Noel’s POV
The play room was packed. Everywhere was already filled before we reached. I separated from Aaron as soon as we got here. He had go kit up.
“Noel!” I turned to the sound and saw Peyton running to me, in a really long gown that she had to hold up in order for her not to trip. I chuckled as she ran to me. “You’re here.”
“Yes I’m here and… You look good.” I complimented, her hair was packed up and she had makeup on with the smoky eye thing.
“I’m not really acting but I’m so nervous. Nadine is no where to be found. She is usually everywhere now she’s nowhere!” Peyton cried out her eyes darting everywhere.
“Hey hey,” I placed my hand on her shoulder, “calm down its just a school play.”
She released a breath turning to look, “yeah a school play that’s gonna crush my heart.” She looked away and my eyes followed hers to see Aaron and Quinn talking. Aaron was holding onto a bear head costume?
You and me both friend.
“I don’t know what to say to you now,” I say looking at her. She smiles sadly.
“Yea I know.”
“Um… just go out there and sing your heart out, some really cute guy would fall for your beautiful voice.” I said and She finally laughed.
The play started everybody taking their positions on stage. It started off with Belle’s family, then her father, then the fake castle, then Lumiere and Ms Potts, then the beast. I laughed when I saw Aaron, he was putting on a costume that looked like a lion and a bear merged together. Some people were actually taking pictures and recording the play. Belle came to the Castle, Beast angry tantrums then trying to be kind, Belle goes to see her parents. The rose petals keep falling. I have to admit, even though Quinn’s a bitch she really is a good actress. She complimented Aaron really well on stage. And that was just sad.
When Gaston came to the castle, Belle came back… Blah blah blah I started reading off the lines the same time Quinn was reading it off. Surprising how I had memorized the lines of a play and when its time for English essay I won’t remember anything I’ve been taught. Weird. Beast is injured, Belle cries and profess her love for him. My heart starts beating a little faster and my breathing is hitched up too. Peyton is already singing her heart out on stage and boy.. she has a beautiful voice. Many lights go off around Aaron’s body. I have no idea how the school did it but it really looks magical. We the audience are blinded by the light and we don’t see what’s going on on stage. When the light is gone, Aaron’s standing in the spot as himself without the lion-bear costume. Quinn looks at him strangely and when she finally recognize him, she rushes to him.
Don’t do it, Don’t do it. Don’t do it!
But they did it. He did it. He kissed Quinn. Peyton voice falters for a second before she resumes her wonderful singing. I look away feeling a strange sting. The play is done and all the actors and actress come to the stage. A round of applause is given to them with whistles and flowers thrown on stage. The play was wonderful, except the end part that is.
.
.
I start going to the back stage so I can see Peyton and know how she’s faring and also congratulate Aaron on a job well done.
“Why did you do that AL?” I heard the unmistakable sound of Quinn’s voice and I halt. The gossip girl in me showing itself.
“Do what?” Aaron asked. I slowly took two steps back and leaned towards the door.
Noel what have your mother taught you about eavesdropping? To never get caught. Well if this doesn’t concern Aaron that boy that has managed to warm his way into my heart, I wouldn’t eavesdrop.
“Why didn’t you follow the script to the end. We were supposed to kiss not pretend kiss.” Quinn said sounding really mad.
Pretend kiss? (Gasp) is this what I’m thinking?.
“Nobody knew it wasn’t real, this is an act, all of it and we did great!”
“Bullshit! Some people might have noticed. My reputation is on the line.” Quinn stomped her feet angrily saying all this.
“Forget it Quinn. We didn’t even rehearse all this. What was I supposed to do.”
“That was because you refused to come to rehearsal and the one day you came, I was in a meeting!”
“God you aren’t going to stop shouting are you? Look at this way, at least Tyler won’t be jealous.”
“Tyler doesn’t care.”
“Well I do, I don’t want to kiss you.”
“Why not? Its that new girl isn’t it? She’s brainwashed you, can’t you see she’s a cannibal? Unfit to be seen around someone like you– like us.”
Oh really? I don’t think She knows what it means to be a cannibal, I’ll show her real soon. By the time she sees a chunk of her flesh inside my mouth. Then she’ll know I’m a cannibal.
“Don’t start with me Quinn, quit it.” Aaron warns his voice low and alarming.
“Stop hanging out with her Aaron, she’s bad company,” Quinn say her voice now low and seductive. I make a gag face.
Aaron scoffs, “get out of my way please.”
Uh uh that’s my cue to leave. I run out of there as fast as my legs can carry me.
