Noah's POV

It's Wednesday today, so that means no tutoring, or soccer. At least I get to look forward to tomorrow.

I walk into math, already seeing Jamie at her seat. She looks up when I walk in and smiles lightly, I smile back. But inside I feel like a cage of butterflies has been unleashed in my stomach.

"Hey." She says quietly once I have sat down.

"Hey, why did you have to run out so quickly yesterday? Is everything okay?"

"Oh, yeah, everything's fine, I just didn't realize what time it was and my mom needed me home early to help with dinner." She replies.

"Okay, I thought maybe something happened."

"Oh, no, no, everything's great actually. Thanks for wondering though."

"No problem, glad to hear everything's going well." I tell her

"Thanks."

I nod, "so you cook?"

"Yea. I have loved cooking since I was like seven."

"Oh wow." I say, "that's so cool."

She laughs, "yeah, my mom has always loved to cook and she would always watch cooking shows like 'master chef' and 'hell's kitchen,' stuff like that. So I would always just sit and watch with her and eventually I helped make dinner and breakfast, and now, I never miss an opportunity to cook for people." She tells me

"That's so cool. What's your favorite thing to make?"

"Umm, I like to make different dips and sauces when I feel creative but my best dish is probably lasagna."

"I'm coming to your house for dinner," I joke, "lasagna is my favorite meal."

Although I was joking, I wanted to see her reaction and I do hope that one day I will get to have dinner at her house and meet her family.

She laughs and blushes a bit.

I was sort of hoping she would tell me to come over one night.

Maybe one day...

"Class has started, no more talking!" Shouts Mr. Pierce.

We laugh and pull out our homework.

I finished mine, finding it fairly easy.

"How did you find the homework after I explained it?" Asks Jamie quietly.

"Oh, it was pretty easy, thanks."

"Noah, do you really need this tutoring?" She asks after a while of silence.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I heard that you have won a bunch of math awards and are an honor student..." she tells me.

"Okay, truth is, yes, I am an honor student and very good at math, but I was finding this specific topic a bit confusing." And I really wanted to spend time with you. I add in my head.

Yes, I lied a bit, but she can't know that I like her until I know for sure how she feels about me, cause at this point, I really don't know.

And I am finding the topic a bit confusing, nothing I can't handle though.

"Oh, okay." She responds.

She sounds almost disappointed with my answer, did she want me to say it was because of her?

I hope so.

I give her a warm smile.

Mr. Pierce comes around to finally check our work.

"Good job, but you two need to stop with the chit-chat. If you don't stop soon, I will move you." He says.

No, no, no.

"Don't worry sir, we'll try to be quieter." I say as Jamie blushes.

"Thank you." He huffs and walks away.

I shoot out of my seat as the bell rings, and everyone stands up.

"Do you have any plans tonight?" I ask Jamie, getting my books.

"Um not really, just cooking dinner, and homework, how about you?" She tells me, as we pass a hallway of lockers.

"No, just some soccer practice, then hanging out at home." I say.

I badly want to ask her to hang out, but I can't, that would look weird, and I don't want her to be sick of me.

"Awesome, well, this is my locker, see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, bye." I say as I walk away and she opens her locker.

I'm walking to the soccer field when Ryan comes up to me

"Hey dude, how's things with Jamie?"

"They're good, we've been talking quite a bit and we hang out three nights a week." I tell him.

"Congrats, man. Any signs she likes you?"

I think about this before answering, "I don't know. She smiles at me sometimes and she talks more and says hi when I come to class, and she's not as shy as she was, but she still is a bit shy. So, I really don't know at this point."

"I'm sure she does, just give her a chance to warm up to you."

"Thanks bro."

"No problem, now hurry, coach wants 20 laps today."

I internally groan, although soccer is my life, I hate the laps.

I start at a slow jog, keeping my pace. By the fifth lap I start to go a bit faster, and even faster at fifteen, and then I sprint the last five.

That's how I always do my laps, it keeps my pace and doesn't drain all my energy at once.

We start with simple drills like, shooting at the goalie, basic set ups, passing, and throw ins.

We end with a scrimmage and then practice is over.

I open the door to find my dad passed out on the couch, typical.

I change out of my practice clothes and put on jeans and a grey hoodie.

I grab a water bottle, and my skateboard and head to the park.

I can't stop thinking that at this time tomorrow I'll be with Jamie, teaching her soccer.

I get to the skateboard park and see someone, which is rare because this place is pretty old and abandoned.

As I get closer I notice it's a girl, wearing leggings, a burgundy sweater, and uggs.

She is doing sick tricks, and it looks really good.

I step closer, and she still doesn't notice me.

But then I notice her.

And it's not just any girl...

It's Jamie.

I watch her for a few minutes and she looks distracted, she doesn't even notice me there. She does some awesome jumps, but she doesn't seem interested in that, she seems confused, lost, sad.

I sit on the bench, still observing.

She finally sees me and instantly blushes.

"Hey." I say

"Hey," She responds, looking around, "What, uh, what are you doing here?"

"I'm always here, what are you doing here?"

"I had to take my mind off of things, and skateboarding is what helps, so I came here, thought I'd try out this place."

"I didnt even know you skateboarded." I tell her

" Yea, not many people know that about me."

"You should tell more people, you have some pretty sick moves."

"Thanks." She says blushing

"Where do you usually skateboard?" I ask her, not wanting to end our conversation.

"Um, there is a skate park right across from my house but it's pretty busy and I just wanted to be alone, this one's pretty cool though, I think I might come here more often."

"If you want to be alone, I could go." I say, backing up.

"No, no, you can stay, your actually helping take my mind off things."

Hearing her say that gives me butterflies, and a smile spreads across my face.

"Thanks."

"So, Adams, you've seen my tricks, show me what you got." She teases, smirking.

I chuckle and skate around a bit, doing trucks on the ramps and rail, she soon joins me and we continue to skateboard until it's almost dark.

We head over and sit at one of the benches, both extremely tired.

"So, why did you come here tonight? Why did you have to get your mind off things?"

She sighs before responding, "my dad was rushed into the hospital tonight, he was running an overly high fever and was shivering. So my mom rushed him in and I'm just really really worried for him. Coming out and skateboarding always clears my mind, but tonight I didn't want to be near my house, I couldn't stop thinking of him without worrying, so I came here." She tells me.

"I'm really sorry to hear that, I really hope he gets better."

"Thanks. He will be in the hospital for a while, and my mom is there with him. The twins went to our grandparents house, so I'm gonna be by myself tonight."

"That sucks. I have to deal with that too, my dad's home physically but not mentally."

"I'm sorry. If you want you could come to my place, it would keep me company."

"Are you sure?" I ask

"Absolutely. Plus we have some lasagna left over."

"Okay. Thanks Jamie."

"No problem."

I'm so happy that she invited me over, and she remembered about the lasagna. I can't even think right now, I'm just so so happy.

We sit in silence for a while watching the sun go down.

"I'm glad you did." I speak up.

"Did what?" She asks.

"Came here, tonight."

"Me too." She looks at me and smiles.

I take her hand and intertwine our fingers as we stand up and head to her house.

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