Izzy & Noah ✔️

Twelve:The Allure of Ocean Eyes

I feel like sinking into the ground as I hear Noah's footsteps echoing down the hall, each step getting closer to the front door.

My heart races in my chest, my mind spinning with a thousand thoughts.

What was I thinking?

How did I get myself into this mess?

There's nothing I can do about it now.

I should've asked the right questions, paid more attention to the signs, but here I am, stuck in the middle of this turmoil, waiting for whatever comes next.

But then another question hits me with a jolt: where was he going, all dressed up, his cologne lingering in the air? He looked like he was preparing for something important. Was he getting ready for a date? With Zoe?

A knot tightens in my stomach, and I feel like I'm suffocating in my own thoughts.

It doesn't make sense.

How could I be so blind to everything around me?

Then, I hear it: Zoe's voice, sharp and accusatory, as though she's trying to make sense of Noah's sudden disappearance.

"Zoe. Stop banging on the door. You'll wake up half the block," Noah says, his tone raised but still controlled. The sound of the door opening sends another wave of dread through me.

"If you just ran away, where did you go? One minute I'm in the bathroom, and the next, you're gone from the café," Zoe asks, her voice calmer now, almost regretful, like she realizes she's made a scene.

"I had to run some errands, Zoe. I really needed to get home," Noah responds, his voice steady, almost too calm.

He sounds too composed for someone caught in this kind of situation.

Too calculated.

I try to make sense of their exchange, but my head is spinning.

They continue talking, their voices dropping to a soft murmur, but I can still catch snippets of their conversation.

It's enough to set my nerves on edge, pushing my anxiety to new heights.

I can't stop myself from thinking about what this all means.

And to make matters worse, I feel the urgent, all-consuming need to pee.

Seriously, bladder? Now? Of all times, you decide it's a good moment to cause a scene? Of course, right in the middle of all this drama, my body decides it's time for a bathroom break.

I squeeze my eyes shut, silently cursing my body as I listen to their conversation.

The front door shuts softly, and I hear Noah's footsteps retreating down the hall. The air feels heavy now, like something has shifted, but I can't quite grasp it.

Apparently, Noah has decided to spend the rest of the evening in his room. Or maybe he's just avoiding me. I don't know, and I don't want to know. I want to pretend that none of this is happening, that it's all a bad dream.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Then, as the silence settles in, I crack my door open slightly, peeking out into the hallway to see if the coast is clear.

The hallway is empty, eerily quiet. I listen for any sign of movement, but nothing comes. It feels like the calm before a storm, and I don't know whether I should be relieved or terrified.

I stand there, frozen, heart racing as I debate my next move. Do I stay in my room, hidden away from the chaos, or do I venture out into the unknown, where Noah and Zoe's drama might still be unfolding?