The Kissing Booth (12 page)

His lips tweaked up against mine. I felt his chest reverberating with suppressed chuckles under my hand. ‘Practise makes perfect.’ And that time, we didn’t knock teeth.

We stayed on his bed making out for ages. We talked a little about school, about where he was applying to college (he was thinking of going to San Diego, since it was closest), and had a minor argument about how All Time Low were so much better than Linkin Park. (Noah was a big fan of Linkin Park’s newer music, while I hated them.) I found I was actually enjoying being with Noah even when we weren’t making out. I actually liked his company – even when we argued over music.

But we didn’t talk for more than a few minutes at a time before he started kissing me again. And when that happened, I forgot what we’d just been talking about; forgot that I really should’ve left by now. I just got caught up in the way his kisses made my stomach fill with wild butterflies.

It was just that he was a good kisser, I told myself. I mean, it’s not like we had a ‘connection’ or anything. We were far too different for that. There was no guarantee that he’d still want to be with me in a week or so, when he’d never been in a long-term relationship.

‘So what exactly,’ he said after a while, propping his elbows behind his head and looking me in the eye, ‘are we doing here?’

‘I’m not just going to hook up with you,’ I replied firmly.

‘I told you,’ he sighed, touching my knee, ‘that’s not all I’m interested in.’

I shouldn’t like him. I
couldn’t
like him. We were too different; this was too wrong. Not to mention how I could ever face up to Lee and tell him I was with his brother.

But . . . I enjoyed being with him like this. I liked the way it felt to kiss him; the feel of his arms around me; the smile in his eyes when we argued over bands. It felt
nice
to be like this with Noah. Like it was natural.

Was that worth hurting Lee for, though? I couldn’t do that to him, could I? He’d already made it clear that it’d be weird for him; that it could potentially damage our friendship – and nothing could be worth that. Right?

‘I . . . I don’t know,’ I admitted after a while. ‘It’s just . . . we shouldn’t, and – and Lee . . .’

‘I see.’ Noah was quiet for a moment. His fingertip traced circles on my knee, and I watched the movement, waiting.

He spoke haltingly. ‘Well . . . maybe Lee doesn’t have to know.’

I let that sink in a moment. ‘You mean I should lie to him?’

‘Maybe just not tell him the whole truth . . .’ His mouth twisted a little, like he was struggling to word it properly. ‘Until we figure out what to do.’

I nodded. If Lee didn’t know, it couldn’t hurt him. If things didn’t work out between Noah and me, then Lee would be none the wiser, and things could stay as they were between us. And if things
did
work out with Noah . . . then I’d cross that bridge and tell Lee when I came to it.

I heard him sigh, and I looked up. He gave me a wry smile. ‘I told you girls didn’t want to be with a guy who’s got a history of punching things.’

I shoved his arm lightly. ‘It’s not that. And besides, I know you’d never lay a finger on a girl. You’re not like that.’

And before I could think about it any more, I said, ‘Okay.’

‘Okay?’

‘But just promise me you won’t let Lee find out.’

Noah nodded. ‘Of course I won’t.’ Then he sat up and leaned forward far enough to kiss my nose. Smiling, I moved my head so I could kiss him on the lips instead. I felt his lips curve up against mine, and when we pulled apart, there was that dimple in his left cheek that only appeared when he smiled.

Then I looked past him and saw the time, glaring at me in red from his digital alarm clock. I gasped; I had to be home for dinner in twenty minutes. Where had the afternoon gone?

‘I should get going,’ I said urgently.

‘Oh . . .’ If I didn’t know better, I might have thought he was disappointed. ‘Do you need a ride home?’

I turned to raise my eyebrows at him. ‘I can walk. I have legs. Two of them, actually.’

He smirked. ‘Have it your way, then. I was just trying to be nice . . .’

‘It’s okay. Really.’ I wanted to clear my head a little, and this would not happen if Noah was with me.

‘You’re cute when you look like that,’ I told him, nodding at his expression.

He grimaced. ‘Don’t call me cute. Please.’

‘Aw, how cute,’ I teased, laughing. I shoved at his shoulder playfully, a gesture which he returned with an eye-roll.

I went to pick up my cell phone from the dresser next to his bed, and blurted out a question before I could help myself.

‘Why do you hate people calling you Noah?’ I asked.

