Jealous Hearts Will Leave Us In Ruins

Chapter 1: Think About It 'Till Anticipation Makes You Shake

September 13, 2020

Noel's POV

The door bursts open and the kids enter, screaming.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH!"
I groan, rolling over and opening my eyes, seeing the cluster of children surrounding my bed. Sam is sitting on her bed, cross-legged with a neatly wrapped box by her feet. I look at her, silently saying that a present wasn't necessary as she huffs, countering with the expression stating that I only turn 16 once. I turn my attention back to the kids and smile, sitting on the edge of the bed as my many siblings wish me a happy birthday. They're not actually related to me, but living in a youth home for the entirety of your life forms bonds with people. Charlie comes up to me through the small horde of children and smiles, hugging me. She lets go and looks up at me with her umber eyes, blonde hair in pigtail braids that Kate put in last night.

"Happy birthday Noah. I made you something." she says in her guarded 7 year old voice. I smile as I take the purple card from her shy hands. On the cover it reads "Happy Birthday Noah!" Balloons decorate the letters. The inside of the card is adorned with a drawing of two people, who I assume to be the two of us, holding hands. "Only the best big sister deserves the best 16th birthday! Charlie <3 <3". I smile, closing the card and hug the child whom I had grown close to since her arrival here 2 years ago. The social worker walks in with a smile on her face and a wrapped manila envelope containing the only birthday present I have ever asked for. She makes her way to my bed and holds it out.

"You're sure you want this?" Kate asks, her glasses perched atop her nose haphazardly. I nod, eager to finally know. She places the surprisingly heavy packet in my hand. The children leave the room and Kate shuts the door, leaving myself and Sam in the now silent room.

I sigh, looking at the wrapping paper. I hear Sam get up and she plops down on my bed, crossing her legs.

"If you don't want to open it yet, you can open mine first?" she says, holding the brown paper covered box. I smile, taking it from her. She watches expectantly as I tear off the paper and lift the lid off. Inside is a shiny black Polaroid camera. I look up at her, my eyes wide.

"Oh, Sam, you didn't have to." I say, a shit-eating grin spreading across my face.

"Only the best for my best friend." she says, smiling and hugging me. We lean back and I snap a picture just as she presses her lips to my cheek, something we've been doing since 2nd grade. I put the camera and photo in the box and turn back to the envelope.

Closing my eyes, I hook my finger under the edge of the wrapping paper and pop the tape off, careful not to rip the envelope. I pull the paper off and read the label: Noel Isabelle. No last name. My parents never put it on my birth certificate. I undo the clasp and slide the documents out, looking down at them. The first document is my birth certificate, my first and middle name with a miniscule hand and foot print provided by my infant self. Under these are the parent name and signature lines. Lisa E R and Alexander W G. There's only a signature for Lisa though, so I assume my father either wasn't there, didn't know, or died before I was born. I put this aside and see 2 folders labeled "Lisa E Ruocco" and "Alexander W Gaskarth". My breath falters as I reread the labels again and again. Is this some sort of joke? I flip open Lisa's folder and skim over her high school and college diplomas, medical records, family history and stop when I see a current address. The family history document said that she broke up with her longtime boyfriend Alex, temporarily moving away on December 25, 2004 and moved back on September 15, 2005. Two days after the day I was born. She apparently moved in with her grandparents in Buffalo, NY, a place I had called my home for 7 years until my group home closed down and I was transferred to Willow Tree in Syracuse where I met Sam.

According to the document, Lisa moved back almost immediately after having me, having given me up for adoption, though I am yet to catch anybody's interest. I open Alex's file and read through, finding that he didn't know apparently, and that now they are married, living together in Towson, MD where both of them (for the most part) grew up. There aren't any phone numbers or emails, but an address might possibly be the best to go off of in this sort of situation. I sigh, leaning back.