Without Words

24- Too Late

A/N: Trigger warning: It is not explicitly mentioned but suicide is implied in one of the conversations in this chapter.

"I'll leave fresh blankets and daddy bought me these delicious cookies. You should try them." Elle inventoried the supplies in the Fortress.

"How long will you be gone?" Noah asked sadly, gripping the books Elle brought for him.

"Just for a week." Elle answered, opening the package and offering him cookies. "My grandparents said they missed us and Matt wanted that new shoes so he's going to ask for those. He is so spoiled."

"Dan is taking care of his sick mom while Violet would visit her uncle." Noah frowned, munching the cookie slowly. "I'll be alone for a week."

"You can talk to other kids. How about your classmates?"

"I'm not very good at talking. You know that."

Elle felt bad about her friend's distress but they can't cancel the trip. Their parents prepared for this for months. But she can't leave Noah like this. "It'll only be for a couple of days. Find something to keep you busy and next thing you know, we're back." Elle thought for a moment then saw Violet's pens and stationaries at the corner. "I have an idea. Let's go."

Both of them went down the Fortress' stairs and Elle searched for that tree Matt and Dan loves to climb. When she saw it, she immediately went to its base and dug a hole with her hands.

"What are you doing?"

"This will be our secret, only us." Elle winked and continued digging, grabbing more and more dirt in her hands. When she was satisfied, she started looking for a big rock then covered the hole with it. "Remember this spot, write about your day using Violet's stationaries and put it in here. You said you're not good at talking, then write everything you want to say and I'll read it when I get back. It's like I was here the entire time. This will be only for us, the others won't know about this. Anything that you can't say, put them all in here. I promise, I'll read all of them so even if I'm not here, I'm still with you."

Noah nodded, liking the idea. He never liked talking anyway, maybe he'll be able to express himself better in writing. "It looks like the one Alice in Wonderland, the hole the rabbit went into."

"Rabbit Hole!" Elle squealed, clapping her hands together. "This could be our very own rabbit hole."

"You'll really read them?"

She nodded. "I promise. But you have to wait for me, okay? Mom and dad are always busy to drive me here these days."

"Okay, I'll wait."

...................

Matt, Dan and I are having a fight. Well, I am fighting them but they're acting oblivious to it.

I demanded to know what happened between them and Noah. They refused to tell me anything saying I wasn't ready yet and all those condescending excuses to make themselves feel better for lying to me.

Good news, since talking to mom, I finally felt okay taking the car Matt allowed me to borrow. After getting my own US driver's license, I finally am able to have more freedom to go anywhere I want. And so, here I am.

I knocked at the door, hoping they won't throw me out and make this travel completely useless. For once, Matt is hanging out with Dan and his friends. After the Sebastian and Jason fiasco, Matt decided to distance himself from his former friends. A decision I fully approve of, they're not really the type of crowd you want yourself to be in. And I like Dan's friends better.