You And Me

Chapter 10

Noah didn't get out of bed the next morning. My alarm went off and he just rolled over and went back to sleep. I didn't press him, I just left him be. I gave him a long kiss before I went to work. I explained that he was in a really bad place and in no condition to come to work to Principal Clark. She didn't ask for details, she just gave him paid time off.

It's third period.

"Ms. Oates?" Noah's student, Madison speaks up. "Where's Mr. Ross?"

I sigh.

"He's at home."
"Is he sick?" she asks.

I frown and give her a sad smile. "No. He's just..." I hesitate. "He needs some time."

My phone starts ringing.

It's Noah.

I pick it up and press answer.

"Hey." I say gently.

"You didn't wake me up." he whispers.

"You went back to sleep." I say.

"I need to come in." he mutters.
"No. I took care of it."

He's quiet for a really long time.

"I'm such a horrible person." he whispers. "I can't think. I want to cry, Annabelle. My insomnia is back. I feel like such a terrible piece of shit, but at the same time, I don't. And my father said he was proud. Where the hell is my Dad? He sure as hell isn't him. And what about Evelyn?"

I run my fingers through my hair.

"What do I do?" he whispers.

I press my palm to my forehead and shut my eyes. I don't have a movie on and everyone is pretty quiet, especially right now.

"I don't know." I whisper. "I think you need to talk to somebody."

"I don't want to talk to a therapist." he whispers. "You're my therapist. What would you do?"

I think about it. I really, really think about it.

"I don't know. You need to remember that be brought this on himself once he took a shot at me." I say.

"I know." he mutters.

"But honey," I sigh. "Evelyn is going to be okay. The baby is better off without him."

"But I got her baby's father locked up."
"No." I say. "No baby, you did not."
"Yes." he whispers. "I did."
"No. He did it himself."

"But if it wasn't for me, he wouldn't be in jail."
"I know. He would still be after me."

He's so quiet that I check to see if he's still there.

He takes a deep breath.

"See, and thats why I'm glad I did it, but at the same time, I mean...I beat the shit out of him. That was my first fight. I don't fight people."

I sigh and open my eyes.

"But he was going to kill you. Dammit Annabelle. I don't know what to do. Should I apologize?"

"I don't know."

"Would you?"

I frown.

"Are you sorry?" I ask.

He's quiet for a very long time.

"No."
"Then don't lie to him."

"He's been my best friend for a while. Almost as long as I've known you."