The Missing Years - a kissing booth fan fiction

Push

Noah

So, my plan to make things okay with Elle had kind of failed. I mean Christmas had been great, right up until that moment in the den. Then everything was off. I mean, I'd put a brave face on it and hugged Elle when she left with her family. Then she'd ignored me for the rest of the break, even blowing off the Flynn-Evans lunch on the Sunday before I flew back to Boston. 

I was likely just reading too much into it though. I mean Elle had probably just reached towards me out of some old habit and then felt awkward about it. It didn't mean anything. I decided to give it another week or so and then maybe send her a message. I didn't want to go back to the silence again. But, I also didn't want to obsess over every minute detail of our interaction, so I put my head down and got on with my studies.

I was sitting on a bench in the Yard, reading a book, trying to get a tiny bit of sunshine after what had been a very grey week in Boston, when a shadow fell across the pages. I looked up scowling, annoyed at the interruption.

"Well if that isn't a face that would put a thundercloud to shame!" Liz said brightly. She was dressed in leggings and a hoodie and had clearly been out jogging when she'd spotted me.

I gave her a half-smile, "Hi Liz, sorry about that. I was trying to get some sun."

"Me too, but it's getting too freaking cold out here. Want to come back to mine?"

"Thanks, but I'm kind of feeling a bit shit, not really in the mood."

"Noah," she laughed, "I didn't mean it that way. I think I can resist the benefits long enough to experience the friends part. I was more thinking of an afternoon of movies on the couch." She blew on her hands to warm them. "With a lot of popcorn."

I smirked. "Throw in hot chocolate and I'm there."

"Deal." She held her hand out. I took it and she dramatically hauled me up off the bench.

"Good god you're heavy, what did your mom feed you over Christmas?"

I chuckled, my dark mood slowly evaporating. "Everything. And then more of everything."

Liz wrapped her arm around my waist and squeezed. "Hmm. You do feel a bit more cuddly than usual."

"Oh really?" I put an arm around her shoulders as we walked and then tickled her ribs with my other hand.

"Noah! Stop! No, okay! I take it back, I take it back!" Liz giggled, trying futilely to get away.

Back at Liz's place I sprawled on the sofa. "So, what do you feel like watching?" I asked, toying with the remote.

"Well," Liz said as she came back in carrying a tray with the popcorn and hot chocolate on it. "I have a few favourites for just such an afternoon. Toy Story, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles or Shrek. Your choice."

I chuckled. "Tough decision but I think I have to go with Shrek."

"Hmm...." she narrowed her eyes at me. "I don't think I'll look too closely at the psychology of you picking the movie with the big grumpy ogre."

"Hey! I'm not that grumpy."

Liz raised an eyebrow at me.

"Fine! I promise to not be such a grumpy ogre."

By the time the movie ended I wasn't so grumpy. Liz was sitting at one end of the sofa, legs stretched out on the chaise, covered in a throw blanket. I was pretty much taking up the rest of the it, lying on my side with my head on a cushion next to Liz's hip. Her hand rested lightly on my bicep. It was cozy but pretty platonic. For us at least.