then minutes before Noah's voice spoke softly, "Sunshine, we should probably get going soon. Pretty sure everyone is waiting on us."
I slowly blinked, opening my eyes and adjusting to the sunlight that soaked the room. I sat up and looked over my shoulder at Noah who grinned softly, his eyes lit with amusement as he looked at me. "You-" I narrowed my eyes at him, "are stealing the precious beauty of sleep from a girl who is more than deserving of that reward."
"Ten hours of sleep is more than enough, sunshine." He replied, quirking an eyebrow. "And you will be rewarded with that precious beauty once again at the end of this day."
I gave him a flat look which caused him to chuckle. He sat up and ruffled my hair as he got out of bed, "You can sleep over again, whenever you want. No biggie."
I swatted his hand away, "Sleep has nothing to do with you. Sleep and I have our own little bond."
Noah laughed as he grabbed a sweatshirt that was laying on one of the recliners and put it on, "You're weirder than usual when you're sleepy. It's cute."
I rolled my eyes and chucked a pillow at him but due to his fast reflexes, he turned and caught it. "What are we even doing?"
"Well, the group is at your place so as soon as we get ready and grab some breakfast we can head over," Noah said as he walked over and dropped the pillow back on the bed, his eyebrows raised in amusement as he grinned at me.
I groaned, "I want to sleep more." I stuck out my bottom lip in a pout. I guess I was weirder when I was sleepy.
Noah's grin turned into a smile as he shook his head at me. "You wanna take a shower?"
My eyes widened, "Woah, Ace. We had a sleepover, not sex. That's a little hasty, don't you think."
Noah looked confused for a slight moment before it clicked in his head. He picked up the pillow and threw it right at my face, chuckling, "No! I mean, if that's what you want I wouldn't mind sharing water but what I meant was do you want to shower here before we head over or just go home and change there? I just meant... you still got some dried up blood on your hoodie. Plus, yesterday was a day you might want to wash away."
I narrowed my eyes in a joking manner before I shook my head at him and started laughing, "Okay. I mean, no thank you. I appreciate the offer and am flattered you see this friendship that way but I think I'll shower alone?"
"Is that so?" Noah grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes twinkled with amusement. "Did I just get friendzoned?"
I shrugged nonchalantly, "You were always being friend-zoned. Anyways, you're right. I'll steal another sweatshirt from you because if they notice the dried blood - which they will, they'll start talking about yesterday."
"And you think they won't talk about it if you're changed into different clothes?" He inquired.
"They probably will, Ace. But hopefully they'll forget about it for a while longer." I responded as I reached over to grab my phone. I had a few unread texts from almost everyone in the group.
When Noah didn't respond, I glanced away and looked at him to see his expression had changed to a more serious one. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, you know that right?"
I gave him a flat look, "This is Herbrooke business we're talking about. And you already know Charlie and Luke - they're going to bring it up either way."
"Yes but... I mean we don't have to talk about what happened." Noah said softly, his features softening and the slightest look of concern spreading like a sheet over his face.
"I know," I mumbled quietly, looking away for a brief moment before turning to look at him again. "Hey, can I ask a favour?"
"Anything, sunshine."
I let out a single, dry cough, awkwardly hoping it would stall me for a second. It didn't do much. "We already know we're going to have to talk about yesterday. And we both know they're going to want a way to get back at the Herbrooke guys so could you maybe...uh..."
When I struggled to word my request, Noah nodded his head and spoke for me, finishing my thought, "You want me to tell them we aren't getting back at the Herbrookes?"
"Yeah," I mumbled. "I will too but they're more likely to agree if you're on board."
"You think I'll be able to change their mind?" Noah asked, a little confused.
"No... but if I'm not the only one who thinks no revenge is a good idea, it'll be easier for them to understand and agree that not getting back at the Herbrooke guys is a safer bet for all of us."
Noah nodded slowly, "Of course. Because I do think you're right. If we continue this rivalry and going back and forth with revenge, more of us will get hurt and I don't want that happening to you again."
I gave Noah a small, thankful smile. "Thank you."
Noah shook his head as he returned a smile, "Nothing to thank me for. Anyways, meet me downstairs, I'll make breakfast while you shower."
"We could just grab some from Dunkin' Donuts," I called out as he had turned and started to leave his room. "You don't have to cook."
In response, Noah looked over his shoulder and sent me a breathtaking smile before leaving. That was his way of letting me know that he was still going to go cook us some breakfast.
After taking a quick shower and changing into my jeans and one of Noah's hoodies, I went downstairs, the smell of heavenly food greeting me right away.
I walked into the kitchen to see Noah placing two plates down on the table.
"Trust me when I tell you this beauty of Noah's finest cooking is much better than sleep," Noah said with a grin as he noticed.
I grinned as I sat down, Noah also taking a seat. "Confident, are we?"
"Yes, actually." Noah responded, a grin playing on his lips.
I shrugged and dug into the very fluffy and perfect stack of pancakes on my face. Noah just watched me, waiting for my reaction.
My eyes widened as I slowly nodded my head, "I thought you were joking."
"Nope," he grinned, popping the 'p'. "I'm a good cook."
I rolled my eyes at his cockiness but didn't say anything about it because he was right. "Always an empty house?" I asked instead.
"No," Noah chuckled. "Loud, actually. My brothers are pretty boisterous, always running around and yelling like idiots."
"So where are they now?" I asked casually, chewing the food in my mouth before speaking.
"Mum took Colton to swimming lessons and Cade's probably out with friends or something." Noah told me.
