Chapter 1 - Daisy
I had my windows rolled down, roof open and Nicki Minaj blasting out the stereo with the wind in my hair. I drove as Noah kept telling me to slow down and turn the music down although I knew he secretly loved Nicki Minaj.
“Are we almost there?” He asked. “Yeah, the beach is like 20 minutes away.” I answered and went back to singing but more like yelling the song… a couple minutes later Noah joined me singing ‘can’t stop dancin’ by Becky G.
About 20 minutes later we arrived and I went to find a parking machine while Noah went to find a spot to put our towels down. Then I called him to see where he was and met him there. When I got there he suggested that he could go get ice cream and I said I could stay with our things. Then he asked “ok, what flavour do you want then?” and we said in unison “salted caramel, bubble gum and cookie dough.” Then we burst into laughter at how well we know each other.
“Well, I guess we know each other a little too well, huh?” I said and then we started laughing again which earned us a few odd glances here and there from the people around us, but we didn't care as we were too busy having a splendid time laughing and joking with each other.
“Ok enough, I'll go get those ice creams... brb.” Oh how much I love him, I wish he knew but then again it's better that he doesn't because we don't have the risk of our lifelong friendship being ruined by a silly argument. I pondered this many times over the last 4 years and still do. A couple minutes later he comes back with ice cream and milk tea boba. “Oh, thanks love.”
This nickname is a longstanding joke between us because one time 6 years ago we visited London and we were in town when some guy tried flirting with me then Noah put his arm around my shoulder and said “dude, back off, this is my girl, love let's go get some dinner.” and once we got away from him I started mocking Noah’s attempt at a British accent and him calling me love...
(back to present) “it's fine love.” He said smiling down at me and it's a good thing I had sunglasses on otherwise he would have seen how hard I was blushing. Even after so long even his smiles and smallest actions fluster me. At least soon I'll hopefully have a tan to cover it. He looks so hot with his dirty blonde hair and slightly muscular look with only swimming trunks on.
After a couple hours of chatting, reading, sunbathing and swimming, people started leaving until we were the only ones left, not counting the two other couples watching the sunset.
“Today was so nice and relaxing, thank you for the great idea.” I said and he smirked at me and said “Well I do have some good ideas sometimes, don't I?” and I playfully hit his chest at how full of himself he was sometimes.
I moved a bit closer to him and moved my face a bit closer to his and lightly kissed him on the lips and to my surprise he kissed me back. After a few seconds, we pulled apart and he said “Oh…” and I hmmed then he said “Well… I mean, I knew you liked me because you blush every time I smile at you or anything even if you think your sunglasses cover it... Fun fact: they don't.”
After that, he got up and started walking to the car, and when I tried to stand up I tipped a bit and Noah saw and ran to my side to hold me up. “Are you ok?” he asked, a note of concern etched into his voice. “Yeah, just feeling a bit dizzy today…” he was already aware of my fainting disorder so he knew to keep an eye on me at all times. “Yeah I'm fine, sorry for worrying you.” he lightly tipped my chin up to look at him whole he said, “You should never feel the need to say sorry for feeling unwell, you understand?”
I nodded lightly and I grabbed my head lightly as I felt a bit faint again. “I'll help you walk to the car and I'll drive too, ok?” he asked and I nodded very lightly. Then he slowly started to guide me to the car. Once we got to the car he held me up while opening the door, sat me down and strapped me in.
Then he closed my door and walked around to his side of the car ,We drove mostly in silence, but it was a comfortable silence and not a stiff one, until I said quietly, “Noah?” he hmmmed and I said, “Did you enjoy today?” and he nodded then said, “Yeah, I think so, what about you?” And I answered “Yeah, a beach day was a good idea. It was very relaxing, thanks.” he nodded and then asked, ”So you feel ok, like do you feel better?” and I replied. “Yeah, I’m ok, a bit better than earlier but still not great. Well, how about we watch a movie?” and he nodded again and said something like ok, sounds good let's go to my house.
And I said, “ok, whatever.” and we sat quietly for a couple of minutes until he said, “ ok, what should we watch?” “A rom-com” we said in unison and I rolled my eyes, “Oh gosh, am I that predictable?” I say my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Also, why would you ask if you already know the answer to the question?” he shrugged and I chuckled at his reaction. “That's not an answer and you always tell me that when I shrug or say because as my reason for something. Now answer me!” I say and he shrugs again and he starts to chuckle while I sigh in frustration. “Whatever, I give up.” and I roll my eyes.
