Chapter 39 - The Problem With Almost
884 Words
Lily spent the entire afternoon trying not to think about Noah catching her.
Unfortunately—
her brain had officially stopped cooperating with basic survival instincts.
Because every time she remembered his hand around her arm—
warm, careful, automatic—
her heartbeat immediately forgot how to behave.
Which felt medically concerning at this point.
“You’re staring into space again,” Emily informed her during last period.
“I’m thinking.”
“You’re emotionally buffering.”
Lily narrowed her eyes.
“I need better friends.”
Emily looked thoughtful.
“No, you need a boyfriend.”
Lily nearly dropped her pencil.
“That sentence was illegal.”
Emily grinned unapologetically.
“You know I’m right.”
The bell rang before Lily could argue properly.
Students immediately flooded into the hallways with loud conversations and slammed lockers echoing everywhere.
Normally Lily escaped school as fast as possible.
Today—
her feet slowed automatically near the front entrance.
Which was suspicious.
Deeply suspicious.
And apparently Emily noticed too.
“Oh my God,” she whispered dramatically. “You’re waiting for him.”
“I am absolutely not.”
“Lily.”
“I’m just standing here.”
“You checked the gym hallway twice.”
Lily opened her mouth.
Then closed it again.
Because unfortunately—
that was accurate.
Jason appeared beside them carrying a basketball under one arm.
“Well, well, well,” he announced. “Look who’s accidentally in love.”
“I’m going home.”
“No you’re not.”
Ryan walked behind him already exhausted.
“At this point,” he muttered, “just let them stare at each other in peace.”
Before Lily could threaten violence—
the gym doors opened.
And Noah walked out.
Still slightly flushed from practice.
Black hoodie sleeves pushed up to his forearms.
Hair messier than usual.
And somehow—
somehow—
that nearly destroyed Lily emotionally on sight.
Emily physically grabbed her shoulder.
“Oh, she’s gone gone.”
Lily ignored her aggressively.
But then—
Noah looked up.
And immediately spotted her standing near the entrance.
Like always.
Like his attention found her naturally now.
The noise around them blurred strangely at the edges again.
Jason looked between them in disbelief.
“How do you two keep doing that?”
Doing what?
Lily wanted to ask.
But honestly—
she knew.
Because every single time Noah saw her—
his expression changed.
Softened instantly.
Like seeing her was the easiest thing in the world.
Noah walked toward them slowly, adjusting the strap of his bag.
“You still here?” he asked Lily quietly.
The question sounded simple.
Normal.
But underneath it—
there was something else.
Something careful.
Hopeful.
Like maybe he was glad she hadn’t left yet.
Lily crossed her arms defensively.
“Maybe I enjoy suffering.”
A small smile appeared on Noah’s face immediately.
Tiny.
Real.
Dangerous.
Jason clutched his chest dramatically.
“There it is again. The smile.”
Ryan looked tired beyond human comprehension.
“I’m begging both of you to either date or fight. Anything else is unbearable.”
Noah ignored them completely.
His attention stayed on Lily.
“You heading home now?”
Lily nodded once.
“Eventually.”
A pause settled between them.
Quiet.
Comfortable.
Too comfortable.
And suddenly Lily became aware of how close they were standing again.
Not touching.
But close enough that she could notice the faint scent of laundry detergent and sweat from practice.
Close enough that Noah’s voice sounded lower now.
Softer.
“You should get home before it gets dark,” he said.
There it was again.
That instinctive care.
Like worrying about her had become second nature.
Lily’s chest tightened unexpectedly.
“You worry too much,” she muttered.
Noah looked at her for a second longer than necessary.
“Probably.”
The honesty in his voice hit harder than it should have.
Because he didn’t deny it.
Didn’t joke.
Didn’t pull away from it anymore.
Jason made a strangled noise behind them.
“Oh my God, he admitted it.”
Emily looked emotionally devastated already.
“They’re one conversation away from becoming unbearable.”
Lily looked away briefly because Noah was staring at her again.
Softly.
Carefully.
Like she was something fragile and important at the same time.
And honestly?
That look scared her more than anything else.
Because this—
whatever this was—
kept getting closer to becoming real.
Then Noah spoke quietly.
“Text me when you get home.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Jason dropped the basketball.
Emily physically grabbed Ryan’s arm.
Ryan whispered:
“Oh, it’s over for everyone.”
Lily’s brain completely stopped functioning.
Because Noah said it so naturally.
Like of course he wanted to know she got home safely.
Like of course he’d be thinking about her afterward.
Noah seemed to realize what he’d said a second too late.
A faint blush appeared near his ears immediately.
But he still didn’t take it back.
And somehow—
that was the worst part.
Lily swallowed once.
“…Okay.”
One word.
Quiet.
But enough.
Something warm flickered across Noah’s expression so briefly she almost missed it.
Relief.
Real relief.
And suddenly—
Lily realized something terrifying.
She was starting to like the way Noah cared about her.
Way too much.
- Writer
