Never ever

4. Thrift store date

Still a hour to kill I thought by myself looking at the clock. I was sitting at the kitchen table, a empty plate in front of me. Let’s make an attempt to hang up those curtains. They were a little to big for the window but would work just fine. With a chair and standing in my tiptoes, I was barely tall enough to put those hooks in. The heavy curtains also didn’t help with this. After almost falling down I gave it a rest. Probably better to ask Noah to help me with this before I’ll break my neck. With nothing else to do I picked up a book and started reading. 

A knock on the door made me jump and I quickly looked up realising it was two o'clock. Opening the door for a broad smiling Noah, who stood there holding his backpack. 

“Well hello, are you ready to go?” he asked grinning, his eyes moving up and down over my body. I felt my cheeks burning up and unable to stop smiling at him. 

“Hay, not quit yet, come in. You are early?” I managed to say finally

“Yeah, my last class got cut short so I thought I would just come right here.”

“Couldn’t wait to see me again ha” I said teasing him, which worked seeing it was his time to blush just a little.  

“I have a small favor to ask before we go,” I continued, “Would you help me hang my new curtains. They gave me some trouble.”

“Sure” he said and took off toward my bedroom, normally I would have reacted to that but Noah did just move me in here so was as familiar with the place as I am. Following him and almost crashing in to him as he suddenly stopped. He glanced over my unmade bed and jumped as he felt my hand on his back. He looked at me and back to the bed, a small smirk across his face. I could only imagine what he was thinking but it was probably the same thing that flashed through my mind. Noah and I strangled together, kissing passionate. My head was spinning and a warm sensation roling over me. Meanwhile Noah already stood on the chair finishing the first half of the curtain I had abandoned. 

“If you could hand me the other side Maya, It will be done in a second” Noah said bringing my attention back to reality. I handed it to him without saying a word, afraid of what would come out of it. Why was I acting this way. He had seen my bed once before at rachel's and I didnt have a reaction like this. Of Course we would never made use of Rachel’s pull out sofa but this bed was a different story. Especially now that he had actually asked me out. 

“So all done” he said a minute or so later and pulling them close. The room went dark with only faint light coming in from behind me. I couldn't even see Noah as my eyes still adjusted to the darkness. He suddenly stood next to me, I could feel his warmth caressing my arm. 

“You will sleep like a baby with these” Noah said softly in my ear, I could here the grin he had on his face throughout his words. I felt him moving even closer and swiftly took a step back. He stumbled and fell face forward on to my bed, softly cursing his clumsiness. 

“Come on we have work to do, no time to take a nap” I said laughing as I turned on the light and seeing the position he had taken on my bed. 

“Ha ha very funny. Are sure you don’t want to join me here” he said still grinning from ear to ear. 

“No I’m not” I said softly, his grin disappearing as he got my meaning, “But we have to go so…”

A couple minutes later we were in Noah’s car heading toward the city discussing which stores we could vitit. At the eastside there were three of them close together so we would start there. The first one was a real bust. Most of the stuff needed repairing and definitely a good cleaning. The second one had some real nice items but except for a bookcase and a reading lamp there was nothing that caught my eye. Luckily the third one was like a goldmine. Noah found not only a radio but also a television that both worked perfectly. They were older versions but I didn’t mind as long as I could watch my shows. A beautiful antiek clock, that could hang on the living room wall, had been lying underneath some old cloths. And there was a still very comfortable armchair, It had an awful green collar but nothing a bit of restyling couldn’t fix. We had put our findings at the cashier and went back for a second look, together this time.

“What about that?” Noah asked as he pointed out a old fashion make-up table with a matching stool. I had seen in before and had even sat on the stool. It really had some charm but the price tag on it was too steep. It was a shame because if would have been perfect for my bedroom.

“Yeah that’s great but I don't have enough money for it” I said hoping I didn't sound too disappointed. He looked at the tag and smiled at me.

“Let me see what I can do?” he said as he walked back toward the cashier. The woman behind it didn’t took me for the type you could bargain with but he could always try. I still needed a tv cabinet, now that I owned a tv and maybe a small dresser. Or would there be not enough room thanks to that big arm chair,  I wondered walking further. Noah was still talking to the woman as I came back from another round. I waited patiently as a back door opened and two men walked both carrying two bags of clothing. They left the door open just far enough so I could see into a workshop behind it. Curiosity got the better of me and I dared to take a look inside. There was no one there but at one of the work benches was a small wooden dresser. It was missing a part of one of his legs and looked totally washed out. 

“You can’t be in here” a deep voice echoed through the workplace.

“I’m sorry” I yelled after letting a small yelp escape from my lips. I hastily turned around crashing in to a large men standing behind me, sending me flying toward the ground. A friendly face smiled down at me asking me if I was alright and pulling me back up. 

“It’s just for your own safety with all the power tools in here” he continued after I reassured him that I was fine, “Can I help you with something?” His voice sounding a lot nicer all of a sudden, even tho it hadn’t chanced an octave. 

“Well that dresser caught my eye” I said being bold and pointing toward the workbench.

“My project for the moment,” he said proudly, “All the gears have already been restored, they were all rusted over and i’m currently sanding this wooden body. The only problem it this leg, I can’t seem to find a one that would fit properly.”

