Over the next few days nothing spectacular happens and I don't even have any running practice as Mr Bowman wanted a week to get to know the freshman. He does this every year so I seen it coming. I still believe that this whole Camila issue I'm having is my fault as even though Liam is all she talks about (he hasn't spoken to her since) she seems happy, so I suppose I should be happier for her right?

Anyways right now we are getting Camila ready for her date. She's so nervous that she has done her makeup three times. Even though we are at my house and I know nothing about makeup I'm too scared to get my laptop out. She's scarier when she's nervous.

"Raven help me. Snap out of it."

Whoops, "Hm? Oh sorry."

"I'm nervous! What do I do on a date? What if he doesn't like me?"

"Well, I'm not exactly knowledgeable about this topic but-"

"I know that." She interrupts. A bit rude but I'm assuming it's the nerves.

I sigh and speak calmly, "Let me finish. I'm no dating genius but the point of a first date is to get to know the person, as cheesy as it sounds being yourself is the best way to go about it. And if he doesn't like you? He'd be insane. He should be the one trying to impress you, not the other way around. Remember that."

"Thanks Raven." Her phone beeps, ".....I should get going. Bye!" And she's gone.

A few hours later I am on my bed trying to get another chapter of my book finished. I know I've done one already but I have nothing to do so why should I stop? Of course I then suddenly feel very annoyed as I hate what I've written so far in the chapter. Think this is a good time to get lunch. As I'm making myself a crisp sandwich Issac walks in.

"Where's Camila?" She's normally here on Saturdays so it makes sense that he's wondering.

"Date."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I wasn't invited to the date."

"Then go." Excuse me?

"Where? I wasn't going to third wheel her date." I wanna go back to bed and anyways I need to finish that chapter.

He sighs, "You can go get me the book I asked the library for. After that I don't know though don't come back here until dinner. Go socialise or something, you need to get out of the house."

"Fine. Bye." I say as I leave. When I walk past him he ruffles my hair. Yeah, I should probably put it in a ponytail.

                                                                                        ***

Entering the library the towering books give a welcoming feel. Also the kind librarian who smiles at me, I smile back and ask for Issac's book before heading further in. Looks like I'm staying here today, thank goodness I brought my laptop. Finding that the beanbags in the far corner are empty I quickly walk over and throw myself into them, smile and close my eyes.

"What a sight for sore eyes." I keep my eyes closed as I don't want to deal with people.

"Aww, not gonna open your eyes?" I know the voice, can't place it though.

"Nah."

"Nah?"

"Nah." I smile. This is the first I've felt fully relaxed today, I could sleep.

The person in question then leans their head on my shoulder. I have no clue who it is tho I put my head on theirs. Their hair is very soft. After what feels like a few minutes but could've been less for all I know the person moves so they're hovering above me.

They then lean down and whisper, "Open your eyes Raven."

I open my eyes only to be met with Noah's. A strand of his brown hair which is longer on the top falls beautifully across his face, I just can't help moving it. As he smiles at me I notice the cute dimples on his face. Looking at him again I realise this is probably a bit creepy for him.

"Hi." I say beginning to get lost in his hazel eyes.

"Hello beautiful. What brings you here?"

"Was forced to leave the house. Camila got a date."

"Who's Camila?" He asks.

Oh yeah, they haven't met yet.. Well he has seen her before but he never got a name, "My best friend. She's going out on a date with Liam."

"Ah I see, the one who caused a traffic jam before, but wasn't Liam supposed to be having a party tonight?"

"That's what I thought."

He smirks, I'm suddenly quite cautious, "How about we invite ourselves to the party?"

I smile, I thought it would be something worse, "Everyone is invited."

"You're meant to agree."

"I don't ever remember disagreeing." I smile.

He slowly gets up, I don't think either of us want to leave, "I'll see you tonight?"

I smile, nod then close my eyes for a few minutes before continuing to write my book. I manage to write for an hour before another friendly face sits beside me.

I smile, "Hey Adrian."

He nods in response and begins to read a book while I go back to writing. After a few minutes I begin to hear fingers tapping on the table. I ignore it for a few more minutes before I get irritated. Taking a closer look at him he looks flustered and I realise after a little while that he hasn't turned the page even once....... The book is even upside down.

"Do you help with need anything?" I ask.

He can't even look me in the eye, "Uhh... No?"

"Well the one piece of advice I can give you at this moment in time is that books are hard to read upside down."

