Chapter 5-Rumors & Rooftops
664 Words
By the time school ended, Lily officially wanted to disappear.
Apparently, one lunch period beside Noah Carter was enough to destroy her chances of staying invisible.
As she walked through the crowded hallway, whispers followed her everywhere.
“That’s her.”
“The new girl?”
“She’s sitting with Noah now.”
“Chloe’s gonna lose it.”
Fantastic.
Absolutely fantastic.
Lily tightened her grip on her books and kept walking faster.
Unfortunately, escaping attention at Westwood High seemed impossible.
Especially when Noah Carter himself suddenly appeared beside her locker.
Again.
“You look stressed,” he observed casually.
Noah leaned against the locker next to hers. “People are dramatic here. Ignore them.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Lily muttered. “You’re used to it.”
Something unreadable flickered across his expression for a second.
“Doesn’t mean I like it.”
"I ignore them."
Before Lily could respond, a group of girls walked past them giggling loudly.
One of them intentionally bumped Lily’s shoulder.
“Oops,” she said without sounding sorry at all.
Noah’s expression darkened instantly.
“Watch where you’re going,” he said coldly.
The girls immediately hurried away.
Lily blinked in surprise.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yeah,” Noah replied quietly, “I did.”
The hallway suddenly felt too warm.
Too small.
And Lily hated how her heart reacted to his voice when he sounded protective.
Thankfully, Jason appeared before her brain could embarrass her further.
“There you two are!” he announced dramatically. “I’ve been searching for my emotionally confused best friend everywhere.” we have English soon."
Noah groaned. ”
“Can’t. I bring entertainment.”
Jason turned toward Lily.
“So,” he said excitedly, “have the school rumors scared you away yet?”
Lily frowned. “What rumors?”
Jason opened his mouth.
Noah immediately looked ready to commit murder.
“Jason.”
“What?!” Jason defended. “Everybody already thinks you two are dating.”
Lily nearly dropped her books.
“They what?”
Jason nodded proudly like he’d delivered excellent news.
“Congratulations, by the way.”
“No,” Lily said instantly.
“At least buy me dinner first,” jason added lazily.
Lily stared at him in disbelief.
Jason burst out laughing while Noah smirked slightly.
Why was he enjoying this?
“You’re impossible,” Lily muttered.
“And yet,” jason replied smoothly, “you keep talking to me.”
Before she could answer, Noah’s phone buzzed loudly in his pocket.
He glanced down at the screen.
The playful expression disappeared immediately.
Lily noticed the change instantly.
“You okay?” Lily asked Noah."
Noah locked his phone quickly. “Yeah.”
Lie.
Even Jason looked concerned now.
“Dude…”
“jason I said I’m fine.”
The sharpness in Noah’s voice surprised all of them.
A tense silence followed.
Then Noah exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
“Sorry.”
Lily studied him carefully.
For the first time since meeting him, Noah actually looked tired.
Not teasing.
Not confident.
Just exhausted.
“I should go,” he muttered quietly.
Then before either of them could stop him, Noah turned and walked away down the hallway.
Jason watched him leave with a sigh.
“That’s not good.”
Lily looked at him immediately. “What happened?”
Jason hesitated.
Then shook his head.
“It’s not really my place to say.”
Which only worried her more.
"Later in the night Lily couldn’t stop thinking about him.
About the sudden sadness in his eyes.
About how quickly his mood had changed.
And somehow, without fully meaning to—
Around midnight, Lily found herself standing near her bedroom window again.
Waiting.
A few minutes later, Lily didn't find him on the rooftop beside his window with his guitar.
Like he always did.
Only one night—
He didn’t play a single note.
- Writer
