Chapter 23

The next week passed peacefully at least for me. I avoided being alone with Noah as much as I could. It was hard going all distant on him but I was just trying to save myself from any pain. He never hurts me intentionally but unintentionally sometimes his words and actions hurt me a lot. Staying away from him is almost like torture but it has to be done.

I was walking down the hallway with a book in my hand after school. Just two weeks the finals will start and after a month the school will be over. I was going through my notes carefully when someone threw an arm around my shoulder. I looked up to see Will smiling at me.

“Today is Friday.” He said. I love Fridays because after that no school for two days and I can do whatever I want. This weekend I have a shopping trip planned with the girls.

“Yeah I know. So?” I asked looking at him curiously. He looked little unsure about telling me what was on his mind.

I reached my locker and opened it to keep the books. Will stood next to me rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “Just spit it out.” I said.

“Noah is throwing a party today. Are you coming?” He asked. No way was I going to his party. He will insist on me staying over then one thing will lead to another like last time.

I shook my head fiercely. “No, I don’t want to come. I won’t.” I said honestly. I have been working really hard to keep Noah at the bay. I didn’t want to ruin all the efforts I had taken in one night. Every party has always lead to something more than just having fun at least for me.

“I know why you don’t want to come but still it will be fun. All of us are going.” He said.

“You guys have fun, I will be fine. Anyways I am no fun.” I said easily. Its true I am a pretty boring person, I have always been like that. I was never a fun kind of a person but the others are. They know how to enjoy themselves even in a dull sitaution.

“I knew you won’t agree but I had to try right?” He said smiling at me. I was thankful that he was not forcing me.

" Hmm...you always try." I said. Will understood me pretty well but somethings, he just didnt get it. He has being really helpful to me in all this I have been going through.

Will has been dropping me home after school instead of me waiting till Noah finishes his practice. Noah still picked me up in the morning and I have been making stupid excuses for not letting him come over for dinner but they have worked.

I was about to step in Will’s car when someone tapped on my shoulder. I turned around to see a woman aged around 45-50 with brown hair and blue eyes. I was seeing her for the first time in my life but she seemed so strangely familiar by her looks like I have seen her before. I was trying to remember where I had seen this woman before.

“Excuse me, have you seen Noah anywhere? Noah James.” She asked smiling at me warmly. Why is she looking for Noah?

“I don’t really know.” I said apologetically. Call me crazy but I know her, I just don’t remember where I have I seen her before.

“It’s ok, I will wait here then.” She said smiling at me. I looked at her intently trying to figure out why she seems so familiar.

Will shook me, making me flinch. “Are you going to stand here all day?” he asked looking around the school.

It was something about that woman that stumped me but I am not able to understand what. Her eyes, her features they look so similar, why can’t I remember? It suddenly dawned on me and my breath was caught in my throat, this can’t be it. “I need to go. I will come with Noah.” I said to Will and ran to the gym.

I am not 100% sure but I think I am right. Noah needs to know about this, it’s important to him. Oh my God! How is he going to react? He is not very good at controlling his anger. I should calm him down before he does or says something stupid. I reached the gym but it was empty. The practice must be over, where did Noah go?

He must be in the locker room. He is usually takes a shower after practice, I turned around walking towards the locker room as fast as I could move my legs. I was getting nervous thinking about various situations that would happen after I tell him. I rushed in the locker room and looked around for Noah ignoring all the other guys.

I was searching around frantically. “Rebecca, what are you doing here?” I heard Noah’s voice behind me and a wave of relief washed through me.

“Are you ok?” He asked worriedly. I just shook my head trying to catch my breath. I was about to talk when someone cleared their throat behind me.

“Miss Thomas, you do know this is a boy’s locker room, don’t you?” The coach said. I gulped nervously trying to think of a reason.

“I just needed to….” I mumbled nervously looking at the ground. I hope this didn’t earn me a detention so close to the finals.

Noah took my hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “First warning, Miss Thomas. Next time you will serve detention. Now go out both of you.” The coach said pointing at me and Noah and then looking at our hands, shaking his head disapprovingly.

Noah guided me out of the locker room in a hurry. I don’t if I should tell him but if he finds out I had an idea about it and didn’t tell me, he will feel bad. We stopped directly at the main entrance of the school. “What happened? You look pale.” He said stroking my cheek.

