Brooklyn Noelle Brankovich

Chapter Eighty-three: "Cheers and beers to 25 years"

I returned to Noah on the balcony, after a shower, and sat in his lap. He offered me a green grape and fed it to me. I bit into it aggressively after leaning it like I was going to be sexy.
Noah laughed at me and said, "That's hot," licking the juice from his thumb.

"Happy birthday. You're an old man now," I started the conversation. I eased into a chair across from his and stretched my legs out, putting my bare feet in his lap.

Noah chuckled and said, "Hand me my cane, I gotta make it to shuffleboard by noon." I laughed along with him as he rubbed my foot, then found myself staring at the features that made up his Godly face.

Noah leaned in and kissed my lips but only briefly because I pulled away.

"You want your gift now, or later?" I questioned, chewing my lip with anxiety.

"Is that a question? Now." He rubbed his hands together and I told him to close his eyes or continue looking straight ahead.

"Don't cheat!" I shouted from the bedroom, eyeing him.

I came back onto the balcony and said, "Open." Noah placed it on the ground and ripped the box open that I didn't bother wrapping.

His face went blank when he saw what was inside: nothing.

"I thought about what to get you, Noah, but I couldn't think of anything."

"Good, 'cause I didn't want anything from you," he said, pushing the box away. His fingers signaled me over so I stood and he pulled me back onto his lap.

"Well, there's this, but it's not that exciting," I said, digging a silver Gucci Ghost chain bracelet from the pocket of my sage green two piece Blair front tie Gingham romper.

"Appreciate it," he grinned, putting it on right away. I liked how he looked in bracelets, so why not? Might as well get Gael one next, too, since I'm a jeweler at this point - first Cassie, now Noah.

"Oh, and one more thing," I said, acting like I was reaching for something but instead, I stole a kiss.
Noah laughed against my lips and I backed away again.

His phone then rang and I saw that it was Rick so I let him answer it.

Minutes later, there was a knock on the door that escalated into a full-on beat. I stopped putting my clothes away and laughed, knowing it could only be two people: Gael and Cassie.

Being it was still early and Cass likes to take her sweet time getting ready for the day, she wore a plush white robe and slippers, her hair damp and wavy. Gael, on the other hand, was clad in a muscle shirt, a pair of shorts and socks like Noah. I think they're the real soulmates here.

"Sorry, we didn't order room service," I joked, pretending to shut the door on them. "No, I'm kidding. Come in!"

Cassie walked in before her boyfriend. "Don't mind if we do," she beamed.

"Noah is decent, right?" Gael asked, making me laugh.

"Duh," I said back to him. "he's on the balcony."

Gael led the way but stopped at the door to whisper to Cass while I lingered behind, waiting to get on the balcony, as well.

"Sit this one out babe," I heard Gael say, finally stepping outside onto the balcony.

Noah had his back turned and had just ended his call with Rick when Gael tapped his shoulder. "Happy birthday, br-"

Cassie interjected to start singing happy birthday. While she hit some notes, most were off. Her efforts were sweet, the intention was there, but the execution was a bit off. I had to laugh, I'm sorry.

Noah stood and chuckled. "That was so good, Cassie. You shouldn't have... really."

Gael clicked his teeth. "Cassie gets the thank you?"

"I was getting there," Noah responded. He hugged Cassie and said, "Thank you."

"Any plans today?" she asked us.

"Just some sight-seeing, you?" Noah answered, shrugging.

"And shopping!" I threw that in there. We had a list of things to do and see for the day but shopping was number one on mine.

"We should all do something later?" Gael suggested.

That reminded me. "Dinner later at six, dress nice," I spoke up to everyone.

Cassie started to leave the balcony. "Can you text me where and we'll meet you guys there?" she asked.

"Of course," I said back with a soft smile, walking with her.

Cassie smiled back. "Okay, see you then."

Noah and Gael did their handshake before getting told happy birthday yet again from the couple.

Once the door shut fully, I turned to look up at Noah.

He popped an eyebrow in my direction. "So," he hesitated, "shopping, huh?"

I nodded with a girlish grin. "Yup. And lots of it!"

"Brooklyn Noelle," Noah sighed, "what is all of this shit?" He was tired of me making him carry bags and ask his opinion on random items I found at the markets.

I smacked my lips. "What? I like it."

