24

You’re an ass, I said, punching him lightly on the shoulder.
But as I pulled my arm back, he swiftly reached up and grabbed hold of my wrist. You know you love it, he smirked, placing my arm over his shoulder and around his neck.
Yeah right, I whispered, watching him as he grabbed my other wrist and did the same.
Without saying a word, he stepped forward, urging me back against the door. He kept his eyes on mine, and gently stroked my side, placing both of his hands on my hips. He squeezed them gently, smiling at me. Biting my lip, I stared at him, wanting him to just kiss me already. His eyes darkened and lowered, staring towards my mouth.
Lily, he growled, removing his hand from my hip and reaching up, threading it through my hair. How many times have I told you not to do that ?
I don’t
But I didn’t get the chance to finish, as Noah dipped his head forward, brushing his lips against mine gently. I could barely feel them, but I could feel his breath mingling with mine. I’m not going to kiss you Lily, he murmured, rubbing his thumb along the curve of my ear.
Why ? I whined, trying to pull him closer.
He laughed gently, resisting my attempts at pulling him in. …Because this is the first date honey, he smiled. And I’m going to be a gentleman.
I sighed as he dropped his hand from my hair and took a small step back. As the warmth from his body left mine, I felt a pang of regret. Fine, I mumbled, already missing the feel of him. But I still get to kiss you goodnight.
His eyes widened and he stood frozen to the spot as I stepped forward, a smirk on my face. Reaching up, I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down. You’re not making this easy for me honey, he murmured, his eyes squeezed shut.
I laughed softly, and placed my mouth against his ear. Now what would be the fun in that ? I whispered softly, threading my fingers through his, his hand hanging limply by his side.
Lowering my mouth, I kissed him gently on the side of his neck. He tensed up beneath me, squeezing my hand tightly as I trailed my lips down to the hollow of his neck. I kissed him lightly, savouring the feel of his salty skin on my lips. His breathing had increased, becoming very rapid under my touch. I could feel his pulse rising. Smiling softly, I let go of his hand and stepped back, my cheeks flushed.
Goodnight college boy, I whispered, turning the handle behind me and opening the apartment door quietly.
Sweet dreams Lily, he panted, still not taking his eyes off mine.
Smiling, I gently closed the door, leaving Noah standing out in the hallway, a dazed look in his eyes. Spinning around, I dropped my bag to the floor and leant against the door. The night ran through my mind, and I couldn’t help but grin as I gingerly tiptoed through the darkened apartment, trying not to wake Jennifer. But that proved not to be a problem, as the living room lights suddenly came to life, and out came Jen, dressed in her Winnie the Pooh pyjamas. Her hair was all over the place, and her eyes were half shut. She had obviously been asleep, but had heard the commotion Noah had caused outside by tickling me.
Hey Jen, I smiled, Are you actually awake or are you sleepwalking ?
Uh half and half, she yawned, looking around in a daze when she bumped in to the back of the sofa.
I laughed as she collapsed on to it, yawning again. What are you doing up ? I asked. You were obviously asleep.
Yep. I was, she mumbled, her eyes still closed. But I heard you guys and I need the gossip, A. S. A. P.
Chuckling, I hung my coat up on the hook in the kitchen and walked over to the armchair, collapsing in to it with a sigh. He took me to the ice rink, I whispered, knowing that would get Jennifer’s attention with what she knew about me.
I was right. She immediately sat up, looking at me with wide eyes. Are you ok ? She asked, raising her eyebrows at me, concerned.
Yeah, I nodded, smiling at her. It was actually really nice. I mean, it was a shock, but Noah put so much effort in.
Are you sure you’re ok ? She asked again, looking at me with a sympathetic look.
I nodded, getting up from the chair and walking to my room. I’m just gonna go up to the usual place for a while, I smiled.
Okay sure. Well I guess it’s time to hit the sack again then, she smiled sadly, trying to stifle a yawn in the process.
Night Jen, I smiled, stepping in to my room and closing the door gently.
Shrugging out of my clothes, I got dressed in to my grey sweats and a black hoodie and grabbed my guitar. Noah had given me the most romantic first date I’d ever had, but he had also given me a reminder of what I had lost.
…………………………….
Noah POV :
I opened the door to my apartment and stepped inside, shrugging off my coat in the process. Dean was on the pull with a friend, so the apartment was empty. Running a hand through my hair, I walked in to my bedroom and undressed. Reaching over to the bed, I grabbed my flannel pyjama bottoms and shrugged them on along with a white t-shirt. Images of Lily kept running through my mind, and I shuddered as I remembered the way she had trailed kisses down my neck. No other girl could make me feel so much desire by just one kiss. As I felt the lust course through my body at the mere thought of her, I walked back out in to the kitchen. I needed to keep myself preoccupied ; otherwise I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself from going over there and knocking on her door.
Grabbing a glass from the kitchen, I went to fill it with some water when I heard a door open and shut from across the hall. It was faint, barely audible, but the sound was unmistakeable. The door was Lily’s. Frowning, I set the glass down and walked to the door. Opening it quietly, I peeked my head around the door and was surprised to see Lily walking down the hall, guitar in hand.
What’s she doing ? I wondered, staring at her as she rounded the corner. That direction only led to the far staircase that went to the roof. Grabbing the grey hoodie that was hanging on the back of the door, I put it on as I walked out and followed her, staying a little distance behind. As I rounded the corner after her, I saw her open the door to the roof and step out in to the cold night air, the breeze whipping her hair around the shoulders before the door closed and she vanished from view.
Taking the last couple of stairs two at a time, I reached the door and opened it quietly. I shivered as the cold night air whipped around me. The city lights lit up the sky, but the roof itself was only faintly lit. I noticed that the night was clear, and the stars above were visible. Beautiful. All of a sudden, a soft voice broke the darkness. Lily’s voice. And she sounded sad. Stepping up to the corner, I peeked my head around and stared at Lily. Someone had obviously moved an old battered couch up here, and Lily was sat on it, looking out over the city. There were lights hung up around the roof. Most of them were flickering, and they cast shadows over Lily’s face as she sung softly.
I was mesmerised. Standing around the corner, I stared as she strummed her guitar softly, her gaze shifting towards the stars. The song sounded sad, and I recognised it instantly. Closing my eyes, I listened as she sang, her voice sounding like it was on the edge of breaking.
You got a fast car
And I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
We won’t have to drive too far
Just ‘cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living
You see my old man’s got a problem
He live with the bottle that’s the way it is
He says his body’s too old for working
I say his body’s too young to look like his
My mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said somebody’s got to take care of him
So I quit school and that’s what I did
You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
We leave tonight or live and die this way
My eyes snapped open as her voice broke on the last line, her voice fading in to the night. Stepping forward, my heart ached as I saw her crying softly, the guitar hanging limply between her legs. Lily ? I whispered, stepping out from behind the wall.
She swivelled around, a startled look on her face. Noah, what are you doing up here ? She sniffed, wiping her eyes to try and hide the fact that she had been crying.
I saw you come up here, I frowned, walking over and sitting down beside her on the couch, being careful not to touch her.