Last Dance || 5sos

Chapter Nine

Thank God, it's Friday. I don't think I would have lasted any longer. Waking up in the morning, I've woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Tristan has spent the night over Ashton's, so it's just my mother, Sadie, and I this morning. After my encounter with Sadie last night, the last thing I want to do is get a ride with her to school. 

This morning, I'm too lazy to even try to look good. I step out of the shower, drying off, and pull my thick brown hair back into a pony-tail. I pull on a simple navy blue t-shirt and a pair of jeggings over my bra and underwear, smoothing out the wrinkles. Going back to my room, I pull on a pair of socks and lace up my sneakers. Sadie hasn't said anything to me all morning, though I've only seen her once. I'm considering skipping breakfast until my stomach hisses at me, and I drag myself downstairs to grab some toast and an apple. 

My mother sits in the living room, drinking her coffee. I decide to join her, since the tension between Sadie and I is still heated. "Hey mom," I smile, joining her on the couch. She smiles back, putting her coffee to her lips.

"Hello sweetie." My mother has pet names for all of us. She calls Sadie dear, me sweetie, and Tristan hon. I'm used to it, of course. "So, Luke seems like a nice young man," she starts. I groan. Maybe battling it out with Sadie in the kitchen was the better idea.

"Mom..." I give her a look. 

"What? I just said he was nice!" I cross my arms over my chest, raising a brow.

"It's not what you said, it's how you said it. You're implying things, and it makes me highly uncomfortable." 

"Oh Noelle, you're being silly. He's a nice young man, and you should get to know him more! He really seems to have a fascination with you, you know." I laugh.

"Trust me," I nod, "I've noticed. Don't you find it a bit weird?" My mom shrugs, taking another sip of her coffee.

"Do I find it weird that someone likes my daughter? No, I don't find that weird at all, and I don't see why you do either. Both you and your sister could easily have boyfriends," she says. I roll my eyes, trying my hardest not to groan any more. She doesn't even know about Sadie. "Don't you want to date someone? Find  the one?"

"Mother!" I gasp. "I'm only in high school!" 

"I met your father in high school," she feels the need to remind me. "I just can't see why you would want to shut guys out completely." I block my ears, hardly believing what I'm hearing. Yep, staying in the kitchen with Sadie would have been the much better off choice. 

"Because! Right now, I wanna be one of the guys, not be with one! I just want to be free to do whatever I want."

"And you are! I just think you should give guys a chance before you completely block them out. And I also think you should go to homecoming, but you know I'm not going to force you to go."

"Exactly," I smile, cockily. "I'd much rather stay home either way." My mother seems to have given up.

"Well, I have to work that night, and Tristan is going to be with Ashton again, so you'll be home alone." I'd actually prefer it that way.

"Good, maybe I can have some peace to get this work done. Are you working the night shift?" I followup ask.

"Yes, so I'll be home sometime after midnight." I nod. Sadie comes in, backpack slung over her shoulder.

"Come on, or we'll be late." I pop up off of the couch, saying goodbye to my mom before following Sadie out to her car. The drive was silent until we got to the school. No words were exchanged, the radio off, our phones silent. When we pull in, Sadie looks over at me, sighing. "I'm sorry," she barely speaks. "I'm not sorry for saying you should stay away from Luke," she clarifies, "but I'm sorry for approaching it the way I did. I'm just keeping your best interests in mind. He's hurt girls before, his reputation says. I don't want you to get hurt." I sigh as well.