Chapter 6

Natalie

I rush down the stairs and notice everyone is cheering. The bottom floor has turned into a battleground arena. 

It's quite the scene. People are clapping their hands in a circle around Linnea and Bianca.

Wait a minute, is that blood on Linnea's face?

What the hell is going on?!

I press through the crowd, but I only glimpse what is happening in the middle.

"You used to be my best friend!" Bianca is furious and drunk, raising her voice at Linnea. "But now you're hanging out with that damn loser, Natalie. You're constantly taking her side!"

Linnea can barely stand and laughs at Bianca. "Do you want to know why I'm not your fucking friend anymore? Because you're a sad, jealous little bitch! You're such an attention whore that it's pathetic!"

Luna is biting her nails on the side, shrieking when Bianca takes a swing at Linnea, who quickly steps away. Linnea is the bigger woman and shakes her head in a warning. 

"Okay, now you've done it, princess!"

Linnea punches Bianca in the face, and the brunette shouts in pain. She is overly dramatic—I don't think Linnea hit her that hard. Nevertheless, Bianca's boyfriend, Elliott, rushes in. 

"Don't touch my fucking girlfriend, you whore!"

Elliott fists Linnea's t-shirt and punches her repeatedly. He is acting like a psychopath. I try to make it through the crowd. 

Linnea is crying out in pain, making my heart race faster. There is blood on her face and on Elliott's fist.

If this goes on, then Linnea might not live another day!

"STOP!" I shout, pushing at Elliott's shoulder. "STOP HITTING HER! THAT'S ENOUGH!"

Elliott gives me a drunken glare. He lifts his hand to punch me, but Noah grabs his arm in a deadlock.

"You're fighting women now, Elliott?" Noah asks calmly. He looks pissed off, and I'm hit with how big the man truly is. "How about you fight someone your own size or get the hell out?"

Elliot's face pales. "I-I don't want to fight you!"

"Then. Get. Out."

Elliot scrambles away, and I put Linnea's arm around my shoulder. Her head rolls to the side, but she is still breathing. 

Thank god.

It offers me some relief. 

Linnea is a good friend and a lovely person. I don't want to lose her. I was so worried when Elliott hit her black and blue.

My adrenaline is gushing in my ears. "We should call an ambulance."

Noah's eyes scan the crowd when nobody moves. "Are you all deaf? Someone call a goddamn ambulance."

Noah's fan club eagerly picks up their phones, and I find a chair for where Linnea can sit. People are disappearing out into the street, coached by a friend of Noah. 

I relax a little when the music dies. My hand is resting on Linnea's shoulder when a shadow falls over me.

"Is she okay?"

I peer up and find Johan towering above me. He crouches down in front of Linnea, eyeing her punched face. The skin is already swelling and looking purple, making Johan's jaw tick.

"I should kill Elliott."

"No, you won't," Noah says, appearing with a wet towel and some ice in a bag. He hands it over to Johan. "But you can ice her face to reduce the bruise. And then you can carry her to the ambulance. They should be here by any minute."

Johan sighs while holding the ice against Linnea's face. "Friends usually aren't allowed to go with the ambulance."

Noah lifts a questioning eyebrow. "So why don't you tell them you are her boyfriend, then?"

To my utter surprise, Johan actually blushes. He might look like a badass rugby player with countless tattoos, but right now, he is behaving like an insecure guy in love.

When Johan notices me watching him, he narrows his eyes. "You can't tell Linnea that I like her."

I laugh. "I think Linnea already heard you."

"No." Johan cracks a smile that doesn't look feral. "She is too drunk to remember a word, and she is already sputtering nonsense."

A smile graces my lips. "Fair enough."

After a few more minutes, the ambulance arrives, and Johan is allowed to ride with them to the hospital. The party people are long gone, and the guys living in the frat house are all inside. I'm standing on the curb next to Noah's towering form.

"I can ride a taxi by myself."

Noah is staring out into the street. "I don't doubt it, but I rather ride home with you after tonight."

Warmth fills my chest. I lack words but reach out my hand without looking. I'm not sure what I'm doing. My hand dangles far away from my body. I feel silly, but my heart gives a tiny squeeze when Noah engulfs my hand in his larger one.

I peer up at him, blushing at the slight curl of his lips.

"We can't become an item," I say. "You know it's unethical."

"But not forbidden."

"It's weird."

"Does it matter?"

"People would talk."

His eyes find mine. "And yet I don't care."

My cheeks scald, and I avert my eyes from his. "These feelings will probably pass."

"Or grow."

I peer up at Noah, suddenly close to tears. I search his face, trying to find a hint of him joking, but I only find affection and lust. Possessiveness. I shudder at the resolute expression on his face.

"This is probably only a crush."

"Maybe," Noah smiles. "But if it ends becoming something more than that, promise me something."

"What?"

"Don't lie to me if you end up falling for me," Noah says calmly. "Always be honest with your emotions—it could be a life-changer. And as you may have guessed, I already like you."

I stare at him, but then the taxi arrives, and the moment is over. Noah opens the door for me, and then he walks over to enter from the other side. We ride in silence.

My chest is constricting, filled with emotions that I don't understand—I'm afraid of them too. The more time I spend with Noah, the more vulnerable I become. It's scary. I don't trust people—not after my mother abandoned my father and me.

I have trust issues. I don't let people in. I've built barricades around my heart, but Noah is tearing them down.

It frightens me. 

When the taxi stops, I dare to sneak a peek of Noah. He smiles at me, and my heart flutters and hurts like it's been struck with knives. It's confusing feeling everything at once, both the pain and the passion.

"Thanks for tonight," I tell him. 

Noah's face is gentle. "I didn't do much... Unless you're talking about your amazing orgasm?"

And just like that, I'm smiling again. "Good night, Noah."

He beams back at me. "Good night, Natalie."

Noah closes the door, and I walk up to my apartment and let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding. Butterflies are soaring in my chest, whispering something that I'm not yet ready to admit.

I'm falling for Noah Parker.