Writing to You

Chapter 8

Noah

When the final bell goes, I'm still thinking about her. About Ella. About the way my skin fizzled, and the way my heart crackled; the way they flickered to life, all because of a girl. 

Someone knocks into me, and I stumble. It's Alex.

"Hey man, what'd you have?"

"Chemistry," I say, but for some reason, I think of Ella. 

And then I see her. Up ahead. She just came out of a classroom and she's walking alone. I watch her as she bends down to tie her shoelaces, hunching her body away from the stream of students, making herself look small. I want to call out to her, but what would I say? Alex and I are about to walk past her, and she's starting to get up. As she does, someone bumps into her and something flies out of her hand and lands at Alex's feet. A pen. He bends down to pick it up, looking around for the owner. She's looking around too, and her eyes rest on mine. 

"Ella! Hey!" I shout the words, louder than intended, and nod my head at her pen in Alex's hand. I have this weird urge to snatch it off of him and run up to her, to give it to her myself. She gives a timid smile and falls into step with us as Alex hands her the pen. 

"Noah, Alex. Hey."

She knows his name? 

"Hey Ella," Alex says, "God, have you started on that damn English assignment?"

"Sorta," She looks at me, "We have AP English together."

I nod my head, desperate for something to say to her. 

"Uh, are you okay? You know, after...this morning and stuff?" 

She jerks her head up at me, her eyes flashing something undecipherable. 

"Uh, yep. Fine, I'm fine," She says quickly, "I have to go."

Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid. WHY did I ask that? 

*****************

I thrust my bag on the hallway floor and kick off my shoes. I'm still angry with myself about what happened with Ella. What was I thinking? Of course Ella wouldn't want me to talk about it in front of Alex. 

I go to the fridge, hoping snacks and Netflix will help me feel better about myself. I hear a noise from upstairs and go to look. Dad and Kat's bedroom door is open which is unusual, and they're never home until later in the night. 

I slowly open it, the hinges creaking. 

I see Kat sitting on the bed, legs crossed, used tissues surrounding her. The curtains are pulled closed, and the bathroom door is open. She's obviously crying, although her face is buried in her hands. 

I don't know what to do. I hate her and she hates me. She doesn't give a crap about me but I don't think I'd be human if I just left her there. I walk slowly over to the bed and sit beside her.

She hurriedly wipes at her face, but the tears keep streaming down.

"Don't worry about me, Noah. Just go, I'm fine."

I'm tempted to leave but I have a heart. 

"Kat? What's wrong?"

It's then that I see the blood seeping through her pants. She looks down and starts crying even harder.

"Oh my god! Kat! Are you...do you need any....uhhh I can go to the pharmacy for you and get some.....things."

Despite everything, she gives a small chuckle. 

"I'm not on my period, Noah. I..."

"Oh. Um, what–what is it?"

"Just forget it. Go. God, I must seem like such a baby," She gasps and sobs even more. 

"Maybe...Maybe we should, er...Let's get you cleaned up."

I help her stand up and I can't help but feel a little disgusted at all the blood on the quilt. I have no idea what's going on and I don't know whether I should get her to a hospital or what. I walk her to the bathroom but clamp my hand over my mouth as soon as I walk in. There's blood all over the floor. 

"Kat, what the–I need you to tell me what's happening!"

She looks me in the eyes, "I lost it."

"Lost what?" I say, but I think I know, in the back of my head.

"The baby."

**Okay, I took AGESSSSS to write this chapter. Well, actually it only took me 15 minutes but I haven't been on Wattpad for over a month because it wasn't friggin WORKING. Ahh. Anyway, it is now. This chapter was probably a bit random. I didn't even expect that whole thing with Noah's step-mum. I just wrote and that's what happened. Let me know what you think! Over and out. **