Getting to the front yard of the frat house is taking more time than it should.

It's not because it's hard to walk with my now injured ankle. There's that too, but that's actually the easy part.

I know I'm exaggerating and being dramatic, it was just a cut. It's not that hard to walk, but blood makes me sick and there was blood, so what can I say?

Anyway, we can't get out fast enough because some people keep stopping us along the way to talk about us being back together.

I mean, what? Come one, why would they think that?

I know this frenzy is not about me, it's about Noah, as usual. It seems to always be about Noah around here and it makes me roll my eyes.

He is the popular one and if I thought that after the summer people would chill, I was wrong.

I don't get this whole popularity thing. I never did. What makes someone popular? Maybe they become popular because they seek for attention or make others fear them, like you see on movies or something, but that's not Noah's case.

He's not seeking for attention. People are generally intimidated by him, but he doesn't have tons of friends, he's not the quarterback or something, he's always just minding his own business, but somehow he's still the golden guy.

How is it possible, I have no idea.

Everybody wants to know what he did during summer, how he's doing, if he's dating, etc, etc. God, I don't know how he deals with it. I mean, I do know, which is by being cold, reserved if you will, but polite at the same time.

Even a couple of freshmen girls that don't know us at all came to say that they've heard about us and 'oh my God, we're soooo cute together.'

A few weeks after classes started and he already has additions to his fan club.

I know I've said this before, but these people should really get a life.

I keep repeating to each and everyone of them that we're not a couple again, but I guess I don't blame them for thinking this when I realize that Noah's hand is still on my wrist - technically, he's practically holding my hand - and pulling me to the exit.

Not to mention that it's obvious that we're leaving the party together. That is enough for people to think that we're a thing again.

For the first time since Noah decided to help me, I consider how this might look to other people.

Probably someone saw us going to the bathroom and thought that we're doing more than first aid because I'm clumsy.

Not that I care what they think. If this was last year, I would be a lot more worried, but now I don't really give a shit, I just don't like all the attention we're getting.

What I'm thinking though, is that it wouldn't be the first time we did whatever they have on their minds, in the bathroom.

I feel my cheek on fire remembering when we had sex on the toilet cabinet at that party, what seems like forever ago.

It was one hell of a good sex.

I instantly pull my hand, releasing me from his grip.

His eyes go to my hand, then to my face, his own face looking confused, as if he doesn't know why I pulled away with such force all of a sudden.

''I can walk by myself.'' He doesn't protest and nods in understanding.

He continues his way to the car, one hand now inside the pocket of his dark jeans and the other holding the car key.

He opens the passenger door for me and I enter, ignoring his stare on me all the time.

I close my eyes for a brief second, cursing at myself for agreeing to this. I should have said no and stayed at the party.

I can still change my mind and say I'll go home with Mads.

Well, admit you're here because deep down you wanted him to take you home when he offered.

I'll ignore you for now, just because you're right.

When he's inside the car and starts the engine, I lean my head on the window, still feeling slightly dizzy. The injured leg situation sobered me up a little.

''Are you ok?'' He asks, looking truly concerned.

''Yeah. I'm fine.'' I don't move a single muscle though and continue to look outside.

The entire drive was kind of silent, just the two of us making small comments about random stuff, like the weather, which is obviously to ease the awkwardness.

''It doesn't have to be weird between us, Emma.'' He finally says, when we're already close to campus.

I look at him, whose eyes are on the road. He glances at me, but quickly looks ahead again.

Before I notice, he's parking the car near my building, like he used to do so many times, so it's just us sitting there, not knowing what to do.

''I know, it's just... it's not even about us, Noah. We can be friends, I guess, but there are other people who might get hurt.''

It's also about us, but I won't say it. Also, once again, I don't say her name, but it's impossible to miss what I'm talking about.

At least, I think it's impossible.

''I don't know what to say to you. I want things to be normal, but you've been avoiding me.''

Truth is, I have sort of avoided him. We talk and we're kind of friends, but when I feel it's too much, I push him away.

''I'm not avoiding you, I just want to protect myself.'' I say without even thinking this through.

''From what?'' I don't say anything and I fit the car's floor. ''Protect yourself from what, Emma?''

He repeats, but I still don't say anything.

How can I tell him that I'm still in love with him when he has someone else? Apart from the way he looks at me, he doesn't act like he still cares at all.

Well, he did care tonight, but I guess it's something he would do for any friend, not just me.

He frowns and looks at me again and passes his hand through his hair, letting me know that he's frustrated with my silence.

He sighs before Leaving the car without another word, rounding it again to open the door for me.

Always a gentleman, I see.

He holds the door open and I slowly get out of the car as well, feeling the cool breeze on my face, which only makes me want to get to the dorm faster.

I start walking away from him, practically jogging while I try to ignore the small pain on my leg, but he closes the door with force and comes after me, reaching me rather easily.

''What do you want, Emma?'' I hear his sharp voice close to me, and I glance back to see he's now right behind me.

''What do you mean?'' I don't stop and cross my arms over my chest, speeding up a little bit.

