My alarm blared, waking me up from my slumber. Groaning, I switched it off and got back to sleep. I couldn't sleep properly last night because my mind wouldn't stop thinking about Noah and-

I jolted up from my bed and look at the time wide-eyed. It was nine in the morning.

Shit!

I promised Noah that I'll be back before he wakes up. I got up from my bed and quickly took a shower. After blow-drying my hair I put a little makeup on, then I went to my wardrobe to get something decent to wear.

I'm going to meet his parents today after years, so I have to wear something good to make an impression on them. I searched my wardrobe and threw whatever didn't please me.

No... No... NO!

I groaned in frustration and rubbed my hands over my face.

Why don't I have anything to wear?!

I looked at the mess I made in my room, the pile of clothes was there and I still had nothing to wear.

I searched again and finally found something decent. It was a boat neck blue dress that reached below my knees with check print and I took brown velvet open toe boots with it.

Satisfy with my look, I took my car keys and ran downstairs in a hurry. I passed the kitchen and saw dad cooking.

"Good morning, daddy." I went to him and kissed him on the cheek, taking an apple from the fruit basket.

"Good morni-" He mid-paused and looked at me from head to toe. "Going somewhere?"

"Yeah." I bobbed my head, taking a bite of the apple. "I'm going at Noah's."

"Why?" He asked, looking suspiciously at me.

"We have our final practical on Tuesday and we have to practice for it." I beamed.

"Don't you think it's a bit early?" He glanced at the clock.

"No." I shook my head. "We have a lot of practice to do and have to do the shopping for the ingredients."

"And you can't practice here because...?"

I averted my gaze and run my brain for some excuse. "Because... His mother can help us with it if we get in any trouble."

"His parents will be home?" He looked a little relaxed after hearing about his parents.

"Yes, daddy." I rolled my eyes. "Where else would they be."

"Ok. But you are not going anywhere without breakfast." He looked at me sternly.

I knew arguing with him wouldn't work because I got my stubbornness from him. I ate my breakfast and ran out of the house towards my car.

I drove first to the grocery store because Noah wouldn't be in the state for shopping. I picked the ingredients that will need for our recipe and was about to get back to my car when I saw a blonde girl putting posters on the wall.

Seeing a guitar on it, I went towards it and observed it. It was a poster for a Gig.

"We are having a music competition." I turned my head and saw the blonde girl looking at me. "You interested?" She asked with a polite smile.

"No. I can't sing well or play." I chuckled, looking at the poster again. "But I think my friend might be interested in it."

I know Noah can sing really well and he got a guitar meant he could play too.

"Here you go." She handed me the poster. "The competition is in a month, but we have rehearsal performance every week. If your friend is interested, they can try it."

"Thank you." I gave her a smile, which she returned.

She looked like a nice girl and around my age too.

"I'm Beth," she extended her, "short for Elizabeth."

I took her hand and shook it. "I'm Lexi, short for Queen." We both laughed at my joke and talked a little about the gig after that we said our byes.

I looked at the poster again and thought of Noah. First I have to see him play or else he'll make excuses for it.

* * * * *

I sat in my seat looking at Stone's house. and took deep breaths. Getting out of my car I chanted words in my head relaxing.

Relax, Lexi. Just be normal and don't freak out when you see Noah again.

The thought of seeing in again made butterflies in my stomach, I didn't know if I'll be able to look into his eyes again without feeling shy.

Since when did I become shy?!

I stood in front of the house and cracked my neck; I reached for the bell and pressed the button before I chickened out.

The door slowly opened and I saw Mrs. Stone looking at me in confusion. "Hello, Mrs. Stone." I greeted her with a smile.

Her eyes widened when she recognized me and pulled me into a hug. "Lexi, it's really you?!" She exclaimed.

I giggled, hugging her back. "It's good to see you again, Mrs. Stone."

She let go of me and grabbed my face between her palms, looking at me from head to toe. "Look at you, you've grown up so much!" Her same green eyes as Noah's darted on my face and she smiled. "And so beautiful too."

"T-thank you." I blushed, biting my lip.

She chuckled at my reaction, and then her eyes widened. "Oh, look at my manners, I didn't even invite you in. Come in, darling."

Goodness, she reminded me so much of my mommy.

She grabbed my hand and pulled me inside with her to the living room. "Look, George! Who came for visit?"

Mr. Stone turned his head from the TV and looked at me in surprise. "Lexi!" He exclaimed, looking esthetic. "It's been so long since we meet last time."

I smiled, and when he came to my view fully, my smile faltered when I saw him in the wheelchair.

What the...

The last time I saw him, he was perfectly fit and healthy walking around, so why was he in the wheelchair.

"Guess you don't know about it." Mr. Stone chuckled, getting me out of my thoughts.

"OMG!" My eyes widened at the thought of my reaction. "I-I am so sorry I didn't mean to-" I panicked.

"It's alright, darling." Mrs. Stone put a hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me. "Looks like Noah didn't tell you about this."

He didn't.

"Come here, have a seat." Mr. Stone patted the space on the couch. I went towards him and sat on the couch.

"I am so sorry, Mr. Stone. I didn't mean to react like that." I apologized again.

"It's alright, dear." He gave me his charming smile. "It's been years since we meet last time." I slowly nodded my head and gulped.

"I'm going to make something for you-" Mrs. Stone started to go towards the kitchen but I stopped her.

"No need for that, Mrs. Stone." I stopped her. "I just took breakfast and Noah and I have to practice for our recipe too."

She nodded her head in understanding. "He told me about it but didn't tell that you'll be coming here."

"I wanted to... surprise," I said, not sure if the excuse will work.

"I'm glad you did." She came to me and kissed my cheek, hugging me again.

I bit my lip and batted my eyes to get rid of the tears.

Damn, I missed them so much!

We heard some noises from upstairs and looked up.

"He must have woken up now." Mrs. Stone said glaring at the ceiling, then looked at me. "He came drunk last night. Can you believe it?"

I gulped and averted my gaze. "Really?" I tried to play oblivious.

"Yes." She huffed, going towards her husband. "He came from Kevin's party last night drunk." She looked at me in disbelief. "He never came home drunk like that before, I wondered what happened."

"It's alright honey." Mr. Stone chuckled, trying to relax his wife. "He's a teenager it happens."

"But it shouldn't." Mrs. Stone replied to him, then looked at me. "Do you know what happened at Kevin's party?" She looked at me curiously.

"I..." I cleared my throat, standing straight. "I don't know. I went home early from the party since it was getting late so I really don't know." I stopped my rambling, giving them a nervous laugh.

They both looked at me in confusion, and then Noah's groaning voice came from above. "I think I should check him." I pointed towards the ceiling and walked backward. "He might need some help."

I turned around and was about the step up but was stopped by Mrs. Stone.

"Wait." I slowly turned my head towards her.

Did I get caught?

"Y-es?" I stuttered.

"Give this to him." She grabbed a bottle of aspirin from the table and smiled at me. "He must be having a hangover."

"Okay." I returned her smile and ran upstairs, sighing in relief.

That was close!

* * * * *

A/N
The poster I put above is a random I got from Pinterest, I searched a lot but again couldn't found the perfect match but I think this will work to.

Lexi's outfit!

And... I have updated Valentine's Day bonus chapter of "Belong" and also edited the book. So if you have read the book with that many errors I'm grateful and don't miss the bonus chapter!

And for those who haven't tried "Belong" yet, please do read it. I'm sure you're gonna love Zoe and Garfiel- I mean Griffin XD

Ciao❤️