Noel’s POV
The loud banging of metals jolts me awake, I was so startled by the noise I nearly started screaming.
“Jesus Doris, we’re awake already.” Nadine said standing up from the ground. Peyton’s already yawning back to earth from dreamland or wherever she was.
Its takes me a minute to remember that I’m at Nadine’s house having a girls night sleepover. “Is that how you are woken up every morning,” I ask rolling off the incredibly long comfortable sofa. “Pot and frying pan clashing?”
“Yea Doris is a LUNATIC,” Nadine say shouting the word so said Doris can hear her, “so she takes things overboard.”
“Doris is a mute elderly- I think she’s in her late sixties- woman, so have respect Nadine.” Peyton says getting up and stretching, I hear bones crack back to place and I stare at her eye wide. “What? that was a rough night.”
I start laughing as I pack up the blanket we were using to cover ourselves while we watched The Vampire Dairies. Ok I love that movie but the last seasons without Nina is just not doing it for me.
“She’s not mute, she’s just a bitter and cranky old lady that doesn’t want to talk. Even if she’s mute won’t a single tap do the job that metals do?” Nadine says clearly holding a grudge on poor old Doris.
Peyton shakes her head and mouths “she hates her.” I nod mouthing back, “I can see that.”
“I don’t hate her, I just dislike her I mean you don’t expect me to like her when she burnt down my really expensive doll house and started shouting ‘fire fire’ some mute she is,” Nadine spat out. Peyton goes over to calm her down. I’m chuckling at her behavior as I see the reflection of myself in a some glass object.
“Oh my gosh! My hair’s red.”
Peyton and Nadine start laughing and I turn to them horrified. “Its not permanent is it?” I totally don’t ship red hair although I can pull it off, I don’t want it. Especially since its tomato red!
“Um,” Peyton searches through the once clean living, there were gummy bears and skittles pack everywhere, empty soda and beer bottle, pizza carton and ice cream. She finds the dye pack and reads it. “Yup its not permanent. It’ll wash off.”
I sigh in relief, “what exactly did we do last night?”
“Everything we were supposed to do ages ago.” Nadine says and we slap our six hands together in a tri- high five. Is that a word? Well it is now. “Come on let’s go get ready for school.”
“Aren’t we going to clean here up?” I ask looking around the messy living room. Nadine parents are on a trip, apparently they do that a lot leaving her alone in this mansion. Her elder brother is in college, she’s alone here but I think she’s lucky to have an elder brother and two parents unlike me and Peyton single parents and only child.
But if I’ve learnt anything from Aaron, is to see the positive side of everything, since I can change the situation, the last thing I want to is to live with a negative attitude. So, I’m lucky that my mum is around all the time and I don’t get to spend my days alone in a big house with a bitter maid. See, positive.
“Nah, let’s leave it to Doris.” Nadine says climbing the stairs.
“Your wicked—” Peyton says
“And lazy.” I add. I’m lazy too though.
We take our baths, and get dressed in Nadine huge turquoise coloured room. Everything is turquoise, everything. Thankfully my red hair washes off. So does Nadine soaked paint legs but Peyton painted nails don’t wash off but that’s ok because she looks good in it. I wear a short dark Jean skirt, cute blue top and scandals with a black beanie. After dressed up we have toast for breakfast then drive to school.
Last night was fun, its been way too long since I had a sleepover and watched a movie. I’d have preferred playing games but Nadine didn’t have a play station and they weren’t into games. Bummer. At Ms Jenkins class for the first time, I seat in the front seat close to the door making sure to put enough distance between me and my former seat.
Why? Because I’m avoiding the Dumb faced nincompoop that is seated close to me. Yup I’m avoiding Aaron, I’m mad at him. I’m really mad at him right now I can blow his head off with my glare. But seating in the front seat doesn’t help me at all, I can’t concentrate and I’m aching to look back at him or maybe its also because I can hear his whispering all the way from his seat, how is that even possible?
“Yoo hoo, Noel Noel Noel.” He kept on trying to call me, if that Ms Jenkins wasn’t dozing away on her seat she have probably punished him. The one day I want to avoid Aaron that’s the day she writes an essay on the board and sleeps off.
“Noel, Love, Dolphin, sweetheart, pumpkin, cherry, apple pie, pancake, Noellie, blondie, beanie girl, chocolate, Sugar in my tea…”
The list is endless. The worst part is I’m smiling. How can I be smiling? I’m mad at Aaron yet I’m smiling as he keeps calling different names to catch my attention. I must be crazy.
Don’t turn Noel, don’t turn, if you turn and look at him then he wins. He can’t win because you’re mad at him.
