Page 28 of Love Hollow at Last
“Who is it?”asked Noah, his voice full of trepidation.
Grace grinned.“Oh, it sounds like you already know the answer.”
24
Noah
Noah remembered that moment with his brother in the school gym.He had just been slow dancing with Aya, and it was heavenly.The only awkwardness was the pressing need to disguise his tented pants, definitely one of the pitfalls of attending prom with a beautiful girl he had fantasized about for months.After they played “Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair” for the alternative school talent show, he had almost gotten the courage to kiss her.But when he was about to ask her if he could, he was so worried about stuttering that he said nothing.Then one of her friends came by to congratulate them on the performance, and the moment flitted away.
But prom night was famous the world over for being a time when it was easier to confess, kiss, and generally make a fool of yourself.It would be the perfect moment.So Noah bided his time, knowing all he had to do with Aya was write her a note asking her to prom.She wouldn’t humiliate him if she said no—she was too kind for that.Thank goodness prom-posals weren’t a thing where they grew up.
The prom went almost as well as he had hoped.Aya was gorgeous, and after they took the obligatory photos by the mantelpiece in her mom’s house, they were able to drive to the dance laughing and joking like always.She had nixed the idea of eating dinner together, so they had eaten before he picked her up.He jokingly offered his arm, and when she took it, he felt amazing.
But after they arrived at the gym, something changed with Aya.She was more reserved, only reluctantly joining him in ribbing the DJ, who was one of Nobu’s old friends and current college classmates, Josh.He wasn’t particularly pleased about all the suggestions coming his way.
“It’s not my fault your friends want to actually dance, Noah,” he’d snapped.“Maybe they don’t want a geriatric playlist.”
“One slow song,” said Noah.“Just make it country.It’ll be a crowd-pleaser.”
He was pleasantly surprised that Josh chose a good one.Perhaps behind his resentful facade, he was still ready to be kind to his friend’s kid brother.But after the song was over, Aya sighed.
“I’m going to go say hi to Emi and Sheena,” she said.“Make sure Sheena doesn’t overdo it on the vodka, you know.”
Noah laughed, though of course he didn’t know.“I’m going to go make fun of Nobu’s stupid shirt again,” he said buoyantly, striding over to the now-abandoned drinks table, where Nobu was sipping a star-spangled cup of his own.
When he got closer, he got a whiff of vodka, making him squint.But that couldn’t have been what Aya was talking about, surely.
“Is that, um, a real drink?”he asked.
Nobu nodded.“Confiscated this from some of your friends,” he said.“Don’t worry.I won’t tell anyone.But in return, don’t rat me out.”
Noah frowned.“It’s probably not a good idea.It’s illegal for you, too, you know.”
“Let me worry about that.Go enjoy your prom.Show Aya some of those famous dance moves.”
Noah must have looked nervous, because his brother laughed.“Don’t make such a big deal of it, man.She’s a good date for you.Just make sure you don’t go thinking it’s going to be, like, a lasting thing, just because you like each other now.”
Noah bit his lip.“W-Why wouldn’t it be?”
Nobu laughed again.“Uh, maybe that she’s a genius?She’s off to the most prestigious university on the list of places that gave her full-ride scholarships.And come fall, she’ll have a boyfriend there.That’s how it works.Trust me.”
Noah threw a doubtful look at Aya.She was giggling, spinning around with her best friends.Sheena did look rather exuberant, but that didn’t necessarily mean she’d had too much vodka.She was always like that.And Emi, who was usually just as studious as Aya, was jumping in the air, laughing.
The way Aya felt about her friends had always been clear to Noah.She loved them all, spent loads of time with them, and would probably always be best friends with them.
But maybe she was about to leave Love Hollow and forget about Noah.He easily saw how that might happen.She’d find a new boyfriend, someone who fit the American ideal of attractiveness—white, tall but not skinny, probably with blue eyes or very light “hazel” eyes.He wouldn’t stutter, he would probably have won public speaking contests, and naturally, he’d be great at football.Aya was the whole package: brains, beauty, compassion.Why wouldn’t she end up with someone like that?
“Thanks,” he said to Nobu, though he wasn’t feeling very thankful.
Aya wandered back to the drinks table.“Do you want to dance again?”she asked.But she didn’t sound as if she meant it.
“No, thanks,” said Noah.“I’m not much of a dancer.”
25
Noah
Noah went back home to beg for his parents’ assistance.It wasn’t a great position to be in, but they were the only ones who could help him.
