The Help

Chapter 8

“What did she look like?”. A hard question this was. He really didn’t know how he could do justice to it. To the love of his life.

Finally coming up with a suitable enough answer, at least for a child, he said: “Well, she was the most beautiful lady you ever saw. Her hair was so long and she had the longest eyelashes. If she smiled, your whole day became a thousand times better.”

The boy listened with rapt attention. Awe decorated his face. He was eager to hear more.

“She always wore a shawl her father gave to her as a child. And her figure. Oh, that figure.” He paused, embarrassed to have gotten carried away.

“What’s a figure?” the boy asked.

He blushed. Nothing he needed to know now.

“More! More!” the boy urged. 

 ~

Bilah washed her clothes furiously while bystanders stared at her, perplexed looks on their faces. The washing area was fairly occupied, many lounging in their homes; it was Sunday after all. However, none of these things mattered to Bilah—her mind cluttered with thoughts of Noah. He had left so abruptly, not even giving her any time to process his words. The whole situation was frustrating, mainly due to the fact that she was angry and interested at the same time.

Interested because he was the most fascinating person she had ever met and angry because he came into and left her life as he pleased. Even to her, it sounded completely selfish. For one, he didn’t owe her anything. Hell, they had only met a few days ago—with him preventing her from getting killed. Of all the things! 

She sighed, not being able to remember a time—recently—where she felt at peace. Sure, things had started to look up when Hana was revealed to be alive but they ended there. Whether it was fighting with her mother or saving her friend or arguing with the Johnsons or dealing with Noah, she was at her wits end. It was utterly exhausting.

A breath she didn’t know she had been holding was let out, her chest feeling free. If only breathing out could take away her problems. She washed harder, determined to get them hung and dry by sunset. When she would go to her spot on the field. Deep down, she hoped Noah would be there. She genuinely enjoyed his company. That was saying a lot. 

By the time she was done, the place had been deserted. Too caught up in her thoughts, she hadn’t noticed all the people leaving her. They probably whispered about what a freak she was. Frankly, she didn’t care. Her mentality was that no one had the ability to bring her down, unless she let them. No stranger was to tell her what to do or how to act. Her father always reminded her of that. The day before he died, he had told her stay strong. For her mother. If she didn’t who would? It felt like a premonition. Like he knew he was going to die and was preparing her for it.

Sighing for about the millionth time, Bilah picked up the bundle of dirty clothes. Despite being there the longest, she barely got halfway through the pile. She’d have to come back later.

Bilah’s mother was at the door when she arrived and immediately got on her case about not finishing up the work. The energy she had left was too be spent on far more important things, so she had no time for her mother’s complaints. She simply undressed in silence, completely ignoring her mother’s rant. Rude but necessary. Aiming to make a good impression, she put on a presentable dress. This was disturbing, the fact that she was trying to impress someone she had just met. Even her mother looked suspicious when she put the dress on. Her words exactly: “Why you putting one of yo’ good dresses on?”. Bilah brushed the thought off.

“Where you off to, girl?” her mother asked. 

“Nowhere, Ma,” she answered. 

“What you mean, nowhere? You going somewhere. I jus’ knows.”

Bilah sighed once again. Her brain couldn’t keep up with her mother. Honestly. She loved this woman but it was just too much. 

“I’m off,” she said, ignoring her mother. Her mother’s shouts dissolved into the air. 

Noah was already there when she arrived. She was surprised, to put it lightly. They hadn’t made any plans to meet back here and frankly, she’d been afraid that he wouldn’t be afraid. Afraid. She’d never thought She’d feel moderately afraid of anything. Life had given her its worst. 

“Hello, sir. Didn’t expect to see you here,” Bilah said. 

“It’s quiet. And didn’t I tell you to call me Noah.”

She winced, totally uncomfortable with the idea. “Sorry, Noah.”

"It's alright."

"So, what are you doing here?" she asked.

He ignored her question completely, instead saying: “Tell me about yourself.”

And she did. She told him everything. 

~

The next two hours were amazing. She filled him in on every detail of her life. He did the same. They laid themselves bare and laughed at countless stories they told. By that point, Bilahwas almost completely sure that Noah was stupid. Disappointment colored their faces when it was time to leave. 

“I have to go. My mother is probably waiting for me. We have a family dinner,” he told her. 

“My mama must be so angry,” Bilah offered. He laughed heartily. ‘So vivacious,’ he thought. 

“I enjoyed our time today,” he told her. 

“Me too,” Bilah said. She decided then that no words were left to be said. Leaning forward, she placed a peck on his cheek and walked away, not even bothering to say goodbye or make plans for tomorrow. She only turned back once. 

 ~

That night, as she lay in bed, thoughts of the tall, slightly lanky and blatantly stupid boy filled her mind. 

 A/N: Not a long chapter, but hopefully good enough. While listening to Belly ache( Billie is a queen btw; I'll fight you to the death if you disagree) I thought,why not update. And here I am. Thanks so much for 1.63k reads and over 800 votes. It's amazing. I love you guys so much. Bye!

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