CHAPTER ONE:

The darkness had finally setting into the inkiest time, as I snuggled deeper into my bed, dreaming a dreamless dream, well practically. As usual I was dreaming about food. Mhm, maybe I should marry my bed and just forget about everything else? I think we could have a really good time together…How can it be so…comfy?

 Sadly, like all good things, my sleep had to come to a very sudden and quick death. Shattered by a very, very needy football player. My phone rang out shattering my thoughts of marriage and dreams, starting with a very loud “When I walk by, girls be looking like dam-“ I groaned. Not now! I was just about to eat this most delicious sandwich on the Eiffel Town! I slapped my dresser blindly, searching through the dark, shuffling out of my cocoon of warmth to find my phone. Aha! I held it up triumphantly, my head still deep within the plush pillows.

“Whfuduyefwdts?” The boy that had tortured me so much this week answered in an annoyingly chipper voice, “What was that? I don’t really speak marshmallow-mouth… Care to translate?” I lifted my head up and shouted at him, “What do you want!” I growled into my pillow, why did I agree to this torture? His infuriating voice filled my ear, “No need to feel so sexually frustrated,” I could practically hear his smirk through the phone. I wonder how much it would cost to hire an assassin?

 “Go away, you jerk-face-squirrel-breath-twat!” What did I do in my past life to deserve this? He continued as if he didn’t hear anything, “Hey to you too! It’s time to come serve me, honey bunch of oats!” I didn’t even bother answering, pressed the end button, and for the seventy-fifth time this week I cursed that deal I made. Noah had been sure to never actually come when my actual shift was, making me come to Bearnie’s at the weirdest hours.

I let out all my frustrations on my phone and threw it across the room; it landed with a sad little ‘clunk’ after hitting the opposite wall. I flew out of bed, leaving the warmth of my cozy bed, the severity of the matter hitting me. No! I ran over to where it’s remains lay, trying to make sense of all of the little pieces of my once beloved phone. I guess I’m phoneless.

I gathered the broken pieces in my hands, and whispered to it, “I’m sorry my dearest one that we must part. So sorry. Don’t worry, I shall always remember you and our fun selfie times!” and with that I dropped it into the trash. I’m so going to kill that boy.

I grabbed my clothes and started changing into my clothes. I slipped into my jeans, doing the little dance I had to do to get into them. Thank goodness no one has to see that! I then reached over and grabbed my favorite t-shirt, getting a little stuck as I put it on, and put my worn leather jacket over that. Grabbing my bag and keys, I continued out of the house, commending myself on my speed of light preparation.

My breath froze and flew away from me as soon as I did make it out though. Of course it had to be freezing. Typical. I stepped into my old beaten up Chevy, running my hands up and down my arms trying to generate some warmth. I slipped my frost bitten fingers into my pocket, pulling out the key and putting it in the ignition. It took a few minutes to start, the load rumbling echoing through the neighborhood.

I sighed patting my dashboard, "My dear Ethel... Why do you not have heat? Not even for your sweet mommy?" The engine growled and sputtered, "I take that as a no then? Okay! Well I guess it's time to go freeze and serve a stupid jerk! Yay me!" Great, I'm talking to my car, could I get any more insane? Judging by who we're talking about, that answer will probably be a yes...

'Ethel's' lights shone all along the empty road, sometimes reflecting across some lucky persons window as I drove along. I made sure to go as slowly as possible. Noah would just have to wait. Humming to the newest pop hit that strangely sounded a lot like all the others, I thought about all the things I wanted to do and be. Life’s short and though I hate to say it, “YOLO”. Well unless we are reincarnated and in that case “YMLA”. You might live again.

 I pondered some more about the deep and meaningful roots of that oh so annoying saying yet sadly, I couldn't make him wait long enough, and was at Bearnie’s before I knew it. My lights shone on the small diner, emphasizing the single light shining through the darkness. I could see Noah casually leaning back in my favorite spot all alone. By the third time he called in the middle of the night, Bearnie decided to give him a set of keys, so she wouldn’t have to wake up.

She’s probably sleeping. In her nice comfy bed. Dreaming nice dreams. I sighed, I remember those nice days! And then there was Noah.  I frowned, quickly turned the engine off and stepped out of the car, once again breathing in the frigid air, and stepped towards the door. The soft bells tickled as I walked in, Noah’s head snapping up, his smirk always present. “Nice of you to show up.”

