Page 40 of One Little Kiss
With a sharp exhale I look away. “I don’t know why I’m being such a dick today. I’m…I’m in a bad mood, that’s all. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you.”
It’s a lie and I hate it. I never lie to Noelle, but I have no idea how to tell her why I’m actually pissed.
I know for a fact that if I tell her the truth, everything will change.
Everything.
I can’t do that. I just can’t.
“Come on.” I nod toward the exit. “I’ll take you home.”
For a second I think she’s not going to budge, but after a heartbeat, she falls into step beside me. We’re both quiet on the walk to the parking lot.
“I feel like we’re breaking the law,” she mutters.
I let out a huff of laughter because I know exactly what she means. No one explicitly said we couldn’t leave once we were done with the college fair, but the last bell hasn’t rung and we’re the only ones out here.
I lower my voice and drawl, “I aim to misbehave.” I’m quotingSerenity, which we’ve both agreed is a highly underrated movie and chock full of quotable lines.
My chest feels ten times lighter when she chuckles in response.
There’s still an awkward tension between us but it’s better. If we’re quoting movies, we’re back on firmer footing.
If we can get through this car ride without mentioning kisses, Dominic, or anything having to do with why I freaked out back there, I may be able to get home and regroup.
Yeah, that’s what I need. I need some space to get my head on straight.
I need to get all thoughts of Noelle firmly back in the friends box and seal it shut.
I’m actually feeling somewhat good about this plan and am so lost in my own thoughts that I don’t really realize how long we’ve been silent in my car until she breaks it with the most random comment of all time.
“I failed my driver’s test.”
I blink over at her. “What?”
She’s staring straight ahead, and while her tone is flat and bored, her fingers fidget with her phone in her lap as she repeats herself. “I failed the written test.”
“Okay,” I say slowly. I feel like she expects me to say more, but I have no idea where she’s going with this.
Finally she turns to face me, and when I glance over, my heart gives a hard thud at the emotions in her eyes. “It’s not like I have this plan to rely on guys for rides all the time.”
And…crap.
That’s what this is about. “I didn’t think it was,” I rasp.
That’s the truth. Noelle is self-sufficient…to a fault sometimes. I know she doesn’t mean to skate by on her looks. Whether it’s scavenger hunt wins or rides, I know it’s not intentional. It’s just the way it is.
But I realize with a sinking sensation just how badly my offhand comment hurt her as she keeps going. “I’m gonna take it again. Probably.” She adds that last part belatedly and under her breath. “I just…I suck at tests.”
I know this. The girl is smart, but she’s struggled with grades for as long as I’ve known her.
“And the written test was just…it was awful.”
She’s not looking at me anymore. Her words are rushed and she’s staring out her window. “It’s timed, which always freaks me out. And I don’t, I just…I failed. Big time. And my dad made this joke and…” She trails off. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter.”
I shoot her a sidelong look. Whatever she’d been about to say? It mattered.
“Anyway,” she says as she turns her whole body toward the window, her shoulders hunching a bit like she’s trying to protect herself.
