Noah shook his head. “It’s okay. I’ll make it up to them during basketball season.”
That’s right. I’d forgotten this school did two Homecoming’s, one during football season and one in the winter during basketball.
It got quiet in the car and my nerves came back full force. I was sure my hand felt sweaty and wanted to pull it out of his grasp but didn’t know how to without seeming like a jerk. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to hold Noah’s hand. In fact, I loved the feel of his rough skin against mine. I decided not to worry about my clammy hands. If he was grossed out by it, he could be the one to let go.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” he asked, his voice low and husky ask he shifted in his seat bringing his body closer to mine. Without thought, I leaned closer to him until I could feel his warmth through the thin fabric of my cardigan.
I turned my face toward him. He kept his eyes on the road, but I could tell he was dividing his attention between driving and me.
“I think you did say something about that,” I answered, squeezing his hand in mine.
“You think? I must not have done a good enough job if you just think.” Almost like he’d planned it, Noah stopped at a red light. He looked at me and our eyes met in the dim light from his dash. With his hand temporarily free, Noah lifted his fingers to my cheek, his touch feather light. “Tierney Hiatt, you are beautiful every day, but tonight,” he shook his head. “Tonight, you blow me away.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but a car horn blasted from the car behind us and interrupted me. We both laughed and I was saved from having to say anything. It was a good thing because I had no idea what to say to that.
All I knew, this was going to be a night to remember.
18
Noah
I stopped just outside the door to the gymnasium. I hadn’t forgotten my promise to Tierney when she agreed to come to the dance with me. I wanted to reassure her that I meant what I said.
“Hey, are you okay with all of this?” I waved my hand in front of us.
Tierney took a deep breath and offered me a smile. It was somewhat forced, but I could tell she was trying. “Yeah, I’m okay. I can’t avoid things forever, right?”
I pulled her into a quick hug and whispered in her ear. “That’s my girl.”
Tierney started a little in my arms and I realized what I just said. But I wasn’t sorry. I wanted Tierney to be my girl. More than anything I wanted that.
I pulled away and looked into her eyes. “I promise nothing bad will happen. I’ll be by your side the whole night.” I felt confident it was a promise I’d be able to keep. I’d do anything to keep Tierney safe and happy and I was prepared to prove it.
Tierney nodded and it was time to do this thing.
Mr. Hoffman was waiting for us at the door looking ready to have a heart attack. There were already a few students at the dance. Music blared from every corner of the gym as teacher chaperones rushed to fill the refreshment table with cookies and the soda shoppe style glasses we’d ordered for root beer. Three adults had been assigned to monitor the two liter bottles we had on ice to make sure no one added anything they shouldn’t to the bottles.
The first hour of the dance we were busy. I was worried when Trina came through the door and handed Tierney her ticket. I’d stepped away to handle another crisis, but I was close enough to see the encounter. I hadn’t told her who my date was going to be and Trina barely glanced in Tierney’s direction before making her way onto the dance floor. I just hoped the rest of the evening would go by without a scene from Trina.
Once I returned to the table at the front, Mr. Hoffman shewed us away and told us to enjoy the rest of our night. The chaperones and janitors were going to take everything down afterwards, so we were free, our responsibilities for the dance were finished.
“Should we dance?” I asked Tierney as I led her further into the gym. I’d seen a few of my friends but the guys meant it when they said we didn’t do Fall Homecoming. There were only a few of the guys from the basketball team here.
“How about we get our pictures done? Then we won’t worry about it,” she answered.
“Let’s do it.” I slid my hand into hers like we’d been holding hands forever. I’d been doing that all night and she hadn’t complained so I figured she was alright with it. I knew I was. I couldn’t ever remember feeling this way about a girl before. I mean, sure, I liked Trina at first, but it wasn’t like I wanted to hang out with her all the time like I wanted to with Tierney. And I hadn’t been all touchy feely, either. With Tierney, I found myself adjusting my body so it was in some kind of contact with hers at all times. Knees. Shoulders. Hands. I couldn’t seem to get enough of her.
“It looks just how I thought it would,” she said, taking in the decorations around the gym as we wove through tables and people on our way to the backdrop where a photographer was set up to take formal pictures.
I glanced around. “Yeah, it looks great.” We’d pulled it off, that was for sure.
“Everything did. The float. The parade. The dance. We made a good team.”
“We make a good team,” I corrected, squeezing her hand gently.
A small smile curled her lips. “Yeah.”
Most everyone else had already had their pictures done, so we didn’t have to wait in line. The photographer positioned us in front of the tacky old-fashioned back drop.
“Put your arm around her waist,” the photographer directed.
There was an awkward moment as Tierney and I looked at each other. It was one thing getting there on our own but quite another in front of someone else who basically demanded we touch each other. Finally, I just pulled her in front of me and wrapped my arms around her waist. I was just average height and Tierney’s petite frame fit perfectly against my chest.
I forgot all about the photographer as I lowered my head to breathe her sweet scent. She turned her face toward mine and our eyes met and all I wanted to do was kiss her again. In fact, I was determined we’d be revisiting that topic before the night was over.
