Whispers

Chapter Two : Two Years Later

Hailey watched with growing concern as Noah swung higher up the tree. He was almost 10 feet above the ground, his feet dangling as he clambered on to the next branch. She bit her lip. If only she'd listened to Josh Adams and had not insisted that Noah teach her to fly a kite. He wouldn't be up there trying to get the kite she'd cut while she made clumsy attempts to keep it in the air.

Noah was her best friend. He was her everything. She knew he'd do anything for her, but climbing a 20 feet tall tree was stupid. Stupid, foolish and so dangerous.

"Please come down Noah!" she pleaded, chewing on her lip, something she always did when she was nervous. "I really don't need that kite. Come down before you fall!"

But Noah kept climbing up, further and further away to the top.

"Noah! Please! Just forget about that kite. Come down, please!" She wailed, in distress. Beside her, Charlie craned her neck, peering up.

"You reckon he'll break his neck if he falls?" Charlie wondered out loud, as nonplussed as always. She tipped her straw hat back and stood back on her heels,rocking to and fro, a picture of ease.

Hailey's face turned grey and she called out again to Noah.

Charlie's laughter faded as she saw the fear in Hailey's eyes. She sighed. Hailey was always worried about Noah, just as how Noah was always worried about Hailey. Although Charlie knew that by blood, Noah was her brother, he and Hailey had something that no one else could comprehend. They had a bond. Noah always knew when Hailey needed him and Hailey was always around, to help Noah get out of trouble. They were the three Musketeers- Charlie, Noah and Hailey.

Charlie took Hailey's hand and squeezed. "He'll be fine, Hails. Calm down"

But Hailey looked sick and her eyes were shining with what looked suspiciously like tears.

Charlie sighed again, before cupping her hands to her mouth and yelling "Hey Noah! Get your butt down. Hailey looks like she's about to drop dead with fright!"

That was all it took for Noah to stop climbing. He clambered onto a branch and looked down at them. When he saw Hailey's pale face, he frowned.

"I'm coming Hailey"He called out before climbing downward. Hailey sighed with relief and shot Charlie a grateful look. Charlie waved it off.

Hailey looked up at Noah who was now eight feet above the pavement. She watched him climb deftly down.

Suddenly, she heard a loud crack. She whipped he head up just in time to see a branch snap. A branch that Noah was standing on.

With a startled yelp, Noah clung on to the upper branches, his legs swinging in the air. But his hands grabbed hold of leaves and he fell down on the cold gray granite with a heavy thud.

"NOAH!" Hailey screamed, rushing forward.

Charlie yelled something about getting help, but Hailey didn't listen as she ran to where he lay in an unmoving heap.

She knelt down beside him, wincing when the gravelly cement cut her knees. "Noah" she sobbed, her eyes already welling up with tears."Noah Noah Noah!"

He groaned in pain, rolling over and clutching his left hand. She watched helplessly as a few drops of blood trickled down slowly from a nasty looking cut on his cheek.

"Hailey" he moaned, his eyes shut tightly in pain.

"Oh Noah! Where does it hurt?"She whispered, tears pouring down her young cheeks.

Noah winced as he showed her his now swollen left wrist. "I think I've broken my wrist. Nothing else hurts, but I feel bruised on my back"

He touched his right hand to his cheek and winced as he examined the blood on his fingers. He looked up at her tear stained face and frowned. He hated seeing her cry. "Hails-"

"Noah I'm so sorry." she sobbed, pushing the hair back from his forehead. "This is all my fault! I never should have asked you to teach me how to fly that wretched kite. Now look! I'm so-"

Noah cut her short by placing his fingers on her cheeks and gently rubbing them dry. She held his palm there and turned her face into it.

He winced as she dabbed her handkerchief at his cheek.

"Im so sorry. Please don't hate me Noah" She whispered.

Noah managed a smile "It wasn't your fault, Hails. Even if it was, I could never hate you. You are my best friend"

She returned a watery smile.

She punched his good arm slightly. "What on earth were you thinking, Noah! You knew it was dangerous to climb that tree. It was just a kite. I could have easily replaced it. You know how father is when it comes to handing out money."

Noah did know. Her father gave her more money than what any kid their age had. She told him everything, about how her father piled up gifts and clothes on her. He also knew that Hailey hated it. She hated that her father sent out his P.A to buy a wardrobe of new clothes for her every month to compensate for hardly seeing her. Melissa was often out at the HopeSprings' elite club, talking prettily with the ladies of the ton and hardly ever saw her. Lacey, however just chose to ignore her, speaking to Hailey only when she commented about her drab clothes-she refused to wear the 'fancy' ones her father sent her-and her overall dullness. But Noah didn't think Hailey was dull. How could he, when she lit up the room, bringing a smile to everyone's face, his parents, their teachers, Samantha's...his. She made his life brighter.

" You put in a lot of time and effort into making that kite, Hails. I had to get it back for you." He replied.

She shook her head, exasperated.

"What can I do to make you feel better? Would you like me to kiss your wound? I've seen your mum do it for you and Samantha and you always feel better after that."

It was such an innocent question that took root from concern and care. But to Noah, it felt like a year-long supply of candy.

He nodded, blushing slightly as she bent forward to place a peck on his cheek, just above his wound. She pulled back and looked at him.

"Does that make you feel better?" she asked, looking hopeful.

Noah nodded dumbly. "But that isn't how girls kiss boys" he replied.

Her pretty face scrunched up in a frown. " Well, how else do they?"

Noah smiled mischievously. "On the lip of course." He replied, and rolled his eyes.

He was teasing her, hoping to lighten the mood. But what he never expected and never saw coming was Hailey bending down again and softly placing her lips on his. He inhaled in shock, his eyes involuntarily closing as her soft hair fell on his face. It smelled like oranges, something citrus.

It was brief, lasted for two seconds. But that was all it took. He looked up at her lovely heart-shaped face and forest green eyes, filled with concern and Noah fell in love with Hailey Pitcher.