Chapter 25

25

" Y ou'll do just fine. Should I pick you up after your exam?" Noah leaned across his car to look at me through the rolled-down window as I stood and brushed a hand down my uniform. Since I hadn't exactly prepared to sleep at Noah's house again—alone in his bed, much to my disappointment—I didn't have what I needed to get ready this morning. Noah washed what I'd had on yesterday while I studied, but I hadn't kept my tie on after my exam. I'd had to borrow one of his ties, which was too big for me.

"No, actually, Ivy and I are going shopping afterward. I'll see you after your game?" I adjusted the tie for the hundredth time, wondering how ridiculous I looked with the oversized thing.

"I'll see you at the game, love. Don't forget to wear my jersey."

Without another word, Noah sped away from the gate.

My feet were glued to the pavement as I stared after him, wondering what the last sixteen hours even meant. He took me to an Italian place and ordered for me, then brought me back to his house, where he showed me a seemingly unused office so I could study. The next thing I knew, Noah was waking me up and leading me to his bedroom. I'd hoped he would stay in the bed with me, but I hadn't dared to ask. He unfortunately slept in another room.

I shook myself out of whatever longing trance I was in and took off to ace my last midterm.

The football stadium wasn't somewhere I expected to be ever again, but the buzz of excitement in my veins was undeniable. Perhaps I was still deluding myself into enjoying this fake dating thing so I would at least partially understand what it could be like to date Noah Lawrence. It didn't matter how many times I told myself this was all a ruse; I still wanted to cling to it. Once this whole potion and poison mess was finished, Noah and I would go our separate ways and act as we had before-though that was the furthest thing from what I wanted.

After I breezed through my midterm, I met Ivy at the school gate to head out for our day of shopping. We ate plenty of junk food and entered every store we'd ever enjoyed. Admittedly, I spent way too much money. I felt like I deserved it, though, and I loved nothing more than some new clothes after midterms. There was something about the rewarded feeling of swiping my card, knowing I'd smashed my exams once again—it just felt right.

"Henri!" I heard my best friend's voice as I entered the large stadium (after I stared at Noah's banner for far longer than I should admit), finding her just off to the right. We'd agreed to meet near the entrance after we parted ways to get ready for the game. I couldn't just show up to the game in my normal clothes. Instead, I'd pulled on one of the new pairs of jeans I'd purchased, admiring the way they hugged my bum perfectly. Unfortunately, Noah's football jersey was much too long on me and covered my backside. I'd tucked the jersey in the front since it would have reached my mid-thigh otherwise.

I trotted over to Ivy and Remy, and Ivy's eyes widened slightly.

"Where did you get that?" she asked a second before recognition crossed her face. Remy was already grabbing my shoulder and turning me around so they could both see the Lawrence printed across my shoulders and the 11 underneath. I had styled my hair in a ponytail, making the back fully visible. I needed everyone to see exactly what I was wearing tonight.

Ivy pushed her boyfriend out of the way, walking me backwards until she was a few feet away. "He gave you a jersey? That's seriously so hot!"

Yes, yes, it was. Unfortunately.

I bit my lip to prevent the full-blown grin I felt inclined to give her in return.

"He's hard to hate when you look like—" she motioned to my face, and then to the jersey- "that! He has certainly done a number on you, hasn't he?"

There was no stopping the blush that burned my cheeks.

"Just one question. Um…do you think he likes you as much as you like him?" I could tell Ivy meant the best with her question, but damn. It was a punch to the gut.

Gritting my teeth, I tried to push the hurt from the question and the hurt from reality away so I could give her the right answer. "Yes, I think he does." The lie slid off my tongue easily, though I desperately wanted to tell my best friend the truth. I was dangerously close to falling for Noah and he saw me as a peer and colleague. I couldn't help but enjoy every second with him as his fake girlfriend, but the entire relationship was a ruse. He wouldn't see me as anything other than his academic-rival- turned-potion-partner. I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth, though, because I wasn't ready to admit it myself.

"I just really don't want you to get hurt. I promise I'm going to give him a chance, but he's still Noah Lawrence, and I'm just worried he'll—"

"Damn, baby," a voice cut in, and Ivy stood up straighter as I turned around to see the owner of the voice.

Noah jogged up to us, and before I could fully turn around, his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him. His mouth pressed against my cheek, leaving a delicate kiss there.

"I knew you would look amazing in my jersey, but I didn't know I'd like it this much. Emerald is your color. And my name across your shoulders…" He pulled away from me, only to turn me around so he could get a better view of me. I couldn't stifle the laughter that spilled from my lips as he whistled at me. "Are those new?" He pointed to the jeans.

That genuinely shocked me. Sure, he knew I had gone shopping today, but how would he have known I was already wearing something I just bought? Lucky guess, I supposed.

"They are," I answered as he pulled me back in for a hug.

"Thanks for coming tonight, darling." Noah pressed another kiss to my head before releasing me. He looked at Remy and Ivy, nodding to them, smiling warmly. "Thanks."

Ivy looked astounded that he would thank her for coming to the game, but she still gave him a polite smile and nod.

"I'll see you after the game, yeah?" Noah pushed a stray strand of hair out of my eyes and cupped my chin. I tried to memorize this very moment for a later date when I wouldn't have this anymore. He was wearing his all-white jersey with green and gold print on it, and he already had sweat beading on his forehead.

"Of course," I answered. I could have gotten lost in his eyes in that moment, because they looked so sincere. I forced myself not to read too much into this, lest I hurt myself in the long run. "Good luck."

With no other words, Noah bent down and planted a kiss on my lips, freezing me in shock for a moment. But then I quickly made up for that stumble, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck to keep him there just a moment longer. Once he pulled away, he winked at me as though no one could see us, gave me another brief kiss, and took off jogging towards the rest of his team across the pitch.

I compelled myself to turn away and face Ivy again instead of staring after his retreating backside, but the look on her face was enough to make me blush again.