Six Secrets - Noa Olivar

5

Noa clung to Jules side as they made their way into a local restaurant, pinball pizza. A lot of teenagers hung out there, it was right by the high school and ultimately it is just a chill hangout spot. The girls found their way to a booth in the back and as they sat down Jules laid her head on Noa's shoulder as they waited patiently for a server. As the other girls looked at Noa, Noa shook her head reminding them of what she had texted them minutes prior to this; "Don't ask her what's wrong. Just act as if nothing's wrong. Please." The other girls nodded as some took sips of their waters before the waiter came over and the girls agreed to split a pizza. Once they left, Imogen finally spoke up. "So who wants to see it first?" Noa held out her hand as Imogen placed it down, "keep the volume low." She said, Noa turned the phone on its side as the video began to play, both Noa and Jules felt uncomfortable in the moment. Neither said a word as Noa passed the phone to Faran and Jules continued to lay there silently. Mouse looked over at Noa and her chest felt a little tight. She wanted to know why Jules was upset, and though she didn't know her too well, she felt bad not being able to say or do anything to make her feel better. "How drunk was she that night?" Faran asked, handing the phone back to Imogen. "She was pretty trashed." "I'm gonna ask this again, who's phone is this and how do you have it?" Tabby asked. "He has never approached me about it. He's a total loser." Jules couldn't really focus on the conversation they were having. Her eyes were peeled to the table, where her glass of water had begun to grow a ring around it. She still was trying to process the idea of losing her job. All the money she needed she wouldn't be able to obtain unless she managed to find somewhere else. The thought of losing her home and living on the streets, she knew Noa wouldn't let that happen but the idea of invading Noa's entire world, forcing them to deal with her mother's problem, she couldn't allow that. She needed to find a new job and fast.

As if timing couldn't be perfect, Jules' eyes lifted up, only to focus immediately on a small sign right at the edge of the welcome stand. Hiring. She sat her head up causing the other girls to notice her sudden movement, also throwing Noa off guard. "Jules?" "Umm, can I get through for a second, sorry." Noa got out of the booth as Jules got up, quickly walking up to the stand to see an older guy standing there. "Can I help you?" "Ummm...hi, yes... sorry I just saw your sign and...umm how do I go about applying?" "You're looking to work here?" He looked at her shocked, this place served teenagers, but teenagers didn't work there. It seemed like an uncomfortable place for a teenage girl, yet at this point, Jules had no other option. She was desperate. "I know it seems weird but yes. I do want to work here." The man sighed as he grabbed a small card from under the desk and slid it towards her. "Manager is gone until Monday. You can come in then for an interview. Make sure to have a resume on hand." "Okay. Thank you." She said reaching for the card before she slid it into her pocket. She made her way back to the booth and sat back down, Noa looking over at her before she whispered in her ear; "I'll tell you later." Noa nodded as the other girls continued to eat their pizza. "So what did you guys decide?" Jules asked, looking around at all of them. She missed kind of an important meeting yet they all seemed pretty convinced. "I think we're gonna sleep on it. Make an executive decision tomorrow. We don't wanna rush into anything." "Okay." "Umm, Imogen I think we should get going, my moms going to want us home soon." Tabby says. As the two girls go to leave, the rest wave goodbye. "My dads here. I'll talk to you three tomorrow." Faran left and eventually it was just Noa, Jules and Mouse sitting there. Mouse placed her head in her hand as she laid on her shoulder on the table. "Mouse, is someone coming to pick you up?" "Yeah, one of my moms should be here soon. I think." "Well, if we're still here before you leave, you can come with us." "Thanks." "My mom should be here soon. Curfew." Noa said. "You're able to give me a drive right?" Jules asked. "Yeah of course. I can get you and mouse a drive. It's no problem." "Thanks. And about the card..." "You don't have to tell me right now if you don't want to." Jules knew Noa was slightly concerned about Mouse overhearing but Jules didn't really care. "It's fine Noa, Mouse can hear. I just saw a help wanted sign up there so I asked if I could apply. I have an interview this Monday here." "Wait I thought...didn't you have a job at that seafood place twenty minutes down the road, you know, where we literally just stopped?" Mouse knew she shouldn't have asked but she couldn't help it. Why was Jules looking for another job when she already had a good one, or was she looking for a second job. Mouse didn't mean to be nosey, she was just curious about what her friend was doing. "Umm...well I actually got fired. That's why I was crying when you all saw me leaving the restaurant. "Oh, I'm so sorry Jules. I had no idea." She looked away, obviously very upset at what she said, so Jules grabbed her hand. "It's okay Mouse. Everything will hopefully turn out okay." Jules didn't want Mouse thinking she was mad at her as she rubbed her arm gently. Noa found the tension between Mouse and Jules off putting. Jules had never shown this type of relationship with anyone besides her,  but she wasn't going to feel threatened by Mouse since Jules had just met her. She sat there fumbling with her fingers until her phone got a notification. "Who's that? Is it your mom?" Jules asked. "No it's just Shawn." Shawn was Noa's boyfriend. They had started dating about half a year ago and though Jules liked Shane, she almost felt as if Noa could do better, that she deserved better than him. But Shawn made Noa happy, so Jules made it clear to just keep her mouth shut and groan internally. She rolled her eyes as Noa answered Shawn before a text came from her phone. She picked it up to see that there was no caller ID, so curiously, she opened the text; " Don't you think Charlie would be upset about everything you're giving up for mommy?" - A. Jules' eyes lit up as she jolted quickly. Who the hell sent her this? She was too scared to answer so she just turned her phone off but now, now she was worried. Who knew about their family, about what happened to Charlie. I mean, she knows a lot of people know what happened, but did this person know the real truth behind all of it? Jules felt her chest fighting as she tried not to hyperventilate but her gaze was interrupted when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Hey. My mom's here, we need to go." Jules nodded her head before Noa looked past her to see Mouse on her phone. "Mouse, do you still need a ride?" "Ugh no. No, that's okay, my mom's outside." "Okay. Will see you tomorrow?" "Yeah for sure. Bye Noa. Bye Jules." Jules waved bye as Mouse went down to her car before Noa latched onto her hand and pulled her down. Noa sat in the back with her and laid her head on Jules' shoulder. The butterflies suddenly returned to Jules' stomach as she held onto Noa's hand. She looked over to see Noa with her eyes shut, sleeping on her. Jules started to wonder if the way she and Noa acted with one another was a normal relationship between friends. Apart of her wished they could be more than friends but Noa was straight, she had a boyfriend. Jules just needed to accept that.