128√e98 I love you

My Butt is an Ice Block

*Noah's POV*

I sit outside on a freezing cold bench, I swear my butt is an ice block right now. I bring the cigarette to my lips and slowly blow out the warm smoke. 

I hear the sliding door open and my Dad comes out. He sits down next to me and lights a cigarette, like father like son right?

"I'm sorry about embarrassing you the other day, in front of Kayleigh" He says and then shifts slightly.

I'd honestly already forgotten about that, sure I was embarrassed but I know that Kayleigh isn't one to judge, so I was fine. I tell my Dad this and he nods.

"Son, things need to change"

I remove my gaze from the garden and look at him, he doesn't usually care too much about me. But I guess things have 'changed' now, although I wonder what prompted this.

"What do you mean by that?" I ask

"I mean, you need to focus more on your education. I don't want any more girls staying the night. As much as I would like you to join my company I know that you would hate it. I want you to follow dreams of your own."

I nod, I definitely don't want to join the company, it would suffocate me. 

"Fair enough, I'll try to make you proud Dad"

"Thank you, I also have one more thing to say. Its about Kayleigh." I snap my head to look at him, already worried. "I'm doing a charity thing with my company for children in care homes and my assistant informed me that there are two children at your school in a care home. One is a boy called Dylan and the other is Kayleigh. I wanted to let you know, I don't know if she's told you, but I didn't want to keep it from you"

I'm shocked, why wouldn't she tell me? 

Then it clicks, we've never exactly talked about anything other than maths or movies. I don't even know if we're friends. 

"What's the name of her care home?" I ask

"Clove House, but Noah, don't do anything rash. If she hasn't told you its for a reason."

"I won't," I meet his eyes "I'm just going to go and talk to her, thank you"

He nods and I get up from the freezing bench and put out my cigarette. I head inside to my room. I look up where Clove House is and notice that its not far from here, that must be why she walks. I go downstairs and grab a coat, then make my way over to Clove House.

*

By the time I get there its already dark, the gravel scrunches under my feet and I spot Kayleigh on a swing, she turns at my noise and I run to her. 

"Why didn't you tell me?" she meets my eyes,

They are even more bloodshot, her hair is out and covering her face. Her lips are dry and her cheeks glisten in the moonlight from all her tears. I look away from her numb gaze, her fingers are slightly bloody and I look at her wrists, they are covered in scratch marks and her nails are bitten down to the bone. Well shit then. She stands up and I notice my breath quicken slightly.

"Why didn't I tell you what?" Her voice cracks and a shiver runs down my spine

"That you're in a care home," I say and she turns away from me, she shakes her head slowly and walks away

"Go home Noah, nows not the time" I grab her wrist and pull it with probably a bit too much force. She turns around and glares at me, tears cascade down her tired face like a waterfall and I slowly wrap my arms around her and pull her into my chest. She starts to sob and I feel my heart shatter.

"What happened?"

I feel like every chapter I end on a cliffhanger...Oh well, gotta keep you reading somehow! Next chapter will be Kayleigh's POV. Tell your acquaintances!

Thea x