“That’s perfect,” the photographer said, startling both of us. I glanced up to see the woman smiling knowingly. I shot her a sheepish grin and grabbed Tierney’s hand.
“Let’s dance.” I wanted way more of holding her in my arms.
Tierney nodded slowly.
The dance floor was crowded. I led Tierney to the edge of the dancing and just held her, our bodies swaying easily to the beat.
“This isn’t a slow song,” she said, her lips close to my ear.
“I know.” I tightened my arms, drawing her closer. I didn’t think I was ready for another relationship after Trina, but the last few weeks spending time with Tierney and I knew I wanted more than friendship wither her, more than casual flirting. I wanted her to be my girlfriend.
“I feel bad we didn’t go see your parents.” she said.
She’d been over to the house a few times lately. My parents loved her, especially my dad. It usually ended up being a trash Noah session, but they all enjoyed it and I knew it was all in good fun so I pretended to be offended when really I was just happy to see my dad laughing.
“Dad wants you to come over again and play Scrabble. He said Mom and I aren’t enough of a challenge.” I rolled my eyes and she giggled.
“Anytime. I love to play, but no one at my house likes that game.”
I didn’t love Scrabble, either, but Dad liked it and apparently, so did Tierney. Yeah, I was pretty whipped at this point.
“I think you might be the most beautiful girl here,” I murmured in her ear.
Her lips moved against my cheek as she smiled. “Might be?”
I smiled and wondered when I’d ever felt this good, this happy. “Okay, you are. You definitely are. I just didn’t want you to get a big head.”
Tierney giggled and pulled back to swat my shoulder.
Our eyes met and everything thing went slow and silky. The room, the music, the dance, all
faded away until all I could see was Tierney.
Slowly, so slow she had plenty of time to pull away, I lowered my face until our lips were just a breath apart. I looked into her eyes and waited. I made her a promise and even though I could see she wanted a kiss as much as I did, she was going to have to ask for one.
When she didn’t I feared I’d be reduced to begging. As it was, I just said one word. “Please.”
Her eyes darkened as I waited. I’d been dreaming of kissing her again and I wanted more than anything for her to tell me it was okay. That she wanted it, too.
She nodded her head. “Yes, Noah.” Her voice was so soft I almost didn’t hear, but it didn’t matter because she rose on her toes, closing the distance between our lips until they touched.
Kissing Tierney was just as amazing as I remembered. Like Christmas and the Fourth of July all rolled into one. Fireworks and that thing under the tree, the one you’ve been asking for all year. Tierney. Tierney was all I wanted and she was right there and right there in the middle of a high school dance, Tierney Hiatt claimed my heart. It would be loyal to her for as long as it continued to beat. I just knew it. Every protective, possessive, and primal instinct took over my mind, body, and heart until I was completely and utterly hers.
Forgetting everything else, I pulled her close and deepened the connection. Tierney responded, her fingers trailing up my arms and over my shoulders until they clasped together behind my neck. We fit perfectly.
Of course, the moment was too perfect to last.
“Noah,” Trina’s screeching voice broke through the thick kiss haze clouding my brain just seconds before her hand clamped down on my shoulder.
“Let go of me!” Wrenching out of her grasp, I curled my arms and shoulders around Tierney. “What the hell are you doing?”
Trina’s eyes widened with surprise before narrowing. “You were kissing her!” she shouted, pointing at Tierney. Tierney, who’d I’d promised to protect tonight, and who was curled against my chest, her entire body trembling.
We were drawing some attention, but I’d chosen a dark corner to dance with Tierney and we were far from the entrance to the gym and there wasn’t a chaperone in sight that I could tell. I was so angry with Trina I wanted to punch something.
“So what?” When was she going to get it through her head? We were over. Done.
Trina gasped, bringing a hand to her lips as her eyes filled with tears. “Noah, how could you do this to me?”
Tierney stirred in my arms but I was afraid of what Trina would do if I let her go. I adjusted my hold, cradling her against my chest, hoping she would just stay still.
“Trina. We broke up. I can kiss whoever I want.” I spoke slowly, emphasizing each word while thinking all I wanted to do was kiss Tierney again and again and how upset I was that Trina had ruined this moment for the both of us. I just hoped we’d be able to get it back.
Trina’s jaw dropped and a small shriek escaped her lips before her expression softened. “You don’t mean that, Noah. We’re just taking a break. We’re meant to be together. I love you. You know that.” Her eyes shifted to the top of Tierney’s head barely visible through my arms and I knew a moment of real fear. Something about Trina wasn’t right. My suspicions were confirmed when Trina’s hand reached through my arms for a handful of Tierney’s hair.
“Owww,” Tierney howled.
“Hey! Stop!” I could hardly think what to do. If I pulled Tierney away, the grip Trina had would only pull harder. But I couldn’t do nothing. “Trina!” I pried at her hands. Tierney held her head with one hand and kicked a heeled toe at Trina’s shin.
“You bitch!” Trina shrieked, releasing Tierney’s hair. Just when I thought it was over, Trina pulled her hand back and slapped Tierney across her cheek.
The three of us stood, stunned.