“Why don't you shorten the other legs then?” I asked him and he looked at me in surprise.

“That’s not a bad idea but i’m afraid people wouldn't buy it then, seeing it would be too low for a decent dresser.” he explained.

“But it would make a great height for a tv cabinet” I said taking a real interest in it now, “ I would maybe take it of your hands if the tv, I just bought here. would fit on it.” 

“Which one, the Samsung or Sony” he wanted to know impressing me.

“Sony” I answered as I watched him getting a tape measure and holding it on the dresser.

“You have a great eye, the sony is a 40 inch and that would fit perfectly. Would you want it as it is or would you prefer me to restore it first” he wanted to know.

“That depends on what you mean, only fixing the legs or do you also mean painting it? Because that is something I can probaly do myself”

“Just a transparent coat then, so you will preserve this beautiful wooden fixture” he advised me, “the legs will take me about an hour if you want it today.”

We negotiated a price and he gave me a note to give the woman up front. Before I even left the workplace he was already working on the legs. Noah was waiting for me looking triumply as the make-up table was standing with my other stuff.

“seriously” I wanted to know

“Of course, it hurts that you underestimate my mad skills”  he said acting hurt by my comment.

“I’m so sorry, how can I ever make it up towards you” I replied extra dramatic.

“Is this everything” the woman interrupted our banter, clearly irritated by the flirting couple in front of her. I gave her the note and explained about the dresser. After paying she yelled for someone to help us carry everything and one of the men I saw early caring clothed came running. With his help it only took us a couple of minutes. 

“So I know how you can make it up to me” he said as we were alone again.

“Oh really, what do you have in mind” I asked smirking as we climbed in the car. 

“Well let’s get some diner seeing as we have to drive back up here anyway.”

“Sort of making an actually date out of it” I asked enticing him slowly placing my hand on his thigh. He was lost for words for a minute but then caught himself and took my hand. 

“For that, I get to pick were we will go” he said kissing my hand before returning it, so he could focus on driving. The drive back didn’t seem to take as long and we were back at the apartment before we knew it. We tried miserably to get the bookcase up the stairs. How are we ever getting that big armchair up there? I think Noah was thinking the same thing as he offered to come back tomorrow with some friends and put it in the garage for now. We managed to get the rest of them up their with little ease and headed back. The man, who apparently was called Ben, was waiting for us at the loading dock behind the store. He even had handwritten instruction for me on how best to restore the rest of the dresser.  I thanked him and we drove off to the restaurant.

Noah’s choice made me very happy as he stopped at a pizzeria. 

“You can never go wrong with a good pizza” he said and ordered two large pizzas. Not long after that we were on our way back to my place with steaming pizza boxes on my lap.

“I think we better get the dresser in the garage first, it looks like it might rain” noah said looking outside. Dark clouds rolled over the horizon, chasing the sunny day we had so far away. We ran upstairs when the first drops started to fall and by the time we took our first bite of heavenly pizza it was pouring outside. Noah had put the radio on and we sat across from each other on the couch, my box balancing on my crossed legs. I was slowly moving on the music, enjoying myself and taking bite after bite when noah surprised me by singing along with the lyrics. I almost let the pizza fall out of my mouth as my yaw dropped. He sounded pretty good if only he wasn't goofing of trying to make me laugh. A song I loved came on and I jumped up dancing, shaking my hips. Noah had caught my pizza box just in time as I remembered it was on my lap. 

“oops” I said laughing hard. When I calmed down a bit and we finished our pizza’s, well actually Noah finished both of them, I wanted to do something to thank him for his help.

“So how about some dessert?” I asked him already making a plan in my head.

“Yeah sure.” Noah said, “why don’t you make something and I will install your tv.” 

I had bought some brownies this morning and quickly made a caramel aunt Rachel had taught me. I was just looking inside the fridge, trying to find anything else I could add when I heard glass chattering followed by a scream from Noah. 

“Are you ok?” I yelled as I turned around and saw that the light had blown out again. 

“Ah not again” I yelled in frustration not hearing Noah’s answer. Carefully I made my way towards the corner where my new lamp stood and turned it on. Noah still sat on the floor next to the tv. He had some scrapes from the glass but was okay. I quickly cleaned up the shattered glass and went to noah, who was now sitting on the couch inspecting his cuts.

“Come on” I said to him and took his hand leading him into the bathroom. I made him sit on the closed toilet and cleaned his wounds. They already stopped bleeding and didn’t need anymore attention. We were very close and I could feel his breathing at my collarbone, making me shiver.

“Thanks” Noah said looking up at me, his face so close that I noticed there were grey flakes in his blue eyes. My hand stroking his hair out of the way, making my fingertips tingle as they made contact with his warm skin. 

“And that for helping me” I said softly, ”you really put blood and sweat into it.”

“I know a way you can thank me prober” he said, his voice rough as he pulled me onto his lap.

Our breathing getting heavier from the interaction. Feeling his hard body between my legs made me gasp. I took one last look in his eyes, he was waiting for me to take the last inch. I closed the gap between us and my lips softly touched his. He responded eager, pressing harder into me, sending a quiver through me as I closed my eyes.