I scoffed, “Isn’t that what all the teachers said about you when you finally came to class?” He laughed, “Yeah I guess so! Who knew I could sound like a fifty year old pedophile woman!” I rolled my eyes and made no comment. “So what am I slaving over today?” His eyes widened with excitement.

What was it with boys and food? Slowly biting his lip he glanced at the menu, “Urm how about, three large chocolate chip waffles with some hash browns and the some eggs, sunny side up of course, served with a side of sexy and a date from you?” I laughed out loud at the idea.

Me, him, together, without being forced to? Yeah, that’s going to happen the day the world actually ends. “Sorry I’m all booked up for now. How about never? Is never good for you?” It was his turn to roll his eyes, and as he opened his mouth to speak I walked away into the kitchen. Of course being Noah, he didn’t let me have the last word.

As I grabbed the basic utensils from the drawer, I felt someone come up from behind and wrap their arms around me. Considering Noah was the only other person who was in the diner at this moment, I wrinkled my nose. Why does he keep doing this?

I knew he was just teasing me, just like every other second of my life, but this was weird. It wasn’t like he was poking fun at my looks or mannerisms, or even my new name, but instead he was doing all his moves on me! I mean I’ve known Noah for forever, but this is ridiculous. I’m not doing this. Noah’s a jerk, and always will be, and I know that.

“Noah, get your hands off me, or I will go all TMNT on you.” I grasped his hands, trying to pry them off of me. Sadly, it seems that football practice worked, and he didn’t seem to be budging.

“You know you want me,” he whispered into my ear, pulling me closer. The smell of mint and fresh grass wafted in the air as his breath tickled me, making me squirm.

“Yeah, to let go! And don’t go quoting Pitbull to me!” He answered in a puzzled voice, the heavy weight of his head on my shoulder, “What’s TMNT? Sounds kinky,” I knew at that moment he would’ve winked at me. I laughed loudly.

“Noah, I never knew you had a fetish for green guys also known as teenage mutant ninja turtles…” “Only for you babe. Only for you.” And that was all, I soon felt his arms snake from my waist and his head leave, the warmth left behind the only clue that he was there.

I turned around to face him, my hands on my hips and spoke, “Noah, don’t you want food?” He leaned back against the wooden counter in the middle of the kitchen. Not responding but instead finally looking around at the surroundings.

“Woah. This place is so…kitcheny!” He exclaimed. I looked closer at him, tilting my head, “Noah, if you’re going to be here you have to help me cook. Okay?” His shoulders slumped and his little boy face came on, “But, but, Blai-Hope, I don’t want to!”

I threw my hands up in the air, “How many times do I have to tell you my name is Hope. H-O-P-E. It’s simple, so get it right!” He smirked and stepped away from the counter coming closer in the process, “Apparently some more, okay, I’m hungry, so lets get cooking!” He looked at me expectantly, waiting for instruction. I smiled inwardly; he can be really cu-annoying sometimes.

Time to make him pay. “Well get moving then? That is unless you don’t want any food?” he shook his head quickly, his dark hair flying into his eyes, “So go out back and grab some more flour. This ones almost empty.” He ran out back, only sticking his head out to ask me several times where it was. Boys, I mean really, why are they so incompetent at times?

Noah finally returned carrying the flour in his arms, and dropped it on the table. “Now what?” I tried to think of what else he could do without actually touching anything. We don’t want a repeat of last time he cooked. How he got a full sized live chicken in the microwave, was still unknown to me.

“Urm, how bout you throw this away? Think you can manage?” I said teasingly shaking the empty flour bag in his face. He rolled his eyes, “Yeah Blair, I’m this little weakling you just happens to be able to bench 195 pounds easily.” My cheeks decided to make an impression of a tomato at this moment. Charming. “I’m glad you finally admitted it, you know admitting you have a problem is the first step. Oh and guess what? Shut up.”

He just laughed as I turned my back on him and pulled the rest of the ingredients towards me. That is, that was what I was attempting to do when my vision was suddenly obstructed by white. “Oh no! I see the light!” I panicked flinging my hands to my eyes, “Wait, that means Noah killed me! I’m so haunting him.”

I closed my eyes, waiting for either the harps or the heat, but considering I was boring so its probably the former. I wonder if I’ll see God? I bet he’s a really chill dude. Woah, maybe I can even meet some of my favorite people! This is so cool! Wait. I’m dead. This is not so cool! A full-bellied laugh brought me to my senses, making me open my eyes and realize the white was gone and in place was a very amused looking Noah. “So, how’s heaven?”

