The Princess And The Criminal

14

NOAH

After Sawyer left I spoke a bit to Morgan's doctor. Since I lived with Morgan I had to know what signs to look for to know whether or not to rush her to the hospital.

Nearly half an hour and some files later the doctor was done.

I held the files to my chest and asked a nurse if she had seen Sawyer.

"Outside."

I was not prepared to see a woman literally wrapped around Sawyer. Her hands were wrapped around Sawyer's neck, her face buried in Sawyer's neck while her legs where wrapped around Sawyer's waist.

Sawyer was gripping her almost just as tightly. Her arms wrapped around the woman's waist.

"Noah." Cedrick beamed, breaking Sawyer and the unknown woman from their tight embrace.

She was beautiful, and I suddenly felt like I was in a competition. That was a feeling I used to get during pageants... as well as when Sawyer would date someone—that was before we got together.

"Hi." She waved a bit. She was dark skinned and had bright purple hair. Her tattoos were meant to look tribal from afar but at closer inspection were just arranged that way to give an illusion.

I smiled my pageant smile, because the jealously I was drowning me was already forming immense hate for a stranger.

It got worse when Sawyer—who had on one of the biggest smiles ever—wrapped her arm around the woman's shoulder.

My jaw ticked.

"Noah, this is my friend Emilia, Emilia this is Noah my—"

"Girlfriend." I cut Sawyer off.

Sawyer lifted an eyebrow and her friend did so too.

"Oh that's nice, I'm so happy for both of you."

"We were cell mates during my second and third year in prison."

Sawyer finally detached herself from Emilia.

Emilia's eyes flicked from Sawyer to me, then she smiled a smile I knew all too well.

"We dated for a good amount of that time."

By now my jaw ached from how hard I was gritting my teeth.

Sawyer chuckled nervously and gave Emilia a very pointed look. "Yeah but that was like two years ago... history."

Cedrick coughed to hide his laughter.

"He—oh hey Emilia." Forrest smiled as he run up to us.

I swallowed thickly. How serious were they that Sawyer introduced her to her brother?

"Forrest, what a pleasure to see you again, it's been too long."

"Yeah totally." Forrest smiled and shook her hand.

My phone started to ring as Forrest began to enter the hospital. I was too distracted to tell him Morgan's parents were there.

My mother was calling me.

"Hello mom."

"Noah, did you read my text?"

"Uh.. no I've been busy helping out with the twins."

"Ah the illegitimate Therons, let me guess.. they hyphenated the surnames."

I swallowed and turned away from Sawyer, who was looking at me with genuine worry. The disgust in her voice filled me with a sense of disgust for her.

"What did you say in the text mom?"

"Ah yes, your father has found a splendid young man for your date tonight."

I closed my eyes and swallowed hard. "Tonight? But you sai—"

I could picture her waving her hand as she cut me off. "Well he is a very busy man so tonight is best."

"I have plans tonight." I hissed and walked away from the three people behind me.

"Cancel them."

I felt like yelling at her. "I can't just cancel work mother, there is a small fashion show today for scouting. It is important that I be there."

"Oh come on Noah you're a personal assistant how important can you really be?"

I shut my eyes again and swallowed the lump that would have formed into a sob if I was younger and still cared about my mother's opinion. Of course I still care but—I learnt long time ago not to cry about it.

"You will reschedule because I have work to do. When I agreed to continue the dates I told you I would not let them interfere with my work."

"Then he'll come to your—whatever you called it. That way you can work and—"

"Absolutely not."

"Now Noah, do not be ungrateful after every—"

"Good day mother."

"Hey."

I jumped when Sawyer touched my shoulder. Emilia and Cedrick were gone.

"Where is Cedrick?"

"He went inside. The kitten was whining about the heat."

I nodded and looked between her eyes, both filled with worry.

"Come to the fashion show with me tonight."

Sawyer blinked a few times then nodded. "Yeah, of course... is everything okay?"

I smiled and shook my head. How could I tell my girlfriend my parents were trying to send me on a date with a random man. She knew it had still been happening but nothing had happened since we had started seeing each other again. That was not only selfish of me but just plain evil.

"Noah.. you don't have to go on the dates anymore."

I blinked at her. Sawyer had never ever spoken about the dates. My heart beat faster. Was she going to end things? Or was she tired of literally sharing me.

"You support yourself from what I've gathered, so you don't owe them anything. Noah..."

I swallowed again. Tears stinging the back of my eyes. I knew all that, of course I knew that I wasn't stupid. But I wanted to experience some form of love from my own parents.

I loved them. Even with their views and behaviours I didn't agree with.. I loved them. I wanted to feel some of the love they showed me when I was younger.

Standing outside the hospital, looking up at Sawyer with the feeling of someone watching us lingering in the back of my mind it was like a realisation hit.

I had Sawyer now. And I had just told someone we were dating. My parents didn't care about me... at least not anymore.

It clicked as it started to rain. The best way to protect Sawyer was to leave the clutches of the man that was threatening her in the first place.

"I love them Sawyer." I chocked, tears leaking from my eyes.

Sawyer's smile looked strained. "I love Viper, but she has to reap the consequences of being a bad mother to my older brother's and I."

I nodded and hugged her tight. Sobbing into her chest as she moved us inside the hospital.