“Cupcake?”
Ok I can’t do it anymore.
I turn to him with a glare but I know my tugging upwards in a smile that won’t just disappear, so my glare doesn’t pass the message its supposed to.
He grins widely at me and waves his hand, “hi love.”
I turn away shaking my head and hiding the fact that I’m laughing. I’m hopeless when it comes to Aaron. He always wins, I spend the rest of my class with my stomach feeling like a den filled with monkeys high on cocaine.
.
.
“Cover me detective don’t let me die, wa wa wa waaaaa.” I say as I hide behind hay stack and shoot at the criminals about to kidnap the chief.
“Boo!” Aaron says in my ear probably expecting me to jump, scream or react scared. But he obviously haven’t seen me in game mode before or he has and didn’t learn. I don’t even flinch or glance at him. One, I’m giving him the silent treatment. Two, if I get distracted I’ll be shot. His snaps his fingers in front of my face. “Oh come on Noel, I’m right here.”
“Leave me alone Aaron.” And then he snatches away my phone. “Hand it back!”
“Why aren’t you talking to me?” He asked raising my phone high above him, I don’t even bother stretching for it. Its pointless.
“Give me back my phone. I was in the middle of a war!”
“Not unless you answer me.” He says determine to piss me off completely.
I cross my hands and move out of the center of the hallway, “I’m mad at you.”
“Why?”
“You know why.” Is he seriously going to play innocent?.
He blinks, “we’re still on the ball issue?”
“Well duh.”
“But I let you use me as a punching bag yesterday, wasn’t that enough?”
“Obviously not.” I spat out. Yesterday after his grandma had gone, I tried to kill him using my punches but it didn’t work, he still lives.
“Want to punch me more?”
“No it doesn’t affect you its my fist that suffers.”
“Yea, I’m made of steel.” He says grinning and flexes his muscles.
I stifle down a smile, “yea you wish.”
“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” he says with a serious face I’m tempted to forgive him and hug him.
Don’t fall into temptation Noel.
“What temptation?” He asked confused, uh oh I spoke out loud. Suddenly he smirks, “oh me temptation.”
“I’m not forgiving you,” I say putting the conversation back on track before we deviate.
“And why not? Fall for temptation Noel, fall fall.”
I ignore him on the outside although on the inside I’m trying to stay solid and not turn to goo. “Because you know I can’t dance yet you coaxed me into going to a ball. A ball for Christ sakes.”
“I didn’t do nothing, you said yes.”
“Well was I supposed to say No?”
“Yes!”
“Your grandma was going to kneel. Kneel Aaron, I can’t have that on my conscience.” I say my voice raising a bit.
“Well why aren’t you angry at my grandma? She did this.”
“Because she’s not here, she didn’t lie that I’m her girlfriend and you are the one here. You take the blame. You. You!” I poke his chest to emphasis on the point that is him.
We stay silent after that, its like its just me and him left in the world. I can only hear the sound of my breathing. My eyes sting and I think I’m going to cry. I can’t help but imagine the first class humiliation I’m going to go through when and if I dance at that ball. It would be epic and rich people would laugh at me.
“Hey,” Aaron says his voice so low, I’m the only one who can hear him, he tucks my hair behind my ear his finger grazing my face. I close my eye letting the sensation of his touch course through my body. He tilts my chin up and I’m left staring into his beautiful eyes. “I’m sorry. Do you forgive me?”
I don’t know when I nod but I do. “I’m going to be humiliated at the ball Aaron.”
“Shssh don’t jinx yourself. Do you remember what I told you when you were failing?” He asked softly.
How can I not? I nod.
“Mm can you remind me? I’m getting old and forgetting things.” He says scratching his head.
I chuckle, “that’s true old man.” He smiles. I know he remembers but just wants to hear it from me, “umm, you said and I quote; ‘I’ll guide you, I’ll be your compass, I’ll catch you when you fall —’ ” I was interrupted by his finger on my lip.
“Now let me rephrase that, I’ll never let you fall. Never Noel.” He says his eyes locked in mine.
I don’t say anything, I can’t. I’m currently brain dead, the monkeys in my stomach now have wings and my heart, is thumping so hard I can’t breath.
“Noel!” I turn to Nadine calling my name, “we’re having a meeting.”
Aaron backs away from me handing me my phone, I collect it from him with a nod and start walking to Noel. I look back and Aaron looking at me so seriously it’s a miracle I haven’t melted yet. I smile at him then run to Nadine clutching her hand to keep me stable.
“The sexual tension is sooo visible,” she says teasing me and I make no attempt to deny it.
