I paced around the living room for the 10th time that hour. The first few times, I could use setting up for the party as an excuse. Now that everything had been set up, I had nothing to do and yet, I was antsy. Unable to settle down. Wired.

What the hell was this feeling?

"Someone's nervous," Hunter chimed, ploping himself on the couch with a huge grin.

I stared daggers at him. "Shut up."

What a stupid thing to say. Why would I be nervous? I'd already survived at least three of Tara's parties before. At this point, I was a pro.

"He's right, I've never seen you like this," Darren said, placing one hand on my shoulder and giving it a light, reassuring squeeze.

"It's disturbing," Hunter added, nodding for emphasis.

"Whatever," I muttered, shaking Darren's hand off my shoulder and walking toward the kitchen as the two of them continued mumbling more nonsense.

They were being assholes. I rubbed my hands against my jeans, taking a deep breath. It was just a freaking party.

Only that wasn't exactly the whole truth. She would be coming to this party. And for some reason that thought made my chest tighten.

Inna hummed as she placed food into bowls and on plates. I bit the bottom of my lips, debating on whether I should ask her. The guys would fuck with me, but Inna would be honest. Probably.

"Spit it out, Archer. I feel you burning a hole into my back and this is my favorite dress," Inna said, her voice light albeit slightly teasing.

Right. Just spit it out.

"Do I... look nervous?"

She turned around, her head slightly tilted as she looked me up and down. Her gaze was studied, clinical, as if I had asked her some complex science question. Then her face lit up and she nodded.

"Yeah, you actually do," she said, seemingly surprised.

I frowned, ready to ask her to elaborate when she continued. "You keep bouncing your leg and you're probably gonna rip those jeans if you keep rubbing the same spot. It's obvious."

Shit. She was right. There was no way I could deny this was atypical behavior. Nothing really made me nervous anymore. Not since Mom's diagnosis.

Once the worst unexpected thing possible happens, it kind of stops you from expecting anything anymore. Nerves kind of went hand in hand with expectations.

"Finally, the end of the Noah's Two Week Relationships era is upon us, babe." Brandon said, hugging Inna from behind and grinning up at me.

My eyebrows furrowed as I stared at them. They were right. I'd decided I was done with the two-week thing a week ago. But they couldn't possibly know that.

"I mean, you fell for Skyler, right? That's why you're nervous?" Inna asked cautiously when she saw the confusion on my face.

What a bunch of bullshit. Pure nonsense.

"I didn't fall for Sky–"

There was no way. I wasn't made for love. That was never part of the equation.

Did I like Skyler more than I initially expected I would? Yup, I did.

Did she make me feel like I could tell her anything? Yeah.

Did the thought of her first thing in the morning make me smile? Definitely.

Did I imagine kissing her many times already? Sure.

Did her coming to the party make me nervous? Of cou–

My heartbeat increased. Body flushed with heat. That pressing feeling on my chest made it harder to breathe.

She made me nervous.

That meant I was expecting something from her. And as soon as I considered that, it seemed clear what the problem was.

I expected more than two weeks. I expected a future. I expected the impossible.

I laughed, shaking my head at how fucked this whole situation was.

Yeah. Makes sense this would happen now. The one girl that has dated me with no positive emotions attached would be the girl that made me feel something for her. Feel everything for her.

How did this happen? When did this happen?

It crept up on me. Unexpected. Surprising. Something I'd spent a year looking for, suddenly here it was. The beginning of something new. Something I'd never felt before. Only with the situation I was in, what could be my first love could very well end unrequited.

"I'm fucked," I muttered, letting out another bitter laugh before walking away from the kitchen.

"Is he okay?" Brandon muttered behind my back.

Nope, he was definitely not okay.

"Y'know I'm the designated adult too, someone's got to keep an eye on Tara and make sure she doesn't–" Before I even managed to finish my sentence, a loud crash echoed from inside the house, a round of hoots and hollers following it. "Break something."

I ran a hand down my face and threw a desperate glance at the house. I was convinced all the valuables had been moved to Dad's office, but clearly we'd missed something.

"I gotta go check on this." I said, giving Skyler a look that hopefully conveyed how sorry I was about leaving her with the wolves. "You okay waiting here for a second?

"Don't worry, man, we'll keep her entertained." Brandon spoke up instantly, his girlfriend nodding supportively next to him.

Entertained. I knew what that meant. Their eyes sparkled like a pack of wild hyenas that had cornered an antilope. As soon as I left they were going full Spanish Inquisition on her.

For a second I gave them a hard stare that hopefully clearly translated into don't say some dumb shit. When the glimmer in their eyes remained, I just rolled my eyes in exasperation.

