Page 35 of The Kissing Booth
He smirked a little. ‘Someone’s moody.’
‘I’m covered in paint and you’re giving me the third degree for nothing! Of course I’m not in a good mood.’ I stormed away to the changing rooms.
But when I saw myself in the mirror... even I had to laugh. I was such a mess! Paint flecked all through my hair, streaked over my face and dripping down my neck, patterning my blouse...
It wasn’t so funny when it wouldn’t come off, though.
Or when I found no spare clothes in my gym locker.
After about ten minutes of tireless scrubbing, I got some of the paint out of my hair and most of it off my face. It had dripped down under my blouse, so I was stood there in my trousers and bra when the door opened.
Thinking it was Lee, I didn’t turn around.
‘Hey, Elle? Lee said he’s going for some food with the guys, but if you want a ride home...’ Noah trailed off when he saw me standing there.
I froze, blinking at my reflection in the mirror. I felt my cheeks warm up, and twisted my head around, hoping I wasn’t blushing as hard as my reflection was.
‘What?’ I snapped.
‘Nothing.’
‘No – what were you saying?’
‘Oh. Oh, right, yeah, well, um, Lee’s leaving to grab some food with the guys, but he said if you wanted to go straight home, then I have to give you a ride. And considering you still look like some kind of Picasso...’
I looked at the flecks of pink paint splattered over my collarbone and laughed, trying to cover my awkwardness at him seeing me in my bra. He’d seen me in a bikini before, but that seemed... different, somehow. ‘Yeah. Tell Lee to go ahead.’
‘Sure. How long are you going to be?’
I shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Since you’re going to take me straight home, I can shower there, so...’ I pulled on my damp blouse and did the buttons up hastily, then slung my bag onto my shoulder. ‘Let’s go.’
I wasn’t really looking forward to being in the car with Noah – I was half expecting a lecture or something.
‘How’s the booth coming along?’ he asked conversationally as we walked across to the parking lot. I looked at him warily, and he caught my eye, shrugging a little. ‘What?’ he said. ‘I can’t talk to you?’
My only reply was to raise my eyebrows skeptically at him.
He shrugged again. ‘Whatever. So, are you going to answer me or not?’
I sighed, squeezing my eyes shut for a second. I felt like I should be mad at him, but I couldn’t seem to find a legitimate reasontobe mad at him.
I guess Noah just had a strange effect on me. Although whether that effect was good or bad, I hadn’t figured out yet.
‘It’s going okay. We still have stuff to do before Friday, but we’ll manage – as long as Lee doesn’t start painting me instead of the letters again.’
‘Well, you made a good piece of Impressionism, I’ll give you that.’
I halted in my tracks, making Noah stop a few paces ahead when he realized I wasn’t with him. I raised my eyebrows at him.
‘What?’
‘I think that was a compliment. Noah Flynn just gave someone a compliment. Contact the newspapers, somebody.’
He gave a sarcastic laugh, but I saw the twinkle in his eyes. I smirked back and carried on walking with him.
‘Areyougoing to come to the carnival?’ I asked him.
‘Yeah. I kind of have to. It’s one of those things all of the teachers “encourage” to show “school spirit” and shit.’