When I noticed the bored look on his face I remembered that the day was supposed to be about him.
I slouched and took the stuff out of his arms and put it back on a table.

"You don't want this, miss?" asked this little lady.

I vibrated my lips as I scanned the contents. "No, not today. Sorry."

"Oh wait - I want this! Thanks." I exclaimed, reaching for the cowboy hat before she took it all away.

"Last time," I said to Noah as I modeled the brown hat, "what do you think?"

"Cute," he said back, smirking. I smiled warmly and grabbed his hand to lead the way back on the road.

***

"-NOAH! I SWEAR TO GOD, IF I SEE A BISON, I'M LEAVING YOU," I threatened with closed eyes.

Our second stop was a surprise to me as it was something Noah wanted to do.

He started to laugh and squeezed my shoulders. Unable to bear the suspense anymore, I blinked my eyes open.

I nearly fainted at the sight. I could've had a heart attack.

It was a bison. Like, an actual one that was alive!

"No." I threw my hands up and started to squirm away. "Fuck that, fuck you. I'm about to shit myself, that's not funny."

The safari tour guide, I'm assuming, started to laugh with Noah. "This one here is who we call Jumba. He's a big softy, we wouldn't let one of these creatures hurt you."

I sent a mean mug the man's way and then stopped chattering my teeth.

"You want to feed it?" Noah asked me and I just stared at him blankly.

"Fun fact," the man said to the other passengers on the open-air biofuel Hummer, "these Bison are descendants from a herd that were left here in the nineteen-twenties by a movie company. Today, we on the island, protect about one hundred and fifty of them! And, they were named the national mammal in the year two-thousand-sixteen."

After I calmed down, I looked at the large animal and thought they weren't so bad after all.

"Come on folks, hop aboard and let's get going!"

***

"Ah, you lucky duck," this man named Roger said to Noah. He handed over a twenty dollar bill after their bet.

"What can I say, I'm just good at mini golf," Noah bragged.

I and Roger's wife, Maurine, clapped on the side.

"Now that that's over," she cleared her throat, "how about some drinks?"

I walked into Noah's body and wrapped my arms around his body.

"No, thanks," I told her.

"Oh, come on," Roger urged, "it's your birthday!"

Noah looked down, trying to stay humble. "Nah, she wants to go do some more stuff before dinner tonight."

I smiled proudly, looking back at the older couple.

They nodded, understanding.

"Oh I see," Roger chimed, "happy wife, happy life."

"Something like that," Noah swallowed, squeezing me tighter.

"Better keep her man. If I was a couple years younger-" Roger purposely cut himself off before Maurine said something.

She shook her head but let out a light laugh. "Touché. Enjoy your birthday."

Noah and I walked away before they did, we returned our golf clubs and held hands the whole way out of the course.

"What now?" I asked Noah what he wanted to do next.

***

After shopping and stopping for snacks along the way, Noah and I found ourselves tossing a football back and forth in a game of catch somewhere off the beach trail.

He showed me how to correctly throw the pigskin since I apparently threw like a girl.

"What a nice day," I breathed out, having caught the ball.

"Yeah, it is nice."

I tossed the ball back.

"Makes me not want to go back," I admitted.

"At least we can come back whenever we want now."

"You're about to be a sports trainer at a college," I said small, "where does that leave me?"

Noah brought the ball back down from positioning himself to throw it. His jaw slowed down on the gum he chewed as his face fell.

I said, "Sorry. It was just a thought, I didn't mean to make this about me, or anything. Here, throw the ball. I'm open!"

Noah pulled my head into his chest and just held me there for a second.

"It doesn't leave you anywhere because we're still going to be together. And yes, as my girlfriend, dummy," Noah talked, making my eyes bulge at the idea.

Girlfriend? I'm not mad at that.

"It's official," I thought I whispered that to myself.

"It been," Noah assured me, holding his fist out for me to pound and I did, grinning wide.

"Well, without The Playroom we'll all be together less. You'll be working, like, an hour away, Cassie has to get a new job, and I know Gael will. Then there's me."

"Brooklyn, you know you can literally do whatever you want, right?" Noah chuckled, trying to make me feel better.

I shrugged. "Like what, work in a cubicle? Nine to five? Reality tv? Start a YouTube channel? Become a professional like my father? No."

