N O E L
I rush out of my warm house and run out to the streets like a maniac. I don’t think I’m alright. Its cold out here, Aaron would have gone home a long time ago. Why would he wait when he could still see me in school tomorrow? We don’t have any matter of emergency to discuss. I turned back to head home but the feeling kept nagging me.
“Ok let me just check to be sure,” I said to myself stopping a taxi and going to Runglobe. I reluctantly paid the taxi missing the money as soon as it left my hand.
If this was a waste of time I’d really feel bad. I looked around; it was my first time being in a place like this. I don’t know if it’s because its night but the whole place looked beautiful. Lights were glowing everywhere in different colors and there was a big earth- like globe on the top of the building with the words “Runglobe” surrounding it.
“Wow, beautiful.” I muttered to myself, and then entered inside. There were all kinds of food and pastries on display, chairs and booths and also waitresses. I searched around but I didn’t see anybody.
“Excuse me, how can I help you?” A lady addresses me, her clothes showed that she worked here, her dark hair tied in a bun, and she looked really young like maybe 19 years to 21years.
“Good evening, I’m looking for someone. A boy around my age, dark brown hair, striking blue eyes, and this tall-” I raised my hand above my head, “and really proud. Aaron?”
She shook her head, “no one like that is here now, the only young person here now are those two.” She pointed to a booth and I saw two people around my age, a boy and a girl.
They were probably on a date. Maybe If I came earlier, I and Aaron would be sitting like that, talking. “Thank you,” I said as I turned to leave. I knew this would happen, but why am I so let down?
“Stupid me, what did you expect him to wait? Every sensible person would have left. You’re one hour thirty minutes late. You didn’t even want to come in the first place why–” I stop as I was hit my leg something. It fell to the ground chattering. I picked it up and it was a beer bottle cork.
“You know you could be mistaken for a mentally challenged person,” I looked up and my eyes land on Aaron. He was sitting on a tree branch, his jean and sneakers clad legs dangling below. My jaw dropped.
He jumped down with no stress at all, and walked to me, “hello love, miss me?”
My heart flipped and my inside turned all gooey, a small laugh escaped my throat, “You’re still here?”
He finished the last drop of beer in his bottle and dropped the bottle on the floor pushing it away, “Yes, I told you I’ll wait for you,” his finger touched my nose, “I was waiting for you Noel and you came,” He grinned.
“Aaron you’re cold,” my hand went to touch his cheeks and it was indeed chilling cold, he immediately held my hand to his cheeks, his big palm enclosing mine.
“Noel I’m cold,” he whined closing his eyes.
“And I think you’re drunk too,” I said perceiving his alcohol breath, “come on let’s go inside.” I assisted him and we entered into the building. I moved to a booth and we sat down. I removed my jacket and put it on top him. He smiled then did the unimaginable.
He hugged me sideways wrapping his arms around me, our cheeks were touching each other and I practically went into freeze mode. Only the sound of my heart could be heard. I opened my mouth to say something but no word came out.
“You’re so warm,” he muttered, snuggling me closer.
“A… Aa… Aaron?” I shuttered, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. I couldn’t even move and his hands were holding me firm.
“Do you guys need anything?” The waitress from before said appearing beside our booth, her name tag said Becca. She smiled at us and I blushed trying to shrug Aaron off to no avail.
“Umm, hot chocolate perhaps?” I said smiling at her and thinking about how I’m going to murder Aaron. She nodded and left.
“Ok Aaron, because it’s my fault you’re cold I’m going to let you hold me for 5 seconds, you have to leave me after 5 seconds ok… I’m counting now.” I say turning slightly to see him. “One… two… three…”
His hands dropped leaving me, he head slanted a bit and now it was his hair touching my face, his head resting peacefully on my shoulder. “Four… four and quarter, four and half, four and…” My eyes landed on his peacefully face. His beautiful nude pink lips were parted slightly and he was breathing softly. “Aaron, are you asleep? Aaron?” He didn’t say anything.
My hands reach up to push him off me but I just can’t, instead I brush the hair away from his face and a smile appears on my face. He’s beautiful. I look away and stay still. Soon another smile appears and another and I’m left smiling to myself like I lunatic.
He waited for me. Nobody has ever waited this long for me.
I feel so special. Aaron makes me feel special. Becca arrives soon with two warm chocolate drinks. I thank her and I start taking it. Looking over at Aaron from time to time.
*
“Come on,” I groaned pulling half his weight and dragging us to his car. “I’m going to die, I’m to die. I’m not fit to support half the weight of someone taller, stronger and bigger than me.”
I pressed his car keys button and his car lights up in the parking lot. I walk to it, open the front door and throw him in, after making sure he’s seated well, I put on his seat belt and close the damn door. I stand there panting like someone who’s being chased by wild animals.
“Ah, you owe me big time Aaron,” I move to the driver’s seat and get in. It is my first time driving such a beautiful car. I admire it for a while before hitting the road.
“Where are you taking me?” I gasp in surprise as I turn and see Aaron’s eyes open and staring at me, his head relaxing on the seat.
“You’re awake,” I said looking ahead before I get us into an accident, “Have you been awake since?”
He shakes his head negatively and I nod, “Why didn’t you come?” He asked looking ahead.
“Huh?”
“Why didn’t you come?” He repeated again. His face looked blank, I couldn’t tell if he was angry or sad. His voice was calm, missing the usual activeness and light to it.
“I… I fell asleep,” I choked out. I looked at him and he didn’t say anything, so I added, “I’m sorry.”
He looked me and looked away again, “You hurt my feelings.”
I bit my lip feeling guilty, “I’m sorry.” I repeated.
“I would have waited for you until tomorrow,” he says not looking at me.
