Moments Before

Noah

The day is like any other. I go to school, I listen to the boring lectures, I meet with coach about the football season this year. Kelly McNannon is her usual oblivious and desperate self. Logan and Cole mercifully didn't do or say anything other than glare at me for all of our classes. The two of them could probably kick my ass but I guess they're also just guessing as to why she isn't here. I wish I had her number so that at the very least I could text her and see if she's avoiding me. I hope she didn't skip school because of what happened in the truck, than again I still don't even know what happened in the truck. 

Before I know what I'm doing, and it's something stupid to be sure, I'm calling in sick to work and trying to remember Ashton's directions to her house. Pulling up I walk into the bakery and looking around. The place smells heavily of cinnamon, flour and sugar. There's a woman behind the desk with a round face and freckles. She's wearing an apron so I can't see her shirt but she has a smudge of flour on her blue jeans. Her eyes are kind but guarded and distrusting. I'm kind of wondering if she's Ashton's mom, it would at the very least explain why she looks at me like I'm the devil incarnate. 

Chatting with her seems to put her a little at ease. Her name is Rosanna, she gave me a sample cinnamon bun, the overlapping flavours melting in my mouth. Nutmeg, she tells me is her secret ingredient. The bakery is welcoming and the food is delicious but I can't help but notice that it isn't overflowing with customers. 

Rosanna was originally from a small town in Alberta and she's telling me a story about her and a woman named Katrina when Ashton comes down the stairs. I was hoping that at the very least she would smile when she saw me. Instead she looks like I just kicked her in the stomach, her face losing all color and going very pale. I assumed that when Rosanna went up the stairs to tell Ashton I was here she gave her a name. But there's not really surprise on Ashton's face, just sadness. She gives herself a shake as if pulling herself back to reality and greets me with a timid smile. 

"Hey Noah."

"Hey Ashton. Could we- I was hoping that we could talk? Alone, maybe?" I'm incredibly uncomfortable with Rosanna as an audience member. Ashton nods and leads me out of the store and down a pathway to the beach. It's a public beach and swarming with people but we don't get very many tourists. The beach is gorgeous here but the locals all hate visitors so we keep it under wraps. Abruptly she stops and plops onto the sand. I sink into a spot beside her and stare into her purple eyes. 

"So, um, what happened in the truck yesterday? Why weren't you at school today? It wasn't because of me was it?" The questions tumble out of my mouth allowing an uncharacteristically blurt of words as opposed to my stereotypical control. 

"Yeah. The truck, um nothing happened. Er, you didn't do anything wrong I just don't like to be touched. And I wasn't at school because of some family shit, you didn't have anything to do with it." I get the sense that part of what she was saying was true. That I wasn't her sole reason for skipping class, but rather a contributing factor. 

"Why did you miss class than? It's not like you." I state it hoping to get her to trust me just a little.

"Like I said, family shit. It's fine." She inclined her head as if agreeing that it wasn't like her but she did it anyway. Annoyance trickles into my thought process. Why was I doing this? I had better things to do than chase after this stupid entitled rich bitch. Her biggest family problem was probably having to sweep up the bakery downstairs or not being allowed to go to a party. She was totally dismissing me and the thoughts snowballed a little. What the hell was I doing here? I had to go to work to pay for Lena and support Sonya and Lil. I had to get home and take care of Rico. I have to practice football so I can get a full ride. I have to study so I can get accepted in the first place for colleges. 

"Whatever. If you want me to go away you could have just said so. I'm going to head out than. Best of luck with your 'family shit'. See you around." I said it mockingly and she looked struck. My mood swings aren't normally this dramatic and I know I'm acting like a thirteen year old girl on her period but I don't care. I've already missed out on the morning shift at McDonalds so I could see her and I called in sick for tonight. I could get sucked in, let my life revolve around her and I can't let it. I'm determined to just see her as a black hole from now on. Don't get to know her. Don't talk to her. Just pass by so I don't get pulled in. I storm off the beach and hear her call after me.

My resolve is being chipped away when she runs after me. She calls out. The please almost breaks it and I almost turn around. I can't though. This needs to be the end of this. I don't have time for friends. I don't have time to get to know her. 

I slam the door of the truck and crank up the volume of some rock. Dropping my foot on the accelerator I drive off faster than I should have. She looked so stunned and I was a dick. I narrowly avoid getting T-boned at an intersection that even I know I didn't have right of way in. I'll just go home and hang with Rico though. Give Lena some time off, maybe I can convince him to come out and do something with me. See a movie, I'll push him around the zoo or something. Than I remember that there's no way I can afford to actually take him somewhere that isn't free and Rico hates going on idle strolls with no destination.