The Bystander

Chapter Eleven

A/N: Short chapter.

Noah

Mesmerising. Gorgeous. Beautiful.

One of the few words to describe her, she had this aura around her that just makes me want to protect her from the world. As soon as I saw her in that meadow, I knew that she was the one for me. Though she's not the kind of girl I would usually go for, she had everything I would ever need. 

That long black hair, those gorgeous blue eyes and soft pale skin. I remember frowning once I saw her state, the state of someone who carries secrets. Someone who hides from the world, who attempts to remain invisible. My heart beat so fast when she turned and looked at me, they were wide and vulnerable. 

I could tell from her old cardigan and sweatpants that she was only a shell of her former self, much like me she held a certain darkness behind those eyes. I wanted to know so badly, it was itching at my skin - probing my heart to not know what had caused her pain, or who.

A vision is what she was, a sight to behold. There's not a day that goes by that I don't regret befriending her - but then again I've always wanted her to be mine. Slowly over the coming weeks she's begun to open up to me more and more. I in return have too, though my status at school is perfect - my home life isn't so much.

It has been almost a week since my father had gone home to England, his other family had grown worrisome over his absence. I never could rely on him anyway, every time he visited it was work related. Though he always left a hefty fund behind to support me and mother, it was never enough though. Money is money, but a fathers love can never be bought. 

I remember when mother and father told me they were getting a divorce, the endless tears, the suffering, the broken heart and the other woman. Mother had always been a strong woman, but my father was her entire universe - so him leaving us for his other family blew it to bits. From then on she has become a shell of her former self, countless hours of cleaning and working almost 20 hours a week had come to an end months ago. 

Mother begged and pleaded with me to stop working, I was too young to be dropping out of school, to be helping her return to her original state. I was but a son trying to help his mother get better.

"Mum please, you need to eat." I begged hours on end. Her small frame had become more malnourished by the day, she would mumble to herself and whimper now and then. 

Her usual response was to curl in on herself, shaking her head harshly. By then I would give up and try again later, getting the same response in return. With each passing day I watched my mother wither away. My stubborness didn't allow me to admit defeat, if anything it made me more determined. I knew it was wrong of me, a teenager should never have to go through this alone or at all. 

When my mother finally passed, it was then that I broke. The realization that I had just lost my only remaining family member seemed to have made itself known. The only person in the world who truly understood me was gone. Not only was I alone, but I was underage too. Which meant that I would have to live with my father and his family, until I reached eighteen.

Two miserable years of living in London, the other family were exactly how I was expecting them to be. Haughty, arrogant, pretentious. They had taken my father's name, it sickened me knowing that we all shared the same name and father. By the time I had arrived I had already started planning, my escape back to America.

Evil stepmother had provided me with the funds and means to leave, her picture perfect family couldn't be soiled by some unknown green eyed boy from the suburbs. High class socialite is what they call her, bitch is a better name if I do say so myself.

"Take it and never come back." Her pointed nose tipped back as if smelling something foul, I knew from the moment I met her that there would be problems.

"Don't think for one second your taking over your father's firm. Your not worthy, you don't have the potential or the determination like Brandon does. If anyone is going to become the heir to his business it's him!" She harrumphed with distaste.

Brandon my half brother had the same amount of arrogance as his mother, what annoyed me most was the physical traits we shared - the same green eyes and brown hair. We could've been twins, in another life perhaps we could've been the best of friends, We shared the same passion, stubbornness and determination. But alas, he was much more like his mother than his mother was.

As for Bethany, she held a place in my heart. The cutest little six year old I've ever met, but unfortunately we didn't share the same blood.  Stepmother made a habit of sleeping with higher class men - particularly old men. The richest were always the oldest, it made me sick to my stomach. A woman of leisure is what she is, no work, no source of income.

 "Now leave stupid boy, I don't want people to know I've associated with a pauper."

That's all it took for me to break into a happy sprint, the journey to the airport had been a pleasant one. Though England would always be my place of birth, I knew that America was really my home. 

Until I met her.

*****

A/N: Just a small chapter about Noah, the next update will be soon.