Its supposed to be illegal to like someone like this.
.
The way my day transforms from good to bad is almost magical, like someone waved a wand and said, “Noel’s day would turn horrible” and it did. Really fast. Here I was on my own, minding my own business, about to attend my second to last class of the day when I suddenly feel a jab of pain on my tummy. I go the restroom and surprise surprise the monster blood sucking unwanted visitor of the month is here; my period.
The one time I spend the night away from home and come to school unprepared, this happens. I’m so unlucky. So I don’t keep track of my periods big deal that doesn’t give it the right to show up anytime and anywhere. I’m about to go ask my female friends for help when the pain in my tummy persist.
“Fuck school, home here I come.” I don’t know how I make it but I do. I make it home, take a really warm bath, hot even just not hot enough to burn me, then I dress up in my up and down matching pajamas with Nemo drawings on it and curl up in my bed. It afternoon but my cramps know not day and night.
So every once in a year, or twice or thrice depending on how life wants to fuck me up, I get this really horrible period cramps that turn my world inside out. My tummy hurts like hell and no place is comfortable. I just finished popping in pain relief meds and I’m curled up on the floor calling my mum.
“You’ve reached Grace, please leave me a message.” The electronic lady says for the third time.
“Mum I’m dying, come home.” I groan into the phone before shutting it. I can’t be selfish, she’s at work she can’t just leave and come just because her only daughter’s inside are having a volcanic eruption. I close my eyes and sleep just doesn’t want to come. My phone lights up showing a text just came in. I reach for it.
Dumb face: Dolphin where are you?
I groan pushing my phone aside. I’m not ready to text Aaron now, a real war is going on in me.
Dumb face: ?
Dumb face: ??
Dumb face: ???
Ok, this, this right here does not surprise me. Aaron doesn’t ever gets a hint.
Me: leave me alone.
I know he won’t, a large part of me knows he won’t listen that’s why I keep staring at my phone waiting for his next text.
Dumb face: You answered, yay. Now where are you?
Me: Not behind you.
Dumb face: but you’re really not behind me, people only say that when they are behind you.
I chuckle, he’s kinda right.
Me: go away Aaron.
Dumb face: ok seriously where are you? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.
I smile, he’s sweet. Really sweet. Impossibly sweet. Literally sweet.
Me: I won’t tell.
Dumb face: I’m groaning. I’m groaning so loud people think I’m ejaculating.
Oh my gosh… gross.
Dumb face: did that gross you out enough to fess up your location?
Yup.
Me: I’m at home.
Dumb face: What? Why?
Me: I’m sick.
Dumb face: What?! How?
Dumb face: Forget that see you in a minute.
What? No this is my period. Boys are gross out by girls and their periods. I don’t need Aaron to be grossed out by me.
Me: No Aaron don’t come.
Dumb face: Wait what kind of sick are you? Aspirin sick or chocolate sick.
Me: Aaron don’t come.
Five minutes later, I see a figure coming in through my window.
“Sorry I didn’t get here sooner. The pharmacy Lady didn’t know what kind of sick you are, so she gave me all this..” Aaron says coming in with three leather bags filled with drugs. “What are you doing on the floor? In your PJs?”
I turned to him, ” I told you not to come.”
He ignores me and rushes to my side kneeling beside me and placing a hand on my forehead. “Noel are you ok?”
“No I’m not.” I groaned out clutching my tummy.
“what’s wrong?”
“Really bad period cramps.” I say barely audible.
“Oh.” That’s all he says and I know he’s grossed out. “Well thank God I brought period meds too.” Or not.
Aaron brings water and help me down the medicines. They don’t help and I keep groaning, tossing and turning. I see how uncomfortable Aaron is and I muster up strength and practically push him out of my room.
Less than a minute later, I hear a knock on my door. “Noel?”
“What? I thought I said you should go home.”
He opens the door running a hand through his hair. “I can’t. I can’t go home leaving you like this. There’s gotta be something I can do.”
And that’s how I end up taking all the tea the internet has to offer. I don’t know how Aaron gets the ingredients but he does. He also gets a book called ‘great expectations’ from Jesse’s mother stash. He carries me up to the bed, place my head on his stretched out legs. While rubbing his hand circular around my tummy, he reads me to story of pip. I don’t know if its the sweetest of all these, or that his ways work but eventually I fall asleep.
I fall asleep dreaming of only one person. Aaron-lee freaking Altamira.
And I just know I’m falling in love. I’m falling very hard.
————
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You don’t love someone for their looks, or their clothes or their fancy car. You love them because they sing a song only you can hear.
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