Scenario X ~ Heli Trivedi

Kissing booth kathakshar entry 

It’s almost summer, as Elle relaxes by the Flynn household pool. Elle feels a sense of deja vu as the events of last summer flash as if playing a projector film in her head.

It was last year, that she realized that her crush on the elder Flynn brother, Noah Flynn had been rekindled as he reached out to her after years of being strangers from good childhood friends. Although, Lee and Elle had agreed upon the infamous rule of Elle not dating Lee’s up to no good elder brother,Noah, Elle was almost enticed.

And as a couple of months pass by, Elle finds out that Noah too reciprocated her feelings. Knowing Noah’s bad boy nature and his endless list of so called ‘conquests’, Elle was hesitant to give in into her attraction for Noah but Noah had assured her that she was never and is never going to be just a conquest for him. Noah and Elle end up being a happy couple who were over the moon due to the success of the relationship.But somewhere in the back of her mind, Elle knew that the relationship they had would be rocky due to the difficulties they had to face.

Soon enough, it was time for Noah to choose a college to join into in the following autumn. Elle was almost selfish and wanted Noah just for herself, but that would be her insecurities talking. Elle knew that in order for Noah to not feel jailed, she had to let him be a free bird and explore the skies of the world. She knew she had to let him go and let him choose for himself. 

Noah was heartbroken when Elle gave his heart back to him. She was the first girl that he had ever been in love with. He had always just had eyes for her, no matter how bad her bad hair days were or no matter how weirdly she had been dressed.

Noah was the guy who had this tough shell that he used to flaunt around, but inside was this shy,meek boy who was afraid to talk to the most beautiful girl who had a laugh that sounded like music to him even if Lee said that it sounds like a donkey wheezing.

Elle had always been very helpful, and the first memory Noah had of her was when the Flynn family had just moved into the neighborhood. He was 7 at the time and was an extremely shy kid growing up. Elle had brought them welcome cookies and Noah was the one to receive it from Elle. Elle’s bright eyes and her toothless smile made Noah jittery and made it difficult for him to talk to her.Elle used to think that Noah didn’t like her as he could almost never talk to her. Growing up, the only form of communication Noah had with Elle was making fun of her whereas Lee and Elle started forming this wonderful friendship. Soon enough Noah and Elle started distancing and Noah’s crush on Elle was something that Elle could never have gotten the chance to acknowledge. Until that one fateful day, during the kissing booth, Noah was awestruck seeing Elle on the stage. His heart was beating right into his ears and it seemed that everything else had been blurred. He could not believe his eyes. He felt as if this was the chance he had been waiting for his whole life. The shy 7 year old boy in him was elated and was dancing with joy. Before anybody else could have a chance to appreciate the beautiful blindfolded human standing on the booth’s podium, Noah took matters in his own hands and speedwalked his way to the booth, cutting through the line and murmuring 'you can do this’ to himself. 

He jumped on the stage, startling Elle with the noise. The crowd had gone almost silent, hushed whispers passing by. It was almost unbelievable to the crowd that the school’s bad boy volunteered to kiss the geeky junior girl that was the center of his jokes every time.

Elle, under the rock due to the dark shadow around her head, was confused with what’s going on. She quickly removed her blindfold and the next thing she knew was her eyes fluttered shut as Noah reduced the proximity between them, Elle could have never imagined this. It seemed surreal and Elle almost believed that it was a bet  until later that night, Noah made it clear that he liked her a lot. Elle, still hesitant to wear her heart on her sleeve, made a mental note in her head not to take this relationship seriously.

Fast forward to the college selection process, Elle realized that she had failed in protecting her heart and she was helplessly in love with the shy boy that was hiding in the shadow of this bad boy figurine. A drop of salty liquid fell down on her cheek as she traced back to them watching movies together, debating on which popcorn flavor is the best, talking endlessly throughout the night, and the best memories lie in the arcade. Oh how she would miss it. She hardened her will and decided to not hurt herself anymore. Her insecurities were getting best of her as she told Noah about her lacking enough feelings to be with him. She apologized to him mentally, her heart breaking into smaller pieces each time as she confirmed what she had said was true. It is the best for both of us she said, as she tried her best not to cry. Noah, almost helpless in this, could see that Elle was trying not to break down and prove to be this strong heartless girl, Noah knew he had to be strong for her, she was the girl of his dreams, he would never get the chance to be with her again if he let her go now.

The memories he had with her made him feel alive and happy, each memory confirming that she was the one for him, she was the one with whom he could dance in the middle of the night in the kitchen of their dream home, she was the one whom he could bring flowers to every single day, she was the one he wanted to have a dog with. 

Noah consoled Elle, ending Elle to breakdown and confrontation her fears, she never did want to give up after all, but her fears overpowered her sense of logic. They would work together, Noah assured her, she would never feel as if he had left her, after all he still lives in the same neighborhood, this time he would live through a screen. 

Elle, regained her logical sense and understood that the soon college going boy would still be the same 7 year old boy she had rediscovered. 

As she bid him a heartfelt goodbye, she strengthened her emotions for the amazing boy about to catch a flight to the city of dreams.

The ringing of her phone, snapped Elle out of her memory movie, and she sprung up from the pool chair and gazed at the phone screen through her sunglasses. It was Noah calling her, she smiled as her eyes flicked through the name on the screen. It had been a year since she had gotten to know him and at this point they both dealt with the ups and downs together.

Noah was coming back home next week and there was nothing more that could bring joy to Elle than seeing her boyfriend in physical form after 6 months of just imagining him in physical form. She couldn’t wait to reexplore the city with him once again.

~ Heli Trivedi (II Proff)