"You can do all of those things, or none of them. Brooklyn, a-"

I cut Noah off to finish out my thoughts. "I guess I'm just worried because if we're not together all the time, you'll be busy and not want me anymore, or something. Like, you'll all forget about me and I'll be like that lame friend who doesn't do anything and I'm always trying to hang out but you all have, like, real world responsibilities," I paused to breathe and debate on if I should spit out the next words. But I did. I had to.
"This sounds selfish but I don't want your world not to revolve around me," I sighed, skipping a rock in the puddle a foot away from where I sat in the tall grass.

Noah sat beside me and smiled, making me question why.

He said, "I thought that was cute."

I frowned, flailing my arms. "I'm not trying to be cute here," I chuckled, sniffling.

"You don't have to try. Brooklyn, you really think we'd just forget about you? That's so stupid-"

"Okay, I'm sorry," I gasped, regretting saying anything.

Noah spoke up and added, "It's stupid because you know how I feel about you, how would anything change that?"

Oh. I hunched my shoulders, staring straight ahead while his eyes remained locked on my face.

"Realistically speaking," I paused and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, "something's going to happen to end this."

"I won't let it."

A smile started to creep across my lips. "Are you always this smooth?"

He popped his shoulder with this small smirk. "Only when I'm trying to impress someone."

I took his hand and stood, turning my head. "You don't have to impress me anymore," I told him, giggling.

"When you know you can lose someone at any second, you want to make it count."

I blinked, unsure of what to say to that. Negative thoughts and fears consumed me, taking me out of the moment and into my head.

I snapped back to reality and shook my head. Noah looked at me funny so I just agreed to end the conversation there.

"Yeah, no," I stammered. "Right. You're right."

"Aye, my stomach's growling. Can you text them to come on so we can get ready for dinner? I'm starving!" Noah's voice grew more quiet as he spoke and walked away from me to head back to our suite.

***

"That's what you're wearing tonight?" Noah asked me once he stepped out of the bathroom.

"Yeah, why?" I stopped taking my own pictures to ask.

He shook his head and dried his hair with a towel. "Just asking; you look good. I just hope you don't care about that dress because I'm ripping it off later."

I playfully rolled my eyes. "You will not."

He peeked through the cracked door and shot me a sarcastic look and then shut himself in the bathroom to finish getting ready.

I heard a "pssh" from behind the door and I laughed.

"Hurry up, okay!? I'm hungry, too, dammit."

"Yeah, yeah," he sassed, whipping the door open, "who's birthday is it?"

"Okay, then fuck yourself tonight," I fell back onto a pillow and crossed my arms over my chest.

Noah snapped his neck to look at me through the corner of his eye. "Yeah, right."

He then stood and took a shot, observing his appearance in the mirror. All he had left to do was put on a shirt but I wasn't complaining.

After another shot, Noah hissed and made a face.

As he walked back in the bathroom to fix his hair, he slapped my thigh and shouted, "I'ma get you pregnant later."

***

"-We went on this safari earlier and Brooklyn saw a bison, she almost shit herself," Noah told Cassie and Gael over dinner.

I hit his chest. "That's not funny, I was actually scared!" Embarrassed, and with PTSD, I sank in my seat like a child.

Cassie patted her mouth with a napkin. "I think I have to take Brooke's side on this one." Thank you.

Gael sipped his beer and called us "Pussies."

"Shut up, Gael," I snarled, loosening up.

"What did y'all do?" Noah asked the couple, putting his arm around my chair.

Gael nodded, letting Cassie answer. "We jumped off this high ass cliff, took pictures, swam, and built sandcastles." She laughed, taking a sip of white wine.

"And Cassie was scared at first, so don't feel bad Brooke," Gael added. It actually did make me feel a little better, but I'll take cliff-jumping over being face-to-face with a nine hundred pound mammal with horns.

"So you guys are just assholes today?" I spat at the boys, only joking. Noah laughed, holding his chest, and took a drink.

Gael silently laughed. "I'm always an asshole."

"Not true," Cassie defended her boyfriend as she finished her shrimp pasta. My eyes left her face before catching myself staring, and I made a mental note to tell her how great she looked tonight. She was clad in a white ruched two piece; a long sleeved top and a maxi skirt with a high slit. Her accessories were gold, that and the white ensemble made her look like the true angel she is.

