29. Wes/Nora

TWENTY-NINE

After quitting the football team,I wasn't expecting to see much of them again. I thought they'd ignore me when we passed each other in the halls, but I severely underestimated how much they actually care about me. It doesn't matter to them if I'm on the team or not, because either way, they'll still treat me like family. I've been planning something for a while now, and they're the only group of people I know who will be able to pull this off.

Or, I thought they were.

I slam my fist into the table.

I'm not usually a violent person, but there is something about this football team that makes me see red. They can play fine. They can do drills and listen to whatever the fuck my dad tells them, but whenever I try to get their attention, all their brainpower disappears.

I round the table once more, standing in front of them in the empty diner.

"The lyrics are less words than you need in an essay, guys. It's really not hard," I say for the millionth time.

Oliver looks up from his lyric sheet of the song I'm trying to get them to memorize. It's important that they sing the words right, but they're acting like I just told them to remember all the digits of pi.

"I don't get why we're doing this now. This place doesn't open until four, and it's two," Oli complains. Most of the guys hum in agreement.

I know exactly what day it is for the theater students at Drayton and where they go after their final rehearsal. The opening night of the show is tomorrow, but every year they go to this crappy diner on the outside of town where they celebrate and hype themselves up for the show. I'm never invited to these things, but I pulled a few strings for the owner to let us in so we can practice our routine before Nora, her friends, and hopefully Ryan turn up.

"Wes is right," Connor says. I never thought I would hear those words coming out of his mouth. I smile wide, and he rolls his eyes. We've come to some sort of agreement over the last few days. He might not be able to boss me around anymore, but he's finally letting go of the idea that I'll come running back to the team. "It's not that hard to remember, and we've got enough time to practice it."

"Exactly," I say, wafting my sheet in his direction in agreement. "Now, let's take it from the top, ladies."

The second rehearsals are over, and I'm practically falling over. I'm exhausted and hungry, and my brain hasn't felt right since the day of Wes's interview. I kept replaying those moments in the elevator, and all it was doing was distracting me. I want to get this show over with so I can finally have time to figure out what it is I really want.

I instantly regret our post-final rehearsal ritual because the only thing I want right now is to go to sleep. After Penny dismisses us, I run back to my dorm to shower and find something else to wear. The last thing I want is to feel disgusting the entire time while I can have some fun with my friends.

Once I've showered and gotten dressed, I walk back into my room to find Elle and Cat already sitting in there. "Uh, hi?"

"We're coming to Ruby's with you," Cat says.

"No, you're not," I say, laughing.

"We are. Traditions are changing, Nor-Nor," Elle agrees. "The last time we all went out, I tried to pry you and Wes off the dance floor several times, but neither of you would budge. This could do you some sober good."

"No, you don't get it. Theater kids are… A little unhinged," I say, not exactly wanting my two friend groups to merge. It's a disaster waiting to happen.

"You're unhinged," they both say at the same time. I gasp at their comment, but neither one of them seems to care.

"We can handle it," Cat says, beaming. "Besides, Connor really wants us all to hang out. He's worried about you."

"Still?" I groan. "Can't you just tell him that I'm fine? He's more likely to listen to you than he is to me. His priorities have been so out of whack recently."

Cat laughs, throwing her head back. "What are you talking about?"

"Before, they used to go: football, gym, mom and dad, me, Wes and then the rest of the football team. But now, it's you, football, Mom and Dad, Wes, gym, the rest of the football team, and then me."

Cat nibbles on her bottom lip, a sickeningly dreamy look in her eyes. "That's kinda sweet."

"No, not sweet! Very, very not sweet, Cat. Do you understand what this means!" I'm pretty sure I'm screaming like a crazy person right now as my best friend looks at me, wide-eyed and slightly terrified of me.

"No…."

"It means our system is breaking down," I whisper, shaking my head at her. As overbearing as Connor is, I'm pretty sure that Cat has a special reserved spot inside of that weird brain of his, leaving little room for me.

