Chapter - 2 | Encounter with the Queen B*atch

"Good Morning, Ava!" Noah greeted me cheerfully and I kind of melted looking at his smile, just like I melt whenever Trixie smiled at me. Also, no one except Noah called me Ava. That was reserved only for him–don't ask me why, because I don't know.

Maybe that was a lie. I knew why and I refused to accept it. Gosh, why does he have to be so cute and sexy, all simultaneously?

"Good morning, Noah! How was your weekend?" I asked as I occupied the seat beside him.

"Just the usual… I worked and a bit of practice." That handsome grin got wider. "How about your weekend?"

"I did gardening with mom and we both hit the nearby mall, had ice creams followed by movies and a sleepover," I listed. Again, don't ask me why I told him everything I did that weekend to him. It's just the way of things between us.

There are no secrets between us.

"So, um... I was wondering if you'd like to attend my sister's birthday party this Saturday," he asked hopefully.

"Sure."

"Thank you. You know, Elsa will be really happy if you came. Also, bring your mom if she is okay with it," he added.

A warm smile lit up the face at the mention of his younger sister, Elsa. "I'll ask her. So is there any dress code?"

"It's not a formal party as such, just consider it a big family gathering," he said with a shake of his head. "Oh, you can bring your girl Trixie," he added.

"Really? Wow, that's sweet. I'll definitely be there," I answered admiring the blues in his eyes. His eye color was still a mystery. Sometimes it looks rich blue and sometimes a few shades paler like gray.

Realizing that I was staring at him in an inappropriate manner, I averted my gaze and concentrated on the sceneries outside the window.

While my eyes were glued to the buildings and people we passed by, my body fully aware of his closeness. Heat seeped through my clothes and shockingly, it felt normal.

It felt normal because I never got this close to any other boy before. My mom has given me enough warning about the life and consequences of making worst choices.

However, Noah was different. He was not that popular in school, but in the university, he had a lot of fangirls, who would do anything to get into his pants. No offense.

"Did you complete the assignment on Financial Management?"

Did he have to spoil the moment like that? "Kind of…" My voice trailed. I am not a big fan of Financial Management.

"Kind of…" He quirked his eyebrows with a teasing smirk and I shrugged nonchalantly. "That means it's partial. You know tomorrow is the last date submit the assignment, right?" He asked again when I didn't reply.

I let out a defeated sigh. "I really don't want to do it."

He nodded with an understanding smile and pushed a small stick file towards me. "Which is why I finished it for you," he said with a grin and I feel my eyes go wide as I myself melted more.

"Oh, thank you, Noah. You know, you didn't have to do that," I bit my lips as I took the file from him going through the assignment written in a neat handwriting which was almost similar to mine.

"I wanted to. I managed to write like you so they won't find out," he replied and I looked up when his breath fanned my cheek.

He was so close and my heart fluttered at the closeness. It felt so right and if I could see my face now, I would be looking like a Spanish tomato.

"Ava, will you come to see my game tomorrow?" He asked softly and I look up at him once again getting lost in the bluish-gray depths of his eyes.

"Um... you know that I don't like football and I don't know anything about the game," I said in a low murmur.

Noah nodded and leaned back in his seat. His expression dimmed and I felt bad for saying no. It's true that I am not a sports person. I knew nothing about the games. It's not like I didn't try, I did try to understand the rules, but it was all too complicated and I gave up trying to understand it.

Football is a game where two teams chased a ball. I understood the concept of scoring a goal–the other terms are still a mystery.

Noah talked little after that and I sat there looking guilty, holding the assignment he completed for me. Maybe I should've just said yes. How tough is that? I scold myself.

My mind was in turmoil throughout our fifteen minutes bus ride. When we reached our stop we got down silently and once again my heart skipped a beat when I noticed him waiting for me.

Even though I didn't accept his offer, he was waiting for me with a smile. He was there for my all my quiz competitions, cheering me from the crowd like a proud parent.

"Noah, about the game..." I drawled as we walked slowly towards our locker.

"That's okay, Ava. I understand," he said with a smile and somehow I knew that he was still feeling better.

"Noah, I -"

"Ava, I know you don't like games. I should've asked. It's okay, really." He waved me off and I could say he was not okay.

"Noah!"

We both winced when we heard a high pitched shrill. Noah and I, turned together to see one cheerleader running towards us.

I groaned inwardly when I notice her revealing clothes. Her tank top hardly contained her assets, which strained against the thin material. I could even see the outline of her padded bra through the material. She wore a short jean skirt, which ended just below her butt, accentuating her long toned legs.

"Noah! I was looking for you everywhere," she announced as she stopped a few feet from us. Her breasts heaved up and down as she panted with her hands on her knees, giving a full view of her cleavage.

I scowled and looked at Noah, who was looking at anywhere but her. His expression was satisfying and my rising anger lessened.

"Coach Walter is looking for you," she declared once she recovered from her panting like a dog. Hell, Trixie looked much better than her when she panted with her cute tongue lolling on the side.

