Chapter 5
Noah opened a window and stuck his head out, checking if anyone was nearby.
But the football facility was far from the main building — no one was around.
Jamie tried pushing the door again with both hands, though she knew it was useless.
“So what do we do now?”
Noah sighed, already seeming resigned.
He turned back toward the lounge.
“No choice. We’ll just have to spend the night here.”
Jamie slumped onto the sofa, trying to process the absurdity of it all.
A night locked in — with Noah — in a closed-off building?
Unbelievable.
While she sat there in disbelief, Noah calmly unfolded a couch into a bed, grabbed some cushions from the storage closet, and handed one to her.
She sat stiffly, clutching it like a shield. He chuckled quietly.
“You’re laughing? Really?”
“Might as well look on the bright side. At least we’ll have a funny story to tell later.”
Then he lay down on his own sofa-bed across the coffee table.
The mattress let out a soft thump as it sank under his weight.
Jamie looked at him uneasily.
Then — click.
The ceiling light, their only source of illumination, turned off automatically.
Darkness swallowed the room.
“Great…”
Noah muttered something under his breath and shifted.
Suddenly, she felt something brush against her ankle under the blanket.
“Kyaa! What are you doing?!”
She kicked out instinctively and hit something solid.
“Ow—damn, sorry! I didn’t realize that was you.”
From the sound of it, she’d kicked him right in the face.
Her whole body went tense.
Jamie sat up, clutching the blanket tightly, her heart racing.
A thousand thoughts ran through her mind.
Sure, Noah seemed like a gentleman, but still — being trapped alone together all night?
Thankfully, he passed by her without a word.
He opened a metal cabinet and rummaged through it.
“Found it.”
He struck a lighter and lit two candles, probably found in the storage closet.
Setting them on the coffee table, he sat back down.
The flickering candlelight framed his hair and eyes in a soft, golden glow.
“So… what should we do now?”
He smiled playfully.
“Do? We sleep, obviously. When does the janitor usually come?”
He glanced at his wristwatch — silver and sleek, clearly expensive.
“They open the doors around five. So… about six hours.”
It didn’t look like he had any intention of sleeping, though. His gaze stayed fixed on her.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Because there’s nothing else to do.”
“What, you want a pajama party?”
“Sure. You bring popcorn, I’ll make friendship bracelets.”
Jamie rolled her eyes. He responded dryly, unfazed.
She tried ignoring him, chewing at her thumbnail — but then her stomach growled loudly.
The room was so quiet that the sound echoed.
She flushed with embarrassment. Dinner had been only half a cookie.
Noah chuckled softly and opened his backpack.
He took out a lunchbox and set it on the table, then sprayed his hands with sanitizer.
“What are you doing?”
“Cooking.”
Inside were celery and carrot sticks, raisins, chocolate chips, and peanut butter — neatly arranged.
Even his snacks were healthy.
“You eat healthy snacks too?”
“An athlete’s body is his investment. Gotta take care of it.”
He spread peanut butter across a celery stick with careful precision,
then sprinkled raisins and chocolate chips on top like a professional chef.
Jamie scooted closer, curious.
He gestured toward the food.
“Here, your turn.”
After cleaning her hands, Jamie added a few chocolate chips one by one.
“What’s this called?”
“Ants on a log.”
Jamie laughed like a kid.
“Oh, that’s perfect! The peanut butter looks like wood, and the chocolate chips are the ants!”
Noah smiled in satisfaction, holding up his piece like a toast.
“Bon appétit.”
“Cheers.”
Sitting across from Noah, candles flickering between them —
it felt oddly like a dinner date.
He watched her closely as she took a bite.
“Guess you like it?”
“Yeah. It’s healthy, but actually tastes good.”
Then he tapped his cheek lightly with a finger.
“So, where’s my tip?”
Jamie froze, eyes widening.
She knew he was teasing, but her heart still skipped a beat.
That was Noah — distant and aloof most of the time,
but when he felt like it, effortlessly charming.
She wondered if he knew how those moments stuck with people.
Like that girl who kept wearing the shoes he once complimented,
hoping he’d notice her again — until her smile faded when he never did.
“I told you, I’ll Venmo you.”
She brushed him off, stuffing more chocolate chips into her mouth.
***
The Long Night
After eating, they talked idly for a while before lying down on their separate couches.
Jamie clutched her thin blanket, shivering.
The night air was cold — single digits, easily.
The heating system was central, so she couldn’t turn it on herself.
Her fingers and toes were freezing.
Noah, on the other hand, slept soundly on his side, facing her.
He wore only a T-shirt, no blanket, yet looked perfectly warm.
Jamie breathed warmth into her hands and glanced at him through the candlelight.
Awake, he seemed so composed — but asleep, he looked his age again, just a boy.
His cheeks were flushed from the heat of his blood.
Then suddenly, his eyes opened — sharp and blue, meeting hers directly.
He wasn’t asleep after all.
Startled, she stiffened.
“Jamie.”
His deep, sleepy voice rumbled through the quiet room.
“If you’re cold… come here.”
He reached out a large hand toward her.
“I’m not trying anything. It’s just warmer if we share heat.”
“No, thanks.”
No matter how cold she was, she wasn’t that desperate.
He didn’t push, simply dropped his hand and closed his eyes again.
A few minutes passed.
Jamie still lay curled up, teeth chattering.
The sound of her trembling finally made Noah sit up, a hint of irritation in his voice.
“Seriously?”
He sounded half-annoyed, half-exasperated.
Jamie tightened her grip on the blanket, wary.
“Why don’t you trust people?”
Before she could react, he moved — slipping under her blanket beside her.
The mattress dipped under his weight.
Then he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her gently against his chest.
She tried to wriggle free, but his strength made that impossible.
“Relax. I’m not doing anything.”
And maybe she believed him —
because the warmth that spread through her body felt like salvation.
Her shivering eased as his hand rubbed her arm softly through the blanket.
It wasn’t suggestive, just… steady, comforting.
His heartbeat was calm and even. His breath brushed her forehead.
Her throat felt dry.
Everywhere their skin touched burned hot. She had to fight to steady her breathing.
“I must be insane…”
That night, she didn’t sleep a single minute.
