“I’m so proud of you for making the first move.” I smile, melting a little at her words.
“I’m glad too. Mohammad seemed surprised at first. I could tell he was hesitant. I was too.” She flushes. “But then he started kissing me back, and oh! It was perfect. He has the lushest lips.”
She’s practically radiating.
“I’m so excited to see him tonight,” she goes on, moving to her locker.
She pulls open her gym bag and starts to change, but suddenly, all I can think about is tonight. And how Mohammad’s mom will be there. And that he already has a date.
“Have you two talked about tonight?” I ask, hoping that he told her.
She shakes her head. “Since Olivia’s family wasn’t invited, I didn’t want to bring it up.”
“Is she upset about that?” I don’t know why I feel so guilty that she won’t be there, but I do.
I know it’s Harry’s decision on who he invites, but I wish that he would just let her come. Everyone else is going to be there, and I can’t imagine it being easy for her, knowing that. But at the same time, as Harry said, this isn’t just some party. This is a show his family is putting on, and he only wants us there for support.
“I think she was surprised. And hurt,” Naomi admits. “But it’s probably better this way. I think she wants to move on, and the more that they’re pushed together, the harder that will be for her.”
“That’s probably true,” I agree. “Where is Olivia anyway?”
“She had an appointment she forgot about. Left after Geography,” Naomi explains as we change.
“Did you tell her that you and Mohammad kissed?” I ask, pulling on my yoga pants.
Naomi nods, her whole face radiating again. “I told her right after we left your hotel.”
“Was she proud of you?” I grin.
“She actually was.” Naomi smiles back at me.
Slightly defenseless.
Detention
Yoga goes by quickly with Olivia gone, and after class, I rush to change back into my uniform for detention. I look around for Naomi but don’t find her. Which is probably for the best. I think if I saw her again, I might spill about Mohammad having a date tonight. Not because I want to hurt her feelings, but because I want her to know that Mohammad likes her back. That he’s been asking about her for days. But it’s also not my place. And if I told her, it would probably just make things worse. It would make Mohammad look like he’s lying—which he sort of is, but still, I understand why.
I grab my bag and am in the library in no time. Mrs. Bateson isn’t at her desk, so I head straight to the staff room. Noah isn’t here yet, but I find Mrs. Bateson hunched over a cart filled with books.
When the door closes behind me, her head snaps up.
“Good afternoon.” I smile and set my bag down on the desk.
“I’ve got quite the load for you,” she replies. And she actually sounds excited.
I walk over to the overly full cart.
“Lots of returns?” I ask.
“We’ve been gifted a private collection,” Mrs. Bateson explains, proudly looking over the books.
“That’s great,” I say as the door creaks open. I look toward the sound and watch as Noah joins us.
His brown hair is still wet from a shower. Apart from his hair, he looks just like he did before he had football.
His tie is set tightly at his neck, and he has his blazer on over his white button-down. There isn’t a single part of him that is out of place. Noah’s eyes meet mine before moving to Mrs. Bateson.
“I was just telling Miss James that the library has received a rather generous donation of books to add to its collection,” Mrs. Bateson says to Noah. “We added them to the system this morning, and I’d like for you to double-check the information before you shelve them.”
“Okay,” Noah replies.
Mrs. Bateson nods approvingly.
“Come by the desk when you’re finished, and you’ll be done for the day,” she says before leaving.
Noah’s quick to move, and I watch as he rolls the cart close enough to the desk to start scanning the books.
“Someone seems motivated,” I say, pulling out the chair next to his.
“I don’t really care about this,” Noah admits, looking over the information on the computer screen.
“But you’ve been so meticulous about getting our tasks done all week.”
I take the book after he’s checked the information and start a pile on the floor.
“Nothing better to do. It keeps my mind occupied and stops it from wandering,” Noah says, keeping his eyes on the screen.
“What, are you afraid of what you might think about?” I tease as he hands me another book.
Noah’s eyes come to meet mine for a brief moment, and there isn’t any hint of amusement in them. “Sometimes.”
I chew on my lip, surprised by his seriousness.
“How come?” I ask as he grabs another book and scans it.
He double-checks the information before handing it to me. But when I try to grab it, he keeps it in his grip. We both sit, holding on to the book.
“Because I’m stuck here with you. And I’m coming to realize that I’m slightly defenseless.”
“In regard to me?” I laugh nervously.
“Are you laughing at me?” Noah asks, his mouth falling open.
“Yeah, I am.” I grin.
“I see that.” He shakes his head and finally lets go of the book.
“So, why are you defenseless?” I ask seriously, adding the book to the stack.
Noah glances at me, but he doesn’t say anything.
He doesn’t look like he’s going to crack.
“I thought we said we’d talk,” I push, shoving his words back at him.
Noah rolls his eyes as he grabs another book.
“It’s like I’ve had an equation floating through my mind, and just when I think I have solved it, I realize that I underestimated some variables and their impact.”
I raise my eyebrows at him.
Noah thinks so differently from anyone I’ve ever met, and the way he explains his thoughts is both beautiful and unique. But it can also be a little confusing.
“So, what variable did you underestimate?” I ask as he hands me another book.
“It’s not so much a question of what, but who,” Noah replies.
“So, your equation is about people?”
I stand up and make Noah switch seats with me, so I can check the information.
“I guess.”
“I thought you were the one who told me people couldn’t be put into boxes. I’m assuming that means they also don’t fit into equations.”
Noah’s forehead creases at my statement. But a second later, his mouth is curling up into a smile. It spreads all the way up to his eyes, causing them to crease.
“You really do surprise me sometimes.” He chuckles.
“Sometimes, I surprise myself. Who knew I was so full of wisdom?” I laugh too.
After we get all the books checked, we load them back onto the cart.
“You’re Harry’s date tonight,” Noah says as we leave the staff room.