Song for the chapter

This Town by Niall Horan (getting a lil sweet up in here 🥰)
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Noa was the person I first thought about when I'd wake up and last person I'd think about when I'd fall asleep.

She still is.

That day when she kissed me at school the first time was by far one of my most memorable days. The way her small hands tangled up in my hair as we kissed made me want her then and there.

I don't think I had that feeling of want for a woman ever. I'm mean, not like that at least.

I remember mentally praying she would agree to hang out after my practice. I had hoped to continue what we had started in the school's hallway.

Practice that day was brutal, not just because my coach made us do an intense workout that made me drip with sweat, but because I couldn't stop thinking about Noa.

Let's just say my heart wasn't the only thing that ached for her.

After practice got done, I had rushed to the locker room to shower and get cleaned up. I was going to go pick her up from her place.

Beckett, being my best friend, knew me well enough that I was excited about something because I never hustled to the locker room like I had that day.

"Woah, Rhett. What's the rush?" He asked as I began to strip to quick hop in the shower. He smirked knowing full well why I was excited to get out of there, but, knowing him, he just wanted me to say it out loud. Some of our teammates briefly looked up at me as he said this.

"Noa and I are going to hang out," was all I said before running into the showers. I began to think of Noa and that kiss earlier, so I switched the water from warm to cold.

My showers were getting colder and colder starting at this time.

Once I was finished showering, I quickly dried off and began to get changed into my extra clothes. Beckett was finishing up tying his shoes, a smirk was still present on his lips.

"I assume when you say you and Noa are hanging out, it's going to be more than that, huh?" His eyes met mine as he said this.

I shrugged my shoulders as I tried to play it cool. "I don't know, man. Can't I be excited to see my girl?"

His eyes quirked up at that. "Your girl? Are you guys official now?"

A grin arose on my features. I began to pack up my things in my bag, pausing briefly as I said, "yeah."

"Nice, man. She makes you happy, yeah?"

"I've never been happier." I sounded like a lovesick fool....which I was. I won't deny it.

"I'm happy to hear that, man." His words were sincere as Beckett was one of my only friends that knew I struggled with being happy. "Well, have fun. See ya tomorrow." He winked as he waved goodbye as I exited the locker room.

Once I made it to her place, texting her that I was there, I tried messily styling my hair in my rear view mirror. I didn't notice her gawking at me through the window until I turned my head to the side.

Her red lips were parted slightly; lips I really just wanted on mine.

I unrolled the window. "I know, I'm attractive, babe."

She rolled her eyes, of course, as she got into the passenger's side. I noticed she had switched out of her clothes from before. She wore a longer ACDC top with tighter black leggings underneath, and her pink hair was wavy and left to hang down her backside. She looked good.

Really good.

"I know I'm attractive, Rhett-babe." She mimicked me from just moments before as she caught me staring at her. How could I not though? She's my moon goddess.

I winked back at her as she hopped in. She, of course had responded with a playful eye roll. Once she buckled in she had given me a grimace.

"What trash music is this?" I shifted the car into drive, shrugging my shoulders.

"Not sure, I just put on a popular playlist on. You can change it if you'd like." I wasn't too much of a music guru, as I only listened to rap music when working out.

She grabbed my phone lying in the console hastily at my statement. After a few moments of her scrolling through my playlists to find the perfect song to put on, she finally asked, "so, where are we going? Also, I kinda have to be back before midnight. My mom gets back at that time."

"I didn't realize your mom works that late."

"Only around the holidays," was all she said before repeating her question again. "So, where are we going??"

I glanced at her before reverting my eyes back to the road. "It's a surprise."

"I hate surprises."

I placed my right hand on her thigh, feeling rebellious as I lightly squeezed her leg. "You'll like this one. I promise."

Her cheeks flushed a light pink before she turned her head so she was facing out the passenger's side window.

I continued to drive to the destination until we will finally there.

"Is this that new, fancy arcade everyone was talking about at school a few weeks ago?" She asked me as I parked the car.

I looked up at the building, "ARCADE" lighting up in big bold letters.