‘Noah’s not exactly the coolest name in the book. You can’t imagine some guy running in terror at the name Noah. Flynn’s just—’

‘It suits you.’

‘Exactly. So why do you always call me by my first name?’

‘’Cause I grew up with you. Then I did it to annoy you. But it’s kind of hot.’

The words had come out before I realized what I was saying. My mouth snapped shut and my cheeks flamed as I held a hand over my mouth. I couldn’t believe I’d just said that! I mean, I
did
think Noah was a hot name – maybe not on some people, but Noah Flynn pulled it off. He made it sexy. I just couldn’t believe I’d
told
him that!

He smirked, pulling my hand away from my undoubtedly beetroot-colored face. ‘Well, when you put it like that, it doesn’t seem so bad.’

I gave an embarrassed laugh and he gave me a quick peck on the lips before letting my hand go. I needed to get going now. And if someone came home unexpectedly, it was bound to look more than a little suspicious that I was here with Noah. They’d hardly believe we were just ‘hanging out’.

I detoured to the kitchen on my way out to grab my purse and the video game for Brad.

When I turned around and saw Noah leaning in the open doorway, it made me jump. He hadn’t made a sound; I’d had no idea he was there.

‘Are you free tomorrow?’ he asked me.

‘I don’t think so  . . . I have a ton of homework I have to do, so . . .’

Only after I’d said that did I think maybe I should’ve tried to be more mysterious – ask what he had in mind, tell him I might or might not be available. But I waved away the notion immediately – as if
I
could pull that off.

‘That sucks.’

I waited for him to expand on that, but he didn’t. He just gave me that infamous trademark smirk and his bright eyes bored into mine. I wondered if that meant he wanted to meet up with me. But he didn’t say anything more.

‘Um,’ I said quietly.

He grinned. ‘I’ll find somewhere out of the way to meet you, don’t worry.’

I smiled back at him. In just one day I’d gone from having no love life to what I could only call sneaking around with the most desirable guy in school, all because of that damn kissing booth.

‘Bye,’ I said quietly, brushing past him to get to the front door.

‘Hey, hold up,’ he said, tugging me back by the belt hook of my jeans. ‘I want my goodbye kiss.’

‘Hmm, no.’

Wow, that may just have been the flirtiest thing I’ve said today. Go me
.

‘No?’ He raised his dark eyebrows challengingly.

He bent to kiss me anyway, and I was going to kiss him back – but he pulled away after barely brushing his lips to mine. He gave me an innocent look, at which I rolled my eyes.

‘Bye, Shelly,’ he called teasingly after me.

‘Bye, Noah,’ I replied in the same tone, smiling to myself.

I didn’t stop smiling the whole way home.

That night, I lay in bed thinking about it all. I had no way of knowing for sure how long this would last; I’d always thought of myself as the kind of girl who would be in more long-term, committed relationships. From what I’d heard, Noah’s longest relationship had been maybe a week. But I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to hurt Lee, but I felt an attraction to Noah that wasn’t only something physical—

Not that I would do anything so stupid as to fall for him.

Nope. No way.

If anything could damage my relationship with Lee, it was that. It wouldn’t happen. It couldn’t happen. I wouldn’t let it.

I just had to try and deal with this whole thing the best way I could. And if that meant hiding the fact that Noah and I were together, then so be it. I didn’t want to not be with him; just the thought of this afternoon made me feel warm inside.

I’m pretty sure I fell asleep smiling.

Chapter 11

MONDAY MORNING CAME
way, way too soon. I was all set to tell the girls about my kiss with Noah, because I knew they would want every detail. I was ready for the jealous looks I’d be getting. I was also prepared to wave aside any assumptions they might make about us getting together.

Noah and I had both been too busy to meet up the day before; but we’d texted. I still felt light and bubbly inside remembering his last text when I said I was going to sleep:
Sweet dreams
.

It had been very unlike Noah, but I’d still liked it.

A car pulled up outside my house, so I hurried downstairs and yelled goodbye over my shoulder.

‘Hey,’ I said to Lee, smiling as I climbed into the passenger seat.

‘Hey! What are you looking so happy about? I thought you were dreading today, after the whole kissing-booth situation.’

I shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Why can’t I be in a good mood?’

‘Well, for one thing, it’s a Monday. For another, you are not a morning person. Believe me, I know.’

I shrugged. ‘Don’t complain. I’m in a good mood – let’s leave it at that.’

