Chapter 6 Noah... and then there's Elodie:

Laramie:

Noah chuckled - the sound was warm, deep, and comforting.

"This could be fun, you know. I could rename you."

I tilted my head slightly to one side. "Oh yeah? What would you call me?"

His eyes flickered with mischief as he considered for a second. "Trouble."

My swing slowed, but my smile didn't. "That's a terrible nickname."

"Maybe. But it suits you." He shrugged, his energy casual but attentive. "You've got that look."

"What look?"

"The one people get right before they do something reckless and blame it on the alcohol."

I snorted. "Wow. You read minds too. Impressive."

"Not a mind reader. Just observant. You've been glaring at your drink like it's your sworn enemy, but you haven't put it down. That says something."

I lifted my cup, swirling the liquid inside. "Maybe I like dangerous things." My mind inadvertantly went to Ethan. I tried to push the image of him touching me out of my mind.

Noah's grin widened, two small dimples formed next to his mouth, drawing my attention back. "Then you should definitely stay away from me."

My cheeks warmed again - I wasn't sure if it was from the punch, or the sound of his voice. How was it possible that I felt so comfortable, so at ease, with someone who I had just met. For some reason, Noah made me feel like I was being seen. The connection i felt with him took me by surprise.

It was completely different to the connection I felt with Ethan. My connection with Ethan felt magnetic, dangerous even - something that I knew I should resist, stay away from but I couldn't. But with Noah things just felt relaxed, natural - like I didn't need to be anybody else but me.

"I'm Laramie." I smiled and held out my hand.

Noah reached for it. Instead of simply shaking it, he touched his lips to the top of my hand - the warmth of his breath only just grazed my skin and sent goosebumps up and down my spine.

"Well, that's a much better name than Someone, or Trouble. It's nice to meet you Laramie."

I laughed easily. For the first time in a very long time it felt like I wasn't carrying the weight of the entire world on my shoulders. I felt light, free, and happy.

"I think I'm going to like you, Laramie."

I leaned in just a fraction. "You know what, Noah. I think I'm going to like you too." My laugh was a little softer this time, but the way that my body relaxed against the swing told me that I meant what I had said.

A moment of silence fell between us then. The air felt a little heavier. The night smelled a little sweeter. The music from the party faded into nothingness. In that moment, the only thing that existed, the only thing that mattered, was the two of us sitiing next to each other, looking into each other's eyes and leaning in...

Then a familiar voice sliced through the silence like a blade and shattered the moment.

"There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you."

Elodie was sluring her words and stumbling. She looked a mess - more like someone who had been hooking up than someone looking for her roommate.

"I'm bored," she pouted when she reached the swings, needing to hold onto the chains to keep herself upright, "I wanna leave now."

Noah sighed and pulled away. He looked a little disappointed, but not annoyed with Elodie at all. Something about that pleased me.

Elodie suddenly noticed Noah: she straightened and tried to fix her hair and her shirt - it really wasn't much use.

"Hello gorgeous. Why haven't I seen you around?"

He smiled. "Because I was keeping your friend company."

"Well, isn't she lucky."

"Actually, I think that I'm the lucky one."

I could feel my cheeks flush and had to look away from him. Elodie's eyes darted between the two of us, and then a slow smile formed around her mouth.

"Okay, I get it," she put both her hands up, "but unfortunately I have to steal her away from you, Noah. She has to take me home. I think I might need to lie down."

"I think that's a good idea," he stood up, leaned down, and gently kissed me on my cheek, lingering there for a second, "goodnight, Laramie. I'll see you around."

Elodie and I watched him walk away. My stomach felt like it was swirling. There was a buzz beneath my skin. I felt giddy, almost dizzy. Noah left me feeling curious, excited... alive.

"Oh... my... god! Laramie, he's absolutely stunning! Good for you." Laramie hooked her arm through mine as we began to walk back to our dorm.

"He is, isn't he?"

"Next time I'm hanging out outside. I also want to run into a handsome stranger and make out on a swing."

"All we did was talk."

"Boring! I would have had him out of his clothes and under me within a matter of minutes."

I laughed and rolled my eyes at her. "Oh, I don't doubt that for a second."

We finally made it back to our dorm. It was almost two in the morning. I fell down on my bed, suddenly feeling exhausted. Elodie fell down next to me - I had to move a few inches to make space for her - when I moved away, she moved closer.

"I had so much fun tonight," she turned her head to look at me, only a breath of space between us, "thank you for coming with me."

"Yeah. I had fun too. Thank you for me dragging me along."

Elodie smiled, only for a second before her expression turned serious. Then she did something so completely unexpected that I was frozen for a few seconds before I could even react - Elodie wrapped her hand around my head, leaned in, and kissed me - with absolute passion and hunger.

The kiss startled me. I've never kissed a girl before - never thought that I wanted to. My first instinct was to pull away, but my body betrayed me, leaning in closer instead. The press of Elodie's lips against mine wasn't what I expected, but it wasn't wrong either.

I didn't hate it. In fact, the thought that scared me the most, was that part of me wanted even more.