My Hero

Chapter 2

Noah's POV

Emily and I walked side by side out of the mall. We usually have the same shifts, so at the end of the work day we go to our spot to hang out. At the end of school/ work/ whenever , go to our now-abandoned elementary school and curve behind the building to the water fountains. Then, use your key to open up the restroom right by the fence. Walk in, and don't start any fun unless the other person is there. It sounds disgusting, hanging out in a restroom. But they took out the toilets and even the sinks, so all that was left was the two mirrors. After everyone left the place I found the key and we sanitized it all up. We made sure it was extremely clean enough to stay in. It took time to get everything settled, but it was worth it, we even painted the walls and brought in carpets and furniture. It's bigger than you'd think. Imagine your school's restroom in the locker room, with around 7 stalls plus three sinks all lined up, but with everything cleared out. It's not huge, but its bigger than your average sized bedroom. It's been our hide out since around 8th grade and always will be. The outside of it looks like trash, literal trash. But if we cleaned it up people who saw it would get suspicious of what's inside. It's like being in hell, but then walking straight into heaven.

"Shotgun!" Emily said and jumped headfirst into the open window of the passenger seat of my car.

"There's nobody else to take the seat Em." I laughed. She always makes this joke when we drive. Always. It just gets cuter and cuter every time because each time she finds a new way to get into the car! Whether it's through the trunk, the sun roof, or crawling through a window. Each time is different. I stepped into the drivers seat of my truck and started the engine. Emily took her speaker out of her backpack and plugged it into her phone. The whole ride to the spot was full of blasting songs about sex and poetry, Emily letting her road rage fly free, and singing to each other. Just like it is when we drive. Always.

***

"Hurry up it's cold out here!" I demanded. The wind left me with goosebumps on my exposed side. This is what i get for wearing a sleeveless like this.

"Maybe instead of trying to show your muscles you could have put a jacket on idiot." Emily giggled as she twisted the lock to the restroom door. It opened and we waddled inside. Em turned on the light switch and the room lit up with a blue shadow, all our posters glowing along.

Beautiful. What we've done here is beautiful. The couch along with a bean bag chair, the large desk in the corner by the mirror, the drawers that were under it. The way the blue lights glared off of the suspicious black walls. The coffee table and shelf. The laptop we bought together and the mini fridge plugged into the other wall. And the bed simply to nap. It's like a dream to have a place like this to just sit in.

We've been saving our money ever since we found this place, all to make it what it is now. We couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

"Listen, I'm sorry about earlier, with Caleb," She sighed while sitting onto the bean bag, "It took that lecture from boss man for me to come to my senses about it, if I took that from Caleb he said I would have gotten 'punished' for it. Thank you for not letting me get fired."

I scoffed at the way she said his name. Caleb. She said it as if he's been a long time friend, someone she trusts, she said it lightly and sweetly, almost in a whisper, as if she knows him well and cares for him. How do I know? That's how she says my name.