I draped my arm over Noah's shoulder, feeling the subtle tremble in his frame as he idly prodded at the tray of unappealing school food in front of him. His legs jittered under the table, a restless shake that hadn't stopped since our intense encounter over three hours ago.
I studied his face, expecting to see sadness or anger etched into his features, but instead, there was just this raw, unsettled confusion. His brow was slightly furrowed, lips pressed tight, like he was trying to piece together a puzzle with missing parts. I got it, though—how could he not be thrown off after what happened?
"You got a protein bar on you?" I asked, leaning in closer. My nose brushed against his soft, dark brown hair as I inhaled deeply. That familiar scent hit me hard—coconut and vanilla, pure Noah. It clung to him like a signature, stirring up memories of earlier.
He didn't say a word, just reached into his worn-out handbag, fished out a bar, and slid it over to me without looking up. His focus went right back to the sad pile of cafeteria slop on his tray, poking at it with a plastic fork like it might come to life.
"Hey," I said, my voice low as I pressed my fingers into the tense muscle of his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin through his thin shirt. "If you're not feeling this crap, I can grab you something after school. Hit up the liquor store down the block, get you a real snack or whatever you want."
He paused, fork hovering over the tray, and I could see the gears turning in his head as he processed the offer.
"Yeah... maybe," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. I leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss into his hair.
Around us, the cafeteria buzzed with the usual chaos: trays clattering, laughter echoing, and the faint hum of a hundred different conversations. No one noticed us.
Or so I thought.
From the corner of my eye, I spotted a girl making her way toward us — timid, clutching her lunch tray like a shield. She stopped in front of our table, eyes flicking nervously between me and Noah.
"Hey, uh... Noah," she stammered, voice cracking halfway through his name. "I was wondering if we could maybe go on—"
The moment her gaze met mine, I didn't even have to say a word. I just stared, cold and steady, my expression daring her to finish. She froze instantly, her words dying on her tongue.
"I-I'll just... never mind," she mumbled, spinning around and scurrying away like a frightened animal.
I exhaled through my nose, satisfied.
"Thanks..." Noah said quietly, his tone distant.
I looked over at him — the way his shoulders slumped, the way his fork just toyed with the lifeless food on his tray. Then I heard it: a soft growl from his stomach, barely audible under the cafeteria noise.
"Aw, poor baby..." I whispered, rubbing his arm. "I'll get you something after school, okay? Something real. I'm sorry you had to eat this crap."
He didn't respond right away, just gave me a small nod, his eyes still unfocused.
The bell finally rang, its shrill tone slicing through the cafeteria chatter. Everyone began to move at once — scraping shoes, shouting, the metallic crash of trays hitting bins.
Noah stood slowly, dumping his half-eaten meal and stacking his tray neatly where it belonged. I followed a step behind, weaving through the crowd until we were side by side again.
Without a word, I reached for his hand. His fingers were warm, soft against mine, and he didn't pull away, surprisingly.
(Noah pov)
My feet felt weightless as I strolled alongside Bella toward the corner store, a little ways from the school. My stomach growled fiercely; I was absolutely famished after the whirlwind of the day.
I was still reeling, completely shaken by what she'd done to me. The realization hit hard—this whole time, she'd wanted me, not anyone else. It was a lot to process, and I couldn't even begin to put my feelings into words.
My mind was a void, just static. Was this some kind of trauma response, or was I just too overwhelmed to think straight?
"Gentlemen first," Bella purred with a sly smirk, holding the door open for me. I stepped inside, immediately hit by the stale, acrid stench of cigarette smoke clinging to the air. The flickering fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, casting a dingy glow over the cluttered shelves.
"Grab whatever you want, baby," she murmured, her voice low and teasing as her hand slid down my back, giving my ass a firm, possessive squeeze. Her touch sent a jolt through me, my pulse quickening despite the fog in my head.
I snatched a honey bun and a bag of spicy nacho Doritos from the shelf, knowing that if I grabbed anything more, I'd feel bloated for days. "That's all," I muttered, heading to the counter while Bella pulled a crumpled five-dollar bill from her pocket. She slid it across the chipped countertop to the woman behind the register, her fingers lingering just a moment as if to make a point.
"Keep the change. Come on, Noah," Bella said, her tone casual but firm. She tugged me outside, her hand resting on my ass with a boldness that made my skin prickle.
The cool air hit my face as we stepped onto the cracked sidewalk, the faint hum of traffic in the distance mixing with the rustle of leaves underfoot.
"Let's walk you home today, okay? I wanna spend this time with you," she said, her voice softer now, almost coaxing. I nodded, still unable to wrap my head around what Bella had done to me earlier. It was like she'd been taken over, possessed by some wild, untamed force that I couldn't understand.
Part of me wanted to be angry, to push her away and demand answers, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Her words from earlier kept replaying in my head, weaving themselves into my thoughts like a spell.
They made me feel like I was supposed to love her too, a part of me wanted it as well. My chest tightened at the thought, confusion and something else—something warmer—battling inside me.
The walk to my house felt like it dragged on forever, at least I wasn't hungry anymore. Bella didn't say much, her silence heavier than I expected.
Instead, her hand kept moving, shifting from my lower back to my hip, then back to my ass, each touch deliberate, staking some unspoken claim. I could feel the heat of her palm through my jeans, my nerves on edge with every brush of her fingers.
The quiet between us only amplified the sound of our footsteps on the uneven pavement, the distant bark of a dog, and the erratic thumping of my own heart.
Finally, we reached the patchy stretch of lawn in front of my house. The freshly cleaned windows glinted under the soft afternoon sun, the paint looking almost too bright in the light.
Bella stopped, turning to face me. Her hand lingered on my side, her eyes meeting mine with a quiet intensity that made my throat go dry.
"Remember what I said this morning, okay, Noah? I love you," she said, her voice low and raw, like she meant every syllable. The words hung in the air, heavy and undeniable.
My lips parted, and I felt the urge to say it back, the words bubbling up in my chest before I clamped down on them, swallowing hard. I couldn't tell if my mind was playing tricks on me or if I was just too tangled up in everything to think straight.
My silence stretched on, and her gaze didn't waver, searching my face for something I wasn't sure I could give.
"E-Elara's waiting for me... I'll see you tomorrow," I said, walking toward the front door. My voice felt small, like it was slipping away from me.
The hinges creaked softly as I pushed the door open—and there she was.
Elara stood in the warm glow of the hallway light, arms folded, a glowing smile tugging at her lips.
"Thanks, Bella!" she called out over my shoulder. "I'd invite you in, but I kinda want to cuddle with my little guy for the rest of the day."
Bella just raised a thumb in response, that faint smile flickering across her face before she turned and headed down the sidewalk. The sound of her footsteps faded into the afternoon.
When the door shut behind us, the world seemed to go still. The weight of the day pressed down on me all at once, and I could barely keep my eyes open. Oddly, there was still no sadness in me—just a hollow kind of calm.
Elara brushed her fingers along my arm. "Let's go cuddle, Noah."