The Aegis of Noah Hart

2-A Home for A Hart

Ding! Ding! Ding!

"Yeah! Yeah! I'm awake. See? I'm-why am I talking to my phone?"

Fresh out of the shower, with his damp hair brushed back, Noah grabs his leather belt from the dresser before flicking stop on his phone alarm. 

I'm going to have to remember that I placed all those extra alarms on my phone last week, but I don't need them anymore.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

GAH!

Clasping the belt below his navel, he bends forward to tie up his shoe laces with a double knot. The brown cord feels a little rough in his hands as he finishes. Standing back up, he hears a voice yell out from downstairs.

"NOAH! YOU READY?"

"COMING MOM!"

Noah double checks himself in the mirror above his dresser. The white WBA letters on his blue oxford shirt flicker in the glass at him as he runs his hands through his auburn hair. There's no product for Noah's style, just a quick, purposeful scoop from the left to the right. 

Heading out fo his room at last, he marches down the carpeted steps to the living room below then turns right into the kitchen. The son eyes the garage door and his mother's silver sedan. The boy realizes he has yet to have breakfast. 

"Ah crap!"

"What's wrong, Sweetie?"

"I didn't have my cereal yet."

"Can you just wait and eat something during snack period? You're going to be late as it is."

"Mom, I-"

His mother appears in the doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest. An all too familiar look in her eyes. Noah might be intimidated by this face on some occasions, but today Abigail Hart stands before him in her pink and grey kitten pajamas including cat head shaped slippers. He tries to cover his mouth but can't hide his laughter.

"Don't laugh at me! I'm off from the hospital today."

"I know, sorry."

"Well!" she stiffens, "You can open the fridge and get some hard boiled eggs out and eat them on the way if you want-"

"OH GEEZ! Nah, I'll just wait for snack period then."

"All right then, get your backpack."

His mother motions with her head toward the chair by the kitchen table. Noah quickly scoops it up and carries it with him as he comes around the back of the car.

"I hope you actually did your homework and didn't just come home and play video games again."

"Huh?"

Noah realizes he forgot to do his Calculus homework. He did exactly as she said. 

"Yeah, I did it."

What do people expect? Go to school day bored out of my mind then come home and excitedly read through boring books or emerge myself in fantasy and adventure? Guess I'll just have to catch up on my homework during study hall. Ugh! At least L'hopital's rule isn't as confusing as the stupid Geometry proofs.

Noah does his best to avoid Abigail's gaze as he sits in his seat and reaches for the belt. At first the he has trouble getting it come free from the holster, but what really bothers him is how tight it feels as presses against his sternum. The sensation draws his attention to his "man boobs," something the large boy's always been self conscious about. Though he hasn't heard anyone say the word since middle school, Noah can't help but imagine everyone notices his soft upper body whenever he appears.