All Chapters of Something Like Elena : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The next few weeks felt different. So starkly different. I met with Peter and ended things. He asked a lot of questions, wanted to know why I’d suddenly changed my mind about us, and I couldn’t give him a real answer. I couldn’t tell him about Noah. Because, one, we weren’t really together. And two, I couldn’t let anyone know what we were doing. Still, I knew it was best to end it.I felt awful about Peter. And even if Noah and I never became… whatever it is we’re becoming, I still would’ve ended it.Then our routine changed. Drastically. Or maybe… not so drastically.I still made breakfast. Noah still slept in his room, and I still slept in mine. William still raced down the stairs for food and his packed lunch. Some mornings, Noah would sit at the table to eat. Other times, he’d grab a sandwich and run.But now, when he’s rushing out the door and I’m reminding him not to forget his files or keys or phone, he pauses. He slides an arm around my waist. Pull me in. Kiss me at the door.

Ray’s cut her hair.I’m staring at her while she sets dinner on the table, pretending like I’m not, and she’s pretending not to notice, but the pink spreading across her cheeks gives her away.“What?” she asks, like I’m the one acting strange.“What,” I say right back, giving her the same look.Then I glance at Will. He’s already sitting at the table, quiet, still, like a little monk. “You good, buddy?” I ask, walking in straight from work, normally, even if I don’t get the same kind of welcome Ray does, I at least get a ‘’hey.Ray throws a cautious look toward him.“Hey,” I say, pulling out a chair, facing him fully. “What’s up? You mad about something?”She stands off to the side, waiting, watching his reaction. “I think he’s upset I cut my hair,” she says gently.“I’m not,” Will snaps, his little brow furrowed, his face pulled into the tightest frown I’ve seen all week.I lift an eyebrow. “Then what is it, bud? Somebody at school bothering you?”He shakes his head. “No.” Then he cl

I can’t believe Noah. I want to flip my hair in frustration, but there’s nothing to flip. I cut it. And suddenly, I hate that I did.What the hell is wrong with him? Why did he act like such a jerk tonight? It’s like he wanted to expose us, to rip off whatever fragile, invisible cover we’ve been hiding under. And I hate that word. Expose.Like what we’re doing is shameful.But maybe it is.No matter how Noah tries to spin it, no matter how many times we tell ourselves Elena would want us to be happy, we both know she didn’t mean this. She didn’t mean us. Even if she did, deep down… we know we’re wrong.I hear him coming down the stairs. Nope. Not doing this. Not tonight. I slip past him without a word, heading straight for my room. I just want to disappear. Maybe put on a rerun, drink something cold, be alone.“Where are you going?” he asks, close behind me.“To bed,” I say without stopping. I reach for the door. But he’s there. And he’s not letting it close.“Noah, please. I can’t, ”

Ray keeps looking at me funny. Ever since we woke up this morning, she’s been acting off. She kicked me out of her room way too early, mumbling something about Will being too young to understand what’s going on between us, that it would shock him. Then she practically shoved me out, though not before I managed to steal a few kisses through the cracked door. Now she’s dressed like nothing happened, all put together and prim at the kitchen table, but she keeps sneaking glances at my mouth like she’s expecting something to fall out of it. “What?” I ask again, probably for the tenth time. “Nothing.” She shrugs, stabbing at her food like it just said something rude. We’re sitting across from each other, eating breakfast like a normal morning. Will’s next to her, swinging his feet, chattering between bites. I glance at him, swallow a laugh, and stop myself from leaning over to tickle the truth out of Ray. I love wh

I run into Peter at the supermarket.It’s so painfully awkward that I almost duck behind the cereal shelf, but his eyes find me before I can hide, and we lock eyes. No escape.William’s off doing his usual grocery hunt, not here to save me from the uncomfortable conversation I know is about to happen.I start pushing my cart toward Peter, my brain scrambling to find something to say that doesn’t feel like stepping into a minefield.“Hey, Ray,” he says first, his voice flat. No humor.“Hey, Peter. How have you been?”I smile so hard my face hurts.“Still recovering from that heartbreak,” he says. It sounds like a joke, but I don’t know whether to laugh or not.“Um… sorry?” I say, unsure.“It’s okay.” He eyes me. “I’ll live. Are you looking more beautiful?” Then he glances at my hair. “Aw damn, you went back to that sexy haircut.”Okay, so he’s flirting. Can’t be that hurt.I lift my hand to the short