Never ever

13. Playing at the park

Noah was already waiting for me outside as I drove up. Smiling and waving as a loonatic as he saw me. He greeted me with the most wonderful kiss and got seated so I could drive on. 

“The guy’s are excited that you are coming” he said excited as well, “They are already there, do you know the white tower?” I knew of it but didn’t know where it was exactly.

“Just tell me where to go” I said grinning and he became my navigation for the rest of the car ride making up the most ridqulous voices and ways to make me turn. When we were there he stayed seated and got a little quieter than usual. I stayed in the car as well and waited for him to start saying what he clearly wanted to say.

“Just tell me Noah” I asked finally getting worries about what it might be.

“Before we have curious ears around us I wanted to tell you about Hillary,” He said sighing like a waith had moved of him, “She wants to apologize to you. She had to much to drink and is feeling ashamed about what happened.” I just stare at him, this was something that hadn’t even crossed my mind and I didn’t know what to say to him. I didn’t trust her of wanted to she her again but I also didn’t want Noah to think I was the one not being open minded. 

“Uhm tell her it’s okay, we’re good but I don’t think is wise for us to spend time together.” I said unsure of this situation. 

“Yeah you are probably right” he said, wait what he didn’t want us to meet as well?

“Noah, why did you break up anyway? I ask him wondering now, before he leaves the car. 

I can see it’s the right question to ask seeing his expression, It has made him unconfined and he’s stumbling to find the right words to tell me the story. 

They had been dating for over a year even talking about moving in together soon when everything changed. Hillary’s father had passed away and she couldn’t deal with Noah being around her all the time. So because of her grief Hillary ended things with him. This was about a half a year ago and they had not seen each other for like a month when she came back into his life. Hillary wanted to get back together and so they started dating again but everything felt different. She was different. Hillary had become overly possessive of him and wouldn’t let him leave her side. Even when they were together or with the gang she became attached to noah’s site and after awhile he just couldn’t take it anymore as did his friends. Noah ended it but he wanted to stay friends if she would be able and that is how this situation had started. 

“That poor girl, if she wasn’t after my man I would want to hug her” I said and Noah stares at me confused. He clearly had expected to take his site in all this. Of course I was on his site but I did feel for Hillary now that I knew the whole story. 

“What?’ Noah asked.

“Well she needed space to grieve but in the process she did just lose her father but also her boyfriend and all her friends if I’m reading that correct throughout you story” I said.

“Ohh yeah your right” He said as the thought crossed his mind.

“Not that you need to get back together with her now” I quickly say, “You were right to end things when she got that possessive. You need your own space and no one should be told what to do but I just feel sorry for the girl.” He smiled at that taking my hand.

“Don’t worry about that, I might already have found the right girl for me. She is a sweetheart but also has a mean streak that comes out when she orders me around” he said teasing me. 

“Well get out of the car then” I say back smirking at him and he laughs. Before getting out the car he kisses me. It’s a pure kiss and I can feel his emotions behind it. They are not of lust but of love.  

 We still had a little way to walk as we got out of my car. Noah had a bag with him and I realized I had nothing.

“Should I have brought anything?” I asked him pointing at his bag. 

“No your covered” he said smiling, ”So tell me why did I have to wait for you to pick me up?”

I started explaining what had happened this morning, well the normal part that is. How William had fallen and was now paralyzed on one site. He just listened and nodded here and there. 

“Yeah that’s bad, It’s sound like a dwarslaesie. I can only imagine the pain he must be feeling when his spinal cords are getting crushed by the shifting of his lumbar vertebrae. Do you know if they are treating him for muscle cramps or the weakening of the muscles or it it just pain relief.” Noah asked suddenly so serious my jaw dropped and I slowed my pass.

“What?” he asked after saying my face. 

“How do you know all of that?” I asked looking amazed at the otherwise frivolous guy.

“OHo, You don’t even know what my major is or do you?” he asked and I have to admit I do not. 

It never came up or we had other things to do with our mouths. He laughed at my expression.

