"Can we talk at least?" Noel asked as his headlights lit up my car port.
"Let me think about that," I said getting out of the car before it even had time to come to a complete and utter stop, "NO." I slammed the door.
"Kat," he called after me, following me up the back steps, "just listen for like five seconds." He grabbed a hold of my wrist.
"One-two-three-four-five," I immaturely blurted as fast as I could.
"Aren't you curious as to what I have to say?"
Yes. Dammit he knows my weakness. "I have no interest whatsoever in whatever you could possibly tell me at this point and time."
"I know you better then that, Kat. You're filled with questions."
"No just statements. Like: remove your hand from my arm, get back in your car, LEAVE."
"Kat..." he reached out again.
"I am about to open the door to my house and go inside. Do not make me yell at you. I will call the cops if you stick around. I suggest you go."
"Harsh," he muttered, but retreated a few steps back to the carport and turned the corner. I took a deep breath and opened the door. I took the stairs down to Aud's room two (and more then likely three) at a time.
"You have to do something," I gasped out outside her door. "He's getting ridiculous, Aud! Like what was that about tonight do you know?" I pushed open the bedroom door ready to jump her awake.
The door was hard to open like it was being blocked or something. I pushed a little harder and something slid across the floor.
"What the...?" I murmured looking about the room. Boxes lay everywhere. Everything in my sister's room packed up just like that. A box must have fallen off the top pile and blocked the door. "I can't believe!" I said this over and over running my fingers through my hair and pulling on the roots. "I just can't believe it. I can't bring myself to believe it."
"It's a shock isn't it? I found the bigger shock that you didn't notice." I turned around and my mom was sitting on the steps looking down at me. She had a fuzzy blue bathrobe over her shoulders and she looked like she was stuggling to stay awake. "Come here, honey," she patted the step beside her, "it's important lesson time."
"Why did she leave us? It's always been us, mom. I can't believe it."
"You're right. It's always been the three of us. You guys were too young to accept your father leaving us. I did though. I understood why. Just like I understand why your sister has to move in with Noel-"
"She what?!? No this isn't happening I'm asleep. Tell me I'm asleep and this is just a really, really bad dream that I will soon wake up from. Oh, I know pinch me! Ow, that hurts! Why does that hurt? It's not supposed to hurt when I'm asleep! I really am awake aren't I? This sucks because in my dream that ramble would have roused a million minions instead it's just making me sound crazy. Which probably means I should stop talking now. Mom? No matter how many times I say it... it doesn't sound right."
"Your sister loves you."
"But she left mom!"
"It was time. I think you better talk to her. Want a lift?"
"Yea."
***
"I can't do it."
"She's your sister! Of course all you're doing is talking to her."
"What if Noel's in there?" My mom rolled her eyes at my feeble argument.
"It's late, or actually, really early. He'll be in bed."
"Okay. Good, then."
My mom gave me the key.
The first closed door I came to froze me. Do I knock? Do I walk in? I didn't want to yell and wake anyone but Aud. I started to open the door praying to god that Noel wouldn't be doing something indecent in there.
But the room was empty. A few clothes, I suppose, so not entirely empty. Noel must have taken a detour on the way back from dropping me off then.
I came to another door. It was a dark wood and it made me walk back through the apartment. It was nice, actually. The kitchen was clean and the livingroom was homy. My sister did good! I felt bubbly with excitement and I decided to go tell her that so I walked back down the hall. Our bedrooms had always been free reign to walk into at home but this was her house. Should I knock? What's the point?
"Hey Aud," I pushed open the door and look up. Noel is lying on the bed, asleep and shirtless, with Aud draped over top of him.