"That's exactly what I'm worried about." I said, focusing my attention back on Skyler and pressing my lips together.

Could I really leave her alone with them?

As if she could read my mind, she grinned and nodded her head toward the house. "I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

I grinned back at her. She could definitely take care of herself. I'd already seen her hold her own against Jacob, as much as just thinking of that whole situation still made me feel pure rage.

That same confident look was in her eyes again. Reassuring me.

Fuck, she had no idea how attractive that was.

"Don't I know that. Be back in a sec." I muttered and left before I said something I shouldn't.

It didn't take long to find the culprit. A vase lay shattered on the floor. My sister was bent down, picking up the large pieces by hand and placing them in a plastic bag.

"You'll cut yourself," I instantly bent down and grabbed her arm, studying her palm.

"It's fine, I'm just doing the large pieces." She pulled her hand away, glancing up quickly at Melissa who stood a few feet away, talking to Tara's friend group.

"How many drinks have you had?" I raised an eyebrow. My sister pressed her lips together and looked up at me sheepishly.

"A few?"

The question mark at the end was concerning.

"I've got this. Go have fun," I said and nodded in the direction of her friends. Her gaze followed and there was excitement in her eyes as she stared at them. Stared at her to be exact.

"You're my favorite brother, love you," Tara said, blew me a quick kiss, and within a second she was up and skipping away.

"I'm your only brother," I muttered to myself and went to get the vacuum cleaner.

A few minutes later I was speed-walking back to where I'd left my girlfriend, increasingly more nervous with every single step. The laughter that echoed from the group didn't help ease my nerves.

Hunter wrapped a hand around her shoulders.

Suddenly, I was hit with a wave of intense displeasure. No. Not just displeasure. Anger. Completely irrational and singularly focused on one particular thing.

Why the fuck was he touching her?

Before I even knew what I was doing, I grabbed his arm and aggressively pushed it off Skyler's body.

"What did I say about the casual touching, Hunter?" I said, my voice more gruff than I expected. A pool of confusing emotions swirled through my body. Pent up feelings wanting to be released.

"Can't help it. Physical touch is my love language," Hunter replied casually and shrugged, the grin on his face a clear indication that he was messing with me and enjoying it.

"Well, keep your love language away from Sky," I muttered through clenched teeth. I needed to get away from this situation or I'd do something I would definitely regret.

I extended my hand toward Skyler and offered something I probably should have done from the start.

"Want a tour of the house?" she nodded instantly and took my hand. The comfort of her hand in mine seemed to calm the negative emotions that had been building up. I entwined our fingers, enjoying the soothing tingles that raced across my skin.

My idiot friends instantly oooh'ed at that action and I rolled my eyes at how childish they were.

"Don't make trouble while we're gone," I added, pointing an accusatory finger at each of them.

They grinned at me, promising nothing but trouble. I sighed, and turned around, tugging Skyler along.

"It was really great meeting you all," she said and I smiled a bit. I guess leaving her with them didn't end up all that bad.

"I'm sure we'll see you again, Skyler," Brandon said confidently.

I pressed my lips together, wishing I could be as sure of that as he was. There was only one week left.

There was no telling if she'd stay after that.

"I think love makes you strong. It helps you face things you'd usually be afraid of facing, because you know you're never alone, or well, even when you are alone, you're never lonely. Love is kindness, and patience, and trust. It's being vulnerable and giving someone the option to break you but trusting that they wouldn't. And sure, some people might break that trust and won't deserve that love, but that say something about them, not you. Love isn't perfect. It's messy, and complicated, and difficult, and painful but it's also the most beautiful, amazing thing you'll ever feel. Love and life... are kind of similar in that way."

Stunning. She was fucking stunning. And I was stunned.

Skyler seemed to know exactly what to say, exactly when I needed to her it. Life wasn't perfect and neither was love. But that didn't make either less wonderful to experience.

Perfection didn't exist. It was the imperfect that made life worth it in the end. Those unplanned moments that were chaotic and beautiful.

Like the moment when you first learned to ride a bike, full of scares, scrapes and bruises, but with a whole new world open to childlike wonder.

Or the moment when... someone made you view love in a whole different way, as music blared in the background and a group of drunk people yelled along with it.

Imperfectly perfect.

Love. Life. Me. Her. Everyone.

Beautiful and frightening and painful... but worth every single flawed moment.

Fuck. It was worth it. Just staring at her now, in silence, I knew that all the potential pain I would feel was worth it.

Just to kiss her once, would be worth a lifetime of pain.

How the hell did this happen? What the hell was I supposed to do now?

"Okay, next question," she muttered and cleared her throat.

