Me without you

Chapter Seven

I can't stop smiling

I can't stop smiling.

So, against my better judgement, I got dressed and was ready to leave at seven.

We were at a party.

I know, right?

Noel asked me to tag along to a friend's birthday party.

I am still not quite sure how I ended up agreeing to this.

But I went anyway.

And I am so glad I went. I can't stop smiling.

The party wasn't anything extraordinary.

Yet, it was amazing.

The best party I have ever been to, but that had nothing to do with the decor or the snacks.

And after my birthday gift fiasco and debating for nearly two hours about whether or not I should wear it, I decided to add the pendant to my necklace you gave me.

Hoping there is a place for both of you.

Noel had just been pulled aside by some of his buddies to settle some or other petty debate.

I was trying not to appear needy.

So I attempted to join in on some idle conversation with some girls gathered around the snack table.

I know, again shocking, me making small talk.

The girls were predictably chatting about boys.

This must be why I have never really had lots of girlfriends.

Who wants to spend all your free time talking about such useless creatures?

Present 'company' excluded, of course.

I only zoned back in on the conversation when I heard Noel's name.

I know, I know, I am more like the silly girls than I care to admit.

"It's so annoying" Said one of the silly girls.

"It's always Char this, and Char that"

"I wish he would just shut up already, I mean she can't be all that amazing, no one even knows who she is!"

"Jake said he doesn't want to introduce her to anyone because he is petrified we will scare her off"

"Matt says Noel is a total goner, this chick has him whipped and apparently they're not even dating." Replied another silly girl.

"What do you guys care, you're dating boys of your own." One of the other girls replied.

"But I would totally switch for him." Says girl number one.

I must have been grinning like a total psych patient, because they were all staring at me.

And just like the i***t they thought I was, I just walked away.

Standing on the patio, staring out at the clear night sky, I replayed the girls' conversation in my head.

And all I could really hear over and over was that he likes me.

He really really likes me.

I mean, they even said my name.

So there is no way they weren't talking about me.

Noel likes me.

Noel really really likes Me.

Okay, okay that's a bit junior high.

But still... he likes me, Lee!

That would have been enough to have me floating around for at least a week.

But that wasn't the only thing that happened.

I was so lost in the silly girls words, that I just assumed that warm feeling around my middle was as a result of their words on a constant loop in my head, causing a flutter of butterflies to do a little happy dance in my stomach.

That was exactly what I thought it was, until I felt his breath against my ear.

"Everything okay?"

Frozen.

I couldn't move.

Everything about that moment was perfect.

The realization of what was happening. The loop of words from the silly girls in my head.

The feel of the warm butterflies playing around in my tummy.

Noel's hands wrapped around me.

His breath tickling my earlobe.

Perfect!

So you can just imagine how sad I felt when it all ended.

Noel had let go of me and turned me around, so he could look at me.

Face to face with Noel now, he had let go of me and broke the spell.

It took me a few seconds to realize my lack of a response was clearly freaking him out, judging by the fear rising up in his eyes.

"Everything was perfect..." the words slip from my lips.

"What changed?"

Reaching out to take his hand and staring into his eyes, I summoned all my bravery and said.

"You let go."

Can you believe it?

I actually said that.

I still cant believe I did.

Everything after that happened so fast, and at the same time I swear time stood still.

Noel wrapped his arms around me and I felt his lips brush against mine.

Point of impact.

But this time it felt amazing.

That warm sensation went all the way down to my toes.

He gently whispered against my lips, never really breaking contact.

"I will never let go again."