Lee laughed. ‘Okay, then . . .’

Once we got to school, I had barely stepped out of the car before I was surrounded by squeals and questions. It seemed like every single girl wanted me to describe the kiss.

‘Give her some space, guys!’ I heard Lee laughing.

‘Ooh, you’re so lucky. I wish I’d been there. I would
kill
to kiss Flynn. I cannot believe you chickened out, Karen.’

‘I don’t blame you. It must’ve been terrifying when you realized you had to kiss Flynn!’

‘I wish it had been me.’

‘I can’t believe you got to kiss Flynn.’

‘Isn’t it really awkward though, with Lee?’

‘No,’ I scoffed. ‘Of course it’s not! Lee’s my best friend.’

‘Yeah, but it is his
brother
you made out with. And I saw – that wasn’t just a quick kiss,’ Candice added, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

‘Yeah, but it’s
Lee
.’

‘Have you spoken to Flynn since?’

‘Do you like him, Elle?’ Faith was suddenly right in my face. ‘Don’t you have a crush on him?’

‘I can hardly form a full sentence around him,’ laughed someone else.

‘You’re not the only one!’

‘Elle’s the only girl who can talk to him.’

‘I don’t see how you can act so normal around him,’ Georgia said.

I shrugged. ‘I grew up with him, because I was always with Lee. And I don’t know, Faith,’ I said, turning to her. ‘He’s just Noah.’

‘
Just Noah?
’ they all cried out in shock. I bit my cheeks. I really needed to start thinking before I blurted out stuff like that. ‘This is Flynn we’re talking about! How can you say that?’

‘Look, I’m going to go talk to some of the guys. I kissed Noah – yeah, it was great. But can we all just move on now? I’m kind of sick of talking about it.’

I felt mean, and I tried not to storm across the parking lot too angrily.

When I finally reached Lee and the other boys, I let out a huge sigh of relief.

‘That looked like fun,’ Lee said casually.

I elbowed him in the ribs.

‘Oh my gosh! You, like,
totally
have to tell us
everything
! Oh my
gosh
! I cannot believe you made out with
Flynn
! Like,
oh my gosh
!’ Cam said in a falsetto voice. The boys cracked up and I rolled my eyes.

‘Don’t even start. Please, I’m begging you.’

‘Don’t worry, we’re not going to ask,’ Dixon told me. ‘But seriously, you’re not dating?’

‘No.’

He nodded. ‘Cool.’

‘Why – you interested?’ I batted my eyes flirtatiously.

‘Maybe,’ he joked. Then he added, ‘Nah, just – you know, rumors.’

‘I’ll let Noah know next time I see him,’ I said seriously, making all the boys laugh and push Dixon around playfully. ‘Have an ambulance on standby.’

‘
Touché
.’

‘Oh, hey,’ Warren said suddenly. ‘I forgot. My parents are out next Friday, so you know what that means, right?’

‘House party!’ Lee yelled, high-fiving him. ‘Awesome.’

‘Don’t go spreading the word, though. I don’t want things getting too crazy.’

‘Sure, no problem,’ they all agreed.

‘You in, Elle?’ Warren asked me, since I hadn’t commented yet.

‘Sure thing. But I’m sticking to the alcohol-free stuff at this one – I do not want another near-miss of the skinny-dipping episode.’

‘Damn it, Elle, my dreams are crushed,’ Cameron muttered, and laughed.

Lee looked at me doubtfully. ‘Don’t worry, Shelly, I’ll keep an eye on you.’

‘No you won’t, you’ll be too busy making out with Rachel,’ Oliver said, making everyone laugh.

The bell went then, and we all filed into the school for assembly.

Lee and I got a special commendation from the principal for raising so much money on our booth. That’s not the only thing I got, though.

There were so many comments and whistles from boys passing by about me and Flynn. It was really starting to bug me. Nothing as offensive as what had been said after Lee and Noah’s party. But the way they said it was really making my blood boil.

By Thursday all the excitement had mostly died down. New rumors and gossip came onto the scene, sidelining me.

I couldn’t have been happier.

I was so sick of talking about kissing Flynn at the carnival. I was so sick of hearing the girls tell me how jealous they were. I was so sick of having boys look at me differently in the corridors because now I wasn’t quite as innocent anymore.

And then, to top my week off, I got to Lee’s on Thursday afternoon, like we’d arranged, to find he wasn’t there.