"Can I kiss you?" I blurted it out automatically. After all, it was the only question that mattered.

"Sorry, what?" She asked, glancing at me nervously.

Her cheeks grew red under my gaze, and it made me want her that much more. To feel her body pressed against mine and those lips fused against my own.

The want had transformed into a need. A pressing desire that felt all-consuming.

I'd never wanted to kiss someone this much in my entire life. If I had any reason left in my head, I would have been concerned. But my mind was singularly focused on one thing.

How soft her lips looked.

I hummed, my whole body vibrating along with it and automatically licked my lips, leaning closer toward hers.

"I'd really like to kiss you, Skyler." My voice cracked with desire, my breath coming out a bit too quick for comfort. "Is that okay?"

For a second, worry crept in. What if she said no?

After all, she had no feelings for me. Or at least, that's how it started. But now... maybe now it was different. She no longer looked at me with the same emotionless disdain. There was something there now, behind her gaze. Something softer, warmer, more inviting...

Or was that just wishful thinking?

"Yes." Her voice was a whisper yet it knocked the breath out of me.

I wasn't alone in this. She wanted me too. Relief washed over me but as soon as my eyes drifted back to those deadly lips, the need was back.

Reaching my hand out, I brushed my fingers along her cheek. Gently. Reverently. Her skin was soft and warm to the touch. Would her lips burn me? Would they leave a mark?

A part of me seemed excited by that irrational thought.

I gently brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, all semblance of reason leaving my mind as my hand brushed along her ear and settled on the back of her head.

My fingers curled against her silky hair and I leaned foward automatically, wanting to be closer. She closed her eyes, and my heart skipped a beat. For a second, I just studied her, committing this moment to memory. The way her breath was coming out faster, her cheeks flush with expectation.

I'd never seen anyone as beautiful.

My nose brushed her, and I took a quick breath before my lips pressed against hers.

Soft. Her lips were so fucking soft, like a pinkish cloud you wanted to fall into. I kissed her gently, a soft kiss deserving of her lips. Only after a few moments of bliss, something built up inside of me. This desire to feel more of her.

My fingers tightened against her hair and as if that as a silent cue, she pressed back against me. Responding. Answering.

I brushed my tongue against her lips and they opened. An invitation I wasn't about to pass up on.

The kiss deepened. My tongue exploring hers. I pulled her tighter against me, a primal need to stake a claim on her coursing through me. The desire to keep her in my arms, on my lips almost overwhelming.

I had to stop. I was going to lose control and I didn't want to scare her.

I managed to pry my lips away, but my body wasn't cooperating. It refused to let go of her. Not yet.

Pressing my forehead against hers, I took a shaky breath.

"Damn, that was way better than I imagined." I muttered, still half-delirious from what had just happened.

"You imagined this?" She seemed shocked by this.

I pulled away a little to study her. Her cheeks were still rosy, and her lips seemed slightly swollen. A sense of pride rushed through me knowing I was the cause of that. Her eyes were warm and teasing and it made me smirk.

"Oh yes, many times."

"I think we could do better," she said and licked her lips.

My heart damn near stopped beating all together, eyes instantly focused on her lips.

"Do you, now?" I said absentmindedly.

"Yup," she said, confident, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

I was pretty sure I couldn't survive anything better than this. But fuck, if I wasn't willing to try.

"Well, I definitely don't mind try–"

Before I could finish, her hands wrapped around my collar and pulled me closer.

She kissed me and I knew with clarity that I wanted those lips against mine for much, much longer than just two weeks.

This could ruin me. I knew that.

But in that moment, I didn't give a single fuck.

As long as she kept kissing me like that.

Hi loves! ❤️

Eeeeeek, Two Weeks to Fall in Love just hit 1 million reads! ✨✨✨

Surreal. I remember when I joined this orange app back on 2020 and achieving such a huge milestone seemed impossible. AND YET, here we are today!

Since it's such a huge milestone in my Wattpad journey, I thought that the only way to show how FREAKING THANKFUL I AM TO YOU ALL  AND HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU (!!!) is by giving you another Noah POV bonus scene! And this one is... welp. You read it probably. So, ya know. It's cute and shit. ❤️

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS BONUS CHAP? ✨

I hope you liked it and had fun reading it, and that it was a nice way to celebrate this milestone with you.

There's no way I would be here without you. The fact y'all take time out of your day to read my books... I just feel really honored honestly.

THANK YOU! Thank you for all of the support you've shown me so far, for your patience when I need a mental break and for all the supportive comments you leave. They literally brighten my days, and when I'm down I go back to read them. So just know that you make a big impact in my life and I'm so grateful! ❤️

Love you all, stay strong, stay safe! ❤️