Throughout the rest of the day, I had a big smile on my face. Aaron didn’t kiss her. He didn’t. Due to football practice I barely saw Aaron the rest of the day. I went to the field and watched him and the others practice heartily, the coach using them as minions instead of students. Jeez the training was tough. I can do it even if my life depends on it.
When I started dozing off, I took that as my cue to leave, before I doze off, fall down the bleachers, break my neck, crack my skull open and die. Trust me, that’s not how I plan to leave earth, although it doesn’t always go according to plan. Shaking my head off death talk, I bring out my phone. Reopening the text Aaron sent to me, 50 minutes ago.
Dumb face: Can’t meet up after school today. Football practice totally compulsory. If I don’t attend coach will have my head for lunch tomorrow. Although I know I’ll still look hot without my head, I don’t want to take chances. See you later love.
Pretty long text huh, the boy is thorough. After thinking up what to say, I start typing away.
Me: Bye Aaron, see you later too.
Aaron starts running off the field but the coach stops him.
“Altamira where’re you off too?” He barks out.
“Um… my phone.” He says pointing at the bench.
“Leave your phone, we’re in the middle of practice.” The coach thunders like its impossible for him to take calmly.
“But it could be someone important,” he whines looking like he’s just one second away from stomping his foot.
“Aaron-lee,” the coach warns. But maybe its a good thing when he calls your first name because Aaron smiles.
“Just one minute coach.” He runs to the bench and fish out his phone from a duffel bag. I wonder how he heard the sound of the text coming in. He smiles raising up his phone to the coach. “See, I told you. Important person.”
I smile, I’m important. Just immediately a text comes in.
Dumb face: You’re still around? I thought you’d gone since.
I contemplated what to say then I just decided to tell him the truth. No harm in that.
Me: I’m in the field watching you play. But now I’m exhausted. I just realized practice is boring, only the actual game is great.
In less than second, a reply comes in.
Dumb face: You’re here, where?
I’m about to reply but then I see him searching the bleachers and I wait for him to see me. Only about 5 students are on the bleachers. It doesn’t take long before he spots me and a boyish grin appears on his face.
Dumb face: Hi Noel.
I smile at his text.
Me: Hi Aaron. Bye Aaron
Dumb face: You’re going home now, wait one more hour.
I snort at his text. Is he kidding me. One more hour? Nope.
Me: No can’t do. I’m tired and I think I have a biology assignment to do, so… I’ll see tomorrow.
Dumb face: I won’t survive it.
Huh?
Me: you won’t survive what?.
Dumb face: I won’t survive not seeing you until tomorrow.
Awww. I smile then notice his looking at me. I bite my lip and turn away so he doesn’t notice my crimson cheeks.
Me: don’t worry you’ll make it.
Dumb face: nope I won’t. Kit up, we’re going out today.
“Altamira!” The coach called out like a raging bull.
Me: When? Where?
Dumb face: surprise. Bye love I have to go.
I look at him and he’s already smiling at me. He waves and I wave back before he runs off to his team and angry coach. I walk down the bleachers, sparing him one last look before indulging in the boring walk back home. After eating a large sized burger. I do my assignments then fix myself a bubble bath. I don’t know when Aaron is coming so I’m gonna start preparing now. If he comes early he’ll just have to wait.
After the long relaxing bubble bath, I start searching my wardrobe for something to where. Suddenly with a wardrobe filled with clothes, I come to the realization that I have no clothes. I slump down on my bed devastated.
“How can this be?”
This is the longest I’ve lasted without shopping. I shopped every week, sometimes twice or thrice a week. I didn’t need an excuse to go to the mall. The mall was second home. When money fled from our households, I was too into mourning that had no need to shop or dress up. But now I have the need to dress up and that need starts with an A and ends with an N or E depending on how you call him.
After raking my brain, pulling my hair, I settle on a pink sweater with Cupid on it— What, I’m jinxing our night. The good jinx if there’s anything like that— with dark leggings and studded boots. I’m gonna finish it up with my pink furry beanie. Feeling satisfied with my outfit selection. I do my light makeup, then straighten my hair, making it pin straight.
I wait for Aaron and I wait and I wait but he’s no show. I’m tempted to call him or text but I don’t. I don’t want to seem desperate. I wait and wait still nothing. He forgot. He stood me up. Tears sting my eye and I angrily push my clothes to the ground. Ruffle up my hair and fall back on my bed to sleep. Damn him.
Ok maybe I’m overreacting but this sucks. Being stood up sucks. Now I know how Aaron felt when I stood him up at Runglobe. Is this his revenge? I ponder upon it until I slept off.
