Different Bounds

Chapter 2: Noelle

"So what did she say?" Heather asked over FaceTime, slowly munching on a granola bar. "I don't know; I stomped away before she could respond," I answered. We had been on the call since early this morning.

"Noelle"! Her yell made me turn down the volume, "You could at least wait for her answer"! Her face turned stern. "Well, I already knew what she was gonna say." I picked up my eyebrow pencil. I had to hurry up, or else I would be late for the new school year. "Okay, anyways, I gotta get off here." I turned to look at her. "What! Why"? She couldn't hang up. Sure, we were on the phone for maybe 3 hours and gossiped the entire time, but I wasn't done yet. "What happened to walking to the station together"? I pouted. "Sorry, girly, but my dad and I are stopping by the dollar store," Great-

"Yeah, yeah.. go have fun looking at the 25-cent aisle-"

She laughed, rolling her eyes, "I'll be sure to pick you up tomorrow." I smirked, "With a bouquet of red roses and white chocolates"?

"Girl, no, I broke"! She said, I snorted. "That's the whole reason I'm going to the dollar store." her wallet was pulled out, and she showed me how empty it was, "well, stop spending money on different colored tops and save it instead." she just rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't get it, Noelle; you barely EVER shop for yourself." I picked up my phone, ready to hit the red button. "I do, for your information, just haven't for a minute since I've started saving up myself." She gave me a look and said she didn't believe me. "We both know you're not saving it up for yourself, but keep lying to yourself; it's more fun to watch," yeesh. "Yeah, yeah, I gotta get off here and walk Johnny to school here in a few," I told her. We said goodbye and hung up quickly. My plans were short for today: drop off Johnny, go to school, pick up Johnny, come home, and do whatever the hell I wanted. I wasnt expecting mom to be home until late like always so there wasnt much i had to do or wanted to anyways. When I reached the kitchen, I could smell eggs and coffee, "Wow! You cooked breakfast". My mom stood making her coffee, and Johnny ate an egg sandwich. "Yeah, I thought you kids should have an actual breakfast on the first day back," she said with toast in her mouth and coffee in her hands. "DIE DIE DIE"! Johnny screamed at a video game he was playing, "Johnny"! Our mother yelled at him, but I just took his DS, "HEY! Mom! She took my DS"! His whining annoyed me, but I wouldn't hear much more since he was also returning to school and whatever club he wanted to join this year. "Stop yelling so loud, and I won't take it"! I argued back. We said a few words to each other before Mom broke us up. "Both of you stop! I don't have patience for this"! Her stress was visible, and it had been like that all summer. "Got a hard day today"? I asked, picking up my cup of coffee. She just nodded and handed back Johnathan's Ds to him. "Why dont you take a break" i asked, and i was serious. Whenever Jonathan or I wondered if she could take a break, she always found some excuse to keep going. "You know I can't, Noelle; these bills don't pay for themselves," her voice was shaky. "Yeah, bills this, hours that coworkers here and there." I let the sentence drip from my mouth, and I could feel her get annoyed, "Yes, Noelle, I have a lot of reason to keep working. But when you're an adult in this world, you will understand". She started packing her lunch box passive-aggressively, and i could feel my jaw wanting to lock up cause of how hard i was chewing. I forced the food down my throat, ready to speak up again. "You talk about being an adult and doing these adult things, but even adults who have a harder time than you manage to find time for themselves and their families." I was only telling the truth, but I knew she wouldn't like it. "This is why i dont wanna come home alot of the times because your so ungrateful for everything i do for you"! Her yelling was so straightforward and quick that even Johnny put down his DS and looked between us. I couldnt believe what i was hearing. "Then don't come home if it makes you feel more appreciated," I said. It was calm, but I was far beyond calm deep inside. I picked my breath back up and looked at Johnny, who seemed ready to leave the awkward silence. "You ready"? I asked. He shook his head yes and grabbed his backpack from the ground beside him. "Wait, Noelle"! Mom called back for me, and I looked at her, but she said nothing. Instead of wearing a look like she had a lot, she wanted to say and tell me. Instead she spoke up, "dont forget to pick your brother up.. I will be late", i just scoffed and pulled johnnys hand to the hallway outside our apartment door.