"Gael, thanks again for this," Noah talked. "And thank mom for having you. Cassie, thanks for being with Gael so he didn't have to be a third wheel. And Brooks, thanks in advance for what we're about to do later." He made a toast that had Cassie choking on her drink, mid-laugh.

"You don't have to thank me, bro. I'd do anything for your stupid ass." Gael joked.

"That's the only thing you're thanking me for? So Gael wouldn't be a third wheel. Gee, thanks." Cassie's eyes rolled.

"And for the shirt," he added, trying to think of more to say that wouldn't get him in hot water. "And for being like a little sister to me. I love you guys."

"Why was that my appreciation? For later? Like, hell-o?" I coughed, curling my face. Noah just laughed and avoided my question by taking another drink.

Cassie let herself laugh, accepting Noah's words now. "No, I don't want to make this about me, but before I met you guys, I don't think anyone told me they loved me. So, I'm grateful for this, for all of you, and I'm happy your birthday turned out good, Johnny Bravo," she spoke. Gael drank to that, as did I and Noah.

"I love you more than them, Cass," I vowed, scrunching my nose.

Cassie reached over to hug me. "And I love you."

Gael awkwardly cleared his throat. "Get a room," he copied Noah from before, making me laugh and pull out of Cassie's thin arms.

"I don't say that to you and Noah when you two flirt," I said to Gael.

"Noah and I are different," Gael shrugged a shoulder, leaning back in his seat.

My face twisted and I began mocking the boys. "Well anyway," I sighed with my chin in the palm of my right hand. "Back to reality tomorrow, I guess."

"I don't want to go home. I don't even have a job," Cassie said, rolling her eyes. "Noah, you good over there?"

Hearing Cassie check on my boyfriend, I looked at him over my shoulder.

"I'm drunk as shit," he laughed, leaning over the chair.

I had to peek in his glass and see what he was drinking that had him so off. "He is not getting fucked tonight," I laughed, picking at my salad.

"Why not?" Gael questioned me, sticking up for Noah.

Cassie mocked him. "Why not?"

"Yeah, why not?" Noah asked, sitting back up.

"Oh my god." I had to laugh, catching my Texan accent slip through a bit there.

"What is happening right now? I need more food." Noah yelled for a waitress, all loud and obnoxious.

"You have a whole streak right there!" I grit, waving the waitress away. She nodded and circled back.

"Oh," he laughed, forking the steak.

"Cassie, what are you going to do now?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Breaking from her trance, Cassie asked me, "What am I going to do about what?"

"Work, stupid. We're all jobless," I cackled. "I'm not complaining though."

"I have to complain because I have no choice." Cassie sighed with a vibration of her pouty lips. "I just got all my certificates to teach in California. So, I probably have to sub somewhere, but I don't know how fast that's going to happen. Hopefully soon. You?"

"Oh, I'm taking a long vacation," I boasted. "That, and playing lonely housewife since Noah got a job, too."

"I wish that was an option for me, but I'm used to it," Cassie made known. "But, housewife? Anything we should know?" I laughed her comment off.

"Where you working, bro? I'm about to start training and I have a few buyers for some of my work. It's off from there." Gael wiped his hands down his black button down shirt and adjusted himself in the seat.

"Taking this sports training offer at the college, it's no big deal." Noah said to Gael with a mouthful of steak.

"It's a big deal," Gael nodded, sending a look at Noah.

Cassie, like me, agreed. "It really is. It usually takes people so long to get a job in their field after college."

"I'm just good at what I do," Noah replied jokingly, shrugging.

"I like to hear it," Cassie replied, finishing her drink.

"Don't forget about me when you're all working nine to fives," I sighed dramatically.

Cassie clicked her teeth. "Thanks for bragging."

"I'm not bragging, I'm actually really sad! I wish I had a job, or was good at something."

"You're good at a lot of things, babe," Noah said, pulling my body closer.

"I mean outside of the bedroom," I snarled and pushed away. "Cassie's. great with kids and she's smart. Gael knows how to work a camera, and you get to work with athletes. Then there's me."

"Okay, you right but I've seen you on a court. What's up with that? You show me your clothes and shit, why not be a personal shopper or something?" Gael suggested. Actually, it wasn't a bad idea, just one I've never thought of.