Sandra ignored me as she ogled Noah, top to bottom.

"Thank you. I'll see him now," Noah answered politely and turned towards me.

"Ava, can you grab my books for me? I'll meet you in the class," he asked thrusting his bag towards me and I nodded with a smile.

"You! Why are you always with him?" Sandra whisper yelled at me once he was out of earshot.

Was she blind?

"And, why is that your concern, Sandra?" I spat bitterly. She was trying too hard to get into his pants for almost a year now and wouldn't take no for an answer. My protective instincts kicked in as I loaded Noah's bag on my free shoulder and met her glare.

"You know very well that I am interested in him and yet you accompany him everywhere," she accused.

"We're together for past three years and I am not going to stay away from my friend just because you want to get into his pants. In fact, you stay away from him, Sandra." I warned and poked her chest just a few above her heart.

"You dare–"

"Yes, I dare you, Sandra. Stay away from Noah. If you're really interested in him you wouldn't be exchanging fluids with Taylor in the Janitor's closet," I stated angrily and didn't bother to hide the disgust I felt towards her.

Her face was turning reddish and I could feel her anger as she clenched and unclenched her fists.

"I don't want you anywhere near Noah and keep your hands to yourself," I went past her with a final warning–my hands itched to take a hit on her pretty nose. However, hitting her would get me a detention that wasn’t healthy for my grades.

My blood continued to boil when I reached the locker.

"Hey, girlfriend!" Familiar choruses of three voices made me forget my anger momentarily.

I turned around to see my best friends Jennifer, Tracy, and Sana coming towards with their usual grin. We hugged each other in greeting before I turn and take mine and Noah's books for our next class.

Noah and I were on the same course, so we had most of our classes together. Jen, Tracy, and Sana were doing Journalism so we mostly met during lunch and after our classes.

"So, what did that bitch wanted today?" Jen asked curiously and I gave her a quick recap of my confrontation with Sandra.

"Hmm... good that you gave her back," Sana commented as we walked to our respective classes. We still had ten minutes for the first bell, so we were not in a hurry.

"I don't want her anywhere near Noah," I agreed.

"And, he doesn't want any guys near you," Tracy bumped into my shoulder playfully.

"I totally ship you guys," Jen announced and my heart fluttered again.

I knew of Noah's genuine attractions towards me and I never objected whenever my friends made fun of us or shipped us as a couple. I kind of liked it.

"Aww... you look cute when you blush like that," Sana pinched my cheeks while the other girls made a chorus of 'aww…' A few students looked our way and I bowed my head to hide my blush from them.

"Shut up!" I blush more and they giggled.

"So, are you going to his games tomorrow?" Tracy asked.

"Yeah, he asked me today."

"Whoa... so finally the boy had grown some balls to ask you out," Sana whistled low.

"Ah, it's not a date," I argued.

"Then what it is, my lady. The boy had asked you to come for this game, it's a freaking date," Jen exclaimed and the others nodded their heads vigorously in agreement.

My heart thumped and a ghost smile spread across my lips at the mention of the word 'date.' They were about to ask me something when the bell went off and we hurried to our respective classes with a promise to meet during lunch and continue our conversation.

Noah reached the class, fifteen minutes later and handed a small note to Mrs. Dunham, who let him in without another word. He was an upcoming football player with a lot of potentials and got into our university under sports scholarship.

Everyone praised Noah for his skills and he was not bad in his studies either. Sadly, I've never seen him play and now I felt glad I agreed to go to the game.

He grinned at me as he took a seat near me. He scribbled in his notebook before sliding it towards me.

He called me to talk about extra practice for tomorrow's game.

I nodded with a smile as I returned his notebook. We listened to the lecture and took notes. The entire time I could feel his closeness, our knees were touching and sometimes even our shoulders touched.

His body heat seeped through my clothes and I seemed to welcome the warmth as I involuntarily leaned towards him, relishing the comfort and sense of safety.

It all started a few months ago. We were just friends until then, I mean he would send me similar glances like he did now, but would never touch me. I don't know when we came closer, all of sudden one day he sat closer and I let him.

It was like we both knew that we liked each other, though we never said it out loud. Our actions spoke for us. We kept quiet when our friends mocked us or made couple jokes. I would blush and he will look at the floor.

I jumped slightly when he took my hand in his under the table and drew random patterns inside my palm. His hard fingers traced the contours of my prints and I felt myself relaxing though my heart beat like I was running a marathon.

When I read the descriptions of those romantic touches in the book, I used to think if it felt like that. Now that I am experiencing something similar to it, I didn't know how to explain the way I felt.

His gentle touch gave me a thrill and it felt right. Blood rushed to my head as I felt it spin slightly as my breath quickened. His hands left mine when Mrs. Dunham asked him something and my kind of glared at her for spoiling our moment.

Every day it was like this between us. We never spoke much about our attraction or I was not sure if we were an item. We just talk, we enjoyed each other’s company and the small touches, that was all for now.

I got up with a sigh and picked up books at the sound of the bell and followed him to our next class.