Silent Lies - Chapter 47: Chapter 47

I jump awake when I hear what sounds like pans clinking in the kitchen, getting blinded by the sun shining in through the floor to ceiling windows in Ashton's living room. I hear a groan and apologize to Adrian, only now realizing I'm on top of him and I elbowed him.
"Shh," I hear shushing and laughter in the kitchen, automatically knowing it's Divine and Ashton.
"It's too fucking early to be getting up." Adrian's voice is deep from sleep, my stomach fluttering while hearing it. His arms come around me, keeping me against him when I try getting up. "Stay."
"It's," I grab my phone off the coffee table, reading the time, "almost noon, Adrian."
"Yeah? And it's winter break. I usually sleep until like three over this break." I shake my head at him, still trying to get away but he doesn't let me.
"I have to pee, Adrian." I pretend I don't want him holding me, pushing his arms away weakly, when in reality I love this. But I actually do need to pee.
"Fine," he grumbles, letting me go.
I run down the hall, making it just in time. I wash my hands and splash my face with water, seeing my puffy eyes from my breakdown last night. I do feel completely normal now, just hungry.
"Adrian!" I scream when I feel his arms wrap around me, pulling me back on the couch when I try walking past the couch for my phone. "Really?"
"Yep." He has a stupid grin on his face.
"I told you I needed to stay in bed," I hear Noah's voice, mumbling to Danny as they walk down the steps. I see Noah massaging his temples.
"How's the hangover?" I ask, still struggling in Adrian's arms.
"Please shut up." Noah walks right back upstairs. I frown when Danny shrugs, walking to the kitchen and not at all seeming like himself, not even going after Noah.
What happened...
"We're making banana bread, if you guys want any," Divine says happily as she walks into the living room, completely dressed and ready for the day like she and Ashton have been up for hours.
"Oh, I definitely do." I push Adrian's arms off me, going to help them make it.
"Liv, no. Please," he practically fucking begs. "Stay."
"I'll bring you back some banana bread." I kiss him, which only leaves him wanting me more. I laugh when he complains, making my way to the kitchen.
"What's wrong, Danny?" I ask him quietly as he's getting something out of the fridge, making him jump.
"What? Nothing. Everything's fine." I can tell it's not as he rushes out of the kitchen, avoiding eye contact with all of us.
"What's going on there?" Divine asks, just as Ashton slides the pan into the oven.
"No idea." I'll have to ask Noah when we go home later.
"Finally awake?" Ashton claps sarcastically as Adrian walks into the kitchen, not looking happy to be up this early when there's no school.
"Yeah. What's up with Danny?" He comes over to me, his arms wrapping around my waist from behind. He's a little clingy, but I love it. I am too...
"None of us know." We whisper, in case Danny can hear from where he's sitting in the living room.
"Something happen between him and Noah?" Adrian's hands slide up, under the hoodie of his I'm wearing, holding my waist better as I grin when butterflies take over.
"That's what it seems like," I say.
"You're his sister. Try figuring it out later." I nod at Ashton, but I know I won't push Noah to tell me anything. I take Adrian's hand, leading us up to the room we were supposed to sleep in but ended up falling asleep on the couch.
I push Adrian out of the way so I can get to the bathroom first, hearing his complaints as if there isn't like four other bathrooms in this house. I brush my hair and teeth, changing into some jeans and a plain shirt, finding Adrian glaring at me. He can't pretend for long though, breaking into a grin as he pushes me out of the way next.
I walk out of the room, over to the one Noah and Danny stayed in, finding Noah sprawled out on the bed. He looks miserable, like there's a lot more going on than his hangover. "Noah, what's wrong?"
"I'm hungover," he says in a duh tone.
"No shit. But it seems like something more." He shakes his head, groaning when just that hurts. "I'm here to talk if you need or want to, okay?"
"Okay." I stay in the doorway for a few moments, waiting for if he changes his mind about wanting to tell me anything, but he never does so I head back downstairs at the same time as Adrian.
Adrian does the same that I did with Noah when we walk past Danny who's looking miserable without a hangover on the couch, staring mindlessly at the Tv. He asks if he's okay, and suddenly Danny is more than okay, jumping up off the couch and back to his usual self after we've noticed. What the fuck.
