Noel’s POV
The whole house still had this thick stench of smoke even though all the windows and even doors were open. I frantically sprayed an air freshener and put the fans up in their highest, all this was because of my mother. Because of her a part of our kitchen, grandpa’s kitchen is all black.
“Noel,” Mom called as I walked pass her still spraying the freshener. She sighed, “are you seriously not going to talk to me? Its not my fault.”
I gave her a look and even though I was tempted to talk I turned away keeping through with my silent treatment. If she burnt down the house what will we do? Where would we go? To the street? We have no other place to go to. No relative that cares to give us a roof over our heads and grandpa’s house, all his effort would be burnt to the ground all because the mighty Grace Atkins was cooking.
“Oh come on I’m traumatized here you’re supposed to be by my side not against me. At least nothing bad happened, I mean we and the house are still intact. No big damage.” Mom said trying to make me for give her.
“No big damage?” I asked giving into temptation. “Yes no big damage yet because I was around. What if I wasn’t around and you slept through the fire. What would have happened then? The house would be in the past and you… I can’t deal with this right now. I just can’t!”
“Noel,” Mum whined finally seeing why I’m upset. She put something in the oven and was supposed to wait for 15 minutes. During this minutes she lay down on the sofa to wait and she slept off. I don’t even know how it happened but I just in my room playing candy crush when the thick scent of smoke infiltrated through. I rushed down and low and behold our kitchen was on fire while mom was snoring away in the parlor. How can someone sleep when their house is on fire?
“Mum please the only thing I need from you to be alive. You don’t have to cook, just forget about ever being a cook because its not working and maybe its not our genes?” I asked her. She pouted sitting down.
“I’m getting better. I really am its just… work’s been straining on me. I was tired and as soon as I got comfortable my body gave in to the tiredness.” She explained sitting down.
I sat beside her, “I guess I understand.”
“You do?”
I nodded and she sighed grateful. “No more cooking when you’re tired.” We made a pinky swear on it and simultaneously we both yawned, stretching then laughed.
“All that cleaning has made me tired.” I answered getting up and shutting the door. It’s as either the smoke smell is gone or my nostrils have gotten used to the smell.
“Me too.”
I took some aspirin, all that anger gave me headache and that fire really scared me. Entering into my room, I jumped on my bed getting comfy within the sheets. I was almost fast asleep when my phone chimed up and vibrated beside me. I almost ignored it but didn’t to see who it is. My eyes reluctantly opened up and grabbed my phone. They opened widely When I saw the ID of my boyfriend. I smiles immediately seeing his text. Aaron always made me smile, always. He wanted us to hang out but I had to decline because I was really tired. After texting with Aaron I went back to sleep. This time sleeping a really long undisturbed sleep.
I don’t know how long I slept but I work up feeling limp and lazy and my phone’s ringtone was blaring up. I grumpily picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Hey Noel!” A really loud cheerful voice came out from the other end. The only loud cheerful person I know is Nadine and this voice doesn’t found feminine.
I sat up rubbing my eyes and yawning ” Who’s this?”
The person laughed on the other, “ooh its me. Raymond you’re friend.”
“Raymond?” I asked surprised becoming awake. “Raymond why are you calling me now and…. Are you drunk?”
“I’m calling you now because I want to talk to you and drunk? Maybe a little bit.” More laughter.
I sighed running a hand through my hair. “Raymond where are you?”
“Oh um wait a sec….. ah I think I’m in front of your door.”
“Ok in front of….. what?! In front of my door!” I shouted jumping off the bed. What now?
“Yep definitely your door but I’m not sure so I’m gonna press the bell.” He said.
“No no no no! Don’t press the bell Raymond I’m coming down.” I shouted at him running to find my slippers.
“Um okei I’m waiting!” Then the line went dead.
I slipped my feet into my slippers, grabbed a coat and ran downstairs. Peeping through the window I saw Raymond he was really at my doorstep, now sitting on the porch. I relaxed on the wall and pulled at my hair. What was Raymond doing here? Why is he drunk and in my home? Why? We were still friends even after he and Liv’s showdown. I ignored everything and stayed silent in other to keep our friendship. Now he was in my house and drunk too.
I exhales multiple times then opened the door going out into the chilly evening. “Hey Raymond.”
