55| You Literally Win Everything Pierce!

MY parents didn't stop texting and calling me the entire time I was in the boutique. Which, by the way, was a really cute boutique. I ignored the texts while I shopped. I was picky when choosing things because even though I knew Noah was rich as hell, I didn't want to take advantage of his money. I finished buying a few items including a bathing suit and drove the golf cart back to his lakehouse. The exterior of the house was rustic and wooden. I walked up to the front door and opened it. I could see right to the back of the house, which had floor-to-ceiling windows. I could see Noah outside at the dock getting the boat set up.

I made my way into the first bathroom I could find, shutting the door behind me and getting changed. I changed into a bikini and a pair of jean shorts. I threw on a white cover-up over the top and put my messy and gross volleyball hair into a bun. I headed outside, opening the sliding glass door and walking down towards the dock.

Noah turned around and smiled. "Ready for an unforgettable boat ride? And this time, yes, I really do own this boat. No alibi needed."

I laughed. "I trust you," I said.

Noah helped me into the boat before getting in himself, then heading up to the front to start the boat. The boat roared to life and Noah started driving it. We were going pretty fast and I just sat on the cushioned seat of the boat looking out at the view. Water misted me, but I didn't mind at all. It was relaxing and helped me forget about my parents for a bit. I'd left my phone at the lake house so that I wouldn't have to deal with it.

A part of myself felt bad for my parents. For not answering their texts and keeping them in the dark. But the other part of myself didn't feel bad at all. Noah was completely right about them. They'd basically implanted Stanford into my mind, making me think that it was my dream when in reality, it wasn't. And neither was volleyball.

Don't get me wrong, playing volleyball can be fun and sometimes I actually enjoy it. Sometimes it's an anger release rather than the cause of my anger. But more times than others, volleyball just made me intolerant of anything and anyone. I couldn't do it anymore.

Noah slowed the boat down so that we were just floating further out on the lake. There weren't that many boats out at the moment. He turned around from the engine of the boat to face me, giving me a small smile.

"What do you think?" He asked, motioning towards the view.

"It's really beautiful," I said. "You didn't have to take me here."

Noah shook his head. "No, I didn't. But I wanted to."

I smiled and leaned back against the chair, staring up at the sky. "So. What do you have planned for us this evening? Besides the lovely boat ride, of course?"

He grinned. "Well, you'll be in for a treat. After this ride, I had a competition in mind."

I raised my eyebrows. "Competition?"

"Competition," he repeated. "Don't worry, it'll be great. And then after that, we can order some food from the restaurant and they'll bring it to our door. We can just chill and take a dip in the hot tub."

I shook my head. "You're so rich, it's crazy," I joked. "Sounds perfect."

"I'm glad," he said. "Are you doing okay?"

I shrugged. "I'm doing better because I'm with you," I said and then sighed. "I'm just confused. And still slightly angry."

"The punching bag offer still stands," Noah said, holding his hands up. "Why confused?"

"I guess it's just because for the past 4 years, I've been living with the idea that Stanford and volleyball was my dream. But now I know that it's not," I said. "So I guess I'm just confused because... now I have no idea what my dream actually is. Or if I even have one."

Noah leaned forward and grabbed my hand. "You have a dream. Everyone does. You just don't exactly know what it is yet, but that's okay."

"It isn't okay, though. Because first of all, my parents are gonna kill me. And second of all, we graduate in a month. It took me nearly my entire high school life to figure out that I actually hate volleyball and the idea of going to Stanford makes me want to gag," I admitted. "How fucked up is that?"

"It's fucked up," Noah agreed. "But first of all, if your parents are mad-"

"Which they are," I interrupted.

"Right. Your parents are mad, but you're their daughter. If they seriously hate you because of this, that's the most fucked up part of this whole thing," Noah said. "And second of all, you still have time. And I know that you'll figure it out even if it's scary as hell."

"Why are you such a counselor?" I groaned and then laughed a bit.

"I can't help the fact that I'm fucking amazing at psychology."

I rolled my eyes. "I can't stand you."

"You love me," Noah whispered, leaning forward and gently pressing his lips against mine. He pulled away and looked down at our hands. "If I could help you realize your dream, I would. I would do anything for you, Pierce. It's kinda scary how much I love you."

"Stop being so mushy," I said, shaking my head. "But I love you, too."

Noah sighed and sat up. "I think we should head back to get this competition started before it gets too dark to see. Trust me, you're gonna love it."

"Whatever you say."

✯ ✯ ✯

"Nerf guns?" I asked.

Noah stood in front of me holding 2 giant nerf guns, grinning and nodding his head. This was seriously the person I chose to spend my time with. Also, the guy who I fell in love with and once hated. What the hell was my life?

"Nerf guns," Noah repeated, handing me one of the guns. "You have 1 bullet and 1 bullet only. Turn around and you will see our battleground."

I turned around and faced the giant side-yard of Noah's lakehouse. There were sculpted bushes and lots of trees surrounding the area, perfect for hiding. I knew exactly where this competition was headed.

"I will give you 2 minutes to find your hiding spot where I will not be looking. Then, the competition is that I have to find you, or you have to find me. If I find you and shoot you, then I win. But if you find me and shoot me, you win," Noah explained.

"And what's the prize?" I asked.