"Oh, I never got to ask what happened to your hand last night?" Danny asks me as he looks at the bruised knuckles.
"I may or may not have punched Lexi." Saying those words after actually doing just that feels pretty great.
"Really?" I nod and Danny grins, coming over to hug me. "Good fucking job!"
"Thank you?" I did do a good job though, I know that.
I grab a piece of the banana bread when it's done, but also take a piece for Noah. I head back upstairs, finding Noah still sprawled out in the same position as earlier. He looks up when he hears me walk in, going back when he sees it's just me.
"I've got you some banana bread." He scoots over on the bed when he gets the signal I want to sit, taking the bread from me without hesitation.
"Thanks." It goes silent between us and it's kind of awkward, as we eat the bread while Noah still looks miserable.
"Something happened between you and Danny?" It's a question but also a statement, really.
Noah hesitates for a few moments, chewing on a bite for way too long as he stalls time. "You know I... me and Danny... you know?"
"Noah..." I don't flat out say how obvious it is they like each other or that something happened, but my look says it instead.
"How'd you know?"
"I mean... it's sort of obvious." He shakes his head, denying it. "Whatever you say."
"Everyone knows?"
"No one's actually known, we've just assumed really, because it is obvious. And now I know we were correct." He frowns, avoiding eye contact. "You know it's okay, right?"
He nods slowly, rushing out, "I kissed him when I was drunk last night."
"Did Danny..." When I can tell Noah's okay with me asking details, I do. "Did he not like it? Or because you were drunk-"
"He told me to wait until when I was sober to kiss him or something I can't remember exactly." I'm shocked he remembers anything at all with how drunk he was. "I didn't think he liked me at all like that, so I didn't bring it up today, hoping we could just play it off on the alcohol. But Danny brought it up."
"What happened then?" I ask softly, hearing the sudden sadness in his voice.
"Danny confessed all his feelings... and I fucked up." He finishes the banana bread, taking his time to go on. "I pretended like I didn't like him like that at all, saying it was just because I was drunk."
"Why?" I ask as softly as I can, so he knows I'm not judging him or anything, so he knows he can tell me.
"I got scared." His eyes tear up and I worry. "I don't know why... At my old school, I trusted the wrong person and I was o-outed. Most people didn't really care, but there's always those select few who do. I don't know why it fucking matters nor will I ever." I agree. "They made sure I felt like shit because I liked girls and guys. Dad and Lauren found out, but they didn't care thankfully. They made sure I knew they supported me." I'm thankful they accept him. "I was annoyed when dad said we were moving but also thankful because that'd mean a new school where I could start fresh. Come out on my own time. And I met you." He shrugs and I grin.
"If anyone ever has a problem with you, don't worry about it, okay?" I show him my hand, seeing his face all confused and tell him the same thing I told Danny, seeing that makes his mood better again.
"I get drunk for one night and suddenly you've turned into a badass." I nod proudly.
"Yes. Yes I did." The mood goes back after a few seconds, and I wait for when Noah's ready to go on, not pushing him.
"Do you think I can fix it with Danny?" he asks.
"Yes. He'll understand."
"What if he doesn't?" He frowns and so do I.
"Then you do your best groveling to fix it, because you two are meant together." They fit together perfectly.
"You read all those romance books, so I might need your help?" I grin, seeing how he's teasing me for it.
"Then you'll have my help." I mean it.
"Thank you." He sits up finally, leaning over to hug me and I smile, hugging him back.
"You're my little brother, I'll do anything for you." I also mean that, enjoying calling him my little brother. Legally, that's what he is, but it's not just about that. It's about the relationship we've formed.
"I'd do anything for you too, you're my big sister." A stupid smile spreads across his face and I grin.
I wish Hadley was here. She'd love Noah.
"Did I do anything embarrassing last night?" Noah asks me after a few minutes.
"You puked in the front lawn of the party's house." He winces, embarrassed. If only he knew... "You also puked on Danny."
"Oh my god." He falls back on the bed, covering his face with his hands. "I puked on him and claimed I didn't have feelings for him, embarrassing him. I'm such an asshole."