"Hey, don't look at me like this is my fault. Your brother was the one who fell for me first," she argues, crossing her arms against her chest.

"You didn't have to love him back," I shout. She's trying so hard not to laugh, and honestly, I'm almost reaching breaking point, too.

"That's… kinda the whole point of a relationship, Nora," Elle adds, shaking her head.

Cat just laughs. "Anyway, you're insane, and I love you, but he says it's important, and I've already tried bailing, trust me."

"Fine," I grumble.

Catherine latchesonto my arm when we get to the door of the Ruby's. It's a classic old-school diner that my class claimed freshman year, and we've come here every night before the opening night of our shows. It's the only place that can fit all of us and where we can relax with some shitty food and old music.

"Don't kill me for what they're about to do, okay?"

My heart stops when she pushes open the door. "Why would I–"

Before I can finish my sentence, music starts to blare from the speakers as the lights dim. My ears and my eyes hardly get to process anything before the intro to ‘Love' by Keyshia Cole starts to play. I immediately recognise it before I can comprehend that most of the football team are wearing red t-shirts slowly making their way towards me, singing as loud and as badly as possible.

When I go to reach for Elle and Cat, I find that they're out of sight and instead in one corner with her phone in front of their faces, laughing at my nightmare.

The ringleader, of course, is Wes, singing the loudest out of them, brushing his dark curls out of his face when he reaches me. He's got my name written on his cheek in red face paint, his cheeks flaming almost as much as mine are. I don't know how I can even look at him after whatever the fuck happened in that elevator.

"What are you doing?" I ask breathlessly as he pulls me into him.

He spins me out and then back in, letting the rest of the team sing the song. "Serenading you," he answers easily. He clasps his hand over mine, pressing it to his lips. I shake my head in disbelief. "Is it working?"

I can't even hide my laugh as I try to seriously say, "No."

"You're laughing. That's a good sign."

"You're stupid," I reply. The chorus ends, and before I can back away, all the boys from the team come up to me and pass me a pink rose. This feels like some really cheesy promposal, although it's not prom or anything soon. When Connor hands me a rose, I shake my head at him. "Why are you doing this, too?"

He nods towards Wes, who somehow manages to sling his arm around my shoulder. "Why do you think?" Connor murmurs, sauntering away as the rest of the team all circle me, continuing to sing the song.

Wes pulls me into him again, placing us in a waltzing position. "Tell me, Stargirl. Is this boyfriend enough of me?" he whispers.

"This is ridiculous is what it is," I say, squinting my eyes at him. He pushes a strand of hair behind my ear and my body tenses. "Why in the world would you think I'd enjoy this?"

"Because I've got a gorgeous voice, and you like romance?" I tilt my head to the side, waiting for him to sigh. "You deserve to be celebrated like this, Nora."

I nod, swallowing the emotion in my throat. "By this, do you mean very loudly?"

"Yes," he says, "You deserve to be loved loudly and no other way."

His words take me back to the first time Ryan and I ever broke up, and I thought we'd never get back together. They remind me of the times when I felt so unworthy of love that I hardly had any love left for myself. They also remind me of the amount of times Wes has shown that he's going to be there for me and embarrass me even when I don't exactly want him to.

I let go of his hand and wrap my arms around him instead. "Thank you, Wes," I whisper, instantly feeling weird for thanking him for one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. "I think I needed that."

"I know, Stargirl. I've got your back, okay?" he says, pulling apart from the hug and holding my shoulders at arm's length. "Don't forget that."

"Okay," I repeat. "Was this the big sell?"

"Almost," he mutters before pressing his lips to mine.

I let myself get lost in him, and when he holds me tighter to him, I gasp. My eyes flutter open for a second to catch Ryan and the rest of my class staring at us. I continue kissing Wes, not for the sake of pissing off Ryan – though that's a bonus – but because I want to. I want to have him like this. I want to constantly be questioning what he's going to do next and how he's going to one-up his last gesture. I want to travel places with him and hold his hand.

I think I just want him.