Not So Alone (West Coast Campus Book 1)

Noah

"Tatum and Mike? They looked quite cozy together. You don't think...?" Allie toes off her shoes, squatting down to kiss Leo's head when he runs up to her, barely glancing at me.

I shut the door, throwing my wallet and keys into the bowl Liam made thats placed by the entryway. "They didn't rip each others heads off so that's something."

They both were gone for awhile at Ava's party but Tatum came back out and sat down at the table, swigging some punch back as she glanced around.

I don't fucking care what happens between the two of them as long as neither gets their heart broken. I can't stand another moppy, heartbroken teammate.

Allie stands, stretching her arms over her head with a yawn. Her dress rides up slightly and I smirk, watching her blush.

"Stop fucking staring, you pervert." She rolls her eyes, slapping my arm as she walks past me and down the hall. Double checking the doors locked, I follow her, reluctantly letting the ball of fur into our room and shutting the door behind us.

I change into a pair of sweats, glaring at the mutt when he hops onto Allie's side of the bed beside me but he turns his head towards the bathroom door, knowing Allie would get mad if I kick him off.

"Baby?" I call, flipping through Netflix. "What do you want to watch? The Office or Arrested Development? Or we could that other show? Love is Blind?" It's not my favourite but she loves it and it's an easy show to watch before bed.

I frown when she doesn't answer until a few seconds later. "Noah? I-I need you to run to the store for me."

My pulse rises as I throw on a shirt and grab my phone, pausing when the bathroom door is locked. "Allie? Is everything alright?"

"Yes! No...I don't know!" A cupboard slams and I hear her sniffle. "I-I got my fucking period."

Oh. Oh. "Baby, unlock the door. I'll grab you a change of clothes."

There's silence for a few moments before the lock eventually clicks and when I push the door in, Allie's standing there with her face in her hands. She grabs the pajamas out of my hand and quickly changes.

"Hey," I grip her chin, forcing her to meet my eyes. She's not crying, but worry creases around them. "This is a good thing. It means your body is healthy enough to get your period again. I'm really fucking proud right now."

"I know it is," She agrees, sighing deeply into my chest. "But I've never really had a period. Even when I was younger."

Shit. "That's okay. Totally okay." My hand runs up and down her back. Leo manages to slip through the open door and sits at our feet. "Do you want me to go the store now? To get you pads and fuck?"

She laughs but nods. "That would be great. I think I'll hop in the shower till you get back. Oh! And make sure you grab some Ben and Jerry's and gumb bears."

"Anything else?"

"Just grab anything that looks good." She smacks my ass playfully. "Now shoo. I'm gonna shower."

On second thought... "Maybe I should wait till after-I'm going, I'm going!"

Now it's my turn to laugh when she rolls her eyes at me, smacking me harder. "I'll be back soon."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Okay, so I bought both pads and tampons because Maeve said-"

"You talked to Maeve? Without you two at each others throats?" Allie raises an eyebrow at me, lifting her mug of tea to her lips.

"-Yes. I called her. Anyway, I also got a heating pad, Midol-Maeve says that works well-chocolate and ice cream, some soothing oil-whatever the fuck that is." I inspect the package and shrug, setting it down.

"Thank you." She kisses my cheek, gathering the box of pads. When she comes back down the hall and into the living room where I'm sitting, she hands me a bowl of Ben and Jerry's, smiling.

"I love you," She mumbles. I shift so she can bury into my side under the blanket.

Shaking my head, I kiss the top of hers. "Everything good?"

When she nods, I murmur back, "I love you too."

She hums cheerfully, pausing when something interesting happens in the show. "I think we should get a tattoo together. Like a matching one."

"Oh yeah?" I've thought about it everytime I've gone in to get a new one-a snake wrapped around my bicep and some lightning down my ribs. I've mentioned it before a long time ago but I didn't want to pressure her so I left it at that.

"Yeah." She nods eagerly. "I saw a cute one on Instagram where they each wrote 'I love you' and got it tattooed on the other person."

I don't think I have a single cute tattoo on my body-except the one over my heart-but I love that my collection is growing. "I'd love that."

"Or we could each get dick tattoos. That would be bittersweet." She frowns. "Well, you could. I would get one on my ass or something. But semantics."

I chuckle with her. "My dick is off limits. Do you know how much that would fucking hurt?"
The thought alone is scary enough.

"Well, if we ever have kids, I would hope you'd get it tattooed in solidarity, especially if I have to push out your big ass baby." She shivers dramatically. "Oh god. I'm gonna be ripped in half 'cuz of your giant sperm."

"Kids? Is that something you and Lucy have been discussing?" I absolutely love her therapist and what she's done for Allie.

Allie had her first drink the other day, just here in the apartment while I was making dinner and after I promised her I won't ever drink when she does-especially when she feels confident enough in the future to drink in front of other people so I can watch her and her drink with a clear mind.

Fuck, I was so proud. But she's definitely a lightweight when it comes to alcohol.

"Sorta. She was talking about it and I was just listening. But as of right now, I'm not interested in having little demons. Not even in the future. And Lucy said that's totally okay."

"Because it is. Despite what everyone thinks, not everyone has to have kids. We're allowed to just be the cool aunt and uncle who drop their nieces and nephews back off with their parents at the end of the night."

Allie nods, scooping some of her ice cream. "Sounds like a dream."

I laugh at how dreamy her tone is and pull her closer into my side, kissing her hair. "I love you so much, Baby."

Her dimple makes an appearance as she stares up at me, head resting on my shoulder. "I love you more."