Chapter 16 - Interrupted
609 Words
Jason refused to stop talking the entire walk back from the dock.
“Do you understand,” he said dramatically while rain poured around them, “how close we were to witnessing a cinematic confession?”
“We were not having a confession,” Lily argued immediately.
“Sure,” Ryan replied. “And Noah definitely wasn’t looking at you like his entire life depended on it.”
Lily nearly slipped on wet grass from sheer emotional damage.
Beside her, Noah rubbed tiredly at his face.
“I genuinely regret being friends with all of you.”
Emily gasped.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I absolutely mean that.”
“No you don’t.”
“Noah secretly loves us,” Jason informed Lily confidently.
Noah looked horrified. “Don’t spread misinformation.”
The rain softened slightly as they finally reached the edge of the party again.
Most students had crowded beneath tents, cars, and picnic shelters while music continued playing somewhere in the background despite the storm.
Honestly?
Westwood High had concerning priorities.
Lily pushed soaked hair away from her face while shivering lightly.
Immediately, Noah noticed.
Of course he did.
“You’re freezing.”
“I’m okay.”
“You’re literally shaking.”
Before she could argue further, Noah pulled off his denim jacket and held it out toward her.
Lily blinked.
“Noah—”
“Take it.”
“You’ll freeze.”
He looked unimpressed. “Lily.”
Dangerous.
That tone was dangerous.
Especially because it somehow sounded softer when he said her name.
Jason clutched Ryan’s arm dramatically.
“Oh, he’s DOWN catastrophic.”
Ryan looked emotional too.
“I used to think this relationship was just entertaining. Now I think it might actually kill me.”
Emily grabbed Lily immediately.
“TAKE THE JACKET.”
Lily wanted better friends.
Unfortunately, Noah was still standing there holding the jacket while rain dripped from his dark hair and his expression stayed frustratingly patient.
And honestly?
She was losing this battle.
Slowly, Lily accepted it.
The jacket was warm from him.
Which felt unfair.
“Thanks,” she mumbled quietly.
Noah’s expression softened instantly.
“No problem.”
Oh no.
That look again.
That terrifying soft look.
Jason physically turned away.
“I need a minute.”
“You are unbelievably dramatic,” Noah informed him.
“And yet I’m still correct.”
Fair.
Unfortunately.
Another loud crack of thunder rolled overhead.
Emily jumped immediately. “Okay, I officially vote we leave before someone gets electrocuted.”
“Seconded,” Ryan agreed.
Jason pointed dramatically toward Noah and Lily.
“But emotionally, they still have unfinished business.”
“We do not,” Lily replied too quickly.
Noah glanced at her briefly.
And something about that look made her heartbeat stumble again.
Jason noticed instantly.
“Oh my God.”
“Jason,” both Noah and Lily warned together.
Ryan sighed heavily. “They keep doing the synchronized thing. It’s getting unbearable.”
Emily looked genuinely invested now.
“So what almost happened on the dock?”
“Nothing,” Lily answered immediately.
“Absolutely nothing,” Noah added.
Jason narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“You guys are terrible liars.”
The worst part?
He was right.
Because Lily still couldn’t stop thinking about it.
That moment.
That look in Noah’s eyes before they got interrupted.
> “I think—”
What had he been about to say?
The question followed her the entire drive home.
And somehow—
Judging by the quiet expression on Noah’s face every time he glanced her way—
She had a feeling he was thinking about it too.
- Writer
