Don't Bet On It

Chapter 17 - Gifts of Sadness

Jason Mraz - I won't give up

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It had taken a while for me to calm down, even longer until I had no more tears left to shed; then I'd fallen asleep hugging my duvet at god knows what time. It wasn't until my alarm went off at 7am, shaking me out of bed that I remembered what had happened the night before. Sleep had been a blissful rest from the pain that now constricted my heart, everything reminded me of the night before of what had been said and done between myself and Noah. I showered hoping the hot water would scold away last nights memories.

It didn't work I returned to my bedroom only to be confronted by the look of pain contorting Noah's face and knowing that I'd been the case of it. I flopped down on my bed, fresh tears forming in my eyes and pulled the duvet over my head. I couldn't face school today, couldn't risk the chance I'd run into him; I knew I was being a coward hiding away at home but I needed longer to prepare myself.

"Evie you're going to be late!" My mum shouted as she stomped upstairs, I'd have to fain illness to get the day off and wallow in my self pity. I prepared my best blocked nose and soar throat act. "You better not still be in bed!" She burst through my door and looked at me with a very annoyed gaze, after a few moments her face softened. "You look awful."

"Thanks mum." I rasped out putting on the best soar throat I could. "I'm not sure I can go in today." I looked at her hopefully, throwing in a face cough to sell the act.

"I'll give them a call, you better rest up you can't afford any more days off school." I smiled and pumped my fist secretly under the cover, I'd managed to get another day to try and get ready for seeing Noah again at school tomorrow. "I'll call in when I get to work, see you later honey. Let me know if you need anything."

As soon as my mum left the house I sighed with relief and closed my eyes for a few minutes, I couldn't stay moping in bed all day that wasn't going to help at all. Stretching my muscles I got up and grabbed my phone, there were new texts from Robin, Casey and Rae checking in on me but the one fresh message from Noah caught me off guard. I clicked open and held my breath as I read the words, a lump formed in my throat and I couldn't hold back the tears.

I'm sorry if you thought I was going to hurt you, that was never my intention.
I'll never forget the time we spent together.
Check the bag I left last night, there's something in it for you.
N x

I reread the message a few times, the second sentence hitting me as hard as when Noah had said the words last night. Putting my phone down I looked around my room for the bag he had brought with him last night, his grey canvas backpack lay on the floor leaning against the side of my desk. Not sure what to expect, I apprehensively walked over to the bag and picked it up. A few objects rattled inside, undoing the press studs and pulling open the drawstring I peeked inside.

Reaching in I pulled out a plastic box with what looked like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches inside, a dvd of 10 Things I Hate About You and a memory stick. The first two objects must have been Noah's plan for last night, a movie and her favourite snack; he knew her to well. The memory stick on the other hand was a mystery, I powered up my laptop and plugged the stick into a USB port.

A folder popped up instantly, it had three sub-folders inside; one was based around their joint English project, one had the title pictures and the last was titled music. I thought they must have been to do with project so opened the pictures folder, it wasn't pictures for Romeo  and Juliet it was pictures of her and Noah. Photos from their date at the pier, from hanging out with Bonnie, from the gig night, just the two of them having fun together over the last three weeks. That's when it hit me all over again, a wave of inconsolable sorrow.