The poor guy looks so flustered. I really don't know what to do so I go back to writing until, "Raven?"

I look up, "Yeah?"

"Uhh....."

I give him a small smile, "It's ok. Take your time."

That seemed to be all he needed, "It's Elias' birthday in a few months."

"Ok?"

He senses my confusion, "Last year I got so stressed for buying him a present that Gabriel suggested I start earlier this year."

Poor soul, "And you've gotten yourself stressed now?"

"Yeah."

I think for a moment before saying, "Presents are stressful. It's worrisome incase they don't like the gift or if you don't put enough effort in. Which is why if it's someone I really care about I avoid getting a physical gift."

"Huh?"

"Alright I'll use Camila as an example: one year I was stressed about what to get her but I knew that she loved horses. She had never seen any before so I booked us horse riding lessons for the day. She was so happy."

He gives a small smile, "I like that idea. Thanks."

"No problem." I say happy to help the big softie, "Wanna continue the game?"

He smiles and nods while I get the game out.

                                                                                     ***

Walking up the driveway of Liam's house I wonder how I missed the earthquake warning. I then realised that when adolescents have parties this happens. I need to get out more often.

Entering the house I'm instantly faced with a grand staircase, the guy must be loaded. A ginormous chandelier that must be worth my entire house illuminates the swarm of dancing students... If you can even call it dancing. Gracefully avoiding all the stumbling drunk bodies I head towards the back garden, apparently there's a pool. I'm probably gonna spend my time laughing at the unfortunate souls who get pushed in.

Settling myself on one of the numerous white sun loungers I send Noah a text saying where I am. Then I notice a certain curly haired woman a few feet away from me standing alone.

"Hey Camila! I didn't know you were coming." Happy to see her I decided I would ask her about her date, but she looks at me in an odd way, turns away from me then walks away through the energetic crowd.

Now it's not as if I've never been ignored before however in the almost seventeen years I have been on this planet I never would've assumed that I would let someone ignore me. Normally I would go to the person and get their attention but for some reason I can't this time. I almost feel paralysed. Did I imagine that? Am I over-reacting? This is why I like being alone. I'm no good at this social crap. Maybe I should isolate myself again like-

"You look like a baker who has forgotten to run to the shop to get flour." You know what? Never mind. It looks like my companion for the evening has arrived.

I stifle a laugh, "I what? That is potentially the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"Made you smile though didn't it?" Noah asked.

"... I suppose it did. This isn't my first choice of places to hang out."

As if noticing my unwillingness to speak about the events moments before his arrival he smiles, "It's not mine either, I'd much rather go to the arcade I saw a few days ago."

"Al's? I used to go there all of the time." Grinning I remember the night I came back from that summer camp I met Camila in. Before going I had been so annoyed with dad and Issac as I really didn't want to go. I was so upset with them and refused to speak with them at all when I found out... a week before. That was a hard week. Anyways, the night they collected me they brought me to Al's and had an amazing time. It was also the first time I'd ever apologised for something. I normally just get on with life but when I hugged dad and Issac outside before going in I couldn't stop myself.

Suddenly feeling my cheek being poked my attention is brought back to the gorgeous specimen in front of me.

"You back?" He gazes at me softly as if I'm something to be treasured. Forget that was said, a bit too cheesy for me.

"Mhm. We going?"

He looks at me with an eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face, "And where exactly are we going?"

I stand up grabbing his hand and notice a faint blush painted along his cheeks, "To the arcade." I wink and we leave the raging party behind us.

Walking down the pathway back into the night I smile, parties were never my thing, yet now I'm going to one of my most special places with a guy who I find attractive. He doesn't know either of those things though.

As we make our way to the hidden avenue where the arcade is I take a closer look at him. Of course he's still wearing that leather jacket, he isn't your usual bad boy type though thankfully, I'd probably get annoyed if he was. Underneath he's wearing a Guns and Roses t-shirt. A good taste in music too apparently. He also is wearing jeans that seem to shape his legs perfectly. Damn. I then notice that we are still holding hands. Do I let go? I was the one to do it though. I also don't want to.

My favourite thing about Noah is his weird talent to tell what I'm thinking because as if somehow magically feeling the worry coming off me in waves he smoothly wraps his arm around me while still holding my hand. He doesn't need to say anything. Neither of us do. I've never felt so relaxed before. Now there's only one question on my mind:

Is only a few days too early to like someone?