Chapter 18

18

I f someone had asked me two months ago if I would ever sit across a kitchen island from Noah Lawrence, watching him cook eggs and bacon in his flat, I would have laughed in their face.

In fact, I probably would have needed to go to the hospital from laughing so hard that I turned blue.

But that was precisely the situation I found myself in, and it wasn't as weird as I would have expected. It seemed almost natural to be watching him in the most casual outfit I had ever seen him wear, moving about the kitchen like this was natural for him too.

"Your tea," he muttered as he pushed a teacup across the island, already moving to grab the sugar and milk. His eyes never met mine, despite how desperately I wanted them to.

What was going through his mind as we shared this very odd experience? Did he also find it bizarre I'd stayed the night at his flat and he was cooking for me? Surely, it didn't seem normal for him.

The silence continued as I watched him, but I didn't feel any awkwardness. It was sort of comfortable for me to be sipping my tea and observing.

Noah eventually broke the silence as he plated the food. "We won't be able to do any more research at the school. At least, not together."

I would have denied this until the day I died, but his words made my gut twist in despair. I didn't want to stop being around Noah. There was an unexpected joy I felt being around him, and I looked forward to our time researching together. I anticipated his smug looks and cunning comments. Unfortunately, I'd even begun to enjoy our normal banter.

But this was Noah Lawrence, my sworn enemy, so I could never admit to any of that.

"I think it's best if we come here any time we want to work on the potion." My eyes shot up to his as relief poured through my veins. I would have to address that with myself later, when I was alone. "I worry that if we are seen together in the potions building, whoever left the note will…"

He didn't finish the thought, but I knew exactly what he meant.

Noah slid a plate of breakfast food over to me, and I took it happily, not even waiting for him to sit before eating. "Thank you," I said between bites.

"There was another attack last night," he announced as he looked at his phone, moving around to join me at the bar. I looked at the screen as he slid it over to me. Our school news page was pulled up with the headline. I skimmed the article that commanded a new school-wide curfew; all students had to be in their dorms or leaving campus at seven pm.

"Seven? That's ridiculous!" I exclaimed. There were so many nights I stayed in the library working well into the night. How would I be able to get everything done with this heinous curfew?

"If they put more effort into finding the culprit and less time into publicizing the attacks, perhaps they would have stopped by now." Noah rolled his eyes, swiping the screen on his phone to show me the article already published by Carter Springfield. Both of us skimmed it, and I had to stifle my annoyed comments.

"Do you think they're trying at all? From what Professor Fortenberry said, they're not even worried."

"They're going to end up with a lawsuit if they don't end this. My father would be down the board's throats if I was affected."

"But you are affected, aren't you?"

Noah looked away quickly, shaking his head. "Yes, but I can control myself."

I just nodded, returning to my food as I felt the energy between us shift.

Once we were back on campus, we hardly said anything to one another as we parted ways. We made no plans to meet up to work, but we would need to work hastily. Surely, we would make a plan the next time we crossed paths.

Until then, I would have to study on my own.

My backpack was heavy with the weight of one book Noah purchased last night, and I planned on spending all night in my room working through it. We were confident that the potion was illegally spell-cast, so now, we just had to perfect the potion.

"Henri!" I whipped around, already too on edge now that I was back on campus. Ivy was right there, waving at me as she moved across campus to meet me. How she spotted me from this far away was insane to me, but I waved back and moved to meet her. "Where were you last night?"

"Oh, I, um…" There was no way my best friend would understand that I was with Noah all night—at his apartment— even if I was to tell her the reason we were there. But what was I supposed to say? I wasn't exactly one for lying. "I went out with Noah last night."

Ivy's breath caught, and her face contorted in confusion. "Noah? You hate him."

"I know, I just…" I couldn't stop the words from flowing after that. "He's actually not that bad. In fact, we get along quite well."

"Because you work together on a potion? I don't get it, Henri. He has taunted you for years and beaten you out of some of the most important accomplishments."

"That doesn't make him evil, Ivy." I didn't know why I was feeling so defensive, because everything she said was right. "He's been…quite tolerable."

Ivy rolled her eyes. "But that doesn't make him a wizard you should be mucking about with!" She grabbed my hand and began to pull me toward Yates Hall, where our first classes were. "Of all the guys on campus, is there no one you would rather be around instead?"

"It's not like that. I—"

"Please tell me he isn't who you feel drawn to during the potion attacks?" Ivy stopped, horror in her eyes.

"I told you, I don't feel affected at all."

"Not even in the slightest?"

"No, Ivy." I bit my tongue to prevent myself from saying anything further. This was just my best friend trying to look out for me; I pushed the frustrated thoughts from my mind.

