A Neighbouring Romance

12 - noah's p.o.v

New, Edited Chapter. Y'all are going to love this one <3

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Hope Evans is going to be the death of me.

I keep seeing the stupid look in her eyes when I walked away with her mom at the hospital. I'm trying so hard to focus on the road and make small talk that I accidentally swerve into the wrong lane without meaning to.

Her mom, Josephine, turns to me as I'm driving, and I hear her take a shaky breath before speaking. I try not to look at her too much because it hurts seeing how different she is now, like a shadow of herself.

"I don't know what happened between you two, but Hope hasn't been the same since you left."

My mind can't come up with a good enough response, so I ask her what she means.

"She lost herself, somewhere in the mix up. I mean, you've seen her, she's distant. I know that she never sleeps, up all night. She waited for you to call.."

"I'm sorry," She shakes her head "the cancer makes me say everything. I know that she's not okay but there isn't much I can do other than get better. I don't know if that will happen Noah."

I don't know what to say to that, so Imy eyes train themselves to the road ahead and we drive in silence. Losing Josephine, the woman that helped raise me, would be the most agonizing thing. Just thinking about it makes my chest close up and hit the accelerator a little harder.

It would destroy Hope, I know it would.

As we turn onto our street, I can't help but comment on the feeling.

"I haven't been the same since I left either, Jo." I say suddenly. She gives me a look of what feels like pity.

Helping her out of the car and into the house, I linger awkwardly, unsure as to whether or not I should wait for anyone else.

Josephine decides for me, when she laughs at me and says "Stay."

"Come on, you always told me everything, Noah. I've been around since you were a baby, you mean just as much to me as Hope does. If something happened, whatever you're feeling, you can tell me."

I sigh, pouring her a glass of water from a fancy jug on the table.

"She said things Jo. Things that she meant, things that she could never take back."

I see mixed emotions flash across her eyes, pity? hurt? I shake my head.

"I know I said things too, I just.."

"Tell me, Noah."

"I don't know what I did for her to turn on me. Once she started being cold it was easier to be cold back."

For a second I wonder if Jo knows a different story, if she'll side with Hope, her blood daughter, no matter what. As soon as I think it, I scold myself for even questioning her intentions. Jo was less like an aunt but more a mother to me when my mom was burdened with the stress of her marriage. She would never ask me if she didn't care.

"I'm sorry Noah." She says, reaching a hand out to clasp mine. Her grip is weak and I can feel every bone in her hand. I place my other hand over it, and smile.

"I really missed you, y'know. Your banana pancakes with the Nutella syrup? Every summer you'd make them for us, and we'd never get sick of them."

"I remember." She smiles, "You'd carefully pick your toppings, but Hope would always try to add a little bit of everything. Then she'd get bored of it and steal yours."