Events

Chapter 10-Dishes

"Hey, I'm sorry."

I leaned my arms out the window, poking my head through the frame and taking in the ocean air. The sky was dark today but the sun was trying to peek through the clouds. My old window frame creaked slightly under my weighed and I avoided looking in the direction of the boy next door.

Noah just peered back at me, his light blue eyes looking into mine. Confusion was written on his face and before he could speak up my bedroom door suddenly sprung open.

"Hi dad," I squeaked out, looking back into my room and seeing him standing at the door.

"Hey kiddo, what are you doing?" He asked as he stepped further into my room and noticed Noah on the other side of the window. His eyebrows arched and his forehead crinkled. His eyes looked between Noah and I before stopping and looking at me and providing me with a questioning look.

"Um, I was just talking with Noah," I said as i waved my arms around frantically and looked at my dads curious face. Noah stayed quiet for the length of this encounter until my dad brought him into this conversation. This was an extremely uncomfortable situation, especially because my dad had informed me he didn't want me talking to Noah.

My dad stepped closer to the window and bent down to look out and said curtly, "hello Noah."

I could tell my dad was being cautious, and he had every right to seeing as he did not know Noah the way that I did. My dad was provided with information from Emily, and the way I saw it made it all invalid. Emily disrespected Noah, and even though he was disrespectful back I believe he was doing it in defense. I was upset with my dad for actually listening to what Emily told him instead of trying to get Noah himself.

"Hi," Noah nodded politely at him.

My dad nodded his head in acknowledgement in Noah's direction before he turned to look at me and ask, "have you eaten yet?"

I shook my head in response and my dad suddenly sprung to life and fixed his button up shirt. I didn't notice until now that he was wearing a white button up shirt tucked into his blue jeans. It was a little too fancy for our casual dinners. What he said next confirmed my suspicions.

My dad leaned forwards and looked at Noah, who had been watching the exchange carefully.

"Noah," my dad started, and I turned to look at the poor boy who was trying to hide his nervousness. "I know you're grounded but I've invited your family over for dinner tonight and would like to extend that invitation to you."

Now it was my turn to be surprised. I didn't know my dad had planned on inviting everyone over for dinner. I figured it would be just him and I, like it always is. Noah's eyes flickered to mine as if asking for permission before he politely excepted the offer.

My dad nodded in acknowledgement before he headed towards my bedrooms door. He then turned around to give me a pointed look and said, "we will talk about this later."

After that he disappeared out the door, leaving it open although it had previously been closed. Apparently he didn't trust me in my room anymore.

"Sorry about that," I mumbled as I shrunk back against my window frame.

Noah didn't say anything and instead stared out at the water. It was wavy today. The water matched the weather perfectly, cloudy, stormy and rough. The smell of salt and seaweed was a constant in this area, and I had become so accustom to it that I didn't notice it anymore. I watched as Noah looked out to the sea, waiting for any kind of reaction.

He turned to me, a small smile playing on his lips as he ran his fingers through his dark hair. I watched as his long sleeve pulled at the sleeves, and his strong arms tugged through his hair. His dark hair was a perfect mix of blacks and browns, and worked perfectly with his complexion. I was shocked when his eyes suddenly looked up at mine. I was locked in with his baby blue eyes and felt like I couldn't look away.