BEING ANITA

Hunting Ideas

𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠: 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐛𝐲 𝐎𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬.

He couldn't focus on the lecture. The formulas swayed loosely on the board, the teacher had split in three, and some students seemed to be giving up as well. But Noah was awake. Checking the phone at every five minutes or even less. Eyes craving for her message, mind brutally attacked by her existence. She was back. So subtly dangerous, like a flower twirled by a friendly snake. She had appeared by his door, with a random guy behind trying to hide himself inside a shabby Beetle; her eyes were watery and her smile edged the perfection, but she was broken. So was everyone. Ricardo died, Asher was stuck in prison for being a senseless maniac, his mom had apparently died too, Ivonne was still sick but lightly happy her daughter was back, and who was that guy again?

"This is Frederic," Gwen said, pulling the boy out of the car by force. "He gave me a ride. And he'll get back tomorrow morning. Right, Freddie?"

"Y-Yes." The Frederic guy assented to Noah, who nodded back. "S-Sorry for the inconvenience-"

"Freddie, relaaax, this is my bestie Noah. We know each other since six years-old."

"Five," Noah corrected, drawing a mini smile. She smiled back.

"Yes, five! So don't worry, Freddie, he's a good guy. Noah, can he stay with you tonight? I need to check on mom again."

"Er, sure. Um, this way. Frederic."

That was not exactly how he planned to meet her again but Gwen was already on her feet. She lived a few blocks from him, so there was no problem. But Asher would never let her walk alone at this hour. Noah opened the door for the Frederic guy and beckoned him to enter. "Um, suit yourself, if mom shows up tell her you're my friend and you're staying for a while."

"And where are you going?" Frederic the scared cat asked.

Noah frowned. "She can't walk by herself, man. This isn't Gotham City, but it's not Pollyanna's land, either."

Feeling he might've acted too rude towards the stranger, he apologized with a more sympathetic look and closed the door behind him. Gwen looked like a sound chick climbing the street to have an argument with the vocalist. Very nostalgic. The evening sun slanted on her brown hair and made it look golden. He didn't know what had happened to it, but the hair seemed a bit more alive than usual. Cool. He followed her and picked up the pace. "Gwen-"

She jumped. "Oh, Jesus!"

"Sorry."

She held her chest and fixed her new magnificent golden hair. "Oof, glad it's you. Why you're here, though?"

Noah waited for her to remember the rules written by Asher on a piece of toilet paper, two years ago. She opened her mouth in a "Aaaah, sure." and smiled. Noah nodded at the smile, which was a bit stupid, but there was nothing else to do. Smiling too much at her was definitely stupid. Touching her hair would be weird. Kissing her was not allowed. Asking about Asher was a bit dangerous. Asking about her life seemed even worse. "Yep," he said dumbly.

There was a moment of random silence that was totally unnecessary, but both stayed there, looking like actors waiting for the next line. "Er, nice haircut," Noah spoke, wondering if the right word was 'haircut' or 'hairstyle'.

She seemed a bit surprised and confused. "Hair- oh gosh, Noah, this is a mistake."

"Oh, hairstyle, then-"

"Asher and I couldn't buy shampoos so he washed it with soap. Soap!"

Noah lifted his eyebrows. "Wow. It worked."