"Dad's at work and Adriel on campus." I finished for him, raising my eyebrows in a questioning way as if to ask if I were correct on my assumption.
"Yeah. Dad's always at work and Adriel comes back often but if he isn't here then he's at his own place." Noah told me firmly, not bothered that I brought up his dad.
I nodded, "My mom was always at work too."
"And being it only you and her I'm guessing your house was pretty empty." He said, an inquiring tone to his voice.
I shrugged, "Pretty much but I was always with my friends, out doing something anyways."
"What'd you guys do?" Noah asked as he stuffed his face with pancakes. He quickly chewed so he could speak again before I answered. "I doubt you guys went bowling or to cafe's to sit around and pass time." He was referring to what the group did when they hung out since I guess it was quite obvious that my past free time wouldn't be spent like that. He was right.
"We... just hung out, you know." I mumbled flatly, not getting into it or properly answering his question but that was all he was going to get.
"That's specific." Noah chuckled but luckily then changed the subject. "I think I might start buying more hoodies since I seem to be loosing all of them to you."
"Hey!" I exclaimed, looking at him with wide eyes, feigning a look of offence. "First of all, you offer. Second of all, I look cuter in them and also, I only have two including the one I am wearing."
"Three actually," he corrected, smirking. "The one from after your mop water and red pain incident." I rolled my eyes when he said that which only caused his smirk to grow in amusement. "Then the one from when you stayed the night when I came home wasted and then the one you're wearing now, so three. But I agree, you look cuter in them so it's okay."
I scoffed but ignored his last comment, not wanting to pay attention to it. "I'll grab the others when we head back to my place."
"Nah," he shook his head softly. "It's fine. You can keep 'em."
"Bu-"
"Really, sunshine. It's okay." Noah cut me off, smiling softly. I simply nodded my head in response.
After that we were basically done breakfast and spent little time putting away our dishes and cleaning up the kitchen before Noah grabbed his car keys and asked me if I'm ready to head out.
"Do we really have to go back to my place?" I grumbled as I lowered in the car seat, making myself smaller.
Noah looked at me with an amused grin, "You don't want to? Everyone is already there."
"I know," I mumbled quietly. "I just wouldn't mind an extra hour not having to talk about yesterday."
"Tiffany, I already told you we-"
"Don't have to talk about it," I cut him off and finished his statement. "I know but it's an inevitable conversation. It's no big deal, I've just been dealing with a look of guilty and sympathetic looks lately."
Noah nodded slowly as he understood what I meant. "Okay," he finally said when he spoke. I looked at him in question. "Let's take a small detour."
"To... where, exactly?" I sat up straighter in the seat, a little eager.
Noah shrugged, "Mini road trip."
I didn't object or question him.
20 minutes later and we were indeed on a road trip - more of a simple car ride on some old and empty country roads to stall time.
Noah had stopped at a gas station and ran in to grab some bags of m&m's, skittles, and other candies that we munched on as he drove, the radio playing random pop songs.
"What's your favourite movie?" I asked as I popped a skittle in my mouth, looking at Noah with my held tilted. We talked about super random things, no particular conversation going to deep.
"Fast and furious." He replied.
I snorted, "Why? That's a generic response."
Noah looked at me with his eyes wide, a look of disbelief but only for a moment before he looked back at the road, "It's a popular answer because all the movies are amazing. They have the best soundtracks, all the actors are amazing, the action never fails to impress, the stunts, there's a fair share of romance and family love, and on top of all of that, they're also funny."
I rolled my eyes, grinning, "Christ, didn't expect you to be that enthusiastic."
"Whatever," he grumbled. "Then what's your favourite?"
I shrugged lightly, "Ocean's Eleven."
"Hmm," he mumbled, taking a handful of smarties. "Why? I mean it is a good movie, I've seen it, but why?"
I shrugged again as I looked out the window at the hills and fields of open land and trees passing by, "First of all, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts in the same movie." I quirked an eyebrow as I looked at Noah who was grinning in amusement. "That cast itself says enough. All the characters have a past which is cool, the way they pull the heist off is also cool, and the whole thing in general wasn't over-written."
Noah nodded slowly, "I'll give you that one. What about music? Who do you listen to?"
I scrunched my noes, "Would it be weird if I didn't listen to a lot of music? I mean I do but it's usually whatever Charlie or Ezra have downloaded."
"You don't have a favourite artist?" Noah asked, a little confused and surprised by my answer.
I shrugged softly, "Not really. The most I really listen to is the Billboard top 100."
"Huh, for some reason I actually don't know anyone who isn't a music fan," Noah mumbled in thought, glancing at me for a moment.
"So then who would be your favourite artist?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him as I thought about whether he could be more into pop or rap.
"If I say Drake it'll be too generic." He chuckled which caused me to roll my eyes. "Anything hip hop slash rap, I guess. Drake, Migos, NAV, Kendrick... etcetera."
I nodded, "Okay."
"Okay?" His eyebrows pulled together in confusion.
"Okay," I repeated. "I'm not... very insightful on music and singers so I don't have any input."
Noah shrugged, "Makes sense."
After a few minutes, Noah spoke again, "Say, should we head to yours soon, sunshine?"
I refrained from rolling my eyes, "I suppose. Can't keep driving around, can we?"
Noah shrugged in response, eyes narrowing in thought, "We could. It is a road trip, after all."
"A very short and heading nowhere, road trip." I corrected. "But we've already wasted half the day. It's up to you."
Noah nodded, taking my response as a well-enough answer to his question. "I guess we'll have to continue this road trip some other time. To your place it is."