Dawn

It would've been better if Aria had just chased me from the lake all the way back home, with me running for my life, and Kat behind with a shovel to dig my grave- or perhaps whack me with her precious beach ball.

Instead, I was forced to watch her expression turn into utter betrayal, which was somehow much worse.

"You didn't," she whispered, her first words since I had accidentally exposed myself.

"I..." Swallowing, I adverted my eyes, and stared at the floor of the bridge. The tension was vibrating through the air, so for me it was a wonder that the water rippling below was so calm and serene.

Kat shifted her feet, looking uncomfortable. "I'll... leave you to it."

I didn't try to stop her as she left us stranded in the middle of the bridge, her footsteps vibrating on the wooden planks. It wasn't her fault that she knew as well- after all, I had been the one to ask her if we could eat out... though if I was being completely honest with myself, it wasn't really my fault either- I had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time- how was I meant to know that Aria and Jason had ditched the city and decided to go eat at a chocolate café?

Clearing my throat, I dared a glance up at Aria.

She was looking towards Noah and Jason who were laughing as they splashed each other with water.

"Um... Aria?"

She turned back to glare at me.

"Care to share?"

"Share... what?" Trust myself to be confused in the times I shouldn't be.

"Your... interesting story which included stalking your best friend out to her first date?"

"I'm really sorry Aria," I muttered, forcing myself to make eye-contact. "Kat and I wanted to go out to eat- well, I asked her, and we had been at that chocolate café a while before you came."

"Oh..." Aria looked at me sceptically. "Kat too, huh? You all know? And then?"

"Well, once you came, I considered leaving, but Kat and I realised that you probably would cause a scene at the café, and also ruin your date with Jason too because you'd be too angry... so we stayed."

Aria watched me silently. "You must've been very close to our table if you heard everything," she finally commented.

I nodded. "We got the table right next to yours."

With a frown on her face, I watched her lean against the metal sides of the bridge, seemingly deep in thought. She was probably going over everything that she had said, and everything I must've heard.

A new expression dawned on her face. It was called anger.

"That means you already knew Noah liked you before I told you... which means you were lying. All of it! The phone call, the chat before roll call! You knew everything, and you lied to me. Me! Your best friend! Is this how you treat your best friends?"

She was coming at me now. A bee with her stinger poised, never mind the fact that it could potentially kill our friendship. Just like when a bee stung something, it lost its life- the thing that would die here today was our friendship bond.

"I- no, this time was different, I promise you! I didn't want to make you angry that I had overheard everything, especially since you were so happy after your date, and I didn't want to dampen your excitement. At the time, I was trying to do what was best for you, but now I see that I was wrong- and it's not like I wanted to see you and Jason kiss and stuff, but-"

"How dare you watch me and Jason... do... stuff!" She hastily butted in, cheeks flaming. "That was our private moment that you just ruined-"

"There were other people at the café too," I grumbled, instantly regretting it. Why did I always have to say the wrong things?

"You know what, I've had it. What type of friend do you think you are? Friends do not go watch their best friend go on a first date- do you know how disrespectful and just plain mean that is?" She pointed a trembling finger down the bridge. Her eyes were shining, and I knew she was fighting back tears. "Just leave, Dawn."

"I'm sorry, I really am... I'm sorry Aria. I promise it won't happen again." My own voice was wobbly and I looked down, swallowing past the lump in my throat.

I was such a terrible person.

"Please," she said.

Nodding, I walked shakily past Aria and headed down the bridge, keeping my head low. We'd been friends since Year Eight, but had known each other since Year Six. If our friendship died now, I knew Kat wouldn't be enough, no matter how awesome she was- Aria had been my rock in some ways.

My footsteps on the wooden planks sounded so empty.

A light hand on my shoulder startled me and I jerked my head up, rubbing a hand across my eyes.

"Are you okay... actually, don't answer that."

Noah studied my face as I adverted my eyes. I focused on the weight of his hand on my shoulder. It was so warm and relaxing-

"Did you and Aria fight or something?"

Grimacing, I nodded.

"Bad?"

"Bad." My voice sounded so scratchy it sounded like I had said, 'ad'.

Now it was Noah's turn to grimace.

Inwardly, I went through everything that had just happened, feeling more put down each time Aria's hurt face flashed at me.

The tears were now pushing insistently at my eyes. If I bawled my eyes out, it better not be in front of Noah.

"You'll make it up one day," he said, unusually softly. As if unsure, he reached up a hand and used his thumb to wipe away some tears I hadn't managed to get rid of, and rested that hand on my shoulders too.

I stared up at him with more tears pooling in my eyes.

Did he really just have to do that? Now I was one-hundred percent sure I was going to bawl in front of him.

"Just leave, Dawn."

That did it.

With a strangled sound, I lurched forwards to my right to maneuver my way around Noah, tears already leaking from my traitorous eyes, but Noah side-stepped to let me past by going to his left, and I ended up crashing into him again. 

And so I let my wet tears stain his shirt as I pressed my face into his chest. 

Yay. Self-applause for Dawn, since Aria wouldn't be doing it. 

This just prompted more tears to spill out, and I reached up to anchor myself to something. This happened to be Noah's shoulders. 

Now, if you were a bystander, who had been casually strolling along the bridge, you would've seen a very emotional teenage girl hugging a very confused teenage boy and crying her eyes out while the boy looked extremely unsure what to do. 

Which would've been funny, unless you'd happened to witness the earlier argument between two teenage girls. You wouldn't be laughing anymore. 

A few seconds later I felt Noah's arms curve around me and he rested his chin atop my head, his hands stroking my hair, which was comforting. 

We stayed in the position for god knows how long, until I sniffed and immediately smelt Noah's smokey, heady scent that made heat rush into my cheeks. I pulled back.

"Sorry," I murmured as his arms slid away from my waist and came up to rest back on my shoulders. 

He pulled slowly away too, watching me with his deep brown eyes. 

What was I meant to do now? Nervousness kicked in, overcoming the sadness, and I looked down. I was afraid of him looking too far into my eyes until he could see my entire soul, and then I'd feel so exposed, the walls I'd built so carefully up for nothing...

"You've got nothing to be sorry for," he replied. 

"Aria..."

"Will forgive you in time." He said this more firmly.

I pursed my lips and sighed. "I guess I'll wait."

He nodded, then asked, "Will Aria come tomorrow with Jason and Kathleen?"

Oh. Oh. I hadn't thought that far...

"I... I guess not."

"Will Kat come then?"

"I don't know. Maybe we'll just make it whoever comes, comes?"

"That could work." 

I gave him a small smile, then heard someone say loudly, "If you're done with Dawn, can I steal her now?"

We both turned to see Kat standing there with one eyebrow raised.

"Of course," I said quickly, disentangling myself from Noah. 

As I turned to follow Kat, who was already striding away, I looked up at Noah and said, "Thank you. For- for what you did just then." 

He smiled; it was easy and made my heart light. "Anytime," he replied. 

Anytime, I mouthed to myself later that night, with the moon and the stars for company, my blinds rolled up to let in the light of night. 

Hi! I decided to post another chapter today! Hoped you liked it! 

Do you think Dawn and Noah will have to go to the beach alone? Or will Kat come? And what about Aria and Jason? :)

Please comment your thoughts! And please vote as well, it always makes my day when someone does it; thank you for those who do! 💕

xxx,

HalloPhoenix