Noah
I was about to say something to get rid of the embarrassment but right at that moment-
DING-DONG.The sound of the doorbell sliced through the room like a physical blade. I practically fell off my stool, my heart hammering against my ribs."I'll get it!" I shouted, way too fast and way too loud.I didn't even wait for her to respond. I was already halfway to the foyer, my legs moving on autopilot just to get away from the way she was looking at me. Saved by the bell, I thought, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Omg i'm probably gonna murder Leo later I can't trust him to even keep a secret .I pulled the door open, ready to thank whoever it was for the divine timing.But as the door swung wide, my relief vanished .Standing on the porch wasn't a delivery driver or Leo coming back for his gym bag. It was Jax , looking exactly like the one person I didn't want Avery to see me with right now
He was still wearing his varsity jacket, his helmet tucked under one arm like he'd just come from practice. Jax and I hadn't seen eye-to-eye since he took my spot on the starting lineup last year, and seeing him on my porch was the last thing I needed."Yo, Noah," Jax said, his eyes scanning past me into the house. "Left my playbook in your locker, but then I realized you probably brought it home. Figured I'd—"He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes locked onto something behind me. Or rather, someone.I didn't even have to look back to know Avery had followed me to the door."Oh," Jax's smirk widened, turning into something much sharper. "I didn't realize you were busy with... tutoring."He said the word like it was a joke. I felt my jaw tighten."We're working on a project, Jax," I said, my voice dropping an octave. "Give me a second, I'll go get your book.""No rush, man," Jax said, stepping slightly to the side to get a better look at Avery. "Hey, Avery. I didn't know you and Noah were... close. Usually, you're stuck in the library with the honors kids."The way he said it made my blood boil. He wasn't just being friendly; he was marking territory and making sure Avery felt like she didn't belong in my world.
I felt my fists clench at my sides. Jax was doing that thing where he looked at Avery like she was a bug he'd found under a rock. I was about to step in—about to tell him to take his playbook and get off my porch—when Avery moved.She didn't retreat. She didn't look at her shoes.Instead, she stepped right up beside me, crossing her arms. The shy girl who'd been stuttering over a history poster ten minutes ago was gone."The 'library kids'?" Avery repeated, her voice steady and sharper than a razor. She tilted her head, looking Jax up and down with a bored expression. "Is that what you call people who actually know how to read, Jax? Or are you just bitter because the librarians won't let you check out coloring books?"Jax's smug smirk didn't just fade; it evaporated. He blinked, clearly not expecting the 'quiet girl' to have teeth. "Wait, I—""And for the record," she continued, stepping closer until Jax actually had to take a half-step back, "we're working on the 1700s. It's called History. I'd offer to explain it to you, but I don't think Noah has enough crayons in the house to make it simple enough."I stared at her. My heart wasn't just thumping anymore; it was doing a full-on victory lap. I'd never seen anyone shut Jax down that fast—especially not someone half his size.Jax sputtered for a second, his face turning a blotchy red. "Whatever. Noah, just get my book. I've got better things to do than listen to a nerd talk.""Funny," I said, finally finding my voice and leaning against the doorframe, a genuine grin spreading across my face. "Because I think the 'nerd' just benched you, Jax. Stay here. I'll go get your stuff."
I turned back into the house, my chest feeling lighter than it had all day. I grabbed Jax's playbook from the hall table, but as I handed it to him, he didn't just take it and leave. He stepped in close, his voice dropping to a low, jagged whisper that Avery couldn't hear."Cute, Noah. Really. But you know how the guys talk," Jax flicked his eyes toward Avery, his smirk returning like a stain. "By first period tomorrow, everyone's going to know the 'Star Striker' is playing house with the library mouse. Hope she's worth the reputation hit, man. Because once I tell the team, you're never living this down."He didn't wait for my response. He just turned, tossed the playbook into his backseat, and peeled out of the driveway, the screech of his tires echoing the frustration building in my gut.I shut the door, leaning my forehead against the cool wood for a second. Reputation hit. As if I cared about what Jax or the team thought compared to... well, to her.I turned back to the kitchen. The fire Avery had shown just seconds ago had vanished. She was standing by the island, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her sweater. The "Sassy Avery" was gone, replaced by the girl who looked like she wanted to disappear into the floorboards."Noah?" her voice was small again, trembling just a little. "I... I shouldn't have said that. He's going to hate you now, isn't he? Because of me?"The adrenaline crash had hit her hard. She looked pale, her eyes wide with that familiar "shy girl" panic.I walked back to her, stopping just a foot away. I wanted to reach out—to grab her hand and tell her that seeing her stand up to Jax was the highlight of my entire year—but I caught myself."Hate me?" I let out a dry laugh, trying to ease the tension. "Avery, that was the most incredible thing I've ever seen. You literally left him speechless. I think I'm still in shock."She looked up, searching my face for a lie. "Really? You're not... embarrassed?""Embarrassed?" I stepped closer, the air in the kitchen suddenly feeling thick again. "Avery, I've never been more proud to be standing next to someone in my life."The silence returned, but this time, Jax's warning felt a thousand miles away. All I could see was the way the kitchen light caught the gold in her eyes, and all I could think was that Jax was wrong. She wasn't a mouse. She was a goddamn storm.And I was right in the middle of it.