Page 4 of Cross My Heart

NOAH

13 YEARS OLD

It’s dark and cold in my room. My parents always keep the temperature low at night, and we’re practically freezing as we watchScreamcuddled up next to each other. Scarlett is on my right side, and Tyler is on my left. He’s got his head close to my shoulder, not quite on it, but close enough. My breathing is coming a little faster than usual, and then he reaches out and grabs my hand when he gets scared, digging his blunt fingernails into it.

My heart stutters in my chest.

Tyler and I met each other a week ago. We’ve had a full week in my pool, at my house, and at his place too. He has seamlessly become a part of my and Scarlett’s lives as if he has always been here, even though Scarlett and I go way back to when we were in diapers. Our moms are best friends too, they were even pregnant at the same time.

“God, you’re such a little girl, Tyler.” Scarlett laughs, sitting up and looking over at him. “Holding Noah’s hand like a baby.”

“Shut up,” Ty growls. “It’s scary!”

“We’ve watched this movie about one hundred times.” Scar rolls her eyes. “It’s not even scary anymore.”

“Fuck off, Red,” I sigh. “It’s his first time.”

“Whatever,” she huffs. “Just be quiet so I can gawk at Billy in peace.”

“You like him?” Tyler asks, clearly horrified. “He’s a murderer!”

“I can fix him.” Scarlett winks.

“He is pretty hot, Ty,” I admit. “You don’t think so?”

“No.” He shakes his head vehemently. “Y’all are fucking nuts.”

Scarlett and I both laugh, and I take a pillow and hit Tyler in the head with it. He shoves it off and throws it on the ground.

Grabbing the pizza box from the foot of the bed, I open it and take a slice out. I offer it to Scarlett, who smiles at me, then offer the next one to Tyler. He shakes his head, nose wrinkled in disgust, and I shrug.

“Too good for cold pizza?” I murmur, taking a big bite of the slice.

“Too good for cold anything.” Tyler’s nose is still wrinkled. “Unless it’s meant to be cold.”

“Interesting,” I reply, chewing my food.

“It’s okay, you’re not special.” Scarlett grins as she finishes her bite. “Noah doesn’t like soggy bread. So I always make sure to give it to him.”

“You’re always mean to me.” I laugh.

“Am not!” she yells, stuffing her face again. “I’m just evil sometimes,” Scar says between bites.

“You said it, not me.” I shrug.

“Y’all are so fucking weird.” Tyler rolls his eyes. “How are you even friends?”

“Oh, please.” Scarlett sighs. “He can’t live without me.”

“Beg to differ.” I look her right in the eyes and raise an eyebrow. “I think it’syouwho can’t live without me.”

“As if!”

I put my pizza down, and without wiping my face clean, I grab Scarlett’s head and kiss all over her face. She shrieks, sounding like she’s dying, and my door opens.

My dad clears his throat, and I stop, still holding on to Scarlett’s head. “What’s going on?” he asks, amusement clear in his voice even though I can’t see his face.

“Oh, you know.” I grin. “Just punishing Scarlett for being a brat.”

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