We sit in silence until we arrive at his family home and when we walk into the house, we find his parents in the living room and they start to move away from the couch to let us sit there until Noah and I tell them it's ok and that we can go watch something in Noah's room. (which is an exact representation of his carefree, bubbly personality.) It looks almost the same as it was the first time I ever saw it well except for the bed.
“Ok, turn on Netflix and let's find something and then we can go get some snacks.” he nods and then I say, “How about finally mine?” he hums and then says,” ok, well what's it about?” and I replied with,” A girl has been in a toxic relationship with a very dangerous man. Once she's free she has a long way to go to remember who she is. Then she officially says she will never so much as even look at another man... A man comes along and is everything she ever wanted but he's leaving for a year. One kiss and he's gone or so she thought...” he then said, “Wow that sounds like a good movie.” and I nodded and then he raced downstairs to the kitchen to get snacks and I slowly followed him down the stairs to the kitchen. I then said,” I'll get ice cream and you get popcorn and cookies, k?” he nodded and then a couple minutes later he asked if I wanted a drink and I just asked for a cherry and lime Coke and he made it and we went back upstairs after we said bye to his parents…
(about 2 hours later) “oh” he looks over at me and sees that I'm asleep. He lifted me off the bed for a second to move the covers and then he laid me back on the bed, tucked me in and we slept together like we used to when we were kids.
(In the morning) I woke up cuddled together with him. Me lying on his chest and him hugging me to him. I stayed there for a couple minutes longer until I felt something strange... Oh hell no... Oh fuck... No, no, no... Not today. As I thought, it was my period. I rushed to the bathroom and luckily his mom always has some products in the bathroom.
A couple moments later Noah knocks at the door and asks,” Hey, are you ok?” and I said,” Yeah, I'm fine. It's nothing.” and he said,” You know you can tell me if something is wrong.” I opened the door and said,” Hey umm... Can you check if your bedding is stained because if it is, I can clean it.” he made a questioning face and I told him that “I just started my period again.” his face softened then he said, " We can worry about the bedding later. Now, have you got all the products you need? If not I can go get some.” and I smiled lightly then said, “ummm... I just need some tampons and I'm craving chocolate, so chocolate. But it's fine, I can go get some myself.” he then asks, “only that? Nah I'll take you dont worry about it. You just relax.” i nod and then he gets his keys, we say goodbye to his family and then we leave for the shop and we talked about everything and anything the whole drive there.
Once we got to the shop I told him to just wait in the car and I'll be right back. I got everything I needed and went back outside. When I started walking towards him I spotted him talking to some cute brunette girl and he introduced us and of course, her name was Emily. Like what else would it be? But I have to admit she was really pretty. “Hi, nice to meet you I'm Daisy.” And I shook her hand. Then she said, “Nice to meet you too, I'm Emily.” It looked like they were flirting so I just waved goodbye to the girl and asked Noah for the keys. “Finish your conversation and I'll wait in the car.” he gave me the key and I then said,” Thanks. Take your time.” Then I waved at the girl and said, “It was lovely to meet you” and she nodded in agreement and waved at me.
When I got into the car I couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in my chest because they were flirting. I just took out my phone to distract myself. My favourite influencer just got married and what am I doing? Crushing on my best friend who doesn't like me back (at least I think so…) wow… Daisy that is just- my thought was cut off as I heard the driver's side door open ans he stepped in and asked me if I got everything I needed, I nodded and asked “Did you get her number?” and he rubbed the back of his neck as his face turned bright red.
“Is Noah Flynn embarrassed?” I kept teasing him until I decided to just say, “Well she seems nice and she's very pretty.” Ha nodded a small nod and he was still red but now he was more of a dull red. I still felt my heart hurt at the fact but ignorance is bliss, right? “It's funny you say that because you look so jelly… like totally jelly,” he said. “I am not” I retorted. “You are…” “Not” “yeah you are” “whatever.”
There was a long silence after which he chuckled and said “by the way, if you need to know… she has a boyfriend and we are in the same class, it was about an assignment which is due after the holidays but… I may or may not have asked her to pretend to flirt with me, to prank you… and i’d say it worked, judging by the look on your face…” Then he burst into a fit of laughter.
