Protected

The Black Cat

"I'm Noir." He said, extending his hand. "Lexi." I replied. "Isn't Noir French for-" "Black? Yes it is." He said. I look at him, confused. "My mom was born in Paris, hence the French, and my parents are mega superstitious." Noir said by explanation. I'm still baffled. "Any siblings? What are their names?" I asked.
       "Oh there's Landon, Caroline and Isabella." Noir said.
"So why are you the only one with a... Different name? And how is 'black' superstitious?" I ask, still totally confused.
He sighs, "You know the saying, 'A black cat crosses your path?' Yes that. Superstition. And I know, my name should be "Noir Chat" for "black cat" or "Le Chat Noir" which is "the black cat" but my mom didn't want to be too weird."
        Personally I thought it already was, but I didn't say anything. I told Noir that I understood now and we continue chatting. He makes me laugh, and I haven't laughed in weeks.
          We're interrupted by my phone dinging. It's Carson asking if I'm up. I tell him I'm downstairs and that he should come.
There's a really cool kid here. I say. He answers that he's on his way and we continue talking. Suddenly Noir puts his hand on my arm, leans close to me and asks, "What happened here? This doesn't look like a normal birth deformation." I sigh, and pull away a little, noticing how close his dark eyes are to mine. "I injured it a while back. I could get it amputated, but I don't really want to." I say. I really don't want to go into this. Noir opens his mouth to say something but is cut off by a voice above us saying a little too cheerily, "Morning!"
           I jerk away from Noir and look up. Carson sits next to my other side on the couch. "Carson, this is Noir." I say, all too aware of my flaming cheeks to match my flaming hair. Carson leans across me and shakes Noir's hand, a little roughly from what I can tell.
"Noir, huh?" He says. "Isn't that French for black?" Noir launches into an explanation of his name and I zone out, wondering how much Carson observed before coming in. My stomach growls, and I'm reminded that I've been up for over an hour and a half.
"Sorry to interrupt your chat, guys, but I'm hungry." I say. Carson looks at me.
"Oh yeah, your mom texted my mom this morning. They're taking breakfast in the room. I told them you and I would eat in the dining room down here."
I stand up. "Well what are we waiting for?" We head toward the dining room and Noir starts to follow. Carson stares at me and I grab his arm and jerk him to the side. "One second please." I say to Noir and he nods.
      "Carson is there an issue? Do you have something you'd like to discuss?" I asked huffily. He stiffens.
        "Does Noir have to eat with us?"
"Yes sir he does! Why wouldn't you want him to?"
     "We just don't know him very well." Carson mumbled.
     "Well I know him. I've been talking to him for over an hour," I say impulsively.
Carson rolls his eyes. "Yeah you know him real well." He says sarcastically.
     But I was already with Noir again, headed to breakfast. We sat down, me next to Noir and Carson across. As I looked down at my menu, I could feel Carson's eyes boring into the top of my head. I slammed my menu shut and turned pointedly to Noir. "I do believe I'll just have the buffet. Anyone else?"
      They both nodded and we jumped up. Noir went first, holding open lids and offering to help me. Carson followed behind, and I could just hear him steaming. We sit down and Carson says to me, "I made the varsity football team, Lex."
My eyes widen. "Carson that's awesome! In 10th grade?" He nods proudly. Noir steps in. "I made varsity baseball in 9th grade." I look at him.
      "That's actually very impressive, Noir. Wow!" I exclaim.
      Carson growls and speaks about winning MVP on his basketball team. Noir counters that with something about a golf tournament. I pipe in ever now and again with an achievement of my own, but mostly I just watch them, trying to keep my mind off of what's going to happen today. Carson starts to smile and laugh and relief washes through me. He's okay with Noir.
    I idly twirl my hair around my finger, stabbing my fork into my breakfast potatoes. I get to thinking about all the abuse I suffered at the hands of Boss, and suddenly I'm angry. I find myself jabbing my breakfast potatoes harder and harder.  Why? Why? Why? I think to myself. Stab, stab, stab. I'm now scarred for life. Does he have no heart? His punishment will be all the harsher now. Stab, stab, stab. Why did I let him push me around? I could have done SOMETHING. Anything. Stab, stab, stab. I feel angry tears spring to my eyes and I realize I no longer have breakfast potatoes, I have a nice serving of mashed potatoes. I glance up and see that Carson and Noir have stopped talking and are just staring at me. I wipe the tears out of my eyes but they spring back right away. I glance back at the mashed potatoes and am filled with a fierce pleasure. I did that. I obliterated those potatoes. They don't even RESEMBLE they're supposed to. And then I realize. I'm proud of smashing potatoes. What's wrong with me?
           I stand up and look at Noir. "Thank you for breakfasting with us. I'm sorry I have to leave you in this state, but Carson and I actually have something to get to." I bend over and hug him, and he hugs me back, slipping a paper between my fingers.
      "Here's my number Lexi, when you want to talk about why you're upset. I enjoyed myself." I nod and walk away, beckoning to Carson after he says bye to Noir.
    "Lex, what was that?" Carson asked me. I shake my head and just tell him I got upset.
     "But I did actually see mom out here, so it must be time to leave." Carson nods and I walk toward my parents, feeling nervousness balling up into my stomach.
     "Are you ready for the trial, hon?" My dad asks. I take a shaky breath and nod.
     "Let's go."

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Hey everyone! Sorry to leave you in a cliffhanger! Thank you so much for reading! I'm up to 350 reads now, which is incredible.
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-M.R.