Frequencies of Us Chapter 49: Cracks and a Catch

Noah POV

My hands still feel his, warm and tight, and my gut twists, hot and shaky, thinking about Caleb dropping, “Ortiz paid her too,” before that can rolled by my sneaker. Sofia’s text about finding cans sparks hope, and my throat’s dry, stuck with excitement, because we’re close, yeah, close to figuring this out. My legs bounce, restless, because I need to know, need to fix this for us.

It’s dark now, stars popping out, and we’re hiding by the bleachers, my heart racing loud in my ears. My sneakers crunch dirt, soft and quick, and my hands shake, sweaty and fast, because I’ve got Caleb’s burner phone from his dorm, and I’m mad, mad he’s been playing us. I need to see what’s on it, need proof, and my face burns, hot and tense, because he was our friend, not Lena’s spy. I flick it on, my fingers trembling bad, and my breath puffs, quick and rough, because there’s a text from her, clear as day: “Frame Mateo.”

My gut sinks, heavy and fast, and my heart slams, wild and loud, because it’s real, she’s setting him up, and Caleb’s in on it. My legs shake, mad and scared, and my throat’s tight, words stuck, because this hurts, yeah, hurts deep. Mateo’s next to me, his breath close, and my chest jumps, steamy and fast, because he’s here, but he doesn’t know yet. I turn to him, my voice cracking, “Look,” and he reads it, his eyes snapping wide. He snaps, “You knew?” shoving me hard, his hands rough on my chest, and my gut twists, trust wobbling fast.

I stumble back, my heart racing wild, and yell, “I didn’t!” my voice shaky, mad and desperate, because I’d never hide this, never hurt him. My face burns hotter, sweat dripping down, and my hands shake, reaching for him, because he’s mad, yeah, thinking I betrayed him. My chest heaves, air stuck, and my gut flips, tense and hot, because I need him to believe me, need us to stay strong. He glares, his fists clenched, and my throat’s sore, breaking out, because it’s cracking, us cracking, and I can’t lose him, not now.

He steps closer, his breath fast, and my heart slams, loud and wild, because I’m scared, scared he’ll walk away. Then he grabs my hand, soft and sudden, asking, “Still us?” his eyes soft, shaky, and my chest flutters, warm and fast, because he’s giving me a chance, pulling me back. I pull him close, my arm around his waist, and whisper, “Always,” my voice low, flirty and raw, because it’s him, yeah, mending the crack. My lips brush his, steamy and warm, and my gut twists, hot and alive, because he’s mine, and my hurt fades, slow and real.

We’re pressed together now, my chest against his, and my hands shake less, resting on his hips. My heart skips, wild and tight, because he’s close, so close, and my throat’s tight, needing him bad. My breath puffs, loud and fast, and my gut flips, flirty and raw, because he’s here, believing me, making me feel alive. I pull him tighter, my lips brushing his ear, and my chest buzzes, steamy and real, because I want him, now, can’t wait. My hands slide up his back, firm and slow, and my heart thumps, pulling him in, needing this, needing us.

I kiss him, hard and fast, my lips crashing into his, and he kisses back, hungry, his hands gripping my shoulders. My skin burns, every touch lighting me up, and I push him against the bleacher wall, my body shaking as I grind into him, feeling him hard against me. My breath’s quick, hot on his lips, and I groan, low and deep, my gut clenching as he moans, soft and needy, sending heat straight through me. My hands slide under his shirt, fingers digging in, warm and smooth, and he gasps, loud in my ear, making my heart jump, wild and fast.

My lips move to his neck, sucking hard, and he tilts his head, letting me in, his hands tugging my hair. I thrust slow, my hips rocking firm, and he pushes back, steamy and wild, matching me perfect. My mouth finds his again, wet and messy, and I taste him, sharp and sweet, my head spinning fast, lost in him, lost in us. My hands drop lower, grabbing his hips, pulling him closer, and I grind harder, feeling him tremble, hot and desperate. His nails rake my back, sharp and real, and I groan louder, my body shaking bad, chasing the heat, chasing him.

We’re locked together, hips slamming hard, the bleachers rattling soft. His tongue slides with mine, deep and fast, and my gut’s on fire, building tight, ready to burst. My breath’s ragged, lost in his moans, and my heart slams, loud and wild, because it’s him, driving me crazy. I press harder, my hips thrusting deep, and he moans louder, pulling me in, making me ache for more, making me feel everything. My body shakes, heat pooling low, and I kiss him deeper, tongues tangled, because it’s us, real, and nothing else matters.

A light flares, bright and sudden, and my heart jumps, slamming hard in my chest. I pull back, my breath heaving, my face burning red, and Mateo’s eyes snap to mine, dark and wild, lips wet from me. It’s a guard, sweeping the track, and Caleb hisses from the shadows, “She’s coming,” his voice low, scared. My gut twists, tense and fast, because Lena’s close, maybe, and my chest locks, air gone, because it’s big, bigger than us now. Sofia’s text pings, “Cans match Ortiz,” and my hands stay tight with Mateo’s, warm and rough, because it’s us, still us, even with this.

My head spins, mad and confused, and my heart thumps, loud and wild, because Caleb’s words hit hard, Lena’s on her way, and the cans tie it all together. Mateo squeezes my hand, his breath fast, and my gut flips, flirty and raw, because he’s here, fighting with me. My phone buzzes again, soft in my pocket, and my hands shake, pulling it out quick, my chest fluttering, steamy and alive. It’s Mateo, short and sweet: “Stay with me.” My breath catches, stuck in my throat, and I look at him, close and sweaty, his eyes soft, needing me bad.

I glance past the bleachers, my eyes squinting into the dark, and my gut twists, hot and fast, because shadows move, closing in quick. My face burns hotter, and my hands shake, gripping Mateo tight, because it’s big, pulling us deeper, and my throat’s tight, words stuck, needing him to stay, needing us to face this. A soft thud hits the ground, close and real, and my heart jumps, loud and fast. A candy wrapper spins by my sneaker, sweet and light, kicked up from the dirt, and my chest flutters, steamy and wild, leaving me waiting, tense and shaky, with Mateo’s breath warm on my cheek.