NOAH'S CALL
1024 Words
The bright Saturday morning sun streamed through the curtains of Olivia's bedroom, casting soft golden light across the walls.
Usually, Saturdays were Olivia's favorite day of the week.
She loved sleeping in, making pancakes with her mom, and curling up on the couch with a good book before spending the afternoon studying or going for a walk.
But this Saturday felt different.
She had barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she found herself back at the party.
The laughter.
The whispers.
The phones pointed in her direction.
The freezing cold water swallowing her whole.
She pulled the duvet over her head and groaned.
"I am never leaving this room again."
A loud buzzing interrupted her thoughts.
Her phone vibrated across the bedside table.
Buzz...
Buzz...
Buzz...
Olivia reached out blindly, grabbed her phone, and looked at the screen.
Tina Calling...
She sighed before answering.
"Morning."
"Morning?" Tina exclaimed. "Girl, it's almost ten o'clock! Are you still in bed?"
Olivia glanced at the clock.
9:47 a.m.
"Barely."
"How are you feeling?"
Olivia was quiet for a moment.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I keep thinking about last night."
Tina's cheerful tone softened immediately.
"Liv..."
"I can't stop replaying it in my head."
Olivia sat up against her pillows and hugged one of them tightly.
"I can still hear everyone laughing."
"They were being immature."
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes, it does."
Olivia sighed.
"They probably all think I'm the biggest loser in school."
"No, they don't."
"They probably posted videos."
"If they did, they'll get bored and move on."
Olivia wasn't convinced.
"You don't know that."
"No," Tina admitted honestly. "I don't."
There was a brief silence.
"But I do know something."
"What?"
"I know you're the strongest person I've ever met."
Olivia let out a small laugh.
"You've clearly forgotten about last night."
"I haven't."
"I cried in front of half the school."
"And?"
"I couldn't even climb out of the pool by myself."
"You had just been shoved into freezing water."
"I looked ridiculous."
"You looked scared."
The words caught Olivia off guard.
She hadn't thought about it like that.
"I guess."
Tina continued gently.
"Liv, if anyone should be embarrassed, it's the person who pushed you."
Olivia stared at the ceiling.
"I don't even know who it was."
"I've been thinking about that."
"What do you mean?"
"I talked to George after you left."
Olivia sat up straighter.
"You did?"
"He asked around."
"And?"
"A few people said they saw someone bump into you."
"So... it really was an accident?"
"I'm not sure."
"They couldn't tell if the person slipped or pushed you on purpose."
Olivia frowned.
"I don't think I'll ever know."
"Maybe not."
Another silence settled between them.
"So..." Tina finally said, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
Olivia smiled faintly.
"So?"
"Someone drove you home."
Olivia immediately knew where the conversation was going.
"Tina..."
"What?"
"You know exactly what."
"I don't know anything."
"You're impossible."
Tina laughed.
"I just want to know how the drive home went."
"It was fine."
"Fine?"
"Yes."
"That's all?"
Olivia hesitated.
"We talked."
"Ooooh."
"Tina."
"What?"
"It wasn't like that."
"What did you talk about?"
"Books."
There was complete silence.
Then Tina burst into laughter.
"I'm serious."
"I know you are."
"Noah actually likes reading."
"See? I told you not to judge football players."
"I wasn't judging."
"You totally were."
Olivia smiled despite herself.
"I was surprised."
"So?"
"So... we talked about our favorite books."
"And?"
"He likes mystery novels."
"No way."
"Apparently."
"What else?"
"He asked about school."
"Mm-hmm."
"And?"
"He said he'd noticed me before."
Tina nearly screamed through the phone.
"He WHAT?"
Olivia quickly pulled the phone away from her ear.
"Keep your voice down!"
"Oh my gosh!"
"It probably didn't mean anything."
"It absolutely meant something!"
"No, it didn't."
"Liv, Noah Bennett doesn't just notice people."
"He probably meant he'd seen me in the hallways."
Tina laughed knowingly.
"If you say so."
Olivia rolled her eyes even though Tina couldn't see her.
"You're reading way too much into this."
"I don't think I am."
Before Olivia could argue, another call beeped through.
"Hang on," she said.
"I've got another call coming in."
"Who is it?"
Olivia looked at the screen.
Her heart skipped.
The name displayed there made her freeze.
Noah Bennett
For several seconds she couldn't breathe.
"Liv?" Tina asked.
"Who's calling?"
Olivia stared at the screen in disbelief.
"It's..."
"What?"
"It's Noah."
There was complete silence.
Then—
"ANSWER THE PHONE!"
"I can't!"
"Why not?"
"What if he called by accident?"
"What if he didn't?"
"I don't know what to say!"
"Just answer!"
Olivia looked nervously at the phone as it continued to ring.
Her thumb hovered over the green button.
Her heart was beating so loudly she could hear it in her ears.
"Liv..."
"I'm scared."
"You've got this."
Taking a deep breath, Olivia finally pressed the answer button.
"Hello?"
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
hi Olivia it noah
hi Olivia replied
and how do you feel today?
I'm oky just struggled to sleep last night keeps on playing in my head
the reason why im calling is to hear what your plans was fort he day? Noah asked gently
Olivia was confused why do he want to know that.
i have no plans yet why do you ask?
Noah let out a sigh
i was wandering if i could pick you put and take you out for the day like i said last night i have noticed you for a while but i knew you would not give me a chance coz im a football player but now that we both know how much we have in common i would really like to see you.
Olivia was surprised did she hear him right, does Noah want to spent time with her
Olivia replied with just a short awnser
oky that fine what time?
after they said goodbye Olivia smiled, could this be a dream or is she going on a date with Noah bennet.
could this be the start of something special she has wished for for almost two years now.
- Writer
