"𝙶𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗"
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ
𝕗𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕤 𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣
𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱 𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺

NOAH has felt nothing but bliss. Months of being the happiest she has ever been. No cares in the world, just a radiant glow of genuine happiness.

"I've never seen someone chug a beer that fast," Parker says to Noah through laughter.

Parker has been driving himself crazy chasing Noah. He has taken her to parties, a few more sunrises, and even watched her at the sideline of all his football games. His feelings grow every day and while it scares her, she has not stopped him.

"You dared me!" Noah exclaims with a giggle.

"No one was timing you!" Liv cracks up.

Liv has become the best friend Noah could ever ask for. They hang out a lot on the weekends and spend hours listening to Green Day together. She even taught Noah a little about the electric guitar.  She told Noah all about her love of photography and her bedroom wall is now covered with pictures of the two of them.

"Okay, so I showed off a little," Noah laughs, "These two jumped off the roof into the pool!" She exclaims and points to Ronan and Tate.

"You should've done it with us!" Tate says.

"You can't say my diving form wasn't good," Ronan boasts and makes everyone laugh.

Ronan and Tate have gotten closer to Noah as well.  They taught her how to skateboard and she is starting to get the hang of it.  They were a comedy duo, but now they like to include Noah in their antics.  The three of them are constantly building off each other's jokes and planning pranks, which are mostly on Parker.

"I think it could use some work," Noah tells Ronan.

"It's better than agreeing to play a game of beer pong and making Noah take all your shots," Ronan defends himself and looks over at Jess.

"It's called being a team," Jess giggles and smiles at Noah.

Jess and Noah have created an unbreakable bond.  They hang out every day after school, Noah even staying at the bookstore more often.  The two of them had dinner with their mothers last month, which went great.  They had a few sleepovers, switching between Emily's apartment and the Finch household.  Their friendship has become something straight out of an adorable young adult book.

"Those shots didn't sit well, but I don't know if I'm ready to see a tipsy Jess," Noah says.

"This lightweight?" Liv asks and points to Jess, "She'd be trashed after two shots." She giggles and sees the blonde fold her arms.

"What if I'm really good at holding my alcohol?" Jess asks.

"Well, you wouldn't know, you're too scared to take a sip of a Corona seltzer!" Ronan replies and sees Jess slip a small smile.

"Oh, leave her be!" Noah exclaims and throws her arm around the blonde, "If we turn her into an alcoholic, she won't be DD next year."

Jess giggles and pushes Noah away.  Everyone laughs as the school bell rings, making them all pack up.  They rush across the football field and disperse to their own classes.  Noah walks Jess to her class just like she does every day after lunch.

"Will you please help me at the bookstore today?" Jess pleads as they enter the building.

"You're gonna have to start paying me," Noah chuckles.  She has started helping Jess at the bookstore lately, seeming to have learned as much about the store as Jess has.

"Well, I can pay you with something that's not money." Jess offers.

"I'm open to any suggestions," Noah replies.

"How about some very valuable quality time with me?" The blonde asks with pouted lips.

"Oh my gosh, you'd free up your schedule just for me?" Noah jokes and sees Jess nod.

"If you help me I will," Jess plays along as a smile plays on her lips.

"How could I ever say no?" Noah replies as they stop in front of Jess' class.

"You're my favorite," Jess beams before walking into the classroom, leaving Noah simply smiling.

—
𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘶

"So, you aren't gonna help me write this paper?" Liam asks with his usual sarcasm.

Liam and Noah have created a friendship built off sarcastic wit and undeniable similarities.  Neither will admit to it, but they sarcastically flirt with each other.  Noah cannot help herself, it is fun to have playful banter with him.  Liam understands her and her humor above all else. At the end of the day, neither of them makes a move on the other and they like it that way.

"Can't you see I have my own homework?" Noah asks with a giggle.

"No, I see it very clearly," Liam replies as she looks down at Noah's homework, "But I need your help and I know you've read the book."

"I have math homework—"

"And we can trade!" Liam exclaims, "Look, I've done your math homework for you for the past, like, year—"

"I haven't even known you for a year," Noah tuts with a smile.

"Well, time just flies when you're having fun," Liam says and watches Noah slide him her geometry.

"So, you can write songs, but you can't write a book report on A Raisin in the Sun?" Noah asks.

"I'm a very complex person, we've been over this," Liam tells the girl as he starts solving the first equation.

"Whatever you say," Noah sighs and begins typing.

—

"Hey, Hotch?" Noah asks as she knocks on the man's office door. She opens it and sees him wave her in.

"I have a question..." Noah trails off.

"What is it?" Hotch asks as he sits his pen down.

"We never got to do that run together," The teen says as she sits in the seat in front of his desk.

"I'm going on a run in the park on Saturday," Hotch tells her.

"Mind if I join?"

"It'd be nice to have a partner," Aaron answers with a small smile.

"So, Saturday?" Noah asks.

"Eight a.m.," Hotch notes.

"Eight?! Hotch, you know I like to sleep in!"

"You don't have to come," Aaron replies with a shrug. He looks at Noah and analyzes her expression — she is thinking about a good comeback.

"Ugh, fine," Noah sighs, "Eight it is," She adds and sees Aaron smile as he looks back down at his file.

"Hey, Noah," Emily says as she walks up to the doorway, "We gotta get home, sweetie,"

"Goodnight, Hotch," Noah beams and smiles towards him.