"Yeah... it's supposed to have a lot of classic arcade games as well as some newer ones! I figured we deserved some fun and games with all the studying we've been doing together."

I looked back at her as she began to unbuckle her seat-belt, and her eyes met mine. "Alright, Rhett-babe... you ready to lose?" Her mouth curled up into a daring smirk; her eyes were full of fiery determination.

"I'm ready to see you eat your words!" I said as we ran to the main doors of the arcade, racing each other. I beat her to the front counter and paid for our token card. The token card was a slick and technologically new way to play the games at the arcade; it replaced the buckets of tokens many arcades of the past had.

I gave Noa the card, her face in a slight frown as I did so. "I hate when you always pay."

"Then next time, if you so wish to, I will let you pay. But, if you should know, I enjoy being a gentleman and using my parent's money."

"Good. I will be paying next time, but, I guess, I appreciate it." She gave me a half smile before playfully rolling her eyes.

I tugged at her hand towards the 'skee-ball' games. "Now, let's go!"

We played as many games as we could before Noa declared she was "starving and would eat me if need be."

I decided that we needed to grab some food because I also was hungry, and I didn't want Noa to get hangry.

On the drive to the town's local diner, Noa places her hand on my leg that was closest to her. Her delicate fingers lightly squeezed my thigh, causing me to swerve slightly.

"W-what are you doing?" I asked, hesitantly, keeping my eyes on the road.

"Nothing... just asserting my dominance." Her reply was a typical Noa response.

"Your dominance?"

She lightly squeezed my thigh again causing me to inhale and hold my breath. I was having trouble calming my manhood.

I heard her snicker before she said, "yep. My dominance."

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After saying "hi" to Diggy and eating the usual, I drove her to the top of our town's largest hill, appropriately named, Honeymoon Hill. It was where many people, especially locals, would go to view the town's skyline. It was also a hot spot for teens to take their dates to due to its seclusiveness.

I took her as during dinner she had mentioned she'd never been up there. I didn't think much of it as I drove us there. I figured she just wanted to see the town's skyline for the first time.

Once I had parked the car, I watched as she gazed out. The town's skyline was framed by two large willow trees and a pinkish sunset gave us a picturesque view.

"Wow... this is really pretty. I thought everyone in school was exaggerating." Her voice was softer than normal.

I looked at her, smiling. "Yeah I love coming up here."

"Oh, I'm sure you do," she deadpanned. I felt my cheeks flush instantly at the double meaning.

"I-I not like that or anything urgh I-" I began to sputter our before she laughed.

"Rhett, lighten up. I'm obviously joking."

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "Y-Yeah, I knew that."

She rolled her eyes, playfully, snickering. There was a comfortable silence before I felt her hand find mine which was sitting on my leg. She flipped it over so my palm was facing up. I gave her a curious look before she slipped her fingers in between mine, giving my hand a slight squeeze as she looked back out towards the skyline.

I kept gazing at her profile until she said, "stop staring at me. Enjoy the view with me."

"But I am enjoying the view. It's the better than the one out there."

Her eyes found mine, a smile crept up on her features before she shifted her body closer to mine. I found myself getting closer too until our faces were mere centimeters apart.

"Why?" Her voice was so soft; her eyes begging me for an answer.

"Why what?"

She placed her hand softly on my cheek, the touch sending a tingle down my spine.

I placed my hand over hers, leaning into her touch more.

"Why ...me?"

I didn't hesitate when I said , "because I've fallen in love with you."

Her mouth parted slightly, eyes widening a bit as a brief inhalation occurred from her mouth.

My insides began to churn nervously. Was that stupid to admit to her?

My mind was going berserk, thinking I pushed it too far; that maybe she didn't want me to say that or she was too overwhelmed and wasn't ready.

Before I could keep talking myself down, she fully grabbed my face, letting her lips lightly touch mine.

I grabbed her head in my hands, deepening the kiss.

She pulled back first, her eyes shining.

"I never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth, but I'm happy they did." She quickly said before I kissed her again. Our hands explored each other as the kiss grew into something more passionate; both of us wanting more.

Honeymooners Hill was definitely the right name for that hill.

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**unedited**