"Volleyball's cool but I don't want to be playing in my thirties. And I'm only five-nine, it's not like I'm going to the Olympics," I explained. "But I haven't thought of the personal shopper thing. I guess, but I'd get bored. I don't know, I'll figure it out."

Cassie's lips popped. "Well, you have support. You'll find your calling, I promise. I'm sure you're good at everything."

*

"Guys, let's say what our first impressions of each other were!" I suggested excitedly. "Me first. So, I thought Cassie was a bitch. I don't know if we told y'all this, but I went and bought this luggage for Cassie and she was like 'no.'" I imitated Cassie's voice and laughed at myself.

"Hey! I don't sound like that, but fair," Cassie rapidly nodded.

"I thought Gael was exactly how he is," I laughed. "You're just Gael, I don't know. I never focused on him because you know, his friend," I said, alluding to Noah discreetly who wasn't paying much attention. "But Gael, I thought you were funny, we actually hit it off." Gael agreed, nodding his head with a little laugh.

"And Noah, are you paying attention?" I asked. I continued to say, "I literally thought he was the hottest thing ever but I didn't think anything was going to happen. And well, it did because I get everything I want." I smiled big and high-fived him.

Noah bobbed his head, sitting back. "Sounds about right."

"I guess I'll go. Ladies first." Cassie dramatically cleared her throat. "Brooke, I thought you were just this annoying rich girl that pretty much got spoon fed. I've had so many run-ins with girls like that and I judged you, big time. You were just so happy for no reason. Noah, I didn't talk to you that much but you did introduce yourself to me in the hallway. And it made me laugh even after your comment about Gael, but I just thought you were goofy, like a child."

She continued, having had taken a breather. "And Gael. I noticed you first on the cruise and we pretty much had a staring match until you spoke to me. We got off on the wrong foot, but I was instantly attracted to you but didn't want to admit it and I didn't think nothing would come out of it."

"My staring got somewhere," Gael said, smirking at Cassie.

"Get a room," Noah said, removing the glass from his lips.

"I thought Cassie was just gonna be another girl Gael hooked up with, to be honest. Then I realized he was putting in a lot of work for her so I was like 'ah damn she must be special' and I introduced myself to her and thought she was okay because she did not crack a single smile before that." He laughed a little.

"Do I have to do my boyfriend? Okay I will. Not much to say, we met and I knew he was gonna be my brother for life. He was a little older so I thought that made me cool. And Brooklyn, oh my god. Ew. I wasn't even into you," Noah joked, earning another playful slap.

"No but seriously, you can ask Gael, I was sprung right away. He did think you were underaged though, I was scared. But I always get what I want too. I think you shocked us all, you weren't like a stuck up rich girl and I thought that was cool. Or whatever." He mocked my words.

Gael sat up and hummed. "Brooke, man if you would've seen the look Noah had on his face when he saw you. I thought you were jailbait, so I wasn't feeling it at first but he was sprung when y'all bumped into each other. I really didn't think anything of you but that you were snappy, always hitting me back with jokes and you weren't just some rich girl. It was weird as fuck seeing your parents there though," He then blew a kiss at Noah. "Just as he said, he's my brother and I knew that when I first saw his little skinny ass. I'd do anything for him."

Then he looked at Cassie, staring for a second before clicking his teeth. "It's funny because I was getting on Noah about the way he looked at Brooke, then I saw you. I just knew you weren't going to turn me down, but when you did, it made me try even harder. I'm not even gonna lie, I was trying to hook up with you at first, but then I got to know you. And now you're my girl."

"I'm actually going to cry, stop." I sniffled, frowning. "You guys are so cute! Gael, can you have sex with her tonight? Thank you."

Gael laughed. "If I didn't, she'd make me anyway."

Cassie wiped happy tears from her eyes. "Why haven't we done that earlier? And yes, yes I would."

"I love you guys," I cheered, "group hug!" As I stood there with my arms extended, Noah just stared at me blankly.

Cassie joined the hug, though. "We don't wanna hug y'all anyway," she said.

"Wait, I wanna get in this. Gael, you can sit this one out." Noah joined in, smirking at Gael who started to feel left out and joined anyway.

"Ew I never hug Gael," I laughed, flicking him.

"Wanna hug?" Gael asked me and of course I squeezed him.

"Okay okay, that's enough," a jealous Noah said swooping me away.