N O A H

I can't concentrate. The office feels suffocating, every tick of the clock grating on my nerves. Sarah's at her desk, focused, her fingers moving deftly across the keyboard.

She doesn't even glance in my direction, which makes the ache in my chest burn even more. I can't let things stay like this, this unbearable distance between us.

I take a deep breath, pushing aside my pride and my doubts. It's now or never. I stand up and walk toward her, my footsteps heavy but determined. She looks up when I approach, her expression unreadable, her guard up as if she already knows what's coming.

"Sarah," I start, my voice softer than I intend. She raises an eyebrow but doesn't say anything. "Can we talk?"

She sighs, leaning back in her chair. "We're already talking, Noah."

"Not here," I say quickly, gesturing toward the conference room. "Please. Just give me five minutes."

She hesitates but eventually nods, standing up and walking past me into the room. The scent of her perfume lingers as she brushes by, making my heart race. I follow her in, closing the door behind us.

She crosses her arms, leaning against the table. "What do you want, Noah?"

I take a moment to steady myself, trying to find the right words. "I wanted to apologize. For everything."

I nod, swallowing hard. "You're right. I was a jerk to you earlier. I let my anger and guilt get the best of me, and I took it out on you. That wasn't fair. You didn't deserve that."

She doesn't say anything, just looks at me with that same guarded expression, and it's enough to make me feel like I'm standing on a tightrope, one wrong move away from falling.

"I know I have anger issues," I admit, my voice cracking slightly. "And I know I've hurt people because of it. But I don't want to be that person anymore, Sarah. I'm trying to change."

Her gaze softens for a moment before she shakes her head. "Noah, this isn't just about your anger. You're impulsive, reckless. One moment you're yelling, and the next, you're apologizing. I don't know if I can keep up with you."

I take a step closer, desperate to bridge the gap between us. "I know I've been all over the place, but I swear, Sarah, this isn't just some impulsive thing. What I feel for you... it's real. It's not just attraction. It's not just some fleeting emotion."

She laughs bitterly, looking away. "And how do you know that, Noah? How can you be so sure?"

"Because I've never felt this way before," I confess, my voice raw. "Not with anyone else. When I'm with you, it's like everything makes sense. You challenge me, you frustrate me, but you also make me want to be better. For you. For us."

Her eyes flicker to mine, and I can see the conflict there. She's not convinced yet, but she's listening.

"Noah..." she starts, but I cut her off.

"Please, just hear me out," I say, my words rushing out in a desperate plea. "I know I've made mistakes. I know I've hurt you. But I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right." I pause.

"I want to know you, Sarah. I want to know what makes you laugh, what makes you cry. I want to be there for you, through the good and the bad."

She looks down at her hands, her defenses cracking just a little. "Noah, this might just be attraction. A fleeting thing that feels strong now but fades later."

"It's not," I say firmly, stepping even closer. "I know it's not. I've felt attraction before. This... this is different. This is deeper. I think about you all the time, Sarah." My heart races.

"I think about your smile, the way you stand up to me, the way you're not afraid to call me out. You're not just someone I like. You're someone I admire."

Her breath catches, and I can see her struggling with her emotions. "Noah, I don't know if I can do this. What if it doesn't work out? What if we hurt each other more?"

I shake my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. "What if it does work out? What if we're exactly what each other needs?"

She meets my gaze, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You make it sound so simple."

"It's not simple," I admit. "It's messy and complicated, and we'll probably argue a lot. But I'm willing to fight for this. For us. Are you?"

The room goes quiet, the weight of my words hanging in the air. She looks at me for what feels like an eternity, and then she nods, so small I almost miss it.

"I'll give you a chance," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "But you have to prove to me that you're serious. No more yelling. No more impulsive decisions. You need to show me that you can be better."

Relief floods through me, and before I can stop myself, I pull her into my arms, holding her tight. "I won't let you down," I promise, my voice thick with emotion.

She lets out a small laugh, her arms hesitantly wrapping around me. "You better not, Noah."

I pull back just enough to look at her, a grin spreading across my face. "You have no idea how happy you just made me."

Before she can respond, I lift her off the ground and twirl her around, her laughter filling the room. "Noah!" she squeals, swatting at my shoulder.

"You said yes!" I laugh, setting her down gently but keeping my arms around her. "I feel like I just won a Quidditch match."

She rolls her eyes but smiles, a genuine, beautiful smile that makes my heart feel like it's about to burst. "You're ridiculous."

"And you love it," I tease, earning another laugh from her.

For the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful. And I'll do everything in my power to make sure they do.