"It happens to the best of us?" I fail at comforting him.
"Does it, though?" He peaks at me through his fingers.
"No..." He sighs, turning away from me. "Maybe if you didn't drink so much, some of this wouldn't have happened."
"I was having fun." He throws his arms up, defending himself. "But it's not fun anymore."
"I smoked weed last night." Noah knew the plans but doesn't know we actually went through with it.
He sits up again, studying me for a moment. "You definitely got sad or something, didn't you?"
"How'd you know?" I glare at him.
"I know you too well, Liv. It was either you'd be sad or laughing at literally everything, no in between." His grin widens but fades. "You okay after it?"
"Im completely fine now." All truths.
"Good." He ruffles my hair, messing it up, so I flick his forehead, enjoying it when he winces with the hangover.
A couple hours later and me, Adrian, and Noah are getting ready to leave Ashton's house. I watch as Danny and Noah talk, seeing how things seem less weird between them. I know Noah finally got up, his hangover being somewhat better, and talked to Danny about everything at one point earlier.
I smile so much it hurts when I see Danny and Noah hug, turning around to hide it. Adrian looks at me weird when he sees me smiling as he walks over near the front door where I am. I nod my head back to the two boys, seeing him smile also.
"Thank god." I agree with him.
"Bye guys." Divine hugs me before we leave, Danny too, Ashton doing his little wave.
Adrian doesn't ask Noah about him and Danny, although I'm sure he figured out that I know something about them from my smile earlier. I turn my head to Noah in the backseat, seeing his smile and flushed cheeks. He notices me, giving me a thumbs up.
"Adrian, you're not allowed to tell anyone this." Noah wants to tell me about their talk, but can't wait until we get home apparently.
"Understood." He pretends to zip his lips and throws the keys.
"Okay, so..." Noah tells Adrian everything he told me earlier, not stopping to gauge Adrian's reactions or anything, needing to get it done with. "But, me and Danny talked!"
"How'd it go? What was said?" I ask right away.
"You were right, he did understand me." I smile, happy to hear that. "I mean that's really all... I just told him I do, in fact, like him and didn't tell him because I'm a coward."
"You're not a coward," me and Adrian say at the same time.
Noah shrugs and goes on. "He understands me completely. I had to convince him though, that I wasn't lying about my feelings just to make Danny feel better after I embarrassed him." I frown. "But now we're back to normal."
"Good." I can't help myself with the next question. "So, does this mean you guys are... dating?"
"Not yet, but hopefully soon." Me and Adrian both turn to each other at a red light, all smiles, happy for our friends.
"Good, so we can stop hearing you two complaining about being the fifth and sixth wheel." I laugh, agreeing with Adrian.
"Whatever." Noah turns to me, thinking for a moment. "Was it really obvious that we liked each other?"
"Yes," me and Adrian say at the same time again, but I'm the one who goes on. "Danny liked you from the very beginning."
"Really?" Me and Adrian both say, "Yes," at the same time once again.
"You started at school when I was out because of..." my dad, but I don't finish saying that. "Danny kept telling me there was some new kid at school, you, and was all happy when he talked about you. Blushing and everything."
"It's true," Adrian backs me up.
Noah smiles to himself in the back, way more happy than he was this morning. "So this means we can go on double dates now, hmm?"
"Or triple, with Divine and Ashton." He nods, liking that also.
"Or quadruple, because my parents are still talking about double dates with us." I laugh at Adrian, seeing him still traumatized from when we walked in on his parents.
"Oh yeah, how's that going?" Noah asks with a grin. Adrian told everyone, including the traumatizing part.
"I haven't walked in on them again, so good." Noah and I laugh, just as Adrian turns onto our street.
Noah gets out of the car with his bag, saying his goodbye to Adrian. I don't want to leave Adrian yet, at all, but he's going to his dads house for a couple days to spend time with him. Even though his dad seems to be attached to his mom, as he's been up here a lot lately. It's cute.
"I'll sound clingy, but I really don't wanna not see you for at least two whole days," Adrian says with a sad sigh and I laugh.