I'm not sure how to have this conversation.

I don't know what I might say to him, because I want to tell him that I want us to try again, but I can't do that.

You might think that I want to be with him just because I realized that I lost him and my ego is hurt, you know, the possessive shit you hear about when you see the person you like moving on, but that's not the case.

No, I was planning to talk to him when I got back anyway, my plans just changed after I found out about Cindy.

''I want to know what you want. We can't keep pretending that this is fine. It's not ok, we're not just friends.''

Why is he saying this?

''We are just friends, Noah.'' I say harshly.

''Come on, Emma. You're so frustrating sometimes.'' He holds my arm, finally making me stop walking, when he turns me around to face him.

"Oh, I'm frustrating? You're the one who's confusing as hell. What the hell does all this mean? How can you say we're not just friends?"

I hug myself hard, trying to hold the emotions inside, until I'm alone at least.

''Fine, you want we to say we're friends? I'll say it. We're best buddies, but at least admit that we can't keep pretending that we don't feel anything for each other. Better like this?''

I sigh with his kind of harshness. I wasn't expecting to have this conversation with him this soon. Or ever, to be honest.

He moved on, so there's no need to talk about this.

I'm living my life happily and perfectly fine trying to find a way to move on too. Why does he have to complicate things by saying we have feelings for each other?

I love him, but he doesn't love me anymore, so I don't see the point of this conversation.

I try to take a step back to put some distance between us, but it's like my legs want something different from my brain and are not responding to its command to step away.

''What are you doing, Noah?''

''I'm just trying to understand.''

"Understand what?" I ask.

"This. Us." He points to himself, then to me, in the small space that's still left between us.

''I don't think we should talk about this. You have your life now and I have mine. Different lives. Period.''

He sighs again and looks at me, his face looking defeated.

''Ok. I won't push it. If you just want to be my friend, then we'll be just friends.''

He lets go of my arm and takes a step back, doing what I was incapable of doing myself.

He shoves his hands inside his pocket and starts to walk backwards, the space between us increasing.

''I'm sorry Emma. I shouldn't have bothered you tonight. I hope your leg gets better.''

When he's at a safe distance, I walk back to his direction. I can't leave things like this. We shouldn't have this conversation, but it will do us no good if we fight.

Not to mention that I also need to understand.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask, making him stop and turn around.

"Doing what exactly?"

"Trying to get close to me and saying we have feelings for each other. Aren't you happy with the way things are now?"

He walks back to face me, us being back to having only a small but safe distance between us.

"Honestly?" He pauses and I nod. "No, I'm not happy Emma."

"Why not?" I'm not sure why, but my heart starts pounding inside my chest.

He looks anywhere but me, as if he's contemplating what he should answer.

"Because I'm having a hard time controlling my feelings. You know I like to have control over everything and I'm learning the hard way that I don't control shit. I can't do what I'm dying to do and the fact that you look so fucking gorgeous tonight is not helping."

His tone is full of frustration and he fits the floor before meeting my eyes, while I stay frozen in place, my heart beating so fast with what he said.

He thinks I look gorgeous? What is he dying to do?

Don't be stupid Emma, that's pretty obvious.

I have so many questions, but I don't want to think about any of them now.

I actually know what I want.

He then sighs and turns around to leave and this time, I feel like this conversation is over.

"I'm glad you're happy, Emma. I won't bother you anymore."

That's when I make up my mind and do something that shocks both of us.

I run to where he was, grab his arm and turn him around, not giving him a chance to react when I crash my lips on his.

I feel my legs weak and I swear I'm about to fall to the grass, when his arms go around my waist and he pulls me closer, keeping me still and flat against his body.

He freezes for a second, but recovers fast enough from the initial shock, which I get, because I was pushing him away just five minutes ago and now I'm holding his face to kiss him.

I might be getting insane.

He kisses me back almost immediately and before I have a chance to take control, his tongue is invading my mouth and exploring every part of it, like our tongues belong together.

It's a rough kiss, urgent, not gentle at all. More from me than from him to be honest. He's trying to make it slow, but I'm eager, so he keeps up with me and renders me breathless with his pants dropping kissing skills.

My hands, that were cupping his face, are now on his neck and I pull his hair with rather force, getting a moan from him at the same time that he lifts me from the floor, making me match his height, hugging me tight in the process.

He tastes so good, the mint always present on his breath being more intoxicating than ever. He puts me back on the floor and deepens the kiss even more, if that's even possible.

Four words for you. I freaking missed this.

I'm panting by the time he pulls away, both of us completely breathless.

He's smiling down at me as he takes a strand of my hair from my face and gently puts it behind my ear.

That's when it hits me.

------------------------------

Hey Lovely Readers,

As promised, here it is the update!! I'm updating two chapters! Actually, it was just one, but it got way too big (sorry, got carried away), so I broke them in two!

I hope you enjoy it, if you do, don't forget to vote! All I can say is that I can't wait for the next chapters!! =*

Oh, many of you have been asking for a Noah's POV. I'll do it very soon, so you know what was on his mind this whole time!

Love,

Me