The College Room [THE KISSING BOOTH #2 - FAN FICTION]

Chapter Twenty-One

The next morning, Noah went with me to the airport.

He paid the cab fare, carried my suitcase, and waited with me in the long security line. Most of all, he didn't let my hand go for a single second.

Earlier that morning we'd cuddled up in his tiny dorm room, talking about how much trouble I thought I might be in for lying to my dad. Truthfully, I was terrified about how disappointed Dad must have been. But on the outside, I was telling Noah it was completely worth it.

"I stand by my statement," I said to him as we made our way through the security checks. "I still think it was worth it."

"That's because you don't know your punishment yet," he said, lifting my suitcase onto the conveyor belt.

"I don't care what the punishment is, Noah," I said. "I had to see you."

The security guard cleared his throat after I finished speaking. "As cute as you two are, I need you to step through the barrier, ma'am."

I smiled at him shyly, embarrassed that he'd been listening to our conversation. 

As I walked through the security barrier, my palms started to sweat. Even though I never did anything wrong, I always thought they were going to stop me and tell me they'd found some kind of illicit substance or illegal weapon.

I couldn't help but be nervous like that sometimes. I even did it when I drove past the police, as if I had to be extra cautious to keep my eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel.

But the guard just ushered me on, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Noah followed quickly after, his signature smirk sprawled across his face.

"Don't look so nervous, Shelly," he said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

I leaned into his maroon t-shirt and smiled. Being in his arms was familiar and safe and warm. I didn't ever want to leave his company, but I knew we didn't have long.

We made our way through the airport and Noah picked out a few bags of lollies for me from various convenience outlets. He stuffed them into my handbag and I hoped this time I wouldn't be over the baggage weight limit.

I certainly didn't want my lingerie to be displayed to the world again.

"You don't have to wait with me," I said to him as we approached the gate, seeing the almost fifty other people sitting down with their heads in their hands, clearly bored out of their minds.

"I want to," he said, leading me to the only free chair.

"Looks like you'll have to sit on my lap," he said, and I did.

Noah wrapped his arms around my body when he pulled me onto the seat with him, his hands crinkling my floral top. I tried not to say too much, not wanting to ruin our last few moments of closeness. Last time we had to say goodbye, I'd royally screwed everything up.

"I hope you at least had fun," Noah said.

I looked him with wide eyes. "Are you kidding?"

"I just mean," he said, pausing. "I just really hope your dad isn't too harsh on you. I hope, if it all goes to shit when you get home, you can look back and smile."

It was still funny seeing Noah like that. The sensitive Noah, the kind Noah, the Noah who really did care about me.

I gave him a soft kiss on the lips and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him in close to me. "You have no idea how much I smile when I think about you."

"Any major highlights from the weekend?" He asked, pulling away to look into my eyes.

I thought for a moment before answering. What was my favourite part of the weekend? I'd enjoyed sneaking around, hiding from Rita, and pretending my name was Bethany-Emily Brown. Hell, I'd even enjoyed meeting the real Bethany after I realised she wasn't out to get my boyfriend. I liked Jimmy. Both of them were now my friends on Facebook, which made me feel so much cooler than I actually was.

I'd liked the football game. I'd liked the after-party, even though it was a bit more wild than I expected.

I definitely liked our time together under the stars on the football field. There was no way I'd be forgetting that any time soon.

But the shining moments?

The shining moments were the little things. The little things, like Noah publicly calling me his girlfriend. Like when Noah would hold my hand in front of other girls to show his commitment to me. Or when he'd take me to cute little cafes just because he knew I'd appreciate them.

"I don't want to ruin that bad boy reputation of yours by getting too cutesy," I said with a smirk, "but, in all honesty, my favourite thing is when you're just being you."

"You're right," Noah said, "that totally ruins my reputation."

I gave his hair a tussle and rolled my eyes. "I loved you even when you were a jack-ass, you know that?"

"I'm still a jack-ass," he replied. "But for the record, I loved you even when you were just Lee's dorky little best friend."

"I'm still that dorky best friend," I said, and I realised how much I missed Lee and wouldn't mind going home if it meant I had someone to tell about my time with Noah.

There was a squeak above us, and we realised the intercom was about to blare through the airport. My heart sank, knowing exactly what that meant.

"All passengers for Flight 781, boarding is commencing."

I looked at Noah. Tears formed at the rims of my eyes, and I couldn't help but let one roll softly down my cheek. "I don't want to go," I said.

Noah lifted me off the chair and placed my feet firmly on the ground. "It'll be okay," he said. "I'll try to get home again sometime soon."

"Talk every day? If you can?"

Noah nodded. "I promise I'll do my best," he replied, kissing me on the top of the head.

We wrapped our arms around each other and stayed that way for a minute or two, neither of us wanting to let go. I took in the softness of Noah's shirt, the scent of his cologne, the feel of his muscular body. I took in every bit of him that I could, knowing all I'd have for who-knows-how-long would be memories and a few calls and texts.

"Okay, I should probably go," I said, turning to look at the line of passengers shuffling their way through the gate.

"Yeah, you should."

I squeezed Noah one more time and moved my lips to his, hoping he wouldn't notice the fact that my cheeks were drenched with tears. 

Of course he noticed. When we pulled away, he ran his thumb over my cheeks and wiped the tears away. I blinked harshly, hoping no more would come pouring out.

"I'll miss you so much, Noah."

"I'll miss you even more, Shelly," Noah said. "Better get started on that admissions essay, hey?"

As I walked to the attendant, I promised myself that I would do just that. I had to get started on that essay as soon as possible, because there was no way I could spend any more time away from Noah Flynn.

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WOW! 50K reads in just over two weeks! Y'all are insane!

I am updating daily, but if you get impatient waiting for me to update, I encourage you to give my novel "Thanks to Dallas" a try! It's about a girl named Lydia who agrees to go on a fake date with the school's biggest jock to impress his mum and get her off his back about dating. Problem is, she totally falls for him and has to try to hide it.

Anyway, what do you guys think Elle's dad will do when they see each other?!? Is Elle in HUGE trouble?! 

xo

Hayley