Page 73 of The Kissing Booth
‘What, are you deaf?’ Lee muttered. Then, much louder, he said, ‘I said, did you do that to her? Did you hit Elle?’
Noah’s jaw clenched so tight you could see all the muscles up the side of his face straining. ‘You really think... I’d hit Elle?’
‘Yeah, well, I wouldn’t put it past you!’ Lee snapped angrily. ‘Then how the fuck did it happen? What the hell were you doing?’
Lee only ever swore like that when he got really, really mad. I knew things were getting bad, but I was frozen in place, numb.
Noah retorted carelessly, ‘I don’t have to answer to you, little bro.’
Lee’s fists clenched and unclenched at the sneering tone Noah used. ‘Then what happened to Elle?’
‘It’s nothing,’ I said timidly, and both of them turned to look at me harshly. I dipped my head, my hair hiding my face as I peeked up at them again. ‘It’s fine, I’m okay...’
‘The hell you are,’ Lee muttered darkly. He thrust a finger in my direction and almost yelled at Noah, ‘What happened?’
‘She came looking for you and tripped in the garage. It’s not that big a deal. Calm down already. She’s fine.’
It was the flippant tone that was getting Lee really riled up, and I bet Noah knew it. It would’ve got me really angry too.
‘It’s not his fault...’ I tried; they both ignored me.
‘And you just let her fall over? I bet it was your crap lying around that made her trip in the first place.’
‘It’s not like I have some kind of divine power to control her klutziness.’
Gee, thanks, Noah.
‘But itwasyour fault, then? I knew it,’ Lee scoffed, his head shaking back and forth. He was biting the inside of one cheek in anger. I was sure he knew Noah wasn’t really to blame, but he was mad enough at him that he’d blame him anyway.
‘It was an accident,’ Noah said through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing blue with anger.
Lee just shrugged, winding Noah up even more. ‘I wouldn’t have put it past you to actuallydothat to her.’
‘That’s it,’ Noah growled, flying at Lee, who’d already taken a swing.
I jumped off the bed, pushing myself between them before they actually killed each other. I shoved Noah’s chest as hard as I could, with no effect. But at least, now that I was in the middle, they’d stopped trying to hit each other.
‘Noah,’ I said quietly. ‘Noah, look at me. Noah.’
He stopped looking daggers at Lee and turned, his expression a little softer. ‘You know I wouldn’t hit you, Elle. If I could’ve, I would’ve stopped you falling. I wouldn’t hit you – you know that, right?’
I nodded patiently. ‘Yes, I know. But you don’t have to pick a fight with Lee, all right? He’s just worried about me.’
‘I wouldn’t hit you,’ Noah said fiercely, his jaw clenching again.
‘I know,’ I said, making my voice as soothing as I could. I placed a hand on his chest, which rose and fell rapidly with his shallow breaths. ‘I know, alright? Just calm down already. Please. I know you wouldn’t. Calm down, please.’
He held my gaze a few more seconds before stepping back, running his fingers through his hair. I turned around and grabbed Lee’s hand, tugging him out of the room and into his bedroom.
When he shut the door behind us he said, ‘Wow. I have never seen anybody calm him down like that before. That was... weird. And you’re usually yelling at each other.’
‘Look, just forget it. At least you’re not trying to attack each other anymore,’ I sighed, and threw myself onto his bouncy mattress. He plopped down beside me, then reached over to touch my cheek. I sucked in a sharp breath, cringing away.
‘Sorry,’ he said instantly. ‘So tell me what happened.’
What had been Noah’s story? I’d gone looking for Lee...
So I mumbled something about coming over and hearing someone in the garage, but it was Noah. I’d gone through to the games room to find Lee, but I’d fallen over and hit my face.