“Ah stop it.” I say to the annoying sound coming from my window. I turn another side but the noise is just as persistent as it’s annoying. I angrily jump out my bed ready to pulverize Jesse or whoever is on the other side of my window. I yank it open ready to spurt out the cuss words my father told me not to say. But my words get stuck in my throat as I see the reason for the disturbance.
“Hi Dolphin.” Aaron greets grinning at me.
“Um…” What was I going to say again?.
He’s face squeezes up as he takes in on my appearance. Pajama shorts and big shirt. “Why aren’t you kitted up? Did you forget?”
“No, no I didn’t. I was just…. excising.” I say and to drive my point home, i start moving my legs up and down as if I’m jogging.
He chuckles, “ok… meet you downstairs and don’t wake Mrs A.”
I nod and quickly shut my window running to my mirror. He came. He came. He came, he came. He came. My makeup was surprisingly still intact, I just fixed the little smudges here and there. I quickly pulled on my outfit apologizing to it for throwing it to the floor. I touched my hair a little. Put on my beanie then sprinted downstairs careful not to wake my mum. I sneaked out, gently shutting the door behind me.
“What took you so long?” I asked immediately I saw Aaron, sitting on our porch.
“Nice to see you too.” He smirked standing up and looking at me.
“I was waiting for you until I slept off.”
He sighed, “sorry love, Ma-fe clung to me and I couldn’t go until she fell asleep.”
“Ok, you’re forgiven.” I say with a smile. He’s so good with his sisters making me wish I have an elder brother.
“And Carnivals are best attended in the night.” He said grinning proudly as he held onto my hand.
“Carnival?” I asked getting excited by it and also by the fact that he was holding my hand.
“Yup, New York Carnival. Prepared to be wowed.” He said as we walked together, hand in hand. My hormones everywhere.
And wowed I was. The place was beautiful, I’ve attended carnivals before, many of them but I’ve never attended one in the night and boy was I missing out on a lot. Lights were glowing everywhere, there was food, ride, ferries wheel, games and prizes to win, food!.
Aaron and I walked around seeing and eating everything. Then he dragged me off to go win me a prize. After numerous tries, me shouting in excitement and groaning when he lose, he finally won me a giant white Teddy bear, with a beanie! A teddy with a beanie! Can you imagine?
As soon as he handed he teddy to me, I squealed so loudly jumping on my feet the game man was shocked looking at me like I’m strange.
“Thank you, thank you!” I squealed going on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
He froze then returned to himself, “that’s what it takes? Really? Let’s win more.”
I laugh pulling him away from there, he chuckled wrapping his hands around me. “Let’s go to that… the ferries wheel, everybody must ride that to complete the carnival experience.”
I nod following him behind and staring adorably at my Teddy, I’m already in love with him. I’ll name him… Lee. I smiled at Lee kissing his furry forehead.
Aaron and I got on the ferries wheel and it started moving, slowly but steady. The higher we went the cooler it became. Aaron pulled me to him wrapping his hand around me. I leaned into his warm body snuggling him and pulling Lee closer too. “See the moon?”
I looked up at the big bright moon, “Mmhmm.”
“There is an old lady- grandma inside it.”
I looked up at him, “really?”
“Yep, she’s watching over all beautiful people on earth.” He said smiling down at me.
I smiled back, “hmm, so she’s watching over you?”
Smooth Noel, where is all this bravery coming from?
He chuckled, “yes, yes and she’s watching over you too.”
I smiled my free hand snaking behind him to snuggle closer, “that’s good.”
We stayed together on the ferries wheel in comfortable silence. I was as peace and really happy. After that we walked home, hand in hand.
Aaron followed me to my room, after I changed , I came out to meet him staring at my picture. I tucked myself in, he sat on the edge of the bed, beside me.
I smiled, he smiled. “I had fun today.”
“I’m glad you did.”
We stayed in silence and before I knew it, the mood became electrified. Aaron stare changed and the way he was looking at me was making me feel everything I’ve never felt before. His gaze dropped to my lips and I unconsciously bit my lip. His breath hitched up and he moved closer.
“So… there’s something I’ve always wanted to do.” He said his voice low and gruff with more edge to it that made my heart skipped more than a bit. “Don’t move… please.”
It was as if I was compelled, I couldn’t move. I didn’t want to. Aaron starts leaning closer, his hand moving up to cup my cheeks and it felt as if I was going to pass out soon. Distraction… is Aaron a vampire? Did he compel me? What is—
All thoughts flew out as Aaron lips touched mine. A low gasp escaped me. He lips pressed against mine and— gosh screw compulsion. My hands flew above him wrapping around his neck as he pulled me closer, our lips moving in perfect sync.
Wow….. just. Wow
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The brain is the most outstanding organ in the body. It works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from birth until you fall in love.
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