Always & Forever 2: On The Road

Chapter 4

"We've been driving for ages." Noah complained and groaned. 

"That is the beauty of road trips," Stella giggled. "Driving is involved and part of the deal." 

"Can I ask you something?"

"You already asked me something." Stella teased and let out a soft laugh.

"I am being serious here." Noah responded.

"Fine," Stella sighed and rolled her eyes. "You are so serious, you know that?"

"Fine what?" Noah asked. 

"What is it that you want to ask me?" 

"What happened to you?" Noah asked.

"What do you mean?" Stella giggled, trying to avoid the question. She knew where he was going with this and did not want to go down that road. 

"How did you become so cold? Were you like this as a human?" Noah asked and raised an eyebrow. 

"No," Stella mumbled as she kept driving. "As a human, I was happy, I had hopes and dreams."

"Then what changed?" Noah asked softly. 

"Why do you care?" Stella snapped. "If you had it your way, you'd be with your kitty cat." 

"Maybe so," Noah sighed. "But I want to know what changed."

"Why?" Stella asked as she fought the tears that wanted to release. 

"To understand."

"You would never understand," Stella snorted. "Nobody would understand."

"Alright, I will drop it." Noah mumbled as he looked out his window. 

"I'll park at the next hotel I see, okay?" Stella responded and sighed. Drop it, please! I don't want to go back there. Stella thought to herself as she frowned. Just the memories of her past were enough to make her want to break down and cry right there on the spot. 

"Sure thing, Stella." Noah replied. 

"Thank you for not pushing it." Stella responded.

"If you ever want to talk about it, we can." Noah assured her.

"Don't act like you care now," Stella snorted. "I know you don't care about me at all."

"If you know that then why am I with you?" 

"Because I love you and I am sick and tired of being alone." Stella answered.

"Ethan loved you," Noah replied. "Heck, he planned on having revenge because he thought it was my fault when you died," Noah paused and stopped himself from laughing from the irony. "Well, when he thought you were dead."

"I don't love Ethan and he doesn't love me anymore." 

"Because of what happened." Noah pointed out.

"Oh please, do not kid yourself." Stella laughed and shook her head. 

"What are you talking about?"

"He fell out of love with me before you two realized I was alive," Stella sighed. "Ethan fell in love with your human cat now, he was just in denial, and he probably still is if they are still friends if they haven't gotten together yet." 

"That can't be true." Noah laughed. 

"You didn't see the way he looked at her when they were in that room, I had them in." 

"Ethan and Katherine can't be together, there is no way." Noah laughed more. 

"Either way, Ethan loves her and deep down you know I am right." Stella replied. 

After a few more hours, Stella and Noah stopped driving for the night and headed to a motel they found and two rooms that were next to each other. Stella and Noah walked side by side and headed for their rooms and stopped when they found their rooms for the night.

"Tell me why we need our rooms side by side?" Noah asked.

"I don't trust you," Stella answered. "If you attempt to escape, I will hear you." Stella threatened as she looked into his eyes. "Truth be told, I am a light sleeper." 

"I believe you."

"Very good." 

"Well, goodnight, Stella." Noah said awkwardly.

"You too, Noah." Stella mumbled.