Noah's Winter

Chapter Fourteen

      If I was not so sick my face would have been bright red from embarrassment. Noah sat beside me smiling.

 "I like your family"

 "Where is yours?" I asked without thinking. His eyes hardened and he clenched his jaw taught.

 "You don't have to tell me. I didn't mean to pry." I said, completely regretting opening my big mouth. Noah shook his head, some of his black hair falling into his eyes.

 "No, it's fine." He took a deep breath and began to speak without emotion,

 "My dad left my mom when I was 14 for another women, and my mom, well, she has three full time jobs to pay for my hospital bills and treatments, so I barley ever get to see her. Sometimes I just wish I would die, and make her life easier, you know? Just get it over with already." His voice cracked at the end and I put my hand on his to comfort him. 

"I'm so sorry Noah. How come , um, your Dad doesn't visit?" I asked hesitantly. 

 "He has his own family to take care of now, he's forgotten about us." His voice was full of venom when he talked about his father, but deep in those violet eyes, I could see a pain so strong, betrayal. The man he was supposed to look up to and feel safe and secure around had left and was never looking back. I felt so guilty, my family was here and full of love while his wasn't. It wasn't fair. I made a promise to myself at that moment, I'd be his family, and I'd make it to where he could come to me for anything. I wanted to so much  take the pain I saw in his eyes away from him. I'd endure it with open arms, as long as he would be happy.

 "On a lighter subject, how about this weather?" I said, Noah laughed. 

"Well we wouldn't really know, now would we?" He said. I glanced down at our hands, mine was still on is, I pulled it away quickly. I could see the faintest pink in his cheeks as he pulled my hand back, intertwining it with his.

He looked deeply into my gray eyes, "Winter...will you..." My heart quickened and butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I anticipating is next words. 

"Pass me that magazine?" My jaw dropped and Noah snickered.

 "Just...kid...ding" He said between fits of laughter.

 "You should have seen your face! It was classic." He said as he laughed. I looked down at my comforter and I could feel my eyes watering. I shouldn't be so upset, I told myself. Of course he wouldn't share the same feelings I had for him. I liked him and he didn't like me back. I could accept that though, I was lucky enough to have him as a friend. Suddenly his tan hand was cupping my face and forcing my gaze on his. 

"What I meant to say was...I wanted to know...if" He took a deep breath, was he nervous? 

"You would like to have dinner with me Wednesday night?" He asked quietly. My eyes widened.

 "Like a date?" I blurted out, he chuckled. 

"Like a date." He winked and gave me a lopsided grin.

 I smiled, "Yes."

  "Yes?" He asked, I laughed.

 "Yes."