He turned to me and after looking at me from head to toe he broke into a huge smile and leaned down hugging the life out of me. “Raymond let go you’re crushing me!” I complained struggling to free myself, he finally let go and I sighed in relief wrapping my hand around myself.
“I miss you Noel.” He declares.
“I miss you too now what are you doing here? Why are you drunk? Did you drive here?” I asked looking around for a car.
“I wanted to see you. I got drunk because I’m lonely, I’m frustrated and I’m angry. No, I took a cab.” He answered all my questions.
I sighed bringing out my phone, “let’s call you another cab then.”
“Wait I have something I want to say to you.” He said holding unto my shoulder, his alcohol breath making me want to puke. I called him a cab and shrugged his hands off my shoulder.
“Raymond you’re drunk, nothing you say now would hold meaning.” I simply said hoping the cab gets here fast.
“No! Its important and really meaningful!” Raymond shouted holding unto my shoulder this time really tight.
My heart skipped a beat this time out of fear and my eyes flickered up to Jesse’s room, his lights were off. I’m not sure if he’s home, I’ve not seen him today. How close was I to my door? “Ok Raymond, calm down. What do you want to say?”
He sighed released his tight grip on my shoulder then pulled at his hair. “Yea, you remember the little fight me and Liv had?” I nodded and he continued. “Well everything she said, every word was true.” I gulped. “I like you Noel. I’ve liked you ever since I saw you.”
He looked at me, his eyes glowing a bit in the dark and I just stood there silent. I didn’t know what to say. What do you say to a drunk, prone to anger person who just professed his love for you? I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off.
“I now you’re going to mention Altamira, your boyfriend but Noel you have to see that I’m better than him. I won’t hurt you, he will. And I liked you first, I wanted you first. He… he always steals everything. He’s selfish and manipulative, he’s…”
“Raymond stop! Just stop I really don’t want to hear more. I… don’t like you. I like Aaron. I like Aaron-lee and if he stole me fine. I’m happy where I am. I like that manipulative selfish guy. I really do.” I told him, hoping he’d just go away.
“No! No you can’t like him Noel. He has everybody, why can’t I get you. It’s you I want, just you. You can’t like him. He’s bad!” Raymond said a tear leaking out his eye as he gripped my shoulders once more.
That tear caught me off guard. He was crying? I don’t know why but maybe its cause of that one tear that my wall became weak for a minute. I couldn’t believe it and my heart broke for him. I’m too weak. “Raymond…” I called softly hoping to speak to him gently and calmly this time but I was cut off from speaking when he suddenly pulled me forward and pressed his lips against mine.
I froze, Raymond was kissing me. My eyes were wide open as so many ideas of how to murder and castrate him ran through my mind. He was drunk and hurt. Vulnerable and weak do I really want to hurt him? My lips, his saliva, his alcohol. My lips!
“What the hell!”
I shouted pushing him off me. My hands immediately went up to my lips wiping furiously as I glared up, then she saw a shadow approaching really close. I looked up and my eyes met with that of a really angry Aaron.
This time my heart did not skip a beat, it literally stopped beating entirely. I could see his veins bulging out his face, his jaw clenched so tight it probably hurt. And his eyes it was darkened in a really bad way. He made his way to me and stood between me and Raymond who stood frozen. “Aa—” my words got choked on inside my mouth as I saw Aaron deliver a massive punch to Raymond who fell right to the ground. I gasped really loud its miracle I didn’t choke.
“Really Simpleton?” Aaron’s asks as he lifts him off the ground and punched him again. Raymond fell to the ground and this time I saw blood.
“Aaron stop it!” I shouted just then a cab pulled by. Aaron lifted Raymond and put him into the car, talking to the driver and paying him. When the car drove off he returned to me and stood really close. He didn’t say anything and I could see he was still really angry.
“Aaron, ” I called again but he walked around me and opened my door. I sighed and entered inside figuring he would like to talk inside but instead the door banged shut and he walked away.
I looked through the window and saw him go, a girl running after him. Sinking to the ground I pulled my legs to me.
“What just happened?”
~
Love is an untamed force. When we try to control it, it destroys us. When we try to imprison it, it enslaves us. When we try to understand it, it leaves us feeling lost and confused.”
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