“I’m studying to become a physiotherapist” he says smiling and taking my hand so we can walk further. I’m impressed, I don’t actually know what I had imagined him doing but this suited him I thought. You had to be caring but also strong and a motivator. Then a thought occurred.

“Wauw that’s so great but does that mean you know how to give massages as well?” I said grinning and his eyes wided a little. He looked over my body and he was probably imagining his hand all over it. I sure was and It was making me feeling heated. 

“Don’t start now woman, they are already waiting for us” he said sounding hoarse. I stopped walking, pulling him towards me and looking him in the eye. 

“Was that a yes?” I asked demanding pulling him even closer. He wraps his arms around me holding me in a ambrace as he moves down a little to kiss me. His lips moved hungry and I can still feel the pressure of his lips as he pulls them away again. 

“That’s a yes, for another time” he says taking control. I like it, A shiver of anticipation going through me for the promise that lingers in his words. He let’s go of me then, keeping one arm around my shoulders as we continued our way to the white tower. 

It was a sunny day and even warm for the beginning of november but there weren’t much people there. This wasn’t really shocking to me feeling a cold breece embracing me. I was happy for Noah’s closeliness because of the warmth he was giving off. Cliff was easily spotted as he was throwing a frisbee towards Tyler. Behind them under a blanket lay Samara watching them. As we walked closer we could see something behind her and I started blushing as I realized It was Jesse making passionately out with some girl.  

“His flavor of the week” Noah said as he saw my eyes going toward them not able to look away how much I wanted to. Luckily they stopped as we were greeted by the others. 

“Hey guys, this is Alice” he said smiling at us and then continued.

“Ignore him or them” Samara said grinning, “We do. Next time it will be someone else.”

I sat down next to her and looked as Noah started to pull everything out of his bag. 

Some bags of chips, M&M and other type of candies were carefully laid out on a blanket. 

“Would you like something to drink, Maya” Tyler asked me and I noticed that there was a cooler there filled with ice. And I shivered.

“Do you also have something hot?” I asked but he shook his head. Samara had pulled her blanket over me sharing her warmth and I smiled thankfully toward her. 

“So is this something you guys do often?” I asked no one in particular. Samara was the one who answered as Noah finished with his bag had joined the guys playing frisbee.

“It’s probably the last times this year seeing the weather” she said rubbing her arms, “Speaking of want to do something to warm of. I think my but is getting numb.”

“Sure, what do you have in mind?” already feeling my butt so I could only imagined how hers must feel. She stood up and offered her hand to me which I gladly took. 

 “Run up the hill to warm up and than steel that frisbee of there’s?” she asked whispering the last part. I didn’t really like running but the getting warm part convinced me. She was faster than I would have thought so I was struggling a bit running uphill to keep up with her. Luckily I got stamina and as we went back down we were laughing making up a plan to take the frisee. Off course they saw us coming but that didn’t make it any less fun for us.  

Before the sun would disappear behind the trees we sat back down, Jesse and Alice had disappeared to no one's shock. Samara was snuggled up to Cliff and they had one blanket and I sat close to Noah sharing another one. Tyler had the other two now that Jesse was gone. He had wrapped himself up as a burrito and was trying to take a sip of his beer. To my surprise Noah had a thermos with filled with thea and me and Samara where happily sharing the warm golden brown liquid.

“So what are the plans for next weekend?” Tyler wanted to know as he put down a empty bag of chips.    

“We could go and see a movie together? What do you like to watch Maya?” Samara offered. 

“I like most movies except for horror but I guess the guys don’t want to watch a romance movie.” I started saying but then surprises everyone by saying, “Only I already have plans on saturday and so do you if you’ll accept my invite to my birthday party.”

I had asked Rachel what the plans were, when we were at work yesterday and she didn’t wanted to say anything at first but after I had explained I wanted to invite Noah and the gang to whatever she had planned she gave in. Not that  she told me much just that It was Saturday and that Noah could ask her for the details when they were coming. I guessed It was at the restaurant seeing I had to work. 

“Wait, what” Noah reacted in surprise making the others laugh.