I have to tell him before he steps out of the school. “I want to tell you something. Its kind of important but you have to promise you won’t behave irrationally.” I said squeezing his hand.

“Ok, I promise. Tell me I am getting really worried. Are you ok?” He asked. Silly boy, worries about me too much.

“I am fine, it’s not about me. I met a lady outside, she was asking about you.” I mumbled. I am not sure how to say this.

He looked at me confused and then raised his eyebrows. I took a deep breath trying to calm myself. I need to be there for him. “I think it’s your mother.” I said softly.

Noah’s eyes went wide and his free hand clenched into a tight fist. He was squeezing my hand a little too hard but I didn’t complain. Please Noah just say something, you are worrying me. His eyes were hard and cold; he was really trying to control his anger. “She is outside. Are you sure?” he asked.

I gulped. I am quite sure it’s her. She looks so much like Noah; her eyes are exactly like his. “I am pretty sure.” I said.

“What are you going to do?” I asked. He just looked at me like I had lost my mind or something and frowned. What is he thinking of doing.

“I will wait here till she leaves.” He said tugging me along with him in the hallway. I stopped and pulled his hand to stop him as well.

I can’t believe he is going to hide like this. “Noah, listen to me. You have to go and see her. She came all the way to meet you…” I was going to say more but Noah cut me off.

“I can’t believe you are taking her side. You know what she did. I don’t care if she drove here from thousand miles.” He said angrily.

I placed my hand on his shoulder and he sighed heavily. I am not going to let him run away every time there is a problem. It’s been almost four years; I won’t let him run away this time. “I am not taking her side. I just want you to hear her out once she is your mom.” I said.

He shook his head fiercely. “She was my mom not anymore. I have no interest in listening to excuses for abandoning us.” He said nastily.

“Just talk to her once please for me. I won’t ask you to speak to her again if you don’t want to. You are going to see after four years, she must have missed you.” I said.

Noah shook his head and didn’t say anything. I didn’t want it to come to this but I have no other option. I cupped his face in one hand and made him look at me. “Please for me. Just once, I won’t ask you for anything again. Please do this for me please.” I said biting my lower lip and pouting a little.

“That’s really not fair.” He said and removed my hand from his face and intertwined our fingers. “Ok fine but only once. For you, not for her.” He said.

I smiled victoriously and tugged him along with me to the parking lot. He made me stop on the way, now what? I thought he agreed. I can’t believe that the pouting face didn’t work but it always works on him. I turned around waiting for him to explain.

“I want you to come with me. I want you to be with me when I talk to her.” He said looking straight into my eyes.

I think that is not a good idea. His mom will see him after so many years, I being there will just look weird and it will be awkward. “I can’t, it will be weird.” I said.

“Ok then if you won’t come, I won’t go as simple as that.” He said letting go of my hand and crossing his arms on his chest.

“Come on, why do you want me there anyway? It will be awkward, trust me. You go alone, you will be fine. I will wait by your car.” I said suggestively.

He shook his head. “I don’t think I can do this without you. You know everything and you understand how I feel about this. I need your support, I can’t do this alone.” He said looking at the floor defeated.

How can I say no to him now? I don’t believe what I am about to do. “Ok.” I said softly and Noah’s head snapped up.

I raised my hand and he took it smiling. I hope he behaves well with her. I think I should remind him about it. “Be nice.” I said when we got close to his Mom.

“Always.” He replied. He looked nervous and to be honest freaked out. His mom was leaning against a car on the far end on the parking lot.

Please Noah doesn’t do or say anything stupid. She is his mom; I think she should be given a chance to tell her part of the story. I am not saying what she did is right, I don’t justify her actions. She should have given her husband divorce and then left. She didn’t even say goodbye to Noah, her only son. To be honest Noah has complete right to be mad at her after what she did.

The lady saw us and stood up watching our every move. I looked at Noah, he didn’t look happy to see her at all. We reached her and stood in front of her awkwardly. I really feel me coming with him is really a bad idea. They looked at each other and his mom smiled at him warmly and took a step forward. Noah stiffened and pressed my hand tightly. Here it goes, I held my breath for whatever was coming.

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The next upload will be this week itself at least I hope so.

Just few chapters are left then the story will finish.

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