"Day one and we're already assigned a major project. Good grief." Ciara commented as she and Noah walked out of their last-period AP Calculus class.
It turned out that they both would be taking quite a few classes together this year such as AP Biology, AP World History, and AP Calculus.
"Not too bad if you ask me. Could be worse." Noah replied.
"Only you. You can breeze through high school while the rest of us normal folk have to work hard." Ciara bantered.
"Well, what can I say, being genius has its perks."
"Before I tickle your ego any further, want to go to Steamer's and get started on our World History projects?"
Noah agreed and ten minutes later the twosome sat across from each other at their usual table with a view of the streets of Toronto at Steamer's, the coffeehouse where many high school and university students came to study.
"Feels good to be home, doesn't it?" Noah teased.
"Ugh," Ciara replied, "towards the end of sophomore year this place was beginning to feel more like my home than my own house."
"Get used to it honey; it's only going to get busier this year. Want something to drink?"
"Just a glass of water, please."
Noah rolled his eyes. "Only you would drink water at a coffeehouse."
"You know I don't believe in caffeine, Noah."
"That's not what you said during final exams last year." He replied with a smirk as he went to get her drink, leaving Ciara rolling her eyes.
Into their study session, they did the usual as they simultaneously worked away at their projects and talked. They discussed literature and films as always, and than went into further detail about their summers. Neither would admit it, but both of them kind of enjoyed each other's company. Having mutual interests always kept the conversation going; plus their personalities were neither polar opposites nor were they identical. Both had experienced discontinued friendships in which neither was beneficial. Suddenly, Noah's phone rang and he frowned when he saw the caller I. D.
"Who's calling you?" Ciara asked.
With a sigh, Noah responded, "Cody."
"Wait a second. Cody, the lady's man? You're friends with him?" Ciara burst into nearly uncontrollable laughter.
"Says the girl who's friends with Vanessa." Noah replied referring to Ciara's intelligent, but boy-crazy friend. "I'm going to let this go to voicemail. He can be so annoying sometimes."
"I think you're just trying to cover up your real feelings for him." Ciara winked playfully.
"It. Was. An. Accident." Noah glared at his teasing friend.
"Whatever you say, Noah."
"*cough* Joshara *cough*"
For a second, a dejected look flashed across Ciara's face and Noah immediately rejected what he said.
"Sorry…too far?" Noah asked apologetically.
"It's fine, I-"
"No, really, I apologize."
Somewhat surprised that Noah apologized meaningfully to her, Ciara shook it off, gave a slight smile and replied, "Don't worry about it; I probably deserved it anyways."
Josh was one of the dumb jocks that Ciara tutored last year, and he developed an extreme attraction to her. He constantly followed her around school and even got ahold of her phone number, resulting in Ciara receiving nonstop text messages. Noah had even heard that he inappropriately touched her once, but he didn't dare ask. Noah, being the technology expert he is, hacked into Josh's phone and sent some pretty embarrassing texts to nearly everyone in school, as Josh had many contacts. He was tired of seeing his friend in a consistently bad mood and wanted Josh to leave her alone. It was the first time he had ever stood up for someone, anonymously or otherwise. To this day, nobody, not even Ciara, knows that Noah was the hacker and he intended to keep it that way so that she wouldn't get the wrong idea. He did not want her to think that he liked her that way, because he definitely didn't.
After two hours of productivity and chatting, Noah spoke, "I think I'm about ready to head home. What's say you?"
"Same, I'm going to pack up." Ciara agreed.
As they walked down the stairs to the subway, Ciara's clumsiness got the best of her and she tripped over the last two stairs until she was a pain-stricken heap lying on at the bottom of the staircase.
Rushing to her side, Noah bent down to her level and asked, "Are you OK? That looked like a pretty nasty fall."
Ciara groaned and responded, "I'm fine, but I may have sprained my ankle."
Noah grabbed both of her hands as he helped her up, but when she stood up she slipped and nearly fell again until Noah caught her. A blush crept up on Ciara's cheeks as she realized that one of Noah's arms was wrapped around her waist with the other occupied in holding her hand.
"I-I'll help you back to your apartment." Noah declared as he and she boarded the subway, his arm around her shoulder.
When Ciara unlocked the door 15 minutes later, Noah helped her inside as she limped painfully. Her parents would be home soon.
"Th-thank you so much for helping me," Ciara said shyly, "it really wasn't necessary."
"Um, yea, no problem. Besides," Noah replied with his classic smirk, "it's a comfort to know that I'm not the only uncoordinated one around here."
Lightly hitting his arm, Ciara retorted, "Don't push it."
"You need anything?"
"No, I'm fine."
"OK, I'll see you later. Take it easy on the ankle. And stairs in general." Noah winked. "Bye!"
"See you, Noah." Ciara smiled as he exited her apartment.
Finally alone, Ciara just contemplated what happened just now. Sure, Noah was gentleman-esque. He held doors for people and other such small courtesies. But Ciara couldn't recall him ever going out of his way for someone as he did today. It was an uncharacteristic and pleasant surprise. It was still hard to believe that her sarcastic, rude, cynical friend had a…nice side, even if it showed as rarely as once in their yearlong friendship. Ciara slightly blushed as she remembered Noah's hand on the small of her back exiting the subway, his arm around her walking up the stairs. She quickly shook the thought out of her head, as she knew that he only did that to assist her as she limped. There was no way that Ciara would ever grow any romantic affections for Noah and he probably reciprocated the same feelings. With that, she limped to the freezer to take an icepack.