Ineffable

63 | SINCE WE ARE ALONE

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Noah

It has been more than four weeks since the accident, making Bella go into that long sleep. Of course, it has been hard but things help to cope with that. Like football, gym, and... studying.

I only am studying because I am making notes for Bella. I am certain when my girlfriend wakes up and gets to know that she was deep sleeping for this long, her first thing concern will be how she missed that many classes—she is my little nerd.

But I won't deny that studying for her has helped me. It has a lot—Adi almost had a heart attack seeing my As.

Right now, it is almost evening and I am wrapping up my session in the gym when I see Tanner in the middle of the place. I sigh and pick up my bag.

Tanner almost camouflages with the crowd here, because of his tattoos and piercings—almost.

"What do you want, Tanner?" I say, walking past him.

Tanner yelps in surprise. Realizing it is me, he breathes out with a hand on his chest. "Jesus, Noah."

I don't say anything back, opening the door of the gym, and walk out. But soon, I hear his quick steps behind me.

"Noah, I want to talk to you."

No reply.

"Noah, please be human again and listen to me?"

No reply, again.

"I didn't know that Luna had called me."

"Don't," I turn towards him. "—ever say her name again from that fucking mouth of yours."

Tanner holds up his hands. "I'm not here to get beaten up by you, again, okay?"

"Yet you have some nerve." I cross my arms over my chest.

"Noah, I have to tell you the truth. Adi... he wouldn't listen to me and neither do I have any intention to talk with him. But you... you don't need to say anything. Just—just listen to me."

Anger simmers under my skin, but looking at Tanner, I somehow get reminded of Bella. He's her friend and, somehow, she trusts him—I know because she told me she used to spend her lunch with him when we weren't talking.

I imagine her disappointing look towards me and that subtle punch on my abdomen. Talk nicely.

I breathe out. "Let's sit and talk."

Tanner's eyes widen but he regains his composure and nods. There is a chair in front of the building and we sit there; him on one end while me on the other.

"So," Tanner starts. "You know, Luna and I were in a relationship. But we also weren't. Like it was more Harry and Hermione than Ron and Hermione—you know from—"

I pinch the gap between my brows, impatient. "Harry Potter. Yes, I know. Just get to your point. Why were you not there when she had called you? You of course knew about her abusive—"

I look away, trying to get that asshole's image out of my mind.

"I only got to know that when I found scars on her hand, one day. She had hidden it pretty well. Used make-up to hide them too well but that day she dropped her bottle on her hand and there it was." Tanner exhales.

"Well, anyway, when I found out, I asked her to call social services but she didn't. She told me that he loved her and hoped so much that he would change. I told her to tell you both but she said you both had enough of your own issues and she didn't want to be another one."