“I told you that it was almost three years” I say to him looking up to him grinning.

“Now I only have a week to come up with a great gift” He muttered, placing his hand on his forehead like it was hurting by the shear force of his brain trying to wrap around this. 

“Wait you are turning 25 than” Samara asks, “That means big party right?”

“I don’t know, my aunt is throwing it for me. I think I already ruined the surprise because I wanted to invite you guys, Lana and Allison as well.” I told them and than turning to Noah, “If you want to know more you have to ask Rachel. She won't even tell me where it is.”

“We will be there” Tyler said smiling at the same time as Noah reassures me he will take care of it. Cliff had been the only one that stay quit and I could see him looking at me. I try to listen to the conversation that Samara, Tyler and Noah are having, but I can feel my curiosity rising. What is he thinking? After a while I can’t take it anymore and turn towards him.

“What is it Cliff?” I ask looking him straight into his eyes. 

“I was wondering how Noah had gotten such a mature, wise and strong girlfriend but it can’t be just your age seeing i’m also 25” He said completely blindsided me. 

“So what are you saying, you are not mature, wise or strong” Noah said laughing making cliff glare at him. 

“Well we all know he’s not mature” Samara said laughing not helping her man and he grabbed her in a embrace before tickling her. I guess being ticklish runs in the family as she screams for him to stop it between laughs. 

“Actually I would like to know as well, especially how strong” Tyler finally says, backing him up and this makes Cliff drop the tickle punishment. 

“How about a demonstration” Noah says to my surprise putting me on the spot. Cliff is already on his feet waiting for me. Wait what do you want me to do? I look at him confused. 

“Just pretend Cliff is that mat of yours” he said confident in my ability and kisses me before pushing me to my feet. He and Tyler straightened up to watch the show. 

“Come on, I promise I won’t hurt you and you can’t even hurt me so..” Cliff says daring me. 

“So you want me to fight you?” I ask him, “You know not fighting it usually the better option.” 

“O come one Maya, kick his ass” Samara coax me on. 

“Alright then,” I tell them pulling my jacket off giving me some more room to move seeing I would need my speed to take on a giant like Cliff. “Just so we are clear, you are going to try and hit me back right?” I smirked at him getting the right reaction. 

“I try not to hit you full on” he says trying to tease me but i’m already in the right headspace. 

He is waiting for me to make the first move and I jap at him testing him. He dogged it very easily but that was my intention. 

“Oh come on is that it” he says joking and letting his guard down. I take my chance and hit him with a combination in his stomach. He lets out a gasp and looks at me wide eyed. He starts swinging at me then and as I expected they are slow but strong. If one of those would hit me I will definitely be on the ground. I keep dogging them and once in awhile I see a window of opportunity and land a jap cross making cliff growl a bit more every time I’m able to hit him. 

“Okay Maya it the winner” Samara yells making cliff stumble and hitting me in the arm. AUW, that is going to bruise. I managed to stay up right but I’m rubbing my arm and Noah is next to me in a instant. 

“It’s alright” I tell him and then turn to Cliff. He is out of his breath, smiling at me. 

“Got you” He says grinning and I can feel Noah tense next to me. 

“Lucky shot,” I tease right back and smiled,” Nice fight, I needed to adjust a bit. I’m not used to my mat fighting back.” They all laugh at that and luckily the tension got diffuse easily.  

We went back to the blankets and they guy’s wanted to know everything about my fighting. There wasn’t much to it so I told them that seeing I was home alone a lot my father wanted me to take a self defense class. I liked it and got training after that. Nowadays I didn’t do real fights but I still like doing the training. 

“Well i’m impressed” Cliff says flexing his muscles, “There aren't many who can take these on.” 

I laugh and almost expect him to start kissing them. 

“I’m guessing that most of your fights don’t involve smaller, more flexible fighters. That was my advantage, those are strong but if they can’t hit their target then there useless.” I say, emphasize on those while pointing to his still flexed arms. The face cliff makes is priceless.

“She is the best girlfriend you have ever had” Samara tells Noah as we roll around laughing.