Noah smirked. "Whoever wins gets to choose the movie we watch in the hot tub tonight."

"Wait a minute. You have a TV... in your hot tub?"

"Not in the hot tub," Noah said. "But it is by the hot tub with a perfect view."

I rolled my eyes. "Rich motherfucker," I muttered. "Fine. But I hope you know that I'm definitely winning this game."

"Whatever you say." Noah turned around. "Your 2 minutes starts now!"

I faced the battleground and started running as quietly as I could, looking for the best spot to hide. I swear this yard was the largest thing I'd ever seen in my life. There was even a tennis court off in the distance, but not a shared tennis court for all of the lakehouses. It was literally just a tennis court for Noah's family. I'm telling you: Rich. I finally took cover behind a giant bush that was cut into a circular shape. I could hear Noah running through the giant yard.

I peeked out from behind the bush and saw him on the other side of the tennis court. I smiled and moved over to the other circular bush beside me. I kept my eyes locked on Noah, not once looking away. It was getting darker and I didn't want to lose, so I needed to stay focused. I watched as he moved around the tennis court and towards the side of the yard I was on. When he was out of sight, I bolted to the other side of the yard and hid behind a large, thick tree.

I held my gun in my arms as I watched Noah make his way over to the bushes I had originally been hiding behind. I decided to stealthily walk further towards a different bush that was in a square shape. Only rich people had shaped bushes. I crouched down and looked around the yard, but I realized that I had lost Noah. Dammit.

My eyes searched around the yard as I peeked out from behind the bush. But still, I couldn't seem to find Noah.

That was when I felt 2 arms wrap around me and pick me up. I screamed (pretty much bloody murder) and kicked my legs as Noah lifted me off the ground. Noah set me down and spun me around, smirking in the darkness.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Noah said, lifting his hand up to my face and bringing his lips to my ear and whispering. "Looks like I caught you."

"Looks like you did," I whispered back. Noah pulled away and slowly brought his lips to mine. I kissed him back fiercely, running my free hand through his hair.

He pulled away, but he was a fool. He thought he caught me, but he'd forgotten the simple rule. So I pulled my trigger, shooting my one bullet right into his chest. Noah's mouth dropped open and he looked down at the ground where my one bullet now was. He looked back up at me and I just shrugged, smiling.

"You said whoever shoots first wins," I said. "So it looks like I win."

"You played me."

"Maybe. But you fell for it. So I'm still better than you," I said, brushing past him and walking towards the house.

"Fine! You literally win everything, Pierce!" Noah called after me. "The movie choice is yours."

✯ ✯ ✯

After winning the competition as per usual, Noah and I ordered some food and ate it in the kitchen. Once we finished Noah told me to meet him in the hot tub and he would wait for me to tell him my movie decision. He was definitely in for a treat because I had the perfect movie in mind for tonight.

I changed into a red bikini and went back downstairs to the backyard. It was now completely dark outside, just past 9 pm. Noah's back patio was lined with dim white bulb-lights and there was a TV directly outside of the hot tub. I walked out towards the hot tub where Noah was waiting for me and I walked into it. It felt incredibly good considering my sore muscles from endlessly playing volleyball.

"Have you decided on a movie?" Noah asked.

"Hannah Montana the movie," I said. "Duh."

Noah rolled his eyes. "I should've expected that."

"You really should've," I said.

Noah sighed and leaned his head back against the hot tub. "Before the movie and everything... How are you feeling?"

"A lot better. Really. I think it's just because of you," I said.

"Well, I am pretty great. I can't deny it."

I splashed a bit of water on him and rolled my eyes. "Cocky. But you are great."

Noah lifted his head up to look at me and smiled. "I'm glad you're feeling better. I just- I hate to see you upset. I thought maybe taking you here would be a good escape for you. To make you less upset."

"You did a good job," I said. "Can I be honest with you?"

"Of course," Noah said.

"I don't know why you're with me. Because I sure as hell don't deserve you," I admitted.

Noah tilted his head slightly. "That's not true."

"It is, Noah. You're way too good to me and I'm just an angry, confused mess."

"It's not true," he denied again. "Yeah, you're angry sometimes. Sometimes you're angry a lot. But I still love you, Logan. Even with all of your anger and confusion. Because even though you get mad at me sometimes, I don't think I could ever let you go."

Damn words. Why did words make my heart melt?

"If I was really bothered by your temper, I would've stayed enemies with you," Noah said and grinned. "But I guess I couldn't resist you."

I smiled and made my way over to the side of the hot tub that Noah was on. I straddled on top of him and his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me in as our lips connected. I grabbed the back of his neck, craving him more and more, deepening the kiss. It was so bad how in love with this boy I was.

We breathlessly pulled away keeping our foreheads pressed together.

"Do we go straight to Hannah Montana after that?" Noah asked.

"In a minute," I answered, pulling him back in.

I could've spent forever here.

✯ ✯ ✯

Noah waiting for Logan in the hot tub ^ like damn.

I just wanted to make a cute chapter with a little bit of a deep conversation. But with all the drama and shit... we need a break every once in awhile. And what better for a break then a cute ass day at Noah's lake house? What a guy.

The start of the prom chapters are coming up next! And yes, I did say the start for a reason. Lots and lots of shit goes down when it's prom time... Just buckle up.