"We can call and text, calm down." But I am clingy too, this will be difficult. We've gotten used to seeing each other almost every single day.
"Come here." Adrian lifts the console, that's thankfully empty or everything would've just spilled, and I take off my seatbelt to move and straddle his lap.
"My mom-" Adrian kisses my lips, making me go quiet. I pull away for a second, finishing what I was saying, "she'll worry if I'm out here much longer. And your windows are terrible at hiding us." I look around, worrying even though we're just kissing. "I don't feel like being caught like this."
"Just another minute or two," he promises me, dragging me back down to his lips. Suddenly I don't care if it's another decade or two, as his arms wrap around my waist and his lips are moving in a perfect rhythm against mine.
My knees feel weak when, for the first time ever, Adrian trails his kisses down my jaw, and to my neck. He kisses the perfect spots, shocking me at this new feeling, but I push him away when I feel him kissing one spot for too long. I don't need any hickeys.
"You're blushing," he calls me out, even though he is too.
"Shush." I kiss him once more, giggling when he leans in for more, all needy. We're never like this, but I enjoy it. "Those two minutes are way over."
"Just another two, please." I kiss him for a few more seconds, unable to resist him, but pull away, terrified of mom coming out to find me or anything. Mom might not care, she might just be a little traumatized, but surely it'll be fucking embarrassing.
"You're supposed to be getting on the road to get to your dads house," I tell him, seeing the time. His dad planned for him to leave at six, it's a quarter after six now...
"He can wait." He shrugs, leaning over to kiss me again. Just one more kiss, and I'll leave.
"Okay, mom will be coming out here soon, I've got to go and so do you." He groans, not wanting to so. "We'll see each other in a couple days, we can kiss every second then."
"I can't wait." I grin when he presses the final kiss to my forehead, hugging me once more. Seriously for the last time.
"Bye." I resist the urge to say those three words instead of the boring bye, having a plan on when to say those certain three words.
I grab my bag and get out of the car, waving when I get to the door, watching him not pull out of the driveway until I'm in the house. I pull my hair over my shoulders in case he did leave a hickey, I'll scold him later if he did, hoping my lips aren't noticeably swollen from kissing.
I walk into the kitchen, finding Noah sitting on one of the barstools on his phone and Cassie coloring. I smile at Binx when she comes right over to me, needing her attention as always, so I pick her up like a baby how she likes it. Mom and Mason are cooking dinner-chicken fajitas. My stomach growls at the smell.
"I was starting to worry you weren't coming back," mom says with a smile when she turns around and sees me. Noah looks up, still all happy from his talk with Danny.
"Yeah, me and Adrian were talking and lost track of time." Making out, but it's a good lie.
"Mhm." I wonder why it seems mom doesn't believe me with her hum, until she points at her neck, making me realize.
Fucking Adrian left a hickey, somewhere my hair fails to hide it.
Noah busts out laughing at my embarrassment as my entire body flushes, knowing what moms pointing at now. Mason and Cassie look confused, as Cassie's too little to even understand and Mason's just not picking up on what's happening.
"I-I'm going to my room until dinner, I... have stuff to do." It's a lie, I have absolutely nothing to do, but I need to get out of here. I worry when mom follows me.
"Are you and Adrian being safe?" Oh my god not this again.
"Please don't talk about that his parents have already had that talk with us several times." Even though me and Adrian are the ones who walked in on them.
"I'm just making sure, calm down." She smiles but frowns. "Even though I'd prefer you don't do that, I can't stop you. So please be safe."
"Trust me, we will be if it ever happens. We're just kissing for now, mom." Making out now, apparently.
"Okay..." I rush upstairs to my room, Binx still in my arms happily, embarrassed as fuck.
I kick my shoes off and set my bag on the ground, collapsing on the bed. Binx gets out of my arms, deciding to sit in the crook of my neck and cover my face with her fluffy hair. I'm too embarrassed to care.
"Talk about embarrassing-"
"Get out," I tell Noah before he can even walk into my room, hearing his obnoxious laugh. I look up at Binx. "Your owner is obnoxious sometimes, you know that?"
She purrs as if she agrees and now I'm the one laughing.
Cats seriously do understand us.