My eyes widened in surprise as his words registered in my head. “I’m not dead?” Hallelujah! Wait, so what was that white stuff. My hands gingerly reached out to touch my head, and then brought them back to see what was on them. It’s white. My forehead scrunched in confusion, slowly reaching the whitened fingers to my mouth. “Flour?” I asked questioningly, which Noah responded to by just shaking the now fully empty flour bag in my face.

I clenched my fists together. Why that little bast- without thinking I grabbed whatever I could behind me. “Oh its on like Donkey Kong!” And with that the egg flew, landing with a satisfying crack on his face. That should wipe his smile off of his face. And I was right.

Before I knew it within minutes we were both covered with head to toe with all of the ingredients and so was the kitchen. I looked at him warily, slowly circling him, as he did the same with narrowed eyes. In one hand I had some of the cooked noodles from yesterday and in the other a bomb of flour.

 My eyes flicked to the half full fridge, slowly inching closer to it. I have to make a break for it. I flung the noodles at him as he dodged and sprinted towards the fridge as well. We were head to head and I glanced over next to him, concentrating on pushing myself harder. I was shocked when a loud sound echoed through the kitchen, only to realize it was me falling on the ground. I looked up to see Noah had reached the fridge and now stood with replenished weapons.

 Oh gosh. The lasagna. He slowly walked up to me, and each time I tried to get up I slipped, when he finally reached me and stopped his hand poised to throw. “Noah, don’t even think about it. Honestly, you will regret it. So don’t, do, it,” I said pronouncing each word carefully. He smiled widely and said the famous words Noah was famous for, “Maybe later.”

And then dumped all of the yummy yet oh so slimy food right on top of my head. “Ew! You are so dead!” Noah just laughed not believing the seriousness of the situation. You see when I’m mad, I’m mad, and even my famous brother Anders couldn’t control nor fight against me when I was angry. All I saw was red, and no, it wasn’t from the sauce. Yet again grabbing anything in my reach and pulled. It was Noah, and seconds later another boom sounded through the diner.

“Oof,” Noah let out a puff of air, rubbing the back of his head where it hit the ground. “Fuck, that hurt Blair.” I glared at him and hit him on the head with the last remaining egg. He wiped it from his eyes and shook his head making the egg fly everywhere. I giggled at the way he looked. His hair hap hazardous, clothes an undistinguishable color, and his face covered with different splattered food.

 I reached over and touched his hair, pulling out a lengthy noodle, which only made my giggles to come back again. “You look ridiculous.” He touched his heart in mock hurt, “Ridiculously…sexy!” “Whatever makes you sleep better at night, Noah…” He then pulled me up and held me close again, “You know we wouldn’t do much sleeping if you came over, hun.” He winked, searching my eyes, and then examining my face.

His calloused fingers touched my cheek softly, surprising me when he wiped some unmentionable sauce off my cheek and licked his finger. “You’re so gross! Ew! Like who even does that…” He still looked at me in the same soft way, “Do me a favor, Hope? Shut it.”

At this point I wasn’t even mad at Noah, just having fun being young. I looked up at him smiling, the egg only adding to his sexy look. Wait, Noah’s not sexy. He’s…he’s a…jerk! And annoying! And rude! That’s right. I involuntarily took a step back from what I realized to be very close to Noah. Which of course caused me to slip yet again. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the impact that never came.

 I cautiously opened my eyes only to meet the stormy grey ones. Noah. My breath hitched as I saw him coming closer, his eyes fluttering shut last second. He was going to kiss me. And I was going to let him. What? As our lips were seconds from impact the bells tickled. Dear god, I hate this guy yet I’m hearing wedding bells? This is not normal. He stopped, his breath mingling with mine, so close but so far.

My eyes opened again, searching his for the answer to this unnecessary stop. In the background I heard steps. His lips look so inviting. I leaned forward again. Only thinking of him, well not him, but the perfect Noah. Wait. Steps? I pulled back, Noah’s arms still firmly wrapped around me. “Now what on earth did I tell you about wooing her, Noah?” The loud voice of Bearnie sounded near.

Both of our heads snapped up to meet the disgruntled face of Bearnie, Noah proceeding to dropped me in shock. “Ouch.” I rubbed my back as I lay tangled at her feet, looking up into at her, “Oh hey, Bearnie! We were just…ugh…redecorating.” She gave me a look, and I in turn glanced helplessly at Noah who of course was greatly amused by the situation. Well this would be fun to explain…