History Class

08 - ball over the fence

My shifts at the diner have been getting longer as the staff keep getting sick but I don't mind, I have to make money somehow.

I can't help but think about the entries in the journal, they bring back bad memories but I think I have to read them.

"Chocolate milkshake please" a familiar voice speaks.

"Oh hey Ryan, are you here alone?"

"Nah Devin, Jade and Alana are coming soon" They sure have been hanging out a lot but I can't blame them. I've been pretty distant.

I hear the bell on the door as I hand Ryan his milkshake.

Jade, Devin and Alana walk in but there's also someone behind them.

"Hey, Millieeee" Jade smiles.

"Hey Jade"

"This is Noah, I don't know if you've met yet. He just came here from Ohio" My vision goes blurry for a moment and I can see everyone staring at me but I can't believe he's here.

"No, I don't believe we have. Amelia" I spit out and put my hand out for him to shake.

"Noah."

They all order and I make an excuse to go to the back.

I quickly lock the door behind me and slide down it.

What is he doing here? I hope he doesn't hate me.

I hear a knock on the door and I hear Brook's voice so I unlock it.

"What are you doing here?"

"Sadie and I came here for dinner but as I was walking in I saw you run in here, are you okay?"

I put on the biggest smile I can and hum a yes.

"Ok..." I can tell she's sceptical but walks back to Saide.

The diner I work at is basically the top hangout place and I can't blame it. It's really fucking cool.

I look up at the clock and see that my shift ends in fifteen minutes so I start wiping down the counters.

"Lily" shit. I look up to meet eyes with Noah.

"No one calls me that anymore"

"Can we talk?" I really didn't want to say yes but I have no choice.

"My shift ends soon" Noah nods and tells me he will wait in the car park.

I fret every minute counting down and my boss comes in saying I can leave early. Today is not on my side.

I make my way out to the parking lot and my heart starts racing.

"Lily" I spin around to where the sound came from.

"Noah, it's been a while."

"Four years Lily."

Noah and I didn't leave on the best note. By that I mean I sent him a text two minutes before I left Ohio.

It went a little like... Hey Noah, my dad decided it would be best if we didn't stay in Ohio so I'm leaving today, well right now... Thank you, seriously. -Love Lily

"Noah I-"

"No Lily just listen. Look, I missed you like hell but you left Lily. You just left."

"I couldn't face you, Noah, you knew that." Noah starts walking towards me so I start taking steps back.

"I wouldn't have let you leave with him!" Noah's voice is a mix of anger and frustration.

"Exactly Noah! You don't understand just oh my gosh!" I am also getting frustrated but I can't help but think of it from his perspective.

My breathing fastens and I look down to see my shoe untied, I can hear him saying words to me but it's incoherent.

My eyes fill with tears and I try to tie my laces but my hands are shaking too much.

"Lily" Noah says kneeling down. "Stop, breathe please" He starts tieing my shoelaces back up.

He holds his hands out and steadies me as I stand back up.

I take a minute to look at his face. He's here. He is here, standing in front of me.

I wrap my arms around his neck and he snakes his arms around my waist.

"You started working out" we both start giggling.

"I missed you Lily"

"I missed you Mr had to have his mum read him bedtime stories till he was 12"

"Oh shut up" he chuckles.

Noah and I talked for hours and he eventually took me home. He is the only person who knows about my dad. Well except for Jake now.

Jake. He made it look like I pissed myself the first day I moved here and he put a cockroach in my food last year. He made a fool out of me and I basically just gave him a free ticket into my life as a friend. Never thought I would describe Jake as a friend but I guess he is.

Ryan, Devin, Jade, Brook, Alana... I have great fucking friends. If only I were one back.

(someone get this bitch therapy)

As I open the door I see my dad on the floor passed out. At least he will be sober when he wakes up.

I step over him and go to the fridge.

There's mould on all of our food and the money I hide is gone.

I get a notification on my phone and look down at it.

NotNoah2 followed you

I guess it's time to read another entry. I grab the journal out of the box and sit on my bed.

Dear Grannie Alice,

I saw a tiny bottle of gin on our counter, I think dad relapsed but he hasn't been home all day.

Also, I accidentally kicked my ball into the neighbour's yard and the nice boy handed it back, I decided to invite him to play with me and he taught me loads of cool things.

Before his mum came home he went around to the other side of his house and brought me back a flower. It was beautiful. It was bright right pink and smelt like heaven.

I really do miss you Grannie, I could show you all the things he taught me and maybe you could've taught me how to grow such beautiful flowers like the ones at his house.

Every day I hear someone playing the piano from the neighbour's house so I sit by the window and listen for what feels like hours. It's very peaceful and my phone hasn't been fixed yet so there isn't much else to do.

I'm happier now though, I made my first friend and have figured out I want to go to fashion school when I'm older.

Although I'm still worried about dad. He loves me and I love him. Except when he's drunk. It's almost like another person and when he wakes up the next morning he doesn't remember anything. I'm glad he got help. The gin bottle was probably just old and he was cleaning up.

I used to lie about where I got my bruises. It would hurt too much to tell him that he made them.

Yesterday I got a prickle in my finger and the nice boy's mother invited me inside and gave me some food then got the prickle out. She's really nice. She kind of reminds me of Mum.

Dad is only home early in the morning and very late at night. I'm not actually sure where he goes but I never really think about that.

Well, that's everything from the past few days!

Love Amelia <3