Whispers

Chapter Three : Four Years Later

Noah stood by his locker, looking down at his watch for the hundredth time that hour. It was his first day in senior high and he had been looking forward to his first day back all summer. Not because he was eager to be at the top of the food chain, no. He'd see his Hailey today. After almost 3 months of being away from her, he'd finally see her again.

Hailey had spent the summer away at Hampton, being dragged there by her father to have some 'family time'. Just him, Melissa, Lacey, Megan, who was now almost 5, and Hailey. One big happy family.

Noah snorted, disgusted. He knew how much Hailey wished her dad could be someone she could look up to and love. Hailey could never hate him; she was too good a person for that. But every time she saw her dad kiss and pet little Megan or praise Lacey, her heart broke a bit.

Every once a while, he'd decide that they need some 'family' time, to keep up the image that his family vacationed big and would whisk Hailey away for weeks. But 3 months was the longest he'd gone, without seeing her and he was missing her terribly. She'd only arrived in town early this morning. They'd spoken to each other every day, sharing every minute detail. Charlie had spoken to Hailey, too, as had his parents.

He smiled. His parents loved her. Hailey spent most of the day, and most nights at his house. So much so that his parents had cleared the spare room for her. But she chose to sleep in Charlie's room. So he and his dad had carried up the spare bed up to Charlie's room. He still remembered how tearful she'd been that day, when she'd seen that they'd created a permanent place for her in their home. She'd kissed Dave's cheek as he'd gone out of the room and had thrown herself at Noah, hugging him tightly, burying her head in his neck.

He looked up as he heard his best friend, Aiden Barone let out a whistle.

"Who is that beautiful creature?" Aiden whistled.

Noah rolled his eyes. Aiden was a good guy. He was Italian and was very athletic and smart. But damn if he wasn't a flirt, chasing after anything in a skirt.

He looked to where Aiden was pointing and froze. Everything around him froze too. Walking in through the school doors was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. Her blond hair fell in loose waves down slender shoulders, framing her clear heart-shaped face. He knew that hair anywhere. Hailey.

As Hailey walked in, her eyes darted around the wide entrance corridor, searching for the one face she knew would be waiting for her. She was nervous. It was her first day at high school and even though she was just in Junior High, she was almost 15, much older than her classmates. She pulled at the hem of her shirt. She'd dressed carefully. Her blue, denim jeans were snug and comfortable and she'd worn a red blouse. She knew Noah loved her in red. Her hair fell in loose waves, just the way he liked it and she hadn't a stitch of make up on her face. She wore black ballet flats and carried a simple black backpack. She wanted to fit in and create her own personality. Unlike her step sister, who was currently glaring at her from where she stood with her clique of friends, all dressed to walk down the runway, she preferred simple comforts.

She craned her neck higher, searching frantically for Noah.

And then, she'd found those bluish grey eyes that she loved. Noah.

Her face broke out into a huge smile, mirroring his. She walked forward, her steps quickening into a jog as she weaved through the crowd to where he stood. He met her halfway, holding out his arms just as she threw herself into them. Her backpack fell to the floor as he lifted her off the ground, hugging her to his 6 feet frame. She hugged him back fiercely, her face nestling into its designated place in his neck.

Noah's large hands gripped her tightly, only pulling her back a couple of inches to see her face. Her forest green eyes still glittered like jewels and her pink mouth looked just as soft as it always did. But he could see subtle changes in them that only he'd notice. Her cheeks were less rounded, her cheekbones more prominent. Her mouth looked lusher, her nose a little more pointed. That cute little mole above her lip was still there as was that beautiful heart stopping smile.