Chapter 14 -Too Close
751 Words
Lily was doomed.
That was the only explanation.
Because Noah Carter was holding her closer beneath glowing lights by the lake while soft music played around them—
And her heart had completely lost the ability to behave normally.
Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
They just moved slowly together while the bonfire crackled nearby and distant laughter echoed through the trees.
Too close.
Everything felt too close.
Noah’s hand rested carefully against her waist like he was afraid she might disappear if he held on too tightly.
Lily hated how much she noticed things about him now.
The warmth of his hoodie.
The steady rhythm of his breathing.
The way his eyes kept flickering toward her lips before quickly looking away again.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
“You’re thinking too loud,” Noah murmured softly.
Lily blinked. “What does that even mean?”
“It means,” he said quietly, “you get this look when you’re overthinking.”
“Oh really?”
“Mhm.”
“And what look is that?”
Noah smiled slightly.
“Like your brain is fighting for its life.”
Rude.
Accurate.
But rude.
Lily tried not to laugh.
Failed immediately.
And Noah looked entirely too pleased with himself because of it.
“There it is,” he said softly.
“The smile?”
“The real one.”
Why did he always say things like that?
Before Lily could recover emotionally, Noah’s fingers shifted slightly against her waist as another slow song drifted through the speakers.
And somehow—
They moved even closer.
Lily’s heartbeat became genuinely concerning.
“You’re quiet,” Noah noticed.
“You make concentrating difficult.”
The words slipped out accidentally.
Noah blinked once.
Then slowly—
Very slowly—
He smiled.
“Good.”
Lily stared at him in disbelief. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” he murmured, “you’re still here.”
Fair point.
Unfortunately.
Nearby, Jason suddenly appeared from absolutely nowhere holding two sodas.
He stopped dead the second he saw them.
“Oh my God,” he whispered dramatically.
Noah sighed instantly. “How do you keep finding us?”
“I follow emotional tension like a bloodhound.”
Ryan appeared beside him carrying chips.
“They’ve somehow gotten worse,” he informed Jason seriously.
Emily nearly shoved both boys aside to look at Lily and Noah properly.
“They’re dancing closer now,” she whispered loudly.
“We can hear you,” Lily informed her weakly.
“I know.”
Jason looked seconds away from tears.
“This is the greatest night of my life.”
Noah looked deeply exhausted.
“Can I have one peaceful moment?”
“No,” all three answered immediately.
Lily laughed before she could stop herself.
And the second she did—
Noah looked at her again.
That look.
That soft, quiet expression that made her stomach flip violently every single time.
Ryan noticed first.
“Oh, he’s gone gone.”
Noah grabbed a napkin from Jason’s hand and threw it directly at his face.
Jason looked honored.
But before anyone could continue embarrassing them further—
A sudden burst of thunder echoed faintly in the distance.
Everyone paused.
Lily looked up instinctively.
Dark clouds were slowly rolling across the night sky.
Jason frowned. “Uh oh.”
Another rumble followed.
And then—
Rain.
Fast.
Cold drops suddenly poured from the sky as students screamed and scattered around the bonfire.
Instant chaos.
People grabbed bags, jackets, drinks—
Jason immediately slipped on wet grass and disappeared to the ground dramatically.
“THE PARTY CLAIMS ITS FIRST VICTIM.”
Emily laughed so hard she nearly fell over too.
Lily covered her mouth, trying not to die laughing.
Then Noah grabbed her hand suddenly.
“Come on.”
Her breath caught instantly.
Rain soaked through her jacket as Noah pulled her carefully through the crowd toward the trees near the lake.
The storm blurred everything around them.
Music.
Lights.
Voices.
All fading behind the sound of rain hitting the ground.
By the time they reached the small wooden dock near the edge of the lake, both of them were completely drenched.
Lily pushed wet hair from her face, laughing breathlessly.
“This is a disaster.”
Noah stared at her for half a second too long.
And suddenly—
He started laughing too.
Real laughter.
Open. Unfiltered. Warm.
Lily had never seen him look happier.
And somehow—
That scared her more than anything else.
- Writer
