Page 39 of Two Weeks to Fall in Love

Two Weeks to Take the Initiative

I had no idea when I finally managed to pass out after our date, but when I woke up I felt like I’d barely slept at all. And it was all Noah Archer’s fault.

Grabbing my phone, I was determined to send him a message blaming him for the huge under-eye circles I had, when I saw a text message from him was already waiting.

Noah : I’m sorry, Skyler. not going to school today, please ask Melissa to drive you

Noah : sorry

Skyler : okay, no problem, is everything okay?

Noah : yeah, sorry, can’t talk right now. sorry

That was a lot of sorrys in one exchange.

A frown creased my forehead. I’d seen him just yesterday and everything had been fine.

More than fine—we’d had a great night, or at least that’s what I’d thought.

What could have changed between then and now?

I was about to send another message but stopped myself before I could.

I’d been down that road with him before.

If he said he couldn’t talk, he wouldn’t reply.

And then I would just stress myself out checking my messages and growing more resentful.

No. I wouldn’t do that to myself again. He was clearly not as reliable as he made himself out to be.

I snorted, rolled my eyes, and called Melissa.

“Wow, my bestie remembered I exist before seeing me in school.” Melissa picked up on the second ring, humor in her voice.

“Noah bailed on me. Can I bum a ride to school?”

“Oh. Trouble in paradise?” There was shuffling on the other side of the line, and her voice was muffled.

“We were never in paradise.” I sighed, jumping out of bed and rummaging through my closet.

“Sure could have fooled me.” Melissa hummed, overly amused by the situation when I was anything but.

“So can you pick me up?” I asked, slightly impatiently.

“Girl, don’t ask dumb questions. See ya soon,” she said, and hung up.

That was as much of a yes as I would get from her. I rushed around my room getting ready, all the while trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach.

*

School was weird without Noah there. Melissa on the other hand was enjoying a day in which she could constantly casually mention Tara and what they’d been texting about. I didn’t mind. It kept my mind off thinking about where Noah was and why he wasn’t in school.

With the exception of yelling an extremely loud hello at lunch and trying to get me to sit with them, his friends seemed like their normal selves.

Whatever had happened with Noah wasn’t something he had shared with them. Or if he had shared it with them, they were good at acting like nothing was wrong. The day passed painfully slowly, and the more I tried to keep my mind off him, the more he became the only thing I could think about.

Tonight . If I didn’t hear from him in the next few hours I would text him tonight. I wouldn’t pry, but I would tell him I was concerned, and maybe he would open up to me.

When nighttime came and there was still no word from Noah, I decided it was time for a follow-up.

Skyler : you coming to school tomorrow ?

It took him a while to get back to me and when he did my stomach dropped further.

Noah : no, not yet

Noah : I’m really sorry Sky

Skyler : you don’t have to keep apologizing. are you okay?

The little bubbles that signified he was replying popped up and then disappeared. This happened a few times, as if he didn’t know what to say—or maybe he didn’t have an answer to my question at all. I didn’t know which one was worse.

Negative thoughts kept coming into my head, each one worse than the last.

Was he sick? Was he dying? Was that why he was in a hurry to find someone?

Another mostly sleepless night passed, and this time even school felt more somber. Melissa was quiet for once, glancing at me every few seconds like she wanted to ask me something but couldn’t find the courage to. Very not Melissa-like.

“Just say it,” I mumbled during lunch, letting out a sigh after she stared at me and looked away for the hundredth time that day.

“Say what?” she asked, seemingly surprised I’d spoken up.

“Whatever has been bugging you the whole day.”

“Oh.” She pursed her lips and took a deep breath. “I just—you seem really worried, Sky. I haven’t seen you look like this since Lily left.”

“Of course I’m worried. I’d be worried if anyone I knew just randomly missed school with no explanation,” I said, pushing the food around on my plate. I didn’t really have much of an appetite.

“Sure.” Melissa nodded, but I could tell she didn’t believe my words. I wasn’t sure I believed them either. “Do you want me to ask Tara what’s wrong? She’s also seemed off the last couple days, maybe she knows something.”

I instantly shook my head. “No, don’t get her involved. You have your relationship. Me and Noah have—” A fake one .

That was probably the thing that bothered me the most. The fact that I was as worried as I was when he shouldn’t have meant anything to me.

I clearly didn’t mean anything to him, since he was keeping me out of the loop.

The reason he was out of school seemed to be on a need-to-know basis, and I clearly didn’t need to know.

Sighing, I set down my utensils, losing the will to even play with my food.

“Then why don’t you text Noah again ,” Melissa said, and I stared at her, blinking. “I mean, you’re his girlfriend, Sky. You’re allowed to check in on him more than once.”

Why had that thought never occurred to me?

I’d kept looking at this from my perspective instead of his. What Noah had been looking for was a girlfriend. In that case, I should’ve done what any girlfriend would have done at that moment. It was time I took the initiative.

“I’m texting him,” I proclaimed, already tapping on my phone while Melissa did a little supportive clap.

Skyler : Noah are you okay? what’s going on?

Skyler : I’m sorry if I’m bugging you but I’m worried

Skyler : I feel like I should know what’s wrong with you when you miss school for two days

Skyler : I mean I am your girlfriend

Skyler : right?

I’d started out so strong but by the end of my little texting rant most of my confidence had been depleted. As soon as I sent that last text I wished I could unsend it. The more I stared at that insecure right? , the more it mocked me.

Suddenly scared of his reaction to my texts, I put my phone face down on the table. My heartbeat steadily increased. My fingers tingled with nerves. This had been a mistake. I had made a huge mistake and overstepped my bounds.

Who did I think I was? Why think he would tell me anything? What did I expect him to—

The repeated vibrations of the text messages stopped my spiral into self-loathing. I just sat there, breathing. Minutes ticked away. Melissa stared at me as if I’d grown a second head.

“Well?! What did he say?” she said, finally unable to bear my terrified silence anymore.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I flipped my phone, unlocked the screen, and clicked into the messages.

Noah : you’re right

Noah : I’m sorry for worrying you

Noah : there is something you need to know

Noah : can you come over tomorrow?

Skyler : ofc, I’ll come after lunch!

And then he sent me his home address. It was different from the place the party had been held at, but close by.

“I’m seeing him tomorrow,” I said, exhaling with relief, and Melissa grinned at me, offering a quick high five.

A small amount of weight had been lifted from my chest just from knowing I would get some answers tomorrow and my overactive brain could stop filling in the blanks by itself. Now the only problem was how to make it until tomorrow without dying from curiosity.