The Story Of An Anonymous Girl ✔

Chapter 37

OLIVER

As I step out of the room clad only in gym shorts, I see Noah coming out of the guest bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Why did you get up so early?" I ask Noah. He doesn't get up before ten on non-school days, and it's nine-thirty right now.

"I wanted to pack all the stuff I brought here."

"Why?" I question.

"I am leaving for university today." He replies.

"Why? You just came yesterday."

"I want to write more papers."

"Noah, you already wrote all the papers for this semester."

"I know. But, I will get more manuscripts from the publishing house now. So, I have to finish as many papers as possible." He states.

"You know that you could quit. Your tuition, lodging and food costs are covered by the scholarship. Hell, even if they are not, I'll pay it." I say.

"I know. But I love working at the publishing house, and it keeps me sane, Oliver. Plus, I am supposed to be the mature and older brother, right?"

"So what? You can have breakdowns too, Noah. If you've got my back, then who's got yours? Me, right?"

"Yes, you do, Oliver. Still, I am supposed to be taking care of you, not the other way around."

"Why? Why can't it be the other way around? Why would it matter if I took care of you instead of you taking care of me?" I ask.

"I don't know how to answer your questions, Oliver." He replies, and I say, "So then stop saying that you should be the one taking care of me and not the other way around."

"Fine. Now, do you mind if I go and get dressed?"

"Go ahead. Then come down to have breakfast. I am making bacon and eggs."

"Okay."

I walk downstairs and take the eggs and bacon out of the refrigerator to let them defrost. As I glance at the couch, last night's kiss replays in my head. Unintentionally, a grin surfaces on my face. It reminds me that I need to make a reservation at Il Gabbiano. The owner knows me through Leo, so it shouldn't be hard to get a reservation. It's Mia's favourite Italian place. It's also her happy place. After Blake almost raped her, I took her there to cheer her up two days later.

Whenever she was at Savannah's place, all the bad memories would resurface. So, Savannah asked me to take her to my place. Since Mia was bored of my cooking, I took her to Il Gabbiano.

Mia made it a point to visit the place whenever she came down to Miami. We went there last when she came down for Thanksgiving with her parents the previous year. So, it's been a while since we went there.

As I set the eggs and bacon on the counter, I see Mia's backpack near the kitchen counter. How did none of us notice it yesterday? And why didn't Leo tell me? Then I remember that we were busy with Mia's ankles hurting and Stephanie cheating on Noah.

I text Leo to ask when he had brought Mia's backpack and kept it near the kitchen counter. After a few minutes, he replies that he had brought it with him when he brought Mia home. I mentally make a note to ask him about the pocket knife. I remember that Mia's phone had run out of battery when I wanted to track her. I take it out of the secret pocket after opening the lock. I turn it back on after putting it on charge and see no new notifications. It causes me to remember that I need to ask if Mia will tell her parents about the "incident". Although knowing her, she won't. They don't even know about Blake. According to me, if they knew, Luke would be angry and wanting to murder Blake, and Theresa would be sad that Mia didn't tell her.