I hadn't had the heart to tell her what happened with Daniel. When she'd asked about how the potion affected our planned date, I told her that he left in search of someone else and I went back to studying. I hoped that one failed attempt would be enough to appease her desire to set me up with someone.

"Well, I'll work on that. Oh! I think I know the perfect bloke to set you up with! Since Daniel didn't work out too well, there's this guy in my—"

"I'm really not interested, Ivy. I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I just—"

"Ugh! Henri, I just want you to enjoy our years here at the academy, and all you're willing to do is stick your nose in a book and spend too much time with Noah Lawrence. Maybe you should try being normal, just for once!"

We'd both stopped walking, and I'd nearly stopped breathing. Ivy had never spoken to me this way before, and I would be lying if I said I didn't feel the burn of tears, but I had no words to say in response. All I could do was gape.

"Henri…I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Ivy grabbed for my arm, but I pulled away, taking a step back.

"No, it's fine. Just remember, not all of us think having a boyfriend and going to parties is the only way to be happy." I turned and walked in the complete opposite direction of my class, not even caring that I only had ten minutes before the lesson began. I just needed to sort out the burning in my chest caused by my best friend who pushed me too far.

Finding a bench under a tree, I took a seat and slung my backpack to the ground, pulling out the large book I'd hidden inside. With a quick glance around, I opened it and began reading.

My phone buzzed, but I ignored it, trying to focus on the book and not the tears threatening to spill over. It was ridiculous that I was so emotional about a silly tiff with my best friend, but the more I thought about it, the more it hurt. How could she not see I was content in the now, to just study and worry about my future? I didn't need to concern myself with looking for a boyfriend or going to a social event.

But was I really so boring of a friend that Ivy felt the need to fix me? To set me up with any single guy she thought I might be compatible with? Did it make me a rotten friend that I didn't like to go out with Ivy when she and Remy spent a night on the town?

I didn't hate fun. Hell, last night, I had tons of fun out with Noah, especially when we were discovering what could solve the love potion problem.

My phone kept buzzing in my bag, and I was so annoyed with it, knowing it was probably Ivy trying to talk. Wiping away the tears that had fallen down my cheeks, I pulled the stupid phone out to silence it but noticed the texts weren't from Ivy at all.

Noah

Put that away. Someone is going to see you.

Baker, seriously.

Don't make me come over there and put it away for you.

If I can see you with that book, don't you think others could?

Seriously

Alright I'm coming to take it, since you clearly don't have your phone

Why are you crying?

Who made you cry?

I shoved the book in my bag as I looked around, not seeing Noah anywhere—not seeing anyone anywhere near me, or even in eyesight. Class had already started.

My phone buzzed again, and my stomach dropped when I saw the text.

Unknown

I already warned you.

You should have just left it alone.

I needed to move.

My brain quickly ran through the problem.

Whoever had left the note with my key must have somehow seen Noah and I leave together last night or somehow knew what this book was. I deduced the message was based on seeing the two of us together, since no one could know what the book was about from any distance.

But surely, whoever left the threat wouldn't imagine that both of us would simply back down, especially if we were seen leaving campus every day. What else would the school's two biggest rivals be doing off campus if not researching a problem they were warned away from?

I had little time to think of a solution when I heard a stomping in the grass to my left. I dropped my bag and stood, turning to see Noah just as he approached.

With no time to hesitate, knowing we were being watched, I flung myself across the remaining distance, throwing my arms around Noah's neck and planting my lips on his.

My feet barely touched the ground as he took a step back to balance himself, but within a second, he straightened and wrapped his arms around me, reacting to the kiss in less time than I calculated. Whoever was watching would just see two students in love, nothing more. I hoped it was enough to steer whoever had texted me away from thinking we only worked on the potion together. Perhaps this kiss could make us appear more than potion partners.

"Henri, what is—" Noah said between kisses, but I just pulled him closer. He leaned down so I could stand, put his large hands firmly on my hips, and kept our bodies glued to each other.

The kiss was just like last time: hot, fast, and perfect. Except now, my lips were involved too. His skin against mine was a sensation I wanted to stamp in my mind like the spells and potions I'd memorized. The silkiness of his hair as I ran my fingers through it was a texture no one could replicate, and I didn't want to let go. The tiny grunts from the back of his throat were beautiful enough to make a symphony.