“Why? You should have gone home the minute I didn’t show. Why wait? You shouldn’t have,” I said.
He looked at me, his eyes containing emotions I couldn’t read, “You’re right I shouldn’t have, but I did anyway and I’ll do it again,” I looked at him, his electrifying gaze. He looked away, “You should look ahead.”
I did as he said and the car fell silent, even a pin drop could be heard. My mind was churning and turning in every way. My head was a mess. Aaron didn’t look at me again and I tried not to turn and look at him, after all I’m driving.
I packed in front of Jess’s house and we got down together. We ringed the bell, knocked on the door, called Jesse’s name but nobody came to open up the door.
“Why don’t you just go home?” I ask already tired of this day already.
“I can’t, it late and my parents think I’m at Jesse’s,” Aaron says running his hand through his hair, “Let’s go into your house.”
“What? No, no boys allowed,” I said, especially boys my mum knew nothing about.
He rolled his eyes walking to my door, “I’ll just go into Jesse’s room through your window.”
“Oh, that’s makes sense.” I say following behind him. I open the door and we got in. The lights were off which means my mum has gone to bed. I sigh, she’s going to need an explanation in the morning.
We go up to my room and I open the window, only to see that Jesse’s window is closed. I groaned, “It’s closed.” I turned to see Aaron sitting on my bed removing his shoes. “What are doing?”
“Getting comfortable,” he replies, kicking the shoe off.
“In my room?” I ask confused.
“Yea, I’m crashing here for the night,” He gathered the pillows arranging them behind him and lying on it, getting cozy.
“What? No way, at least not on my bed. Sleep on the floor or couch but not my bed,” I say coming to drag him off.
“No uh, after all you made me go through, the least I deserve is a comfy bed,” he says arrogantly.
“Fine,” I grumbled going to seat on a chair, I cross my hands around myself and glare at him.
He smirks, “Goodnight Sweetheart.”
“I pray you choke on a bug.”
He laughs softly, “join me whenever you want, there’s enough space.” He pats the other side of the bed, and then winks.
“You wish. I’m alright here thank you,” I say.
“Hmph the chair does suit you,” he says looking me.
I throw my converse at him, “Go to sleep before I strangle you.”
“Ok, ok buenas noches (goodnight in Spanish)” he turned around and closed his eyes.
“What does that even mean?” I ask.
“Don’t snore,” he says. I pick up the other converse and throw at him.
“I don’t snore you pig,” I spat out. He doesn’t reply and instead gets more comfortable. I scoff and rest my head on the table.
My own bed yet I’m not on it. Instead an unwanted guest is lying on it. I close my eyes and I see Aaron’s face, when he was sleeping on my shoulder. I smile and sniff that side of my shoulder. It still smells just like him.
I don’t know what’s going on with me. I like Aaron’s scent and thinking of him makes me smile. I feel sad that I hurt his feelings today. If I can undo today and live it all over again, I’ll make it to Runglobe before six O’clock. Aaron’s making me confused; he’s making it difficult for me to believe everything Nadine told me.
I drift up to sleep and I when I wake up, the time read 1am, “Ow,” I say hearing a snap in my neck. My neck hurts like hell and when I stand up my back does too. I guess this is what I get for sleeping on a chair and desk. “Damn you Aaron,” I say, I steal two pillows from under him and put it as a bridge between us.
“Do not cross,” I warn the beautiful sleeping Aaron before I lie down beside him. He looks so beautiful while sleeping, peaceful without a worry. Just like he looked while sleeping on my shoulder. I turn away from him and cuddle into my comforter, “Goodnight.”
*
The next morning I wake up on an empty bed, I’m lying on it and tucked in comfortably. No one is on the other side. No Aaron. I get up and look through the window. Jesse’s window is open but the room is empty.
“Jesse? Jesse?” I called quietly but no one answers me, “Aaron are you in there?” No answer, I groan and slam my window shut.
How dare he? How dare he leave without saying a word? I gave him a roof over his head for the night, a bed to sleep on and he just leaves? Without even saying thanks. Well I guess I’ll see him in school.
“Morning mum,” I greet entering into the kitchen to see her sipping off a cup of tea.
“Morning Noel, when did you come in last night?” She asked looking at me.
“Not late, why?” I asked fixing a bowl of cereal for myself. Yes today I’m early enough to eat breakfast.
“I couldn’t wait up for you I’m sorry,” she says.
“No worries,” I say, I’m actually glad you didn’t.
“What?” She turned to me, “what did you say?”
“Nothing,” I gobble up my breakfast and run to school. I’m early to Ms Jenkins class and she actually smiles at me.
Everything goes perfectly except for one thing, Aaron’s no show. He was absent during chemistry and lunch, even until school ends, no show. I’m distracted all day, I keep thinking about him, wondering why he’s absent.
“Noel, are you ok? You’ve been absentminded throughout today,” Nadine says looking at me.
“No, I’m fine nothing is wrong with me,” I look around and spot Jesse going to his bike. That’s my ticket to Aaron. “Bye Nadine, see you tomorrow.”
I run to Jesse as fast as I can, “Jesse.”
He turns around then beams at me, “What’s up Christmas?”
“Have you seen Aaron?” I rush out.
He turns around a confused look on his face, “uh no. Why?”
“He didn’t come to school today and I’m wondering where he is?” I say telling the truth.
“Yeah, I think he caught a cold or something,” Jesse says.
I gasp surprised, this is my entire fault. I made him sick. “Can you take me to him?”
“To his house?” Jesse asks mounting his bike a surprised look on his face.
I gulp, “yes.”
He nods, “ok, hop on.”
Phew, here goes nothing…… Or something.
The greatest happiness in the world is the conviction that we’re loved, loved for ourselves or rather; loved in spite of ourselves.