Lessons in Paris

The beginning of almost forever

By spring, everyone at Westbridge High knew about Noah Bennett and Ava Laurent.

Not because they were loud about it.

But because they looked at each other like the rest of the world disappeared.

Ava sat on the hood of Noah’s car after school, swinging her legs while the sunset painted everything gold. The parking lot was nearly empty now except for a few students lingering nearby.

“You know,” Ava said, stealing one of his fries, “normal couples actually go on dates.”

Noah leaned against the driver’s door. “This is a date.”

“This is a parking lot.”

“It’s a romantic parking lot.”

Ava laughed. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And yet,” he smirked, “you’re obsessed with me.”

She tossed a fry at him.

He caught it midair proudly. “Talent.”

“You need hobbies.”

“You’re my hobby.”

Ava tried not to smile at that, but Noah noticed anyway.

He always noticed.

That was the dangerous thing about them.

The deeper they fell in love, the more Noah started needing her attention like oxygen.

If Ava took too long to reply to a text, he noticed.

If she laughed too hard at another guy’s joke, he noticed.

If she seemed distracted, quieter than usual, he noticed that too.

And every single time, insecurity crawled into his chest like poison.

“You okay?” Ava asked softly.

Noah blinked. “Yeah.”

“You disappeared for a second.”

“I’m fine.”

She studied him carefully, unconvinced.

Ava had this annoying ability to read emotions Noah spent years hiding from everyone else.

“You know you can tell me things, right?”

“I know.”

“But you don’t.”

He looked away toward the fading sunset. “Not everybody likes talking about feelings twenty-four seven.”

Ava crossed her arms dramatically. “Excuse me for being emotionally intelligent.”

Noah laughed quietly despite himself.

Then Ava hopped off the hood of the car and stood in front of him.

“You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Pretending everything’s okay when it’s not.”

Noah hated how easily she saw through him.

Because the truth was… things weren’t okay.

Not fully.

His grades were slipping.

His dad kept reminding him that basketball scholarships weren’t guaranteed.

His friends joked constantly about how Ava was “way out of his league.”

And sometimes, late at night, Noah wondered if they were right.

Ava wanted to study international business someday.

She dreamed about traveling the world, owning companies, living in cities Noah had only seen online.

Paris.

Milan.

New York.

Meanwhile, Noah barely knew what he wanted beyond surviving graduation.

“You ever feel scared?” he asked suddenly.

Ava frowned slightly. “About what?”

“The future.”

“All the time.”

“No, I mean…” He hesitated. “Scared someone’s gonna realize you’re not enough.”

Ava’s expression softened immediately.

“Noah.”

“I’m serious.”

She stepped closer. “Look at me.”

Reluctantly, he did.

“You are enough,” she said firmly.

The words should’ve healed something inside him.

Instead, they almost hurt more.

Because Noah didn’t believe them.

And when someone doesn’t believe they’re worthy of love, eventually they start destroying the people who try to give it to them.

Ava reached for his hand. “You know what your problem is?”

“What?”

“You think people loving you has to be earned.”

Noah swallowed hard.

Because she was right.

And he hated that she was right.

Ava smiled gently before squeezing his hand. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Noah forced himself to smile back.

But deep down, fear whispered something ugly in his ear.

Everyone says that before they leave.