Falling for my Best Friend’s Bully

I raised my hand to knock on Noah's door, hesitating as a dozen worst-case scenarios raced through my mind. What if he opened the door, took one look at me, and slammed it shut?

I'd probably collapse in the hallway, curl into a ball, and cry until Moana came to rescue me.

Shaking off the thought, I knocked softly, barely loud enough to be heard.

No answer.

Steeling myself, I tried again, this time with more resolve.

"Coming," Noah's voice called from inside, and my heart lurched, pounding against my ribs like it was trying to escape.

Noah opened the door and stood there, staring at me in silence.

His eyes were so damn sad, and the sight of them made my throat tighten.

I swallowed hard. "C-can I come in?"

He hesitated, the pause stretching unbearably long. My heart clenched, the weight of his hesitation almost too much to bear.

"I… I brought cookies," I stammered, lifting the plate Moana had insisted I take with me. His eyes moved to the cookies, and for a moment, I saw the faintest flicker of temptation.

Noah let out a sigh, stepping aside. "Fine."

I stepped into the room, glancing around. It looked the same as always—slightly messy, with clothes tossed onto the chair and a few empty cups on the desk.

"You should really clean up here sometime," I said, attempting a weak tease to break the ice.

Noah's lips pressed into a thin line. "I would have, but my best friend's been acting like a stranger, so cleaning hasn't exactly been my priority."

His words stung, sharper than I expected, and the tension in the room settled like a heavy fog. I carefully set the plate of cookies on the table, my hands trembling slightly, then turned to face him.

"Noah," I began softly, my voice trembling under the weight of my guilt. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for slapping you. For being so rude, so hurtful, and just… insensitive."

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to continue. "You've been trying so hard to fix things between us, and all I've done is push you further away."

Noah looked away, running a hand through his hair. The silence stretched until it was almost unbearable.

"Ellie, I don't—"

I cut him off, my voice breaking as I fought to keep the tears at bay. "I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't even expect us to be best friends again after what I did. I just… I need you to know how sorry I am."

I winced, the next words scraping their way out, each syllable heavier than the last. "The only person I'm special to is you, Noah. No one else. So when Aiden—out of nowhere—showed interest in me… I didn't know how to handle it. I didn't want him to stop."

The confession hung in the air, raw and jagged. I felt the tears sliding freely down my cheeks. "It's not an excuse, but… I just wanted to feel wanted. For once."

My voice cracked, and before I could say anything more, I felt Noah's arms wrap around me, pulling me into a tight embrace.

I gasped softly at the suddenness of it, but I didn't pull away. His chin rested lightly on the top of my head as my face pressed against his chest.

"I'm sorry, Ellie," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry I made you feel like I was the only one who saw how incredible you are."

His words broke something inside me, and I clung to him, my tears soaking his shirt. Noah didn't move. He just held me, steady and solid, like he always had.

"Are you still my best friend?" I bawled, the words barely making it out through my sobs.

Noah chuckled softly, a sound that felt like the first hint of sunlight after a storm. "Ellie, I never said I wasn't. Friends fight. This whole college thing has been stressful—especially since we don't see each other as much as we used to."

He gently pulled me back, just enough so we were face to face. His expression was a mix of guilt and determination.

"I'm sorry for what I said, Ellie. About Aiden only talking to you because he wants to sleep with you. That was unfair and cruel."

I shrugged, looking away as my cheeks burned with shame. "You're probably right, though."

Noah's grip on my shoulders tightened slightly as he shook me, his eyes sharp. "No, I'm not! Don't you dare believe that."

I blinked at him, startled by the intensity in his voice.

Noah shook his head, his voice quieter now. "Look, I'm not exactly in Aiden's corner, but I'll admit I said what I did because I was jealous and frustrated. Please don't take my words to heart."

A small, surprised smile tugged at my lips. "You were jealous?"

Noah rolled his eyes, though a faint flush crept into his cheeks. "Ellie, be serious. The more time Aiden spends with you, the more he'll see how amazing you are. And then what do you think will happen?"

I blinked at him, caught off guard by his words. "What do you mean?"

Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I mean, he'll realize what he has in front of him. And maybe that's not something I'm ready to watch happen. Not with Aiden."