Noah was on an absolute high. The heel-clicking, fist-pumping, cheer-inducing kind. The stomach-clenching, heart-racing, breath-stealing kind. The falling-in-love-with-Leigh kind.

            After he forced himself to stop kissing her through her opened window, he pushed off the side of her car and crossed the lot. He watched as Leigh sat there for a moment, one hand on the wheel, the other sitting frozen on her keys in the ignition. She had the most beautiful smile on her face.

            Noah was the cause of it.

            He waited until she drove off into the night before finally punching the air in triumph. It scored a couple of random stares from people who were loitering around, but he didn't care. Let them know. Let them all know. He made the most beautiful girl in the world smile.

            As soon as he reached his car, he climbed in. It took a few minutes to finally gather his thoughts, but as soon as he managed to settle down, he put the car into drive and started heading back to his dorm. When he reached one of the stoplights, he reached over and flicked on the radio, letting the sound of music fill his car.

            "And that was Ride This Feeling by Kate Miller-Heidke. Stay tuned for more of the hottest hits coming up on our midnight soundtrack with Gabby and Chris."

            Noah made a mental note of the song.

            His fingers drummed against the steering wheel absentmindedly, as the playlist of songs continued and turned his vehicle in all directions, trying to get back to his university. Noah wanted to get back and recount every single detail of his night.

            When he arrived at his building, he the stairs two at a time. However, as he reached his floor and rounded the corner, he bumped into someone. There was a startled grunt as they collided. Noah instantly reached out and grabbed the person's forearm to avoid them from falling onto the floor.

            "I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" Noah asked.

            Ashton, his friend from his economics class sadly looked down at the floor, where some of the contents of his glass of milk had spilled and soaked into the carpet. He looked so upset when he lifted his gaze and focused on Noah.

            "Oh, hey, man." He examined his now half-empty glass of milk. "Just got some milk from Frankie down the hall. The guy got a new mini fridge." He shook his head. "Wish university wasn't such a financial pain in the ass. I'd kill to stash some snacks in my dorm. Hunter keeps eating my Oreos." Ashton lifted the packet of double-stuffed Oreos from under his arm. "Last one."

            "Maybe you should find a better hiding spot," Noah suggested.

            "Yeah. Maybe. So, what are you even doing out here?" he answered. Then he took a look at Noah's attire and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, hell. You were out with a girl, weren't you? You only wear that t-shirt for dates."

            Noah couldn't help the smile on his face.

            "Is everyone in this damn dorm building in a relationship? Feeling a little left out here. While you're having late-night dates, I'm trying to hide Oreos from my roommate and getting abormally happy over a glass of milk. Well, are you going to share?"

            He said one thing. Her name. "Leigh."

            "Shut up. Dude, shut the fuck up," Ashton answered, punching Noah in the arm.

            "She's beautiful, man. So beautiful. And smart and funny. And I made her smile and laugh all night," Noah ranted, dreamily walking down the hall towards his dorm. His friend followed.

            "Now I'm just getting depressed."

            Once his door was opened, he turned and smiled sheepishly at Ashton. "I'm sorry."

            He waved his box of Oreos dismissively. "I'm going to indulge and play video games. Hunter is out for the weekend and forgot to take his Xbox. Pretty sure I can beat his high score." He stated backing away. "I expect to meet her though."

            "Definitely."

            With a couple of last nods, Ashton wandered back to his dorm and Noah shut the door. The thought of showing her off made him insanely happy.  

               Noah flopped onto his bed and rested his hand beneath his head to prop it up. He stared up at the ceiling, a dance smiling on his lips. He was in such a daze that he almost didn't hear or feel his phone buzzing in his pocket. He reached into his jeans to retrieve it.

              "Hello?"

              "You sound cheery," said the woman on the other line.

              "Hi, Mum," Noah responded.

              "I was just checking in. I'm sorry it's so late. I was just missing you. It is hard to admit, but I get a bit clingy when I am unwell," Linda said.

               "Are you okay?" Worry flooded Noah so much that he had to sit up in his bed.

                "I'm perfectly fine," Linda said. A moment later, there was a muffled cough. 

                "I'm not entirely convinced."

                 Noah had to restrain himself from putting on grabbing his car keys and marching straight back outside to journey the two hours to see her. 

                 When Linda had recovered she said, "It's just a cold, I promise. I saw the doctor this morning." 

                "Have you been drinking lots of water? Staying hydrated? Have you been resting? Is the heater on? Do you have enough groceries? Have you eaten?"

                "Are you trying to say you miss me too?"

                "Yes. Are you trying to avoid my questions?"

               "No." Linda paused. "The answer is yes to all of the above."

                "Good," Noah said. "I was about to threaten to drive out there in the morning."

                 "I am doing okay," Linda reaffirmed. "Tell me about school."

                  Noah told her about his classes. He told her about his favourite professor, Ryan who sometimes came to class with his girlfriend's sausage dog. He told her about the time a guy he was sitting next to in a lecture leaned over, whispered if he was hungry and took a whole supermarket mud cake from his outrageously large tote bag. He told her about he's now doing a solo group project because his partner dropped out of university without telling anyone.

                   "Sounds like you've been keeping busy," Linda said. "And are there any plans for the weekend?"

                   "Well," Noah said. The corner of his lip lifted. "I'm actually seeing someone."

                    "Seeing someone?" Linda's voice was an octave too high to conceal her excitement. She repeated, "Seeing someone?" a little more somberly

                   "Her name is Leigh."

                    Noah told his mum all about Leigh, so much so that Linda barely had a chance to contribute to the conversation. He talked about her for twenty minutes straight. If he had this much passion about his university presentations, he would be graduating top in his cohort. Noah could have gone on talking for longer, if it weren't for the sudden banging on his wall.

                   "Can you shut the hell up?" an annoyed voice sounded from the dorm next to his. "You're in a relationship. We get it. Can we get some fucking sleep now?"

                   "That was a bit rude," Linda said quietly.

                   "I better get going," Noah said. He wasn't even offended. Noah was still riding his high. "I'm sorry for getting carried away."

                   "Never be sorry for talking so passionately about something you love," Linda said, and that made him smile. "I love you, Noah. I'll talk to you soon."

                    "I love you too, Mum."

                     Once the phone call was ended, Noah peeled off his clothes and dressed into something more comfortable. Once he had brushed his teeth, he slipped under the covers, inviting a restful sleep filled with dreams of Leigh.