In The Eyes Of a Saint

N I N E

---Erik's POV---

It wasn't a busy day at the cafe today and that was a good thing because I end up messing up the few orders I did get. I was distracted by thoughts of Noa. And I wasn't thinking of how beautiful she is or how bright blue her eyes are or how her hair perfectly frames her face, the warm brown a striking contrast to her bright eyes...

Okay maybe I was thinking about that. But I was also thinking about things like if she was alive or had tried something to...to try and kill herself again. Daryl asked me a lot why I was so distracted and I just said I had a small headache until he finally got me to tell him.

"That's...wow. So, you have a crazy chick in your apartment now?" I slap him on the side of his head.

"That's rude and she's not crazy. She actually seems very smart. And she's kinda beautiful so I have no idea why she would even try to...do that." Daryl goes from playful to serious quickly.

"Listen, I know you're trying to do good but maybe you should call someone or try and find a place she can go to get help. And, speaking as someone who knows your past, I don't think this will be good for you. It may bring back memories you won't be able to handle." I nod and run a hand through my hair. "You said she was meeting with her siblings today? Maybe she'll stay with one of them?" I shake my head.

"They're both eighteen and live with their parents. She left home after high school to go to college and her parents hated her decision so they haven't really talked." Daryl raises an eyebrow at me and I realize what I just said. "I-I guess, I dunno," I mumble and he smiles and rolls his eyes.

"You seem to know an awful lot about this girl and you only met her yesterday?"

"I wanted to make her feel better so we talked a lot. She told me one thing and I told her another. Eventually we got tired but we knew a lot about each other by the end." I shrug and grab a rag to start cleaning to distract myself. Daryl doesn't say anything until it's time for me to leave.

"You like her. This is like the romance shit Syd is always talking about. But I'm not sure if you're the right people for each other." I think about what he says before shrugging and taking my apron off. I pull on my jacket and quickly make my way home. I go past the same people and things I always do and reach the apartment. The door is unlocked which means Noa is here.

There are some noises coming from her room and as I get closer to mine, the noises get louder. Then, I realize she's crying. Sobbing loudly. I don't think she heard me. I knock on the door and the sobs stop. There's shuffling and sniffing before she opens the door.

Her eyes are puffy and red and her cheeks are red. I can tell she's been crying but she doesn't want me to know.

"What's going on? Are you okay?" She opens her mouth to say something but sobs. I wrap my arms around her, hugging her and rubbing her back as she cries into my chest. I lead us to the bed and we sit on the end. After a few minutes, she takes a few shaky deep breaths and calms herself down.

"I'm sorry," she whispers and I shake my head.

"It's no problem. You need someone and your parents aren't any help. I think you think your siblings are too young to try and help you. And, please don't be offended by this, but I don't think you have any friends to turn to either." She nods in agreement and I rub her back for a few more seconds. "Whenever you need to, talk to me. I've been through something like this once when I was young. And then again when I was older. Both times, someone close to me committed suicide and both times they could've gotten help but didn't. I'm not saying find a therapist or anything just...just let me help you. Let me in." I pull her close and hug her. Her arms wrap around my back and she cries more.

I rub her back and gently rock her bath and forth, trying to get her to calm down. After a few minutes, she takes a few shaky deep breaths and pulls away, rubbing her eyes.

"Thanks. I haven't ever really had anyone to help me. A-and everything you're doing is better than I could ask for." I smile at her and she looks up to me. Her eyes are red rimmed and puffy. But their color is a bright blue and I can't look away. I pull her close to me again and she hugs me tightly.

"It's no big deal. I'd do this for anyone." We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes before my stomach growls. Noa laughs and pulls away.

"I'm hungry, too. What do you have to eat?" I smile and stand, pulling her with me.

"Not sure. Let's go see."

***

"You didn't!" I smile and laugh with Noa.

"I did," I say, nodding.

"Okay, so when you were ten you sat on the edge of the prairie dog cage, dropped your shoe, and your dad had to hold you by your ankles and lower you into the cage to get it back?" I nod and she laughs harder. She has a really nice laugh.

"And one of them started coming near me, so I screamed and they all--and I mean every single one--went back into their little holes faster than the Road Runner." I laugh at the memory. "My brother, honestly, was more of a parent than my actual parents to me though. All the memories that a kid should have with their parents, I have. Except my brother is in the place of the parents. And when he got married to Katie, she sorta became my mom." We both take deep breaths.

"How old is your brother?" I think for a second. I know he's my brother, but sometimes I forget how old I am. I just assume other people are like that but I doubt they are.

"He's thirty-three. He was nineteen when we went to the zoo, he's nine years older than me, and I'm twenty-four now. So, yeah, he should be thirty-three. Or thirty-two." She raises an eyebrow at me and chuckles.

"My little brother and sister are both seventeen or eighteen. They're twins." She smiles to herself and puts down her plate. "I'm tired now. I'll see you in the morning. Night." She gives me a small smile before walking off to her room.

I finish eating, do the dishes, and then go to bed.