Michael & Noelle

"True Story"

MICHAEL'S POV

Noelle dragged me all the way across town to grab Subs at Subway. We literally passed four branches on the way.

"This one just tastes better," she explains once we arrive.

I didn't even know why I had given in to her peer pressure, but it was something about her being so persistent that made me curious. What did this woman really want with me?

She was adorable though, I watched as her eyes went wide looking at all of the toppings, and they went even wider when she saw the cookies.

"Okay, okay, okay," she breathes as her turn comes up, "hi, can I have ham sub with no olives please, lots of dressing, and three double chocolate cookies."

"Sure, and what about you?"

"Just get me a meatball sub," I reply and she nods. Noelle turns to stare at me, giving me a weird look.

"You don't want a cookie?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I don't need one,"

"No one ever needs a cookie," she rolls her eyes and I purse my lips, "fine, I'll give you one of mine."

When our orders were done, she drags me to a table, and –

"You have about 32 minutes left with me –"

"Do you have a girlfriend, Michael?"

"I don't," unwrapping my sub, I avoid her eyes as she tries to figure me out.

"A boyfriend?"

I purse my lips even further, regretting my decision to join her even more.

"Alright, a situationship ? A complicated –"

"I don't have anything, nor anyone," I state briskly, increasingly getting irritated.

"So you just don't like . . . me?"

I shrug, "it's not that I don't like you, I think you're an interesting person, a bit controlling but interesting. And you're very . . . beautiful . . . but I'm just not looking for anyone right now."

"I understand," she says, nodding and I take a bite into my sub.

"you've been hurt before then," she asks softly, "I don't mean to pry . . . just making conversation."

"It's fine, and no, I haven't really. I've pretty much had one relationship in my entire life and we both agreed that it would be best to just end it. After that, I focused on my business, my art, and found that life doesn't need anyone else to feel complete."

"Really," she raises an eyebrow, "you found all that out after one relationship."

"True story" she chuckles, shaking her head at me and I tilt mine at hers.

"Alright then, Mr. loner boy, I get it then, you're simply not looking for any extra relations right now."

We eat in silence for just a few seconds, and just as I was starting to enjoy it, she started talking again.

"Did you enjoy the show?"

"by the show, do you mean watching you?"

Noelle smirks, leaning forward on the table.

"So you were watching me?"

I didn't want to play her game, she was baiting me. Clever, but just not clever enough.

"I have to admit, I was watching you. I looked at every inch of skin you left uncovered, every curve, and with every move you made, I felt like you were dancing only for me," I smirk as her lips part, leaning back in my chair, "and even after all that, I still didn't go on a date with you."

Her mouth drops open.

"That's just so mean," she chuckles, and I can't help but smile.

It was a surprise that she didn't take my comment to heart, and I was impressed because now she had me chuckling and smiling with her.

"You know I've been in probably . . . two relationships my entire life and I've never been the one to approach them . . . or anyone matter –of – fact."

"What happened to your previous relationships?"

"One cheated on me . . . with my previous boss, and the other just . . .left."

"Hmm, I'm sorry to hear that."

"No, it's okay it's - it's in the past."

"Did you love them?"

Noelle ponders on it for a moment, looking down at her cookie.

"I did," she slowly fondles with it, her mood seemingly changing.

"Then it's their loss."

She looks up quickly, tilting her head at me.

"Seeing how persistent you were with me, taking me out to lunch and buying me a $10 sub to repay me for the ten thousand dollars I spent on you today, I can tell you're a huge catch."

She bows, a smile gracing her face, "I'm the best fish out there."

"Are those good?" I nod towards her cookies, and she slides over one for me.

"Have one yourself."

The cookie looked pretty cookieish. It was round and soft, with almost the perfect texture. I twisted it in my hand, Noelle waiting on me to shove it into my mouth.

I thought about the quality of the cookie, it looked really good.

"Michael . . . it's a cookie, not a diamond."

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Madam," I take a bite, resisting the urge to groan as the chocolate melts in my mouth.

"This is good," I reply with a nod, and her grin is wide. She pumps her hand into her hair to mimic triumph.

We eat the cookies in silence and end up ordering a few more. Before I knew it, an hour turned into two, but I wasn't ready to leave. Noelle was perfect company. She was a little out of my pick, because of how extroverted she could be, but I think . . . I think she compliments me quite well.

"Everyone is so afraid of commitment these days . . . it's disappointing. I would never get into an open relationship – I mean I'm not bashing anyone who does, but it just isnt for me. I want . . . unconditional love . . . I want the problems that come with it, and the genuineness of our love . . . but I do understand. As someone who has been hurt before there's a fear of getting into a new relationship because you're never entirely sure who that person is."

"Yet you still believe in love."

"Because love is something that we all need. Love is . . . love is everything. And despite what we may think after being repeatedly hurt not everyone is the same . . . people come into your lives for different reasons so honestly, I think it's just . . . all part of the plan."

When she said it that way, it made sense. All she was really trying to say is that one relationship doesn't define the rest of your relationships. I didn't know very much about them though, I was in one relationship throughout my entire life and well it ended because I believe that we were both very bland.

"That's a very good outlook on it."

Noelle smiles in response, gathering her trash neatly. She was as pretty as a picture, sitting across from me. I didn't want to get involved with her, because I'm focused on myself. I'm focused on building my future. I didn't come from wealth, I created it myself and I had to work twice as hard as anyone who had the money handed to them. Not only the childhood friends that I had were either committed or married and still found leisure time to entertain strippers and spend nights in hotel rooms.

"Alright . . . well, I think we're done," she says, and surprisingly, I felt disappointed.

"I held you long enough," she chuckles, standing from her seat, and I do the same. She takes her trash and mine and throws it out.

We step outside into the streets and stare at our vehicles.

"So, I paid you back," Noelle nods, dangling her keys in her hands, "I guess I'll see you around, Michael."

"Yeah," I mutter and she offers me one last smile before walking over to her vehicle.

"Uh – Noelle," I call right before she gets in. She pauses, half of her body already in.

"Is that date still on the table?"