Noelle

"Guys I think coming here was a bad idea," I said for the nineteenth time since we arrived at the beach a week later.

"We would have stayed home. Watching old movies crying our eyes out. It's not too late to turn back," I cajoled Aria and Sapphire.

But they both ignored me. They laid a large mat on the floor and didn't hesitate to lie back on it.

A boy not less than seventeen years old appeared in front of us and took my friends' orders.

The beach was very crowded today mostly by high school students. Most of my school. Out of the blue, the principal surprisedly dismissed us all during lunchtime.

My friends did not want to head straight home. I was trying to convince them to come hang out at my house when a group of people moved towards the school doors. They were talking about the beach and Aria happened to overhear.

And then, she suggested it and Saph's eyes lit up and I knew I had lost the argument when both squealed and hopped in the car to the beach.

Which led to here.

Saph turned to me slightly irritated by the loud noises. "What is up with you? We are here to get some sun. What's the deal about going home so early?"

While thinking of an excuse, I start to pace. "I-i-i have a err family thing." I lied lowly. I don't know why I felt restless but I couldn't help but notice someone has been staring at me since we got here.

Aria finally turned into the conversation. She raised a hand to her forehead and used it as a shield.

"What family thing? Noelle, you may be sneaky but you aren't very much of a liar. Even Nicholas is here too," Aria cocked her head to the side and Noelle followed.

True enough, Nicholas was there. Dressed in his football uniform. He was chatting with some other guys on the football team, all dressed the same as him.

Knowing I had been defeated, I stopped and sat down on the mat with Aria. With the sultry heat, I pulled out a book from my bag and I laid down and covered my face with the book. Thankfully I wasn't going to get sunburned because of my body cream.

I was starting to forget my uneasiness and I was dozing off when I heard Saph. "Noelle, the whole school is here. It's like a festival. Thank God you decided to stay. I mean everybody is here; the cheerleaders, the sportspeople, even Lucas, Melody, Nicholas, and Reese are here too."

Under my book, I was nodding at everything she said until Saph mentioned the last name. I felt my face redden. Thankfully, my face was covered with a book or my friends won't let me hear the end of it.

Over the week I had developed some kind of giddiness and blushing reaction anytime I saw him or I heard of him. He only talked to me a few times and here I was blushing like a giddy schoolgirl with a crush.

I guess after scrubbing my mouth with toothpaste didn't do a fine job of making me forget the kiss because I still thought about it.......

I snapped from my reverie when I heard some sounds like slapping on the skin when I realized Sapphire was applying sunscreen.

"I know right!!! Everyone is here. And wow! There are so many hot guys around me right now. I won't trade this for the world because I am in heaven," Aria said with a satisfied tone.

"Do I need to remind you that you have a boyfriend?" I hear Sapphire say and I imagine her rolling her eyes at Aria.

More slapping continues before I heard Aria speak again. "So, I am free to admire handsome people when I see them. The world is filled with a lot of art, learn to appreciate them."

I sensed Sapphire was about to say something but the guy from earlier returned with their drinks. Instantly, I shot up. I was now feeling hot and thirsty too. I needed a drink.

"Hi. Could I get a soda or juice? Soda preferably?" I questioned and the guy nodded.

"Thank you!" I called after him as he hurried away.

I looked around the beach and truly enough, it was packed with students. Rock music was playing from somewhere and people especially boys were tossing away their shirts and diving into the water.

It was a day anyways. Suddenly, I was happy I decided to wear a loose t-shirt and a skirt.

Unconsciously, my eyes moved over to the lifeguard station. The small cabin was packed with people standing in front of it and they had formed a crowd. I narrowed my eyes as I moved from one face to another, searching.

What are you doing?! My inner self screamed at me.

I was looking for Lucas, I told myself determined to believe it.

After a minute, my gaze zeroed on him. The subject of my newly found habits. He was laughing with the small crowd. He looked wet like he had been in the water earlier. His hair had splattered to his forehead and he looked so free and lazy. Someone said something and they all laughed again. He really looks good.

God help me!!

Someone called him over and he moved away from the crowd. Now the crowd seemed familiar. They were all in the same team as Reese's basketball team. Reese started to walk away but suddenly, he halted.

Before I could register that he noticed someone was watching him, he turned around and our eyes met. Immediately, I blinked furiously and stared into the ocean behind him that made him look like a drawing from the Renaissance.

Embarrassed I had been caught staring, I continued to stare at the water. Hopefully, he would leave soon, I thought pleadingly while wishing the ground would open and swallow me up.

But I thought wrong. Suddenly, Reese appeared in my line of vision and started waving. When Reese realize he had caught my attention, he smiled wide and my heart gave a little leap.

Uncaring about my hot cheeks, I smiled back and waved. I was still staring at him when I noticed his mouth was moving. He was mouthing words.

Was he talking to me?

I moved a little bit closer and tried to focus on his lips to understand what he was saying.

You are an idiot, my brain said but I ignored it.

"What are you doing?" I heard Aria's voice from behind me.

Immediately, I turned to her. Embarrass and determined not to explain myself. "Nothing," I said a little too quickly.

Just then I realized I had moved to the edge of the mat and was almost seating on the sand. Quickly, I moved back into the mat. Hopefully no one will notice, I thought.

Saph scoffed, flipping her hair back that wind blew to her face. "What is she doing? More like what is she looking at?"

Saph winked at me. Aria looked lost. "Huh? Where is he? Where is the specimen that captured your attention that you haven't been with us for ten minutes."

"No. I was listening the whole time," I said. Slowly, I reached up to my cheeks and realized I wasn't blushing.

Thank God.

Aria's expression turned smug. "Oh really, I guess you hear about the trip to the mall, the party on Saturday, and the fact you are paying for the drinks?"

When did they even talk about this? Determined not to give in and spill my stupid little crush, I nodded. "Yes of course."

"Why are you blushing?" Sapphire's voice rang out from nowhere.

"Huh!" I thought I was in the clear.

Shit.

Aria looked at us in confusion before zeroing her eyes at me with one perfectly arched eyebrow raised. "Yes, Sapphire is right why are you brighter than my drink?"

"It's nothing...well I think I am coming down with something. Is it cold? I don't know." I shrugged, trying to look as honest as possible.

Both of them rolled their eyes. "Once again, you are not a very good liar, Noelle. Now spill," Aria coaxed.

Defeated, I started to open my mouth to spill when Sapphire opened her mouth with a detective glare on her face. "Wait. Don't tell me it's Aaron?"

"What!!" I and Aria exclaimed together in shock.

Hello everyone still reading this. I explained earlier on my message board that this book is already planned out and I had written out some chapters. But I left it in my dorm in college due to the pandemic.

So I cant write literary all the chapters now. And I apologize if I forgot some of the appearances or hobbies of the characters.

But I'll still try my best to write. Thank you all for not giving up on me or this book although I have been MIA too. Thank you all for staying.

This chapter isn't fully edited and apologies for the obvious mistakes. Please do check out my other books.

★ What's the Big Idea!!

★ Cupid for the Billionaire