Noah's POV
I didn't plan to come back. Inf acr I never wanted to step foot back into rosewood and yet here I was back in the town that changed my life in the most drastic ways. I wasn't sure how bad off Emma was, the only information that Miranda and Tori gave me was that she was in bad shape and in desperate need of support, the kind of support she could only get from me. The kind of support that can come from the person who's in love with her.
Seeing her struggle to walk broke my heart. Seeing her so broken, so weak, so helpless threatened to bring a tear to my eye. It killed me that I didn't give her a proper goodbye, that I wrote her a lame ass note telling her how much I loved her, but how I needed to go. The truth is, if I truly loved her I would never leave her.
"I love you to" She stated practically throwing herself into my arms her legs shaking violently beneath her as she took a few steps, the only steps she had taken in a month a fact I learned later that day. She was different, she had changed immensely since the last time I was with her. She wasn't the same strong confident woman she was when we were together, she was like that of a frightened child who runs from everything and anything. "So, how is Tori?" I questioned spinning the French fry in between my fingers before dipping it into the ketchup that sat before me
"Fine" She said simply taking a sip of her orange soda her bright green eyes wandering about my body freely "She has trouble talking, and remembering some things but other than that she's fine" She explained further shifting nervously in her chair "I like your haircut" She observed glancing towards my fresh cut "It's like a whole new you"
"It really is" I confessed rubbing my head happily the feeling of the buzz cut bringing me nothing but happiness "I have to tell you something Emma, something really important to me, it's the real reason I left and it's the reason that I can't stay"
"I know what your gonna say" She said wiping her eyes with the back of her hand "Please, please don't say it, please don't tell me that your leaving again! I can't lose you again" She cried pushing her plate of chicken fingers away from her an unreadable expression etched upon her face as she waited for me to speak
"Emma, I don't want to leave you. I never want to leave your side ever again, but I have to live my life, I have to do the things I was meant to. Emma I have to serve my country the way my grandfather did" I explained "My grandfather died fighting for our country, he died and left behind his wife, children he left everything for the chance of giving them a better life"
"You can't do this Noah! You can't go off and be the hero, you can't go your basically signing your own death sentence!" She complained running her fingers through her hair anxiously
"I'm not changing my mind, and I'm sorry that you don't agree with my decision but I need to do this, in fact I am doing this, I'm joining the army. I leave tomorrow for basic training where I'll remain for nine weeks, before moving onto the advanced individual training. I'm sorry if this hurts you I really am cause trust me when I say this Emma. I never ever want to hurt you, because seeing you hurt is the worst pain I could ever feel"
"If you don't want to hurt me than don't leave" She pleaded doing her best to stop the tears from streaming down her face "Don't leave me" She repeated dropping her head onto my shoulder as I leaned closer to her draping my arms around her small body taking in the odd feeling of the cold wheelchair on my calf
"I won't leave you, babe I'll always be with you! Distance means so little when someone means so much, and Em you mean the world to me! In you I've found the love of my life and my closest truest friend and when I've served my country, I'm coming back and I'm putting a ring on your finger and I'm spending the rest of my life with you" I said holding her as tightly as I possibly could "That is if you'll have me"
"You can bet your ass I'll have you" She giggled pulling her head from my shoulder wrapping her arms around my neck "I'll love you forever Noah, forever and always"
"Forever and always" I repeated leaning my forehead against her taking pleasure in the closeness of her magnificent face
"Forever and always?" Jess laughed furiously smacking me in my bicep "Your such a hopeless romantic, it makes me sick" She teased propelling herself onto the kitchen counter
"It's not my fault, Emma just brings it out in me" I admitted pulling out a chair from the table slowly descending into it "I just don't know how to say goodbye to her again, I don't think I can"
"So don't postpone your training and come with us to Dartmouth come see us off then leave" Jess suggested grabbing the box of cereal that sat beside her immediately diving her hand inside careful to pick out the marshmallows before tossing the cereal into her mouth "Do you want these?" She asked gesturing to the handful of marshmallows she looked down on with distaste
"You know you're the only person on this planet that doesn't only eat the marshmallows right?" I laughed gladly accepting her offering quickly getting to my feet to retrieve the sweets
"I know" She chuckled wiping her palms on her jeans "So what do you think? Are you gonna do it or not?"
"I don't know Jessie, as much as I would like to go with you guys to say goodbye I don't think I can push back my training"
"Just try Noah please tell me you'll try. It'll mean the world to Emma and Tori, you don't even know how much those two dorks miss you" She said sliding off the counter "I don't know why though, your nothing special" She teased nudging me in the ribs with her elbow
"I'm pretty special!" I yelled after her quickly regretting my words
"If you say so Noah" She laughed the sound of her footsteps fading away "Just think about it!" She called before closing herself in her bedroom
"I will, I will" I stated lowering myself back into the chair holding my head in my hands as I racked my brain for anyway I could postpone training
Question (answer in reviews): How do you feel about Noah joining the army? Will he keep his promise to Emma?