s i x | A Huge Crush

"At least you have this to look forward to after a good football game," Ella declared before taking a big bite of her cheeseburger.

We were at Shack's, the local kickass retro diner near campus along with quite a few of the other students that had headed down here. Most of the football team was here too; and Ella had told me about the dinner plans after she'd gotten some much needed water.

Ravenous as I was, I had already finished my burger and fries in record time, and washed it all down with a chocolate milkshake like I hadn't eaten in days, even though I'd just had a hot dog at the game. Feeling the effects of gorging straight after, I turned to my friends. "Guys, I feel like I just ate the whole diner. I'm going to go for little walk right outside."

Busy with her milkshake, Ella didn't respond with much but a nod, but Matt managed to give me a thumb's up before going back to his food.

Stepping outside the diner, I strolled around in the parking lot, breathing in the cool night air. There was something about the night that was always so calming and peaceful to me, and tonight was a perfect example. Smiling at a couple that headed past me towards the diner, I looked around. The streetlights cast a soft glow in the night air, illuminating the back of a figure seated at the bench outside.

I was pretty sure I knew who that was.

"Hey, stranger," I grinned, toying with the idea of being brave. "What's tall, dark and handsome doing out here alone?"

He didn't dignify that with a response.

I expected as much.

I settled next to him and lightly shouldered him. "No, seriously, why do I always find you away from the crowd? Shouldn't the man of the hour be in there?"

Isn't that where he belonged? Reveling in his victory as the guy who—and this was even obvious to me—was the star of the game?

So why was he here again?

"Needed to get away," he muttered and I immediately panicked. Was I interrupting his alone time or something?

Oh shit.

"I'm sorry," I began, suddenly unsure in his presence. "I didn't think—I mean, I'll just leave you to—"

"Stay."

I paused, a little dubious I'd just heard him say that.

Then I began again hesitantly because I knew what I'd say next might be pushing it a little too far but I really did feel like I'd burst if I kept sitting around.

"Do you mind if we take a walk or something?"

He didn't answer again.

But what he did do was stand up after a beat and hold a hand out to me.

Oh God, this boy.

I estimated it'd be probably a week at most until I was absolutely crazy about him.

But when I slipped my hand into his and he pulled me up, keeping my hand in his and not dropping it like I expected he would this time, I decided a week was definitely stretching it a little.

I liked him.

I so liked him.

But I still had a long way to get to know him.

I honestly hoped I would keep getting the chance to, so that when we were finally at a place comfortable enough, I could take it.

But for now, I was content just being around him.

And something told me he didn't hate me either.

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We wound up walking along near the campus grounds a few minutes later.

I'd been babbling like there was no tomorrow because God knew he wouldn't exactly strike up a conversation, but it seemed fine enough since he seemed fond of it. Okay, no, it was more like he didn't mind it, but still.

It was when I'd run out of things to endlessly jabber on about that I noticed the time, and how I'd been planning to get home before ten at least, to pick up on some reading for English class the next day that I'd also mentioned to him just a few moments ago.

"Yo, Archer!"

We both turned to look behind us at the sound of the voice. I recognized Mac Ellison, who everyone knew was Noah's best friend and roommate. I knew that Matt was friends with him and even though Ella and I weren't, I was used to exchanging greetings with him if we were ever at the same party, at most. But it was still more than I'd known Noah ever before.

Whereas Noah used to be undoubtedly the life of the party, Mac was always known as the fun guy. The guy who could chill back with a beer in hand with anyone easily, was the most easygoing person ever around and had the loudest laugh on any person ever.

Hey, he could almost be Matt's twin.

Maybe friends did rub off on each other.

"Dude, we're celebrating you in here," he accused as soon as he neared, before his gaze dropped to me and went right back to him, "And you're out on a date? That is so you."

I laughed because the expression on Noah's face was pretty unimpressed, and if I were honest, Mac's sentiment sounded like something the old Noah probably would do. This Noah, though? I wouldn't know. He was too different from the rumors and the talk I'd ever heard.

It was then that Mac squinted at me in the dark and his eyes widened. "Holy shit, Riley Dawson?"

"Hey, Mac." I smiled.

"Well, I'll be damned. What are you doing out with Stone Cold over here, gorgeous?"

Hmm. He wasn't stone cold, exactly.

Okay, maybe just a touch.

"I just wanted to take a walk and Noah was nice enough to join me," I ignored how high Mac's eyebrows went up when I called Noah nice enough like he couldn't believe it and went on, "but now I was thinking I should probably let Ella and Matt know and get back to my dorm. I have some reading to get done for English."

Mac nodded, opening his mouth to reply but Noah spoke first, "Text your friends. I'll walk you back."

Man, he had to be a dream. He had to be.

Mac's eyebrows climbed up even higher than the last time, just before an evil grin started forming on his face. "Oh, are we? That sounds like fun. Don't mind if I join, guys."

I bit back a smile as the uninterested look on Noah's face was back and Mac grinned with obvious excitement as he shoved both of us aside lightly to make space for himself in the middle.

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The walk back was kind of fun. If I thought I'd been babbling before, Mac simply couldn't shut up. He was fully bubbling with conversation and I thought I kind of liked that because he was kind of like my friends in that way.

"...and then I told him he could have her because I was so fucking done."

He was also pretty crass.

"Wait, didn't you like her?" I was puzzled over the latest tale he was telling.

"Oh I definitely did, gorgeous. But like I said before, she was an absolute nutcase."

I heard the sound of a throat clearing and realizing it was Noah, I looked up to see we were already outside my building and I hadn't even known it.

"Well," Mac piped up, "that's probably my cue." He backed up a few steps and winked at me before covering his eyes and calling out, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

Oh Lord.

Did he actually expect us to kiss or something?

Since I was only human and Noah was very, very good-looking—I really had nothing against that. But we weren't there yet; I still had to get to know him and yes, I liked him, but I didn't know if he was on the same page as I was.

Also, if we were ever going to kiss, it so wasn't happening with Mac just a feet away.

Still, I could feel my cheeks burning in response as I turned to Noah in the semi-awkward atmosphere. Of course, he didn't look embarrassed. He just looked like he was used to Mac being an idiot.

"Goodnight," he said softly, eyes on mine and just like that, I couldn't help but smile.

"Goodnight," I managed before adding, "Hope I see you around again."

I thought he wouldn't respond at all, but all he did was nod and I felt my heart soar.

Hell yes.

Grinning huge, I walked towards the door of the building, vaguely hearing Mac say, "That's it? Are you kidding me?" as I shut the door behind me.

So this was what it felt like to have a huge crush.

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And six is up! Let me know what you think  c:

-lexy