Chapter Eighteen - The Lake House

Noel had spent the next two weeks wondering how Aria really felt about him, he knew she cared and he knew she obviously liked him enough to pretty much leave Ezra to be with him but did she love him? That was the question he really wanted to know. Noel loved her, he didn't really know why but he had loved her before he even really knew her. All those middle school days, Noel always wanted to ask her to the dances but he was Noel Kahn. That meant he was supposed to go after girls like Allison, but the truth was they were boring and annoying. Noel remembered middle school Aria, she was always writing and drawing in a book, she had pink in her hair and she dressed different from everyone. Then she went to Iceland before Noel could know her, but it gave him time to mature and realize it doesn't matter what other people think cause he didn't give a damn. When Aria appeared at school one day a little over a year later he promised himself he would try and he did. It didn't matter thought because she was already in love but now that was over and he finally got his chance. Would telling her he loved her scare her off? or would she love him back? Noel needed to know so he had been thinking hard about what to do to show her and tell her he loved her. Dinner isn't enough Noel thought, it has to be really special. Maybe I'll take her back to the lake house Noel thought to himself but his thoughts were interrupted.

"Hey honey" Noel's mom said walking in his room.

"Hi mom"

"What are you doing this weekend?" his mom asked.

"I don't really know yet, maybe something with Aria"

"Aria is a really nice girl Noel, your father and I really like her"

"Thank you" Noel said to her.

"Your father and I are going to visit you grandma in Georgia this weekend were leaving tomorrow morning and coming back Monday" his mom said.

"Okay, tell her I said hey and all" Noel said turning back around in his desk to continue his thinking and internet searches.

"I will and don't stay up really late tonight!" his mom scolded before she shut the door.

"Yeah mom" he laughed but he knew she didn't hear him because she had already walked out.

Noel had decided to get Aria a ring, this ring would symbolize that he loved her. It wasn't exactly a proposal but he wanted her to know that as long as everything worked with them and when they got out of school Noel would love to marry her one day but until then it was a promise. A promise that he loved her and only her, he wouldn't lie, cheat or do anything else that would hurt her if he could help it.

This weekend would be the perfect time to give it to her since his parents would be gone, they could stay at the lake house if she wanted. Noel's parents wouldn't know if he was home or not and Aria could tell her parents she was at her friends. Today was Thursday though so he wasn't sure ordering a ring would make the most sense, it literally had a day to get to him and he didn't trust the mail system. I'll just have to go shopping tomorrow Noel smiled to himself.

It was Friday night and Aria was at Hanna's house, they were like always talking about Noel. Aria wasn't sure if Hanna just didn't' wanna talk about her and Mike or if she just really wanted to know everything about Noel and her. Aria had told Hanna about sleeping with Noel, but refused to tell her about all of it. That was just weird and if Hanna was gonna sleep with Mike she didn't wanna know about any of it! Aria made that clear.

"When is he coming to get you?" Hanna asked. Noel was supposed to pick her up, they were going to stay at his parents lake house because they were out of town for the weekend.

"I think he should be calling me soon it's already 8" Aria said looking at her phone. There was no missed calls or messages so she set it down.

"Well what are you guys gonna do?"

"Were going to stay at his parents lake house I guess" she told her.

"Is that code for sex?" Hanna asked.

"Yes Hanna" Aria sighed she was tired of trying to advert all the sex talk. It was most likely they would have sex, I mean no parents were around so it was definitely possible Aria thought to herself. Personally that wasn't why she agreed to go, Aria just loved to be with Noel and if no one was there to interrupt that was perfect.

"I knew it!" Hanna exclaimed "That's why you left Ezra! You just wanna sleep with Noel"

"No Hanna! What is wrong with you?" Aria said shocked.

"I'm just kidding" Hanna laughed "Gosh"

That's when Aria's phone rang, it was Noel.

"Hello?" Aria said into the phone.

"Hey, I'm fixing to leave my house so give me like 20 minutes. Okay?" Noel said back.

"Okay that's fine, I'm just talking to Hanna. I told my mom I would be at Hanna's, her mom is out of town for business"

"Okay well I'll be there soon" he said, she could hear that he was smiling. Aria was also smiling, she couldn't wait to see him. They hadn't hung out in almost a week, they had both had homework, family things, friend things and Noel had practice so school was the only place they had seen each other for the past five days.

Noel hung up with Aria and grabbed all the things he had sat on the bed. A backpack with clothes, his blanket, the ring he had bought today and other random things he wanted to take. Noel shoved them all into the trunk of the car and got in the drivers seat. It took him about ten minutes to get to Hanna's house, Aria was standing outside when he got there.

"Hey" she smiled getting into the car.

"Hey" he said back and gave her a quick kiss.

"Sooo... the lake house?" she questioned.

"The lake house, do you wanna pick up something to eat first?" Noel asked pulling out of Hanna's drive way.

"Ummm, yeah how about Chinese?" she asked.

"That's fine with me"

Aria smiled and looked ahead, it felt good to be going somewhere alone with Noel. A place that was like their own, that's how it had been at Ezra's apartment. No one was there to watch them or judge them, Aria had always liked to pretend in her head that she was out of school and they were married and living together. Now she could do the same with Noel and she only imagined it to feel so much more exciting and natural.

Aria could see herself with Noel, he was an amazing guy and while she felt that she was in love with him she also felt she could marry him. The thought made her heart beat faster and excited her. Aria loved how happy Noel's parents were together and she would love a relationship like that and if Noel was that person even better she thought.

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