Divided We Stand, United We Fall

Chapter 25

The door opened, revealing a woman who was in her late teens, maybe a little younger than Lauren. Her hair was tangled and there was a dark bruise on the side of her cheek. Noah could tell that she had been crying, Lauren could tell that she was happy they were there.

"What did I tell you about answering the door to strangers you filthy whore." A man growled, showing himself to be a man in his late twenties. His pupils were dilated and he was snarling like a wild animal.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, master." She said, beginning to cry.

"I see that you are here and seeking my hospitality, am I right?" he said, directing the question at Lauren and Noah.

"Yes." Lauren said, truthfully.

"Well, why don't you come in? If you want to stay tonight, you can sleep in the bitch's room. I have other plans for her." The man offered, glaring at the woman who was now sobbing into her hands. They didn't say anything. They were too afraid of him to speak. Noah nodded his head slightly, as if he did it to much the angry man would loose it. "Show these people to their room." he demanded, kicking her shin.

The girl walked silently up the stairs with Lauren and Noah following her. They reached a door, which she opened, and led them inside.

"T-This is my bedroom." The girl sniffed.

"Are you okay?" Noah asked. The girl began sobbing into her hands. He closed the door behind them and hugged her. She hugged back, much to the annoyance of Lauren. The girl was sobbing, making Noah's t-shirt wet, but he didn't care. He cradled her and walked over to the bed and laid her down.

She had stopped crying after a few minutes and had started to speak to them.

"Hi." The Girl smiled, softly.

"Hello there! I'm Lauren and this is my lover, Noah." Lauren revealed, making sure that she underlined the word lover.

"Katherine, Katherine De Fray." Katherine replied.

"Well, Katherine De Fray, you can sleep in your own bed if you want. We can sleep on the floor, right Lauren?" Noah looked towards her.

"Right." Lauren grumbled. Why was Noah acting so kindly to her? She was his girlfriend, he should start acting like a decent man-friend, guy-friend, boyfriend? She had no idea. There were only girlfriends where she was originally from.

"Can I brush your hair? It's just that it looks really untidy. And..." Katherine paused.

"You can if you'd like." Noah smiled. Lauren snorted and rolled her eyes; that was her job. She looked at Katherine and Noah. She had a black comb in her hand and was carefully brushing his hair.

"I'm sorry, I just need a distraction from the man downstairs." Katherine sighed. Her straight, caramel hair fell loosely around her shoulders. Her face was still a little red from crying.

"Who is the man?" Noah asked.

"Nathan Aamon Scrivener. He's been beating me for months now. He's taken everything from me." she looked at the ground.

"I'm sorry." Noah apologised.

"That's okay, it wasn't your fault. Sometimes I even enjoy the punishments. Before you ask, no I am not a masochist." Katherine laughed for a moment.

"WHERE'S MY SANDWICH !" Nathan called from downstairs.

"I have to go, I'll see you later, yeah?" Noah nodded as she left the room.

"What was that?" Lauren hissed, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"What was what?" Noah smiled, innocently.

"You know what!" She snarled. "You were all over Katherine."

"Calm down, angel. There is nothing going on here."

"Angel? My name is Lauren. Perhaps you've forgotten my name after being all over Katherine!" Lauren growled.

"I called you that because you have the physiognomy of an angel, get it? And anyway, I am not 'all over' her. I barely know her and she just seemed friendly."

"Sure she did." Lauren moped.

"You are starting to exasperate me with your mood Lauren." Noah mumbled.

"What are you saying? You were the person who is cheating on me already with some girl you have just met."

"Just stop Lauren; I don't want to loose my temper with you." He rubbed his knees and took deep breaths to calm himself down.

"I don't care. I'm sick of all this, I'm sick of you acting like this Noah. What is wrong with you?"

He pushed her on the bed so that she was laying underneath him. Noah kissed her for no other purpose than to shut her up.

"Let's go to sleep." He said after he kissed her.

______

Ooh an argument. Where's the popcorn?

School is tomorrow. Ugh! Stupid school. I'm going to have to put up with a group of obnoxious boys for seven whole hours because I am too dumb to get into a 'girls only' grammar school.

Hoot

Toot!