Horrified, I finally collected myself and pulled Tierney to me again. Tears streamed down her red cheeks. A perfect hand print marred her skin and I saw red. I’d never been so tempted in all my life to do real harm to another human being, but Trina had pushed me too far.
Almost.
With Tierney still in my arms, I whirled toward Trina and was gratified to see her flinch away from me, her eyes clouded with fear.
“Noah,” her voice was small as she shriveled in on herself, but I felt no compassion for her.
With all the venom I could muster, I told her just how I felt about her and our relationship. All the anger I’d been feeling spilled forth and by the time I was finished, Trina stood pale and trembling. I knew I should feel ashamed, but she’d left me no choice. I never wanted to hurt her, but I wasn’t going to stay with her to keep it from happening.
“You don’t mean it,” she whispered.
“I mean it with every breath in me. Leave. Me. Alone,” I told her for the final time before practically running for the exit, taking Tierney with me.
She was never going to forgive me. I was never going to forgive myself.
19
Tierney
Noah rushed me out of the gym. I clutched the spot on my head where Trina had pulled my hair with one hand, it felt like she’d ripped my scalp, and pressed the other to my stinging cheek. I felt as though I was in the middle of a nightmare, a recurring dream I never wanted to have again.
As we half walked, half ran out of the school, Noah held me tight against his side and whispered over and over, “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
In my head, I knew it wasn’t his fault. It was Trina’s but my heart had been hurt before and it was so hard to separate the two. Noah promised. He promised me nothing bad would happen, that he would protect me. He knew what had happened before.
I knew it wasn’t his fault.
I also knew it wouldn’t be easy to ever trust him again.
I was broken.
Noah
The car ride to Tierney’s house was torture. I’d folded her into her seat and she hugged the door, as far away from me as she could get, while I cast worried glances her way about every thirty seconds.
She was never going to trust me again.
I promised I’d keep her safe.
I just never knew what could happen.
In that moment, I hated Trina Davis.
Tierney
As soon as the car stopped, I opened my door and raced up the front steps. Noah was right behind me, but I just needed to get away.
“Tierney!” I heard the panic in his voice and I felt badly. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I’d already learned this lesson once. The only person I had any control over was me. I was the only one who could protect me from the kind of hurt Trina inflicted tonight. And it wasn’t just the fact that she pulled my hair or even slapped my cheek. Those hurts would heal. She robbed me of the peace I felt with Noah, the peace I’d been beginning to feel since Noah and I became friends. And I didn’t know how I’d ever get that back.
I burst through the door and closed it again before Noah could follow me. I engaged the lock and leaned my back against it.
“Tierney!” Noah’s fist pounded on the door. “Tierney, please. I’m sorry. Please talk to me.”
Please. It was the word he said just before he kissed me tonight. Tears spilled down my cheeks. I squeezed my eyes closed.
Noah knocked. Rang the doorbell. Called my name over and over.
Finally, through the door, I heard his phone ring. The knocking stopped and I heard him utter a swear word I would never say. His shoes echoed on the concrete steps and then his car door slammed shut.
I moved to the window in the living room just in time to see him speed out of our driveway and race down the street.
Another car pulled into the driveway before I left the window.
Hannah.
I heard her thank the driver, probably one of her friend’s dad, and then head for the front door. I moved from the window and flipped the lock just as she turned the knob.
“Tierney! What happened? I saw you and Noah leave the dance.” She
grabbed me by my arms, her face so full of love and concern that I lost it.
Two hours later…
“That was almost two years ago.”
Hannah sat with her mouth hanging open on the edge of my bed. Once I got my tears under control, Hannah helped me out of my dress and into the shower. Mom and Doug had gone to dinner and a movie and wouldn’t be back until late. We both got into our pajamas and sat on my bed with a half gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream, devouring it while I spilled my guts to my sister about everything that had happened at my old school with Alexa and Lizzy.
“Wow. Tee, I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me?” I could tell she was asking because she cared and not because she was upset I’d hidden something so big in my life from her.
I shrugged. “I don’t know, Hannah. I mean, it’s not an easy conversation starter.” What was I supposed to say? I was bullied and so was my friend and she killed herself?
Hannah shook her head, her gaze fixed on a point across the room. “That’s just so awful. I can’t even imagine.” Her face twisted and I knew she was thinking about what I’d told her. I couldn’t blame her. It hurt my heart every day.
Hannah turned to look at me. “Is that why you dress the way you do? And don’t want to make any friends?”
“Yeah.” I thought about how to explain it to her. “When it happened, I knew I could never go back to that school. There were too many memories. And even though Alexa had been expelled and a lot of the girls who were friends with her were suspended, I still didn’t want to be there. It didn’t feel safe.”
“I can’t imagine why,” Hannah deadpanned, then her face softened and she reached for my hand. “But then you came here.”
I nodded. “Yeah. I was glad when my mom married your dad for a lot of reasons, but I have to admit a big one was that I wouldn’t ever have to go back to that school and just,” I paused. My emotions were raw from everything that had just happened with Noah as well as having to tell my story twice in as many weeks. I swallowed. “I was happy to put all of that behind me.”
Dating: On the Rebound Page 14