"Goodnight," Aaron says and nods towards Emily, who shuts his door on the way out.

"Morgan," Noah says as she watches him collect all his things.

"What's up, kid?"

"Have you talked to Jordan lately?" The teen pries.

"Yeah, why?" Derek asks, confused.

"I wanna know if you've asked her on a date yet," Noah says with a chuckle.

"No, I have not," Derek states and walks towards the glass doors, Noah on his heels.

"Oh, c'mon, Derek, she's pretty and nice!" Noah exclaims.

"We work together—"

"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that's never stopped you before," Noah assumes and sees Derek trying to hide a smile.

"You ask me this every day," Derek says as he shakes his head and presses the elevator button.

"And I'll keep asking until you admit you like her," Noah declares.

"You two better be talking about me," Penelope beams as she walks up to the two.

"See, my babygirl is all I need," Derek says and sees Penelope smile widely.

Emily walks up to the elevator with Spencer and JJ. The team all chats as the elevator doors open. They all pile in and continue their conversations.

"How was school?" JJ asks Noah, seeing as they are smushed in the back corner together.

"Good!" Noah chimes, "How's the baby?" She asks the blonde.

JJ's bump has grown so much.  She is a little under a month away from the baby's due date.  Noah is over the moon to meet the baby.  She has been checking in on JJ constantly and always asking to see the scans from the doctor visits.  Noah even got to meet Will and the rest of the team has practically welcomed him with open arms into their little circle.

"He's all good, ready to come out in about three weeks," JJ beams as she rubs her bump.

"He's gonna be the cutest baby," Noah says and looks up at the blonde, who sweetly smiles.

"You're too sweet," JJ says and puts an arm around the teen. The elevator doors slide open and let the team out.

Everyone says their goodbyes and disperse to their own cars. Emily and Noah drive home, talking over the radio and making dinner plans. Once they get home, Emily makes dinner while Noah entertains Sergio in the living room.

"Him sleepy," Noah coos as she picks Sergio up and carries him to the kitchen.

"He misses you during the day," Emily says and pets the cat's head, "He was never this affectionate before you got here." She adds, which makes Noah smile.

"Can I run with Hotch Saturday morning?" Noah asks.

"Of course," Emily beams, "That'll be fun."

"Do you think I'll ever meet his son?" The teen questions.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Emily replies, "Hotch really wants you to meet him,"

"You think?"

"Why're you questioning that?" Emily asks with a furrowed brow. Her back is to Noah as she messes with the dishes on the stovetop. She knows why the teen is asking, but she wants Noah to talk about it on her own terms.

"I don't know, you don't think he thinks I'm a bad influence, do you?" Noah inquires. She is nervous to ask the question, even though she believes she knows the answer.

"No, why would he think that?"

"Because I know Hotch doesn't like to bring work home to his family,"

"You're not considered part of his work—"

"But, the way you guys found me..." Noah trails off and puts Sergio down.

"That was a long time ago, Noah," Emily states as she grabs two plates from the cabinet.

"I know, but I still worry about it," Noah replies with a frown.

"You've been doing so good lately, honey," Emily coos as she walks over to the teen and cradles her face in her hands, "All of that is in the past and you've grown so much. Don't you think?"

"Yeah, I guess," Noah sighs and feels Emily place a kiss on her forehead.

"Then, it's nothing to worry about." Emily chimes, "Plus, he's got a lot going on with his ex-wife and stuff."

"Like what?"

"She moved into her sister's with Jack,"

"Oh,"

"Will you set the table?" Emily asks her.

"Actually, can we eat in the living room? I really wanna watch the new episode of our show we missed," Noah suggests and watches Emily smile widely.

"Yeah, go ahead,"

The two watch their show as they eat dinner at the coffee table. The show's storyline follows a female cop who goes through all these crazy cases. Somehow, the woman always gets tied into some crazy plot where she is frequently dying or falling in love with her boss. Noah and Emily try to watch the show as it comes out weekly. With Emily's busy schedule, they are always having to catch up on the DVR.

Noah likes that she has something with Emily that is theirs. Penelope watches the show too, but Noah refuses to watch unless Emily is there with her.

"You ready for bed?" Emily asks as she walks into the teen's bedroom.

Noah is fresh out of the shower laying in bed with Sergio curled in a ball beside her.

"I wanna read a chapter of my book," Noah says and reaches to grab her book, "Will you stay?" She asks Emily.

"While you read?"

"Yeah," Noah replies, "Please," She pleads.

"I have my own books to read," Emily giggles.

"You've already read this one," Noah says, "So, you won't be confused if you read it to me," She shyly suggests.

"Sure," Emily agrees and makes the teen move over.

Noah listens to Emily read with her head on her pillow. She imagines the plot in her head with her eyes closed. Emily leans against the headboard with her arm around Noah, her fingers combing the teen's hair. Now and then, she looks down to see if the teen is asleep yet. Once she finishes the chapter, she places the bookmark on the page and puts the book on the teen's nightstand.

"Goodnight, Em." Noah sleepily says and pulls the duvet up to her chest.

"Goodnight, honey," Emily softly replies and kisses the teen's forehead. She holds Noah's cheek in her hand and smiles. Once she sees that the teen is comfortable, she turns off the lamp and leaves Noah to sleep.

━━━━━━━━

a/n: a reminder that you're all loved and i wish each and every one of you all the happiness in the world!  thanks for sticking it out this far with me!  i love you all, my book besties <3