Tainted → Justin Bieber

FIFTEEN.

THIRD PERSON.

Noah sat on the edge of his bed with his face in his hands. He hadn't spoken to Lacey for exactly seven days now and it was killing him. Not because he wasn't able to hang out with her, but because he was worried about her. Her boyfriend was a freaking psychopath and she didn't even know it. She was too naive and too infatuated with him to realize it. As her best friend, it was natural for Noah to be so concerned about her. He didn't know what he'd do if Justin got mad with Lacey one day and decided that she was the next person he'd pull his stupid pocket knife on.

He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and tried dialing her for the hundredth time. Of course it went straight to her voicemail again. The blonde haired boy got up from his spot on the bed and walked to his window, pulling the curtain back and trying to see if he could see Lacey's house from there but he couldn't. He muttered a cuss under his breath and plopped back down on the bed. He would've walked to her house but every time he thought about it, the image of Justin holding a knife to his neck popped into his head. It made him stay away.

But then he realized that Lacey was like a sister to him and he would do anything for her. Even if it meant putting his own life in danger.

Noah stood up from his bed for a second time and opened the door to his room. He headed down the steps, walking through the foyer.

"Where are you going sweetie?" his step mom asked him.

"To Lacey's for a few," he replied. She nodded and he took that as his cue to leave. He jogged down the steps and when he got to his gate, he crouched down so that if Justin was outside, like he normally was in the day time, he wouldn't be seen. As Noah looked around for the muscular guy, he noticed that his jeep wasn't parked in his usual spot. A wave of relief washed over him as he stood up and headed down the street to Lacey's. He was quick on his feet because he didn't know when Justin would be back.

The minute he reached Lacey's house he rang the doorbell repeatedly. He surely hoped she was home.

Shit. Noah thought. Maybe she's out with that psychopath. 

He almost turned to leave until he heard the door creak open and came face to face with the girl he hadn't seen in what felt like forever, but in reality was only a week. For some strange reason, she didn't slam the door in his face or instantly get mad. She was calm, a little bashful almost. Seeing her like this made Noah not want to plead with her about leaving Justin, or even tell her about what really went down between him and Justin that night. All he wanted to do was rekindle their friendship. He'll worry about the other stuff later on.

"Lacey I'm sorry," Noah sighed as he looked down at his hands. "I really am. I know that it's only been a week since we've talked but it's been killing me."

"We've been apart for longer than a week before Noah," Lacey uttered calmly. "Try ten months."

"I know," Noah spoke. "But that's because we have no choice when I'm home. Knowing you're only a few doors down from me and not being to talk to you really hurts."

Lacey looked down at her shoes and didn't say anything. Noah just hoped that she wouldn't push him away and tell him to go back home.

"What made you do it?" Lacey asked.

"What?" Noah frowned.

"What made you punch Justin in the face?"

"I don't know." Noah mumbled. He didn't even try to defend himself and tell her that he didn't because she wouldn't believe him anyway. It was clear which story she believed so there was no point in trying to change her mind. It just wouldn't work. Maybe Justin does have her wrapped around his finger. "But I'm truly sorry."