After what I felt was most likely an appropriate amount of time for a couple to be kissing after reuniting, I pulled away from him and quickly grabbed his hand. I couldn't look at him as I turned, trying to force the kiss out of my head. It served its purpose, and now, I had to get him out of here to continue the charade. Snatching my backpack, I all but dragged him across campus until we made it to my dorm. Once inside, we ran up the stairs until we reached my room. I fumbled around in my backpack, trying to find my key, but since I'd thrown things in there so haphazardly, I had to dig to the bottom to find it. Noah held my bag open for me and bounced from foot to foot as I yanked it out and shoved the key in the lock.

Finally, we were in my room, and Noah threw my backpack to the ground, backing me up against the door, his hands warm on my face. His green eyes were wild with something, and I wondered if he already knew how I just saved us.

He leaned in.

"Someone saw me," I blurted too loudly, instantly praying no one followed us and heard.

Immediately, as though electricity had just shot through his body, Noah's spine straightened, and he took a step back. "What?"

"Right after you texted and said you were coming. I got a text from an unknown number. It must have been the same person who left the note. I'm sorry. I really didn't think anyone could see me, and I was really upset about a fight I had with Ivy, so I just wanted to get my mind off it. I wasn't thinking, and I panicked because I knew you were coming. I figured the only way to sway whoever was watching me was to kiss you so they would think we just left campus last night to be together, not to work on the stupid anti-potion we still can't seem to get right, and I'm—"

"Henri," Noah spoke calmly, his eyes much tamer than they had been just seconds ago. Shouldn't he be more worried? He grabbed my jaw tenderly, forcing me to look at him. "Breathe."

I took a slow, deep breath, realizing I'd just word-vomited all over him. As much as I wanted to deny it, it was because of the buzz I still had in my veins from kissing him. Noah took a deep breath as well, sliding his hand through his hair in the way he always did when he was stressed. The memory of the feeling of his hair between my fingers was too fresh, and I wanted to touch those strands just one more time.

"So tell me again: why are we in your dorm?" Noah asked, moving away from me and taking more deep breaths.

"I was being watched. I assumed that if we kissed and then took off to my dorm, it would look like we were a couple who couldn't get enough of each other, and whoever was watching might believe we weren't still working on the potion. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have just kissed you like that. It crossed a line."

"I'm far beyond being worried about the kiss, Henri," he muttered. "Now, tell me why you were crying."

His question caught me so off-guard, my next words got stuck in my throat. I guessed he would ask about what I'd learned in the book or why I'd skipped class, or maybe even who I thought was threatening us, but not why I was crying.

"It…it's not a big deal. Just something with Ivy." I looked away, rolling my eyes at myself for being so emotional. Ivy could think whatever she wanted about me. We'd been friends long enough that she knew exactly who I was, so why was she trying so hard to change me?

"What happened?"

Why was he interested? I couldn't understand the sympathetic look I was getting from Noah, so I just answered. "She is trying to set me up on another date, though I've told her time and time again that I'm not interested in looking right now. It's all that she can seem to worry about, and I'm just exhausted with it. I don't even know why I cried." I looked away from him, suddenly embarrassed that he not only saw me crying but also knew the silly reason.

"Well, we obviously have to keep up the charade of us being a couple now, since you so wittily decided that was the best way to react to me approaching."

I cut a sharp glance at him, seeing a devilish smirk on his mouth. "Oh, as if you would have had a better idea."

Noah took a step closer, crowding me back against the door. "No, the idea was brilliant. I loved it." I had to avert my eyes at the dark tone in his voice, but I caught the way he licked his lips. Both of his hands raised to rest on the junction of my neck and shoulders, his thumbs digging into my collarbone. "In fact, I think it's the best move if we are to keep working on the potion. Two rivals who started working on a project but became crazy about each other." A finger trailed up the side of my jaw, the touch ever-so-slight. I had to staunch the chill that nearly raced up my spine.

He was standing so close, our noses nearly touching. I could barely breathe this close to him, and unfortunately, I could only think about closing the distance between our lips again. But we weren't under watch, so it was completely unnecessary. That didn't make me want it any less.

"Meet me at the oak near the front gate after dinner, and we'll spend the night at my flat again. Intend on doing so every night." Noah's green eyes were dark as they trailed down my face, landing on my lips.

"I cannot stay at your flat every night! That's-"

"Baker. Someone stole your dorm key. Do you really feel safe staying here alone?" His words struck fear into my chest, and I knew he was right. But I was maybe more afraid of staying at his house every night with him when a simple kiss was enough to jumble all my thoughts.

"And remember…to everyone campus, we're a couple now. That includes your friend Ivy, so you can tell her to stop trying to set you up with miserable blokes who wouldn't know how to treat someone like you right anyway."

Before I could say anything in response, his hand was on the door handle. I side-stepped, staring at him the entire time, as if waiting for our eyes to meet again. He didn't spare me another glance as he left the room hastily.